DON'T Make These 8 Mistakes in GERMANY!

[@Noone-of-your-Business]

It boggles my mind how native English speakers can assume they would get along just fine without learning the language of the country they are planning on living in. As a German, I learnt _two_ foreign languages before I left school (and a bit of Latin on the side as well), and I am always keenly aware of _not_ addressing anyone in any country I visit with my own language. Because *it's the polite thing to do* to show your willingness to bridge the gap that *you* are creating between yourself and your communication partner.

[@shinnam]

There are people who never bother to learn the language. I lived in S. Korea, there were so many people that had been there 3-10 years that could barely order a beer in Korean.

[@mikethespike7579]

Oh, come on! I speak 4 languages, fluently, but there is only one language that was ever of any real use to me in my long life travelling the world and that was English. Already just travelling across Europe you will come across at least 6 languages depending on the direction you take. Even in Germany, where I live, some of the regional dialects are almost incomprehensible to other Germans. In the end I gave up the pretences and didn't even bother trying to remember how to greet people in their respective languages and have never looked back. The Greeks seem to like being addressed in English, the Spanish less so, but many of them anyway have a chip on their shoulder. For that the Portuguese are saints.

[@holger_p]

No you don't need to expect anybody is speaking your language, but you can expect anybody speaking English, that's a difference. Cause it's also polite of anybody else to be able to communicate, if they go abroad.

[@seracris8357]

@@mikethespike7579 It's not about traveling it's about moving to in this case germany. If you're just visiting a country it's no problem to speak english but if you move to any country you should learn their language, obviously.

[@mikethespike7579]

@@seracris8357 My comment was addressed to "None of your Business" who seems to think it impolite to address people in other countries he is visiting in his own language. I on the other hand am of the opinion that it is impractical to learn all the languages needed to address the people in all the countries you visit when travelling across Europe. That it is more practical to learn just one language - in this case English - and use that to communicate with people.

[@ppd3bw]

most of us Germans may have learned English at school and will gladly use it to give a traveler directions, or for a brief small talk. But only a small percentage will be fluent enough in English for a relaxed and longer conversation. And then there is the issue with dialects and informal language. It may be very hard to follow fluently spoken American English and also on the British islands English is not all the same.

[@britingermany]

Totally!

[@nachbarslumpi7093]

Not to mention Scottish

[@henningbartels6245]

Yes, many know English quite well, which will be enough to explain something or get your point across. But at a party you want to just chitchat, tell something lightheaded or jokes... and I think, that is where many Germans struggle in English.

[@britingermany]

@@henningbartels6245 Exactly!

[@zero.Identity]

@@britingermany also, i understand it might look rude if people switch back to german but i had some moments in discord calls where there were several german friends and an english one, and you are just constantly unsure if you should continue speaking english to your friends.. but they understand german..? and so you are constantly not sure what to do and just switch around. also often you forget some words, so you switch back to german again

[@biaberg3448]

Here in Norway natives often have to speak English at restaurants etc. A lot of the staff are foreigners that don’t bother to learn Norwegian, so we are forced to speak English in our own country. It’s crazy.

[@britingermany]

I wonder if it is expected of immigrants? I assume you have to take a language test to get citizenship/permanent residency?

[@biaberg3448]

@@britingermany They don’t need citizenship, people in EU / Europe can work all over EU. They often stay for a while and move on.

[@Robidu1973]

That's gross. The first thing that I would do if I were to work in another country is learn that particular language. Not wanting to learn it is clearly a sign of ignorance so I feel you.

[@RminusOR]

@@Robidu1973 On the other hand the restaurant owners / the guests don't want to pay the wage for a local, or someone who took the effort to learn the language. Pick your poison I guess

[@simonlangner]

Very well summarized, good sir! I would only expand on one thing: 'Sie'-zen is still the default way to go, be it in the professional (maybe with the exception of companies with this whole americanized work culture) or the private sector (except on the playground of your sports club, but for instance when talking to people in your neighbourhood). You have a unique perspective, really appreciated, mate!💪

[@britingermany]

Thanks a lot 😀🙏

[@anniestumpy9918]

I've never met a person in Germany that was offended by "Sie". It's still the default, and when you want to be called "du" you just tell the person. In some places it's customary to use "Sie" but on a first name Basis. The thing with rental apartments without a kitchen is absolutely annoying! I've always managed to avoid it except one time. It's also a stress factor when moving out because if the follow-up tenant doesn't want to take over your kitchen you're screwed. That one time I almost gave the person my nice kitchen for free just because I didn't want to deal with the stress of getting rid if it in a different way. (my follow-up apartment had a kitchen in it so I had no use for it). I think the troubles concerning bicycles isn't specifically German; that's just a "there are a*holes in every country" thing.

[@britingermany]

To be fair...she was from a different department which had...lets say a different culture...

[@patrickhanft]

​@@britingermany I think you are right, it is not an easy decision anymore how to address someone you have just met. It has become something that is negotiated on individual terms and is decided by age, work culture, role in society, place of living and personal liking. I think if someone says, "it made her feel quite old" it is more a very strong invitation to go on "per Du" terms than a "real" feeling of being offended. Especially if your opposite knows you to not be a native speaker. It's a way to overact over this awkward feeling of not having settled this topic by being overly confident about it should have been in the first place. If you'd have insisted on continuing the formal address, she might have been taken aback, but she'd probably have accepted your wish to continue on formal addressing, even if it made her feel a little more uncomfortable, because everyone has still the right to keep a professional distance and this is still respected. For some time now I see more and more a hashtag #gerneperdu added by some people to their e-mail signature, so you as a recipient knows, that this person is inviting you to switch to the more informal addressing without discussing this subject further.

[@britingermany]

@@patrickhanft oh that is interesting regarding the hashtag. Thanks for sharing I’ve not seen that before

[@catriona_drummond]

I am quite offended if random strangers or shop clerks just call me "Du". It's impolite. Only children are addressed with "Du" by strangers. Many people in Germany think it's hip and cool these days but to most others it feels forced and smell a bit of fake friendliness where there doesn't need to be any. It always depends on the setting too, is it formal or professional? "Sie"! A stranger saying "Du" on a party we're both invited to by a common acquaintance, ok, fine.

[@DoomOfConviction]

The bar girl flirting was always quite offended when I gravitated rather quickly back to Sie. xD

[@kulturfreund6631]

3:51 - coming to a junction without traffic lights. Right of way at junctions is established in this (hierarchical) order 1 police person 2 traffic lights 3 traffic signs 4 left yields to right Example: A policeman is guarding a junction and signals your lane to stop trumps the traffic lights, even if they‘re green in your favor.

[@andrewruddy962]

Thank you for sharing.

[@britingermany]

Thank you for commenting 😀

[@kamikazekrew3873]

I was really lucky, when I moved to Frankfurt. Our company had put myself and others in a hotel in Bad Soden near the company (then located in Escborn, now relocated in both Russelsheim and Downtown Frankfurt). Anyways, my Manager was offered a place in Schwanheim (Frankfurt am Main), but he said that it was too small for he and his family, so he offered it to me being single and all. Luckily, it was fully furnished and had a Pútzfrau. However, when I changed companies and moved to Stuttgart, I had a kitchen, but ended up buying my own washer/dryer. Man, I love watching your stories. I miss Frankfurt. Should have stayed there. Still in Europe (after a few years back in the US), but Frankfurt has my heart. Cheers!

[@britingermany]

That does sound like a really cushy deal 😉. I’m sure it’s changed a bit since you were here last but I still love it😍

[@martinstent5339]

I also had a crash with a cyclist after I had been living in Germany for only a few years. I was reversing out of a driveway and I hit a cyclist. Or he hit me. It was in a snowstorm, and frankly, neither of us could see very far. He insisted on calling the police, who shortly turned up. I told the policeman that it was just bad luck due to the storm and nobody’s fault. I learned a lot from the policeman’s answer. He said “There is no such thing as bad luck in Germany. - When there is an accident, it is always somebody’s fault and it is often both party’s fault!”. That says a lot about German law. There is a rule for everything so if something goes wrong, everyone will know who to blame!

[@barbsmart7373]

I have picked up a lot just with all the reading and listening I have done, concerning the German mentality. I find a lot of things a bit traumatizing, seeing and hearing about it. I still haven't forgotten about a comment someone wrote about the views of their grandfather. I was really sickened, but they were clearly very proud of their grandfather. It was and is nauseating. My partner backed into some contraption on wheels delivering mail. No one would think of ringing the cops for something like that.

[@CounterCraftYT]

To number 6: If you are not curently overtaking somebody, you have to drive on the right lane. It‘s not a „should“, it‘s a law.

[@britingermany]

Well I have to say it’s not very well enforced…

[@CounterCraftYT]

Sadly yes

[@runeodin7237]

@@britingermany It's working better in Germany than literally anywhere else (even if almost all countries as far as I know has this rule in principle), if not the free speed on the Autobahn would not work at all.

[@Yotanido]

@@runeodin7237 And yet, disregarding this law is common enough that the words "Mittelspurschleicher" and "Linksspurschleicher" exist. It really is a scourge, especially those that stay on the left. Middle... not proper, but at least you can still pass them legally.

[@gaptaxi]

@@britingermany It is a lot better than in the UK, even when I drive back to Germany most of the cars in the middle lane have UK stickers. German cyclists are Nazis! I felt safer in Belfast in the 1970´s as a soldier than walking around Munich City! You can only cycle in the Direction of the road travel, 20 Euro fine!

[@ericgraham7026]

A comment on your point number 6. Some may be surprised to learn that the UK also has a system where you should return to the left hand lane after overtaking so long as this wouldn’t cause you to weave in and out of the lanes. However, this part of the UK Highway Code now seems to be ignored by many and is not enforced by the police, should you ever see any, that is!

[@Randleray]

1:45 If you cannot go without asking that question, you are simply not in the right place to go anywhere abroad. This is not only special for Germany, but for any travel that leads you abroad into another country. While I think it is just important to have the lingua franca, English, ready at hand, I find it particularly annoying, when native englisdh speakers visit other countries and already passively demand the locals to speak English... If you visit other countries for longer than your average holiday trip of 1 or 2 weeks, you should have some language knowledge at hand and there is no If or What or Why! Do it or stay home. Oh and because I can already hear and smell the special bubble: If a person seeks shelter and flees from war to Germany (war or similar catastrohpies), of course, they cannot learn German in advance... In this very comment, I am speaking about long term planned travels to Germany, so please just dont reach for that strawman :)

[@britingermany]

Yes I agree. I think some people have a job placement for a year or so and they are not required to speak the language for work and they think it’s only for a year anyway so what’s the point 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@TarikDaniel]

​@@britingermany If they don't want to learn the language for such a short period of time, I can relate to that. But I would wonder why someone wants to go abroad in the first place if even learning some basics and a bit of research of what to expect is already too much. 😅

[@britingermany]

@@TarikDaniel agreed...but I guess many people just don't think about that🤷‍♂

[@Randleray]

@Max "without YEARS of practice" This together with the adult comment is simply wrong. I am an adult, I learned several languages as an adult and it took me about 4 months in these languages to at least get the basics right - and those basics ar far more than just an exit sign. Also, I am traveling abroad rutinely, even in countries which just dont exactly follow the lingua franca. And no, I am not talking about 1-week-trips, but actually living abroad, wroking and studying there. I can understand what you are explaining and it has a very true core, but the part where you just excuse the learning of languages of countries you traveling are just sad. Sure enough, you wont learn a language just by looking into a vocabulary book once or twice a week, but as a matter of fact, I am a language teacher and the students I teach are adults by default. Most of them have a mere 6 weeks to master one level of a language. And all students which really attempt to learn, will absolutely master the goal level. You can get by any sort of communication: pointing, broken english or other. Does it work? Sure. Is it efficient? Mostly not. Is it effective? For simple things, absolutely, for complex stuff, absoluetly not. If you are just coming through a country, you really dont have to have the language ready, but if you are staying in said country, it is simply bad in any aspect and it gets downright worse, if you cant even handle english somewhat properly.

[@annez1681]

Living in HH, last move in 2021, before that in 2017 and a lot before that. I have never bought a kitchen in a rental. And neither have friends of mine. I heard of it, but that's about 5-10% of rentals, when their freshly renovated or so.

[@britingermany]

Interesting. in FFM it’s around 90% of people I know

[@annez1681]

@@britingermany a bit contradictory in such a highly frequented place like ffm. or do they all take the kitchen and move out of the city to the costly suburbs?

[@britingermany]

@@annez1681 most people try to sell it on to the Nachmieter

[@annez1681]

@@britingermany from the legal perspective, it's easier on the vermieter, because they don't have to deal with anything. They are probably very hands off. socially, it's a ** move, because 90% costs for maintenance/handywork, etc. can also be put on to the renters cap and are tax deductable. But it's really not a common German thing. We do have in our constitution: "Eigentum verpflichtet." And it is also possible to confiscate appartments, if they are just sitting empty as a speculation object and the landlord isn't renting that out. (At least it happens hear in HH, probably not a mindset in Ffm.)

[@DoomOfConviction]

Thanks for mentioning the bike lanes! Arabic and African Foreigners always wonder why they have a lawless reputation, but what should I think else when I have 5-10 of them walking and standing on the bike lane every day? Maybe it’s different in the rest of the world, but the bike lanes are just for bikes in Germany, and bikes count as traffic, so pedestrians have to wait for bicycles when they cross the street. And let's not forget that bike lanes have a direction, and cycling the other way around is also not okay!

[@ane-louisestampe7939]

i was a young library assistent when Denmark went through "the change" from Sie to Du - or from De to du. I distingtively remember one of the first days a very distingvished old real gentleman leaned over and said: "You don't have to say "Sie" to me - I've also seen some shit" Well, well, I thought, the oldies are more a head than I thought. The next lender was the nicest litlle mild lady, and I choose DU - she got really offended. I realized this was going to be a long ride UP hill. So you learn look to your nearest collegue, who with their eyes will tell you if it's a Sie or a Du. Now it's only the roaysl who used with "Sie" - but I don't talk to them very often, so....

[@britingermany]

So you just see the royals now and then 😉. Say hi from me next time you sit down for tea

[@barbsmart7373]

I really love your story. I can imagine Kiwis thinking like the old man. We don't treat people all that differently. Humility is important here, and equality.

[@DrStruckoff]

One trick I've used on the 'which language to use' question ... For example, for several years I had a German girlfriend. We both spoke/understood each other's language pretty well but naturally everyone is more comfortable speaking in their native tongue. Answer: I would speak in English, she would speak in German, and any misunderstandings were quickly resolved - eg. 'Let's have a Devonshire Cream Tea'. A: 'No! I don't even have MILK in my tea!' ...

[@RickDeckard6531]

You might do this with a girlfriend, but not with your wife.

[@AllanRussell-tp6ss]

This has to do with how many people are in a group conversation - if 5 people speak German and one wants to speak english then there is lots of switching back and forward. Even if the others speak english well they will usually go with the majority language in the group. Actually it is quite good for a newcomer as it forces you to get into the language. Hard at first but pays off later. @@RickDeckard6531

[@Phiyedough]

That was interesting about the kitchens. I have looked at property for sale in Germany and was aware of the issue in that context, Germans seem to regard the kitchen units as part of the furniture rather than part of the fixtures. It does seem insane to expect a tenant to deal with the inconvenience and expense of installing a kitchen which will most likely not fit properly in their next flat.

[@britingermany]

I Know. If you really want to get a decent one it can cost anything upwards of 10K€…

[@Wolf-ln1ml]

It depends a lot on the city and the size/price of the appartment. I live in a city with a relatively large percentage of students (and fairly close to the university) in a building with mostly two- and three-room-appartments, and they _all_ come with a kitchen, simply because that makes them more attractive to students who can't just afford a full kitchen. There's also some five-room or even larger appartments that come with kitchens for basically the same reason - they just get rented by several students who share the rent.

[@Phiyedough]

@Martin Seidel My property is in Scotland so the rules might be different but I was told it was mandatory for the landlord to include a cooker, even in an unfurnished home. In my case I just left the freestanding cooker (hob, grill and oven) I had been using when I lived there. I've never had a dishwasher myself so I wouldn't provide one for tenants.

[@SharienGaming]

its usually brand new or recently renovated places that dont have a kitchen... but the kitchen is generally owned by the person renting the place, rather than the building owner and as such, it cant just be assumed part of the rooms - so when you move out, you either have to get the next renter to agree to take the kitchen (with prices varying, depending on the state of the kitchen and the plans of the new renter) or you have to get rid of it... because yeah realistically you wont be able to get it to a new place for example in my case, the previous tenant offered me a pretty old kitchen with appliances for 700€ which well... yeah it really wasnt worth more than that and one of the appliances broke down fairly soon... but it meant i would have something for the first couple months or even years and could take my time with getting a new proper kitchen and in most cases... the kitchen you take is gonna serve you for a good long time at much less of a price than a new one would cost you, so thats usually what happens

[@gescheharm5881]

I feel comfortable enough in English to make small talk to you in your language. But after 6 months or so, if I got the feeling that you are here to stay, I would adress you in German as well. Now you are one of us, enjoy 😉. Not all the time, not to let it get akward, but gently nudging, though.

[@britingermany]

That would be the perfect way to learn 😉

[@typxxilps]

You will forever be a foreigner and an outsider or alien if you can not speak german. In general no chance for career or to get along easily. If you start english you cut the other participants and people out of the conversation cause you can not expect everyone understands english. Liability insurance is important cause in case of an accident like that in the forrest the other might go to hospital and doctor and you might think that will be paid by his health insurance. Right, but that insurance will start to get the money from you cause usually the hospitals and so on ask first "accident ?" and that is important. So , you might have to pay a fortune once the case went to court and has been judged - do not forget in case of the forrest accident where both have not seen each other and stopped before crash, that the judge will simply divide the fault to both sides like 50% versus 50% which will mean you will have to pay his costs for his lawyer and doctor and bike and what not 50% and he for yours. If you had not medic bills you get nothing and in € it will make quite a big difference if you compare the results of a just 50% and 50% decision , cause you might have to pay several thousands for his hospital stay and medicine and lawyer + court fees, while you will get only 50% of your lawyer and court fees. You are always repsonsible for your actions and also in many cases for the counteractions of others that tried to avoid a crash, accident and so on and you will pay even if you had not crashed with each other, but the other party drove into a field to avoid a collision. You will have to pay for the damages he has caused in the field, maybe the fence and even a sheep that has been injured. Quite long consequences.

[@britingermany]

Well glad I got off lightly then 😅

[@anniestumpy9918]

As to the career/language thing, it depends on where you're working. If it's an international company/an international team it gets more and more accepted/unproblematic to not speak German. My Indian neighbors work for Siemens and they barely speak a word of German after at least 5 years of knowing them (don't know how long they've been in Germany).

[@anniestumpy9918]

Also, in academia, especially STEM. A lot of fields of study are transitioning/have already transitioned to English as teaching language. There are a lot of employees in that field who speak little German and it kind of works.

[@Pfalzgarage]

I'm not sure if there have been changes to the regulation recently, but I think it's illegal for businesses to refuse cash payment in the legal currency. I think I recall the regulation saying they have to accept up to 50 coins and an unlimited number of bank notes to meet the owed amount (i.e. they don't have to let you pay your new flatscreen TV or car with a bag full of 1 cents). Maybe there's exceptions depending on the size of the shop or the goods offered, but I think the Donut shop might be biting off more than they can chew.

[@britingermany]

Right...the thing is do you really want to have a discussion or argument about what is the legal requirement is when people are waiting behind you to get a coffee for 3€. I certainly couldn't be bothered

[@Pfalzgarage]

@@britingermany Well you should see me when I really want a donut but only have cash on me :D

[@reinhard8053]

There are different reasons why somebody doesn't want to speak English. Even if he learned English at school, if he didn't pratice it regularily, he might have forgotten most of it. I see it with (mostly older but not only) people around me, who can barely read a manual or even use a software with english User Interface. I constantly read, write and hear English, but I very rarely speak it. So I'm not that good at it. And if you are not sure about your capabilities you don't want to embarass yourself. Or you know how you will sound if you hear others with there very German way to speak English. Even if you are at a certain level speaking it at a party or meeting all the time is stressful for many.

[@britingermany]

Yes I totally agree. But there is this perception in the U.K. that all Germans speak fluent (almost native speaker level English). It’s then a bit of a shock when you see that this is not necessarily the case.

[@kilsestoffel3690]

I can read English fluently. And I can understand it, if it's spoken slowly and clear. For writing a comment, I need ages, because I have to look up words or at least the spelling. So even easy smalltalk is stressfull to me

[@Kurikost_]

same...my problem is, i am good in passive english but my active "talking" english is bad. One word where i am unsure wether it is correct or not correct and my brain collapses. Working as an it sysadmin, i often write tickets..of course mostly in english. No problem. But please only writing ..not talking. The fear to embarrass myself is very high. I think language is a talend, and i have not enough braincells in this area. :)

[@Robidu1973]

@@Kurikost_ It's just a matter of practice. If you have someone handy who has the necessary patience, just ask him whether he is willing to do some practice sessions with you. Even though you may botch up, don't take them as failures but instead as valuable lessons, and the insights thus gained are going to help you develop your language skills. At some point you are going to literally think in English instead of German, and once that is happening, you definitely know that you have won.

[@manfredkandlbinder3752]

Hello from a german, again : 1. She was an outlier for sure and desperately wanted to be different. You never go wrong with "Sie" and surnames. Emotionally mature people who prefer otherwise will let you know politely that they feel the usual custom outdated. Being reprimanded for defaulting to a formal style tells you lots about the person you are dealing with. 2. Well, it is best to speak the language to learn it anyway. Is it really surprising that learning a new language is part of living abroad to english speakers ? I guess it would help to accept that as an english speaker living abroad you are an immigrant, calling yourself an "expat" did english speakers probably no good. 3. Germans can be uptight when it comes to rules, but that is part of why much of public life runs rather on the smooth side of things. 4. Can only back up that recommendation. 5. Many germans prefer cash and it is puzzling to me to ever have the urge to remove cash payments as the common way to do it. Every electronic form of payments is tied to some form of fee or other thing you give up, like your data autonomy. No factual progress to be had there. I hope cash never gets ousted as it is a form of autonomy that other people gave up much to easily for a false and exaggarated illusion of convenience. It is basically just planning ahead or refusing to do so. All it does is making mindless consumerism so much easier. Having to first pick up some cash at the nearest ATM would probably help to avoid some regrets after an impulse purchase. 6-8. Important points !

[@britingermany]

Thanks Manfred. Sunny greetings from FFM!🌞

[@anniestumpy9918]

Completely agree, especially about the cash! I'll never give up my cash, I think it's borderline criminal of countries to force their people to use cashless payment more and more, for the very reasons you named. (As much as I love the Scandinavian countries, this is such a dealbraker...)

[@manfredkandlbinder3752]

@@anniestumpy9918 Cashless public life is one important building block of a turn-key ready dictatorship. Add tracing the books we read and the people you talk to, oopsie daisy, built a society the Gestapo and the Stasi only had wet dreams about. Sure, give me the option, but don't take away the choice.

[@aphextwin5712]

Yes, banks charge retailers a small fee for every card transaction. But there are also costs for the retailer associated with cash payments, for example the cash has to be transported to their bank. The fee for using credit cards used to be pretty high (2% or more) but EU regulations have forced that down to 0.3% (and 0.2% for debit cards).

[@manfredkandlbinder3752]

@@aphextwin5712 Business costs are reflected in prices, especially if it is an issue that no business can evade to gain a marketable advantages over a competitor. So the weight of the arguments equal to none. Either way it is part of doing business and doing business is always a privilege, an opportunity that comes with risks, not a right.

[@jonathanscott7372]

I agree with all your suggestions. The accident with the bike amused me, because I have had more or less exactly the same experience, but thankfully, we had insurance. One small other remark, living close to the Swiss border, most German restaurants will also accept Swiss Francs, but not all, and usually with big a mark up in the exchange rate. It is less likely Euros would be accepted in Switzerland, but it does happen occasionally in tourist spots. Living out in the back of beyond, I have so far not had a problem with cash being accepted. One shop locally encourages card payments, by giving you a small nominal present for a card payment.

[@britingermany]

Hi Jonathan. Hope the accident wasn’t too serious. I remember paying with euros is Basel last year. I was surprised. It was at a cafe and they have me the option without me even asking.🤷🏼‍♂️

[@AleaumeAnders]

Concerning Sie and Du between adults and children/teenagers: while Sie and Du is reciprocated between adults, you'll find a more difficult situation with minors. Teachers will be siezed by young pupils, while they themselves will use du towards the students until around age 14 or 16, after which a Sie would be the required form. However, depending on the standing of the teacher, teenagers might or might not prefer for the teacher to continue using du adressing them. Sadly, they themselves are required to continue using sie for the teacher, even if the teacher would prefer otherwise. Something similar can be found with parents of your (children) friends, where you'll often find a formal sie towards the adult and du towards the child (at first). But this is changing rather quickly. Many younger parents prefer to switch to du once it's becoming clear that said child is a closer friend of their own spawn, and thus will invade their home on a regular basis. Frex. when I was starting gming the role-play sessions for my kids and their friends, those friends siezed me as well. My answer "Wenn Sie mich siezen wollen, können wir gern dabei bleiben, aber dann müssen Sie sich daran gewöhnen, das ich Sie ebenso anrede." Usually it took two to four such reminders, and the kids adapted to it quite well. While formal resepect would have helped to keep that rowdy bunch in line, I much prefer them opening up and relaxing at the gaming table.

[@Yotanido]

I actually had a teacher who was fine with students calling him by his first name and using Du. Well, the primary school teaches also went by Du, but let's not count that - this was for my Abitur. (Equivalent to A-levels for the Brits) When I went to university, all the lecturers went by Du and first name, with one sole exception who went by Sie and first name. That took some getting used to.

[@couchpotatoe91]

The thing about "no cards" is that, especially if they don't give you a receipt, they can evade taxes. Yes, that's illegal. Yes, most people are aware. No, it's not just foreign restaurants, but traditional ones as well. There's quite a big... "subculture" of doing things "schwarz" in Germany, meaning without taxes. Another typical example besides restaurants would be handimen which will often times try to make you a "Freundschaftspreis" meaning cheaper, but without receipt.

[@britingermany]

it is interesting that in places like Italy they have really cracked down on possibilities for corruption but in Germany people are still "trusted" to do the right thing by the state

[@couchpotatoe91]

@@britingermany I mean... from what I hear from associates in Spain, there's still plenty of ways to cheat the government if you're talking about civilians with these small sums of private money. I have the feeling that's a thing that's common all around the world and tolerated by the government because it's usually about super petty sums that are barely worth the time to pursue. The South-European crackdown really is about corruption and illegal money transfers in the government and other institutions. I'd argue it's the same in Germany, probably even stricter. If you try to do anything shady with a company, good chances are the Finanzamt will crack down on your business and make you regret it.

[@blondkatze3547]

I agree with you, it is always important in Germany to have cash with you, because some smaller shops do not accept card payments.🙂🌹

[@britingermany]

Absolutely!

[@blondkatze3547]

@@britingermany 👍

[@menschin2]

Landlords must bear the costs in the event of water damage. If no kitchen was built, the tenant is liable. Many tenants don't like the previous kitchen and wanted to replace it anyway. There are a lots of reasons, why this is changing over the years. Hope my English is readable.

[@britingermany]

Of course. No mistakes!

[@martinlee5604]

Als Student habe ich in den siebziger Jahren insgesamt fast zwei Jahre in Deutschland verbracht. In Bayern und im Rheinland habe ich mich wohlgefuehlt, auch in Hamburg, aber im hohen Norden weniger. Da fand ich die Leute so stur. Was ich am meisten vermisste war der englische Humor. Da oben konnte ich wenigstens Skandinavien besuchen! Ich war auch zu Weihnachten bei Bekannten in der DDR!

[@Herzschreiber]

About kitchens: It is in fact a matter of the region you want to rent in. I moved 16 times during my life. Grown up in a region where about 70 % of the rentals had a kitchen installed by the landlord, I was used to regard it as "normal" and was shocked when I moved to a region where it was an exception. Depending on where I did move during the "nomadic times" of my life, I understood that it really depends on where you want to settle down in Germany.

[@britingermany]

Really? That is interesting I have not heard that before. Have you move recently or is this from a few years ago?

[@Herzschreiber]

@@britingermany Really. It is not only my experience, but also the experience of some friends I watched moving to far away regions. My first time was in 1985 from Rheinland-Pfalz to Baden-Württemberg. (sorry for mentioning the states in German but I simply forget their English names, no matter how often I hear them, lol). After that I had some moving within Baden-Württemberg, after that I moved to Unterfranken (northern part of Bavaria), Saarland and again Unterfranken where I am still living atm. And I watched move some friends. What I experienced, and what they reported about the frequenzy of finding "inbuilt kitchens" or not was closely the same. Maybe you never heard that before, because most people do not move from one region to the other so often, and even if they do...... if they are lucky to find a fitting rental quickly, they will not observe the market much.

[@kw1ksh0t]

​@@britingermany Here in Hamburg as far as I can tell it is common to have a kitchen

[@RickDeckard6531]

Keep right when walking on the pavements as well, and prepare yourself for bumping into people when you return to the UK, at least for a short transition period.

[@robertzander9723]

In Vienna, Austria there are still a lot of small shops or cafés that only accept cash, I even have the feeling that after the Covid 19 pandemic has passed, there are even more signs in the shop windows that say only cash, sometimes in different languages. It's really important to look for the signs at the entrance or ask the stuff while entering the shop, café or restaurant.

[@britingermany]

Sounds even more "stubborn" than Germany😉

[@robertzander9723]

@@britingermany Trust in banks, credit institutions and governments has suffered massively and cash is a sign of independence, freedom and security for many people. People see what they have and what they can spend. When their money is with the institutions all the time and they speculate, then the money is gone and as a customer you are unlucky, many people are afraid and skeptical. Many also do not want to pay extra fees for a credit card terminal and they have cash immediately in their hands, while I use one credit card has to wait for the money and it's not always certain that I'll actually get the money in the end. Cashless is of course an advantage for financial institutions, but bank failures do not necessarily ensure more trust, see Credit Suisse. Even if the people in Austria insist on differences, in some things they are closer to the Germans than they often like to tell us.

[@torinarg1971]

Kitchens indeed... I found it a fairly welcome surprise when I got my first job in Switzerland, that flats here DO include the kitchen hob/fridge/cupboards/...

[@britingermany]

They know what they‘re doing😉

[@Shendril]

Interesting fact about the 'Sie' (and surname) and the 'Du' (less formal): technically the 'Sie' is used, once you have reached maturity. Since this is a rather vague description the age for that is formally set to 16. I remember at school, when my class was in the 16-bracket (10th grade) and our teachers asked the class at the beginning of the new year, if it will be ok, to keep using the 'Du' with us, since we are now in an age where 'Sie' should be used. Of course everyone was ok with 'Du' especially since it is very hard to go from 'Du' to 'Sie'. The situation that someone is offended by 'Sie' is more an issue of the receiving side: you can be far more in hot water by using a 'Du' that is not appropriate. True: most modern workplaces use the informal 'Du' nowadays, still it is usually adressed in the beginning to make it clear. Having a Du and Sie discrepancy between two adults is usually a sign of hierachy or missing respect and can easily cause tensions. Oh, and stay off the bloody bike-lane! :) *drops a like and subs* Have a great day!

[@britingermany]

Yeah to be fair I’ve only had a handful of experiences where some one got offended by Sie. I’ve not had it the other way around as I always found it easier to speak using the Sie. The verbs are easier to pronounce that way 😉

[@gregepps4710]

Brilliant video. Thank you

[@al.d9592]

As always, very well observed

[@britingermany]

Thank you

[@Never_again_against_anyone]

About the rules of "Siezen": The rules mentioned in the video are not all of it. You will use "Sie" instead of "Du" towards any person you do not know (Except small children who would be weirded of by being called that.). And for the change to "Du" both need to agree. Yes it is the pribiledge of older age or higher rank to make the first move and offer the change, but not more than that. Just using Du is still impolite. Of course there are people who see the topic less strict but you cannot look into one's head. It is not worth to insult someone to spare a little effort. And this also applies to companies. My reaction if a company just calls me "Du" would be along the lines " I and only I decide, if like your goods/ services👿😾🌋 How dare you try to sneak into my private, confidential sphere?!"

[@britingermany]

Haha I guess you are not a fan of Apple/Zara/H&M/ikea etc they have all started duzing customers

[@AleaumeAnders]

@@britingermany The problem with that being that all of the aforementioned companies quickly return to formality if things turn to their disadvantage. Like the company making a mistake and having to reimburse you or such. Which then feels like even more of a betrayal given that the company initiated a "we are friends, you can trust us" switch of relationships, just to go back on it the first moment it's more convenient/profitable for them. In essence, calling someone Sie is not only a sign of respect, but also a sign of professional distance. It's much easier to stay polite while telling your boss what he can do with his unilateral call for loyalty. Informality/friendship has to be earned, and has to go both ways.

[@anniestumpy9918]

​@@AleaumeAnders Exactly. Never make the mistake of accepting "Du" with superiors. They pretend to be your friend until they aren't. It gives a false feeling of trust in my opinion.

[@Never_again_against_anyone]

@@britingermany It is not the only aspect that counts, but yes I do not like such intrusive communication. It is not like the people who decide how to communicate with (potential) customers do not know about these things in detail. They do. They just assume they can manipulate people more easily this way and that people will not often enough care about that, that the tactic backfires. It is insulting if a company does such things for profits and thinks that people are too dumb to notice it.

[@henningbartels6245]

@@britingermany I would also use "Sie" in business situation if people are on different end of the contract. Other companies than IKEA and Zara try to communicate with "Du" to the customer... which I still find weird, since I want a good service not a new friend. If there are defects and my complains are answered with a flippant "Du" I don't feel taken seriously.

[@jagdavey7483]

9; Never smile on a Sunday, it’s a really sad day in Germany, all the shops are closed & people that do work on Sundays in bars & restaurants are pissed off because they’ve got to work on a day when everyone else doesn’t!!

[@Flix-f6q]

3:54 drinking and riding a bike is allowed with more alcohol in your blood than when riding a car. The limits are as follows: Auto 0,5Promille, Fahrrad:1,6 Promille Alcohol in your blood.

[@britingermany]

Thank you

[@SharienGaming]

though if memory serves, you can lose your drivers license for drunk bicycling, if you violate that higher limit - so important to keep in mind but still...seriously... dont drunk cycle, even if it is allowed... your coordination gets worse fast and you are much more likely to get harmed or harm someone like...your sense of balance is key for riding a bike... and last i heard thats one of those things that suffers badly from alcohol

[@howierfs5471]

All young and most of mid age Germans learned english but after school dont use that much more. On the other hand, if you can speak or at least are interested in to learn or speak some german it will open doors for you and most of the people will be glad to help. I think this is always the case when you travel to another country with a different language.

[@mrheisenberg83]

The kitchen thing must be regional because I live in northern Germany and here it is very rare to rent an apartment without a kitchen. It happens but it is rare.

[@britingermany]

Wow that is crazy! I had only ever heard of apartments without kitchens before and that also from people in the south…but maybe it is different in the north🤷🏼‍♂️

[@adamabele785]

The question about cycling lanes is different in different area. Some area have bicycle lanes that are sort of mixed up with sidewalks. It is accepted to drive bikes on the sidewalks then, but then the cyclist must give way to pedestrians. So just ask the locals how it is handled. But for sure it is not good to stand or walk on designated bicycle lanes, and you need to watch out, or you can get really hurt by a biker at full speed.

[@Ralphieboy]

In English we have the expression "They took everything but the kitchen sink." Except in Germany they do...

[@britingermany]

🤣🤣good one!

[@CakePrincessCelestia]

I laughed hard at that when I heard it the first time! :D

[@nealandkriz]

Actually, a sink and a stove are mandatory.

[@Ralphieboy]

an "apartment" within a house is defined by a unit with a separate entrance (one which one can access without having to go through another apartment), its own kitchen (with a sink hookup but not necessarily a sink) and its own bathroom.

[@barbsmart7373]

Love it!

[@Bloodstone_DC]

Fun fact on cash payment: stores, cafes, shops etc are obligated to accept cash as payment so the donut shop was wrong and would have had to accept cash if you insisted.

[@TarikDaniel]

What makes you think that? In Germany, there is something called "Vertragsfreiheit", which means both private parties can agree on the terms of how they want to deal with another. If both sides can't find common ground, then there won't be any deal. That's it.

[@britingermany]

I've net heard of that before...if they do not have the infrastructure in place then the will not have any change and no way of transporting it securely to the bank...and they will just refuse to serve you if you don't have a card on you

[@Ulrich.Bierwisch]

Das ist falsch. In Deutschland dürfen Läden die Bargeldzahlung ausschließen und nur Kartenzahlung zulassen. Sie müssen das aber gut sichtbar aushängen.

[@emanymton5789]

@@Ulrich.Bierwisch Richtig. Im Gesetz steht nur, dass das einzige gesetzlich gültige Zahlungsmittel der Euro ist. Dort steht nicht, in welcher Form dieses Zahlungsmittel zu sein hat. d. h. Bargeld ist zwar möglich, alles andere aber auch. Was wiederum bedeutet, dass man sich die Form der Zahlung aussuchen kann. Also nicht gezwungenermassen Bargeld annehmen *muss.*

[@rl7012]

@@britingermany Then don't shop there. It is totally nazi to not accept cash.

[@bkailua1224]

I have been learning German for almost 8 years now. I like the German meme where the English speaker who wants to practice German tries to speak German and everyone speaks english back. Then he goes way out into the country and still gets a reply in English.

[@RickDeckard6531]

You have to stick to talking in German. If they speak to you in EN, continue to speak back in DE. Once the language of conversation has been established between you, it is very difficult to break the long-term pattern. Otherwise, they will be happy to use you as a free EN conversation lesson.

[@CakePrincessCelestia]

Then there's me, living in that country ever since birth, walking on the Fahradweg at times, not having a Haftpflicht, always leaving home with no money in the pockets and never bringing anything to people that I visit... XD

[@britingermany]

Oh my goodness. You can’t be German 🤣

[@nocturnalamnesia3062]

I noted that tendency to speak native language in group where only few/one person didn't speak it also among Poles. Which was for me (a Pole) also rude. Interesting channel. Keep it going!

[@mallorydeagan681]

I bought a kitchen one time, the exact color and style of kitchen I wanted. If I move, I will take my kitchen with me. We don't tend to move very often :)

[@britingermany]

Then make the most of it 😉

[@mallorydeagan681]

@@britingermany This wasn't a personal anecdote :) I meant to describe the 'German kitchen philosophy' :D We all do this. It's why apartments are rented without Kitchens. We bring our own.

[@LawdBreaktwist]

On the point of insurance, i highly recommend a "Hausratsversicherung" which is basically insurance on everything in your apartment or house in case of a fire or similar catastrophic event As far as i know it can also apply for stuff like a kitchen fire which "only" burns part of your kitchen down You may think this could be unlikely but to throw some more german into the comments "Vorsicht ist die Mutter der Porzellankiste" which shares almost the same meaning as "better safe than sorry"

[@britingermany]

Yes I've got this now as well. It doesn't cost a lot so why not

[@salsabil44]

Is Hapflicht insurance the right one to get for accidents, like you had with your bike? And, you forgot to mention two other no-nos: crossing the street on the red man; and riding your bike on the left side of the street.

[@kessas.489]

6:34 Places where you can't pay with your card are very suspect...

[@britingermany]

Fishy…you could say

[@morlewen7218]

You have to distinguish between an infantilizing "Du" and an honouring and respectful "Du". I experienced both "Du" in different companies. Threrfore, I am quite happy to start out with "Sie" and see what kind of "Du" is used.

[@britingermany]

That's getting truly advanced

[@eddiesimone3568]

I'm Dutch and have a lot of friends and contacts in Germany, due to my job. I have to confess that I speak fluent German, so that is not the problem. Considering "Sie" and "Du", I look at the age. Almost never problems.

[@perromanchado]

I additionally insured all of my keys (Haus/Wohnung, Arbeit usw).

[@adamabele785]

If you are unsure how to address somebody, you just ask how the person wants to be addressed. Some companies also have certain more or less unwritten rules of how they handle the issues. That is not an embarrassing question. So when you are in a big company and a young guy addresses the CEO by his first name casually, he is either rude and disrespectful or very stupid, or he is a close relative or friend with the CEO. That might give you a hint with what you are dealing with. Sometimes two or all three apply at the same time. So watch your back.

[@shiroamakusa8075]

Yeah, if it's those old-school bikelanes that run along the sidwalk and which are much darker colored and easily recognizable, then walking in them is kind of impolite (not to speak potentially dangerous). Unfortunately some places have started this really, REALLY dumb trend of creating bikelanes by just dividing the sidewalk with tiny, almost invisible markers and I won't fault anyone for accidentally walking on them. Those cities are just begging for accidents by this point.

[@britingermany]

The other discussion now is that roads are being downsized to make from for a large bike lane on the side

[@ileana8360]

With regard to "Sietzen" and "Dutzen". In my opinion the company´s business model has the bigger inpact on how to adress sombody at your workspace and also where the company comes from (Germany, Swiss, USA...). There will be a BIG difference if you work at Deutsche Bank or at Saatchi & Saatchi. So what kind of business is it and which culture is predominant at headquaters? For most job interviews it is advised to go the traditional way with "Sie" and wearing a suit. If you are not told during the interview which culture they embody, your colleagues will during the first few days. Regarding speaking Englisch during your leisure time: Groving up with two languages and dfferent friend groups it wasn´t only about the location but about which language the majority of the group was comfortable speaking. The minority had to adapt or be content with sporadic translations. P.S.: great video!

[@britingermany]

Thanks a lot. Yes I agree with you on the Sie front. The company culture...and often the direct manager set the tone when it comes to that.

[@shahlabadel8628]

if you don't mind me asking, what languages do you speak?

[@ileana8360]

@@shahlabadel8628 native languages: German, Croatian; thru school: English, French, Russian; private: a little bit Italian

[@shahlabadel8628]

thanks. quite impressive!

[@ileana8360]

@@shahlabadel8628 Thanks but due to the german education system not uncommon. Do you speak several languages?

[@haraldbull1558]

I like how he just admitted trying to flee from an accident.

[@barbsmart7373]

Nah mate. He didn't admit to anything. He told us about something that happened. Yeah, many people do focus on blame and all that stuff there!! What he said, was that he wanted to get away from the yelling. That is a behaviour that we from various countries, find to be extremely uncivilized. In fact, we find it very stressful and bewildering. We call it abusive. Because that's what it is. Aggressive and abusive. Shocking.

[@Reaktanzkreis]

4:41 is this part of the video recorded in germany?

[@derhinek]

I'm always confused, when expats talk about apartments without kitchen. After I moved out from my parents, I lived in 7 apartments and houses, only one came without a kitchen. I'm not sure, if this is a regional thing or size of the city. But I doubt the latter, because the one apartment without kitchen was in a

[@frankhainke7442]

Wenn ich jemanden nicht kenne, es sei denn es ist ein Kind, sage ich immer Sie. Und jeder, den ich kenne, macht das genauso. Wenn jemand das Du bevorzugt, pflegt er das dann zu sagen. Wenn mich jemand gleich mit Du anspricht, macht mich das erstmal umbehaglich. Das ist so, als ob jemand den persönlichen Abstand unterläuft. Wenn jemand zu dicht rankommt, empfinde ich das ja auch als unangenehm.

[@th60of]

Do not walk in the bike lane: Well, neither should you walk in the car lane. It's just common sense, isn't it? ;) However, since bikes aren't quite as impressive as motor vehicles, cyclists will sometimes have to attract your attention by verbal means - personally, I aim to keep it polite, though.

[@reinhard8053]

It gets more difficult for foreigners when there are also lanes with bikes and pedestrians in the same lane. Or sometimes they switch between the modes if it gets narrower.

[@alexandergutfeldt1144]

@@reinhard8053 I've had to 'politely' inform more than one US citizen that US traffic laws don't apply outside the US of A and that they might survive a bit longer if they respected local laws and customs.

[@britingermany]

Ahhhh so you’re one of those guys 🤣🤣

[@th60of]

@@britingermany Guilty as charged. ;)

[@SharienGaming]

isnt that what a bike bell is for?^^

[@Tormonir]

There are sometimes company policies if sie or du is used I have heard of some companies that switched to du

[@britingermany]

Yes many companies are switching to du these days

[@biaberg3448]

A flat for rent without a kitchen installed, is to me just as stupid as if there was no windows, just holes in the wall for you to install your own windows. Here in Norway there will be a fully equipped kitchen, included a fridge, freezer and probably a dishwasher and a microwave oven. And probably a washing machine and a dryer in the bathroom. It’s a part of the flat, not furniture.

[@britingermany]

I agree. And that’s why I only looked for apartments which already had a kitchen. They do exist but in my experience it’s unusual. Having said that some people from the north have commented that a kitchen is usually included so I think it might be a bit regional

[@worldhello1234]

@5:13 Yes, in Germany you ocassionally find some obnoxious male Karen but they are mostly all bark and no bite. 😊 @6:14 Yeah, but cash still means freedom and privacy and you'd miss it if Germany went down the path of CBDCs.👍

[@britingermany]

“Obnoxious male Karen” 🤣🤣

[@Wolf-ln1ml]

Whoa, concerning that bike accident - you've actually dodged a bullet there. That _was_ still an accident, and you were moving away without having exchanged contact details. That's a hit-and-run, if the police had gotten involved and found you, that would have been a criminal offence... Whenever you're in any kind of accident, even if there is just a _chance_ of any kind of damage (property damage, let alone injury), always stay and clear things up. If you've damaged some parked car or so (and obviously can't call or wait for the owner), call the police. Even if they don't come out, _you_ still are in the clear then because you didn't commit a hit-and-run.

[@barbsmart7373]

You haven't addressed at all, the fact that our English Bro was shocked and dazed. The other cyclist who was speeding around a corner also didn't think first to check on the Bro on the ground. All he cared about was himself. I come from a country where people are far, far, far more likely to have more humility mental stamina, and humanity than the German speedster did. If there is a pedantic law that is enforced regarding cycling accidents, don't they have a normal human requirement that the physical condition of a person who has been smashed into is checked on first and foremost? I remember various people, from America and England who married Germans. I will never forget an American lady, in a "loveless marriage". Her husband insisted on the loo paper hanging a certain way. I could not understand the German fella's problem for another 2 decades. When I found out about Germans I realised what was up with Mr Meyer. In another book, an English wife was in bombed out Berlin and observed some pedantic German stuff going on. She wrote in bewilderment, about how Germans disregarded even the most basic foundations of humanity, yet focused on trivial, insignificant things. I have never forgotten that, either. In the book by Christabel Bielenberg, the very nicest people were hung. Her husband was humane, and ended up in Ravensbrook. All the Jews she mentioned were either being beaten up by thugs (while all Germans present turned and walked away!!!!!), were running or hiding hiding in absolute and indescribeable terror, lost their jobs (lawyer) or completely disappeared (a client of the lawyer). In the city I live in we have reminders of the German mentality. A German yelled at my daughter once for riding on the "wrong " side of the track- whatever that is! And in another restaurant situation- two old German women yelled at a man. They were shouting "Dirty Jew". All this yelling occurred in my city where diversity is embraced the Kiwi way and people aren't pedantic. From a Kiwi perspective, a lot of this stuff will forever remain incomprehensible, unimaginable, distressing, and for me rather traumatizing. Humanity will improve greatly if these sorts of anal people die out and are replaced by more accepting, tolerant, humane, friendly and free generations of people. Aggression is more widespread, but that should be frowned upon in any civilized society.

[@inapeter1896]

Hello, so good, so true. Il ike your Channel very much. For me as a German it is the British reflection to see the opinion from the British side to us, here in Germany. Yes, a little bit fairytail is one reason we like the British Royals. But I think the most important aspect is, the german history behind the British Royals. Startet with Queen Victoria, german mother, German husband till to the time of II. WW. After that terrible time, the Germans destroyed many Buildings and killed many British people. After the war the royal Family changed there Name into Windsor. Perhaps we have this big Interesset, because we are feeling guilty that terrible time.

[@jbaidley]

I feel like Covid transformed the acceptance of cards in Germany. Many, many more places accept it now. I think the thing that shocked me the most was buying our first car over here, and they didn't take card so we had to get €3000 in cash out of various cash points and take it to them.

[@britingermany]

Wow yeah that is unusual that they wouldn't accept card for big purchases. I would say that is a thing of the past these days

[@holger_p]

This can indicate an illegal dealer, not wanting to leave any trace, not paying taxes ..

[@alexanderwalter2253]

02:54: „Do not walk in the bike lane“😂 As a native German and a cyclist I can tell you this: Everybody who‘s carrying around something with wheels on it (suitcases, wheelchairs, rollators, etc.) thinks the bike lane is for them, wiith one exception: Mothers and fathers with their babies in strollers, they‘re a little more cautious. Besides, I love your perspectives on us weirdos.👍

[@britingermany]

Thanks Alexander!

[@Yotanido]

Was riding my bike behind someone just today... in a wheelchair or something - drove on its own, but not particularly fast. They decided the best way to drive along the pavement was right on the separating line between pedestrians and cyclists. So not only were they in my way, I couldn't even overtake them on the pedestrian side, they blocked the entire pavement.

[@erzsebetkovacs2527]

Small shops, tattoo and piercing parlors, greasy spoon and kebab eateries etc. will indeed likely only take cash in Germany. On the other hand, I'd advise you to use card whenever you can. It has happened to me in a big drugstore chain shop that a cashier stole money from me by falsely putting in the amount of cash that I paid, giving a false receipt, and 10 EUR less than I was owed back. I guess she thought that she could get away with it working there.

[@rainerwahnsinn9585]

I had a Boss who was Du in a Teams-Call, and Sie in reality...so no way to make it right^^

[@britingermany]

Oh my god! The worst is when the boss decides to use do with some and not others...

[@pfefferle74]

Trust me as a German: In case of doubt always use "Sie". It's socially less awkward to err in that direction rather than to err by addressing someone as "Du" who would not want that. People who complain about being addressed as "Sie" just have an awkward way of offering you to use "Du".

[@britingermany]

👍🏻👍🏻thank you

[@Dave-r4u]

My wife is a Dane, in the early years of visiting (once a year....Christmas) I couldn't speak the Lingo, just a few words....please and thank you etc. Anyhow, after a few years I decided to learn the language, and bought a set of CD's. Between jobs (I was a Taxi Driver) I would use the CD's to practice. I found it quite difficult to pronounce many of their words, as it sounds like you are being throttled😄 I was absolutely nowhere near holding a full conversation in the language, but at one Family gathering at Christmas I tried speaking to them (as best as I could) in Danish, only for two of them to say to me (nicely!) In perfect English as many of them do!!....."Oh for F*** sake David speak English!.... Well, I tried....😁 As an aside to this, the dialect changed literally within just a handful of miles of where they lived in Hygum (Jelling Kommune) Jutland, which made it ten times more difficult to be understood......I gave up in the end, mainly because we rarely go now as most of her immediate family are now dead.

[@britingermany]

😂how rude of them. But as you said at least you tried 😉

[@keithbessant]

I'm a cyclist myself, but your experience with other cyclists in Germany sounds horrific. Also, in the UK, we're supposed to respect and give way to pedestrians, as they are the more vulnerable road user, even if they are in the cycle lane. I believe the Highway Code says that pedestrians are entitled to walk in the cycle lane as well.

[@britingermany]

I believe that is the same in Germany but I have found German cyclists to generally be rather aggressive. The street outside my old job was poorly demarcated and cyclists seems to think the whole street was a cycle late...which it wasn't it was for cars. The amount of outraged fist shaking red faced cyclists I saw was hilarious. Banging their hands down on cars to let them know that "das ist ein Fahrrad weg hier!"

[@keithbessant]

@@britingermany When I was younger I was terribly rude and arrogant as a cyclist. A couple of times, even when cars stopped to let me out at junctions or roundabouts, I would just wave them on impatiently as if they were holding me up. I wouldn't accept any courtesies from them, I hated them so much. I think I felt I was saving the planet and they were destroying it. But I believe now Mother Earth can do without that kind of hubris. We're all the same to Her anyway. She's so far above me, to even think of myself as Her friend seems arrogant. When floods come, it's indiscriminate and I don't have the right to feel all vindicated and self-righteous.

[@AllanRussell-tp6ss]

Cyclists here have an attitude of moral superiority which (they believe) gives then the right to do all sorts of dangerous stuff (wrong way up one-way streets, ignoring traffic lights, cycling far too fast for the road circumstances, the Tour de France wannabees who cycle three abreast on main roads.... ). A newer and more annoying habit is cycling with your Airpods in and pretending the outside world doesn't exist@@keithbessant

[@keithbessant]

@@AllanRussell-tp6ss I suspect that these cyclists who hog the road in groups probably drive cars during the week and only go cycling at weekends. For them it's a social activity, eg rather than cycling to work or the shops. It makes the hypocrisy worse. I spent a weekend with such people, riding down a new cycle path from Gloucester to Salisbury and it was the worst weekend of my life. There's no basis for moral superiority. Just as with EVs, the fuel has to come from somewhere. The food the cyclists consume takes CO2 to produce and to get it to the shops. There's nothing for them to feel smug about. Climate change is a self-inflicted disaster for humanity. Many people are likely to suffer, motorists and cyclists, as Nature restores the balance.

[@HelleKurstein]

Will people in the UK switch to the language of the one foreign guest in the room? Walk in the bike lane? Go to the car lane, please. (I'm not German)

[@britingermany]

Umm I’m confused. this video is about Germany why are you talking about the U.K.?

[@HelleKurstein]

@@britingermany Just to give some perspective. Same with my second/third sentence.

[@britingermany]

@@HelleKurstein ok fair enough

[@HelleKurstein]

@@britingermany When you are abroad and people react '''funny" to you, ALWAYS check how most people in your home country would react in the reverse situation. I can communicate in several languages, but in my own country I HATE being addressed in anything other than my country's language - especially as a customer - AND it being taken for granted. Once I realize an effort by a foreigner, OF COURSE I'll make an effort to enable a proper conversation.

[@quentinmunich9819]

I ask myself? Are British people walking on British bike lanes, is this normal?

[@britingermany]

No. If there are bike lanes they tend to be ok the road not the pavement….but the infrastructure is not as extensive as in Germany

[@mutosanrc1933]

if I have people over who only speak english but want to live here I do start and explain them what we have talked in our native language because I too think its rude to not include them. And it always was appreciated very much. And if they after some time learned our language I do feel good :D

[@britingermany]

that's great

[@typxxilps]

Sie is accurate regardless what age and what profession. You have to start with "Sie" or you will be screwed in your career path cause the "Du" is the real offense. The usual replay to a stupid guy starting with "Du" is: "Did we play together in the sand pit ? I can not remember anymore !" If you wanna to rent an appartment or house it would be the worst mistake to start with "Du" - it shows you have not learned the basics in german. And if a german comes with the Du along in the first moment he is dead cause you know he has no manners nor "gute Kinderstube". Not to mention in any business you have to start informal till usually the older might offer a "du", but that can take ages not weeks or months or years. You need to find a personal connection to get an offer for a 'Du' And it is usual to reject such offer for anyone I want to have a distance. Start a conversation with a policeman with "Du" and you will soon realize how uncommon a Du is.

[@britingermany]

I actually don’t think that is accurate anymore. It depends what kind of business you are in. Anything that is cool/hip and trying to speak to a younger crowd whether that’s hospitality/marketing/travel/e-commerce/fitness/nutrition you will be laughed at if you start with Sie

[@claudiaweber4564]

So true!!!! I'm German and lived 46years in this country, before I moved to UK.

[@littlebrit]

Don't use internet without VPN. Because they fine if you see connecting to the torrent.

[@danieljulian4676]

About the bike lanes: I understand the risks in having a collision with a bicycle, but I'll be much more solicitous of the needs of cyclists when they start policing one another to obey traffic regulations in general when conflict is possible or a clear and present danger, and to stay the eff off pedestrian pavements, full stop. The sense of entitlement one encounters with cyclists, and not just in Germany, keeps getting worse, and I'm an avid cyclist, myself. Pretty much the only time I expect non-English speakers to deal with English is when only rudeness will alert them to their own self-absorption. The world is getting meaner; Brit decorum is a bit of a sham, any more.

[@britingermany]

Indeed!

[@brun4775]

You missed not wishing people happy birthday until it’s actually their birthday

[@britingermany]

Indeed although I didn’t see that as hugely important

[@kozodoev]

As someone who's traveled all over Germany extensively far fewer Germans speak fluent English than there are Italians who speak fluent English.

[@WhatAreColors]

I don't bring a little gift when I visit people. Never. Nobody I know does that.

[@julianalexander2449]

The "Sie-Du-Problem" even increased. Nowadays even I (as a German) don't know anymore, when and where Sie or Du is appropriate. 🤣

[@VanlifeAmLimit]

you don´t need any insurence. every shop has to accept cash. € notes are the only legal way of paying.

[@britingermany]

Well have fun arguing with the shop. They always have the right to refuse service

[@TiberentenTV]

@@britingermany No, they don't. Shops are required to take cash. At least that's what the ECB says. And they should know, shouldn't they?

[@ralfhtg1056]

Just for your information: places that agree only to card payment here in Germany are violating the law! They MUST accept cash. If you offer cash to pay and they refuse you are free to leave without paying at all.

[@britingermany]

That sounds bit like wishful thinking to me...if it were illegal there wouldn't be so many places doing it...

[@ralfhtg1056]

@@britingermany it is law. You can google it. I am a.professional sales person. I know the law about that.

[@thomasr6451]

@@britingermany This has to do with the fact (as far as I know), that so far only cash exists as legal tender - all other is run by (huge) privat companies, which by the way is the biggest concern for me to use cards. Fun fact: a bakery shop (for example) actually has to accept 100 and 200 euro notes unless it is stated somewhere, that they will not, where you can read it easily in advance of your ordering (like they do at petrol stations) ... try it out! 😅

[@kreisimkreis]

Ich fahre selbst viel Rad - dieses "das ist ein Fahrradweg!" ist ein typisches Boomer-Ding.. Deutschland ist voll davon :-) .. Leicht zu erkennen an der schicken, oft paarweise getragenen Funktionskleidung. Betrifft die meisten der anderen Punkte übrigens auch.. scheint also eher ne intergenerationale Angelegenheit zu sein.. Being an enthusiast biker as well - this "Das ist ein Fahrradweg!" is a typical boomer phenomenon. Germany is rich in boomers.. :-) easily recognizable by the often very chic and "couple-matching" functional clothing. This is true for many of the other points too.. it seems this might rather be a intergenerational thing.. As always, thank you for your personal interesting perspective!

[@britingermany]

Thanks for sharing. You could be right with the generational thing👍🏻

[@kreisimkreis]

@@britingermany is your ko-fi account still in use? ;-)

[@britingermany]

@@kreisimkreis Yes I believe so...thansk for the reminder I should link it back

[@Skan64530]

Your bike accident and the inhumanity of the situation is hard to come to terms with. Regardless of whose fault it is in a situation like this, the first step is to ascertain whether the parties need medical help. We all are faced with laws when biking or driving, but mishaps happen and care for human life should prevail when someone needs it. The rigidity of what you describe in your videos is an eye-opener. Then again if you both were riding at excessive speeds on the bike trail, that I fail to understand why.

[@gregonline6506]

Hehe, when you get to someone’s house and they keep talking their language without taking into account, that you barely understand anything, that’s a nice way to say, they just don’t want you there. Ich bin selber in einem multikulturellen Kontext aufgewachsen, ho vissuto in vari paesi del Europa, et vraiment, la gente no entiende que uno pueda ser diferente, well then, these folks will keep their bubble small and annoying. 😅

[@DrReinardReihnart]

My guess on the speaking English point is, that most Germans, including me, are terrible at speaking English and its less of an understanding type of thing. During a casual day you almost never need to speak English, so you don't get used to that and this makes you uncomfortable if one day you have to. But most of us, I'd guess, can understand you pretty well because we are confronted with English all the time, we just doesn't use it to communicate to other Germans. I don't really get why it is like that, but if you take a look into the Netherlands you'll see what I mean. They're like superior. Same for Norway, Sweden and Finnland. And France on the other way, is even worse than Germany.

[@britingermany]

There could be some truth in that. I suppose it depends a little on where you are but I agree that the Dutch and Scandinavians are generally more comfortable conversing in English

[@frankhainke7442]

Speaking English. Wenn ich einen Touristen treffe, der mich nach dem Weg fragt, kann ich natürlich nicht erwarten, dass er für jede Reise, die er macht, gleich eine fremde Sprache erlernt. Natürlich spreche ich dann auch gerne Englisch. Wenn jemand aber hier lebt, frage ich mich schon was er gegen dieses Land hat, in dem er ja trotzdem lebt, dass er die Sprache nicht zu erlernen bereit ist. Und wie will jemand langfristig klarkommen, wenn er die Sprache nicht spricht? Da verringert sich meine Bereitschaft zum Entgegenkommen gewaltig.

[@MoreChannelNoise]

Even in Holland a lot of people do NOT speak english or their english is bad or limited.

[@britingermany]

Really?! That is surprising as I hear that the Dutch are basically bilingual

[@MoreChannelNoise]

It depends on age group, and what part of the country etc. I meet people all the time that are bad at speaking english. I tell them my Dutch is bad and they ask "but you can understand Dutch?" They are relieved when I say yes as they don't want to try and speak english.@@britingermany

[@s8w5]

Not walking in the bike lane might help not getting shouted at, but if your goal is to blend in, maybe you /should/ walk there, because Germans do it all the time. I am saying this as someone who uses a bike regularly and who wishes they had one of these compressed air bottles with a horn on them.

[@britingermany]

🤣🤣oh no! Th joys of cycle etiquette!

[@anniestumpy9918]

Better yet, walking next to the bike lane *but* letting your dog walk *on* the bike lane on an almost invisible leash. Always nice to be forced to an emergency braking because of that. Not 😡

[@Ulrich.Bierwisch]

@@anniestumpy9918 Even better, use one of those long thin leashes that extend and let the dog walk hidden on the other side behind trees and such.

[@gundleyG]

Imagine Brits speaking german becaus one german guest is in the room :D You are realy funny :D

[@britingermany]

Well the chances of getting a group of Brits in a room who all speak German are pretty slim. The most I've managed so far is 3

[@gundleyG]

@@britingermany ... the chance of getting a group of germans who are so fluent in english that they are able to have the same conversation like they can have in german is also slim. But at least you have a chance that they are polite and reduce their communication to a level of 12 years old children if you are a tourist. But if you are living in germany I think it is something different. You cant expect that the group is talking like simple minded people while you can argue much better due to the advantage that your are talking in your native language.

[@hughjazz4936]

Getting offended by "Sie" is just a funny way to ask if one wants to switch to "du". I'm one of those "funny" people. Also, yes, there's some sort of hierarchy to it but it I'd like to believe that hardly anyone would feel offended if a non-native speaker chose the wrong way to adress them.

[@britingermany]

It would be nice if people didn't get offended 😉

[@mutosanrc1933]

man I would love to see you in my contry :D

[@britingermany]

Which country are you from?

[@mutosanrc1933]

@@britingermany Switzerland :D

[@Sp3llw0rk]

Imagine going into another country to WORK and LIVE there and then complain about the peasant inhabitants because they speak their fuckin own language

[@britingermany]

Unbelievable right?!

[@Aengus42]

Do you think it's just a product of aging? I remember it was hast du for kids but haben sie for adults. But I was 15 then! Now I'm nearly 60 so maybe if I visit now it'll be a lot more hast du going on merely because I'm a haben sie now? 😆

[@Petra44YT]

Stop that thing about the big cities!!! Yes, guess what, even in the countryside, people will speak English, because we learn it at school, and we do travel, too. But all in all, I think the video is very good. Especially the tip about getting liability insurance. Just imagine you were cycling and, God forbid, a child toddles into the bike lane before you can stop! That would not only be a tragedy, but it would be very, very expensive. You do NOT want to pay for this toddlers medical care out of your own pocket.

[@britingermany]

Yes that really would be a nightmare

[@Cyberjenne]

I'm sorry about thy biker guy being such a moron. Although I think his reaction wasn't typical I can attest that taking part in traffic in Germany people seem to take it way to personal. It's like their ego moves a few meters ahead. 😁 I admit it took me some practice but I'm totally relaxed now because I decided for myself it's such a waste of energy to care about everyone's faults in traffic. I live a better life now. 😊

[@TilmanBaumann]

Everyone in Germany has liability insurance. And it's so cheap. You can almost be sure that, if some shit happens - as it does, the damage will be taken care off.

[@TilmanBaumann]

But I have to say, it does feel unpleasant and dirty to ask for compensation. But it's fine.

[@britingermany]

Yes agree. This is actually the only experience I have had of this kind so I think I'm pretty lucky in that regard