Despite a growing awareness, British food doesn’t have a good reputation in Germany. Why does mint sauce seem to exemplify this negative image in the minds of Germans, and why might Asterix & Obelix be to blame?
Escaping Camp David
Age was never much of an issue for me, that was until I started getting targeted ads for Camp David. What does one of Germany’s biggest brands say about getting old and why is it so hard to find a decent clothing in your 40s?
Food Fight
Is food a useful way of viewing a different culture? Is Wurst an indicator of how Germany thinks? Maybe, but what happens when you mess with traditional recipes and what do reactions to simple culinary changes tell us about a country?
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?
Christmas Cult
Despite Germany being the origin of many British Christmas traditions, I avoided spending Christmas in Germany for almost a decade. What made Weihnachten so odd, and what made me change my mind?
Getting the Hoff
Many of my preconceptions about Germany have been thoroughly shattered over the years, but only one truly hurt; David Hasselhoff might not be the German icon I was led to believe. Despite being told this in my first years living here, I come to wonder If my early assumption was actually correct. Is Hasselhoff a cult hero or simply a curious historical footnote?
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?
Centre of the Universe
When I speak to British people about Germany, conversations always break along a familiar faultline: Berlin. Many consider the German capital to be representative of the the rest of the country, but is that really the case?
A Work in Progress
Learning German can be difficult and rewarding in equal measure, but dispiriting interactions can sap any language learners confidence. How can native speakers help learners improve, and why might switching to English be insulting?
The Power of Punctuality
If there’s one thing we all know it’s that Germany is the land of punctuality, but everywhere you look there are examples to the contrary. Time keeping here isn’t always as simple as just being on time. How punctual are the Germans and why might it be counterproductive to punish latecomers?
A Very Efficient Myth
If there is one thing people know about Germany, it’s that it is the home of efficiency. Visitors are certain of it, but many Germans are beginning to have their doubts. Is German efficiency simply a stereotype, a long perpetuated myth or the the true lived experience?
Germany's Class System
Most people in Germany know about the British class system, but few would discuss German society in terms of class. Does Germany have a class system and how is it different from the UK?
You Can Say You To Me
On the whole Germans aren’t as socially awkward as the British. How might German grammar help avoid the worst aspects of social awkwardness and what does that have to do with a person’s first name?
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?
Positively Negative
It’s a common complaint that Germany is a land of pessimism and negativity, but is that really a bad thing? How does German and British pessimism differ and might German pessimism actually be a superpower?
No Bread, No Tea, No Hope
If Britain and Germany have one thing in common, it’s their obsessions over food and drink. For Germany it’s bread, while for Britain it’s tea, and they’re both certain that the other will never get it right. Is Germany really so bad at making a cuppa, and what makes British bread so ripe for ridicule?
Neighbourhood Watch
When it comes to dealing with neighbours, Britain and Germany have more than a few differences. How might the German approach to neighbourliness cause problems, and why is inherent British social awkwardness no defence?
Observing Oktoberfest
There's a certain magic about Oktoberfest that's hard to define. That being said, not everything is perfect on the Wiesn. As festivities begin, what can visitors expect and why may some choose to avoid it?
Breaking Borders
I've been told how wonderful it must be to raise children in a bilingual household, which is odd given Germany's toxic migration debate. Will heavier borer controls have an impact, and will it appease voters?
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?