What does my American Mom think of Germany? (Supermarkets, Autobahn, Kita, Gas, Playgrounds + More!)

My mom has been in Germany for a couple weeks & has experienced some culture shocks! In this video she gives her perspective and experience being in Germany with Willa!! Let us know what you think in the comments below! Be sure to give her some love for being such a support to our channel and sharing her thoughts with you!! :)
Our American Parents on the German Autobahn for the First Time + DAD DROVE! (record speeds!!) 🚙 • Our American Parents o...
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Lots of love,
Tanner, Risa + Willa

[@Far1988]

There's a good reason why most gas stations (edit: in Germany) don't have the "pay outside" systems implemented. Gas stations only make one or two cents per litre, so pumping gas isn't really how they earn money. Most of the money comes from selling snacks, drinks and all the other stuff in their little shop - so obviously they want you to enter the shop so that you might grab a snickers or coke before paying.

[@OliverMaor]

... and I wonder what gas stations in the U.S. are living from if they do not get the revenue from the shops, as hardly anyone will still enter the shop.

[@LLawliet182]

honestly that's just a "good reason" for the gas station itself, for the customer it's just inconvenient. I prefer the the way they do it in the US.

[@juanzulu1318]

@@LLawliet182 I also prefer a lot of convenient things. But this doesnt mean that those can always be provided.

[@reinholdwallner2264]

In Austria most gas stations do have outdoor card payment, several without any shop and sales person

[@bettstr1]

Wow, your mom is an incredible woman, seems so lovely and open-minded. And taking care of Willa in a different country, not knowing the language, is very impressive. 👸

[@OurStorytoTell]

We agree! She is a true gem! 💗

[@birdylove24]

@@OurStorytoTell I guess your whole family is a perfect match, you are adorable! 🥰 ✨❤️❤️❤️❤️✨

[@franhunne8929]

@@OurStorytoTell And she is brave! Not knowing the language, she still dared to face the (slight) possibility of having to encounter a Kinderarzt or the Polizei (not for something serious) or things like that. Situations in which you WANT to speak the language ...

[@gwynethglas-brown9171]

Your mum is truly Amazing ❤she took it full on , new strange country &Language Looking after willa ,but they Both had alot of Fun 😜 Its was really very interesting hearing your mum experience while over . Great video. Yes the price are going up so much 🤷‍♀️. Have a Good day. Take care 🥰

[@dajo1373]

@@franhunne8929 Most people in Germany speak English. Some better some worse. Police normally can speak English pretty well, in Germany are many foreigners who don't speak the language. And the police in general is much more friendly than in America.

[@KardoganLR]

In my childhood (80s) we kids go to the playground all by ourselfs. No adults everywhere. Or we go onto the fields or into the forest. Everything without an adult in our near. We have had lots of fun. Yes, we got hurt, sometimes badly, but we wouldn't miss it. The only rules we had: "Don't break anything" and "be home when it goes dark".

[@snpwr]

yep, even in the early/mid 90s... and not to be home after dark was okay if you called your parents from your friend's landline, "can I stay for dinner?" and then your friend's parents either walked you home or you had to make another call, "can I stay for sleepover?"

[@friddevonfrankenstein]

That plant is called Schlehendorn (Blackthorn) and the recipe the lady tried to give you was probably Schlehenmarmelade. They contain a wee bit of cyanide which is why you shouldn't binge on the raw berries but the cooking process gets rid of it ;)

[@chrisbaertl5708]

Better harvest after they saw the first frost. Cover them in Wodka, wait some months, add sugar and enjoy!

[@berndhoffmann7703]

omg when I saw them eating it, I was shocked and screamed it has to ne cooked! that was the important part!

[@dancelord0708]

@@berndhoffmann7703 When there was freesing, you can eat them.

[@JakobFischer60]

No, they do not contain cyanide. They have a lot of adstringent substances which make your tongue numb, but is is not toxic. But only after they got frost, the adstringent substances transform into sugar and they get sweet. Normally you would not make marmalade or juice from them. The most used form is liquor. For that, fill a bottle with the berries, give a lot of sugar on it, fill it up with alcohol like Schnaps, and let it stay inside the window for some weeks. Tastes great.

[@OurStorytoTell]

Enjoyed reading the comment thread on here! Thanks for sharing all the info you guys 😊 Next time… cook first! Luckily we only had a berry each & have lived to tell the tale 😂 BUT- lesson learned!

[@xehanotmelodic7696]

We have here in Germany a Law of responsibility, so that parents are responsible for their kids. That not only means you are to blame when your kids do shit, it also means that you can't sue someone if they hurt themself, because you are responsible for them not anyone else. That is why our kids can have such nice playgrounds.

[@OurStorytoTell]

Yes we agree completely! In the US everyone is sue-crazy!

[@klauskainzinger9978]

Spot on. Not like in the States and even here in Australia where every one sues others for their own stupidity/mistakes. No responsibility taken at all. I am convinced this pathetic attitude originated in the USA. Since suing is big money over there. That's also the main reason a lot of businesses/corporations and individuals get destroyed or are uneconomical to function. Because of huge insurance fees born out of this attitude of blaming every body/every thing else but not one selves stuff ups and then suing. Time to bring back common sense and own accountability.

[@Der_Kapitän]

@@OurStorytoTell Not to forget - all public playgrounds have to be inspected along with legal safety regulations by TÜV or similar organisations.

[@newasblue1981]

Having said that, I so appreciate American playgrounds shifting towards being ADA-accessible. Germany has a lot to learn in that department. But besides that the parks in Germany are lovely.

[@realulli]

@@newasblue1981 Umm... no. Playgrounds here are normally intrinsically wheelchair accessible (I guess that's what you mean by ADA-accessible), but the individual bits and pieces don't have to be. The various assemblies are supposed to pose a bit of a challenge to the kids and the parents are supposed to watch them (but are allowed to give them freedom to act on their own). If you make everything ADA-accessible, you're crippling the development of the other kids, we don't want that over here. And yes, a kid can get hurt, the parents just can't sue over it. But on the other hand, there are some really cool things on playgrounds (or at least, used to be... checking Google, yup, they still exist). Imagine a rope construction that allows the kid to climb up over 20 feet (maybe 25). If the kid falls, the ropes will break the fall, the kid will arrive at the bottom somewhat banged up, with some scrapes but broken bones are highly improbable. Better watch what you're doing next time! ;-) As kids, we loved these!

[@schoppi9300]

I laughed so much at how Tanner corrected Willa after the count and how cool he made it sound. You are a really likeable and cool couple and it is fascinating how you manage everything like KITA etc. in another country and that you have the courage to accept these offers. I always enjoy watching you and love your positive view of things, even if it is sometimes difficult. Happy first advent.

[@OurStorytoTell]

Happy first advent to you!! Thanks for your kind words! Truly means so much & yes, I think Tanner is becoming quite German 😂

[@knusperhirsch7056]

You've such a lovely mom 😄 great to have you and your family here in Germany!

[@OurStorytoTell]

Thanks so much for the warm comment!!

[@Thedane2023]

I cant help it - but i think Willa get more and more charming for every time i see one yer videos, and yer have a wonderful family.

[@OurStorytoTell]

Somehow she does in real life too! ☺️

[@dreasbn]

great video, cool mum.... the Ausfahrt issue reminded of a british collegue who came for the first time to Germany by car from the UK and told us that after crossing the Belgium German border near Aachen, and passing seveal Ausfahrt signs he thought: Wow Ausfahrt must be a really big big city :-)

[@OurStorytoTell]

Haha we love that story! 😂 Like wow there’s so many signs to Ausfahrt! 😂

[@starseed8087]

😂

[@revan5694]

As an Austrian, i find this funny too 😅

[@dreasbn]

@@revan5694 wobei ihr ja das nette Exit habt..... die Hollies haben UIT... auch nett..

[@vonderpikeauf]

🤣😂 @your mom - so cute. I am 40 and I had a lot of fun watching and listening her. Staying on her own and taking care of her grand child in a different country is kinda brave. Glad that she seems to like it, or I'd better say that she seemed to like it.

[@franz1102]

your mom is so cool, love her and Willa is a sunshine ❤

[@OurStorytoTell]

She is huh!? Thanks so much! 😊

[@franz1102]

we say "she is a sunshine" to very adorable persons, meaning warm and positive

[@pramaccra3106]

Your mom is full of energy and yes she is cute. I also think she was very honest about comparing somethings in Germany with the U.S. No cops at all or they are not in plain sight. How I wish people follow the rules where we are now in Accra. Those colorful mushrooms are exactly like the garden decorations I see in Italy and France. They are beautiful to look at. God’s wonderful creation.

[@OurStorytoTell]

Amen to that!! Thanks for the kind words! 😊

[@blotski]

I was interested in your mother's comments about playgrounds. I saw a while back a video on this very subject. I live in the UK and playgrounds are pretty much the same as in Germany. Apparently, the European perspective is that it's good for children's development to deal with 'risk assessment'. So some parts of playgrounds should be a little more adventurous and edgy balanced by soft 'flooring' for if/when they fall. What fascinated me was that research has shown that the rate of accidents in the 'safer' American playgrounds is actually slightly higher. The only explanation they can come up with is that European kids learn to assess risks and take care whereas American kids tend to be more reckless because they feel safer. Also learning to cope with risk through play makes children more confident and less anxious in general.

[@OurStorytoTell]

We completely agree with you here! We are happy we live in Europe so we can see the differences and be around “higher risk” playgrounds!

[@peterrobinson2306]

That's the first time I've seen your videos and I enjoyed it. To see Americans in Europe is like watching a caged animal let outside for the first time. Loved ya mum and Willa is a star and gorgeous. Go you three and enjoy your life, it makes for fascinating viewing, thanks.

[@gowest19]

Hi and a nice 1 Advent.The little berrys are calld"Schleen", in my region we make liqour from them.First they got frozen in nature then we pickt it up and put it in a bottle,fill it up whit some hart liqour and let it rest for 2 month.

[@OurStorytoTell]

So cool! Happy 1 Advent to you guys 😊

[@thejumper7282]

I just realized that it must be so awesome when your kid is old enough to start talking and you can actually have a conversation. Shit i think i want a baby now.

[@davdav3945]

😊😘

[@stampcollector74]

I like this Mum and/or Dad vids from expats. Always fun to watch - thx for sharing! ♥

[@OurStorytoTell]

Thanks for watching! So happy you enjoyed it! 😊

[@stampcollector74]

@@OurStorytoTell Family! ♥

[@robertzander9723]

I wish you a nice first Advent, thank you for the very exciting video. Your mom is really great, great respect for what she did there, that's real love. But she also has a certain life experience and knows how to help herself. I'm really happy when she's having a good time too and Willa seems to be having a lot of fun too. Nice to hear that she likes the kindergarten and that she likes to spend time there, she also seems to be very uncomplicated, at least I have the feeling. For the search for mushrooms you should know your way around or have someone with you who does that. Some mushrooms are very poisonous. In Germany, especially in the more rural regions, always keep in mind that not every German understands or speaks English or another foreign language there.

[@OurStorytoTell]

Such a kind comment about Mom, thank you! 😊 Great tips and info. We don’t mess with the mushrooms for this reason. And happy first advent to you! 😊

[@nele.o]

I think the berries you've tried are called "Schlehen". They need to freeze before you can eat them...if not your tongue gets numb.😅

[@OurStorytoTell]

Hahaha yeah it did for a moment 😂

[@roesi1985]

Oh, you found Schlehen (buckthorn)! My dad used to pick them when I was little and mom made jam from them. Just wait until after the first freeze before picking them; they get sweeter with the cold.

[@OurStorytoTell]

Great tip!! 😋 Thanks!

[@HotelPapa100]

Mushrooms aren't limited to fall. Some of the best (morels) come out in spring. Ceps (porcini, boletes) can be found all through summer and fall. The winter has Wood ears, enoki, pleurotus. The berries you treid are called Schlehen, they are actually the wild form of Plums. They are less adstringent after having frozen once. But you have to quick then, because the birds know that as well. They ARE very sour; you have to add quite a lot of sugar to make them palatable. The German name is related to jelly.

[@sakutaro3musik486]

it´s always fun to see others perspective and your mom is so cute ^-^

[@OurStorytoTell]

Awww thanks for being so kind! She is!! ☺️

[@jjivy6310]

Love hearing the American mom's perspective. I really enjoyed coffee in Germany. Thanks for sharing ❤️

[@OurStorytoTell]

It was fun to get her involved and share! Happy you enjoyed it 😊

[@hartmutgrieb3289]

I love the very bright and patient young one.

[@OurStorytoTell]

She’s so fun!

[@darklady6987]

thanx for another nice video, your mom did a great job and Willa always make me smile.

[@OurStorytoTell]

Thanks for the kind comment! 💗

[@TheTheRedWolf]

Those are Schlehen, Blackthorn i guess. You harvest them after they froze over the first time. It sweetens them. You can make a nice liquor from those

[@OurStorytoTell]

That’s so cool! Sounds like you have done that?

[@margreetanceaux3906]

My (the Netherlands) on the gas station: the waft of coffee and sausage rolls, the sight of chips, drop and ice cream - while you’re waiting in line at the cashier, the snacks sell themselves…

[@OurStorytoTell]

It’s hard to pass them up! 😋

[@JustinBrehm]

Another great video and Willa is always so funny

[@OurStorytoTell]

Happy you enjoyed it! 😊 And yes she is!

[@CabinFever52]

I went grocery shopping in Nürnberg with a friend from Germany (we were visiting them from Austria) and I thought it was so so great to be able to sit down at a counter at the meat section and have a steak cooked for us to eat right there. Delicious! Was a really cute video you posted---enjoyed it!

[@OurStorytoTell]

Thanks for watching! We love to hear you enjoyed it. And that’s really cool you could have a steak cooked for you in the grocery store! We didn’t even know that was possible! 👏

[@grmpflz]

What a sympatical family, I love to watch all of your videos. And your mom is great! The berries might be from a Schlehe (Prunus spinosa), and they get a little bit sweeter after they got their first frost. But there are some other blue berries, that are poisonous, so be careful you got the right ones from the bushes.

[@OurStorytoTell]

Thanks so much Tom! Yes, it’s true! We do need be careful!

[@sandilib]

Your Mum is so cute 😍 and the Berries might be Schlehen

[@OurStorytoTell]

Aww thanks! She is a gem! 😊

[@Rick2010100]

Tip: Never pick up champignons who grow under or near oaks, they are no champignons they are death cap mushrooms. Same for champignons who have a green touch, they are also a sort of death cap mushrooms. The death cap mushrooms form a synthesis with the oaks, therfore you find them under oaks. The mushrooms on a field/meadow without a oak are all eatable champignons. The little blue berries are perfect for a liqueur (Schleenlikör) put them in a bottle with Schnaps and candid sugar for a year. Than you get the perfect liqueur for the next Christmas. If you let it rest for 2-3 years, you get a world class liqueur.

[@OurStorytoTell]

Wow we are very impressed with how much you know! Thanks for sharing! 😊

[@Rick2010100]

@@OurStorytoTell Mother nature provides you a lot of delicious gifts, you often just have to pick them up.

[@herrh4281]

EINS, ZWEI, DREI, VIER, FÜNF, SIEBEN...... 😊 So wundervoll. Dieses Lachen hab ich heute gebraucht 🥰 Ich danke euch

[@fordgalaxie3726]

You are a family with sunshine in your eyes and in your hearts. Love to watch you guys. I´m a grim German filled with German Angst, so just the opposite.

[@OurStorytoTell]

Aww thanks so much Ford! It means a lot that you watch!

[@anastasiacaldera4147]

We are in Graf and I only pick 4 types of mushrooms that I’m confident in. You can start finding mushrooms here as early as July.

[@miamorg2352]

I think the very is "shlehdorn" you should put it in the freezer, so it can be digested better 🥰 then make Marmelade or Juice ect. It's a kind of Prune.

[@indiramichaelahealey5156]

Your mom seems to be very nice. I know now where you got your beautiful smile from.

[@OurStorytoTell]

Aww thank you 💗 Yes she is!

[@helloweener2007]

Yes, Schneebeere is not right. Schneebeeren are white and you can't eat them. Another name is Knallerbse. It is actually a plant native to North America. (common snowbeerry) The blue fruits looks like Schlehenbeeren / Schlehenfrüchte. The plant is called Schlehe or Schlehdorn.

[@yt-viewerfromger320]

Und ja, man kann Schlehen Gelee oder Schlehen Saft aus den Früchten machen. Tanner hat eine Ähnlichkeit zu Pflaumen bemerkt. Soweit ich weiß sind Schlehen und Pflaumen verwandt. Willa war ganz schön mutig eine Schlehe zu probieren, denn die sind ganz schön bitter solange sie noch keinen Frost abbekommen haben. Da Tanner auch eine gewisse Süße festgestellt hatte müssen sie wohl schon reif gewesen sein. Man kann auch einen "Aufgesetzten" aus Schlehen machen, auch dafür müssen die Schlehen schonmal durchgefroren sein. Das kann man aber auch im Gefrierschrank machen, falls die Schlehen am Strauch noch keinen Frost abbekommen hatten. "Aufgesetzter" bedeutet: ca. 200g Schlehen mit einer Flasche Korn, Wodka oder Rum "aufsetzen", also in ein passendes, verschließbares Gefäß einfüllen und ca. 6 Wochen im dunklen Keller durchziehen lassen. Dann hat der Alkohol die Inhaltsstoffe incl. der intensiven roten Farbe aus den Schlehen gelöst und man kann diesen Schlehenschnaps trinken. Wer den puren Schlehen Geschmack nicht mag der kann zusammen mit den Schlehen oder auch erst nach dem Herausnehmen der Früchte ein wenig Zucker zusetzen. Auch div. Gewürze passen gut zu den Schlehen zB. Zimtstange oder Sternanis etc. Allerdings sind diese Angaben für Tanner und Risa wohl nicht sehr hilfreich, ich glaube beide trinken keinerlei alkoholische Getränke. Und dabei sollen sie auch ruhig bleiben, auch um Willa immer ein gutes Beispiel zu geben..!

[@OurStorytoTell]

Thanks for the info! We are learning a lot in the comments 👍

[@connycatlady7429]

A nice video again. Lovely to see your mum. I'm happy she had a great time here. Her storys about her life here are just sympatical. She's really great. I'm curiuos: did you get Willa a adventscalendar ? I hope so. I'm sure she'll love it. Have a nice and cosy first advent .

[@OurStorytoTell]

Thank you so much! She is a gem! & ph you know we did get her one! This time of the year is so magical with her 💗

[@connycatlady7429]

@@OurStorytoTell 🥰

[@schoppi9300]

@@OurStorytoTell And don't forget St. Nicholas Day! So on the night of 5 to 6 December, put a boot outside the door and a cabbage leaf or a slice of brown bread for St. Nicholas' donkey :-) But Willa has to do it herself. On our island, St. Nicholas does not come on 5 December, but Klaasohm.

[@connycatlady7429]

@@schoppi9300 Yes, that's a good tipp. I don't know about the cabbage. But the boot has to be clean. And my kids found some schoclate, a little toy and a mandarine there.

[@YY-yn6tq]

When talking about Ausfahrt it reminds me of my story about Notarzt. When I first come to Germany I haven't learned much of German but managed to know that Arzt means doctor, but then one day I was in the street and saw a car written notarzt and I asked my German friend why dose this car has to claim it's not a doctor and my friend laughs so hard 😅

[@OurStorytoTell]

Haha I’ll love that! 😂

[@BJHolloway1]

Re filling up in Germany there are actually some stations where you can drive in and out without actually presenting a credit card. You download the app and fill in your payment details - drive in, fill up and out.

[@OurStorytoTell]

Ah cool! We haven’t came across one but maybe they’ll gain more popularity?

[@jassidoe]

Thanks for the new perspective and your mom is really courageous. Doing all this in a country where you don't speak the language, wow. So glad she had a good time anyways. And I hope you gave her some Elisen Lebkuchen in Nürnberg. Expensive, yes, but soooooo good. And you can only find them in the region. The really good ones anyway. About the mushrooms: some are very poisonous, so please be very careful. But there are people you can show the mushrooms you picked and they will select only the edible ones. There is a "Pilzberatungsstelle" in Weiden, I think. Might be worth a look. Thanks a lot for the nice video 😄

[@OurStorytoTell]

Thanks so much for your kind comment & great tips!! We should have given her that Lebkuchen but didn’t actually know you can only get them in the area! 😬 Thanks for letting us know!

[@connycatlady7429]

@@OurStorytoTell You have the best company for Lebkuchen there. Just right where you had your coffee. Lebkuchen Schmidt. We order from them. 🥰

[@jassidoe]

@@OurStorytoTell There is Lebkuchen everywhere, but conny Catlady said it. They are the best. And it doesn't taste like the gingerbread you find in a supermarket. It's very nutty and you feel full after eating about half of one. You can really tell that Nürnberg is an old trading hub, because there are so many different spices from all over in these Lebkuchen. Really worth a try :)

[@connycatlady7429]

@@jassidoe Yes, from that company you really taste the quality.

[@yabbadabbadoo8225]

Good to see the forests finally growing back. The US raised the entire German forest until 1956 while we rebuilt the cities from $$$ imported soft woods.

[@juwe76]

I know some stations that also work pre-paid with credit card, but they are still quite rare here in Germany.

[@supernova19805]

My parents were very knowledgeable about mushrooms. As a kid in Germany, I remember going into the woods with them and picking mushrooms by the bagful. You really have to know what you're doing, which mushrooms are edible and which ones are poisonous. The bright red one with the white dots is poisonous (Fliegenpilz), so stay away from them. My favorite were Pfifferlinge (Chanterelles), and they are divine. Best tasting mushroom by far, in my opinion. We often found Steinpilze, which I believe are called porcini mushrooms in the States and the champignons, which are the little white button mushrooms, you see all over the grocery stores in the States. If you find a spot where the Pfifferlinge grow, do not tell anyone. Look for certain types of trees they like to grow near, so you can find them. Let it be your secret spot, otherwise they will be picked over by others. They are hard to get here in the U.S. because they are not grown on mushroom farms, only in the wild and I believe they only grow in North Eastern regions, and the Pacific Northwest.

[@OurStorytoTell]

That is so cool you used to do this! 👏 Thanks for sharing! We stay away from them other than looking because we just don’t know enough.

[@darkiee69]

@@OurStorytoTell You could probably find some good books about mushrooms in the bookstore.

[@CavHDeu]

When you're near horse stables, pastures or grasslands you can find the 10-50cm big white giant puffballs (Riesenbovist) which you can cut and fry like a Schnitzel. But never eat it raw then it is toxic.

[@Chemnitz7erKanal]

Thank you for sharing

[@OurStorytoTell]

Thanks for watching!

[@nikomangelmann6054]

you have to wait until the first frost to get rid of the strange feeling on the tongue. the frost makes the berry edibil but usualy you dont eat thouse raw.

[@darkiee69]

Or just throw them in the freezer for a day or two. It has the same effect.

[@starseed8087]

Your mother is really cool, very personable. I would also like to be able to pay by card directly at the gas pump at more gas stations. Going in and waiting annoys me. But I guess they want to earn more with shop sales

[@OurStorytoTell]

She really is! And yeah we had never thought of that, but it makes sense! The convenience is nice to not have to go in for sure though!

[@fiesbert5677]

@13:19 And the prices include paid sick days, minimal paid vacation of 25 days (+festive days), health insurance and unemployment insurance

[@achimschroter8046]

" i found a leaf " was the best part 😅

[@OurStorytoTell]

Lol love it 😂

[@monza1002000]

It was the "puuurple" that got me! LOL

[@inawilms5186]

You are such a nice family and I enjoyed watching. The little berries are called Schlehen (blackthorn) in this part of the country (NRW). They need frost at least once to taste really good. My mother used to make Likör (liquer) out of it, with rum and sugar. After several weeks it tasted really good.

[@michaelgrabner8977]

No need for Stop signs because there is a basic traffic rule for unregulated intersections = the one coming from the right site has always the right of way. "regulated intersections" have either traffic signs for "having right of way = basically the road you are in is signed as priority road" or for "have to give right of way = basically crossing a priority road" or is regulated with a traffic light...besides of having lots of roundabouts as well.

[@RealConstructor]

And Germans need to learn how to drive and have to pass an exam before you get your license. This to the contrary of Americans who get a drivers license (I’m gonna be polite) very very easy. They hardly know any traffic rules (and hardly know any boundaries or responsibilities) when they are 16 !! and can drive a potential killing machine.

[@derGlasdrache]

10:20 Those are probably "Schlehen" 😀 "Der Schlehdorn (Prunus spinosa), auch Schlehendorn, (Gemeine) Schlehe, Sauerpflaume, Heckendorn, Schwarzdorn oder Deutsche Akazie genannt, ist eine Pflanzenart aus der Gattung Prunus, die zur Tribus der Steinobstgewächse (Amygdaleae) innerhalb der Familie der Rosengewächse (Rosaceae) gehört." (Wikipedia)

[@theMilo1223]

Your mom stayed with Willa on her own in a foreign country during your entire cruise? She is damn brave. Willa accepted this shift easily, givng she does not see grandma on a daily basis? Asking cause we plan exactly the same next year only cruise => ski ;)

[@OurStorytoTell]

Yes she did & you’re right about them both! Brave & happy to be with grandma 💗 A skiing trip would be so fun!

[@dinsch]

Thumps up for mum!

[@OurStorytoTell]

Love it!! Thank you 😊💗

[@cleancoder3838]

There ARE some so called "Nachttankstellen" (Night gas stations) where after e.g. 8 PM you need to put in first your EC (electronic cash)/Debit card (foreign credit card probably won't work) and then your allowed to pump your gas to a maximum amount of money (e.g. 100-120 €)

[@OurStorytoTell]

Yeah those wouldn’t work for us, but that is cool to hear they do that after a certain time!

[@klauskirsch4371]

Have a nice first Advent🌲 Great video as always 👍😍 Have a great week you guys🌲☀️

[@OurStorytoTell]

Thanks!! Same to you 🎄

[@underbuxe7997]

Your Mother is Great! 🥰

[@tramper42]

6:44 „very polite drivers in Germany“ I cannot believe this.

[@OurStorytoTell]

You need to drive in Utah! 😂

[@tramper42]

@@OurStorytoTell hmm.. maybe "not shooting" is misinterpreted as politeness? :-) Another good reasons not to allow guns in Germany, especially for car owners.

[@Enforcer_WJDE]

About those "speed indicators". Near where i live they have ones that also measure how loud your vehicle is. So every time i drive past with my Quad it always shows "LEISER!" 🤣 But yes, Fall is the best season to drive around. I enjoyed it quite a bit in the Pfälzer Wald close to Kaiserslautern where we also have a lot of Americans. But i really have no contact with them.

[@robfriedrich2822]

It's confusing, that we first fill the car and after this we pay. I remember a time, where it was like a restaurant, that someone has act like a waiter and to get the money, but when gas stations became grocery stores, you go into the store and pay.

[@RustyDust101]

Your mom feels like such a great person even from the short videos we had with her. She raised a great daughter, and helps raise an angel of a grand-daughter. Careful, real Schneebeeren / snowberries ARE poisonous and should NOT be consumed. Schlehendorn should be picked only after the first frost, otherwise it is very sour and tart. Schlehendorn is adstringent, thus helps in healing minor cuts and wounds, is able to lower fevers, and antimicrobial. So yes, Schlehendorn may look somewhat like blueberries/ Blau- or Heidelbeeren, but once you bite into them the pit inside gives away the fruits. Blaubeeren, also called Heidelbeeren in German, or blue berries in English, however are pretty healthy if washed and cooked, when foraged. They may contain some worms or parasites if foraged why it is advised to cook them for marmelade/jams, or to boil them down for juices. Boiling them kills parasites and worms, either on the skin, or inside the berries. 11:42 Lebkuchen Schmidt is (supposedly) one of the best, if not THE best Lebkuchen producer in Germany. While gingerbread might be the closest approximation in English, it's not exactly the right stuff. I order a large packet of Schmidt Lebkuchen every time for the last two years, and I am certain, this will become a long standing tradition for me. They are SO GOOD! Avocado being provided mostly by Mexican farms they should be somewhat to a lot cheaper than in the USA as the transport costs from Mexico to the USA should be a lot cheaper. So if they are comparable that means that avocados in the USA are probably (comparatively) more expensive than in Germany if we factor in the much higher shipping costs.

[@OurStorytoTell]

Thanks so much for your comment! We are learning a lot from them. 😊 Good to know about the berries! And mmm Christmas goodies! Stay tuned for future videos because we have had some great ones recently!

[@MrPPunch69]

Be careful with the mushrooms. The cute red one with the white dots is quite deadly...

[@OurStorytoTell]

Thanks for the life saving tip!! Seriously! 😊

[@mirandahotspring4019]

That's the way you get gas in most countries in the world. There are a few places where I live that have a card slot on or near the pump, but usually only at unattended stations.

[@OurStorytoTell]

Yeah we imagine that! Definitely different though!

[@TheKorbi]

Willa is soo cute! 😊

[@lorenzsabbaer7725]

be rly careful with wild berries, there are several poiseness ones in germany as well! not a joke, also be carefull with mushrooms cause several ppl die every year of the "knollenblätterpilz"

[@OurStorytoTell]

Very good reminder! Thanks! 😊

[@Kazuya720]

The Blackthorn berries have to go either frost or collect them, wash and put them by yourself in a freezer. Afterwards, you can make a great mix-marmelade with sweet cherry or other berrys. Making some liqour out of them is also a good way to use them.

[@Der_Kleine_Mann]

Fall here in Germany is both my most favorite and my least favorite time of the year. It's my favorite because it is the main mushroom season, and my least favorite because it means that winter is coming soon. Best time here imo, is from like the month of May to November.

[@verenaschneider7347]

I would love to help you showing you what mushrooms you can pick and eat next fall. Ever since I was a small kid my mum, my grandpa and me took our baskets and knifes - and our dog and went mushroom picking almost every year. Unfortunately I don't live near you. But maybe you can invest in a mushroom-book. They are pretty good helping you identifying the mushrooms and telling you if they are good to eat.

[@OurStorytoTell]

Aww Verena such a kind gesture!! Thanks for the offer, although it sounds like we live too far apart. We will have to look into a good book :)

[@janko339]

Your mum is such a sweetie 🫶

[@OurStorytoTell]

She really is!

[@JakobFischer60]

7:57 that is a young fly agaric (toadstool). You wil see the typical umbrella later on. It is toxic, but the most dangerous and deadly mushroom in Germany is the amanita mushroom (Grüner Knollenblätterpilz) that can be mixed up with the very tasty porcini mushroom.

[@OurStorytoTell]

So interesting to learn about! Thanks for sharing! 😊

[@thb3306]

They seem to be "Schlehen" (sloe berries). And there is a very nice Schlehenlikör (sweet) or -schnaps you can get in the region (if you drink alcohol - or as a nice souvenir)

[@OurStorytoTell]

Mmm! Sounds tasty!

[@rn2811]

My ancestors are from Germany, heading over for the first time in September…of course for Octoberfest 😉 but can’t wait to see the city of Munich.

[@jensschroder8214]

At most gas stations in Germany, you fill up first and then pay. If you forget to pay, remember your number plate is already on the camera picture. The police will immediately remind you to pay. The background is that gas stations do not have the closing times for retail shops, so gas stations often have a small shop where you can buy expensive groceries. But there are also night gas stations where you first have to pay at the machine. Foreigners on the Autobahn who want to be fast but don't have the experience are always annoying. In Germany there are clear rules and if everyone follows them, it is also possible to drive safely and quickly. In Germany you don't see a lot of police, but especially on the Autobahn they watch you in civilian vehicles with hidden cameras. If you don't break the rules, you won't notice them. But possible if you drive rude that you are harassing a camouflaged police car. Nuremberg in Bavaria, but don't tell the locals that these are Bavarian. The locals are proud to be Franconians. Although the kingdom of the Franks fell a long time ago and the Bavarians reunited the remnants of the Franks. The national pride there is that they are Franconians and just happen to live in Bavaria. But in Nuremberg you can also see Hitler's marching field, but the facilities are decaying. Whereas music concerts used to be performed there, many things are now in danger of collapsing.

[@mojganjazayeri1862]

Your mom is amazing.

[@darthplagueis13]

Regarding the berries: Schneebeeren are a thing but 1) They don't look like this and 2) They don't grow in germany The berries you found are Schlehbeeren or sloe berries (which you may or may not recognize from sloe gin). The reason they taste like little plums is because they are, in fact, closely related to plums. They are mostly used for jam, fruit cakes or for flavouring liquor.

[@OurStorytoTell]

Thanks for sharing with us! :)

[@muscledcowboy]

Ich find' euch soo süß!

[@Kikifriedmann]

I would love to the a picture of your Mom when she was your age! 😃

[@OurStorytoTell]

I need to have her send us one! ☺️

[@Freaky0Nina]

My mom, who even was a taxi driver for a while, me, and my dad never got pulled over by cops. NEVER. Now, my brother. Had his license for like 2 days, was SUPER nervous to get everything right, drove me and himself to school VERY CAREFULLY, got pulled ovwr by the cops. Bless him, he nearly had a panic attack, while i nearly had a laugh attack when that happened. The cops had no reason btw, just a common randomized general control. They found that our first aid kit was outdated, usually you'd get fined for that, but then they saw that his driver's liscense wasn't even a week old so they just decided to leave it with a warning xD

[@roland7565]

happy to hear your mom likes driving here.I heard from other americans that it is bothering them that the traffic lights are not at the other side of the road or crossing like in the US so they struggle to see when it becomes green cause you need to look up. Would be interesting to know whats your opinion about this. And im also happy about the green smile 🙂

[@calise8783]

It’s different and I understand why. You get used to it quickly though.

[@OurStorytoTell]

We agree with this comment! 😊

[@Der_Kleine_Mann]

The Schlehen need to get some frosty temperatures for a while, then most of the astringency goes away, and then it's the right time to pick them. We do make marmalade and liqueur from them.

[@grafzahl4698]

Have a great time in Germany / Franken ;-)

[@OurStorytoTell]

Thanks so much!! 😊

[@gehtdichnixan3200]

those blue berrys where schlehen sloe in english they are usually not eaten raw they have alot of natural tanins in them( what makes that funny mouth feel) best time to harvest them is usually after the first snow or frezzing temperatues (those reduce those tanins and maybe gives them a dialect name related to snow i am not from bavaria so im not shure ) they can be made to marmalade juce wine or liquor of some kind mabe you know sloe gin they allso have a medical use for stomache problems for example

[@zeideerskine3462]

Schlehen are sloes in English and usually used for flavoring gin (Schlehenlikör in German or slow gin in English).

[@RoninTF2011]

The berries at 10:32 ? We used to make either "Most" of it. or add them to Schnaps. The trick is to wait till their have seen the first frost, they're much better then...

[@oOBubbleStreamOo]

Have you already visited the Weihnachtsmarkt in Kassel? It's really beautiful especially in the dark

[@OurStorytoTell]

No we haven’t but we need to 😍

[@Pointi69]

🥰 I love, you enjoy your life here.

[@OurStorytoTell]

We are to the fullest 😊

[@mothoco]

There are VHS-Kurse that teach you what mushrooms are good to eat and what are widow makers ;-) Maybe check out your local Volkshochschule.

[@kanndirwurstsein9674]

I was born and raised in Amberg and know Grafenwöhr, on the subject of tips on mushroom picking look in a (German) library there is usually a mushroom guide or look in Vilseck maybe there is someone who can translate his knowledge even into English.

[@tobiwan001]

in some you can pay outside if the shop is closed. I think they really want you to go into the shop because they earn almost exclusively on shop revenue and almost nothing by selling fuel.

[@OurStorytoTell]

Ah never thought about this!!

[@juanzulu1318]

I like the choco mustache of the little one. 😄

[@juricarmichael2534]

🤣 8:05 you talking about cameras... Right between the two of you at the tree in the middle: is it a wildlife camera or a bird's house?

[@Al69BfR]

There are some gas stations where you can pay with your credit card at the pump. IIRC they are called Automatentankstelle. And those which I know are operating without any personell. Just a place with a roof and a Tankautomat (or two). Often those types of gas stations can be found in less populated areas such as small towns or bigger villages. Did your mom also came by those little child figures left and right on the street remembering drivers that there may be playing kids they should keep watching for?

[@lws7394]

Not all foreign bank (credit) cards can use PIN card payment on all stores... So that still might have been a problem for her..

[@anjah.8089]

As a German I find it easier to pump the gas first and then pay in the shop. In American gas stations I always have to prepay and guess the amount because German credit cards don't have a zip code.

[@OurStorytoTell]

Ahh never thought of that!!

[@mikarottmann1695]

We have family in the us and when they visited us in Germany, my ‚us aunt‘ only remembered the word Ausfahrt from the Autobahn😅 They were scared to death when we drove threw constructions on the Autobahn because the lanes on a construction are even smaller than the (for an american) allready small lanes on a regular german road

[@peterv.276]

Nürnberger Bratwurst is good, but go like 1,5 hours to the north. there the Bratwurst is much better :p (also the ones in Bamberg are good)

[@genovevastahlberg4516]

beautiful mom

[@OurStorytoTell]

It’s true! 💗

[@rolandpreissler1861]

In der Volkshochschule gibt es immer wieder Kurse für Leute die Interesse haben am suchen von Pilzen

[@hoWa3920]

I found it interesting that the leaf jenna "found" fell from a Northern Red Oak (Amerikanische Roteiche in German) another American living in Germany.

[@firenger9869]

this little princes is soo sweet :3 and verry clever! wie alt is die kleine denn? natürlich nur wenn man fragen darf!^^

[@raidri_conchobair]

Willa is so cute and she obviously is so smart.

[@OurStorytoTell]

We think so, but it’s fun to hear it ☺️