MASSIVE CULTURE SHOCKS AS A CANADIAN LIVING IN GERMANY

Don’t get me wrong, Germany is amazing, but like many internationals living abroad, there are a few things that slapped me in the face when I first moved here. I didn’t expect any of these things!
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ABOUT ME
Hey there, I’m Jenna! A Canadian Expat living in Germany since 2014. 🇩🇪
Like many, I had a difficult time relocating - all the paperwork, finding a flat, a phone plan, a job, etc. So, I took it slowly and documented all my adventures along the way so that years down the road, I could help others avoid making the same mistakes I did. Let’s look at it as… PAVING THE WAY FOR NEW EXPATS TO SAVE TIME & MONEY!
I built up www.lifeinduesseldorf.com to help expats make the best out of their lives in Düsseldorf, and then soon realized a lot of the content I was sharing was helpful for ALL expats living in Germany. SO I BUILT AN ONLINE PROGRAM THAT HELPS EXPATS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD RELOCATE EASILY WHILE SAVING THOUSANDS OF EUROS!
... and now I’m bringing it all to KZbin! ♥️

[@lifeingermany_]

HEY YOU! Yes... YOU! 😉 Scroll on up and hit that 'Subscribe' button if you enjoyed this video! ⬆️❤️

[@alissa5432]

Cycling on the sidewalk is actually illegal if ur older than 8 years old. U can get charged for that:/

[@posaidon67]

Hi Jenna , how are you!!! I'm also Canadian, from Toronto. Moved to Germany about 2 yrs ago, it's nice but still can't get used to it. I miss alot about home, The mall's, shoppers drugmart, Costco , home depot, just to say a few, and cant understand why everything is closed on sundays , most important the houses lol...... I'm in Saarland

[@posaidon67]

I tell you Jenna, I really miss Toronto (Woodbridge) I still have my house, rented it. I think I'm going back when this virus let's me lol . Thx for the ❤.

[@japjap_jule]

You can get tabwater. Restaurants are obligated to give you free tabwater.

[@with_2_hands228]

Hi Jenna

[@ZethisVA]

I'm always amazed how much people from abroad like our windows.

[@bazoo513]

Well, they _are_ better that those guillotine style American contraptions. :o)

[@sezoe4271]

Yes, indeed! I love to watch these videos, and I always enjoy the moment when the windows are mentioned! 😊

[@taxiuniversum]

Once you realize how shitty US and British windows are, your amazement will suddenly end. Guaranteed.

[@merandareast2552]

Coming from Canada I love the windows here but really miss screens! Our cat is an indoor cat and we can’t open the windows wide or he can get out. He’s not very smart and would die if he were to go running around town. Also, when the windows are open, ALL the bugs come in. I really miss the screens so the windows could be wide open but the bugs don’t get in and the cat doesn’t get out.

[@ssm445]

@@merandareast2552 you can put screens on the window. Many window frames already have a click-in system for a screen frame. I use them in the bedroom in summer to keep bugs outside.

[@reen_oderso]

The trick on the supermarket checkout is to plan your strategy for bagging while you put your stuff on the band. Heavy, bulky items first, fruits, veggies, breakable stuff at last. Then prepare your bags in the cart. These 2 things will make you win every checkout battle! 😊

[@lifeingermany_]

Reen de Winter hahah this is the best tip! And SO TRUE! I’ve been here for 6 years and I really feel like I’m starting to master the art of bagging at the grocery store! 🤣✊

[@kenavr]

Though my question is, if you buy enough to require a cart, why bag at the checkout at all? Just put it back in the cart and bag in the bagging areas almost all grocery stores have.

[@reen_oderso]

@@kenavr It may be cliche, but ... efficiency!😉 Why should I take every item in hand two times, if I could totally do that while the cashier is scanning in one step? Tbh, sometimes I put the last 2-4 pieces in my bags on the way out, but overall its not so hard and saves time. By now you should be able to guess, where Im from 😊

[@kenavr]

@@reen_oderso I guess it depends on the size of your shopping, I often need to put stuff in different bags or my backpack which makes it just too stressful. I personally just take my time, but sure if I just put everything in one bag I usually do it at checkout as well.

[@lifeingermany_]

kenavr there’s sadly no bagging area where I am - middle of the city and not enough space for a bagging area! 🤷🏽‍♀️ I don’t fill a massive shopping cart though 😝 so it’s not like I’m ever holding up the line 👍

[@georgvonrechenberg2217]

You don't have to sugarcoat it. Free public toilets in Germany aren't "relatively nasty". They are utterly disgusting and as a German I'm very ashamed because of this disgrace.

[@lifeingermany_]

Hahaha ♥️♥️ always gotta try and keep it neutral to avoid hate mail 🤣🤣

[@Phelie315]

Yeah but that's why the others cost money, to deter people from going in just to destroy some shit or something. That's what happens in the free ones.

[@KajoFox]

This is rather surprising to me as a brit because while there are a few rare paid toilets where I live (they are all like, luxury style because they pay for themselves.), the free toilets in shopping centers and motorway services are plenty clean enough. The really bad toilets are the ones outside the city center, like in suburbs or at the beach. They can be properly disgusting. Let's not get started on the ones in secondary schools (ages 11-16). Freut mich :D Hoffentlich werde ich bald Ihr Land besuchen! Sprachen sind schwer doch Deutschland sieht so schön auf.

[@xarexes7070]

@@KajoFox The disgusting toilets are usually those at rest stops where there is nothing else. So no gas station, etc. And the good toilets actually cost 20 cents, 70 cents for the toilet and you get a 50 cent voucher for the store. If you're a guest in a restaurant or pub, using the restroom is usually part of the service and free.

[@xarexes7070]

@Marty Harrrell Geh doch nach Amerika, da sind Anti-Demokraten gerade hoch im Kurs. Da machst du zumindest nicht unser schönes Deutschland kaputt.

[@booksandwine6245]

i'm from germany, but the grocery thing is a struggle everyone has😂

[@lindahilz]

ich habs mir auch grade gedacht hahahha, ich kenne das so gut, ich finds auch so stressig mit dem einpacken und zahlen 😂😂😂

[@lisastilz3209]

@@lindahilz es ist so schlimm für mich! ich habe eine Behinderung und kann nicht so schnell 🙈😐

[@lindahilz]

@@lisastilz3209 oh ja das kann ich verstehen, das ist natürlich dann noch etwas erschwerter, aber lass dich nicht unter Druck setzen und nimm dir die Zeit die du brauchst, ich glaube jeder kann sich die Zeit nehmen mal einen Augenblick zu warten ☺️😘

[@alliroggorilla]

not true, as a german i can tell you i love beating the cashiers cuz im faster with packing then the are with scanning. Efficiency is a go! :D

[@gerd-gunthergewurzgurke1266]

@@alliroggorilla sometimes you need that competition 💪

[@PliuNoShi]

We (my now-ex and our daughter) on holiday in London, standing at Red Light while anybody is Crossing the street. Another couple stops beside us while others walking on. Sight... "auch deutsche?" "yupp!" 😂🤣😂

[@michaelgerstmaier4056]

Yes! 😄 My brother and me where in London a couple of years ago and wondered why they write on the street where to look before crossing... Well, I can't say this was for long.

[@xindirella3294]

😂😂😂😂

[@jojoblt4484]

I was in Paris and I was like "do what the other do so you don't stuck out" so i went by at a red light. So nobody would no im German.

[@Aussenluft]

@@jojoblt4484 Sehr klug.

[@Shary907]

We wear yoga pants outside .... here in Berlin we wear everything outside

[@lisaervintravels2039]

Germans lost interest in single-use bags years ago. You still get them, though you have to buy them for ~25-40cents each, but they're bad for the environment and Germany loves avoiding trash and recycling. The newest trend is to not even bag your veggies!

[@lifeingermany_]

Loving the trends 🥰

[@reesofraft4166]

makes sense as most veggies come in their very own packaging that protects it since growing from a bud...

[@kristinasmith3097]

@@reesofraft4166 I guess Lisa thought about loose veggies, which you either pack in your own bag that has to be weighed or don’t pack them at all, not to buy veggies that are already packed ^^

[@Philemaphobia]

@@kristinasmith3097 I never liked that we used to pack all our veggies in these flimsy plastic bags and I like the revival of the Einkaufsnetz :)

[@demon-dj7yj]

This might be an east german/village thing, but where I live people never really used plastic bags in the first place? That was always just an emergency option if you forget your own bag.

[@daseteam]

What would a review of Germany be without the WINDOWS?

[@lifeingermany_]

daseteam 🤣✊

[@PortCharmers]

...and Bill Gates stealing all the credit

[@c.s.1141]

Had exactly the same thought - literally everyone. 😂🙈

[@taxiuniversum]

😆 Seriously, though: I don’t get why the fuck they don’t also sell those abroad. Can’t be that hard to fill an overseas container and ship them there. 😏🙄

[@frankderessener4477]

@Michael Nickname Und um "closed on sundays." Hat man einen review gesehen, hat man alle gesehen. Gleich kommt wohl noch "bei Rot gehen".....😂

[@zwieback1989]

She is way too nice about free toilet on the german highway. I'm from Germany and those toilets are disgusting! Please never go there unless you would otherwise make in your pants and even then you better go in the bushes. Seriously I'm german and I am embarrassed for my country to offer those toilets to anybody. The other toilets on the highway cost 0,70€, but they are just fine 95% of the times I have used them.

[@Child_of_Fae]

I thought the same, until I started traveling. In comparrisen to eg France those toilets are clean...

[@nri363]

I agree. We were in France, Austria, slowakei and croatia and there had every parking lot on the highway a toilet and they were all clean. In Germany often there are no toilets and no bushes and when there are toilets then this dirty, smelly things. You had to train your legs so you don't touch the toilet. The last time I had to use a toilet like this was this year and the toilet was closed for about 3 minutes after every person for self cleaning after this it was smelly, dirty and the complete romm was just wet I really don't know what they do. Every fucking country could do it but Germany couldn't give us clean and free toilets.

[@TheAkbar23]

But there you have to pay for the road also, in Germany its free.

[@nri363]

@@TheAkbar23 it depends in Germany the taxes for your care are expensive so you pay the streets but the people from other countries don't

[@TheAkbar23]

@@nri363 I know. Thats why Germany should introduce also road fees, so everybody using the autobahn contributes.

[@larswesterhausen7262]

"People wearing yoga pants have the lost control of their lives" (Karl Lagerfeld)

[@dyfustifications]

Describing 2020 in one sentence

[@misskatonic5092]

Und es ist Quatsch. Jeder darf tragen, was ihm gefällt und wenns der bequeme "Schlabberlook" ist...Karl Lagerfeld hat angeblich auch seine Unterhosen nur einmal getragen und dann weggeworfen, was für Müllberge...

[@larswesterhausen7262]

@@misskatonic5092 Ist die Humorsicherung durchgebrannt?

[@anciareuterbach3928]

Ja!! Mein Lebensmotto! Schwierig, das einem Teenager beizubringen 🙈

[@da_gonozal6754]

@@anciareuterbach3928 joa, kann man persönlich so sehen. Muss man aber nicht. Juckt mich nicht und sollte mich auch nicht tangieren was andere Menschen tragen.

[@Sakaran2010]

Tips on Grocery shopping a) Pre-sort your groceries on the conveyer belt b) Have shopping bags open and lined on in your cart c) Don't panic, if you're not as fast as the Cashier...let them wait. If there is no space for them to put the Groceries they will slow down by necessity

[@susannabonke8552]

Tell them you Just arrived from Canada. They will Like you.

[@nigelmchugh5541]

In the middle of your groceries, strategically position some veg or fruit. This slows them down while they have to weigh them. :D

[@anjas.2236]

@@nigelmchugh5541 genius!!!

[@frutti_di_marius]

That jaywalking thing is mostly relevant for drivers so they dont have to slow down when they come near traffic lights because they have to be worried of people randomly crossing the road. In general, that whole follow-the-rule thing in Germany might appear a little annoying to foreigners but its actually just a part of the culture to leave a part of your ego at home to serve the community. Other examples are mandatory health insurance that makes everyone pay for each others healthcare or always being on time. Many foreigners I know consider it pedantic but its actually just about respecting others and everyone will benefit from it at some point, maybe without even noticing

[@lifeingermany_]

DemaryouzT well said! 🥰

[@ntvinternationalnews4591]

Agreed 👍

[@johannesschneider7288]

Well also is it against the law and you can temporarily lose your drivers licence (or be temporarily prohibited from getting one )

[@thisiswarren]

I am also a Canadian living in germany and I am still traumatized from getting screamed at for jaywalking 😬

[@dragonlord4643]

well right now at corona times, it proves that the german healthcare is one of the best in the world, nobody can argument against that right now.

[@deborahleibundgut5808]

Re: water in restaurants You don’t get free water because the drinks are the main source of profit for a restaurant. That’s why they don’t want to give you tap water. It’s an unwritten social rule, to order drinks or bottled water in restaurants. We all drink tap water at home but in a restaurant, you buy the drinks. The food prices are kinds low, so the restaurants don’t make huge profit from the food. In a Café, it’s okay to ask for a water with your coffee because that’s an Italian thing do, and it’s become more normal. You train yourself to drink less in restaurants in Germany. While I lived in the US for a year, I got sooo used to drinking huge amounts of water with my food. I do this at home now, but not in restaurants.

[@eatpussynotanimals3194]

I used to work in a german restaurant and I think not many people know that the restaurants actually have to give you tap water if you ask for it.

[@annelbeab8124]

@@eatpussynotanimals3194 not true

[@klausklausi7484]

@@annelbeab8124 it‘s true

[@finja-chan9900]

I live in Germany and i often asked for tap water and the answer is that i can't get it because it could be a health risk (which is a Bit Strange Because we have high standarts for tap water)

[@eatpussynotanimals3194]

@@finja-chan9900 next time ask them what water they cook with 😌 definitely not the san pelegrino

[@_meri_el]

I'm German and I haaaaate these big pillows. It's right that they're almost everywhere in hotels or whatever but I don't own a pillow like that bcs I hate em 😂😂😂😂

[@johannajo4514]

I actually forgot we had these pillows in Germany. So funny that they are uncomfortable for some!

[@RiaMarleen]

Cashier at Rewe here. Out of boredom I sometimes play a game with myself and the customer not knowing about it. The goal is to be faster in scanning than the customer in packing his groceries lol. I'm sorry if that stresses you out but let me asure you, besides from maybe some annoyed customers behind you, me and all my colleagues could'nt care less about how fast or slow you pack your stuff. In fact. I even enjoy these 20 to 40 seconds of waiting because I can drink some water or just have a little break.

[@Dutch3DMaster]

Hehe I can see this type of boredom being a very, very widely practiced thing, and I can so understand it. The jobs that always seem the most repetitive to me are the ones that I pay the highest respect for, I could never do it....Same with people working at McDonalds, the high tempo and the probability that a slight error can have massive consequences for the whole process always comes over as draining to me, and whenever people are angry towards a McDonalds employee or a cashier, I can't help but wonder what goes through the minds of people acting that way...

[@delirium3181]

If I ever migrate to North America and build a home there, I will import windows from Europe. I also will build all load bearing walls with brick, even if I have to do it myself. I probably have to fight a bit to get everything up to code, but I will *never* give up Kipp windows :D

[@nopenope1]

I think the biggest issue I'd have with esp. the US would be the health insurance... and the hire and fire mentality. That is something that I really can't get, the lag of it. A surgery could mean you lose everything, 100K, 200K or more oh and your job of course ;) (edit: health insurance - often only payable with your employer, the religion aspect of the employer... there and if you get fired you lose it. Paying one on your own is extremly expensive and you can be denied or you will be in a few month... ;( or you even pay for one but still ending up with tens of thousends of medical bills...)

[@Robert_Hermigua]

These European windows are available in the USA. They just cost a lot more over there.

[@hans-joachimirmer1001]

Überlege Dir zweimal in die USA zu emigrieren. Nur wenn du genug Geld mibringst und nicht gezwungen bist deinen Lebensunterhalt mit deiner Hände Arbeit zu verdienen. Falls doch "Willkommen im SHITHOLE".

[@delirium3181]

@@hans-joachimirmer1001 So scharf drauf bin ich nicht, keine Sorge :)

[@LunaticDesire]

There are also very good and airtight sash windows, but only the newer ones and they of course are more expensive. But they do exist and I personally (as a European) prefer sash windows (as long as they open from both sides).

[@malaika1208]

Hello, as a person who lives in Germany, it’s hilarious to hear an outsiders opinion on the German Culture. 😂

[@Trollmulle]

If you want to buy your groceries cheaply, you will have to live with the fact that the supermarket only employs a small number of staff to save staff costs. These few staff not only have to cash in quickly, they also have to load and tidy up goods. All customers always want to be served immediately and no one wants to wait, but when you are at the checkout yourself, the cashier should kindly check out slowly and not rush. The checkout speed is controlled in supermarkets and the cashiers receive instructions that they have to checkout quickly. And when customers then complain to the supermarket operator that things are going too fast and too hectic, the cashier gets a guilty conscience. No matter how you do it, the cashier is always the stupid. By the way, I'm at the cash register.

[@evelinholmes6401]

Trollmulle so true. He only way is to boycott but the store but that will never happen. So they put up with it. The customer is never king in Germany.

[@susannabonke8552]

There ARE Markets where they have a little time though.

[@susannabonke8552]

@@evelinholmes6401 hä? I'm Happy with LIDL.

[@1000namen]

@@susannabonke8552 LIDL is like Kaufland or Rewe (not all of them are Discounters I know) one of the few chains that treat their staff better (in relation to Aldi and especially Netto). Therefore I go to LIDL, when I need cheap stuff.

[@michaelgerstmaier4056]

It is so funny, because it is sooo true! 😄 I (german) see the packing of my groceries like a regular challenge. Who will be faster, me or the cashier. If you want to take this game to the next level and be as german as me and still use these old school coins and bills to pay instead of this new plastic money ;) , try to pre-calculate the price and shock the cashier by having the exact amount of money in your hand BEFORE he is done! This will make HIM eventually cry and let you leave with a feeling of pure triumph! 😄

[@lifeingermany_]

😂😂😂😂😂✊✊✊ this is the best

[@satanmitdengeilenbarthaaren]

Scheiße ist das gut lol :)

[@danielgotz4032]

But if you are a beginner, I would recommend to try the challenge at any store but Aldi. Most of their cashiers really know their game. If they ask me "Bar oder Karte", they will have the change ready as soon as I answer "Bar", even before I could even open my wallet :)

[@michaelgerstmaier4056]

Good point! They KNOW that you will take out that 50€ bill from your wallet when the price is 20,01€ and for the love of god NEVER try to give the aldi guy 20 bucks and that ONE cent! Otherwise (s)he will burn you to death with her/his cashier view (aka the C-Ray) 😄

[@Vampirzaehnchen]

You forgot to mention that you should consider a system how to order your goods on the conveyor belt, so you can pack your stuff even faster. :D

[@Brainreaver79]

its been ages since i got my "bicycle license" (childrens take them around age 8 .. at least it was around that age when i was in school...) where they learn to drive safely on the road and learn when they can drive on the sidewalk... if memory serves correctly kids up to 8years Have to drive on the sidewalk,.. between 8-12 you CAN drive on the sidewalk.. 12+you have to drive on the street...

[@lifeingermany_]

Brainreaver79 I LOVE that they offer that here in Germany. As foreigners, it should be a mandatory class before you buy a bike 😂😂. I would have benefited from that course!

[@Tippel3]

@@lifeingermany_ Sorry to hear that you've had a terrible accident! I'm pretty sure you can make one still as an adult. Usually the course is done within school, I also still have my Fahrradschein. But you also should be aware that things like driving a bike on the side walk, do affect your drivers license. Or riding your bike drunk, will also give you a penalty on your drivers license, because as an adult you are considered a Verkehrsteilnehmer. It's not much different as if one with a Mofa would use the sidewalk because he feels safer. Doesn't matter, because the person is endangering the people walking there. So people getting mad are not just getting mad for the sake of it but because you are actually breaking the law and there is a reason for it to exist. (While I agree that we Germans are masters of "meckern", but I have to save us here ) Did the accident happen in Germany? Don't know about Canada but here are laws in place about cyclists and how to behave, as well for the cyclist and car drivers alike. While an accident can always happen, there are laws in place to make sure everyone is as safe as possible.

[@ntvinternationalnews4591]

@@Tippel3 it's amazing that bicycling can affect your drivers license. Germans love rules. I think I would like to live in Germany because I like cars and driving fast. Also like beer 🍺🍺🍺 and schnitzel. Do you know what percentage of the autobahn you can drive without speed limit? Danke!

[@lifeingermany_]

Jeanne d'Arc that’s some really good info! I had no idea it could affect your license! Thank you!!! Yes - the accident happened in Germany. I actually got stuck in the tram tracks and there was an oncoming tram and hundreds of people saw it happen. I was bleeding all over my legs and arms, smashed cell phone, bike entirely bent and not a single person ran to help me. I was left hobbling around with wounded body parts grabbing my bike out of the way so the tram could pass. One lady even walked on the street, looked down at me, made some “you’re pathetic” noise with her mouth, popped a cigarette in her mouth and kept walking. I just sat on the sidewalk crying afterwards. 🙈

[@Tippel3]

@@lifeingermany_ argh, that really sounds bad. So sorry for you! Hope you recovered well physically and will also recover mentally from it. I can imagine that this can be hard from such a bad situation. In the last weeks the police in Germany also did a program for bike safety on the street about car drivers who behaved wrong and made sure to spot as many as possible and fined them. So there is always something going on and we do care about the safety of our cyclers. Just be aware that you are allowed to use the street if the bycicle lane is in bad shape but not the other way around or use the side walk. OFten times police will get you just a warning and a fine for cycling on a sidewalk etc but if you accumulate to many of them it will have an effect on your license

[@knudsburg]

As the famous designer Karl Lagerfeld (Chanel) once said, "If you are wearing yoga pants outside of your home in public you have lost control about your life". I am working for more than 20 years now in 5*/4* hotels and I never understood the "obsession" with free water in north america. From a business standpoint - why should i gave my customers free water/coffee and have the cost for my employes to serve the customer with that?With wine, cocktails, coffee and so on you are makeing most of your money in this business, not with the food. The "kitchen thing" is not everywhere is germany. In the north, where i live, it is uncommon. It is more a thing more to the middle or the south of germany and I will never understand why I have to carry my kitchen from one place to another! Crazy!

[@mr.countro24]

I'm not 100% sure, but the "kitchen thing" is almost everywhere in Germany. We Germans usually don't move a lot, so we like to have our "own" kitchen. People live 20-30 years or even their whole adult life in the same flat or house. Sometimes you can "buy" the installed kitchen from the previous tenant.

[@r.b.2737]

I have lived in south Germany my whole life and I moved a lot, but I always moved into a flat with kitchen and I never took mine. I know though, that it's common in Ruhrgebiet to take your kitchen with you.

[@swanpride]

Simply because the kitchen applicances tend to be extremely expensive if you go for the good ones. You wouldn't want to leave behind something you have sunk a few thousands into.

[@lifeingermany_]

thomas johannsen haha that quote 🤣🤭 ... I still love my yoga pants 🤫... In terms of water - I usually like ordering 1-2 drinks at a meal, and if I get a free water, then I’ll order a couple 7€ cocktails. Otherwise, I’ll order a 2€ bottle of water with my meal and may or may not order one cocktail. So at the end of the day, I actually spend less on drinks in Germany because I order less 😝.

[@lifeingermany_]

R. A. I think that’s a great idea! The flat I live in now... we had to customize it to fit the kitchen. So... if the future tenants don’t buy it off us.. it’ll basically go to the dump 🙁

[@luckyqualmi]

"I don't eat meat. I only eat chicken." Wait, what? o.O ;)

[@lifeingermany_]

Mr. Pink I know, I know 🙈

[@Tippel3]

yep, that's equally disturbing like people who call themselfs vegetarian but eat fish....

[@fjellyo3261]

@@Tippel3 pescitarians ;)

[@Tippel3]

@@fjellyo3261 yes, but why not say that, instad of sayin vegetarian?

[@satanmitdengeilenbarthaaren]

@@Tippel3 because they feel better when they consider themself as a veggy ;)

[@evelli73]

Biking on the street can be terrifying, but biking on the sidewalk can get expensive, because it's only allowed until the age of 14.

[@noodleppoodle]

Is that in every land?

[@melaniemarschall1965]

I totally agree. There are often no bike paths so you have to cicle with the car, bus and truck traffic where is not much space for them when they want to overtake you. I was in Holland two years ago and there are ALWAYS bicycle paths, mostly even two lanes - that makes fun and feel safe.

[@sissi3638]

Ich finde es super witzig, dass deutsche Fenster so eine Besonderheit darstellen 👍 Kann man die Fenster in Kanada etwa nicht ganz öffnen??

[@salamandermari]

Hahhaa ich lebe jetzt seit 5 Jahren in Kanada und nope - die Fenster sind shiiiiit hahaaha

[@lifeingermany_]

Hahaha nein, das hier ist eine gute Beispiel: images.app.goo.gl/SYGCaX5j8qBApRQ5A

[@rst6590]

Wahrscheinlich wegen den Bärchen 😂🐻🐻🐻

[@georgobergfell]

Das Schiebefenster in meinem Apartment in den USA ist mir beim Öffnen immer auseinandergefallen, und es war eine riesen Fummelei, das wieder zu montieren. Außerdem waren die Fenster nicht ganz dicht, und es hat immer herein gezogen. Im Sommer heiß, und im Winter kalt.

[@lifeingermany_]

@@georgobergfell genau war immer mein Problem in Kanada 🤣🤣🙈

[@siebensteinchen]

So funny to hear how normal those things are for me as a german... Thanks for sharing this!

[@markschattefor6997]

The same for me and I'm a Dutchman.

[@lifeingermany_]

Right?! I LOVE watching videos like this from internationals living in Canada - they’re hilarious 😂🙃

[@annalenak1909]

I think it's so nice, that you don't talk bad about the things and germany and rather just objectively describe them!! That's realy polite and appreciating 😊

[@lifeingermany_]

Annalena K 🥰✊

[@AnnaK.]

If you think German pillows are massive you never have seen Austrian one, they are 90x70 cm. :) In Germany you can find two kinds of pillows, full size 80x80 and half size 40x80. I recon you prefer the half size pillow.

[@BTA08]

You can find the pillows in size 40x80 in Austria as well. And here you'll always get tap water in restaurants when you ask for it. And in 99% for free.

[@mho2309]

Und was ist an 90x70 größer als bei 80x80. Die 90er sind flächenmäßig sogar kleiner.

[@AnnaK.]

@@mho2309 Breite?

[@BTA08]

@@mho2309 Lass gut sein. Da kommst du mit Logik offensichtlich nicht weiter.

[@Larigleek]

As a german I would love a bottle of tap water at the restaurant. It‘s usual and free in so many other countries!

[@georgvonrechenberg2217]

Ordering tab water actually becomes more common in recent years. I always do it and sometimes they even give me packaged water for free because of some rather restrictive hygienic rules concerning tab water. But yes, you will earn some not very pleased reactions if you order tab water without anything else. The trick is, to order it as a side-drink: "I'd like to have a glass of tab water with my coffee/beer/cocktail". The reason for this hassle is, that restaurants tend to beat down the price of the food and are making their main profit with the served beverages. The idea is probably that low food prices will lure customers and then they'll drink stuff, too.

[@annag.836]

great hack for grocery shopping: most fruits and vegetables are weighed at the checkout by the cashier. The duration is often a little longer. if you spread these things on the tape you have a short time to catch up with packing compared if you have the veggies only at the end🙈 Also lay the stuff in the order you want to get it. Heavy stuff first, then lightweight stuff.

[@suserockle7332]

You might already know since you live here for years, but you can always go in a cafe or restaurant without ordering something and use their toilets. Since they are bound by law to have one and to let you use it. Everything is closed on sundays is something that many North Americans say. And that is simply not true. Besides public authorities of course the only thing that is closed on Sundays are shops. Everything else that somebody could go to on sundays is open. Museum, galeries, funpools, exhibitions, zoos and so on.

[@mijp]

That is not true. There is no law that you can go to every toilet in cafes or restaurants.In fact, they allowed to refuse it and there sometimes, for example with Festivals nearby they are very eager to open restrooms only for customers. But you can ask and normally they are kind enough and let you.

[@BastiToshy]

@@mijp They have to have a toilet - they dont have to let everyone come in .

[@mijp]

@@BastiToshy didn't said anything else.

[@FrauTietze42]

@@BastiToshy exactly. They often take a little money from non-customers.but they are usually much nicer than public ones. Also if you have a little child it is usually accepted by all that you go and use their toilet as it is understood that they can't hold on for that long...even in shops they usually let you access their staff toilets in such a case

[@Miristzuheiss]

There is the Edeka Supermarket in Hauptbahnhof and a lot of Kiosks Open sunday, you can buy all you use

[@Osmone_Everony]

Just in case you're having a cat or plan to get one let me tell you this. A window on "Kipp" can become a deadly trap for a cat! Either have them closed or have both windows tilted so the cat can't jump into the gap.

[@lifeingermany_]

Osmone Everony 🤭🤭🤭 very true! I don’t have any cats thankfully!! That’s a scary thought though!!

[@dragonlord4643]

i've got two cats, they never came on that idea... and i've never heard of that either lol.

[@Osmone_Everony]

@@dragonlord4643 But it can possibly happen!

[@caro0605]

@@dragonlord4643 Really?But that's one of the most common dangers for cats in household. I bet every cat expert will tell you.

[@fridadanke9076]

I saw one hanging dead in there at a Friends House. No nice picture

[@eagle1de227]

the check-outs in german grocery stores are not designed for you to bag your groceries. The idea behind it is you may bag your groceries wherever you want but not at the register where you'd block everyone and create jams. Put your stuff back into the cart and bag at your car for example.

[@AP-RSI]

Most discount stores (i.e. Aldi) have additional shelves after the checkout, where you can calmly pack the things from your cart into the bags. Unfortunately, not all (Rewe, Penny, for example, do not have it...). Free water in the restaurant... For example, I don't like "totes Wasser" (still water), as I always call it. So I order something else... e.g. any juice spritzer. But my wife usually asks for a BOTTLE of water (0.7L or 1L) when ordering, which is effectively cheaper. And water from the tap is not allowed to be served in a restaurant! And cycling on the sidewalk.... yes, that's crap! But here in KA it's the other way around! Here there are many bike lanes right next to pedestrian walkways and if you run there as a pedestrian on it, you are immediately snubbed by some cyclist!

[@eoincorbett2708]

Shopping tip: Get a massive blue Ikea bag and throw most of the things in! The only problem is that you have to carry it!! Nice accurate summary of the culture shocks! Splitting the bill individually is another one (zusammen oder getrennt?!)

[@Kerstin-cq2uv]

I worked at a grocery store and sometimes it was fun to see how fast I can go 😂 I put all my things on the band and in the end I out them back in my cart. At my car I put it in my bags. It is more relaxed:)

[@eirameiram3991]

Wow! Thanks again for this video. Good to know about the apartments, I will take a note on that!

[@gustavmeyrink_2.0]

7:14 If they'd give me free water I wouldn't buy any drinks at all.

[@lifeingermany_]

Gustav Meyrink total opposite huh?! I get so thirsty after Soda or cocktails that I only order them when I get a water with it 🙈

[@gustavmeyrink_2.0]

@@lifeingermany_ I don't really drink alcohol. In a restaurant I have either fizzy water or beer. (Being German beer is not an alcoholic beverage but liquid bread)

[@aliciasteiner6855]

@Life in Germany as far as I know there is a law in Germany, that when you explicitly ask for tab water they cannot charge you for it. At least that‘s what a friend of mine always says and often does. Of course a lot of restaurants charge you for it anyways, so you have Go be careful.

[@lifeingermany_]

@@aliciasteiner6855 I’ve heard that before too! Curious to know if it’s actually the case. I guess restaurant owners know that no one will take them to court over it so they just continue to disobey the rules.

[@samlehmann4929]

Restaurant owners in Germany aren't allowed to serve you tab water due to hygiene ordinance or regulations. Bc they cant guarentee that the water is free from e.g. bacteria or other bad elements. Without a veritable permission restaurant owners aren't allowed to dell any soda or water which isnt in a bottle or in an enclosed Container.

[@indrinita]

Hello fellow Canadian! I'm from Calgary originally but have been living in Germany since mid-2013. Really cool to see a Canadian speaking about their experiences in Germany! I live in Leipzig but work in Bayreuth.

[@antoinerobert3549]

What you do is put your groceries on the belt in an order that makes it easy to put them in your bags.

[@lifeingermany_]

Antoine Robert almost perfected this! ✊🤗

[@faye_2]

Loved your Video😁 Here are some tips to step up your game to grocery bagging 😉 1) When you put your groceries on the belt to be scanned, put in on in the order you want to pack it in afterwards (heavy things first, fruits to the end ....) 2) Have your bag and wallet ready before encountering the grocery bagging speed race with the cashier 3) Put your backpack/ purse in your shopping cart, to have free range of arm and hand motions ......... good luck player ...... and may the odds be ever in your favor 😂

[@stephanteuscher6583]

Public toilets: you could go into a big store. They usually have toilets for the customers.

[@lifeingermany_]

Stephan Teuscher that’s a great tip! On the city centres, a lot of small businesses won’t allow you to use the washrooms unless you’re a customer. Sometimes they’ll charge 50 cents which is okay too! It’s just a luck of the draw! 😝

[@Ghost251980]

@@lifeingermany_ tbh they can´t deny you by law ! if they sell somthing to eat/drink they need to have a bathroom for customers ... and if u have "togo" they have to let you use it but they can charge for it ofcause ;-)

[@jamillx]

@@Ghost251980 Gratulation, am Thema vorbei argumentiert und "small business" komplett falsch verstanden, großartige Leistung

[@Ghost251980]

@@jamillx uii na wie immer einer is ja immer der schlauste ne ;-) villeicht dann auch die richtigstellung deinerseits oder nur meckern ? und wenn man dann noch nen bissel normales denken bei fügt sollte jedem klar sein das nenn imbisswagen mit 5 stülen sicher keine toilette hat ...

[@Phelie315]

@@Ghost251980 soweit ich weiß muss man eine Toilette bereithalten, sobald man Sitzplätze für Speisen/Getränke anbietet, deshalb gibt es bei Imbisswagen ja meistens auch nur Stehtische. Manchmal gibt's welche vor Möbelhäusern oder Baumärkten oder so mit Bierbänken, dann ist die Toilette eben die im Möbelhaus. Aber bin auch kein Jurist, da gibt's sicher auch Ausnahmen und Sonderregelungen ohne Ende.

[@Flp1914]

I am brazilian who've been in canada for 5 years and i tottaly understand ur different poins between Canada and germany specially, i loved ur channel.

[@lifeingermany_]

Thanks so much! So glad you like it! And agree! Brazil vs. Canada! That’s a video I’d also love to watch! 🤩

[@MissyLaMotte]

What helps me with the grocery bagging stress is to bring a basket instead of bags (I use one of those foldable plastic baskets) and place it in the shopping cart. Way easier to stack your stuff in there fast than in a fabric or paper bag. Good planning on the belt (as Reen de Winter already mentioned) is also crucial.

[@Leenapanther]

In Switzerland the customers won. 😂 Lidl tried to implement "German checkouts" without a catch basin (Auffangbecken), but that angered customers. So they adjusted it to Swss standards. Lidl is repeatedly "retailer of the year". Aldi isn't as popular, because they never adjusted to what we want.

[@Preussengeneral]

A very interesting Video and I liked it. I have to point out, that every Appartment in Germany has a kitchen (the room), but since we take our kitchen-furniture with us, when we move, the Person that moves into that appartment will find the room empty. Somtimes we sell our kitchen-furniture to the Person that moves into the appartment and in some cases the furniture belongs to the landlord and it stays in the appartment. The same holds for lamps. But lightswitches are always there, they belong into the appartment are not moved. If the Electric Installation is not complete or even dangerours, you can tell the landlord. He has to fix it.

[@Smo-King-Gun]

XD Ive heard about this grocery thing before . . guess for us Germans its normal, "Reen de winter's" tip is the essential tactic to apply ! Bottled water costs money, but you can always ask for Tap water which should be free in most cases.

[@kerstineisenhut8151]

Dear Jenna, the groceries challenge depends on the shop, Aldi and Lidl are just awful, but in my hometown we have an Edeka chain and the people there wait for you. 🙈

[@frauleinanni1528]

Hi from Munich area :) I don't know whether SARS-CoV-2 will change something about German pedestrian areas but you should be able to find a toilet and/or a room to change diapers in bigger, multilevel stores like Karstadt and Kaufhof and even at large book selling chains like Hugendubel or Thalia. Also, every café and each restaurant has to provide at least toilets, so feel free to ask. You may be charged 50 cent to 1 Euro if you just come to the place to use the toilet, it depends on the owner. Places providing a large number of public transport - central railway stations, airports, ferries - or some kind of festivals usually have public toilets also. At the railway stations those are not free of charge but relatively clean. Being German myself I actually regard people from other nationalities as being dressed better than I - especially Turkish girls and women, but also most women of African or Russian/Slavic descent ... When it comes to fashion, France - especially Paris - has quite a reputation to stand for 'haute couture' and of course this prejudice is still vivant in Germany. As you might have found out already, one can buy nets to block insects from entering your rooms. Apart from that, there's also (electronic) devices to scare insects of, either by light or some vibration/sound which is not heard by humans. Just check out your local 'Baumarkt'. :) I think restaurants, cafés and such have contracts with beverage providers which cater beer, water and some juices. Often the name of the beer (or its producing company) can be seen on the outside. I assume that mainly because of those contracts there is no tap water available in Germany. Actually the quality of the tap water is really good but it has not always been that way - or not equally in all regions of Germany. Some legislation on hygiene may also play a role here.

[@egohicsum]

I searched for minutes to find just one comment thats not written by a german but i didnt found one. Wir hams wiedermal geschafft. xD

[@jollymeah4]

I‘m German and a ALWAYS cycle on the sidewalk 😅 I hate cycling on the street 🙈

[@lifeingermany_]

Hahaha you’re literally the first person to admit to that here (besides me)! I am always careful, but these streets are soooo dangerous sometimes!

[@herbie140582]

I really like these "culture shock" videos. 😄 So, if the pillows are to big get one of the 40cm x 80cm. I personally use the big ones only for decoration.

[@lifeingermany_]

Hahah I’m actually looking at buying some 40 x 80 ones soon!! Just want the stores to reopen so I can check quality haha.

[@hanniwe]

Free water in restaurants: They don’t do it because the margin for drinks makes them the money. Earning money with the food is really hard if you pay your staff ‚well‘ (of course the pay could still be a lot better).

[@SL-gb8qd]

You can always ask for tap water and often they will give you some. Sometimes free, sometimes a small fee up to 50 cent. I often choose tap water, because it is better for the environment that bottled water. So just ask, worst case they say no, best case you get free water.

[@wernholttempelhoff9301]

I have to laugh again every time expats describe the stress at the grocery checkout (we call it Supermart checkout). And it is absolutely true. Even for us Germans it's a challenge, even though we know the system. Nobody likes to wait in line. Five minutes feels like five hours. And your mood is getting worse every minute. When you are finally allowed to pay yourself, it’s the worst case scenario if you have to type in your pin twice. You feel 10 evil looks on your back that if they could kill they would pulverize you. And the cashier thinks: "Another clown who doesn't know his own PIN and again somebody holds up the whole business." The next time you hold your credit card already in your hand while you are in the queue, constantly mumbling your PIN to yourself. So that nothing can go wrong when paying, you will use your right arm to sweep your things from the checkout counter into your shopping cart with a single swing, while at the same time you scan your credit card with your left hand, and then with your freed right hand you will immediately and without delay frantically hammer your PIN into the machine. Some call it German efficiency. I call it the fear of public shame. Do you think that description is a little bit exaggerated? Visit Germany and try it out for yourself. We all have warned you seriously.

[@annakeller1649]

No it is not exaggerated. This is exactly the way it is!! 😂 For me it even goes so far that if the person at the cashier needs more time because he does not know the price for the apples for example and asks someone else working there to go and get the price from the shelf I almost tend to say: "okay, leave it, I don't need apples, who needs apples - not meee!" just to keep the process going and avoid these mumbles and eyes rolling (only imaginative in my German brain conditioned to efficiency and harmony *g*) from the row behind me.

[@diannerussell4849]

We have Aldi's here in Australia and I love every part of it, it's like preparing for a mission . Oh and German chocolate is the best in the world . Yum.🇦🇺🇩🇪♥️

[@butenbremer1965]

Speaking of jaywalking: I was born and raised in Bremen, where for pedestrians a red light was a red light. Period. There was no jaywalking at all, no matter how small the streets were or what the traffic was. Then I moved to Frankfurt where red lights are still being looked at as "Handlungsempfehlung" (recommendation for action). Adopting that habit unknowingly got me into trouble in various other cities....

[@acboesefrau7729]

Also cycling on the sidewalk can be costly. The police caught me twice so far and I had to pay 10€ each. Jaywalking is 5€, but ignoring the read light with the bicycle is really expensive: 128€ And you are correct mostly parents with children are annoyed about jaywalking, which is the reason I never do it, when children watch.

[@jensgreidorf1282]

Thank you for sharing your experience. It is always nice to read as a German about the experience of others coming to our country. This gives me another perspective of Germany. I lived and worked in South Africa for some years. Even though there was not much about Germany in the South African media, it was very interesting to see Germany through their eyes. If you see something about Canada in German media, do you also see Canada different than before?

[@lifeingermany_]

Absolutely! Funny enough, I notice how “brainwashed” Germans are about Canada. There are SO many nature shows and documentaries about the beautiful Canadian nature and then I realize ‘ahhhh now it makes sense why Canada gets so many German tourists” and why they expect our nature to be so incredible. I mean... it is incredible! But I think they’re always shocked when they arrive in the city where the houses all look the same and there’s no nature in sight 😂😂 But I LOVE watching these documentaries because it makes me fall in love with Canada all over again! Love seeing it from the eyes of a German - always so lush and beautiful

[@hannahsauer7734]

I am German and I know many couple that even have different matresses like with two frames and everything. When I went to my parents bed to cuddle as a child I always laid on the wood in between it was so uncomfortable. Personally I definitely prefer one matress and one duvet!

[@anni6097]

A tip for grocery shopping checkout: scatter your loose vegetables throughout all the groceries on the conveyer belt! This slows the cashiers down every now and then to weigh the vegetable and tip in the specific number

[@TotalRookie_LV]

We actually bought an insect screen as an option to our new window. It's a nice frame that can be inserted into any window of this type, of course, it's width and height can't be adjusted, so it was made to our measurements. So, maybe few people choose it as an option, but it is still possible.

[@karlthemel2678]

Thank you very much for your video. I only lived in Canada for a short time (Winnipeg, Edmonton) and did a B.S. (they say there) at Ohio State University. If you only have a few things to get at the supermarket, you can put your bag into your cart and throw stuff in as you get it. Otherwise, I just put it back in the cart. A lot of supermarkets have spaces to sort away from the cash registers. There is a severe insect die-off in Central Europe due to intensive agriculture and pesticide use, but sometimes you still get mosquitoes if you leave the windows open at night, and you do miss screens. The insect die-off threatens agriculture because there are too few pollinators now. Contrary to Canada, there are almost no nature areas in Germany. Best of success in Germany. Je Suis Samuel.

[@ulrikek359]

Pro-Tipp: Leg Brötchen, Brot und Früchte ans Ende... während alles eingetippt wird hast du Zeit den Rest einzuräumen. 😄

[@Aussenluft]

Das kauft man beim Bäcker, der Abfall bei den Handelsketten ist mit allem möglichen Zusatzstoffen verseucht. Davon wird man fett, doof und krank.

[@ulrikek359]

... dann halt nur Obst und Gemüss für Jupp...

[@Aussenluft]

@@ulrikek359 Ne, das wächst bei mir im Garten. Die geschmacklosen Industriesorten kann ich nicht mehr ab. Und mein Fleisch erlege ich mir selbst. Im Grunde brauche ich nur Kaffee und Kohlenhydrate. ^^

[@Aussenluft]

@@ulrikek359 Ne, das wächst bei mir im Garten. Die geschmacklosen Industriesorten kann ich nicht mehr ab. Und mein Fleisch erlege ich mir selbst. Im Grunde brauche ich nur Kaffee und Kohlenhydrate. ^^

[@ulrikek359]

Na das ist doch schön!

[@janheinbokel3969]

Good to have you over Here in Germany

[@b_bobsch6785]

I really don't know why all the people complain about the checkouts. Before the barcode readers the Aldi girls (and boys) were in olympic form, a lot faster while having all the prices in the head and tipping the price on the numpad. Now it's really smooth. ;)

[@lequedicatsamarge4228]

Just FYI: IF you order a glas of decent red wine, every restaurant will be happy to give you an additional glas of tab water. Just don‘t order tab water up front without the ‚main drink‘ that you want to complement with it. I was never refused a glas of tab water in any restaurant in Germany. On another note: Düsseldorf is the fashion city of Germany. Your notion on dresscode might be true for the general German area, however Düsseldorf has one additional notch up in dresscode. Love your content, keep it up

[@lifeingermany_]

Hahah absolutely Düsseldorf is definitely 10 notches up from the rest of the country! 🙈 Nonetheless, have given up and now go out in my yoga pants everyday! No longer care what others say 😝✊

[@JanLehnhardt]

Loved your culture shock on grocery shopping! Back in the good ol' days, before they had scanners, the cashiers would even type in the prices of all your items because they had to know them all by heart. Still they were quite often faster than you putting them back in your cart, which led to the other customers in the queue scoffing at you for holding up the process. Germans bruh...

[@vHindenburg]

Arent scanners a thing since 1972?

[@JanLehnhardt]

@@vHindenburg well, not for ALDI in Germany. I remember they were the last to change, which was around 2000

[@Tippel3]

they have been way faster, the scanners actually slowed down the process. Often times they already have been typing things in the middle of your shopping on the belt, while you are just able to begin to bag the first items coming to the front and would tell you the price while the belt was still rolling. That was heck of fast! Not even the trick "put things to bei weight in the middle" would help that because they would just ignore them, typing everything else until these thing arrive at the scale. Since ALDI has scanners I can actually bag my things very comfortably. Comfortable speaking for a German

[@lumina9995]

It sometimes looks as if all the US and Canadian visitors copy each others' shocking observations or never read what was posted before. I've read it all a million times: No free public restrooms, no free water and coffee refills, the windows, jaywalking and grandmas yelling, shops are closed on Sundays, no noise allowed on Sundays, kitchen appliances don't come with the apartment, Germans are unfriendly, cushions too big, no.KFC or McDonald's at every corner, no busboys at grocery stores... endless amazement that in Germany (and the rest of Europe which is mostly the same) things are different from home. Yes, they are! How many times... When will they ever learn, when will they ever learn... Sorry I had to get this off my chest, don't take it personally and I hope you enjoy your time in Germany.

[@lifeingermany_]

lol no worries, I totally understand! I think it just really sincerely shocks most of us. When I first arrived there was no KZbin video or blog post that I could find about "how to prepare" or "what to expect". I guess even though many of the videos are alike, some people will respond better to one KZbinr over another. So it's nice that people have personal preferences! Would also be neat to make a video of things that STILL SHOCK ME even 6 years later! Haha -- wonder if that's been done before.

[@lumina9995]

@@lifeingermany_ What, there's more? 🥴💜

[@annieamydavies5190]

Very interesting, hearing this from your perspective, as a German! ;) It's a nuisance though, if you're walking, to have people riding a bike right next or in front of or towards you! You can take your bike onto the sidewalk- I do so too sometimes for safety reasons, same as you described- but then you walk, too, and push your bike! Makes perfect sense to me, just out of consideration for pedestrians!

[@09ElSalvador]

I'm pretty sure restaurants are only allowed to offer the tab water if they have a special filter for it. Just because the water is perfectly drinkable doesn't mean the pipes etc. are modern enough in that certain building

[@BlissLovePeace]

Yow know what is paradox? In Germany we generally do really have excellent tab/drinking water quality, unlike in the USA (I had shocking experiences with drinking water in the USA even leaving a full cafe latte untouched, except for the first sip telling me everything about the chemical industry but nothing about fresh water. Not sure about Canada though. However, in Germany even better water is expected for use in restaurants, ergo Mineralwasser, etc., and tab water not really that much appreciated, at least in a restaurant or bar setting that is. In the USA on the other hand, one can get tab water anywhere for free, but I have had some really bad experiences as well, as if I'd be drinking out of an indoor swimming pool. Bottom line, German drinking water is definitely good enough to be served in restaurants - for free, whereas in the USA I'd be wondering about American food safety standards often enough.

[@BlissLovePeace]

7:58 says it all ...

[@lifeingermany_]

I’d definitely have to agree with you! I’d say Canada is sometimes better than the USA, but for me, Germany’s tap water is by far, much much bettter! 💧

[@lifeingermany_]

I’d definitely have to agree with you! I’d say Canada is sometimes better than the USA, but for me, Germany’s tap water is by far, much much bettter! 💧 (though Berlin and Düsseldorf really makes a big difference!)

[@jenswurm]

When I need a toilet in a city, I usually use a customer toilet in a supermarket. Those tend to be free and are kept in reasonably good condition.

[@loweel2897]

Dusseldorf nearby here. Düsseldorf people is known for being snob. What you did was normal in Köln.

[@bpmmcg3668]

So many interesting points, thanks girl lol I'm subbing

[@lifeingermany_]

🤗🤗🎉 thank you so much!!

[@chaltu0815]

Du hast Recht, manchmal muss man auf den Gehweg fahren weil man als Fahrradfahrer Angst um sich und seine Kinder hat.

[@Hope-fv3kf]

In America growing up everything was closed on Sunday, except maybe gas stations (who put gas in the tank for you and offered to clean your windshields, check your oil and radiator ...) Family "Sunday Drive" or Neighbors invited for lunch, was the norm after church. Sears was the last hold out at staying closed on Sundays back in early 70? I remember being a bit sad over their decision. (that was in L.A. County, CA.) Blue Laws

[@coupe-lee]

In Vancouver these days, NOBODY will bag your groceries. The checkout people just scan your stuff as fast as possible and expect you to do all of the bagging, apply your membership card (if your store offers it) and pay. 90% of the time, people can’t finish bagging their stuff before the next person’s groceries are being thrown on top of yours. If there are separate lanes in German stores for different customers, that sounds like a vast improvement.

[@maikusch]

also das mit dem Wasser in Restaurants find ich auch albern. Aber okay, dafür kann man ja zuhause Leitungswasser trinken wie man will. Ist ja auch nicht in jedem Land so, also von der Qualität her.

[@gustavopons9323]

Hi, Jenna! Düsseldorf is a fashion town like NYC, Milano, Paris and London. They dress very élégant. Thank you!

[@merle2104]

Hii, i am from Germany and mostly you get water If you order sth alkoholic like wine (and if you order Coffee!!) . You can also Just ask somebody if you can have some water, you normally get it without paying for it.

[@jennsymeier8273]

I did it once here in Munich and afterwards I had to pay for it. Just 1€, so it was fine but it was really funny what they called it on the check: - “Munich water”.

[@johnmookerji7770]

In german stores they prefer that you pay for your purchases in cash. Paying through debit or credit cards are not as common in Germany as in Canada or in the US. In many hostels, room-and-board houses they have no shower facilities. But if you happen to live in a bigger city in Germany, you might have to visit a public bath and shower places time to time, ( in german, BAD Anlage), which you will never see in Canada. Germans are fond of drinking sparkling or carbonated water even at home. I frequently saw them buying, a dozen bottles of Sprudelwasser at a time from a grocery store. A popular brand is Gerolsteiner, which I personally like. Please do not buy cheap toilet paper in Germany, they are almost like sand paper ; you can well imagine what that will do to your bottom parts!! German cities have wonderful bicycle paths. I practically saw the whole of Munich via bicycle. Another thing which I like about german cities is that the shop windows are so beautifully and attractively decorated. I can spend hours looking at all the beautiful things displayed in these dazzling show windows of every store. By contrast shop windows in Canada and the States are so shabby looking. My experience in a smaller german city is that all stores, even on a week day, stay closed for 2 to 3 hours, in mid-day-- alike siesta--then suddenly opens for business after that "Pause". Sadly, now-a-days you cannot find those cozy little privately-owned pubs or Gaststäten or Kneipe (as the Austrians call it) in smaller towns in Germany. Almost all of them are closed down. What I like about large german cities is that the street musicians are so numerous there. Some of them are real professionals, playing in symphony orchestras. In which city in Canada can you find a man playing at a grand piano, accompanied by a violinist and celloist right on a pedestrian street zone. The street scenes in Germany are far far livelier than in Canada or the States.

[@kae7107]

Kipp is also great for room climate in the summer :) The fresh cold air falls down right behind the window - into your room - at the same time warm air - which is concetrated under your ceiling - leaves the room. This way it creates a circle, constantly refreshing the air whilst keeping the room relatively cool. In winter you should open your windows completely for shorter time (like 5 min) but more often. That pulls fresh air in and so pushes used air out - very quickly. What is best for you depends on your priorities , like warm feet, climate, costs, everything. By the way, I was Born in Germany and I find grocery shopping evenly exhausting. I need to be very focused and tactically moving. Phiu... They can sell more in shorter time. That’s why...

[@dot8605]

Karl Lagerfels said "people wearing sweatpants have lost control over their lives". I agree. And clearly you are shopping at Aldi.😂

[@lifeingermany_]

Hahaha still love my sweats and the cheap prices at ALDI 🤷🏽‍♀️😝 I just gotta live with the stressful check outs haha

[@magmalin]

I don't agree at all. Who is Karl Lagerfeld to tell other people what kind of clothes are the right or the wrong ones to wear? Very intolerant!

[@jennyz.2209]

It's quite interesting how much things are so normal for us germans that are so unnormal in other parts of the world. Thank you for sharing your experience with us.

[@jerelull9629]

You covered a LOT of ground clearly. Thanks.

[@johannam.8319]

I agree, free sink water in restaurants is a very good idea! (Or at least cheap sinkwater) That would make going out for dinner or lunch much more enjoyable for students!

[@uberreif8819]

The reason for tap water not being given for free or even for money, is due to our hygienic laws for gastronomy, the owners could be sued for health issues of guests, reasoning from the water they served. As far as I know. But still there are Cafés and Bars that serve tap water all over Germany. As our water quality is very good, nothing ever really happens anyway...

[@Nikioko]

You know that cart-pushing, bagging and filling shelves cost wages? Therefore putting carts on a chain with a deposit you get back when the cart is returned, letting you bag yourself and leaving the stuff on the pallet instead of putting them on the shelf - or in short: ridding unnecessary services - lowers the costs and in consequence the prices.

[@tine1156]

In my point of view (I‘m german) scandinavian people dress so nicely!

[@lifeingermany_]

I agree! 🥰

[@Lokirutherfordnox]

As a German myself I have to say most of it is absolutely true . But the thing with the light switches is completely new to me. Its standard to have them. And driving on sidewalks is in some cities not allowed so be careful where you do it . Most cities have ,, Radwege" . Its the red stripe beside sidewalks.

[@Altair1193]

Tap water is always free, by law. You can even just go to your neighbor and ask for a glas of tap water. He has to give it to you. I always ask for tap water at restaurants, besides a beer or cocktails or whatever and all my friends do too. Absolutly not unusual. And to the windows: i didnt even know there are windows you can't open all way and on 'kipp' 😄 but i have to admit, that i never left Europe

[@2002Australien]

You can get a foam pillow which is only one third as big and ergonomically shaped. I love those a lot and can t sleep without 😍

[@lifeingermany_]

I’ve actually been planning to switch all the pillows in our house to the one you’re talking about! Any idea where to get sheet/pillowcase sets that match though? Or best just sew the big ones smaller?

[@2002Australien]

@@lifeingermany_ ich mache mir selbst aus einem regulären einfach zwei damit es farblich passt, kann man bestimmt aber auch bestellen. Ich komme aus der Nähe von Rottweil (close to Switzerland), von daher kenne ich mich in den Shops in Düsseldorf nicht aus.. 😁

[@booksandwine6245]

the public bathroom is soooo true, but the bathrooms at the schools are soooooo much worse, it's disgusting

[@Diedelser]

Hi Jenna, I`m a german living in Zürich Switzerland. It is interesting how you see Germany. Like your video go ahead ....

[@alexandrorocca7142]

With so many North Americans praising those windows (we have the same ones in Switzerland), I wondered why it never became a trend in Canada and the US. But then I realized... AC! I'm not sure about Canadians because they have a different climate, but American homes are pretty much all equipped with air conditioning and the people there love to crank it up a good part of the year. In central- and northern Europe almost no one has AC at least for now (it's getting warmer), we just open our windows. Only skyscrapers (let's call them that) have windows that don't open at all.

[@anniberlin2737]

Restaurants machen ihr Geld mit dem Trinken und nicht mit dem Essen. Ich vermute, dass deutsche eher Wasser bestellen, als irgendwelche Soda Getränke (was wahrscheinlich anders ist in Kanada/USA) Daher ist das Wasser nicht kostenlos.

[@jensphiliphohmann1876]

Sometimes you can get tap water in a bar, additional to a beer. I ordered it in order to avoid the hangover next day - and it worked pretty fine

[@NeynaDeyna]

I‘m German and I have literally never seen someone that folds their pillow in half. :D Some people use a slightly smaller pillow, I think it’s half as long as the square ones, but I just love my huge fluffy pillow. c:

[@lifeingermany_]

NeynaDeyna hahaha maybe it’s just the group of family and friends I’ve spent my time with 🤣 strange!

[@LythaWausW]

I hate German pillows but I've learned to fold mine up or make a ball out of it so there is *something* under my head. My German husband does the same.

[@lifeingermany_]

LythaWausW hahaha me too!!

[@000CherryBlossom000]

I...do. I´m guilty of folding my pillows in half.

[@lifeingermany_]

CherryB0 😂♥️ im so glad I’m not the only one!!

[@silmuffin86]

The grocery store thing is so true, it's always such a race with the cashier LOL

[@der.Schtefan]

Often you can ask for tap water in Germany, but Düsseldorf is very pretentious 😂

[@jasonfanclub4267]

I never got tap water only of you say you need it for pills

[@janin7958]

Regarding the groceries... you are supposed to move to the bagging area in the stores that don’t have a belt at the end. You’re not supposed to bag your stuff right at the checkout

[@paulbriggs3072]

Its illegal in New York and many other places to have pay toilets. The City of New York tried them but was stopped by the law.

[@evelinholmes6401]

Paul Briggs that is great. It is very hard sometimes to have right change. Totally wrong. Been to many cities around the world but non gave more challenge to find a washroom than Germany. I also found free standing toilets 🚽 that you pay 50 cents but after inserting your money the don’t open. Happen to us in Berlin.