Awkward German Social Interactions Americans Cannot Relate To

[@PassportTwo]

Have any of you experienced any of these situations we described or had any other awkward cultural difference social interactions?? 😂😂

[@christianblunt4469]

When i was greeted by a shop own with 'dear' or was it something like 'my love' not sure about it... Nevertheless if this would happenin Germany i could be considered as molesting.

[@Niniel28b]

Also in Germany the restaurants not accepting anything but cash... I was so used to using my credit card that the first time I went out to eat I didn't even think about whether they'd take credit card because of course... but no! As I've since learned, it's rather the norm that they won't and you have to bring cash. Also... marvel for sure

[@christianblunt4469]

@@Niniel28b Not sure in which area you was, but i live in a city and 9 of 10 restaurants in my street accept credit cards.

[@janpracht6662]

The tip for the waiter in Germany: If you calculate an average meal (Schnitzel mit Pommes or a Pizza) in a restaurant costs 11 or 12 Euro and the drink 5 Euro, then we have about 17 Euro. In this case I would round up and give 20 Euro. When you spend a long evening with a group in a restaurant (with really good food and wine) and the waiter has a lot to do with you, everbody should give more tip. I would say between 5 and 10 Euro.

[@Niniel28b]

@@christianblunt4469 I do admit I live in a fairly rural area near Schwäbisch Gmünd in BW, but where I am, most bakeries, restaurants, ice cream shops and similar do not take anything other than cash.

[@anoukanouk5595]

The silence in the waiting room after greeting everybody is not akward, it is just silence. 😊

[@xwormwood]

Absolutely. And it is a friendly, generous silence, as no one want to bother the others with information and chit-chat no one wants to hear. On the other hand it was and often still is pretty common to start small talk during train travels, especially in the bord bistro.

[@outwardbound2241]

It's a respectful silence, because people don't want to bother or annoy other people, especially if they don't feel well

[@DasSinaTier]

Yes, it is not awkward at all. It is just silence. We as Germans are comfortable to stay silent and be at peace. Especially in a waiting room at the doctor's I don't want to talk. Most of the time I am there because I don't feel good and I am thankful for that silence :P

[@fatdad64able]

It's called politeness.

[@yasmina6987]

As a Dutch person, that is so hard for me. I'm always really happy when I get any chance to still start a conversation with someone, I like talking to people :) But it's also fine if it stays silent

[@kilikoe]

Hahaha, ihr seid wirklich gute Beobachter! Die Situation im Wartezimmer einer Arztpraxis ist in meiner Erfahrung wirklich so. Man grüßt beim Kommen und Gehen, aber sonst herrscht schweigen. Aber wahrscheinlich wäre es mir unangenehmer, mit den anderen Wartenden ins Gespräch zu kommen: "Na, warum sind Sie hier? Bei mir ist es eine Depression." - "Ich habe ein nässendes Ekzem"

[@PassportTwo]

Hahaha, Ich denke, "Small Talk" in den USA in Wartezimmern ist auch nicht über medizinische Probleme 😂

[@christophoffermann2442]

Herrlich! Gut auf den Punkt gebracht!😅

[@carstenhelbig442]

@@PassportTwo , Arztpraxis ist ein schlechtes Beispiel für Small Talk. Im normal Fall geht man dort hin, wenn einem was fehlt. Da würde ich auch ungern vollgequatscht werden. Aber Small Talk gibt es durchaus auch in Deutschland. Auch in Arztpraxen, wenn Die Leute sich kennen zum Beispiel. Das trifft auch auf Aufzüge zu. Wenn Small Talk in Deutschland unter Fremden zustande kommen soll, ist oft die Dauer des zusammen treffen entscheidend. Geht mal zum Tierarzt, da sieht die Sache ganz anders aus, denn da ist der Mensch ja nicht wegen sich selbst dort, sondern wegen seinem Haustier. Und es gibt gleich noch einen Grund über was man sprechen kann, nämlich das Tier. Jetzt mal zu Small Talk, bei Kassierern im Supermarkt. Auch da gibt es das unter Umständen. Es kommt aber auf den Kassierer an. Wenn der an solchen Dingen interessiert ist, macht der Kunde gern mit. Und auch umgekehrt. Man merkt aber sehr schnell, wer das eher nicht mag. das trifft auf beide Seiten zu. Deswegen langt in Deutschland wenigstens erstmal, ein freundlicher Gruß. Und das passiert auch auf der Straße unter Fremden. Man muss es mit dem Vollquatschen, nicht immer gleich übertreiben, hehe

[@ravanpee1325]

@@carstenhelbig442 Im Supermarkt ist es total nervig, wenn man in der Schlange steht, vorne beginnen sich dann die Leute zu unterhalten und es geht nicht voran. Smalltalk ist doch okay, wenn man sich kennt oder es einen Grund/Anlass gibt. Im Wartezimmer einer Praxis - wo jeder mit irgendwelchen gesundheitlichen Problemen hinkommt - möchte keiner Vollgelabert werden. Bestes Beispiel für Smalltalk ist bei vielen der Friseurtermin

[@caciliawhy5195]

Hahahaha

[@EHonda-ds6ve]

Greeting on the street - In bigger citys and towns noone does it, but in small villages this is normal.

[@PassportTwo]

Seems to be very accurate to what we have experienced 😊

[@arnodobler1096]

yes

[@randallmarshall2139]

Und Handwerker grüßen sich immer ob sie sich kennen oder nicht

[@spot1401]

Greeting people on hikes is always a bit awkward. The fewer people you have met over the last two hours, factored in with line of sight and how long both have been aware of the encounter and the distance to the nearest settlement (in other words how 'not in town anymore' are we?) and so many more factors come into play.

[@ThomasfromAustria]

The same here in Austria. It is uncommon to greet people on the streets in Vienna. Sometimes it could be dangerous as well. To speak or even look too long at a wife/sister/daughter of a particular culture could cause huge troubles. Their male relatives are very eager to maintain the honor of the family.

[@florentinenice9146]

You are not sitting there in silence: You take a magazine and pretend to read it till you find something interesting just the exact moment you are called to the doctor.

[@celinasbasiic]

This is way too accurate hahah

[@IcidLink]

Or you pull out your smartphone 😅

[@marcusl.1972]

soo true. You are not called in when you are bored and you get called in immediately when you are busy (e.g. reading something interesting or texting)

[@nafisagaffar8599]

😆

[@clausj]

I'm German, I can't remember a situation when I've been asked for tips. Such a question is rude and would make me feel uncomfortable. It's on the customer to say the amount of the tip (often 10%), when they want to (or not).

[@PassportTwo]

So you often do 10% or just round up the bill? Or for you, does that change depending on the situation?

[@clausj]

@@PassportTwo 10% plus round to full Euro. 34€ on bill =38€. However, depending on the situation ( nice evening, good meal, and service) perhaps 40€

[@Whiteknuckle157]

@@clausj That is exactly the way I do it too.

[@Niniel28b]

It depends on the original amount too though. If it's a fairly low amount anyway I might just round it to the nearest euro whether that's then more or less than 10% So if it's 3 euros and 15 cents... you're in luck, I will tip 85 cents. If it's 3 euros and 85 cents you only get 15 cents on that day.

[@michaela114]

Also 🤔 in einem bayerischen Restaurant saßen wir einmal in großer Runde, haben die Rechnung nach Verzehr in 3 oder 4 Zahlungen aufgeteilt und jeder wurde - nachdem der Betrag genannt wurde - von der Bedienung gefragt: "Was geben Sie?" Sprich: Wieviel Trinkgeld? Ich fand das äußerst rüpelhaft und die Trinkgelder von uns Westfalen fielen entsprechend klein aus 🤷‍♀️ die Bayern am Tisch haben nicht mit der Wimper gezuckt 🤷‍♀️... ist aber bisher tatsächlich nur in Bayer passiert, wenn ich so recht überlege... 🤔 Definitiv eine andere Sorte Mäuse da unten 😂😂😂

[@juliegirl1989]

Since we Germans are definitely not going to start small talk in a doctor's waiting room, I find it much less awkward to at least say hello to everyone before sitting silently next to them than to not say anything at all the whole time. It's a nice way of acknowledging that you're not alone in the room.

[@sonnythebetta6256]

Obwohl es mir auch sehr unangenehm ist, zu einem stillen Raum "Hallo" zu sagen, wenn keiner der Wartenden mich in irgendeiner Weise zu registrieren scheint.. da habe ich das Gefühl, ich störe.

[@mbt20251]

Greeting others is also customary in Germany while out on a hike or on a a ride on a bicyle trail in nature. While travelling in cities cyclists usually don't greet each other .

[@PassportTwo]

We definitely have started to notice this is true! 😊

[@saraha8276]

Ive hiked all over europe (france, italy, switzerland, UK, austria, poland) and this seems universal all over.

[@furzkram]

You have become so incredibly GOOD in making these videos - scripting, filming, editing, everything. We take that for granted, but I think it needs to be pointed out.

[@PassportTwo]

Wow, thank you so much for that! Truly do appreciate it 😊

[@furzkram]

@@PassportTwo it is incredible how much work goes into making them videos and it is incredible you're up to go all these miles to keep us entertained. And we learn so much about ourselves and people from other countries and cultures. I've only started to value the country I was born into after starting to watch such contents a few years ago. That wouldn't have been possible without YOUR help, guys! I'm incredibly thankful to have been able to learn so much more about the country and culture I'm living in, and it's almost embarrassing I needed to find some "outside of the box" views INTO it. I can only HOPE you'll STAY and KEEP doing this. There's still so much I haven't learned about and don't know yet.

[@nette4307]

furzkram - I was thinking the exacts same thing! Amazing to see the skill level grow and the videos getting exponentially better, seemingly by the week!

[@Utubemop]

There is a third tipping option: you just give the waiter/waitress the amount that you actually have to pay and finish the electronic transaction with that amount. Then the waiter goes away and you leave cash tip on the table.

[@PassportTwo]

True! In those moments I feel the most awkward because I feel like the waiter assumes I really didn't like the service and didn't want to tip them during the electronic transaction but hopefully later when they find the money they forgive me 😂

[@Utubemop]

@@PassportTwo That’s partially true but in this way the money actually gets in the hand of the waiter and not electronically into the hand of the restaurant or managers, Where I can never be sure if it ends up in the waiter’s pocket.

[@stephan6998]

@@Utubemop I fully agree, but instead of leaving the tip on the table, I give the tip directly to the waiter at the same time when I pay the bill by card

[@tommay6590]

@@PassportTwo see your point, but did you consider that cash left on the table is neither processed through the credit card companies, the banks involved and the restaurant’s bookkeeping including tax deductibilities, so the waiter gets 100% directly at the end of the day?

[@bastiaan4129]

Tips are usually still pooled up and distributed fairly amongst all staff.

[@berlindude75]

Long "a" in "Rathaus". There are usually no rats there. ;)

[@PassportTwo]

Emphasis on *usually* 😉😅

[@thomasschumacher5362]

Not four legged ones

[@SchwachsinnProduzent]

Maybe in Hameln ;)

[@SpaceDave1337]

Rattenhaus!

[@djlondon7956]

But there might be Klöße. Equally dangerous.

[@michaels1722]

When I was a child it was normal to greet on the street while passing another person. But over the years this is not the case any more. Especially in big cities where it is more anonymous. But also today I realize people are greeting while walking (spazieren oder wandern) in the nature side

[@PassportTwo]

I think we have experienced the same thing for sure! In cities, very few people respond but in nature, a lot of people greet back. Great point!

[@V100-e5q]

@@PassportTwo I must think of Crocodile Dundee when he visited NY.

[@blackforest2808]

Agree. Growing up in Australia in the 80's, we always greeted people on the street with a smile minimum. But nowadays, it's like "wtf, why are you talkin' to me" looks

[@eduardgrenz4979]

Reminds me of when my family got to Germany, "everyone greets eath other" is what we heard, got to Leipzig in 1993, seen none of it. Got to Eichstätt in 2007 (13000 people+couple tousand regular "out-of-towners" saw/experienced some of it, atleast in the neighborhood. Back in a Big City, none of it.

[@dw8931]

Hi, I want to add two more subtleties. First is about the doctor's waiting room. Even though it becomes less common, as more and more appointments are prearranged, a person entering the waiting room may not only greet everyone but also ask who came last. The doctor then will not call the next patient by name but just (often via the intercom) by "Der Nächste, bitte!"Asking who came last lets you know who your immediate predecessor is, so you may react accordingly to "Der Nächste, bitte!" when it is your turn. Second is about tipping. My son worked as waiter for some time and told us that the best way to appreciate the waiter's service is to tip him or her directly in cash. The reason is that that all amounts debited to a payment card will be credited to the restaurant owner's account, so it is at this person's discretion if and how much the waiter will get from it. Cash received directly by the waiter is his or hers immediately, completely and without any discussions with a greedy boss.

[@susanruzicka2555]

both make perfect common sense

[@Ecstasia1]

By law the tips belong to the waiter (you even have to consider them when doing your taxes) but I guess many people don't know that and bosses can exploit them. I once started to work at a restaurant that wanted to keep the tips for themselves, so I immediately quit again. This is illegal.

[@bern6543]

Wait, when i worked as a waiter, on the end of our shifts tips were counted and 1/3 went to the kitchen staff. Technically, a waiter can pocket the tips, but... eh... is sooo dishonest and rude!

[@nafisagaffar8599]

Yes tips to the waiter should be cash in hand to the waiter, the card machine debits the bank account of owner of the business the waiter will not see that tip. So don't tip the owner carry cash separate for cash in hand to your waiter.

[@dutchgamer842]

In Holland we are always told never to give your card to anyone else. Besides if you go to the actual bank and give it to the person at desk

[@PassportTwo]

Honestly probably not a bad practice! 😊

[@frankmitchell3594]

The same in the UK. Never loose sight of your card.

[@autinerd]

Yeah, I hated it as well when cashiers wanted to put my card into the card reader. One thing Covid had a positive impact on, now I can do it everywhere by myself (But I mostly use my phone to pay) :D

[@SusiBlumentopf]

We in Austria too, but there could be situaltions where the card reader is somewhere else and there fix installed, not movable.

[@tomsommer8372]

In Germany as well. It is even on my bank‘s website.

[@JorlinJollyfingers]

Remind that in germany we have no "tip jobs". Tips don't make the living of the employees, they are a gratifiction for good service. If someone messes up badly: no tip at all.

[@couchcamperTM]

We have Friseusen. They would starve to death without tips.

[@miasommer5092]

Yeah I was wondering about that - I think American waitresses still get more than minimum wage... so what's the problem?

[@honyhopssasa3534]

The worst thing is still being asked “how are you?” by someone passing me. I stop every time to answer and they are long gone.

[@PassportTwo]

Haha, if you are talking about in the US, that literally is just a "hello" and not a literal question 😂😅

[@LythaWausW]

@@PassportTwo Awkardly proven last week in America when I heard two people greet like this: "Hello, how are you?" The other person simply replied, "Hello."

[@honyhopssasa3534]

@@PassportTwo I know, but I can’t get it in my head. I still answer every single time.

[@moonlighttv9452]

@@PassportTwo It is so ingrained in our culture that there is nothing without a reason that I will automatically answer and then my english friends always look at me and I can see them thinking 'You were supposed to say "good" and move on'. But if I'm not good, then I'm not lying to you, so this question always ends awkwardly for me. I've been friends with a lot of Americans for years, but this is so deeply ingrained in my German culutre that I still run into this every time

[@barvdw]

Same in French, if asked 'Ça va?', the expected response is 'Ça va'. You can answer more truthfully, but should keep it brief.

[@Der_Kleine_Mann]

In city's people typically dont greet on the street. In smaller towns it is still normal. If someone doesn't greet where I live, you know that person is a cityboy/girl.

[@lumina9995]

It is always strange how behavior in a German city is compared with behavior in the US countryside (and labelled impolite). New Yorkers don't greet random passers-by!

[@ravanpee1325]

Also in villages or small cities the other people might know you or other family members whereas you can't remember the other person. So it's better to greet and move on

[@annettewege9363]

I grew up in a very small (German) village and of course you greeted everybody everytime you met them, even if you rode your bike by their place for the third time that day... But even today, in towns or smaller cities, I noticed the smile or shining eyes of older people when I greeted them passing by in the streets. Maybe they felt noticed or somehow respected, because someone actually SAW them and said "Guten Tag".

[@misaoshiniji1025]

Same goes to my village. Even the painter of the building are screaming "Guten Morgen" or just a "Morgen" to you if u pass them.

[@barvdw]

I've moved to Brussels from the countryside (Belgium). Is it the country boy in me, or is it the ample opportunity to great, but I still often great people, perhaps even more than where I come from. There just aren't as much people about there, or they're in their car, making any communication harder...

[@bramjoziasse]

A Dutchie here: I used to work as a cashier in a garden center in the Netherlands. In summer there were always a lot of German tourists. As you described it, our Dutch ways of paying are more comparable to the US and it always was very awkward when a German wanted to pay. At first I thought they were always very rude by not handing me the money directly. And also the Dutch card machines are positioned in a way that it’s almost impossible for a cashier to enter a card. So I was always kind of akwardly avoiding to touch a costumers bank card for two reasons. Technically we weren’t allowed to take a stranger’s card and secondly I couldn’t even physically charge the card since the machine would be positioned to the costumer. So usually both me and a German costumer ended up thinking the other was rude I guess. Thanks for this video 🙏

[@PassportTwo]

Haha, that's hilarious to read! I am glad that it isn't just the Americans experiencing these awkward interactions at the register 😂

[@frankheims6441]

I'm sorry that you made this experiences. Usually I stick to the behavior of the country I visit and sometimes I don't know what's the rule in the actual interaction. I'm glad that I became acquainted with dutch as very friendly people and never felt treated in a rude way.

[@elliieeify3796]

Velden?😂

[@MischMagnifique]

As a Swiss, I'm also a bit confused with paying when in Germany😅, as I'm also used to hand the money directly to the cashier or to put my card in the card reader myself (nowadays its even easier with contactless cards...). Seems like Dutch and Swiss people have quite similar conventions on this matter.

[@kackerlakensalat]

Hahaha, me German paying in Amsterdam ....by cent the money the cashier asked. I wondered why the woman seemed to be upset with me. My dutch friend was laughing a lot.

[@DemokritX]

Most important thing is being polite. Every awkward moment can be handled with a little smile, so everybody feels comfortable.

[@horaspeher3368]

The "greeting while out walking"-thing. As a general rule: not done in cities. Mostly done in either small residential areas of the city or in smaller towns and villages. Almost always done when out hiking, but nobody will put you on a no-fly-list if you don't do it.

[@bluebalistocat]

I grew up in a very small town in germany, so of course i greeted everybody while passing. Even if i didn't know them, they were probably acquainted with someone in my family. Later i moved to a bigger town and people just stared at me, wondering why i would greet them and if they knew me. I soon stopped. 😅

[@tschaytschay4555]

Meiner Mutter ging’s genauso 😀

[@bern6543]

If you walk a dog, you're socially obliged to greet every dog owner you meet, even in the big cities.

[@ninan9650]

I had a awkward situation in the US, when I was in a supermarket and wanted to spend my last bills before heading home. I summed up all the prices and made sure I have as little cash left. You can imagine, that I was very surprised the cashier told me the total sum and was far of my calculation and I had no choice then to pay by card. The cashier was very reluctant , but since a had to deep dive into my luggage it felt like an eternity until I was able to pay. Knowing the german speedy cash outs you may can understand that this is a situation was not comfortable at all for me. At this moment I thought, that maybe one item had the wrong price on the shelf, however I was quite baffled, why all prices where wrong. Only years later Someone explained me that prices even in supermarkets are displayed without tax in the US. From this point of view the math you had to do for tipping in Europe is far simpler then to know if you have enough money for your groceries 😌

[@PassportTwo]

Haha, you are absolutely right! Honestly, most Americans also are annoyed by this practice once they realize it could be done a different way, but when you grow up used to it, you don't think anything about it. Great story bout an awkward cultural difference interaction! 😃

[@emjayay]

In most states food isn't taxed. Either you had some non-food items or were in a taxed state. I appreciate when I'm in the UK or EU I can add up the money amount and figure out the coins before I pay - otherwise, particularly with UK money, I would be in a panic of wasting time figuring out the coins.

[@ericsmith5730]

@@emjayay In only a few states are they not taxed.

[@bern6543]

This would be a nightmare for me! I always calculate my total when i grab stuff. If i pay in cash, then i will be ready to pay exact (well, up to 0.20€) amount when ringing is done.

[@box-of-chocolates]

As a 47 year old German, I can only say: The awkwardness of the German tipping situation never goes away. I hate it so much, I always let my husband do the payment transaction. He‘s really bad at calculating in his head, so to be on the safe side, he tends to give enormous tips, and we’re outta there. 😁

[@PassportTwo]

Haha, that isn't very encouraging that it'll never get better 😂 But I definitely think leaving an enormous tip is definitely the safe way of going 😅😊

[@moloids]

I normally just leave the tip on the table when I leave.

[@klizzt]

Totally second that opinion. Tipping is still terribly awkward for me as a lifelong German resident!

[@clemenshampel]

i tip in cash together with my card. But mostly i pay cash and round the sum up. As for cards: it´s my FIRM opinion that a lot of people in dark business suits earn a lot of money for doing nothing (bankers)

[@bluebalistocat]

I was taught by my father that tipping is not required here in germany because servers make a living wage without it. If I am happy with the service i should add about 10% and round up to an even sum. The only thing awkward for me is the question who to tip and who not in some encounters. Like... when you get an Ice-cream you might tip the person who hands you the cone, but not if it is the owner, unless he or she serves you at a table. I had to read up on that. 😆

[@Tobi-yl2zo]

holy shit waiters just taking my card away to somewhere would be so unsettling! Like how would I be able to trust some stranger with something that important? And the second thing only older people do really

[@SusiBlumentopf]

If the only card reader is in the boss's office? It is NOT common to use everywhere here credit cards, specially not for small amounts!

[@JAFG_2603]

Never ever give your Card away / out of Sight. Did that in the States years Back. Some Mexican Restaurant. Month later I got a call by my Credit Card company If I am visiting Columbia. Or was it Bolivia? Whatever... Nope, I was at Work. Payments we're rejected. Means my Card was copied while being out of my sight. Afterwards I never ever let my cards out of sight. Chances for that to happen in Germany are not very high... Still. Don't do that.

[@wncjan]

About the toilets in the US, I was once told that they are built like they are for safety reasons. If someone gets sick or worse whike in a stall, you would have easier access to that person. I prefer the European style though. As for tips, I never tip when back home in Denmark, as a law from 1969 states, that a price on a menu, in a taxi or elsewhere should include everything, including tax and tips. That's why I get annoyed in the US when I buy something and is asked more by the cashier than the pricetag says.

[@LythaWausW]

Exactly, cuz it's so common for people to do drugs in the bathroom stalls some bathrooms even offer sharps containers so employees don't have to handle needles.

[@LetumFalcis]

That might be the case but the doors in public toilets have most of the time a little slit at the lock on the outside of the door. So if there is an emergency, you can still enter the door by using a coin or something else in that shape :)

[@puzzlekuchen]

For me the greeting every time you enter those situations or leave are more a recognition of the people that are present. So you don't even have to say anything but nodding looking towards everyone would do it in a waiting room. It feels rude not to, it's like ignoring they exist. But if we don't have something to talk about we don't need to talk just to fill the silence.

[@PassportTwo]

We also like the idea of acknowledging others exist and are all for it in that context 👍

[@blubberdignubber]

Yes, that‘s it.

[@Varus78]

yeah a nod is enough or you might get involved into a smalltalk about nothing when you just want to stare out the window

[@Robidu1973]

@@PassportTwo The point is, it's considered basic courtesy to say something like "good day" or so, but attempting to chew other people's ears off can quickly come across as rude, especially if that other person isn't giving any cues as to whether they are interested in takling in the first place. Also keep in mind that there are folks who absolutely cannot stand small talk.

[@LingoRoo]

So, my cousin has actually worked as a cartoon artist for both DC & Marvel-- but currently draws for Marvel. But ALSO-- b/c my son has been RELENTLESS about making me watch WandaVision (after binge-watching the entire Marvel movie line to catch me up to speed!) and now we are watching Falcon and the Winter Solider-- I will have to go w/ Marvel!! Your videos are INCREDIBLE!! As an American living in Germany-- yes, and YES!! I relate so much to ALL of your content! Well done, my friends!! So glad you guys are here for so many reasons! Keep up the great work!!!

[@PassportTwo]

We are also currently working our way slowly through the Marvel movies in timeline order so your son would be proud! 😂 Thank you so much for those kind words! We really do appreciate it and you guys of course 😊

[@JuLiane]

Ich liebe eure geschauspielerten Szenen, die sind super lustig :D Und ich kann das ganze Video einfach super nachvollziehen. Ich bin vermutlich die most socially awkward Person in meinem Freundeskreis und kriege die Krise, wenn ich telefonieren muss oder wenn die Tür klingelt, oder einmal als mich eine ältere Frau im Aufzug angequatscht hat und ich nicht wusste ob ich antworten muss oder soll und wenn ja MIT WAS. Furchtbar :D Ich fange auch leider an zu stottern wenn ich aufgeregt oder emotional bin, oder vergesse die einfachsten Wörter und versuche mich dann verzweifelt an das Wort zu erinnern und gleichzeitig den Rest des Satzes nicht zu vergessen, all das während der Gesprächspartner wartend vor mir steht und mich anguckt. Ans Trinkgeld geben hab ich mich mittlerweile etwas gewöhnt. Meine Mutter hat nie Essen bestellt und wir sind auch fast nie auswärts essen gegangen, deswegen hab ich das von ihr nie abschauen können, das kam erst seitdem ich mit meinem Freund zusamme bin der dauernd Essen bestellt oder in Restaurants geht. Ich versuche da jetzt einfach weniger zu überdenken, das hilft total, genauso wenn der Pizzabote an der Tür klingelt und auch Trinkgeld will. Ich musste an der Stelle mit dem Wartezimmergespräch total lachen, ich kann eure Verwunderung da total nacvollziehen warum das hier so ein Ding ist obwohl die Deutschen Smalltalk nicht leiden können (können wir auch nicht, wirklich). Das Ding ist, alle hassen es. Das ist nicht einmal ein wirkliches Geheimnis, aber einfach Hallo und Tschüss sagen ist machbar. Einfach weil man schon weiß, dass das Gegenüber nicht mehr erwartet und insgeheim vermutlich sogar froh ist, wenn man die Klappe hält und nicht über das Wetter oder die Hämorrhoiden wegen denen man da ist redet :D Auf der Straße grüße ich auch nur Leute die ich kenne. Und denen reicht auch oft einfach ein Lächeln und Zunicken (vor allem, weil viele Leute, wie ich, beim Rumlaufen Musik hören). Ansonsten reicht da auch einfach "Hi" oder "Hallo, frohe Ostern" und das wars. Mehr brauch ich auch nicht, aber ich bin was soziale Kontakte angeht auch eher so ein menschlicher Einsiedlerkrebs xD Ich muss zugeben, ich bin was Superhelden angeht voll der Mainstream-Typ, deswegen Marvel. Ich mag das MCU, das hat Tony Stark. Iron Man war (bzw. ist), auch wegen RDJ's brillianter Performance, mein absoluter Lieblingscharakter. Außerdem mag ich die X-Men.

[@Kalumbatsch]

Klingt so ein bisschen nach Asperger, zumindest kann ich das teilweise nachvollziehen :D

[@julieszyttenholm2320]

Hi! I'm French and I live in Germany. For the tip, in France we are a mix between USA and Germany. The waiter comes to you and charges you directly. You leave the tip when you leave the restaurant on the table. I kinda prefer this way to be honest.

[@ninoslanguagejourney6002]

I'm swiss and live right next to Germany and France. I always figured that waiters get payed through their salary and therefore tipping is just optional in all 3 countries (also like in Austria for example). I think 1-2 Euros is a good tip already and if I don't feel like tipping for real I just round it up to a full Frank or Euro. If I pay by card I simply don't tip or I leave some coins that annoy me in my wallet on the table as I leave lol I had no idea that anyone in Europe even bothers overthinking this

[@andrear.berndt9504]

Great Video, payment acting scenes are soo funny! 😃😂

[@PassportTwo]

Haha, glad you enjoyed! 😊

[@frozenmadness]

Maybe our tipping habits have to do with the fact that we use more cash: It's easy to just round up and say "stimmt so". I do it this way, it's just normal when you're used to it. Except when the bill is, say, exactly 20 euros, then I have to add some coins (but then I don't need to say anything, cos it's clear ;) ).

[@juka409]

I mostly simply round up. Depending on how much the meal it self costed, I round to the next full euro or to the next 5 (22€=> 25€) or 10 (17€=>20€). I can’t remember ever tipping more than 4 €. I hope I explained it well enough to understand what I mean 🤪

[@PassportTwo]

Haha, I think you explained it well! That seems like a simple and good way of doing it 👍🏼😊

[@swanpride]

I did once, but that was because I was basically paying the meal for five persons.

[@ninan9650]

I do it exactly the same way unless the service wasn’t good. In that case I don‘t have any issue not to tip at all.

[@xwormwood]

I usually give 10%. But only if everything was at least "ok". If the waiter was rude, lazy or sloppy, I start to reduce the tipp, up to giving nothing at all.

[@Isa-de2yf]

10%: 1 Euro for every 10 Euros you spent. Easiest thing ever.

[@moiragores1226]

I'm from Austria and here is what I do: 1) I live in the countryside - here you greet everybody walking passed you. In a bigger town (like Vienna or Salzburg) you wouldn't typically great everyone 2) Yes, going into doctors offices or other places I always greet everyone and say goodbye when leaving, regardless of the fact if I'm in a little town village or in a bigger city like Vienna :)

[@KelbenArunsun]

For the doctors office: Its custom to say hallo and tschüß. When it comes to greeting people on the street: Especially in smaller villages (around 1000 residents) its still fairly custom to greet people on the street, because you usally know them. In bigger towns its more unlikely to greet random strangers.

[@xwormwood]

It has nothing to do "if you know them", but with the sheer amount of people in a city. You could greet them till you're blue in the face. In nature, or in smaller villages, there are not many people you meet, and that is when you start to greet. When I was in New York nobody greeted me in the streets. And not because they were rude or a place with many strangers from so many different countries.

[@bellee222]

Here a hint to know when to say hello to strangers in Germany: when you see somebody coming in the distance or you hear them walk by, you look up, meet their eyes and when they are looking at you as well, you greet them or they greet you first!

[@CupcakeLadyOriginal]

So my mom and I are from Germany and went to the USA and had problems with tipping but it worked out fine. But one time we dined in an Asian restaurant where they seemed unhappy to have us and did a bad service my mom filled out the receipt right in front of their eyes and tipped NOTHING. I was shocked how direct she was but she was right that they did not serve us good.

[@scanalive]

:-)))

[@Varus78]

tell them. a good restaurant will thank you for it. a bad one will get mad.

[@lkrnpk]

About tipping in Europe... I usually have just some cash to tip, even if I pay with the card. In some places I have seen you can modify the amount yourself and insert higher amount on the card reader and approve it

[@PassportTwo]

Good tip to always have cash on hand just in case 😊

[@jessicaausborn]

Haha, your money handing over skit made me actually laugh out loud. Doesn’t happen very often these days, so thank you! I remember a German friend of mine getting really agitated in a US restaurant when they wanted to carry away his credit card. Took quite a bit of convincing for him to not follow the waiter to the machine ;-)

[@bern6543]

Damn, you have no protection against scams if you don't see your card😱. I would pay cash only.

[@Maxtherealone]

🙋‍♂️ Ive seen a whole lot of channels like yours, but i think "passport two" is one of the best. I really like your content and you are two very likeable persons, self reflective, interested and positive. Keep on doin what you do. You derserve more attention. Greetings from Munich ☀️

[@robwilliams2410]

This must be credit card day on Facebook. Shortly after you posted, Unintentionally Frenchified did a video about weird things about the USA as viewed by people from the rest of the world. Letting someone walk away with your credit card was her first topic.

[@PassportTwo]

Haha, really? That’s funny! We’ll have to look up that channel 😃

[@robwilliams2410]

@@PassportTwo Oops... I meant to write “on KZbin” I assume that I didn’t send you over to Facebook to find her KZbin video 🤣

[@mischa1981]

I can totally relate to the waiting room, having been in one just this morning. I hate it to having to take a seat there, greeting everyone once and then wait for the assistance to call you out. It's the silence that kills me every time. You always look that you don't make any noise that could make anybody else feel uncomfortable and that tension is pure stress for me. If possible I register myself and then wait outside in fresh air.

[@Danisachan]

I HATED tipping in Spain. There were no card readers, you had to pay in cash, leave the money on the table, actually leave, and then the waiter would come rushing out and count if you actually left enough money. Twice they "conveniently" dropped the money on the floor and told us we hadn't paid enough. Insanity.

[@juanfran579]

I'm living in Spain. Nothing similar has ever happened to me in 27 years

[@joeaverage3444]

I lived in the U.S. for a year in high school, as a German, and I really enjoyed American small talk culture. So much so that I do the unthinkable here in Germany in that I am always up for casual small talk with a random stranger... 😁

[@Mara-fk4vc]

When I was living in Ireland, my friends used to mock me for greeting the shopkeepers and such, but it was so ingrained in me, I couldn't shake it off.

[@MUETZE198]

actually you don't have to leave a tip cuz our waiters actually get paid and don't have to rely on tips to scrape by

[@SusiBlumentopf]

Typical stinginess of Germans. Of course you leave a small tip on the table, if not you are saying: your service was miserable! It is unfriendly.

[@kevinsamusch5435]

Eure Videos werden immer besser!

[@PassportTwo]

Haha, vielen Dank 😊

[@frankamueller801]

@@PassportTwo Ich kann mich nur anschließen, eure Videos sind wirklich super! :-) Was bedeutet "Haha" im Englischen? Im Deutschen benutzt man es (also jedenfalls ich), wenn man etwas ironisch meint. Es bedeutet ungefähr so viel wie: "Das glaubst du doch wohl selber nicht." Ich habe das Gefühl (bitte nicht falsch verstehen), als würdet ihr das "Haha" falsch einsetzen, möglicherweise bedeutet es in Oklahoma etwas ganz anderes? Zum Video: Ich persönlich grüße nie beim Arzt oder auf einer Behörde, das finde ich einfach nur total unangenehm. Und Geld überreiche ich eigentlich immer in die Hand. Es ist mir jetzt erst aufgefallen, weil ich wegen Corona ständig von Verkäufern darauf hingewiesen wurde, das Geld bitte in die Schale zu legen (Bäcker, Eisdiele, Grillhähnchen-Stand, Dönerbude, etc.).

[@Nikioko]

When I pay with card, I only pay the actual meal and give the tip in cash. That way I can ensure that the tip really reaches the waiter and not the restaurant owner. And a normal tip is about 10%, rounded up.

[@mcallister1083]

Das mit den Toilettentüren hängt von der Location ab. In vielen Diskotheken und Bars sind die Türen immer unten weiter offen. So kann im Notfall (Alkohol, Drogen) eine bewusstlose Person besser wahrgenommen und durch Rettungskräfte geborgen werden.

[@TheDeett]

Als Norddeutscher betritt man einen Raum/Aufzug usw und sagt Moin. Wenn man viel Reden will sagt man Moin Moin. Das war es dann. Wir hatten ein sehr schönes Gespräch :-)

[@timb8564]

Keep up the funny videos hahaha. Love the roleplaying. Our first day in Germany we had a similar situation where I put the coins for the bus fare directly INTO the money machine and the driver yelled at me asking me how can he count it... I assumed there was an automatic counter I'm the machine... Oops :) Marvel all the way.

[@PassportTwo]

Hahaha, that’s a great example as well! We have had plenty of moments like that on buses as well 😂

[@LythaWausW]

I don't ride busses enough to do it correctly. I always make some sort of mistake when taking a bus. Whether it's the money, where to stand to get off, or I'll stand too early and confuse the bus driver.

[@vickybain6050]

DC for sure! Thanks for your great content guys! Really informative and entertaining!

[@jennyi.8054]

Your videos are fun! Me as a German with Family in the US, I sometimes don’t notice the differences anymore. For the tipping (I live in the Swabian part), here people usually just round up and only give more, when they are very satisfied. I usually give a bit more, since I am also used to US or Canada Standards. You don’t have to worry about being judged in Germany at all, just give what you want. Our waiters don’t rely as much on Tip, as the waiters in the US. Btw. fully agree on the toilet situation ;) Greetings, Jennifer

[@52and36]

I lived in Germany for 3 years in the 90's and I don't recall ever tipping or being asked for a tip amount. The servers were paid enough and we were told by a good German friend who worked in the hospitality industry that it was actually kind of an insult.

[@grazareth]

Honestly, I don't think I've ever done conscious calculation for tips. I always just round up to something that amounts to around 10-20% more, unless it's extraordinarily good service or a bar I go to regularly and know the server, in which case I'll make sure to be generous, because I just think it's the polite and kind thing to do.

[@basti7878]

Greeting in Germany is something depending on location. In a big city, where noone knows anyone, you mostly don't greet oneanother on the sidewalk. Totally different situation when you are in a small village (even if you don't know the person).

[@Phosphoros47]

Yes, tipping is a bit awkward here. But just for the quick math thing. I like the feeling to see how the waiter or waitress reacts. And if the service is bad, I don‘t tip and don’t feel bad for it. I had the change-hand-plate-shuffle a lot of times, can totally relate. But in general I like not having to (accidentally?) touch the other persons hand. Greeting everyone in the room feels just strange in a waiting room for me. And (elaborate) smalltalk with strangers I would like to have more often, but it’s uncommon here. It was really refreshing when being on our honeymoon in the US.

[@tobiaswichert4843]

I think the little tray is convinient - if you know what you have to pay, you can already put the money there while your order is prepeared. Interaction with strangers: Here in the very north of Germany, at least in the smaller towns and villages, if you meet someone on the street, it is customary that you greet each other ("Moin!"). Regardless if you know that person or not. The bigger the town, the less common it is. In bigger towns that is often used to acknowledge that you have seen the other person (like in a tight spot on a walkway for example). My wife is from the south east of Germany and had never seen this behavior.

[@witty2u]

Man gruesst sich in der Straße, wenn man sich kennt. Nachbarn gruessen sich immer und machen auch smalltalk, wenn sie sich schon etwas kennen. 🙂

[@TheNaLuJoRo]

Nachbarn grüße ich nur wenn ich sie gut kenne

[@lissi3884]

Tolles Video! 😉 Ich mag euren Kanal sehr gerne.

[@petranubaum7431]

When I was younger I went to a Bible study group. We all sat around a big table. So each time you had to Go around the table and greet each person with a hand shake which was a challenge for me... so the question was if it was better to come earlier or later...

[@reginapuhl7325]

So my experiences so far as a German myself: a waiter asking for tips is considered rude in my region (NRW, lower rhine region). A tip is something they get on MY free will for the experience they gave me and for their service. If the service was bad, I don't tip or just a Euro at most. On other occasions, I mostly round up the bill. If it is a small amount then just to the next full Euro, if the amount is larger I tip around 5-10% plus rounding up the bill. The thing with handing money to the cashier: honestly depends on the cashier. I worked as one myself and my work was faster if people handed me the money directly. On the other hand if there's someone standing in front of you and wanting to pay the exact amount and therefore needs a lot of coins the plate is the easier way. People laying credit/debit cards on those is very uncommon considering that you don't want to give your money out of your hands. I experienced that only with snobby (and prob. rich) people who wanted me to do all the work with the debit card machine. Or older people who are not good with technology and needed help (which I was happy to give :) ). But in general cashiers aren't really allowed to take the debit cards of customers. The greeting thing: Usually people only do it to acknowledge the other people and the "correct" response would be a nod or a simple hello back or if you are saying bye "Wiedersehen" or a nod. It's not a starter for a conversation. More like you are all sharing the same fate of waiting and acknoledge it (?). It's hard to put into words. It's mist likely comparable with the way people in the US say: How are you, when you meet someone (even some random people) on the street. You don't want to start a conversation, you only want ti tell them: heyyy, yeah I noticed you. (Which by the way is very confusing for Germans, because when we hear that phrase we think you WANT to start a conversation when in fact you DON'T. It's another reason why Americans are seen as fake, because cultural difference in language and the meaning of wordings of sentences.) Anyway, it's seen as a polite way to greet strangers. If you don't want to start a conversation after that you don't have to and it's rather uncommon to be honest. Most people aren't really bothered by the silence (gives us more space for the German stare too XD). Small talk is seen as fake anyway here, like it's rather I don't talk to you at all if we can't hold a meaningful conversation at all. (And why not? You learn things way faster and better about a person and can really determine, if you like each other.) But it's not to say that Germans don't do small talk. We just do it differently (e.g. the weather, sports, complainig about common known problems with the rush hour...). I didn't know about the bathrooms in the US, that was hilarious XDXD. So I hope I could explain a little and please remember that these are my experiences from my region. It can be completely different in another part or Germany or even the next town over!

[@jessedup]

American in upper NRW now. We aren't asked about tips either. Before the many, many lockdowns, I'd leave tips. Rounding up to nearest Euro with a few extra dollars added. I never really have meals over €15, so. We also tip our delivery drivers, usually €3. I still small talk. It's ingrained as an Atlanta. But usually it's in an "I'm so sorry I still don't speak the language" way. Lockdown shut down my courses. Don't know when it'll open back up. So.

[@andistuttgart9067]

Die gespielten Zwischeneinblendungen sind sehr lustig, gut gemacht. Ich erinnere mich an eine Situation in Dublin, ein Laden ähnlich Subway in dem ich ein Sandwich gekauft habe, und während der Verkäufer das Sandwich zubereitet hat, sehr viel Smalltalk gemacht hat, was für mich total ungewoohnt war und ich wohl auch sehr 'abweisend' geantwortet hatte, so daß er dann irgendwann aufgegeben hat 😂 Das war schon eine sehr komische Situation, die ich einfach aus Deutschland in so einem Geschäft nicht gewohnt war.

[@PassportTwo]

Haha, Das ist traurig, dass du ihn zu gebracht haben, einfach aufzugeben! 😂Aber das ist ein toll Beispiel für genau was worüber wir sprechen. 😃

[@arnodobler1096]

@@PassportTwo Ich war Kellner, da war Small Talk auch üblich. Allerdings beim Rechnen und Bezahlvorgang geht das gar nicht, da muss man sich konzentrieren!

[@ThePeperich]

1) Tip (in Germany) if I am very satisfied 10% of the bill, if not 0% (but I give the restaurant a hint if sth is not right, so they can fix it before I leave). Usually I give the waiter cash even while paying with plastic, as I do not know what the owner does with electronic paid tips. 2) Biggest difference to the US of A, pricing structure! German waiters earn much more (higher salary) and do not live only from tips. That's why all German menues remind customers: Prices include VAT and Service.

[@1RKruemel]

Hahaha Donnie doing the mental math is exactly how I feel every time I have to tip 😂 super geschauspielert! 👌

[@rivenoak]

except you dont do math. round up and done.

[@hypatian9093]

Greeting strangers is a thing I only do beyond the city limit, when walking the dogs through the fields or hiking.

[@christianblunt4469]

I would never expect that a KZbinr would feel uncomfortable in any situation ;)

[@PassportTwo]

Well, we never get asked what we do and respond with “KZbinr” so that must explain it 😂 We still just call ourselves, “two people who just make videos we post online” because we don’t like that title 😅

[@MarcGrafZahl]

KZbinr sind auch nur Menschen. Sagt man. 😉

[@MarcGrafZahl]

@@PassportTwo What? You are not youtubers? But you are definitely of my favourites on KZbin.

[@lumina9995]

Any feeling of discomfort is the responsibility of the "feeler", not the people who are "making him" feel it. No one has that power!

[@christianblunt4469]

Still in psycho therapy?

[@gregclark5084]

I worked as a waiter for the first 6 years I was in Germany and we were most always paid with cash and told what give back or people would leave their tips on the table ( I still pay my bill with cash). I have become so accustomed to say hello and goodbye to everybody that I did it the last time I was home in Seattle and got a lot of people looking at me like I was crazy. The one thing that I took a long time to get used to was asking or being asked if a seat was taken when you are at a restaurant or outside coffee. I still would rather wait for a table than ask to sit with a stranger.

[@SuperAnn0ula]

Well I'm from Europe and I ve visited many countries in Europe. It's always the same about the tip on restaurants. People working on service are paid the average salary and they don't "expect" tips like in the US. It's great when you leave a tip for them but 1st they don't depend on it, 2nd they rarely expect it. You have to be like a large number of people ordering many things so they have to work more intensively on your table to expect you to leave a tip. About the customers now or the American customers, see it as this your service gets the same money as the person that works retail, reception in doctor's office or salon. So don't feel obligated to leave a tip. The tip in Europe is more like a thank you for being EXTRA kind and accommodating. Or a way for men to flirt women (gross). And a tip which is just from my perspective when I was working service, you better leave no tip than leaving 1,2 and 5 cent coins :p I was never mad or treated differently people who didn't give tip, I was a little weirded out by those who left those copper coins though.

[@anneodonnell8588]

What about shaking hands? I was used to only shaking hands on the first meeting with someone, or in business/formal contexts. Here in my region, when you meet friends/acquaintances/people present in any group you join, or even a quick verbal 'hello-how are you' encounter in the street, you shake hands. Every time. Even children/teenagers shake hands with each other, on meeting and parting. Most people will make a point of shaking hands with everyone as they enter a room e.g at a party or in your hobby group, with probably at least up to a couple of dozen people. In waiting rooms as you said, this is replaced by the generalised greeting to the group on entering and leaving. Officials serving the public often have a polite notice on their desks asking you to refrain from the handshake to avoid spreading infection. It's been very awkward during the covid epidemic as this habit is really hard-programmed here and people feel rude not to do it. You can just about be excused in a friend crowd if you come in and rap on the table with a general 'hello'.

[@LythaWausW]

Thank God for the pandemic, I don't have to shake hands with people I already know. *lol*

[@hildegunstvonmythenmetz6619]

What I like to do to avoid the awkwardness when tipping is to just pay the amount I‘m being charged and then leave the tip on the table in cash when I leave

[@gohanssj48]

Brazilian Man here: In relation of tipping, the amount is predeterminated (10% usually), written in the bill and the waiter bring the card machine to the table where you sit. You have to warn before that you won't pay the tip, usually because you disliked the service. It's Very Fun to do the math when you Go with a group and somebody decides to pay a different amount of their part or leave early. Especially bc Brazilians aren't math people! Bathrooms cabins are eerily similar of the US, but we really don't look inside If someone is using. It's commonplace to try to open the door and see if it's locked. Most of Locks have messages (like occupied or in use) when ppl lock the door that you can see. What is Very common in male bathrooms is that when you use for pee you simply don't Lock and someone see part of your back trying to open. I don't think this is weird but maybe it's because I'm acostumed.

[@tief4604]

The farewell to all, also known as: „ich klopf mal auf‘n Tisch 👋🏻“ 😅.. nothing More german than that

[@indiran7920]

I'm from NRW and when we tip we usually say " machen sie 30 draus" (it depens on what you round up to) but it translate to something like "make it 30" and what my family and I tip is usually 5 € up to 10€

[@HD-ty8ng]

Haha, the handing cash over part was so funny. Also loved the mustaches. Besides the obvious tipping differences: my girlfriend just doesn't tip at all. Never. Out of principal. I'd say that a normal amount for tipping would be 10% The akward public toilets in the US: never experienced it but it would be horrible for me! The doctors office: yes, super weirdti sit there in silence. But I actually like that everybody says hi and good bye. Idk why really xD

[@Aelsenaer]

About tipping, First, you are not expected to tip. Second, tips are appreciated. Third, there is no rule how much you tip. Tipping can be used to balance the amount to a round number (5 or 10). There are also people who use a percentage. I hear often regarding tipping the following sentence: keep the change.

[@chrisk5651]

Wow! So cool to see Donnie’s brother!

[@nastjah3562]

About the tipping thing, you are not even expected to leave a tip though. Even if the waiter/waitress did a spectacular job, you are not obligated to tip. And also, usually people pay with cash, so that weird holding the card reader for you to enter the tip doesn't really happen that often, at least not where I am from. And I also never get asked if I even wanna leave a tip.

[@MinecraftPony155]

If I don't know who the person is then I don't greet them which some of my neighbours find very weird. But I mean I'm very bad with faces so I only greet someone when I recognize them. One time some women came up to me and said that we've known each other since I was a kid and then demanded that I say hello next time but I literally had no idea who that person was.

[@k.schmidt2740]

I know the feeling exactly. We "face-blind" should open up a social media group or something.

[@frankhooper7871]

I think the norm here in the UK when paying for a meal by card would be to just pay the basic amount by card and leave any tip in cash. Also note that the "done thing" when finished eating is to place your knife & fork close together on the plate and not to leave them spread apart like in your skit :-) I was taught ho do this from an early age, even when eating at home.

[@franhunne8929]

Tips: Tips are an extra for the waiter. They do not get paid much, but a normal wage. So we tip less.

[@Ul.B]

About tipping: There's also a third way to tip. Pay by credit card and tip in bills / coins. To be precise, I've never heard of the first way, where you have to type in how much you want to tip. By the way, disappearing with the card was also common for a while in Germany and especially in France. It fell into disrepute when there were cases of fraud. A normal tip amount is about 10%. Hand or plate: You can put the money in the hand or put it on the plate. Even when there is a plate, I put it in the hand every now and then. About Hello and Goodbye: Greeting strangers is more common in the countryside. Strangers are greeted there more often when going for a walk than, for example, in the city. I probably wouldn't say hello to total strangers in a city.

[@gettwetter4752]

The scene about paying at the counter is simply hilarious. 😂😂 How long did it take you to film and edit it? That’s really a piece of art. 👍👍👍 (And you even did another editing for the waiting room, just with less timing necessary...) The payment in restaurants as you describe it for the USA does indeed astonish me a bit. Having a German credit card contract, it would be a breach of my card contract if I handed the card over to a waiter going to the next room, as he there easily could have a card reader further to the one of the restaurant and charge small (but maybe several) payments without me having to authorise these by a signature. Maybe that is why I in previous times ran into somehow strange situations in some parts of the US paying at a less than perfectly created spot of the restaurant. But these occasions were only relatively few, and in many cases we saw everyone else pay in the same spot as us (or at the table like our party). So it’s a bit of a surprise to me that there are still a lot of these restaurants where the waiter takes the card back to a hidden place, and I now assume that the restaurants I visited were more tourist-oriented than expected... The stalls seem to hide the fewer the more important religion is in the area you are visiting. Once a was in a place where clearly by intention the stalls even did not have any locking device at all, and could easily be swung open by anyone. I understand that this is in order not to give any couple (or a person on itself) a chance for an „intimate moment of privacy 🍆”. Where is Spider-Man? At Marvel or at DC?

[@PassportTwo]

Haha, glad you enjoyed it! The scene at the counter actually didn't take long at all. I would say filming and editing that bit only took about 15 minutes. However, the scene in the "Rathaus" greeting each other took over 8 hours of filming and editing 😅

[@gettwetter4752]

@@PassportTwo Wow, I think I have to watch these scenes again as it seems I didn’t get all of the details on my small screen.

[@KTanit]

Ich kenne eure öffentlichen Toiletten aus Filmen und Serien. Ich wäre als Jugendlicher gestorben, wenn ich in der High School auf so ein Klo gemusst hätte.

[@yippie6862]

I thought you just round up the tip in Germany and it's usually small. Say the bill is 27.90 Euro. You would just give 30. Have things changed? What percent of tip is now normal in Germany?

[@PassportTwo]

That’s exactly the question we have! 😅 We do normally just round up like you described because we heard that’s what most do, but we’ve also hear some who til upwards of 10% sometimes so we got worried we were tipping to little! Haha, Sometimes the machines even have preset tip amounts for 10%, 15%, or 20% but I assume no German uses those? 🤷🏻‍♂️😃

[@twinmama42]

Still the same, nothing changed. Tipping is not mandatory. You normally round up to the next Euro or 5 Euros (depending on the amount) in restaurants, bars, or at the hairdresser's

[@yippie6862]

​@@PassportTwo Thanks for the quick reply. Just finished the video. I think DC has the best superhero's ;). Well, I think I'll just pay in cash when in Germany. The CC machine to the table with high tip amounts is too stressful. We know the staff is getting paid higher in Germany than the USA so I won't feel guilty for just rounding up. They probably know who the tourists are and expect the usual higher tips from them. I'm not sure I want to feed into that and therefore help change the tipping culture for the worse. But if it has already changed in the past decade then I better pay more when there. The best country I've experienced is Japan. No tipping. It's considered rude if you do. No stress. I rather just pay higher food prices and avoid tipping all together.

[@frankamueller801]

@@yippie6862 Man kann auch die Rechnung mit EC-Karte bezahlen und das Trinkgeld bar geben. Das mache ich ziemlich oft, wenn ich mit Kollegen zum Mittagessen gehe und zu wenig Bargeld dabei habe.

[@steeler54combathamster52]

@@PassportTwo The waiters in Germany don't work for starvation wages like in the US. So it is not necessary to give 10%. Okay, you can do it, you do it, maybe more, but nobody has to feel forced to do it.

[@kieferngruen]

About greeting in passing: if you are walking through a town and there are many people you usually only great when you pass each other very closely or happen to have eye contact. When you are somewhere out in nature to go for a walk or hike, it is normal to great each other in passing and I find it rude when people don't do it. It is also very common for people to become more cordial and informal in nature. For example when you are on a hike somewhere in the mountains and you meet people doing the same, it is very common to use the informal Du instead of the formal Sie.

[@ProfSRaven]

I come from a village in Germany so I like to greet people even in the city (were I now live). Since I'm bicycling a lot in the city I also often meet the same people and ofcourse we start to recognise each other and I always greet with them. Even so I'm german I enjoy a nice talk with a stranger. For example I went to a Doctor who offered vaccinations if you wait in line. And I had a great talk with the guy one spot in front of me. We talked for nearly 2/3 hours with occasional breaks until we got vaccinated and parted ways again.

[@sinjaja5836]

Thanks for showing me HOW much German I am 🤯

[@orange25i]

It is interesting, that judging from the comments, that there are also Germans who are uncomfortable with the tipping situation. Actually in my opinion this is quite easy: For amounts under 10 Euros always round up to the next 0,5 Euros but almost never give less than 25 cents. So if I have to pay 7,20 in round up to 7,50. But if I have to pay 7,40 I round up tp 8,00. This way I always give between 30 and 70 cents. I also factor in whether the service was good, sometimes giving less than 30 cents and sometimes more than 70 cents. If it was bad it is important to tell the waiter so they know the low tip was not due to stinginess but due to the service.

[@LUC4POISON]

I'm an italian living in Germany and I hate giving tips because in my country in order to avoid stupid and awkward moments, that cost is included in the bill already under the name "coperto" where you pay for the actual cleaning of the dishes and the table service.

[@kilsestoffel3690]

This part is included in Germany as well, in the price of the meal. Here the tip is an extra, you *can* give, but you don't have to

[@Erunest]

@@kilsestoffel3690 just want i wanted to say. The tipping is included in the costs. it even says o nevery card. thats the reason i tend to give not that high of a tip

[@LUC4POISON]

@@kilsestoffel3690 you're right but it's "socially expected" that you have to

[@kilsestoffel3690]

@@LUC4POISON but why? There are so many people with wages which are not higher, who won't get tips, because they don't have contact with costumers. Though I do tip, the waiter, the hairdresser, the guy who carried my new washing machine up to the third floor (he was sooo brave)...

[@martinjunghofer3391]

und für Brot, das man dir hinstellt, auch wenn du es nicht ißt!

[@knudvoecking]

One of our interns from Southern Germany was quite astonished that in our area (Münsterland) everybody greeted her, when she was walking the office dog or was jogging. It is very normal here, that I greet everyone who is on my way (early joggers, dog walkers, mums withs kids) when I cycle through the park to get to my office.

[@moloids]

Even 5 years ago you would mostly pay cash in restaurants, and there is no way to hide how much cash you hand over anyway - especially if you don't have the exact amount.

[@PassportTwo]

I was here for the first time 7 years ago and I remember using a lot of cash then, that’s for sure!

[@EHonda-ds6ve]

Cash is king in Germany. Only now, after the pandemic, we have more cashless options ( Apple Pay,Google Pay ). The pandemic helped us a lot to digitalise. A reason why the U.S. advanced way earlier than us, might be becourse the U.S. has a youger population ( average U.S. citizen: 42,7, average german citizen:44,5 )

[@danilopapais1464]

Well, I never had the awkwardness with tipping because I never paid with a card in a restaurant, before the pandemic I did not even pay for delivery by card. I usually tip between 5 and 20%, most of the time a round sum that is closest to either 10 or 15%, the high and low amount are only for exceptional good or bad service. I use the money plate for cash because it is easier to see if there is money missing in a lot of cases and the cashier would have to put it down anyway to count it or risk dropping it (in smaller establisments even risking to contaminate food that is close to the counter). If i enter a room with people in it I mostly do so to show them I recognize they were there before me. Doing it for everyone in the room with a single greeting is just efficiency vs addressing everyone individually. Btw, in a lot of nightclubs/discotheques you have the same bathroom stalls you describe as being used in the US.

[@klk2270]

Have you already experienced Germany's superficial greeting "Mahlzeit!"? That's typcially being said when any kind of workers meet at the factory canteen for lunch or tradesmen eat their breakfast/lunch on the job. The tone varies from silently/unenthusiastic to loud/ostentatious, so that's kind how you can already judge how things are going for some at work or what kind of person (incommunicative/loud) someone is. But it can also get pretty annoying when you're eating and one person after another comes yelling "Mahlzeit!!!" and you need to respond with "Mahlzeit!!!!". Is there a similar greeting US workers do? I hope not. ;-) Regarding tipping at restaurant in Germany: I'd say around 3-5€ when two persons eat at a restaurant (50€ range), depending on how good the service was. I wouldn't go below 2€, like when your bill is 8€ at a café.

[@PassportTwo]

Haha, we haven’t experience “Mahlzeit” in this sense but the US definitely has specific “office talk” like this that is customary and can tell you how someone’s day is goin 😅 Thanks for the explanation! 😊

[@box-of-chocolates]

There‘s a whole science behind when and how to say Mahlzeit! 😀 It‘s usually yelled aggressively, but only between 11:30ish and before 2PM. I once greeted someone at a big German company with Guten Tag at around noon, and they yelled back: „Mahlzeit! Jetzt ist Mahlzeit!“ When I yelled myself „Mahlzeit“ at 11:31, I was told: „Die Kantine hat noch zu! Wir sind doch hier nicht im Altenheim!“ 😂 (I‘m German, btw).

[@klk2270]

@@box-of-chocolates Gerhard Polt hat da mal einen ganzen Sketch daraus gemacht: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rHSXpWaEhblpncU

[@box-of-chocolates]

​@@klk2270 Ahhhh! I love it! Den kannte ich noch nicht! 😂😂😂

[@LythaWausW]

omg I had a mahlzeit crisis yesterday. I freaking hate this tradition because I always think I'm being judged, "look, she's eating again." And saying it to people who are not eating - why? Yesterday we had some contractors in our yard and they were all sitting on our garden wall eating lunch. I had to walk around them and I felt this enormous pressure to say something about the mealtime, or about the deliciousness of their food (guten appetit). But I hate that M word and I won't say it, and I didn't make the food so I don't care if it tastes good! So I said "hello" and walked as fast as I could. *lol*

[@cailleanmccain]

My very first awkward situation in the US was right after getting off the plane at Boston Airport: The woman checking my passport started talking to me about what I am planning or doing while I am here and wished me a pleasant stay... something out of the blue which I would never have expected! ;)

[@midnight8341]

Same thing for me... The guy asked me if I would stay for business or pleasure and I honestly didn't know what to say, so I just answered: "Uhm, for the finale of an university contest, so I guess both...?" and suddenly he wanted to know everything about it, where I study, what's the contest about, what our project is about and I'm ständig there, thinking 'hello, there's fourty people in line behind me and two thirds of my team mates are already through and waiting for me, so please just let me go...' 😅

[@christophoffermann2442]

10 % Trinkgeld ist normal. Je nachdem, wie der Service war, auch etwas mehr oder weniger. Ich runde dann meistens auf den nächsten Euro auf. Bei 23 Euro auf der Rechnung wären das dann also 26 Euro.

[@PassportTwo]

Ah! Danke für die Erklärung 😃

[@denniswitt1638]

Das ist in Deutschland keineswegs normal. Und meistens ist es auch nicht angebracht.

[@xwormwood]

@@denniswitt1638 Doch, das ist normal. Und wenn es nicht angebracht ist, macht man es eben nicht so. Und mit etwas Schneid erklärt man es dabei dann auch.

[@andrebiermann1871]

The topic of tips in Germany is probably one of the most complex and individual topics. There is actually no real "guideline" that you can recommend to someone. I always make it dependent on the overall service and the quality of the food and what kind of gastronomy I'm in. When I'm in system catering, I'm usually in the 2 to 2.5 euro category of tip. Since these dishes can actually be prepared by anyone and these were mostly pre-produced. An example would be "Schweinske" a local brand from Hamburg (operates several branches in Hamburg and the surrounding area). It is system catering that is cheap and for the whole family. If, on the other hand, I find myself in the catering trade with freshly prepared food, I usually tip 3 to 5 euros. For top gastronomy (where star chefs work) it is already 10 to 15 euros. However, I also make it dependent on living conditions, because if I want to go shopping in the supermarket after dinner and don't have one euro in my wallet, then I round the amount to 9 euros (for example 39 euros) with one euro coin as change receive. So I'm spontaneous and always make it dependent on all circumstances and don't have a uniform scheme. Since you also like to present a few "fun facts", then you should take a look at the Texas of Germany where our oil fields are. That much can be revealed: our annual oil production roughly corresponds to the total consumption per day in Germany - so not a big thing compared to the US. The area where the oil fields are located is very sparsely populated and some people claim that there are no people living there anyway. I live about 70 km from this region - as a reminder of the oil production there is a pump from the oil field on a small square in our town (although it is green but in the middle of the most important traffic routes). Let's see if you can find the "Texas of Germany"?

[@MichiTheMiner]

I always make the Tip Depending on the Service. Im studying atm so theres not very much Money to spend 🤷‍♂️🤣

[@PassportTwo]

Haha, and that is totally understandable and in that case, hopefully you only receive poor service for maximum money savings 😂

[@ThePeperich]

@@PassportTwo Service is included in German restaurants

[@rylon_]

If people are greeting you on the streets is matter of being polite. Not every person is polite, so not everyone is gonna greet you or answer when you greet them. But many polite people were taught to greet others on the streets, so they do it or at least answer when you greet them

[@SilverShamrock4]

in germany: you call the waiter to your table / waiter comes with a wallet or creditcard machine / you pay a bit more than the invoice amount / done !!!! in the rest of the world: you call the waiter / waiter comes with the invoice hidden in a fake leather book cover on a plate and leaves / you put a banknote on the plate and call the waiter for a second time / waiter picks up the plate and leaves / waiter comes back for a third time with the correct amount of change and leaves / you put a tip on the plate without being sure that it actually ends up in the waiter`s pocket / now that unnecessarily complicated process is making me feel uncomfortable !!!! Love your vids btw 💕 !

[@alexj9603]

Actually, when you ask for the bill in Germany, the waiter will come with a big wallet. And when you say you'd like to pay with your card, they'll walk off again to get the card reader. Which can take a while, as sometimes there is only one card reader for the whole restaurant. Other option: They will ask you to come over to the cash desk, as the card reader is plugged in there.

[@3nertia]

That's almost like growing up Kentucky - everyone is so friendly out in the rural areas