The best German life hacks | DW English

The Germans are a practical bunch. As well as coming up with way more inventions than their European neighbors, they also have several everyday tricks to make life that little bit more efficient or enjoyable. We find out more on this week's Meet the Germans.
Rachel Stewart is on a mission to investigate the quirks and idiosyncrasies of daily life in Germany. Every two weeks she explores a new topic - from beer to nudity to complicated grammar - and heads out to get some tips from the Germans themselves.
Rachel moved from the UK to Germany in 2016. As a relative newcomer she casts a fresh eye over German clichés and shares her experiences of settling into German life. You'll find more from Meet the Germans on KZbin or at dw.com/MeettheGermans.
And don’t forget to comment with your own experiences!
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#MeetTheGermans #LifeHacks

[@iC3mdbN]

It is not called life hack in german, its called "Trick 17"

[@rudigerludwig9398]

Oder "gewußt wie"

[@emilyche1101]

It boggles my mind that there are people using outdore shoes inside their homes.

[@emilyche1101]

@zimThuet I don't understand why would walking in socks be unacceptable. Would you care to explain? Btw where i am from guests are supplied with indoor shoes, i'm just wondering about socks.

[@ducklingscap897]

@zimThuet Where is the problem with socks? Why are they seen as unfit for adults? If you don't like walking around in socks just get indoor shoes.

[@HazardousMoose]

@zimThuet pretty much every household will have multiple pairs of indoor slippers for guests. Often even in different sizes. So no need to bring your own:)

[@arnoldhau1]

I allways walk around in socks at home. Every day. I dont quite see the issue with that? But its also OK to use house shoes, it will make your socks last longer. But I prefer to walk around in socks and that is a quite common thing to do.

[@bomcabedal]

@@HazardousMoose The house shoes thing is anything but universal though. We do it, but only a minority of people we visit have adopted it, including among Germans.

[@Numnutz]

germans are really practical, i mean even our chocolate is quadratisch, praktisch, gut

[@calaminthagrandiflora7065]

Schleichwerbung!!!

[@MrEyescream]

@@calaminthagrandiflora7065 ...und wir sind wieder bei den schrägen Gesetzen.

[@themighteefox]

Great one xD Hab mir den Arsch abgelacht alla ;)

[@DummyDrawsStuff]

Rittetsport quadratisch, praktisch, gut und lecker .

[@nobu9705]

Advertising has done a really good job on these. Yay capitalism

[@rfldss89]

I think after the lighter, the second most common way of opening a beer bottle has got be using another beer bottle, since generally a beer never comes alone.

[@InspektorDreyfus]

Critics may ask how you open the last beer then. But there is no such thing as a last beer.

[@j_e_z_666]

@InspektorDreyfus with the box the beer comes in.

[@InspektorDreyfus]

@Der Typ I don't doubt that. But there is always another beer.

[@user-bg7ef4ns4v]

InspektorDreyfus as long as you‘re indoors, that’s no problem. You’ll always find something. But when do you go for a walk with beer? Right! 1st of May... but then there are enough bottles and people (where’s the difference?) around. If not, I wonder how you could fail this miserably ;)

[@user-bg7ef4ns4v]

Der Typ Sure. Only place that I can think of, where it’s getting difficult is in the woods, but definitely not impossible.

[@clochard8318]

wearing street-shoes indoor sounds quite nasty tbh

[@littlemisssunshine5961]

Clochard yeah, I hate it if anyone wears street shoes in my bathroom. It is so nasty

[@BulgarianOrphanHelp]

@@littlemisssunshine5961 Must love it when people come from the public bathroom with their street shoes and walk all over your living room carpet :)

[@euphemia6873]

Who does this?

[@mika-ti7td]

wait people do thaT?

[@DarkPsy]

And it sounds super uncomfortable.

[@unicornbananasandwich5588]

I’m just glad she can speak normal english and pronounce german words perfectly at the same time

[@amssydsing3475]

Her pronunciation is indeed excellent

[@AnoNymInvestor]

@natalie storm then what you are doing on this channel?

[@PepsiSpriteLight]

@natalie storm Origins of the English language came from Europe. So yeah, her English is the normal one 🤙

[@nailik7581]

@natalie storm Well but British english is the original english because in Australia or North America they speak english due to the fact that British people settled there. I am sorry if in this text are words wrong spelled or any kind of logical mistakes, please forgive me I'm in the 8th grade in Germany and that means that I'm not as good as any British, North American or Australian guy.

[@labemolmineur]

@@amssydsing3475 and she's been in Germany for just for years, isn't that impressive?

[@AS-sz2pi]

My german friend opened a beer with a piece of paper

[@luisby5532]

That's easy tho

[@bxx3320]

@D F oh yeah nahui

[@bxx3320]

@D F ok mama

[@Skemi]

that's actually pretty easy if you fold the paper the right way😅

[@Xlvempr]

best feeling of my life, was when i got my inofficial "graduation confirmation" to fold it and open beer with it until i couldn't do so any more

[@ahamuffin4747]

"Noisy activities banned on sundays" Nachbar: "I don't think so"

[@Gammelboy29]

I usually start my Sunday morning because my Russian Gopnik neighbor turns up his music at 10am to a lever where it sounds like the music comes from my own speakers...

[@piccadelly9360]

@@Gammelboy29 Too much sleep is just as harmful as too little sleep, you have to be glad that your neighbor is taking care of your health

[@Gammelboy29]

@@piccadelly9360 How do you know how long I sleep?

[@piccadelly9360]

@@Gammelboy29 It was just a joke

[@AB-qc6pf]

Oh yeah , we are champions at inventing ways to open beers

[@kopra1294]

My favorite way is the one with the Zollstock (folding ruler)

[@Yakuzaka1412]

we can open a beer with a sheet paper, beat that.

[@victoranre709]

You should visit Mexico, you will be surprised!

[@triffnix]

one of my friends opens his beers with his eyes (or something in that area)

[@___Steinn___]

In a TV show, years ago, someone did it with a forklift.

[@adamabele785]

What does a German if he runs out of cheese on Sunday? People just know that there is Sunday once a week, so they check for the things they need the day before. Most Germans go grocery shopping once a week and for the rest of the week, they just buy the fresh stuff like bread, meat and milk.

[@igraineohnefurcht621]

If you are german and you run out of something at sundays you go to the next Tankstelle. Most gas stations have survival kits like toilet paper, cheese, cookies, powder coffee, beer and some bakery stuff.

[@embe_3]

he goes grocerie shopping every Saturday and buys stuff for sunday too

[@karlmall]

@@igraineohnefurcht621 - And in Köln we have the "Büdchen", kiosks, where you can buy most even on sunday at 10 p.m. And as far as I know, Berlin also has those "Spätis", small shops, were you also can buy stuff when other shops are closed.

[@tippipy]

The supermarkets at the main train station like the München Hauptbahnhof open on Sunday.

[@AnoNymInvestor]

Adam Abele thats true. We buy only fresh things if necessary. Other things like cheese (vacuum sealed) can stay in the fridge at least one month. Vacuum sealed raw meat changes color after around one week in the fridge and does not smell or taste much different after two weeks.

[@mikael1748]

I opened a bottle of beer in australia with a fork, when my host couldnt find an opener. He was so confused, but also fascinated.

[@klaasdeboer8106]

Opening beerbottles with other beerbottles is aalso no problem, for the last one you have to put the tap back on a bottle........

[@zicolongo]

It took me about 3 months in Germany to learn that skill

[@Flitzpiepe830]

@@klaasdeboer8106 you can open it even with an empty bottle, it can be a little tricky but works

[@yuki_foxsoul8425]

I (german) open them sometimes with just a sheet of paper. If you fold it several times so that it is a thick strip and then fold it again in the middle, you can use it and a little force to open a beer bottle.

[@rudigerludwig9398]

Some People use their teeth.

[@fcsp8472]

The irony when a brit makes jokes about failing at the world cup lol...

[@wandilismus8726]

Its their way of living with the Wembley Fake goal 😉

[@lotharschepers2240]

Please be nice to them, the last and only time that the three lions did get any silverware was 1966, so maybe Rachel's father was not born that days. In contrast, the DFB has this 2 decades loop for the World Cup (54,74, 90,14) and if the time between did get a bit boring our team picks up a European Cup like a snack on the way. Additianly we have hosted two World and one European Cup since 1966 and England did only hosted one European Cup in that time frame. On top of that, the three lions did miss a few tournaments because they did not make it to the cut as the DFB did only miss tournaments because of financial reasons (WM 1932) or political (WM 1950) and with the exception of 2018 we always make it to the knock out stages (no other national team played more semi-finals as the DFB team), the Brits did heavily love that sport and spend much more money for it than we do, they never got something back and than they look across the north sea and become frustrated. So if we Germans did make such a shameful appearance as we have done in Russia, they have to pick up that one in a lifetime chance to poke fun on us.

[@lotharschepers2240]

@@wandilismus8726 Come on that was not their fault and if it had happened the other way around, like it did in South Africa, we would and did take the advantage also, if we look for someone to blame, look towards the referees.

[@jackkruese9929]

We got used to it and never expect to win anymore, it’s a bit sad. BUT we did score against Germany in 2010 which was dis allowed. ich bin mir sicher, dass du dich daran erinnern

[@erics7004]

As a brazilian, I can't remember what happened in 2014. MIB erase my memory back then...

[@bananalovinggirl9754]

I thought these things were normal everywhere

[@bananalovinggirl9754]

sensationell einfach irgendwo bewerben mit Lebenslauf, Schulabschluss und so

[@ReisReisReis34]

Ich habe meine Schule beendet, möchte aber als LKW-Fahrer kommen. Ich habe dort einen Bekannten, der mich in meiner eigenen Firma führen möchte

[@bananalovinggirl9754]

sensationell Dann muss der dich einfach einstellen offiziell und dann bist du automatisch versichert und kriegst dein Geld

[@evilstermegaman]

@@ReisReisReis34 du brauchst natürlich auch eine Arbeitserlaubnis... Wie das läuft, lässt sich googeln, oder man informiert sich beim entsprechenden Amt.

[@sikrijo]

As a finn I thought the same for all but number 5. As we usually pay by round or just our own order the counting doesn't happen. Also 6 to some extent is odd for me. It used to be somewhat similar over here, but not anymore.

[@tommygunmitvierm724]

Do Americans actually wear theyr shoes indoors?

[@CEpagan96]

Tommygun mit vier m yes lol

[@zlognorpbrimbio4252]

Yes.

[@Toremneon]

What's wrong with you, there are so many cute Hausschuhe for you to choose from, I wear Dinosaour paws houseshoes at this very moment and I could not be happier!

[@zlognorpbrimbio4252]

@@Toremneon A ton of people here do wear them! In fact some folk even wear them to the supermarket. Also, lots of Americans walk around their houses barefoot.

[@rubenriosjr4915]

Tommygun mit vier m yes we do but we usually walk to the room or couch take them off and be barefoot

[@linko85]

Omg! I've be throwing glass bottles every Sunday as it's the only day when I have time to clean my house! It's illegal? *hides in a bush*

[@saralkoirala1355]

Call the cops... we found a criminal in here /s

[@curiousbit9228]

you are in trouble young man!!

[@elpaullos]

if you throwing glass bottles on a Sunday in germany we don't call the cops but maybe you will after we get you ;) :)

[@huntingteemo83]

@@elpaullos We can call the Ordnungsamt though!

[@walzerfuerniemand]

I did that once and the neighbor from the house on the other side of the street came to tell me it was forbidden and shouldn't throw bottles ever again on a Sunday

[@AndiBede]

Except for the Pfand (which I wish was implemented everywhere) and the Sunday noise ban, I think these are valid throughout Europe. I'm glad we restrained from drilling holes in walls on Sundays, I didn't know there was an actual ban, we just did it out of respect for our neighbors.

[@axel-adrienrobert1145]

Andi Bede Here it is the same in France and the Pfand has been used in France (called La Consigne) until the 60’s and the replacement of glass bottles by recyclable and compressible plastic bottles, it was then seen more efficient. Some Frenchmen wants to came back to the Consigne.

[@mimmiblu6138]

I do not know where you're from... But Italy is very different. 1. Double duvets are inimaginable here.... Probably it would increase divorce rates ;-) 2. Try and open a bottle of wine with a lighter... beer bottles are easy.... But I've learnt the German trick while living in Germany and impressed my friends :-) 3. Not many people would ask their visitors to take their shows off. Some do, but not many. 3. Beer mats? Normally we don't even have them. 4. Silent Sunday would be a joke here... we relax by gathering with our families... and we're loud. Yes we are! Pfand is a great idea... I wish it was implemented in the whole of Europe. But again sorting rubbish is not one of your strong points (unfortunately).

[@AndiBede]

@@mimmiblu6138 I'm from Romania and I've lived in a few countries (only in Europe so far). Of course there will be variations, as some of these are derived from specific cultures. Of course you will not have beer mats if you mostly drink wine, not beer. And of course you'll have loud gatherings on Sundays if you're Italian. At the same time, maybe the Italians in the North do like quiet Sundays. We should ask them instead of assuming...

[@mimmiblu6138]

@@AndiBede you should ask them instead of assuming?! This is funny!;-) I am from the North of Italy! My family has been Milanese for at least 4 generations.... so I am not assuming anything. I know we are different in some ways and there is absolutely nothing like a quiet Sunday here. Where I live supermarkets are open on Sunday, too.

[@AndiBede]

@@mimmiblu6138 great, good for you. I didn't assume where you are from, nor anything else about you. We are strangers. And we'll probably stay like that. Enjoy your noisy Sunday!

[@gunniguntherson751]

We invented the car and the bookprint, but they will always remeber us for opening a beer with a lighter😂

[@ForumcoldiArchon]

Which isnt even german as pretty much any country does this that has a beer culture.. like the UK

[@gunniguntherson751]

@@ForumcoldiArchon You know that we have the Reinheitsgebot and are one of the top beer drinking nations?

[@christiantrosdorff1061]

There are literally hundreds of ways of opening a beer bottle with a random object. Finding all kinda new ways is a German national sport btw.

[@hcl4395]

Really?

[@simplyzetax]

@@hcl4395 Not an official One, but sometimes for fun

[@DerBuat]

@@hcl4395 i have seen girls opening bottles with their nipples... you can do it with basically anything

[@tintenklexs7112]

@@DerBuat ...how?

[@DerBuat]

@@tintenklexs7112 good ol' twist n flick /watch?v=Ioi3t4t2S0Q have to admit its a screw cap.... i dont know what you call those

[@storm739]

When you make a living off of stashing your family's Pfandflaschen in your room, so you can return them on your own and make a profit

[@savantfool7123]

kleiner Pfandpirat

[@sirssspirchs]

@@savantfool7123 kleiner Pfandbanause

[@ruzzelladrian907]

I'd like to thank the Germans for Bauhaus.

[@arvedludwig3584]

The design or the hardware store?

[@peter_meyer]

@@arvedludwig3584 well, definately not the band. They where british.

[@shoulders-of-giants]

The hardware store?

[@paulfrankenreiter322]

You're welcome xD

[@lars_p.]

Bauhaus wenn‘s gut werden muss 💪🏼

[@Maxtherealone]

Under almost every video about germany i can find some US-americans posting negative things about germans. Whats wrong with you guys?

[@Plexpara]

they are pissed cause they did not invent stuff that Change everyone's Lifestyle worldwide.like the mp3 or the Airbag that safe thousends of lifes every year.

[@EclecticoIconoclasta]

They are indoctrinated from childhood onwards that the US is the greatest country in the world but are never given actual facts or statistics that support that. When they see another country actually being safer, more civilized, which has more social justice or with more productive workers they get into socio-political existential holes which they try to solve by things like saying that they won World War II

[@Maxtherealone]

@@EclecticoIconoclasta sometimes thats exactly what it seems like.

[@Maxtherealone]

And mostly thats exactly what they say...

[@MsJavaWolf]

@@Plexpara Many people think that anything tech related was developed by Google or even FB.

[@ellarama6787]

As a Swede, I recognized almost all of these. Really love Germany, hope to go back there soon.

[@TomasWilliams]

We don't wear shoes indoors in Canada either. Slippers, socks or barefoot. 😁

[@originalunoriginality147]

Sorry, Canada! you get looped in with America way too much. So much that Japan makes fun of it in Anime (Hetalia)

[@hornkraft9438]

Canada has more snow and slush than most parts of America. Americans remove their snow boots also. Usually we simply walk into our cars from heated garages and then walk into work where we walk on clean rugs. We simply don't walk anywhere outside, not even to school. Europeans live a different lifestyle.

[@eks46]

True. In Canada we need a collection of all kinds of houseshoes depending on the season. For half the year (that's our winter season) I wear fuzzy ballet slippers when it's mild out, say -10 C, fuzzy bunny ankle booties for -20C, and Norwegian sheepskin lined knee-high slippers when it's -40 Celsius and more. Tres chic. Saves on heating bills too.

[@graemestanley8513]

I really do not like people wearing shoes indoors. I am from Canada as well

[@nw4978]

You forgot to tell about "Rolladen" 😉

[@TeylaDex]

oh god yes. my boyfriend is dutch and they have HUGE windows, which i adore, but not even in the bedroom Rolladen. not any kind of Laden. but we'll get blinds now, at least for the bedroom, because I annoyed him enough in summer at 4am being awake ^^

[@HenryPiffpaff]

​@@TeylaDex How do these people even survive?? I never thought that Rollläden were not an international thing!

[@TeylaDex]

@@HenryPiffpaff i have no idea. it's a mess. but then they also survive what they call stairs.

[@HenryPiffpaff]

@@TeylaDex How do they differ?

[@Ultrajuiced]

Rollladen, with 3 Ls! Like Brennnessel with 3 ns. :D

[@Abcflc]

Berlin didn't get the memo for the silent Sunday...

[@friesewiese]

Thats because its barely German anymore :D

[@MattiBlume]

@@friesewiese It has never really been.

[@arctix4518]

@@MattiBlume Berlin was already the international hub of Germany, when electricity wasn't even introduced in Bavaria.

[@MattiBlume]

@@arctix4518 on paper yes. But culturally Berlin has always been distinctly different from the rest of the country. Which, to be clear, is a very good thing.

[@onetailedwhiteboy8206]

lol we germans also invented: adidas: aspirin, book printing, computer, helicopter, kindergarten (also a german word), record player, refrigerator, the telefon, television..

[@dl8cy]

The telephone was invented be Graham Bell! (nobody knows that Phillip Reis outside Germany :-) )

[@onetailedwhiteboy8206]

@@dl8cy he maked it suitable for the market but he not invented it

[@TheMiddlness]

First computer was british

[@TheMiddlness]

Also television is scottish

[@TheMiddlness]

And refrigerators are also not german

[@HeavyNoodle]

North Americans: *enter living room in nikes* Germany & East Asia: *exchange looks* *load riffles*

[@mausexx2459]

*coughs in Maschinenpistole 1940 language*

[@spacecolossus9562]

I think you missed § 323 c StGB. It's a law that makes it illegal not to help people that are in danger for their lives. Example: when there was an accident and the man is still in the car, unconsious and bleeding, it is illegal to just drive by and just du nothing. You can only make an exception when you risk your own life. You dont have to dive head first into a burning car because it would risk your life. Instead calling an ambulance and police is fine.

[@gaevlos1281]

- Once a couple of people have gathered to help you do not stop though because too many people stopping to help severly inhibits the traffic flow.

[@SpaRKyy-cg3nc]

its not about risking your own life, but rather harming yourself. If the action you have do to save someone could harm you in any way you are not obliged to help them.

[@piau1798]

The pfand system may seem great at first, but statistics have shown that with the implementation of it the people started buying more and more of those thin plastic bottles instead of the ones made out of harder plastic (or glass), which get refilled and therefore have a better ecological footprint than the thin ones, which get crushed and shredded after you brought them back. Also they aren't getting recycled to plastic bottles again but end up being shipped to other countries garbage incineration plants. Just a really small part gets recycled into a kind of plastic-fabric for cloths or something. Still better than nothing but I consider this system very ambivalent

[@pami333]

That's probably not because of the Einwegpfandsystem but a general trend that couldn't be changed even with this system. But less cans and bottles are thrown away outside and if still, there are people who collect them to get the Pfand. It still isn't far from being as good as intented. E.g. the paper that comes out of the Pfandautomat is not recyclable and is slightly toxic. Trying to avoid plastic waste in nature creates new waste this way. Plus the energy these Pfandautomaten and the connected transport systems need (and in many supermarkets they're never switched off, even over night or on sundays). To be really eco friendly, there's a lot to improve... But it was a good start non the less

[@konsueloramirez]

Every video of this series i see i am more convinced that germany is the place for me.

[@k.a.3519]

The Fußgängerzone is one of my favorite inventions in Germany

[@niki-yq1oo]

Other countries don't have that?!

[@k.a.3519]

@@niki-yq1oo There are similar things sometimes, but it's not standard.

[@niki-yq1oo]

@@k.a.3519 Okay interesting🤔 good to know😊

[@mardiffv.8775]

The Dutch have developed the Fußgängerzone too, but we added bicycles to get to the Fußgängerzone.

[@ksk_2606]

Irgendwie bin ich gerade voll Stolz auf uns! 😂

[@dustinmajo9897]

Waaaaait... Not everyone knows the "lighter - bottle - trick"?! It's THE skill you need to learn when you become adult!

[@aurializ3287]

Dustin Majo i just can‘t figure it out 😶

[@dustinmajo9897]

@@aurializ3287 I could show you how it works - but if you are really keen on learning it there are a few tutorials on KZbin I guess 😉

[@gaevlos1281]

Or the bottle - bottle trick

[@SpaRKyy-cg3nc]

@@aurializ3287 watch like one yt tutorial and then keep trying it. tough at first but once u get the hang of it its pretty easy

[@yannickh2571]

To be honest I never about it as a “trick“😂😂😂

[@mrsmalik5220]

Gekippt fenstern are a miracle. Why arent all windiws made they way! Secure and allow a little fresh air in as necessary!

[@TigruArdavi]

*Kippfenster* is fantastic at times, but in the winter to have the window tilted open all the time is a massive waste of energy and fosters mould growth above the window. In the winter you must turn to another very German thing: *Stoßlüften!*

[@franktechmaniac7488]

@Mrs Malik Americans claim having put a man on the moon 50 years ago but the construction of most private homes is still super primitive. Push windows and crappie door knobs ans locks.

[@tempest411]

@@franktechmaniac7488 Best is the enemy of good enough.

[@tempest411]

There are no screens on those windows. How do you keep all the bugs out?

[@mrsmalik5220]

We dont really have so many bugs... And we dont have them gekippt open all through winter, you just open it for maybe 20mins to let some ventilation and fresh air in, actually really efficent

[@burningSHADOW42]

Some of those points also count for Austria: 1, 2, 4, 6 For number 2 you forgot: Table edges, cutlery, rings, other bottles, paper, the hand, teeth and so on. For number 4 you forgot the Birkenstock! Never forget the Birkenstock! Best shoes for running around inside. Or outside if you fancy a bit of an alternative life style.

[@muffinbutton2873]

In Germany, I wanted to differentiate my bottle from a friends so I peeled the sticker of a coke off a bit and I was told that I shouldn’t have done that because then, they may not able to exchange it at their super market. I tried putting it back on. Also, the house I went to, i was surprised because they didn’t do the slipper thing. It was like my house, where we basically avoided wearing shoes beyond the entrance area. I wore my socks the whole time like my friend.

[@RahelE.Photography]

The mashin won't be able to recognise your bottle without the sticker, yes but you can still try to give it back at the cash register.

[@muffinbutton2873]

@@RahelE.Photography That's what they told me.

[@muellerhans]

They have to accept the bottle even if the sticker is damaged; at least as long as the product is identifyable by a human. www.verbraucherzentrale.de/wissen/umwelt-haushalt/abfall/fragen-und-antworten-zum-einwegpfand-dosenpfand-11505

[@ellealine4159]

Muffin Button yeah not all german households do the slipper thing. We just don't wear our outdoor shoes indoors. I go nuts when i visit my grandparents and they run around in the house with their shoes on.

[@TigruArdavi]

it's fine to peel of a part, as long as the barcode is readable

[@TienMahardika]

I love how they have peace n quiet on Sundays!

[@b0rtrax834]

in bavaria opening a bottle is possible with everything

[@user-en6vi7qy6h]

I think that's everywhere the same. Some even do it with the newspaper or so. It requires much knowledge about techniques, that's why older people can do it with nearly everything

[@anja6983]

@@user-en6vi7qy6h oh please... Older people ? I live in a small town in germany. On Schützenfest (Townfestival) you learn it with at least with 16. Girls or boys, no difference

[@user-en6vi7qy6h]

@@anja6983 i mean there are youths that can open it with many things, but I've never seen anyone open it with a newspaper or other weird stuff, except old people like my granddad

[@checkcommentsfirst3335]

Everything* (I guess because it’s positive? Pls correct if I’m wrong lol)

[@b0rtrax834]

@@checkcommentsfirst3335 oh damn... you right thanks

[@christiansrensen5958]

I remember the first time someone said, "can you work this sunday?" in Englisch, I put it in my leo to translate into German and my phone exploded.

[@dariamathes4852]

I would add "luften", or as we like to say in our house, lufting! This is the practice of airing all all rooms of your house or apartment for 5-10 minutes every morning, no matter the weather. I think it makes a world of difference in the quality of the air all year, lets the cool in in the hot months of the summer, and everyone seems the healthier for it!

[@BulgarianOrphanHelp]

I love that most stores close early in the evening in Germany. Aldi does that in the US as well and that keeps the prices low.

[@l.m.9458]

most of the time its only in bavaria or in smaller towns. i have some friends that live in the northern of germany and they said most of their supermarkets close at 10pm and i thought it was normal that every supermarket closes at 8pm just like in bavaria (except for example the supermarkets at the train station in bigger cities)

[@Blubsine]

@@l.m.9458 hm I'm not sure if that's true. Here they close pretty early too. At least at all the places I visited so far. And I'm not living in Bavaria

[@Maddie1402_]

I'm German and lived in Germany for my entire life. I was about 16 when I first heard that other countries open their grocery stores and everything on Sundays as if it were a normal week day and it still amazes me

[@cbwilson2398]

I lived the bottle return for a deposit and the quiet Sunday (shops closed) experience in the US (over fifty years ago), and I appreciate that the Germans continue to see the value in these practices and of enforcing them.

[@Glickse]

Rachel, we need more of your videos. I feel like watching my old TV shows reruns...

[@LePoseidon]

My German friends taught me how to open beers with paper.

[@rodrigofernandez9800]

I was taught how to do it with your teeth in Mexico

[@marshal1808]

I love Germany, also love DW. All the best.

[@nataliemunoz8600]

When I was living in Germany for 3 months, one of the things that was difficult to me was that everything was closed on Sundays. Here in Chile everthing is open, since is the day many people go to the mall for shoping and entertainment, also to supermarket. I had to got used to. And the thing I liked it the most, was your recicling system.

[@nayyararmani]

The best part is peace and quiet on Sundays,it's same in Brussels.

[@cutez0r]

Respect for the Haribo travel pack. A must-have on any trip.

[@danielspaethjr.1235]

1:45 I found my way around that with a lighter in junior high but I live in Chicago. Didn't know that was a German thing.

[@etransform]

I find your videos a lot of fun. Having grown up in England, married a German, and living in San Francisco, I can really relate to your series. Keep it up! Thanks!

[@lokmanmerican6889]

What a delightful series of videos!

[@Freshflexer]

You missed one of the inventions, we are the most proud of it: the car, or Das Auto

[@chrisrudolf9839]

I'm pretty sure the first automobile was british, although that was still a steampowered one. What is German invention though is the combustion engine.

[@juliuskaruso]

@@chrisrudolf9839 no

[@chrisrudolf9839]

@@juliuskaruso What an eloquent and detailed answer, care to elaborate? Nevermind, I'll do the corrections myself. Germans neither invented the first ever automobile nor the first ever combustion engine. The first ever documented steampowered automobile that wasn't bound to rails and can therefore be considered a car was constructed by the French Nicholas Cugnot in 1769. One of the first usable Combustion engines was also invented by a Frenchman (Etienne Lenoir), but the concept was improved by the German Nikolaus August Otto in 1862, who invented the Otto motor, which has been the basis of all modern fuel-powered car engines. Also, the German Carl Benz invented the first automobile with a combustion engine that went into serial production (the Benz Patent Motorwagen Nr. 1) in 1886.

[@juliuskaruso]

@@chrisrudolf9839 Carl Benz invented the first car

[@gluteusmaximus1657]

Das Auto. Das Motorrad. Das Fahrrad.

[@Saquib91]

We open our shoes at the door in Canada, too🙃

[@Everfrost1000]

Some people in the US do it, some people don't

[@arnoldhau1]

Well I guess its also something about ice, snow and the gravel used on the roads in winter. You dont want to bring that inside your house. So maybe its seen as less of an issue in southern countries.

[@user-bg7ef4ns4v]

Open? Well... if that’s enough :P

[@NazirahAshari]

I need more of this series!!!!

[@Randulaith]

Good old sunday calmness. Love it

[@Nuki1404]

😱 Of course we have double duvets! Just imagine, your partner ate some onion pie and farts all night. Then you're lying in his gases. And he doesn't want to have my cold feet on his body. So win win

[@macareuxmoine]

Janina absolutely yes. Plus: how do I sleep if I am not totally wrapped in my blanket with one side tucked inbetween my legs? Impossible... duvets are literally the only thing I am a total nationalist about 🤪

[@helengreen9507]

How can you even survive with only one duvet?

[@TheWarriorLP16]

1:59 You can also try it with a simple spoon or with your (clean) shoe. That's what you really learn in university😂😂😂

[@trkg7356]

oder mit nem kronkorken, und wenn du wirklich gut bist dann mit nem 1 cent Stück ;)

[@user-bg7ef4ns4v]

If you’re somewhere indoors you’ll always find something. There are endless possibilities

[@originalunoriginality147]

Paper

[@anonymus9301]

Und wenn du cool bist dann mit den Zähnen

[@oki4309]

Morpheus Nah, macht nur die Zähne kaputt. Gibt überall Zeug mit dem man Bier öffnen kann, da ist es unnötig seine Zähne zu benutzen.

[@bildfluss]

I usually love the silent Sundays but in the last four weeks every day felt a little bit Sundayish. Thanks corona!

[@glittermoon162]

tf?? I thought every shop is closed lmao that's normal for me. (to be fair I live in Germany, I just kinda thought it'd be like that everywhere)

[@leondrews1]

My favourite german Lifehack: Arriving at the destination in time by using the Autobahn without speedlimit 😁

[@RodrigoRojasMoraleda]

I drive daily on the A's, unfortunately, "arriving on time" and "no speed limit" are concepts that are becoming more and more rare every day.

[@ThamiorSilberdrache]

Apart from having a speed limit at around 65% on all of german Autobahn, not having a speed limit is NOT a way to be faster at your goal. At least not on days with some traffic. Cars driving on different speeds vastly increases the risk of traffic jams. On days with so called "Blitzermarathon" where the police is actively controlling the speed limits on all Autobahns that have one and therefore making almost all cars driving the same speed are actually the days with the least traffic jams. So if you want people to arrive on time, install speedlimits.

[@leondrews1]

@@ThamiorSilberdrache Driving 130 or 120 feels to me exactly like a traffic jam. So no benefits from speedlimits.

[@ThamiorSilberdrache]

@@leondrews1 "Feels like a traffic jam" is only a feeling. Having an actual traffic jam is something quite different. If you can't tell the difference between 130 kmh and 0.5 kmh you should probably rather ride a bicycle.

[@Martijn196]

3:16 five bear for 8 Euro. You have to show me that place!

[@MP-bu8ob]

1,50€ for a beer is not uncommon in many student bars

[@InspektorDreyfus]

Why are germans so confused with beer and bear?? I mean it is exactly pronounced Bier and Bär. Nothing to mix up here.

[@Martijn196]

@@InspektorDreyfus I don't know about the germans but in dutch "beer" is spelled like the drink when it actually means bear.

[@InspektorDreyfus]

@@Martijn196 Now everything makes sense. The Dutch must have taken over Germany long time ago. OMG 😮

[@mudza92]

@@InspektorDreyfus one is a dring, the other is a type of animal. No confusion, just distinction

[@bundiboo]

Great video Rachael. I'm from Australia & have changed to the two duvets which we at first thought was unromantic and strange. Since changing, it is SO much better with uninterrupted sleep - like you said, never going back.... and the lighter trick was taught to me by my German cousin - love using this trick in Australia....Then there is the bottle refund system which Australia has just introduced - and we can even return them on Sundays.....But my favourite is the drink coaster payment system - sadly we are yet to adopt this in Australia. Oh well, it just means I'll have to make another trip to Germany to enjoy it again....

[@tracydunbar6895]

In Hannover Mainstation there is a Supermarket and a few other shops that are also opened on Sundays and Bank Holidays. You buy stuff there once or twice, and you'll never forget to do your shopping on Saturday.

[@Castle6064]

If you think 2 single quilts on a double bed is good, then try 2 double quilts, you will never want to get out of bed: Thanks Dland for teaching me that one but with an Irish twist

[@peter_meyer]

As a german, i must admit that this is a good idea. It's 2 quilts though. You know what they say: size doesn't matter.

[@Castle6064]

@@peter_meyer As a big Irish guy I see your point but I have to say in the middle of a cold night size can matter :)

[@peter_meyer]

@@Castle6064, being 6ft 2in myself, i know what you're talking about. I have 2 (standard german) quilts for myself... and i wont give it away.

[@girlytomboy4707]

Wait i thought shops being closed on sundays are an international thing

[@andrewjones575]

It varies a lot by country. In the UK, some shops, including supermarkets, are open.

[@beb9632]

Came for the life hacks stayed for the bassline.

[@mehmetedex]

I can watch this series nonstop if I had any time

[@GoogleUser-dwcy]

Having only one blanket for a double bed is just unacceptable, that's why we always bring one extra blanket when we go on holidays.

[@blahblahminister]

A special national skill for opening bottles? A what?! Have you ever been to a Slav country? Everyone, including babies, have this SPECIAL skill. LoL

[@surreal6055]

you ever opened a bottle with paper

[@tobit8047]

@@surreal6055 yes

[@tobit8047]

@@surreal6055 and yesterday with a ski

[@hansluderer3493]

we Germans don't think it's special and we don't claim it for ourself. Also feel free to join us for a beer.

[@blahblahminister]

@@hansluderer3493 Thanks for the invitation =)

[@stebarg]

1:45 we’re unbeatable in the art of bottle opening❣️😃👍🏽😂💪🏼 As a German grandmaster of bottle opening, you can do it with you eye lid 😉

[@BloodyMuppet]

This is what I needed

[@rayvven6646]

Theres No way Americany only open beers with an opener

[@Alex-uh7vz]

I don't think you're banned from being noisy on Sundays, it's just polite to be quiet, especially around noon (nap time ;) )

[@Morellas4]

No, it's a ban - for sure. Actually you can call the police for "disturbing the peace" if someone get's too loud (handling machines, making music etc.).

[@Alex-uh7vz]

@@Morellas4 Yeah, but you can always do that if the noise reaches a certain point. And often the police won't do anything, because hhey want you to peacefully coexist and not fight

[@timmaximilian9286]

fluffy alex on sunday the same rules as nighttime apply, so yoi can make noise, but if you are too ooud, you can call for the police

[@2thaHouse30]

As an American living in Hamburg and as much as I love calling Germany my home now - I really really miss 24-7 stores like Wal-Mart and 7-Eleven convenient shops. Even being able to grab food at 2am if you’re having a late night out or staying up late for whatever reason. But it’s a small sacrifice - as I recall now that I had to do many house tasks on Sundays due to working so much where as in Germany Ruhetag (quiet day) is a day for peace and quiet and family time gathering for food in the garden :) I’m loving the work/life balance!

[@Pepepipipopo]

the silent sunday can be quite a culture shock for first timers, but eventually you grow fond of them.

[@fadfawawfawd895]

Wait?! Are we the only one with a quite Sunday? This really blew my mind!

[@chrisrudolf9839]

No, we aren't. That is pretty common in most European countries.

[@friendlyperson9841]

I learn in your videos so much about my own country.😁

[@firedragon2938]

I just want to say that you‘re making great videos and content. When it comes to the german people you always hear about bad cliches that aren‘t true. I really like your videos. Most of these things I see naturally and can‘t believe that others think that‘s some kind of special stuff 😂. Keep doing!

[@marc21091]

If you want to buy groceries on a Sunday, or Saturday evening, go to a (reasonably large) railway station where there will be a small supermarket and sometimes a bakery-delicatessen. The laws provide for travellers to be able to buy food when they are travelling, so the railways have long exploited this by leasing space to food shops which then attract business on Sundays. Petrol (gas) stations can sell food on Sundays as do services on autobahns. Airports too but they are a nuisance to drive to and park at, just to shop.... These rules apply in Austria and German-speaking Switzerland as well as in Germany.

[@jul7985]

What about cars? Or computers?

[@mardiffv.8775]

@@baden4ever The bicycle was invented by a German, called Von Drais, but that was a walking bike. So no pedals and chain. The British improved it to bike we know today, the Rover safety bicycle in 1888. Which is very popular in the Netherlands.

[@goloqp5896]

Ich habe keine lust Englisch zu schreiben. Wenn man am sonntag keinen käse mehr hat geht man zur tankstelle weil die 24/7 offen haben und meißten auch aufschnitt verkaufen

[@DaGuys470]

Oder man denkt am Samstag nochmal nach was man Sonntag braucht. Das sollte nicht allzu schwer sein.

[@DarkPsy]

Und dann 2 bis 10 mal so viel bezahlen. Das ist aber ganz und gar nicht effizient und damit völlig undeutsch.

[@timweber4318]

@@ScaniaMF und? Dann tankt man halt während der Öffnungszeiten.

[@Mohammed8778]

@@timweber4318 es geht um den vergessenen käse^^

[@timweber4318]

@@Mohammed8778 ja dann kauf halt den auch während der Öffnungszeiten xD Hab halt bei der Benachrichtigung davor nur das mit tanken gelesen.

[@whatever5922]

When i was in Germany over the summer, it was the Sunday Germany was playing vs Mexico and there were tons of people out and about in Berlin

[@hjander]

Wunderbar

[@finnjons3792]

It actually IS one of my favorite hobbys to find new ways to open a beer with something.

[@anja6983]

Thats what we do on sundays

[@ennabass]

Pfandflaschen for the win🥺👌🏻

[@fxopl6041]

The Bierdeckel is also called Säufersonne, make it shine!

[@benedettobruno1669]

3:42 "It's a tough one but sometimes you have to make sacrifices" Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah that cracked me up!

[@ennabass]

1:37 i literally thought that it’s normal to have two single duvets in a double bed...

[@originalunoriginality147]

no, no it is not. Very logical and useful, but not normal. But we just call it a comforter. Duvets are for fancy people............

[@herrdavidmann]

Germans invented: Modern Cars Rockets The first computer Printing The first electrical motor Jets Every chemical and drug you know Women in the video: Gummybears Hole punch Coffee filter

[@michaelgutler7807]

corona vaccine :)

[@sandradearias198]

I think a MUST to mention is the opening system of German windows. Most windows open to the inside of the house so you can clean them on both sides, even living in the upper floors. Not to mention "Kippfenster", not common at all in most other countries.

[@ronaldparry6147]

This made me really miss Germany, I lived there for six months last year on an exchange programme with uni. Honestly "pfandflaschen" became such a routine for me, I drink a lot of bottled water and ended up saving loads of bottles in a big IKEA bag to take back, and everyone does it, I had to queue up to return them. I also found out about the Sunday rule too late, I left my food shopping until the weekend only to find that everything was shut, my bad haha.

[@anamariagiorgadze2424]

In my country, it happens exactly the same way. We switch our Shoes. P. S. I am from Georgia (country).

[@misterTbombadil]

"What do you do on a Sunday if you run out of cheese?" - Thinking about what you need for the weekend and go Shopping on Saturday. Easy, isn´t it?

[@PortCharmers]

A great spin-off of the Pfandflaschen system is that if you take something TO the supermarket, you are automatically reminded to bring a bag , backpack, basket or whatever else you want to carry your stuff home in.

[@peterfromgw4615]

My son and I visited a sports bar in Berlin (not far from Alexanderplatz) and the tables there had individual beer dispensers at the table. Great idea if you are with a group who like to drink lots of beer but you don’t. Best wishes from Australia....

[@Madzchh]

U didnt mention the window, u can make them „on kipp“, so u dont need to open them fully

[@jwider96]

Das ist vermutlich das einzige das es so auch nicht im restlichen Europa denn das meist das genannt wurde ist jetzt nicht so außergewöhnlich oder typisch deutsch.

[@kvuut3593]

Wenn du schimmel willst, dann kannst du das so machen. Ansonsten empfehle ich Stoßlüften.

[@kawaiicat2424]

Titel "....German ..." German: "Wir übernehmen jetzt alles hier Ab in die Kommentare!!"

[@johnmacasinag3996]

I love this series. Is there a version of this for other countries like France, Italy or Belgium?

[@machiavellimadman]

Love the silent Sunday ✌️😎