Shopping in Germany is rarely described as convenient. Supermarkets are hard to navigate, payment methods aren’t uniform and customer service is disinterested. Is Germany a land of inconvenience culture and could that actually be a good thing?
All tagged Germany
The Eternal Challenge
Can you ever truly be comfortable living in another country? Personally I don’t think you can. Whether buying onions or a cup of coffee, everything is just that little bit more difficult. Then again, that’s half the fun. Why is living in Germany such a challenge and might that actually be a good thing?
The Cult of the Spargel Eaters
Tis the season to eat Spargel in all its many and varied forms and you better believe Germany takes Spargelzeit very seriously. This makes things difficult for the tiny minority of us who actually don’t like it, but is it worth incurring the wrath of the Spargel lovers?
You can't go home, you can't go back (Copy)
As long as I’ve lived in Germany, I’ve been asked a particular question; “When are you going back home?”. For migrants, the question of home can be a contentious issue and can lead to an identity crisis. What is home and can we ever return to it?
Running the Wedding Marathon
It may seem like weddings in Germany are the same as the UK & the US but there are many small differences worth knowing should you be invited to one. Why are German weddings like a marathon and why should you bring some extra plates just in case?
Form a Disorderly Queue
Germany is seen as a land of punctuality and organisation. Although broadly accurate, there are areas where chaos is allowed to reign. Queuing is one such area. Why are German queues a contact sport and what does that tell us about the importance of timekeeping over organisation?
The Society of Auto-Correction
Random strangers correcting each other is just a part of the everyday in Germany. Unsolicited advice on all manner of topics can be surprising, especially for more indirect cultures, like the British. What drives the German society of auto-correction?
The Theft of Germany's Public Holidays
In a good year, Germany can have nine public holidays and several regional Feiertagen, with some states getting 14 paid public holidays per year. In a bad year, such as 2021, the quota of public holidays dropped to six. Why do Germans lose their public holidays and why aren’t they more angry about it?
Does Germany Have A Fireworks Problem?
It’s Silvester in Germany, and many will ring in the New Year with a private firework display. At the same time, thousands of people across the country will be treated for firework related injuries. Does Germany have a fireworks blindspot?
The Curious World of Tchibo
Tchibo is famous throughout Germany for coffee,and a weekly revolving selection of useless product. How does Tchibo manage to succeed when no one is entirely sure what they might be selling or why they're selling it?
A Saga of Schlager
English speakers may have no idea who she is, but Helene Fischer is easily one of the most successful musicians, not just in Germany, but the world. This success has come on the back of slickly produced Schlager music, a genre that is long lived and often very hard to define. What is Schlager music and how has it managed to stay so popular?
Integrating the Germans
At what point can we say a migrant has fully integrated? Is full integration even possible and who gets to judge? These questions are asked periodically in Germany, especially during an election year. Why are answers so hard to find and are we asking the wrong questions?
Ain't No Party Like a German Grillparty
Barbecue culture is serious business in Germany, with courses on how to become a grillmeister, and endless debates about what makes a proper Kartoffelsalat. What should a visitor expect should they ever be lucky enough to get an invite?
When Bread isn’t Bread
What’s the difference between toast and bread? In Germany it’s clear: one is bread, the other isn’t. Are the Germans right to malign toast and what has that got to do with US food culture?
Cold Comfort
“Es Zieht” or “It’s draughty” is a common complaint heard in Germany, even during the summer. Are the Germans overly sensitive about the dangers of air flow and why might it be difficult for the British to take their concerns seriously?
When The Penny Drops
There are a number of generational shifts occurring in Germany at the moment, but one in particular should be a serious cause for concern: young German men are choosing to stand rather than sit when they pee. Why have German men traditionally chosen to stand, and why are they changing now?
The Cult of the Spargel Eaters
Tis the season to eat Spargel in all its many and varied forms and you better believe Germany takes Spargelzeit very seriously. This makes things difficult for the tiny minority of us who actually don’t like it, but is it worth incurring the wrath of the Spargel lovers?
The Rules of Politeness
English speakers often assume their politeness rules are as global as their language, but this is not the case. Politeness is not uniform from country to country, Germany has different ideas of what is or isn’t polite. What happens when these rules clash?
You can't go home, you can't go back
As long as I’ve lived in Germany, I’ve been asked a particular question; “When are you going back home?”. For migrants, the question of home can be a contentious issue and can lead to an identity crisis. What is home and can we ever return to it?
Why Can't We Be Friends?
According to surveys, it’s hard to settle in Germany and difficult to make friends here. How is German unfriendliness measured and why might it be so difficult for migrants to make friends?