10 Facts about Working in Germany as an American

[@TrommelmonsterBVB09]

the first beer is called a "Konterbier" ... basically a counter beer, pretty simple :)

[@KrautsalatAnAmericaninGermany]

okay...yeah, sometimes the german way is very easy and obvious! LOL ....and thank you!!

[@devlinwonka]

My wife says it's called the ''I'm a dumbass'' beer.

[@peter_meyer]

@@KrautsalatAnAmericaninGermany I know it as a "Stützbier" - a prop up beer

[@nordwestbeiwest1899]

@@KrautsalatAnAmericaninGermany : Oder man sagt ein Katerbier ! ( hat nichts mit Katzen zu tun !).

[@geraldettmayr8435]

Starterbier - but I'm from Austria

[@ared-ainu]

When I moved to Ireland I was DELIGHTED by the lack of bureaucracy. That changes instantly when you have a problem. Nobody is responsible, you are on your own. I came back to Germany with a newfound love for bureaucracy. Read everything carefully, do your best, ask when you are confused. You will always be able to deal with a problem, because even if you need to call around, help can be found.

[@balkanjoker8754]

Ist es so schlimm in Ireland ich wusste das nicht .

[@bigschnecke]

@@balkanjoker8754 als Mieter hast du dort zum Beispiel meißtens keinen Mietvertrag, sondern nur eine mündliche Zusage. Wenn jetzt etwas an dem Haus/Wohnung gemacht/repariert werden muss, liegt es an einem selbst etwas zu tun und dort wohnen zu bleiben oder sich eine neue Bleibe zu suchen. Um dort zu leben und zu arbeiten muss man sich bürokratisch gesehen eigentlich nur um die Steuernummer kümmern, um nicht den Höchstsatz zu zahlen, sonst nichts.

[@takruparrot9438]

Having gone through German Ausbildung, the process is like: Lehrling is a trainee. He'll be taught his trade at work, in the company he is working in, but he'll also be sent to school for extra education. What exactly that school will train you in will depend on the job you are training for. If you're a hairdresser, you'll have classes in cosmetics as well as in biology, may be a bit of general education. If you're an IT guy, you'll have english, informatics, economy most likely. The schooling is mean to widen the knowledge of trainees, mostly in their chosen profession. If I recall correctly, you'll always have some sort of general political education as well, which is mostly about how the German political system works on it's different levels. At the end of the Ausbildung / traineeship, there is a written and a practical exam, both of which are taken by your local Handelskammer. Think of it as a peer review of your skills. Geselle is your regular worker, as you already explained. That's someone who has completed his traineeship in that trade. He'll be expected to have a certain minimum of skills. Depending on your trade, you can also expand your qualifications in various ways, again, with more schooling, training and exams. Meister is basically the same as a Geselle, but he'll have a few years worth of experience under his belt. The additonal education to become a Meister is tailored such that he'll be made more familiar with the aspects of leading a business, things a Geselle doesn't usually have to do. Calculating prices, work planning, manpower scheduling, accounting, legal education, that sort of stuff. PS: All of this stuff come from the middle ages, from the Gilden / guilds. PPS: Since you happen to be a Zimmermann / carpenter, you might want to check out what a Walz is. Got a feeling you might be very interested in that.

[@rainerzufall5741]

"Since you happen to be a Zimmermann / carpenter, you might want to check out what a Walz is. Got a feeling you might be very interested in that." This. I would add that your salary depends on your working status (Lehrling / Geselle / Meister) and that as a Lehrling, your income is often under the poverty line (60% of average income =60% of ~1300€ in 2019 = ~780€). For example, as a hair stylist -Lehrling in West Germany you earn 515€ / 611€ / 695€ in the 1st / 2nd / 3rd year, therefor living on your own can be kind of hard. (-> ausbildung.de)

[@MrBlackFiction]

O he would definitly enyou the Walz. Its a Time as a carpenter where you go from place to place and work all over the country.

[@Dahrenhorst]

A few corrections to that otherwise good explanation: 1. The expression "Lehrling" (best translated into English with "apprentice") comes from the word "Lehre", what is the name of the time period of learning a trade. "Lehre" again comes from "lernen", what means "to learn". So, a Lehrling is someone who learns a trade for certain period of time (mostly 2 or 3 years). Aprrox a quarter or a third of that time you will spent sitting in a classroom, and the rest you will work under a "Meister" in his company and learn from him/her and the "Gesellen" how to do what you have to do. 2. You won't become a Geselle automatically after you have finished this 2 or 3 year learning phase. You need to pass an examination, which includes lots of theoretical stuff relevant to your trade and a practical showing or example of what you can do applying what you have learned. 3. Same applies to the "Meister" training. Additionally to your daily work you have to go to school again for a year or two and pass a quite demanding theoretical and practical examination on a significantly higher level than the examination after the "Lehre". 4. Both, the finishing of the "Lehre" and the finishing of the "Meister"-school will provide you with report card documenting your grades in each subject and if you have passed or not passed. In case you have passed, you will additionally receive a formal certificate (Gesellenbrief or Meisterbrief, respectivly) which shows to the world that you have successfully learned (Geselle) or mastered (Meister) your trade. For many trades it is a requirement to get the licence for opening your own business, that you either have a Meister certificate yourself or employ a certified Meister. 5. A requirement to be allowed to go on a Walz (a.k.a. "Wanderjahre") is the Gesellenbrief. At least that used to be. Normally, the Walz is a quite heavily regulated century old tradition to improve the learning experience in the first years (usually 3) as a Geselle coming from the middle ages.

[@jaroroytapel]

Wie schätz du meine Chance als Auslander der fast 30 ist, eine Ausbuldungsplatz zubekommen? (Ich komme aus Israel übrigens)

[@Dahrenhorst]

@@jaroroytapel Prinzipiell gut. Kommt auch darauf an, welchen Beruf du erlernen möchtest. Insbesondere im Handwerk ist ein großer Bedarf an Lehrlingen, derzeit gibt es dort oft mehr Ausbildungsplätze als Lehrlinge. Ein Ausbildungsplatz für einen Bürojob könnte für einen Ausländer schwieriger werden, weil dort in der Regel sehr gute Deutschkenntnisse (mündlich wie schriftlich) vorausgesetzt werden. Da alle Lehrlinge in die Berufsschule müssen und dort auf Deutsch unterrichtet wird, sind aber prinzipiell gute Deutschkenntnisse erforderlich, wenn man die Lehre auch mit einem erfolgreichen Abschluss beenden möchte. Allgemein sind mangelnde Deutschkenntnisse das größte Hindernis für Ausländer einen Lehrvertrag zu bekommen. Denke auch daran, dass Ausbildungen in Deutschland in der Regel nur im September / Oktober beginnen. Wenn du das Zeitfenster verpasst, kann es sein, dass du ein Jahr warten musst, bis das nächste Lehrjahr wieder beginnt.

[@astridpopp2703]

Eric, I LOVE the little clips you throw in during your vids. Hilarious and so to the point. And the music obviously 🤩 Keep up your refreshing work and stay healthy!

[@Serlina21343]

I find it still so mindblowing that other Countrys dont have an Ausbildung

[@ChristianTompa]

They do. It's called Apprenticeship.

[@patr3d33]

Finde ich so schade, dass sich das duale System nicht in den USA durchgesetzt hat. Da wäre es mehr als perfekt, denn da hast du ja nur die Möglichkeit, entweder zu studieren oder zu arbeiten ... aber wie willst du arbeiten wenn du nur Kacke und nicht nach Regeln lernst, nicht in der Schule die Theorie lernst und nicht im Betrieb (RICHTIG) die Praxis lernst :`D.

[@lasmirandadennsiewillja9435]

Feierabend is great and important. Literally: Celebrate [the] Evening. Or cherish. Because that's what we do and that everyone is expected to do: Cherish other people's Feierabend. Going into a store 5-10 minutes before closing? Well, that's not legally forbidden but as we don't consider retail workers as unworthy servants, you are the rude person for probably delaying their Feierabend. Every clerk will look at you and you better apologize, assure them you really need only a few specific items, and that you'll hurry up to be out in time. And if you want to be a cherished customer, you could even ask, "I only need two things, is that okay or would you rather I come back tomorrow?" Most of the time it is okay, of course, but that's the polite way to handle the situation. Do not mess with another person's Feierabend. Small anecdote: I once hurried to a pet store because I needed something, preferably that day. It was ten to six in the evening, I looked at the sign, and fortunately, they were open until 6:30pm. I was in the clear and not within the potentially-rude zone. I grabbed my stuff and having over half an hour, I looked around a bit, checked out the pets, the usual stuff you do in a pet shop. Until suddenly, a harsh voice screamed "FEIERABEND!" across the store. Several heads turned around, trying to see who yelled, and the other customers and I quickly hurried to the cashier, all guilty. I was the first in line and apologized, I must have lost track of time. The cashier laughed and said, "No, no, it's just past six. He's the culprit," and pointed at the floor of one of the aisles. A freaking African Gray proudly walked towards us and screamed again, "FEIERABEND!" The cashier apologized. The parrot had lived in the store for over thirty years and the previous owner of the parrot and store used to close at 6pm. The opening hours just changed recently and there's no way they can get the parrot to stop declaring Feierabend at the previous time (and he also does it around noon, when they close for an hour). It was pretty funny, though, and I think even when they claim the opposite, the workers in that store are actually glad when the bulk of late customers is gone by 6pm.

[@farcyde8057]

"Bavaria is basically germany's Texas minus the guns."

[@ZeckeGegenRechts]

Alex ich dachte immer die Jagen da

[@MrDeltaSoldier]

Well that couldnt be more incorrecrt considering the fact that Bavaria has the best (or better the most difficult) educational System in Germany. Id even say in the entire EU. If you have a look at texas on the other Hand you wont find a System close to being as good as the bavarian System is.

[@onearth...]

...christians instead of wildebeest

[@farcyde8057]

@@MrDeltaSoldier The saying is merely intended to the bavarians seeing themselves as some independent and fairly un-assimilated folks, with their own mindset and habits. And yes: Bavarian education, economy and public security do rank topmost in germany. (Speaking as a bavarian :-) )

[@davidkunkel4429]

Ist so.

[@AnnaK.]

Of cause "Bier" is the food! Germans call it also "liquid bread". ;)

[@KekTekDe]

"3 Bier sind auch nur ein Schnitzel"

[@trillian1964]

Unser flüssig Brot gib uns heute..........

[@Valnar1111]

Siwwe Beer sin e Schmeer (Sieben Bier sind ein belegtes Brot)

[@doppelhelixes]

@@KekTekDe und getrunken hast du dann noch nichts

[@mdcundee]

Grundnahrungsmittel ;-)

[@annkathrinhanamond2982]

I wish the concept of Ausbildung would spread in more other countries - in my opinion, it is the perfect combination of theory and practical learning, and you earn money during the Ausbildung (in most jobs, between 400 and 800 € a month). I began to study at university, but it wasn't my cup of tea - it's great to have an alternative to get a proper qualification!

[@taschak3889]

Sadly not as a Childcare Assistent. I didn't earned money, because it was a schulische Ausbildung. I even need to pay money. It wasn't much. 100€ each year for craft supplies, but still. ☹️

[@LibertyDino]

As a German who loves to hate Germany I still agree. Especially in the hands on fields the training is awesome. That system is actually the initial factor that created the school system/ reading and math for everyone.

[@nachtelfirokese88]

@@taschak3889 Well it depending on where you are and what school you visiting. Some Schools actually offering you the chance of a dual System, which means Working and Schooling. Don't know if this is still a thing but 10 years ago it still was in some places.

[@taschak3889]

@@nachtelfirokese88 Danke für die Information. 👍🏻

[@christophostrowski3382]

The first Beer in a day after having a Party: Name it "Konterbier" - At the End of an day - Name it Ferierabendbier!

[@ancientpsychictandemwarele5197]

this is it

[@baer0083]

Feierabendbier. Sorry he spelled it wrong.

[@mikebegonia6134]

It's called 'Frühstück'....

[@jan-hendrikborner7935]

You missunderstood ,,Pfusch am Bau“ Pfusch is when u don‘t do your work like it should be, but it still works like you did it. but maybe it breaks earlier

[@nairobie755]

In my case 5 minutes early is on time, arriving 10 minutes early is a bit of margin, 15 min early is enough to be relaxed. Exactly on time is late, 2-3 minutes later doesn't warrant a call but one should apologize profusely on arrival. Anything later than that requires a call, preferably at least 30 min earlier then the agreed upon time. Though I'm swedish rather then german, but we are also quite anal about people being on time.

[@bademeister_sam4105]

that´s really exactly the same as I´m used to here in Bavaria, we have the saying "5 minuten vor der zeit ist des deutschen pünktlichkeit" which means "5 minutes before the time is the germans punctuality". Btw, you might check the spelling in your last sentence :D

[@schumifannreins295]

@@bademeister_sam4105 There is no mistake, "being anal" is an expression of being very maticulous.

[@dcbsmt]

Pfusch am Bau is certainly not doing everything right. Quite the opposite.

[@ingevonschneider5100]

Krautsalat kann wohl kaum Deutsch.

[@dcbsmt]

@@ingevonschneider5100 Nö, aber irgendwo wird er's ja herhaben. Entweder hat also die Quelle keine Ahnung oder sie wollte ihm vorsätzlich einen Bären aufbinden. :)

[@ingevonschneider5100]

@@dcbsmt Ich glaube, er wurde verarscht.

[@Blackstaralpha]

Im not sure but I think thats the joke.

Pfusch is a skill that only experts should execute!!!

[@danielgro1039]

Counterbeer... To get your head clear... Your eyes open and your brain working... 😂 To be honest, I like this way of job training a lot, because if you learned something from the first steps to highest peaks you are hell more confident in what you are doing. For example... I have learned roofer. 3 years of learning, 3 years of getting new stuff every day at all the construction sites... And I was proud as hell when I held my diploma in my hands and when my teacher gave me the typical roofer hat, that was an overwhelming moment for me.

[@KrautsalatAnAmericaninGermany]

I also think it is good....I wish I could have experienced it too. Roofer is a bit of what I am doing. I work for a Dachdecker but I have been working with the Zimmerleute, because most of my work in the US was like this.

[@89Dienchen]

You can experience this. The greatest thing about the learning in Germany, you can always start. There are plenty options like an evening school in parallel to the Job

[@nachtelfirokese88]

Buddy, the Counterbeer is the beer after a long drinking journey. Not the Kickstarter beer.

[@farcyde8057]

Man! Geman here. I am REALLY a person with a very critical attitude about his home country. Some things are good here and some really are not. But it feels SO good and I take it as such a huge compliment that someone from a far away foreign country talks so good about my good old germany in all of his videos (that I still secretly love). Thank you man and always rock on!

[@silkedavid8876]

Great content, really useful observations. And those clips, oh my god, I was laughing so hard. As many others, stumbled across your channel, love it.

[@orfo70]

In Austria it's called "Reparaturseidl".

[@boidacocada]

Wusste ich nicht. Klingt noch schöner. Ich liebe österreichisches Deutsch. :) ich merke mir jetzt mal den Begriff Reparaturseidl

[@orfo70]

@@boidacocada Als Ergänzung, vielleicht ist es eh bekannt: Seidl ist eine Biermenge - nämlich 0,3L (Krügl wäre dann 0,5L)

[@boidacocada]

@@orfo70 ich weiß. Dss ist eigentlich die Diminutivform von Seidel.

[@ellinmara5997]

Dieses Wort ist einfach soooo typisch österreichischer Humor xD

[@chriskindian4743]

@@orfo70 Krügl? 0,5 is a hoibe (halbe)

[@stapsino2]

Man your memes really are top shelf! Really enjoying your videos man! :D

[@AirsoftBeeJay]

Grüße aus Celle. Coole Videos, cooler Typ, mach weiter so.

[@petertauscher1443]

The second most important word after "Feierabend" is "Feierabendbier"...

[@Mindfakes]

Very cool video!

[@TrommelmonsterBVB09]

One more difference between Geselle and Meister ,and this is an important one. A Geselle can not only found his own Company, he can also not train "Lehrlinge", due to lack of formal education.

[@KrautsalatAnAmericaninGermany]

Thanks, i did not know that!

[@peter_meyer]

@@KrautsalatAnAmericaninGermany To be precise (remember: we're in Germany!): atm you CAN start your own business as a "Geselle" (without training "Lehrlinge") including employing others, but this might change any time soon because of too much "Pfusch am Bau". There always have been exceptions, e.g. you can simply open a shop or a bar and i dont think this will ever change.

[@peter_meyer]

@@KrautsalatAnAmericaninGermany Oh, and, btw, BMW is implementing the german system in Spartanburg as are many other german companies in the US.

[@geraldettmayr8435]

@@peter_meyer In the case of opening your business as Geselle you need Abitur or something comparable to that and you need to have worked in this business at least 2 years with a good credentials

[@chrillehihihom1431]

@@KrautsalatAnAmericaninGermany or you can also Google. Die Walz or die Wanderschaft. Than it gets eliter;)

[@FrancescoVitellini]

the moment when you said "being on time" made my day :D

[@Ouwkackemann]

The Ausbildung in the craftmanship professions is 3 years and it is a mixup of a theory and a practice part (teached in two different schools) and one part of working in the firm you are employed in. In the first year you spend the most time in the schools what digreases in year 2 and 3. Finally, at the end of the Ausbildung, when the Gesellenprüfung (exam) shows up, you are back in school for a couple of weeks. When you have passed the exame, they say now you just start really learning. In some parts of the country they still call you the Jung-Geselle (young-Geselle) in the first year after the exam. To go to the Master-School (Meisterschule) you have to have worked min. 3 years as a Geselle. Cheers from a German Maurer- und Betonbaumeister. :o )

[@JayJay_774]

In most trades the three year waiting is voided. As a KFZ-Master ;-) I can say. You can start Master-School right after Gesellen-Exam. (Denglish as good as it can get)

[@Ouwkackemann]

@@JayJay_774 Lol! My Denglish can´t compete with yours, cheers to you. Ok, I made my Master 25y ago, so my knowledge maybe outdated a bit.

[@JayJay_774]

@@Ouwkackemann No offense intended. Wanted just correct the facts in case somebody is interested in getting a Meister graduation and is put off by waiting three years to get started. BTW your Denglish knowledge is also pretty damn good ;) Cheers

[@Ouwkackemann]

@@JayJay_774 I wasn´t offended at all. Thanks for the correction, facts are superior to feelings. :o ( :o )

[@JayJay_774]

@@Ouwkackemann Really appreciated! A rare attitude these days on FB, Insta & YT. Normally everyone gets offended by everything! (How can I make a Thumb-up emoji?)

[@garyamli7676]

I love Germany, my favorite country in the world. I was a teacher in Bavaria with a Spanish and English degree. My German is pretty good (B2/C1), but it has to get better if I work for a company. I would love to go back. As for Punktlichkeit, it is essential!!! I once arrived ten minutes late to a friend’s house, and she was with her parents. They all said, “Du bist spät!” Beer with lunch as a teacher was perfectly fine. Ich liebe dich, Deutschland❤️❤️❤️!!!

[@peteraugust5295]

"Working in Construction" is not really a job description in germany, so what exactly do you work now? Schreiner? Maurer? Flaschner? Zimmermann? Fliesenleger? Elektriker? Gipser? Trockenbauer? What is it? :D

[@Meckermaxxe]

Aufgrund des Schreiners vermute ich dich im Süden. Deshalb eine Frage aus dem Norden, was ist ein Flaschner?

[@l3p3]

@@Meckermaxxe Dachdecker?

[@MrBlackFiction]

@@Meckermaxxe Ein Klempner.

[@peteraugust5295]

@@Meckermaxxe Wie heißt der Schreiner denn im Norden? Tischler? Ich bin immer davon ausgegangen Schreiner wird überall verwendet. Der Flaschner ist im weitesten Sinne ein Klempner, wobei der Klempner heute ja eher auf Leitungen und Reparaturen bezogen wird. Der Flaschner verarbeitet Bleche, baut Dachrinnen, Blechdächer usw.

[@kiliipower355]

Ich bin im Südwesten aufgewachsen. Da wurde es Spengler genannt, ein Blechschmied, der Dachrinnen, Rohre und Verkleidungen anbringt. Ein Klempner ,der sorgt dafür das dein Wasser im Haus an der richtigen Stelle aus der Wand kommt.

[@philps29]

The word "Feierabendbier" is even more important than "Feierabend", though.

[@tobiassteiner7814]

The beer in the morning in Austria after a Hangover is called Reparatur Bier which means repairment beer

[@eagle1de227]

The second most important word on german workplaces after "Feierabend" is: "MAHLZEIT!"

[@nachtelfirokese88]

Well depending on where you are, in many palces in germany "Mahlzeit" just means "hi, Hello"

[@shuichiakai96]

"5 Minuten vor der Zeit das ist deutsche Pünktlichkeit" or in roughly in english "you have to be there 5 Minutes early to be on time"

[@Luflandebrigade31]

Die Variante der Bundeswehr: 5 Minuten später kommt nur der Sanitäter! 😂

[@shuichiakai96]

@@Luflandebrigade31 Wäre ja auch schlimm wenn es anders wäre stell dir mal vor du stehst da mitten auf dem Schlachtfeld und neben dir steht der Sani mit dem Verbandsmaterial Du guckst in an und fragst "Ähm was machst du den da? und der Sani sagt nur "keine sorge du wirst in 5 Minuten angeschossen und ich bin nur Pünklich" :-D

[@louismart]

Shuichi Akai L‘exactitude c‘est la politesse des rois.

[@Fritzchen]

@@Luflandebrigade31 5 Minuten vor der Zeit ist des Soldaten Pünklichkeit. 10 Minuten Später kommt nur der Sanitäter.

[@Pendragon667]

Ich halte es da meistens mit der akademischen Viertelstunde :-)

[@robertfife5686]

Sehr schönes Video! Prost auf dich, mein Guter!

[@argusauge4812]

Feierabend rocks!!!

[@KrautsalatAnAmericaninGermany]

Indeed!!!

[@holger_p]

Not sure if it's really "beng proud to got some work done" or "celebrating the pain of the day is over". I think people who love Feierabend rather hate their job.

[@holger_p]

@Checkmate Right, beside Workoholics there is a nice work-life-balance. And both of these words are used untranslated in German.

[@holgerwilke4884]

@@holger_p "Arbeitstier" wäre wohl zutreffend.

[@spidertheakronaut]

Reparaturseidl! :) Sincerely, an American in the southernmost point of Bavaria. All the best comrade hope you're safe and healthy up yonder!! -Spider

[@thomasm.3806]

Konterbier!!! I would say, that the counterbeer comes from crafting, when you need to tighten a single nut with a second count nut, "to get it done"

[@Reoddadai]

The "duale Ausbildungssystem" in Germany is one nice thing here in Germany. Time is depending acc. to the specific (yes papaer again) "Ausbildungsverordnung" which is different for every Job that you learn. In this document everything is defined. The time till you get your "Gesellenbrief", Skills to learn etc. I Think it is quite special even here in Europe.

[@HoweHomie]

Oh my god! The beer you're drinking in the video is a "Dithmarscher Urtyp". Dithmarschen is a small landly district where i am living. Did you buy it in Hamburg or have you been here in the no-where of Dithmarschen? :D

[@KrautsalatAnAmericaninGermany]

I bought it in Hamburg. I had one leftover in my bag coming back to Hannover. And i found it at my local Getränkemarkt so i have it once in a while now!🍻

[@HoweHomie]

@@KrautsalatAnAmericaninGermany did you like it? Its not that typical "Pils taste", its a bit rougher. Not everybodys taste

[@KrautsalatAnAmericaninGermany]

@@HoweHomie yes. I like it enough to drink once in a while!

[@ExtraLeben]

In Austria its the "Reperaturbier" .. The repair Beer XD And Pfusch am Bau is more like when someone screws up or cuts corners when building something .. mostly houses..

[@WTFan19]

theres many names for the first beer. some for a beer before 10 am are Frühschoppen, counter bier, or simply my favorit festival one: Flüssig Brötchen

[@steffenwenthe9469]

Work Hard Play Hard and do your Job like you wolle did it in your own Home, That is the Most Important Thing. Greetings from a german roofer

[@KrautsalatAnAmericaninGermany]

Yep, treat it like it was your own!! Cheers!!

[@geraldettmayr8435]

Bavarians and beer - it WAS the way how you describe it. Today it's just like anywhere NO alcoholic drinks in the business! It's dangerous. I was in landscaping . If I saw something or smelled something I sent the worker home and told the boss in the evening about it to deal with the person. And this was 25 years ago.

[@efs8786]

Also hier wird das immer noch so gemacht, wie im Video beschrieben.

[@playazzz1873]

in bavaria we would say. seven beers is an meal but you dont drink anything till this point.

[@devinharwood6010]

I’d be interested hear more about the process of doing hair and why you didn’t pursue that. I am a massage therapist in the states for the last 8 years and went to school for it. So similar service industry job.

[@Komischer0815nick]

VERY accurate description of the bavarian way of life there mate ;)

[@Biowolf120]

first beer of the day would be probably the reperaturseidla (Repair beer) here in Nurnberg area :D

[@wholesalepreneur6175]

English and German is very similar. I taught my son German from an early age on (basically since his birth) and started to appreciate the similarities vs the differences myself even more.

[@clockdva20]

I hope you enjoyed your visit to the best city in the World Hamburg , here in the North . I have been here since 2009 . Also come from a construction background and currently work for a chain of Kindergartens , doing mantainace basically Hausmeister work. You forgot to mention the working hrs here normally 7 till 4pm for many hand workers , and then the normally short Fridays 6 hrs , something that has been part of the hand workers week for decades , though it has changed over the years , now with so much of Germany's hand workers now been source from all over Europe because of a shortage of people wanting to do this line of work . Has for the whole learning program here in Germany was set up way back to provide education to supply all parts of society of the work force there are qualification for everything here I have learnt , and their schooling structure is split into different schools to tailor people into different skill directions. There is a great book on German social History oddly written by some guy from Britain who live here for a few decades . That gives a excellent onsite into how this nation has developed into the nation it is today . Yeap the language that is a tricky one I can get by but their is no easy or quick way to learn one of the hardest languages in the world , I have done several course's and been sent nuts at time's by the whole structure of it . Not helped by not really understanding my own language to the depth needed to understand language construction . But you just have to keep digging on with it. Also Germans love trying out their English on you soon has they figure out you speak English . I love the people here not has much BS with them , very direct and to the point But also very funny too . But I am in the north were they are famed for been stand offish to start off with. Further south you go the more friendly and open they are . For me I like the Berlin people they just do not give a a damb very friendly very direct and very independent. Also a great vibe there. Enjoying your video's Also they like their Metal and Gothic and Industrial and experimental music here . All the stuff I liked before I moved here from the Midlands of the UK. Keep the videos coming Grüß von Hamburg.

[@uwesiemon]

The English word for Lehrling is apprentice, a Geselle in British parlance is a journeyman.and a Meister is a master, as in master plumber.

[@sheiswunderland3398]

The video clips are hilarious, where do you get them xD

[@mcstaal]

In denmark, the first beer is called: Reperationsbajer or in german: Reparaturbayer.

[@robim3946]

Very nice guy! Thanks a lot for your cool video :) Grüße ;)

[@vHindenburg]

You should watch the movie " Was nicht Passt wird Passend gemacht" Drinking on contruction site was was very common in before the early 2000s.

[@Steve-Richards]

cool video its interesting!

[@sooboese3211]

Feierabend, Schicht im Schacht, Ende in Gelände

[@dietrichengel2149]

Great (and funny) Video. Yes, sometimes we have a lot of paperwork...... Greatings from Germany

[@KeepingOnTheWatch]

@ 2:11 "I don't know where they're getting all this paper from." - LOL!!!

[@Fritzchen]

We can overcome gravity, but the paperwork crushes us.

[@ndubstar]

Basic question. How did you move to Germany ie get an apartment and then a job. Flying to Germany is a no brainer. I know how to get an apartment. But how and where did you get a job and a visa exactly? I know each persons thing is different but wondering for yours. Thanks! Do you take DAF classes at VHS or similar? Did you need German for the job? Did you go through the Arbeitsamt? Thanks!

[@KrautsalatAnAmericaninGermany]

Lots of good questions...i will not answer in detail but I made lots of friends here first. I was technically married to a German girl before I moved, so I had some things going in my favor, but the friends i have really made it all possible. My willpower and my friends.

[@FallenAngelGER]

1:24 wie alt ist das mittlerweile? und immernoch geil! XD

[@ZZGar2]

angry german kid... der gute Norman, das ist aber nicht echt. die mainstream-medien haben quasi seine youtube karriere zerstört, indem sie ihn bei einem focus bericht denunziert haben.

[@FallenAngelGER]

​@@ZZGar2dennoch ist es Kult! :D weils jeder kennt... klar schade um den jungen und seine Karriere, aber ich würde auch so rasten, wenn mit alles weg genommen würde..

[@ZZGar2]

@@FallenAngelGER falls es dich interessiert, KeyboardCrasherTV ist sein kanal

[@FallenAngelGER]

@@ZZGar2 nö wieso söllte es?

[@Aldo_Regozzani]

Easy to memorize: Lehrling = Noob, Geselle = Advanced, Meister = Pro! :)

[@andreasspielt2722]

Seven Beer are like a Schnitzel but ten you have to drink something to it.

[@Nikioko]

As for German craftmanship: since the Middle Ages all crafts were organised in guilds, today it is the IHK - Industrie- und Handelskammer. To work as a craftman, you have to make an apprenticeship and then a journeymanship (though many journeymen don't travel anymore. And finally, if you want to open your own workshop, you have to acquire a mastership to do so in most craftsman jobs. In academia, you have bachelor, master and doctor, in crafts you have apprentice, journeyman and master. And we don't have so much homeworking as some works like plumbing or wiring have to be done by an professional expert.

[@whocares5971]

first Beer in the morning to survive the day after a drunken night would be a "Stützbier" (supporting beer) ... another word would be "Konterbier" (see below)

[@G.Harley.Davidson]

Yea, as a pilot, it is the same. Hours acquired in the U.S. are not transferable-for Deutsch requirements.

[@ilamilka3103]

Super wie Du das erklärst . In Deutschland braucht Du halt für allen nen "Schein" . Danke für den anderen Blickwinkel!

[@balazsadamik3197]

Never called it “dog hair” but we have an old saying here in Hungary (treating) “dog bite with its hair” for this situation. No idea how I got to your videos tho :-)

[@KrautsalatAnAmericaninGermany]

Hahaha...well, thanks for finding your way here! "Hair of the dog", short for "Hair of the dog that bit you"...supposedly it comes from the old belief that if a dog bites you, you place its hair over the would to prevent infections. I think it works better with alcohol...in both cases lol

[@MrKaba1985]

Ausbildung you can translate as Vacation in Job. We have 3 Different Vacation Systems (University is not included) 1. leaving the High School and start the Vacation in the Companies or as Carpenter or Waiter 3 years, 2. is a school Education that it's only trained in schools (like me i learned chemistry in an School about 2 years with theory and practice) 3. is Study on Job. it is like go to a University but u are also in an Companie where your learn the practice. The School you have to visit ends with an exam in practice and theory. For the Feierabend the Feierabendbier ist in some ways the last thing u do with colleges

[@tramper42]

10:46 de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feierabend ... let translate.google.com do some work ... „Feierabend (from late Middle High German vīrabent "eve of a holiday") is the leisure, free and rest time in the evening and denotes both the end of the working day (e.g. closing time) and the free time afterwards.“ Can be FALSE direct translated to „party evening“...

[@theFinalDistricts78]

A bavarian Joke thats pretty common (search for Monika Gruber, a bavarian comedian), to the alcohol on construction sites: Two guys walk past an empty property, in the grass theres a box of beer. They stop and one of them asks the other one: Hey, what's getting built here?

[@Bongobob1986]

We call it a "Reparatur Seiterl" (repairing 0.3l)

[@gozer87]

Back in the 60's, as a union carpenter/millwright, my dad was apprenticed for 2 years before he could take his journeyman's test so he could work on his own.

[@peterreber7671]

In Switzerland the first beer in the morning is called 'Fruehschoppen' (lit. Early baby bottle)

[@tell1238]

Frühschoppen ist hier das Bier am Sonntag in der Kneipe nach der Kirche.

[@Matahalii]

Konterbier ist the term for the beer in the morning after a drunk night to "counter" the effect of the beers last night.

[@tramper42]

6:59 „Pfusch am Bau“ ~ „Botch up the building“ www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/Pfusch. Idea behind this was: we try to build this house for eternity.. every flaw we „Pfusch“ into that building will make it less long lasting.

[@Ste6671]

Should have worked in construction back in the 80s. When I started back in 86 it was still common to have a „halben“ at 9 am and then for lunch.... „Ein Stein, ein Bier - so mauern wir“ 😂

[@rst4641]

Das duale Ausbildungssystem gibt es auch in Österreich und der Schweiz, also in allen deutschsprachigen Ländern. The dual system exists in all German speaking countries Austria and Switzerland too. Ein Grund, warum diese 3 Länder ökonomisch besser dastehen als andere. It's one reason why these countries are economically in a better condition than others. In letzter Zeit hat man dieses System (leider) ein bisschen aufgeweicht, sodass auch ungelernte Kräfte, meist Ausländer, bestimmte Arbeiten (z.B. Fliesenleger) verrichten dürfen. Das fördert den Pfusch am Bau und zu mehr Konkurrenz. Ausländische Firmen üben einen Preisdruck aus. Lately this system isn't so strict anymore. In some fields of construction unqualified (without exams) workers are allowed to offer their work-power, which sometimes is leading to "Pfusch am Bau" and to more competition. Foreign companys offer cheaper prices and German companies are under pressure.

[@uweinhamburg]

Another country which adopted the dual system is North Korea. Worked for them too 😉

[@rst4641]

@@uweinhamburg Echt? Da sind wir jetzt aber in schlechter Gesellschaft :)

[@christianed9218]

Der Feierabend ist nun mal die heiligste Zeit der des Arbeitstages

[@EnraEnerato]

Regarding the whole buisness starting process as a skilled worker/journeyman (Geselle), you can, but you might have to hire an accountant and someone who's on top of the legalese, you can't however have trainees/apprentices (Lehrling/e, Auszubildende), for that you need the master liscense at least in skilled craftsman jobs, in other types of fields there are slightly different rules and you need a person with an instructor liscense. You might want to take up the master course, they teach you a whole set of skills, and hammer out some kinks in regard to how you think handling a buisness might work, leaving you with an actual idea of what you're doing, how you should do it and what things to deal with, or to hand over to other instances (lawyers, accountants and other services or gov. agencies). There is only one thing my father (Meisterbäker, baker with master title) warned me about, apparently they still have you do the american journal in pen and paper with only 2 mistakes (scratching and new value inserting) allowed. That was teh one thing my father loathed, whenever he tried it as an exercise or with intend to practice for his finals, it never worked out the only time it did workout was in his finals, he never used that dreaded thing again, or so he claims.

[@ger_Raenef]

5:30 i guess it depends on the job you do, for some i think they barely speak german and then you think ok they can get through with it on their job but on other jobs you have to communicate and it is not expected in most jobs for a german in germany to speak english, turkish, arab or something else

[@jschlund3588]

we have that apprentice system. if you dont study at university your are going to do an apprentice for any kind of job... but there are also jobs without thta, for example beeing a waiter... (dont get me wrong i dont want to minimize that kind of job) but lots aof students work in bars, so there is nothing needet for that upfront. i dont know how my apprentice is called in english, but my job would be something like a chemical equipment operator.... the name makes sense but is not really reflecting the job. i thing our apprentice system ist mostly great, so its approved everybody in that field learns the same thing... at least that was the idea behind that... for sure there are people and people, so in every business you wonder how they passed the final test for their apprentic :-P if you ever will be in Berlin let me know, would be fun to hang out for a beer or a dozen :-P in one of the videos you mentined you are staying in Hannover. My moms family is from a spot "close" to Hannover ^^

[@TheAkbar23]

What is he saying at 08:05? Fraund?

[@KrautsalatAnAmericaninGermany]

Frowned. A look of disgust. "Frowned upon" is a saying for something that people don't like you doing.

[@Caildyn]

I think beer is actually concidered a staple food in Bavaria and some other parts of Germany. Drinking while working can get you in serious trouble in Germany, depending on what job you work in. So, it's usually demanded by construction companies that workers are completely sober during work times. Especially when you're likely to work with heavy machines you won't have any insurance protection when you consumed alcohol and then had an accident at work without being 100% sober. Same goes for driving a vehicle (yes, also a bicycle!) while being drunk. The only situation where you can hope to get away without a punishment bigger than paying a fine (depending on what happened when you were drunk while driving) is when you've been so intoxicated that your brain must have been completely unable to make a rational decision. In that case you'ss have to pay a fine, and you'll lose your licence as far as i know. Being drunk, having an accident and harming someone else in it? It's possible that you'll lose your job, go to jail and have to pay personal injury compensation to the person you've harmed.

[@nachtelfirokese88]

Yeah thats true but, at least in respect of the old tradition, in East Germany, more precise Brandenburg! It's a old tradition, if you have Workers in your home (not only for one day) you offering them Food and Beer. And even if they don't drink it while working and trust me that is rare, they at least have a Feierabend beer or take 1 or 2 with them at home.

[@paulholik6539]

Hair of the dog= "Konterbier" (counter-beer you know to counter the hangover)

[@Myndi84]

in Bavaria, the first beer in the morning is called "Morgenhalbe"! Basically "morning-half(a litre)" Because the smallest beer is half a litre. Fight me.

[@caelator3549]

no. this is the truth. no one needs to challenge this fact

[@TheGogeta222]

Mir nennas Muagnseidl xD

[@kierikanndas3818]

First Bier of the morning after is called Konter Bier (counter beer in English)

[@KekTekDe]

the thing with these working licences is pretty complicated. a reason for the need of these licecense is, that, statistically, the risc of accident is lower (obviously), and thus there is a lower impact on the healthcare system.

[@Nepheos]

Gotta say: drinking beer at a construction type job is not that rare here in bavaria. I know some older construction workers that are basically drunk all day, every day, BUT are still good at their job. That part is important: drinking is ok, but do your job properly and don't hurt anybody. (obviously thats not the legal situation)

[@KrautsalatAnAmericaninGermany]

Thats what i'm sayin....okay, me personally i will not, being an Ausländer i have a lot to lose by doing something stupid but i have over 20 years experience doing construction type work, and beer drinking. Sometimes i have done both.

[@veliostv9089]

Dude, you´re simply cool :) Greetings from Northrhine Westphalia

[@LaborerMike]

Hi, I was stationed in Germany the last few years and want to go back. I was wondering if I do a plumbing apprenticeship in America, would that convert other to the German plumbing? If so, how would I go upon doing that?

[@KrautsalatAnAmericaninGermany]

If it is a certified apprenticeship then I am sure Germany will recognize it, otherwise I think you could easily get a job based on your experience. From what I see they need people in the building trades.

[@LaborerMike]

@@KrautsalatAnAmericaninGermany thank you for replying. Yes my girlfriend is over there and was trying to look for stuff as well, and most I have seen is as long as I do a plumbing apprenticeship that works with international plumbing code, it should transfer. Hoping for the best, Thank you for the videos

[@maxz635]

hey, Krautsalat, the first beer in the morning after a night out it calls "konterbier" - it means that u counter the dizzyness and it works ;)

[@OldSchoolFilm1930]

Lehrling = official two track job education (unless it's an academic job). Two track means practical hands on work in your company + theoratical education in specialised schools. Geselle = officially qulified worker (going 3-3 1/5 years education) with state certificate. Usually it's all about the "hands on" work vs ... Meister = requires the "Gesellenbrief" (Geselle certification) and is an additional education mainly about running a business. Note: as a Geselle you have the chance to do an "Ausbilderprüfung" (job trainer certification). This is an additional certification required if you want to hire Lehrling - very valuable for job appliances. Sounds stupid? It's not. Since everyone in Germany has the right to start a company, you can start a carpenter company without being a carpenter yourself (be aware of insurance laws though) which logically does not enable you to officially educate someone else in that working field because you are not a carpenter. However, if you hire a "Geselle" with an "Ausbilderschein" (job trainer certificate) you CAN hire a "Lehrling" because your "Geselle" has the certified knowledge to properly educate.

[@thestonegateroadrunner7305]

Pünktlichkeit is important, private parties excepted. If the party starts at 8 pm, don't show up before 8:30 pm unless you want to meet the host in the bathrobe.

[@Kenionatus]

The way I understand it, you only need the 'Meister' title if you want to open a business in a few traditional trades. So you can only open "Krauts Schreinerei" (Kraut's Carpentry Works) if you are a Meister, but you can open "Krauts Holzarbeiten" (Kraut's Woodworking) even if you don't have any education. Though if it's safety relevant, you pretty much always need some kind of licence.

[@GiaGwendoline]

I really like your videos so far :) Just wanted to mention: Pfusch am Bau is the opposite of doing your job correctly.

[@KrautsalatAnAmericaninGermany]

Thanks...yeah, i have had more talks about this since the filming. I did not really have the concept properly understood and i went into a rant....we had some trouble to edit this part well, so take it more like sarcasm "everyone does the job correctly" LOL

[@geraldettmayr8435]

In Austria Pfusch means correct work correct money but no taxes ;) On the opposite here too when something is not done right its Pfusch but also older people tend to call it italian, french or russian - these come from the pows of WW I and WW II

[@kratzikatz1]

Pfusch is bad work. Edelpfusch looks nice , work proper, and last forever!😉😉😉😊

[@stefantheis5408]

In Bavaria Beer is a "Grundnahrungsmittel" roughly translated as "Basic food"

[@s3ndi169]

In Austria its a "Reparaturbier" or "Reparierbier" -> it repairs u :D

[@andreasr.7146]

We(south badensia) call first beer... maybe on holiday, 10 or 11 am, "Frühschoppen". That means morning drink for baby's.

[@hobie_cat6015]

There is one thing that is even better than normal health insurance. This is the professional association (BG-BAU). If something happens to you at work, an accident, then you are insured through this organization www.bgbau.de/. This means on the way to work (direct way) and on the way home as well as on the job itself (but not longer than 10 hours or 13 hours a day). If something happens to you, you are well and sometimes better insured than a privately insured person. But you must not do anything that you are not allowed to do. As an an example. If you work on the roof you have to protect yourself against falling! Or drink alcohol break your leg and the BG won't pay for you. So I would think twice. I had an accident while at work and had the best doctors and received a large personal injury compensation. So don't make mistakes. And it costs you nothing! Your employer is compulsorily insured here. There is nothing he can do about it.

[@kjezedolan9419]

I'm from Germany, with 4 years of my life growing up in the USA. In my understanding, Pünktlichkeit depends on for what you are going to meet. If you coming late disturbs what ever you are going to do with the guys you meet (also work e.g.), you really should be pünktlich. But for leisure it actually does'nt matter. Hope my German friends dont stone me to death for this :D

[@Sark0filla]

In Österreich nennt man das Bier morgens nach einer Nacht wo man über den Durst getrunken hat "Reparaturseidl" In Austria we call the Beer at the morning after a night where u drink more than necessary "Reparaturseidl" a half Beer 0,3l to get you going xD

[@henryklazer89]

Nice dude! How can we get the permission to work there?

[@herrMuesli]

Can you do a comparison about building in the US and Germany? I still wonder why its popular to build woodframe houses in the Us, especially in tornado areas! Is it because of costs or people move a lot?