It seems trite to say Germany loves a bit of paperwork, but when it comes to the small details, some stereotypes ring true. Why might sharing your full name on official documents cause issues and how might things be changing in the land of process?
All tagged Government
An Unhelpful Comparison
Constant comparison can make it difficult to live in a different country, but when it comes to politics, I find it hard to avoid. Is it ever helpful to compare the politics of Germany with those of the UK, and why might this annoy people from both countries?
A Royal Send-Off
The reaction of Germans to the death of the Queen has been surprising, but as in Britain, feelings range from sadness to disinterest. We may have this in common, but there are many nuances that might be missed in both countries. How have Germany and the UK differed, and what does the funeral of a monarch actually mean?
Formal Like the Germans, Informal Like the British
Formality in any culture is a minefield. In Germany they have rules that make things easier, but only if you can deprogram your own native culture. What’s different about formality in Germany and why might British humour create more trouble than laughs?
What's In A Name?
It seems trite to say Germany loves a bit of paperwork, but when it comes to the small details, some stereotypes ring true. Why might sharing your full name on official documents cause issues and how might things be changing in the land of process?
Face of the Nation
Can you judge a country by its leaders? It’s tempting, after all for many Germans Boris Johnson is the epitome of Britishness, while for the British, the robotic Olaf Scholz could only come from Germany. What do our elected leaders say about us and why might we wish they didn’t?
Unfit by Comparison
Olaf Scholz was sworn in on Wednesday, at the same time as he was being congratulated by both friends and foes, 1000 km away in Westminster a very different leader was facing the music. They may be polar opposites, but what can the Ampel-Koalition in Germany tell us about the dumpster fire of British government?
A Lonely Glühwein to Joshua Kimmich
According to Bavaria’s Minister President Markus Söder, we are in a pandemic “time loop”. It’s hard to tell whether we’re in 2020 or 2021 as infections and hospitalisations soar. How did we end up here, what’s that got to do with Joshua Kimmich and why might Germany be suffering under a tyranny of idiocy?
Keeping It Conservative
Months ago it looked like Germany was preparing for serious political change. The Green Party was surging ahead in the polls. However, minor scandals, attacks from rivals and media scrutiny have cast doubts. Will German voters opt for more of the same?
The Wind of Change
Over the last year there have been many changes in Germany, with possibly largest being its perception of itself. Order, efficiency, privacy, economic policy have all come under scrutiny, now that we know what needs to change, is there energy to actually do it?
Formal Like the Germans, Informal Like the British
Formality in any culture is a minefield. In Germany they have rules that make things easier, but only if you can deprogram your own native culture. What’s different about formality in Germany and why might British humour create more trouble than laughs?
Britain, Germany and the Covidiots
Last weekend, Berlin and London saw lockdown protests. Germany had more on the streets, but both events had a lot in common. Has lockdown increased conspiracy theorists and why are German and British protesters so comfortable with links to the far-right?
New Arrivals
Child birth is a weird experience at any time, but perhaps even weirder during a global pandemic. Would the lock-down wreak havoc and was television an accurate guide to what would happen next?
Where We're Going, We Don't Need Speed Limits!
The German Autobahn famously has areas with no speed limits, but how long before they introduce them?
Reverse Culture Shock
Reverse culture shock is common among those who have moved to other countries, but does it become more acute when they begin to see how many problems their former home now has?
Fuck Trump, Fuck the Far-Right and Fuck You If You Think It's OK
I think the title says it all.
German Police State or: Why Can't Little Maxi go to the Ballermann?
Bavarian Police stopped parents at airports, to check if children had permission to be out of school. Is this the state overreaching or is it simply a case of enforcing the law?
Who's afraid of the AfD?
There is trouble in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The AfD are on the rise, with parallels on both sides of the Atlantic, but will Germany suffer the same problems?
I will not be scared
We can all get a little preachy. If you can't preach a little in a blog, than why have a blog? After a rough month in Germany, we try to make some sense of it all.