GERMAN IN THE 🇺🇸US: My 6 Culture Shocks | Easy German 277

[@KeepingOnTheWatch]

Listening to Cari express herself I really feel she's intelligent and articulate. For anyone learning German this is an invaluable resource on KZbin!

[@Aikman94]

She is an amazing person.

[@andreborges9927]

Das stimmt 100%

[@williampfahl5758]

Agree and also she has a warm "American" personality. So attractive. Great work Cari! Du machst mir Lust, Deutsch zu lernen!

[@Erickvazquezc]

it is

[@jan-christinejohnson5256]

Cari is efficient, detail-oriented, and a real nice lady.

[@Aikman94]

I really like how respectful she was when she compared the US and Germany.

[@daylightmoon7285]

Cari and Januzs are great cultural ambassadors for German-American understanding. Americans in general like Germany and Germans. I have relatives in both countries and I am critical of both. I also defend both cultures when they deserve it. Easy German is the best way to learn German. Keep up the work.

[@Aikman94]

Indeed. Cari and Januzs are wonderful people and an awesome team.

[@tgwnn]

Same! I am a generally pro-US European, but that's only because many Europeans around me have pretty smug and superficial negative opinions about US/Americans in general. So I find myself defending the US most of the time even though I ultimately prefer Europe. Here, I could relate to all of her criticisms of both sides. For example, I love American small talk! So what if it doesn't lead to the friendship of my life? People are just friendly, that's better than being unfriendly. *shrug*

[@Robert_Guisgard]

@@daylightmoon7285 Yeah, and for me it's a nice way to improve my English by reading the subtitles. :D

[@paulgruber3384]

Großartig wie du das machst! Ich war auch mehrmals in den USA und kann alles was du sagst im Großen und Ganzen unterschreiben. Was die Bio Supermärkte betrifft, komm doch mal zu uns nach Österreich. Da gibt es ganz viele Läden mit großer Auswahl an regionalen Bio Produkten.

[@HT-rq5pi]

She is a really good teacher. Whenever she used words that we didn't know (like headphones), she performed the action of putting headphones on so that people could follow without the subtitles. Really well done.

[@teachies902]

nice catch

[@guilhermedutra8895]

Seven years on youtube scrolling, watching and liking videos, but never subscribed any channel, but now Easy German became the first one ever.

[@EasyGerman]

What an honor!

[@jjp904]

I started watching Easy German because I just enjoy Cari & Janusz so much. The questions, the insights, the laughs. Now, I'm learning the language by accident. You're genius. A++

[@EasyGerman]

😂

[@carolynhollenbeck4505]

I’ve lived in the USA for my entire life (71 years) and love this video. Well done!

[@AmericanDreamer]

Are you of a Dutch origin?

[@NabilNabil-jc7jw]

hallo

[@TheKazmia]

I fell in love with positive energy which you emit each time I watch your videos.

[@magnetholik3618]

Please make more videos like this (where it's just you speaking to the camera). I find such videos immensely helpful in my experience learning languages. Thank you!

[@maximusextreme3725]

It's interesting to me that you say Germans are more introverted. I have been to Germany twice and on one of my visits a German woman heard me speaking English on the train so she struck up a conversation with me. Maybe she felt more at ease talking to me because I was a foreigner.

[@june.w.1288]

Yes, they talk more freely with foreigners.

[@vaxel2]

I think that's a very common behaviour across cultures; I guess we are moved by curiosity (that we are otherwise lacking toward your co-citizens). Sometimes I wonder about why Germans have this behaviour and where does it come from. Of course the single individual has been brought up this way by his community and his family, but on a broader scale, how does this type of isolation award? Having more connections is also incentivised by hormones (you just feel good), so what may ever overtake a biological incentive? I've heard that german culture has been somehow influenced by the events of the XX century...could it be some sort of aftermath? (I don't think so, but it still worth to ask). And...are "all" germans like that? are there some (even slight) differences in openness between east and west? big cities and minor towns? near the borders/sea and the inland? between who earns more and who earns less? I find it fascinating and if anybody wants to digg deeper I'd be glad to carry with this topic on :) (also privately, if you are not afraid to interact with strangers on yt 🤣)

[@Loostyc]

​@@vaxel2 This behaviour isn't exclusively German. It's more like a Central European thing. You see it in Austria, Czechia, Slovakia, even Hungary and Poland. I've never been to Scandinavia but I imagine it may be similar.

[@echopapacharlie]

Your German is so clear that I can comprehend quite a bit of it still, 25 years after my last German class in der Uni...

[@Olson185]

I agree. It's rare to hear German spoken so "smoothly" and with distinction between words.

[@walktheearth7878]

I love Whole Foods, but my anthropology professor used to call it “Whole Paycheck” for good reason... It’s too expensive for many Americans.

[@rich-ard-style6996]

That's right!!!!!!!!! It's only for rich people and there is no fairness about it. Because everyone wants to eat healthy. And it is a privilege to go shopping at Whole Foods when you have a fat wallet. But if you are not one of those you better do not shop there. I am for everyone should have access to good food, without acceptions, EVERYONE!

[@shirtlesslager]

One can do as well as shopping at Whole Foods at a local grocery store. I go to one my colleagues describe as "ethnic" and get incredible deals on meat, produce, fish, everything. And no goldfish bowl or uptightness.

[@sarafigueroavillegas72]

Although this is true, here in Germany happens as well with so-called "Bioproducts", what you have to question is the economical-political system that leads so many people to struggle so much to reach the end of the month although they work full jobs and only can buy the mass-produced products with terrible CO2 imprint. I know they have no choice. But the "American dream" ideology is responsible for so many people living on the edge.

[@Gamer433]

The funny fact is, that in Germany, really healthy products are most WAY cheaper than unhealthy ones. But we are often cozy (after a long day of work) to cook healthy. In Germany you can eat really easy healthy to really low prices. I think, that the biggest "problem" of those whole markets is, that they offer TOO much different stuff. So, they have to through much in the garbage after a day/week and this expenses comes on top off the prices. Just my thinking.

[@tomxipe]

South park reference

[@itsViirtueYEAH]

About the small talk part, I'm a fairly introvert/reserved American, but I still enjoy making small talk (though usually the other person initiates the conversation unless I'm at work) but it is just nice to make someone smile if their day isn't going well (or even if it is, it's just nice to make someone smile) it also opens you up to be more empathic towards lifestyles you didn't know existed, learn about new hobbies (and maybe you will be interested in picking it up yourself), maybe you will have just made a new friend. There's so much knowledge to be gained from other people. It's also nice sometimes to just not think about your own life for a minute, or to get a break from the people you usually talk to. Sometimes strangers are full of wisdom. IDK I like small talk because it can always turn into big talk and even if it doesn't we should always be open to spreading kindness into the world

[@lauravalle3766]

Ich liebe dieses Video, Cari. Ich bin eine Amerikanerin und Ich habe vorher 7 Jahre in Deutschland gelebt. Ich hasse unsere Toiletten in den USA. Keine Privatsphäre! Auch die Unterschiede zwischen Arm und Reich sind gravierend. I teach global healthcare in the US now and talk about my work as a midwife in Germany. I compare the healthcare systems of Germany, the Netherlands, France, and the U.K. with the US. Even showing my students how Germany’s system works and how broken ours is, some (nursing) students still think the US’s care is better. It’s heartbreaking. I highly recommend the read: “The Healing of America: A Global Quest for Better, Cheaper, and Fairer Health Care” by TR Reid. Ich vermisse Deutschland. Ich hoffe, dass ich bald einen Tag wiederkommen werde!

[@EasyGerman]

Thank you so much for sharing your story Laura. That is really so interesting to read. Wo in Deutschland lebst du? :)

[@rembai4]

@@EasyGerman I think she wrote 'seit' instead of 'vor' sieben Jahren. She meant she leaved there but "now teaches in the USA'😏

[@gizmo123243]

Renee Rey, das glaube ich auch. Laura ist eine Amerikanerin, die vor sieben Jahren in Deutschland lebte/gelebt hat.

[@lauravalle3766]

gizmo123243 Ja, Danke. Das ist richtig. Ich habe nur ein B2 in meinem Deutchkurs. 😇

[@lauravalle3766]

Easy German Ich habe zuvor in Heinsberg in Nordrhein-Westfalen und dann in Bitburg in Rheinland-Pfalz gelebt.

[@GregW1955]

Wonderful video, always informative when I can understand them. As an American sometimes I like to talk to strangers and sometimes I want to be left alone depending on my mood. Some of the best conversations I have ever had have been with total strangers. While in Spain my wife and I met a couple from Great Britain we stayed out until 1:30 in the morning (we are old, so it was not normal) just talking and drinking. We didn't know them before and we will never see them again, but it is one of our best memories of our many travels. We have had some conversations with Germans or Europeans but not very many.

[@annalopez4383]

When I travelled in Germany I had a hard time finding still water, there were times I bought sparkling water by accident and it was NOT a pleasant surprise lol

[@Gamer433]

Where the heck did you gone? :D I drink still water every day (i dont like sparkling water). You can buy this as easy like sparkling water. It should be really easy to find. ;)

[@Americanmapping44]

same lol I don't like sparkling water at all

[@rw7668]

is it me or do others find that the sprudel water upsets their digestion?

[@bethknight4436]

Thank you so much for your insight. As an American I understand your points of view and they were very well put. I avoid public toilets as much as possible, and although most Americans believe that education and health care are a right, we have out of control capitalism in this country. Everything is monetized. Most Americans do not get vacations and most Americans cannot afford to shop at Whole Foods. People with diabetes are dying because they cannot afford insulin. People loose their life savings and their homes because of medical expenses. Many, many homeless people have jobs but housing is too expensive. I’m not asking that you feel sorry for us, but rather to view us as an example of what happens to a society where capitalism and greed run the government.

[@Lerxstification]

Do you not think the Germany is a capitalist nation? LOL. Many of your points are straight up lies or misrepresentations.

[@lovepeacehappy8565]

@@Lerxstification Buy the system is American is a neocapitalism. They have noy social system.

[@bethknight4436]

Lerxstification none of the points I made are lies and misrepresentations.

[@Lerxstification]

@Szilvia X Truth is not dependent upon "her truth". Truth is truth. Germany is a capitalist nation. Fact. The social market economy (SOME; German: soziale Marktwirtschaft), also called Rhine capitalism, is a socioeconomic model combining a free market capitalist economic system alongside social policies that establish both fair competition within the market and a welfare state, or in simple terms CAPITALISM.

[@bethknight4436]

Szilvia X thank you so much💕

[@sebyperion]

Lebensmittelunverträglichkeit. Mein neues deutsches Lieblingswort. 🤣

[@DamnControl5]

jajajajajajajaja!!! Donaudampfschifffahrtselektrizitätenhauptbetriebswerkbauunterbeamtengesellschaft

[@LRPMQLRPC]

Haha und mein neues Lieblingswort auch!!!! Ich war sofort in es verliebt, sobald ich es gelesen habe.

[@jenmu7870]

das mit der tollen auswahl an vetschiedenen nahrungsmitteln und gerichten in restaurants sehe ich auch so. dass man weiss, was drin ist, allerdings nicht. genmanipulation ist in den usa erlaubt. mais und soja würde ich nur mit komischem gefühl essen. außerdem ist in deutschland die auswahl nicht so groß, wenn man regional kauft. im winter wächst einfach nicht so viel hier. in den usa ist es in,vielen staaten ähnlich, es wird aber vieles aus südamerika importiert. ökologisch ist eine übertriebene auswahl also nicht. die toiletten sind mir auch schon aufgefallen. kann mir einer der amerikaner sagen, warum die toilettenoffen einsehbar sind? hat das einen bestimmten grund? ich las mal, dass es deshalb so sei, um im falle eines notfslls eingreifen zu können. stimmt das?

[@jenmu7870]

@@DamnControl5 das ist fake.

[@Blondesax]

Right? Hab es mir angesehen, und dachte mir "WAS. Für ein langes Wort!"

[@PatrickAustern]

Ich bin von Frankreich. Ich habe in Deutschland, in England und in der USA gelebt. Ich finde deine Videos grossartig. Mir gefällt wirklich, wie taktvoll du bist. I am from France. I lived in Germany, UK and USA. I really find your videos great. In particular the tact you you have in presenting these topics.

[@ЮлияВолодина-ъ5в]

Danke! Das Video hat mir sehr gut gefallen. Gruesse aus St.Petersburg, Russland. Guten Rutsch in das Neue Jahr!

[@klausnicholasschmidt]

Tolles Gespräch. Ich lebe seit 30 Jahren in den USA und denke dass du eine hervorragende Zusammenfassung dieser kulturellen Shocks gemacht hast. Gute Arbeit!

[@gk4683]

Excellent video. Coming from an European living in USA I completely agree with all your observations. Very deep and insightful.

[@Nogoingback424]

We're weirded out by the toilets too. I always choose the stall where there isn't. a crack in the door. Very insightful video. It's great to hear someone's perspective seeing it with fresh eyes.

[@antoinebeauman]

Ich finde es sehr positiv, dass ein Punk, eine alte Frau und ein Geschäftsmann miteinander reden. Ich gehe davon aus, dass sie nach ihrem Aufenthalt in Deutschland genug Gespräche über ihre Reise führen werden. Jeder hat wahrscheinlich ganz andere Erfahrungen gemacht, aber es ist schön, dass sie miteinander interagieren.

[@megg8451]

I'm from the UK, living in Germany and the one thing I hate is no free water in restaurants. My friend got charged 5 euro for a 250ml glass, not okay. Apart from that Germans are cool

[@Marzelmusik]

As far as i know restaurants charge more money on drinks, because the food is therefore priced more competitively.

[@slamson3392]

@@Marzelmusik Thats hella expensive for water...I think you missed the point Megan was trying to make

[@Jerry113]

dat awkward moment when you make eye contact with the fella sitting on the toilet

[@EasyGerman]

😂

[@nikhil5133]

😂😂 unimaginable for a non-american

[@amyfrench8678]

My question for all those with the toilet issue... I've gotten through almost 60 years of life using many public toilets without ever having eye contact with someone in a stall. Why are you looking through the gaps you pervs?!! :-P I understand this would be an issue for men but not women that always use a stall.

[@amyfrench8678]

@@ScottKnitter Ah, got it. Makes perfect sense.

[@Jerry113]

@@amyfrench8678 ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

[@EudaemoniusMarkII]

I was just at the gym, a whole conversation with a guy I had never met before about Burl Ives, Christmas carols, and crank calls as a kid. Welcome to Monterey, California! :)

[@iurieceban126]

I'm sure you have noticed the prices in whole foods, the freedom of choice is not for everyone in usa

[@Mazzpennn]

Trader Joe's -- that's all I have to say

[@taxu7936]

yes, trader joe’s has great prices

[@scottmuck]

Yes, the Trader Joe’s example is a good one. Of course Whole Foods is at the high end of price, but as anyone who has lived in both Europe and US knows, the abundance and choice is far greater in the US. It’s not even close. At all levels of the price spectrum. HEB, Albertsons, Kroger, pick your grocer. They all have mega-stores overflowing with every conceivable kind of produce, meat, etc... you just don’t see anything like that in Europe (at least not regularly).

[@lespaulx]

The freedom of choice stars when you choose which price you decide to pay for what you what, nobody is forcing you to pay nothing you don't want to.

[@llothar68]

@@scottmuck Most people can only pick their favorite grocer if they are willing to drive 50 miles.

[@gracec.5681]

It makes sense that you heard strangers talking with each other on a plane ride to Chicago because people in that part of the United States (The Midwest) are known for being very friendly and sincere.

[@trishayamada807]

Grace C. And as a person from the Midwest, people have always chatted with me and felt free to tell me so much personal stuff! My husband (not American) were in an airport in japan and this businessman started chatting with me as we stood in a non moving security line. My husband asked me who my friend was. Um, he’s not my friend, I just met him. LoL And this happens to me all over the world.

[@nemo7782]

I'm originally from the Midwest as well and it is worth noting that the largest pool of people with German ancestry still reside there.

[@amyfrench8678]

I've watched dozens of these videos on the differences of America to other countries and this is the one that always makes me sad. I'm from Southern California and could start up a conversation with anyone lol. I am genuinely curious about everyone and the life they live. It's the only way we will ever have a chance of learning to accept one another with our differences. You can hear some fascinating stories and may meet someone who has an unexpected impact on your life.

[@JeffB2015]

I'm a transplant living in the upper Midwest and the general stereotype here is that people are reserved, distant, fake-nice, and passive aggressive, but generally very polite and unobtrusive. It has been tough making friends here since people tend to mostly be friends with the folks they grew up with (moreso than other places in the US I have lived). Broad generalization, and It's all relative I guess :D

[@QuietlyCurious]

I'm from Los Angeles and the warmth and friendliness of Midwesterners the first time I visited Nebraska floored me. I thought I was being punk'd.

[@maddog392]

Wow that was surprisingly great insight - super interesting! I've never thought that the water tasted chlorinated but I have noticed that the water is always a little different everywhere you go - even within a single region. Also, as a Philadelphian, I hear that concerns about safety all the time, particularly from people who don't live here . In my experience though, it's just fine. If you don't go looking for trouble, you shouldn't have any trouble.

[@miriamromero2995]

This video just popped up on my feed. I have never been to Germany nor do I speak German but I'm glad it did. I really enjoyed it! I agree with everything u said and I liked that you spoke in a respectful manner. It was fun to see my country through another culture's eyes. On a 2nd note, my grandmother used to speak to me in Yiddish when I was little and I was surprised how much German I could understand with you speak slowly and clearly. I was honestly shocked at how much I could understand! Nice video!

[@LoneStarRKW]

Vielen Dank fürs Video! Als US-Amerikaner, der jahrelang in der deutschsprachigen Schweiz lebt, finde ich deine Einschätzungen und Beobachtungen beides sehr akkurat sowie sehr feinfühlig. Ich stamme aus Texas; habe in CH sowie jahrelang im UK gelebt und um mich über die Unterschiede dieser 3 Ländern und deren Lebensstilen nachzugrübeln ist fast ein "Hobby" von mir!

[@stanleyliao1843]

Thanks!

[@terikeith787]

I’m from Montana. I went to the West Edmonton Mall in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and a lady working there said to me that “...everything in America is SO commercial and fake!” And I said to her, “You realize that you make your living at the largest mall in the world!” (Which was true at the time.) And that “the population of the city of Edmonton is greater that the entire population of the state of Montana.” She had not further comment.

[@leswhynin913]

As a Canadian, I would say the cultural differences between U.S. and Canada are pretty minor. Both countries have big regional variations. I think as Canadians we feel the need to differentiate ourselves, but it's pretty much a waste of time. The cultural differences between European nations and North American nations are much more pronounced.

[@craiga2002]

Canadian foreign policy - "We're not the US!" Canadian domestic policy - "We're not the US!"

[@pa3997]

Montana looks really beautiful from the pictures. Im from Germany and recently googled Montana after I read a book from there. Its as big as Germany but while we have about 83 Million people, Montana has only one Million (although the number of people seems to increase). But its a similiar thing with Austrians and Germans. Austrians often point out differences, because otherwise they would be in the shadow of the Germans.

[@h.b.7104]

@@leswhynin913 I'm an American living in Canada and I think the differences are larger than you state between Canada and the US. It is most noticeable in the social welfare system--not just health care, but family leave policies, federal and provincial support for public education, and many other things. Canadians are more like Europeans in their relationship to their government. Beyond that, Canadians are not as loud as Americans and tend to value politeness in public space much more than Americans. While there are similarities, I think the differences are significant and noticeable.

[@ausgepicht]

I think non-Americans have a misconception about "How are you?" It isn't really a question, but a way of saying "Hello." We see this in many languages. For example in some Southern Chinese dialects, people greet each other by saying "Chi le ma?" and this is typically translated as "Hello, how are you?" but it literally means "Have you eaten?" They aren't really asking you if you've eaten, but are saying "Hello." or "How are you?" and you can answer the question "Have you eaten?" as if you were asked "How are you?" in other words, "I'm well." or "Things aren't so good." So it's become a figure of speech. But let me clear up one thing right now: we DO care how you are doing. We just know that in the next few seconds or minutes we're going to get into how you are doing, because how someone is doing is NEVER summed up in a simple "Good" or "Bad." It requires what has been going on in a person's life in the past few days. We KNOW the follow-up conversation is going to have all the details. What we do is get a few pleasantries out of the way, but we know we are going to get at the heart of how you are doing. I'm certainly not saying there aren't vapid, callous Americans, because there certainly are, but that people are misunderstanding how the greeting. "Hi" and "hello" are formal greetings to a co-worker, stranger, boss, stranger, someone we don't really know well but seen before and it's usually in passing. We reserve "How are you?" or "How's it going?" as an informal greeting for people we like or plan on having a conversation with. It's a "Hi" plus a "Let's chat."

[@nemo7782]

I don't know if 'Easy German' has ever truly been in rural America, but greeting strangers and passersby is courtesy, not intrusiveness. Since I've moved out here [i.e. 'the sticks'] and live out here, I love the fact that there is a sense of being decent to your fellow man that you seldom ever find in big cities now. Also, folks in rural areas are not dumb bumpkins without a clue. We do have smarts and any travelers out our way really need to know that. Just some things for folks like EG to remember.

[@uppercut147]

Also, I lived in Sweden for a year, and they are similar in the regard of disliking small talk. I taught English in a school and I would say hi to whomever I saw in the hallways, even if I saw them multiple times in a short span. I would jokingly be like "Oh hey again!" And finally a student was like, "you don't have to say something every time we see each other. We don't do that here." LOLLLLL. It was a relief to hear that because I honestly hate having to be so talkative to be considered polite or friendly.

So here it is...in the US, we will strike up casual conversations with strangers as a sign of respect for the humanity of that person or just to kill time (as on a plane). There is supposed to be "7 degrees of separation" between people, so you never know who you know in common. The fear of bad areas is not exaggerated. My 12 year old granddaughter was sitting on a porch in St. Louis and a bullet missed her head by about a foot, bounced off the storm door. Her mother was robbed at gunpoint by a 9 year old. She was solicited drugs walking the dog. You can't send your kid to school there, unless you want them to worry about not being in a gang or being in a gang, it's a no-win situation. My grandchild has to live with me in the suburbs so she can go to school with no fear. You are being very naive. When you go to the bathroom, just avert your eyes. At least they are free. You are correct, the problem with homelessness is horrible. There is very poor care for the mentally ill, and it is very, very difficult for people starting out in life, or people who have had a bad turn of luck, to get their feet on the ground. If you don't have family or your family won't help you, you might have a very bad outcome. It has gotten worse because the distribution of income has become worse. Americans are rated as the most generous in the World, and I think it's because deep down, we all know our own lives are precarious. There are many, many of us who carry other's burdens.

[@tupelohoney622]

With regard to the homeless, many have mental health issues or are addicts and have no desire to have stable housing. It is their right as a free American to live as they choose. It is very difficult to admit someone involuntarily to a mental health or rehab facility.

[@meg7610]

I definitely thought the comparison between the "be careful" in Europe and USA was strange, too. Maybe it's because I've never been to Europe, but in the US gun homicide is a real threat depending on where you go. & there are absolutely certain areas that just "not looking like you belong" can be enough to get you in trouble. In downtown LA not being careful or knowing where you are can land you in Skid Row. And being a foreigner? I witnessed plenty of foreign tourists being way too trustful of their surroundings and ending up being harassed, being robbed of their belongings, or being scammed. You need a situational awareness in certain areas, it just seems like common sense to me.

[@redkingoldhero38]

yeah i think her perception of people saying be careful is definitely naive. i live in chicago, she simply would not be welcome in certain neighborhoods especially at night. and if you're on foot you're just about begging to be mugged.

[@tupelohoney622]

@Nacht Aktiv I agree that their mental illness prevents them from making rational choices. However, the way US laws are written you cannot force a person to seek help or take medication. The only exception are 48 hr/72 hr holds for people in crisis and government mandated participation in a drug program, anger management class after convicted of committing a crime. It is one of the byproducts, good or bad, of individual liberty. It is extremely frustrating for loved ones of people with mental illness and makes it very difficult to obtain legal guardianship if the individual objects.

[@suekeller3831]

Vielen Dank fuer die Easy German Videos. Ich bin eine amerikanishe Lehrerin (Mathe) aber vor 30 Jarhen war Deutsch mein Nebenfach auf Uni. Ich kann, und werde, meinen Deutsch mehr oft benutzen. Ich versuche jeden Tag einen Video zu anschauen.

[@Bosolevu]

In Australia nobody talks on public transport during the week. At weekends people talk quietly and on Friday and Saturday night, it's a completely different experience. I think that Australia is somewhere between the U.S. and Germany, but it's definitely cleaner and safer than both. The public toilets give you a lot of privacy and are spotless. The food is pretty healthy. The rich areas don't allow to open fast food. I never go to the bakeries here. The bread is very average. The sweets are tasteless and contain too much sugar. The tap water is free everywhere. Not the best. They don't drink sparkling water. You can buy it, but it all comes from Italy.

[@mnledesm]

Hello Carina. First of all I find all these Easy german videos so addicting and enjoyable. I have only been to Germany twice but did not stay longer than a few days due to my hectic schedule. I found it beautiful and I long to come back hopefully soon. With regards to your comment about unsafe places in the US (ex: Detroit), you will be amazed at what you see when you walk in the shoes of those who live there every day. Although this is just my account, I lived in Los Angeles in the 1990s which was a time of heavy gang violence and crime. You will hear stories about people making the wrong turn with their cars and being completely surrounded by gang members and shot (including innocent children). Along with that, wearing the wrong colors (blue in a red gang area) would get you shot without remorse, no matter what your age. You have to understand the history of these neighborhoods to really know about the current complex state of the present time. It has become much improved since those times, but there are still lingering areas which to avoid. You do not want to learn the hard way about these people and places. That is why many Americans especially if they come from places like those become so enamored by Europe. It is a paradise, a wonderland and although not perfect, it is a place dreamt of by many Americans.

[@jeremycline9542]

Wow...that thing about Whole Foods really shocked me! Of course, Whole Foods shocks us Americans as well--with their prices! (cough) (cough)

[@EasyGerman]

Yeah I believe so 😂

[@EasyGerman]

But actually American food prices shock us generally. To us food and drinks in the US are just more expensive in general and we kind of get used to spending more while being on a trip in the US. So maybe that's why we arent shocked then when we see even bigger differences within the US itself.

[@jeremycline9542]

Whole Foods is so expensive, yet the food is SO good...I purposefully avoid going there. Maybe someday we can reduce the military spending and feed ourselves...

[@lucasmeiser]

We sometimes joke that Wholefoods should be called "Whole Paycheck" since it is so expensive!

[@Tommusix]

So, to live healthy is a case for rich people?

[@jjclark1313]

I'm chuckling about your comments regarding small talk. I worked for a German woman for nearly two years. I am a very talkative person who enjoys getting to know people and hearing their stories. She was not. One morning, when she came into work, I told her good morning and asked her how she was doing. She looked at me and asked, "are you asking me because you care or because it is the polite thing to do?" I assured her I was interested or I wouldn't have asked. It took us a while to learn how to deal with each other's culture but by the time I left that job, I really liked her and we got along well.

[@edwardre6323]

Not every city has very noticeable chlorinated water. Here where I live, it's not at all. And yes, water is usually free, unless it comes in a bottle.

[@lysha_chmo]

Seiner Channel ist einfach Wunderbar! Sie helfen mir sehr! Tausendanke an Cari, Janush und das ganze Easy German Team!

[@ariabite2566]

I think your observations are on point. Our public restrooms are terrible, most people do not want to use them. If you are lucky you can usually find a toilet for one hidden in a small store or restaurant. There really are parts of our cities that are dangerous, we are reminded of this every evening when we watch the news. The food here ranges from terrible to amazing. For amazing food go to Austin Texas! Small talk is considered "polite". Excessive small talk can be "annoying". Avoiding small talk at all cost can be "rude". You can avoid small talk with a nice smile and not be thought of as rude. This doesn't apply in crowded places where we can be just as inconspicuous as Germans, but make eye contact in a quiet corner and its game on. Or better yet, speak and let your German accent be heard, you will find instant friends! Now I've just returned from Germany. Let me share my observations. Germany has a long way to go to master "comfort". Do they buy everything from IKEA? The furniture, the beds, the pillows, the hotel rooms and even the placement of toilets are often uncomfortable. This is the second trip where the toilet in our hotel room was placed centimeters from the glass shower making it almost unusable - how do your building inspectors let this pass? What do you have against shower curtains? I'm sure the Putzfrau complains after every American tourist sprays water everywhere uncontrollably in (and outside) the showers. On the other hand your comforters are amazing, like little clouds from heaven - You have perfected the comforter! To be wrapped in these gifts from God makes all the other oddities melt away! Your food is amazing! Breakfast is amazing, Lunch is amazing, Kuchen is amazing, Abendbrot is amazing - The food in Northern Germany is the best anywhere in the world I have been, it deserves so much more credit and attention. I love walking thru your neighborhoods in the mornings when people are already cooking Roladen, Gulasch, Bratkartofeln. Your beer is the best in the world and your wine may be as well. And your bike paths - best idea ever. You don't need Whole Foods, Whole Foods needs you! My son says America has perfected coffee! Europe has fallen way behind. I find this funny but perhaps a revelation that may be true. Coffee has experienced amazing growth in America far beyond Starbucks (the new McDonald's). Recently craft beer breweries are popping up everywhere and they are packed with people too. Our beer is still immature in my opinion but it may not far behind. Thank you for your videos!

[@Gigi-us4jk]

Gulash is Polish. German wine is mediocre to really bad, the vines need sun to produce the best wine without ice, and Germany is not known for the sunshine days and without ice. Even the Californian wine is most years better than the German one. And believe me Californian wine is not the best out there. The bike paths actually are a Dutch idea, that's where the Germans took it from at least. Normally, the hotels do have some kind of divider from the rest of the bath, normally it's not a curtain but a plastic door. A curtain in a hotel is not hygienic for anyone, it cannot be cleaned from the cleaning stuff, and the room has to be clean at least for the next guest to go in. As for the food, I'm Mediterranean leaving in Germany so I strongly protest that German food is good. It can't be any good if I see them eating tomatoes in January. and they still believe they are eating healthy. Or if I see them eating out of cans, which is their normal everyday food. Or when they BBQ, they put the stake on for about 5 minutes each side and you can still see blood when you cut it, which means that if the animal has a disease you can get it too. American coffee I hate it, starbacks coffee i hate it too, and yes I've tried to find a mix that I liked since my sister wanted to go there all the time. Coffees that I like in Europe are the Italian mixes, they are coming normally from Brazil and Ethiopia, and the french ones, although they are a little bit lighter. German coffee is very close to American coffee. To tell you the truth they both remind me of water with coffee flavor.

[@ariabite2566]

Well, thank you for sharing Gigi. What are your favorite Mediterranean foods?

[@duftstabkerze4236]

@@Gigi-us4jk Gulasch is Hungarian. German vine is like vinegar.

[@annip.3431]

@@duftstabkerze4236 Did you ever drink Spätburgunder Weißherbst?

[@ScottKnitter]

Public restrooms here in the USA seem designed (1) to encourage users to leave promptly and not hang around, and (2) to be easy to clean.

[@Ooohhweejaypee]

Toller Inhalt. Wohne seit 11 Jahren in den Staaten. Stimmt alles!

[@niloufarberukhim5588]

I can really relate to your comment about small talk. I grew up in Hamburg and moved to the US after my Abitur. Last year I took my family to Hamburg for the first time. The first thing we did was go to Edeka, because my kids wanted to see all the treats I always told them about, Haribo, kinderuberraschung, marzipan..., Once we were inside we were talking and walking. Then I noticed all these German people staring at us. We were the ONLY people talking at the store!!!! My kids could not stop laughing, which made even more people stare at us. To my kids it felt like Germans are always acting like they are in the library. Loved your commentary!

[@sarahreid2173]

When I visited Germany in 2017 I was so struck by the lack of poverty that we in the USA see every day. The farms we passed in transit from one place to another were well kept and tidy. This is the exception rather than the rule in the area that I come from. I also work at a nonprofit dedicated to fighting poverty, so the site of a country where things were so much better than my home was amazing. I also couldn't agree more with your comments on how Americans view "socialist" societies versus how they are viewed in Germany. I think the USA has so much to learn from Germany in the areas of education, healthcare, and child care. Very much enjoyed this video!

[@jesseandersen4055]

Was really great to hear your thoughts on this. Sometimes I have trouble listening to Europeans talk about the us because they say many of the same things you do. To be clear, the average American generally wants these things, too. Healthcare and education for all. The people in the US who don't are generally rich people who have something to gain from the systems currently in place. The US has quite a bit of corruption, as does any country, but I definitely agree with you. Healthcare and education should be a fundamental right in the modern era. I'd you're poor and want to go to university you'll likely be in debt the rest of your life unless youre going for a really high paying career. But even then sometimes, take a doctor for example. You might need 8 years of schooling instead of 4 to get a job, and now you have double the debt. First world countries love to flaunt their government's as democratic and free, but if you ask me the US is more like an oligarchy ruled by the richest and most influential families. Whenever there's legislation coming through that someone doesn't like, money talks. That's not democracy, and that's the kind of thing holding back the US in my opinion.

[@carolinewithers1647]

There's a lot of money available for truly poor students to university. Much of this money goes unclaimed. It's the middle-class kids that suffer. Most European countries are more socialist than we are. Someone is going to pay for that healthcare and for that higher education. We have a huge military that requires lots of taxpayer money. Not saying you are wrong in your observations.

[@Tennischamp10]

You are a poor person who doesnt want to work hard and sacrifice to get ahead. You want people to take care of you. Shame

[@jesseandersen4055]

@@Tennischamp10 you’re right, I’m terrible for wanting people to have equal opportunities through access to healthcare and education.

[@Tennischamp10]

@@jesseandersen4055 You want other people to pay for your way. You stand with your handout instead of head down and work hard. You will never be successful because you are too worried about what you don't have vs what you can get with hard work.

[@brotigesbroetchen]

@@Tennischamp10 It's not a matter of how hard somebody works though. It's about opportunities. Everyone is born in a differnet family, some families just have more money than others, so some people have more opportunities from birth. A lot of people will never be able to afford to go to university, no matter how hard they work, how many jobs they have etc. If university was affordable for everyone, people who are born poor or in middle class who are actually smart and want to learn, could do that. Then they could work in better paid jobs and give back to the community so that other people who are in a similar situation can also go to college. Seems to me like you have a very narrow-minded view on that topic.

[@unioncityman63]

Now, I understand why, as an American, I don’t like ‘small talk’ and most everyone using ‘how are you?’ as a greeting when they don’t really want to know, it’s my Deutsche Blut rebelling against it! 😀😀

[@daylightmoon7285]

Some Europeans have a superficial understanding of American culture and should learn more about it than repeating the stereotypical comments (they are becoming their grandparents and parents). There are proper circumstances as to what, when and where you make small talk.

[@ekaterinas8796]

james wagner 😂 What culture?

[@v.r.2834]

unioncityman63 Don’t worry, Germans are also asking „ wie geht es dir“ without real interest. They are ice cold, I live in Germany for a long time and know them very well...

[@donwhitt9899]

If you don't say something like 'How are you?' then what are you going to say? Hi? - which is short for 'Hidy!", which is short for 'Howdy!', which is short for 'How do you do?', and you are back where you started. So you might as well say 'How are you?' and get it over with.

[@MrDaithis]

@@_blank-_ Because it's a phatic expression

[@hanialsaadi9961]

I've been to the U.S few years ago and living now in Germany. you can definitely notice how different the way Americans "interact" with others compared to Germans. Americans are more social and friendly. you can always expect that someone somewhere in the elevator or bank or in a waiting line would talk to you or say Hello at least. In Germany the rule is "awkward silence".

[@Lol-sz7ft]

the rule is "silence", the "awkward" is a personell thing..

[@coover65]

I purposely broke a rule of ettiquite in Tokyo, by saying "Hello" to a stranger sitting next to me on a train. He actually enjoyed the fact that a stranger would do that. It's an unknown concept on Japanese transport to make eye contact, let alone speak.

[@AntPet999]

In Russia it is more like in German than. Though you can have some casual conversation in a lift or in a queue . Especially with older friendly women.

[@stefansvideokanal1686]

I think there is a difference betwen citys and villages. On a village its normal to say hello. You comes easyier in contact with others. In a town, an every one do his own thing. Saying hello only if you know a person.

[@pierinnaph]

What happen if someone just constantly acts friendly in Germany? At some point people will have to act friendly as well 😂

[@johnbills1842]

Thanks for sharing in an understanding and open way. I’ve visited Germany three times. I enjoyed every time all of it. I enjoy the differences. Thanks

[@theroosha]

Sehr schönes Video. Danke. Ich komme aus Ägypten, also schweige ich lieber. 🙈 😃 Euch allen einen guten Rutsch ins neue Jahr 2019.

[@isalucie7522]

OK, I have to say that this KZbin channel is amazing !!!! You make a great work ! I've been living in Berlin since 20 years and if this channel had existed when I arrived alone in Germany, my German would be much better and the videos would have helped me a lot to integrate! Chapeau ! You and the whole team do an amazing job !

[@EasyGerman]

Wow, thank you!

[@Learnamericanenglishonline]

Hi Kari -- I love your videos! They really help me develop a sense of the sound of the German language. Here's an idea for you: Why don't you come to the United States and conduct interviews in English with ordinary Americans who are just out walking around outside, just as you do in Germany? I realize that does not quite match what you are doing with this channel, but you could come up with a new channel for just this purpose. You and Janusz have a natural and genial style to your conversations. I think you would do well here in the U.S. Perhaps the subtitles could be in German. Thanks for all of your good work.

[@andrybazab]

Cari! Als Italiener zum Besuch in den USa habe ich fast alle deine Eindrücke und Kulturschocks erfahren! Das bedeutet , dass das für uns Europäer bedeutet , dass unsere Kulture ganz näher als wir denken sind! Besonders zum Thema Unrecht und Armut was mir aufgefallen ist ist mehr als die durchschnittliche Armut auf der Straße die Atmosphäre dass was reicher ist mehr wichtig ist . Das als Hintergrund Meinung (das kann natürlich teilweise falsch sein) ist was mir am meistens schockiert hat! Danke schön für deine wunderbare Videos! Ich denke du könntest öfter dieses Format (Cari spricht über .+Thema) handeln! Das würde fantastisch!! Tschüss aus Italien!

[@djohnson-ku4cl]

I lived in Europe and something that surprised me how each country is very very different. We tend to think in the US that "Europeans do this or that", but really it varies quite a bit by country. Nice video!

[@stevenroach6809]

Great video - very informative. I grew up in Germany as a small child and find these impressions very interesting. Thank you for taking the time.

[@lizhumble9953]

I was in Krefeld for an exchange in High school for 6 weeks, so not really a full exchange but I loved Germany. I thought it was interesting that you mentioned the bathrooms, because I thought it was crazy that they had an attendant in the bathroom that you were supposed to pay, or that you had to pay for the toilet. Also they sold beer at the high school, I know that drinking age was not really a thing there but I was surprised you could buy beer at mid day break with fresh bread at school. About the water with your meal, that was a shock to me as well, and they would not bring you just water from the faucet. They acted like it was not drinkable water, they only wanted to serve Perrier, which of course tastes different. Lastly a friend got pulled for drunk bicycling after a night at the pub, in the pedestrian plaza. We truly thought the cop was kidding at first. That is not a thing here.

[@helenblakovich1622]

Hehe, yea, the chlorination in the water gets certain people. It can be cut down by adding a filter to your tap. Fluoridation is also there, so I'm not sure how that affects taste, but it does help with cavities. Once the municipal authorities started adding it, dental decay rates started dropping. So you'll find fewer people with dentures in their 50s now, whereas 40-50 years ago, that wasn't the case. Great video! I love how balanced you were. I'd love to visit Germany sometime.

[@rw7668]

I find the differences regarding bathrooms fascinating (OK, so I'm weird). So, in the USA, there are reasons for why the walls and doors don't go all the way to the ground. For example, it enables you to quickly see that someone is already in the "stall" and, therefore, you should not push against the door and potentially walk in on someone. Also, it makes mopping the floor much easier. Finally, it discourages more than one person from going into the stall together (given that others can see how many feet there are). Gaps between the door and the stall's front wall or between the side wall and the front wall are merely a sign of poor construction practices. To address the gaps, sometimes, people hang toilet paper from the top to cover the gaps. A practical but uncomfortable thing I have found in German bathrooms over the years is that the bathrooms in some bars and restaurants were freezing cold because rather than having exhaust fans, there were open windows (I assume to deal with odors, a real problem with WC's). Also, and I didn't see this the last time I was in Berlin, there often used to be the very sad bathroom attendants (I forget the "funny" name they were called), old women sitting on stools at the bathroom sinks (even in the men's rooms) for whom you would give some Trinkgeld as they were there to clean the Klo. I always felt terrible thinking that someone's grandmother was cleaning public toilets.

[@avres13]

Also it’s to deter people from having sex or using drugs in the stalls.

[@janettearaya284]

I was once in a bathroom where they had installed saloon doors on the stalls. Whoever installed them put them so high up that you couldn't see over them, but everyone could see what you were doing below!

[@telocho]

If people are having sex in the stalls then weird people is the real problem (or is it…?), and why in the rest of the world this doesn’t happen with closed stalls then? It’s a solution trying to find a problem.

[@rw7668]

@@telocho The gaps at the bottom of the doors act as a deterrent because those people know that others can see there is more than one person in the stalls as opposed to stalls with doors that reach the floor. As for people having sex in public restrooms, I’m sure it happens all over the world. Not having deterrents makes no sense. After all, “no parking” signs and prohibitions of murder and assault come with deterrents (fines and incarceration) because people cannot be trusted to obey societal norms and laws and instead, they can be expected to hide or disguise their unacceptable and unlawful behavior.

[@agalva100]

I loooove this channel and this video was on point! I live outside my country too and find the talk about cultural shocks very interesting. Again, great video 👍👌

[@drcraigostrander6610]

Sehr interessant! For me, I find it funny, the more time I spend in both countries, the more similar I find them. In fact, I really see Germans and Americans quite similar once I get to know them. In general, I do think the pioneering spirit of Americas past has persisted till today especially when it comes to risk taking and rule breaking (the negative) but also entrepreneurialism (the positive). Similarly, Germans seem more preoccupied with safety and security and are more reserved. In the end, I’ll bet we are 98% the same, but it is those 2% of those differences that are really fascinating. Thank you for being so respectful. Keep up making your great videos.

[@alinapepine5227]

I just love your videos. I am in a full process of learning german and thanks to you, i find it really easy and I have learnt so many words and expressions just by watching your videos.

[@B7yc3e]

Ich habe dieses Video geliebt. As an American, I agree with everything you said haha. I'm hoping to go abroad to Germany for a year soon and was wondering some of the biggest culture shocks I'll have while I'm over there

[@eazydp]

For me the biggest culture shock in Germany was people coming up and chastising you if you ever break the rules, even if they are so asinine or broken by nearly everyone.

[@EasyGerman]

Yes, we should do a video about that 😂

[@GianniPT]

I was surprised by the fact that many places in Germany require you to pay with cash. I understand a small shop not accepting credit cards. But we would go to a nice restaurant, eat several courses, drink a couple bottles of wine, and then have to pay cash. So if you go, be sure to bring Euros or plan on going to the bank to withdraw cash.

[@gabriellebick2248]

Cari you’re a fun person to learn with you have the most beautiful charm and wit, and I just love learning with you

[@brianbara3204]

Sharing this with an American friend who emigrated to Germany a few years ago to join her German husband.

[@t8558]

Du bist positive und super nett Cari! Ich mag deine Videos!

[@aaronwhite1786]

Great video! I think, as an American, one of the weirdest things as you mentioned, is the attitude of "Well I've got mine". I've had the argument with my Mom before. She's complained about the raising of the minimum wage, and when I asked why she cared, and we worked past the reason of "Things will get more expensive" (Got forbid the dollar menu become the dollar-fifty menu...) but it eventually becomes me asking "Why should 'minimum wage' not be enough to live off of?". Her answer, and something I've heard echoed frequently online is "Well they aren't supposed to be jobs for adults" which is always frustrating because that's not the world that exists in actuality.

[@EasyGerman]

Yeah that's actually interesting to hear. It's kind of people are jealous that others get more than what they havent "earned" in their eyes, is it like that?

[@craigistheman101]

Easy German yes. Many people in the US believe retail to be jobs for young adults in university or high schoolers (even though Store are open during school hours 😒). If you don’t like the pay you should, quit and get a “real job” because no one is forcing you to stay. However, the reality is that these “real jobs” are hard to get. I graduated in 2016, and can’t even get an entry level job. There next argument will be that I picked a stupid major, and that it is my fault. You can’t win with them. Honestly this is usually the mindset of Republicans, I have mine so fuck everyone else. However, the second the banks crash or a hurricane destroys their beach house they will have their hands out for a bank bail out or FEMA pay out.

[@aaronwhite1786]

@@EasyGerman Just seeing this unfortunately, but yeah, I think that's a good way to put it. I think a lot of people forget that sometimes they might just be born into a more fortunate position in life. It shouldn't diminish their standing at all to help someone else up in life, but for some reason a lot of people get the mentality of forcing someone to "earn" it, even if they themselves never really did.

[@dm-gq5uj]

Raising the minimum wage doesn't work. First of all, it also drives prices up. If you get a raise, but everything else becomes more expensive, your raise does not do much good. Secondly, it hurts small businesses. Large corporations can absorb the extra cost, but if you are a small business owner with 15 employees, you might have to lay off a worker or two to continue to make a profit. Or else you stop hiring. What is the cost to society when jobs are NOT created? People don't think about that - a business that could have 30 employees now makes due with 15 and doesn't expand because they can't afford to add to their workforce. (Look up economist Thomas Sowell on this subject - he is very good.) It is easy to just say "Everyone should make more money" and feel like you are compassionate for saying so but someone else has to pay the piper.

[@mahaawaryaa2871]

@@aaronwhite1786 Aaron you're exactly right, young people nowadays can't even get a job at Mcdonalds if they have two or three degrees. There will be a revolution soon, involving people born from 97' on wards, quote me on it.

[@davidshimp5116]

Awesome video! I love hearing your opinions about the US and our cultural differences, they were very balanced and insightful. As an American living in Brazil and married to a Canadian, I am always shocked going back to the US how big an issue socialized healthcare is! It is without fail the first question posed, and with utmost skepticism. Does it even work? Isn't the quality of care terrible? I don't think so, it's just more of a priority to Canadians and worth paying higher taxes for. Here in Brazil the wealth disparity is much more noticeable even than in the US... And the openness and social ability to chat with and befriend really anyone and everyone is incredible; it's much more of a "warm" culture than that of Americans and Canadians (that also makes it kind of overwhelming at times, but in a "too much of a good thing" way) Where do you think the US lies on a scale from Germany to, say, Brazil (out other South/Central American countries) in terms of cultural "warmth"? One more thing, when I studied abroad (too briefly!) in Germany, many German friends also expressed how überflächlich Americans were, because of our tendency to express interest in making plans but not necessarily following through! Haha, this does happen, but maybe we see it as a friendly and still genuine interest (at least I always offer it genuinely) to see the person again, just without there being much at stake if nothing happens. But I think it's wonderful that Germans take these invitations more seriously. It bothers me quite a bit when I hear many Americans and Brazilians assuming Germans are basically unfriendly (and without fail bashing the German language). I found some of the friendships I made amongst Germans to be extremely deep once they were made. Reliable and loyal, and very caring. I would love the chance to live in Germany someday, soak in your culture, and finally return to my German language studies! Love your videos and topics! (I wish Easy Portuguese were as thorough, professional, and technical)

[@heikeahlbory1738]

In Deutschland : 'ein Mann, ein Wort.'

[@robyn3349]

Danke! Sehr interessant! I have used that generous space under the cubical door to crawl out when the knob on the door broke! I was glad it was there! Hahaha!

[@EasyGerman]

😂 for real? 😂

[@Kennikus]

@@EasyGerman Omg, we have ALL done this, especially as kids. It's useful for a lot of practical jokes too.

[@evelinholmes6401]

Easy German at least the toilets are free of use. The public toilets coming with a cost, even in a department store. Visit KaDeWe in Berlin and people came with 6 bags of merchandise and still had to pay to use the toilets. That’s insane. These are natural occurrence and you should not have to pay. Even in the big Harrods store the toilets where free. Shame on you germany. Been to Tokyo,Singapore,Bangkok,Hongkong, Buenos Aires, Montevideo and many other place and never had to pay for a toilet

[@amyfrench8678]

Forget about the broken handle. I'm sure many a drunk bar patrons just thought it would be easier to crawl out than mess with that little ol' knob lmao! Um, not me though.

[@FlamingCockatiel]

@@evelinholmes6401 I was there two years ago and was greatly annoyed by pay toilets. The concept is not without merit, but I wouldn't charge more than 25 cents, while they charged a Euro. Also, I saw one drinking fountain the whole time I was there. I prefer to refill my bottle rather than buying multiple disposable ones.

[@keesdekeijzer77]

Ich hab vor kurzem diese Videos kennengelernt. Ich glaube, wir teilen die Interesse an Sprachen und Kulturen! Ein realer "eye-opener" war fuer mich die Arbeit des Professors Hofstede. Kann ich dir zum Lesen empfehlen!

[@gregsfilms3986]

Ahh, the free water issue. I'm French living in Belgium and I'm therefore used to getting water for free in restaurants like it is done in France. You definitely get angry looks in Belgium when you ask for tap water which is a shame...

[@theoneandonlylordfarquaad3361]

Ich bin ein Amerikaner mit halb Deutsch Abstammung! Ich liebe ihre Videos! 😊

[@missclarestube]

They have whole foods in the uk too. I used to go there often, they have lots of things you couldn't buy anywhere else, but quite expensive.

[@pandoraswar]

I appreciate this so much! The differences are so neat. I've been learning German for almost 2 months now and watching these videos help with that as well! 💙

[@edithbennett8856]

Carina, das erste Mal dass ich Dich hoerte, hat mir richtig gefallen, you are fair, smart and totally cute. Love to hear some German Sometime, not often possible . Keep up the good work.

[@Sharon181818]

Cari- first of all, I'm loving watching your videos and learning a lot. I have a dear friend who lives in Germany and while her English is terrific, I want to learn a little German. Also, your videos show regular life in Germany. As for your culture shock in the US about poverty and homelessness.... it's a complicated matter. One which I would love to discuss with you one day. I'm involved in an organization which tries to help people get and keep safe stable housing. As for your comment about Socialism - you are extremely accurate. Too few people here know what living under Socialism is and was... they are too quick to label things inaccurately. Thanks again... and if you ever have time and want to talk about health care and housing here... let me know!

[@susansheldon2033]

I haven't lived in Germany in a long time but here are the culture shocks I experienced when i lived there. 1) So many doors in German apartments and houses. The kitchen has a door, the living room has at least one door, the hallway has a door. Every room can be closed off. We are used to doors on bathrooms, bedrooms, and at entries to.a house in the USA. I don't think I've ever seen a door to a kitchen. I found these closed off rooms stifling, even after several years. 2) No billboards in Germany. Between towns and cities there were no billboards. Heaven! In fact there were so many differences in advertising. Television shows weren't interrupted by commercials, the commercials were between shows. When I moved back to the USA it felt like I was tormented by frequent loud TV commercials that interrupted programs. billboards shouting at me even when I was driving in rural areas. You just can't get away from advertising in the US. 3) The driving. Germans are excellent drivers. They follow the rules, they seem calm behind the wheel, they aren't horn blowers. The Swiss and Austrians were similar. Now the Italians were another story. Anyway, I don't know how Germans are taught to drive but the average German is a very good driver. 4) Customer service. If you walk into a German store and are shopping for clothes, you might want to run your fingers over the fabric. How does it feel? Is it scratchy? You might want to pick up a folded shirt to see how long it is. Where will it hit on your body? I don't know whether this has changed, but the women who worked in the stores seemed to have the attitude that unless I was definitely buying something, I shouldn't touch it. No picking things up to examine them. Americans are much more likely to touch and unfold and hold things up to inspect them or hold them against their bodies and look in a mirror than Germans were. Instead of making me feel welcome the clerks seemed to have an attitude that I was disturbing their carefully wrought order and they couldn't wait for me to leave. Even in very expensive stores in the US I haven't encountered that attitude. It was also impossible to get anything changed on an item you ordered at a restaurant. Maybe you wanted the sauce on the side. Nope, that wasn't how they served it, 5) The lack of any truly poor neighborhoods. Some places were more well off than others but I never saw neighborhoods that were ghettos, or that weren't livable.

[@danielletanguay9279]

Very interesting video! It was funny the “water” part! I was totally shocked when I arrived in Europe (I’m Canadian) to see people drinking water only from bottle…that is a lot of plastic waste as not all countries are recycling the plastic!

[@QDStewart]

Danke fur die nette und angemessene Beobachtungen.

[@edshanks4089]

Bevor ich in Deutschland gelebt habe, hatte ich immer davon gehört, wie toll das Bildungssystem war. Man kann so gut wie kostenlos in einer Uni studieren, wie toll! Ich bin selbst Lehrer und wohne seit ein paar Jahren im Osten. Obwohl ich nur in privaten Sprachschulen arbeite, habe ich viel Kontakt mit Schülern und ihren Eltern. Ich muss mal ehrlich sein und zugeben, dass es mir immer noch nicht ganz klar ist, wie die ganzen Schulen (Oberschule, Realschule, etc) eingeteilt sind. Ich weiß aber dass, Kinder nach ihrem akademischen Leistungen bereits mit 11 oder 12 in verschiedene Schulen eingeteilt werden. Oft wissen Kinder schon mit 12 dass sie fast gar keine Chance auf der Uni haben. Deutschland, vor allem in Sachsen, wo ich wohne, leidet gerade unter einer Lehrermangel. Meine Schüler reden stetig von Unterrichten, die wochenlang ausgefallen sind. Es scheint auch als ob viele Kinder wenig oder gar keine persönliche Aufmerksamkeit in der Schule bekommen. Nur die wohlhabenden Familie können es sich leisten, Nachhilfe außerhalb der Schule für ihre Kinder zu bezahlen. Bis jetzt habe ich wenige Deutsche kennengelernt, die mit dem Bildungssystem allgemein zufrieden sind. Aber Deutsche meckern auch sehr gern also wer weiß :) LG aus Sachsen

[@HorstEwald]

Es ist grundsätzlich möglich zwischen Gymnasium, Real- und Hauptschule zu wechseln. Allerdings ist der Abstieg in eine niedere Stufe häufiger als das Schüler aufsteigen. Und was Sachsen und die anderen ehemaligen DDR-Länder angeht muss man natürlich sagen, dass dort zu wenig Geld vorhanden ist. Die Wiedervereinigung ist nicht gut gelungen, um es nett auszudrücken. LG aus Berlin

[@ianhookham3500]

When I worked in Germany I found it funny how Germans would never drink tap water. As a test we carried out a blind taste test between English spring water, French water and German bottled water and of course, tap water in Germany. And the best tasting water was.... you guessed it, German tap water !!! Save some money and drink from the tap. It’s not that bad. Really enjoy the videos !!

[@Olson185]

LOL! 20 seconds into the video and I realize there are English subtitles under the German ones and I didn't have to be reading the German to try to understand what's being said. (I don't know German, it's just that I can figure out about every 3rd-5th word from it's similarity to English.) [Edit: Oh, and thank you for speaking so clearly and not too quickly. I don't feel any ambiguity about your pronunciation.]

[@manjeetkumar]

Cari as always is amazing. I can listen her for hours. Even though i don't understand German. :D By the way, It was really good to see a Germans's perspective on USA.

[@koolaidserpent]

Vielen Dank für das Video. Ich wohne in Detroit. Ich wurde in Detroit geboren. In den 1990s war es eine schwere Stadt. Aber jetzt ist es wie ein Phönix. Ich liebe meine Heimatstadt. Sie sollten es noch einmal besuchen.

[@dhanashreeghaskadbi2492]

Ich habe in einen suburb von Detroit gelebt. Ich habe es sehr genossen, dort zu leben. Situation in Detroit innenstadt war etwas anders aber nicht wirklich was die Kanadier um Detroit denken.

[@Fugazinome]

Let’s be honest,the worst neighborhoods in European big cities are safer than the safest parts of Detroit. This from a current suburban and prior Detroit resident.

[@larrybutler4964]

One of my sons is a strict vegan and he studies the subject very thoroughly. He finds almost everything he wants, often at Whole Foods but also very much at more conventional supermarkets. It is sadly very true that in the US there are many urban neighborhoods that do not provide healthy food in good quantities. Many Americans eat at McDonalds but a large number avoid it entirely. It has mainly to do with class and there has also been a strong trend toward eating in a more healthy manner. Chains like McDonalds have suffered financially and have been compelled to offer more healthy options.

[@Taladar2003]

Ich finde das mit der Unterhaltung an öffentlichen Orten hast du etwas falsch dargestellt. Es ist nicht so, dass man es in Deutschland komisch findet wenn man nicht miteinander redet, hier ist das normal, weil wir es höflich finden nicht jeden Fremden mit unserem Smalltalk zu belästigen. Das ist einfach ein unterschiedliches Verständnis von Höflichkeit zwischen Deutschland und den USA. Es ist auch durchaus möglich sich nach ein paar Stunden Gespräch anzufreunden, auch und gerade mit Leuten mit denen man nicht so viel gemeinsam hat was die Lebensumstände angeht, nur nicht wenn man das ganze immer auf dem Smalltalk-Level hält.

[@lovepeacehappy8565]

Ausnahmen bestãtigen die Regrl. Dennoch nervt es viele Deutsche, gerade auch wenn die Leute schon älter sind, von Fremden angequascht zu werden.

[@BinGutH]

@@lovepeacehappy8565 die ältere generation hat ja auch eine andere zeit erlebt...einer aus dem osten zb. wird sicher ned so leicht smalltalken, der hat ja die stasis hautnah miterlebt :D

[@hessu3]

​@@BinGutH Jaja die böse Stasi mal wieder, als ob die das Geschnacke auf der Strasse interessiert hätte...

[@heikeahlbory1738]

Ja, und 'awkward' ist es keineswegs. Hat mehr mit Respekt zu tun. Wenn jemand Hilfe braucht oder ein Notfall auftritt, wird in Deutschland sofort reagiert.

[@ronniechilds2002]

Her comments on American grocery stores reminded me of several years ago when a Russian navy ship docked at the Norfolk VA naval base for some sort of diplomatic exchange type thing. The sailors were of course allowed to come ashore. What were they seen taking pictures of constantly? Grocery stores! The would pose in front of the food aisles and take photos of each other. They said that, by that point anyway, that was the most amazing thing about the USA, the luxury, and it is indeed a luxury, of abundant food choices.

[@Olson185]

And the low cost of those choices. Too bad so much of the food is over-treated with preservatives and way too much sugar.

[@jesse09besse]

As an American I really think you “hit the nail on the head” with this video... everything you said is so true. Regarding the “dangerous” big cities, I happen to live in one (Philadelphia). I find that many people, particularly from older generations, have this idea that big cities are dangerous, and they are allowed to keep on believing it because they are extremely comfortable in their smaller communities, where they have everything they need, so they never actually see for themselves if those cities are dangerous or not. Also, in the 1960s, many people left cities and moved to the suburbs, and so there has been a big disconnect between the cities and the suburbs since then. In order to understand this further, I recommend doing some research on “white flight.”

[@EasyGerman]

That is really interesting. Thanks for sharing Tom!

[@allen7585]

Shot out to my Philly peeps!! I'm here too! Great city that has bad areas but great areas! Couldn't agree more - grew up in suburbia and almost suffocated from the lack of culture and cookie-cutter everything. I always laughed that people were shocked when they'd drive into the cities and think "Omg, there are drugs there" - Suburbia probably has more drug users than inner cities, they just have more money to hide it from everyone else. And this is where I do think Americans are fake - we mostly live in our perfect lawn homes and drive perfect cars and have this image that we are absolutely fantastic when inside those homes people are drowning in debt and some homes are so absolutely dysfunctional....but as long as our suburban homes look prim and proper that's all that matters. I've actually met more real and nice people living in Philly.

[@allen7585]

@u.s old glory Meh, my house has gone up in value $25,000 in 2 years - I'm good. You don't have to live in the slums to live in the city.

[@anthonyrebock5351]

Houses going up 3% in "value" in two years means the currency plunging like a blown up freighter in the Atlantic in 1942. The dollar plunges, your house goes up, what have you gained...nothing! Food doubles in price ,gas up at the pump, cigarettes cost $12.00 [3.00 in the 80's] .25 cents in the 50's, utilities through the roof... exponential debt crises compound interest usury. The bankers multiply interest usury with a pen faster than american's can work to pay them off. And it's all legal in america for them to rob you blind mathematically. 'I owe you two now'? ...You owe us Three now ! Wait (time is money) You owe us 4 now...No! 8 now...nope, interest rates "went Up"...that's 16× now! 32x now, 64x,128x,256x,512x and War Debt too!!! Need a LOAN ?...

[@allen7585]

@Son of Wotan Historically it has been very suburban white culture but after this last election it showed that the suburbs are diversifying racially. But still, when you go to suburbia in any major US city, they all typically look the same. Shopping centers, strip malls, and suburban sprawl that looks like any other city in the US. Most strip malls are cookie cutter any every city with the exact same stores. You can't tell a lot of them apart. And you can't walk anywhere, you have to drive because it is so spread out and public transportation is almost non-existent.

[@danielasmale8835]

I am a German from Bavaria. We moved to Canada when I was small. I agree with you that Canadians exaggerate how cities are dangerous. I live in Western Canada, which is pretty relaxed. But my visits to in-laws in Ontario, especially London and Toronto, were strange. They were scared of everyone and would not say hello to people, as if everyone was out to get you. I found it unfriendly and strange. I have been to South Africa and Israel and I felt safe. I think these people need to get out more and experience the world.

[@folboteur]

People express opinions about places they have never been, based on scary news reports. I went to college in the neighborhood five blocks away from where Jeffrey Dahmer lived. It was never dangerous in my experience, but now that I live in the suburbs, I regularly have discussions with people who freak out about the prospect of going to downtown Milwaukee, a city of only 600,000. But look close and listen: comments about dangerous areas are often coded, veiled racist references. "Oh, you might not want to live in that neighborhood. It's changing." Said the real estate agent to my wife and I.

[@margaretzabor4302]

Vielen Dank, Cari. Ich habe ihre Ehrlichkeit sehr gern. Und Sie sprechen sehr klar, nicht zu schnell; Ich kann verstehen.

[@MagnificentGermanywithDarion]

You are truly a class act. I hope to meet you in my travels someday.

[@manuelalmazan360]

I live in Chicago, my son is a Chemical Engineer and my daughter is a Medicine Doctor, she went to the University of Chicago; and I never worked at Uber or other side job to supplement my income, there were times when I was unemployed and received unemployment benefits. And if people are really poor they receive Food Stamps. In Universities and in the government system there are many scholarships available for low-income students. There are also student loans where students repay 10% of their salary six months after they graduate. It is true, my son worked two summers in a restaurant, but I see it as positive because he learned to value his resources. There are also City Colleges that offer quality education for the first two years of university at a very affordable price. My first impression when I learned about the high taxes in Germany to subsidize health and education benefits, especially at university level, was that it is unjust, and the student might not appreciate what he is receiving because it is free. In my opinion taxes should be lower to promote a richer economy, more prosperity and more opportunities.

[@sjb2471]

That’s certainly not the case - Germans value education very highly, more than just about any other nation - it’s the country with the highest number of PhD holders per capita in the world, and there’s a reason Germany leads the world in most fields of engineering and development. And yes, taxes in Germany are reasonably high (though no higher than a lot of other countries) and compulsory health insurance can be costly, but they have probably the best healthcare system in the world - per capita, more ICU beds than any other country (which is reflected in their extremely low mortality rate for covid19...and America’s much, much higher one.

[@Olson185]

@@sjb2471 Manuel is repeating the talking points the wealthy want the working to believe so that the wealthy may accumulate more wealth at the expense of the working. Many people in America are taught that the more the wealthy become even more wealthy the more they will benefit. It's called "trickle down economics". They don't consider what percentage, if any, "trickles down". They also don't realize that for every US$1.00 that the working pays to subsidize the wealthy, only about US$0.03 "trickles back down". Begs the question, "Why are the working subsidizing the wealthy in the first place?". BTW, if every American received the exact same income, it would be (per 2000 census date) approx. US$130,000/yr. Most Americans consider themselves earning very well if they make half that much.

[@robertreuter]

America has public toilettes in almost any retail or commercial location, unlike Europe where a toilette in a clothing store or small shop is unheard of. Most public toilettes have a large gap between the floor and the door. The reason for such little privacy is to actually minimize the level of isolation (illegal activity) and comfort so that people wouldn’t stay there long and there would be no waiting lines like in an airport. It is also easier to clean and safer if some emergency occurs. I agree with your desire to have an enclosed space. If you want more privacy or do not want to hear other's bodily noises there is almost always a private restroom marked as Family, Handicap or for Changing Baby Diapers. If you want more space and isolation, opt for one of these toilets.

[@hafizuddinmohdlowhim8426]

When I was first time drinking sparkling water, I thought it was alcohol 😂

[@ililnavehbenjamin]

Same! We didn’t know that foreigners who want regular water in Germany should just buy “still wasser”, otherwise it might be carbonated. We bought a bottle of carbonated water by accident and gave it to our 4 year-old son to drink on a hot summer day in Essen. The gagging look on his face when he took a drink... :).

[@iambatman9420]

Really interesting video, thank you for sharing your experiences! It's true that tap water tastes bad in many places here in the U.S.. I think most people use filters (basic filters just take out chlorine) for drinking water. When I was visiting Germany, the hotel at which I stayed put out sparkling water for breakfast - many here call this carbonated water. I asked the service personnel for non-carbonated water and she did not understand. I have since learned that this is called flat water! So this was a surprise for me also.

[@HolgerRuneFan]

This is a great and interesting video, Cari. I like your work very much! I am an American who married a German and lived in Germany for 15 years so I also have some perspective. Basically, I think Americans are more open, relaxed and friendlier than the Germans, who can be suspicious and reserved. I prefer the American food as well. However, I prefer the German cities (they are safe and lively), the German bakeries, the Wurst and eating the main meal at 14:00. I actually think the Austrians are much closer to American personalities than the Germans. Thanks, Cari and keep up your wonderful work.

[@KatanaUchiha77]

I'm an American living in Austria (married one ; ) ) and I also agree about Austrians being so much like Americans. It's crazy, did not expect that when I moved after I read so much on germans xD

[@starseed2168]

It always depends where you are, I know areas in Germany (mainly at the countryside) where the people are conservative and reserved as you experienced but I as well know many areas in Germany where people are very friendly, open and modern! It's the same with Austria or any other country, to generalize is rarely true..

[@pascalmassie4706]

Das ist sehr wahr! Ich bin ein Franzose der in den USA lebte. Ich stimme all diesen Beobachtungen zu

[@kauemoura]

In France, I think, it's normal to serve water without charging for it.

[@EasyGerman]

Love for France ❤️😃

[@nehylen5738]

Gibt es nicht normal, sondern eine rechtliche verpflichtung! Obwohl, wenn man wurdet nicht spezifiert es, die kelner wurden nicht die kostenlos wasser bringen.

[@francescadibologna4143]

in the uk the law is that if you sell food you have to offer drinking water free. if you don't you lose your licence. like french tabacs that have to sell stamps if they want to sell cigarettes. i love france and germany, and am fluent french and terrible german (it's so hard but i keep trying). i'm british but think of myself as european.

[@gauravladha5465]

Why do they charge for water😂 That's really messed up

[@All_in_for_JESUS]

In Italy they even charge you for the knives and forks 🤣

[@junerm21]

She is a very sweet and kind lady. How wonderful to learn from her.

[@NabilNabil-jc7jw]

hallo