Inconvenience Culture

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?

Complainers United

If there’s one thing that unites the UK and Germany it’s complaining. That being said, the approach to complaining is wildly different. What are the different cultures of complaining and why might having a cathartic moan lead to trouble in Germany?

The Coffee Conundrum

I can't imagine Germany without Kaffee und Kuchen, just as I can't imagine Britain without tea. Unlike the British though, Germans aren't judged on how they make their favourite hot beverage. Is this why coffee in Germany can be so hit & miss?

Land of the Rule Followers

Not only is Germany considered the land of rules but it’s also seen as the land of the rules followers. Prussian values, Martin Luther and hyperinflation have all been credited with shaping this ordered society. Are all Germans really obsessed by the rules and has the pandemic changed that perception?

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?

Friendship Restart

One of the most common questions for new arrivals in Germany is how to make friends with Germans. Having lived here a long time I thought I knew, but having children has changed my understanding. Why are the rules to making German parent friends so very different?

No Limit

Learning to drive in Germany is no easy feat, but once you pass, the open Autobahn awaits. It can be exhilarating, but it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. What’s it like to drive on the Autobahn and why should you be careful when discussing speed limits?

My Kingdom for a Sandwich

Despite having all the essentials, Germany consistently fails to make a decent sandwich. This obviously comes as some surprise, given that bread is practically a religion. What’s the problem with German sandwiches and what do poorly constructed sandwiches tell us about work/life balance?

The Yorkshire of Germany

Bavaria holds the strange position of being both the source of German stereotypes, while also being considered the least German of the Bundesländer. Obviously this makes it hard to describe to non-Germans what it’s like living here. While some make comparisons with Texas, perhaps a better example can be found in the UK?

For the Love of the Pub

For much of my adult life, pubs have been deeply important spaces. While Germany has many bars, they tend to differ from the pub culture in the UK and Ireland in various ways. What are these small but important differences, and how do Irish pubs in Germany help or hinder a new arrivals?

On Constant Pause

Of all the things Germany seems to want, stability is top of the wishlist. It motivates ordinary people to hang homemade signs outside their homes, and it’s a central campaign promise from politicians. However, is it possible to have too much stability, and is that any different from simply standing still?