The holocaust memorial was built as a staircase, giving two perspectives. You can be buried away among the blocks, or you can stand on top looking down into the darkness. There's a difference between dancing on a grave, and walking on and around an art installation commemorating deaths. Art is designed to be explored from all angles. If the artist didn't want you standing on top, they'd have made it difficult or put up signs.
Really? I didn't know this. I walked between the blocks and it was so cold and dark and quiet on a warm summer day... really impression.. I would never have dared to climb those rocks.
thank you for posting this, i do feel the same that memorials should be interactive because i think the memory will stick with me longer (if that makes sense to anyone else)
Fair enough, I think the source video was mainly commenting on the playful selfies and lack of sensitivity displayed by tourists at the sites. Completely agree with your thoughts though.
I have to disagree here. Do not walk on top of the stones! It is not an art installation, and it is not a staircase - it is a memorial! It is meant to walk between the stones. The memorial is meant to create a feeling in the visitor: from the outside it looks flat and harmless. As soon as you take a few steps inside, you suddenly find yourself standing between meter-high blocks, dark, cold, without light. It expresses how quickly a society is drawn into the swamp of fascism without being able to foresee it.
We Germans sometimes run through red lights, especially at night. It is important to us that children do not take this as a role model and run across the street when it is red. We simply want to protect them from the risk of an accident. The cash thing is really a German peculiarity. One of the reasons for this is that we would like to have an overview of what we can and cannot afford. When paying by card you lose it very quickly and most Germans don't want to have debts (credits).
There's absolutely nothing wrong with crossing at a red light if it's safe to do so. I think it's on the parents not to cross unsafely with their children rather than everyone taking on that responsibility.
If you are driving through red lights, then children crossing at a green walk signal are still going to be run over..the light is red becasuse the walking signal is green. Usually better to teach kids not to rely on technology and use their own senses to check for cars.
@@WildSlinkys Of course, children should also take care of themselves. However, small children often have trouble judging the distance and speed of an approaching car. Therefore they have to follow the traffic lights . In Germany, many children walk to school. That's why adults don't have to teach them that they can run on red. It's safer if they follow the traffic light rules.
I had the same experience in L.A. - an old chinese guy came to me and asked me, if I am from germany. I was so confused and later realized, there was a red traffic light moments before :D
I as a German do also J- walk, but ONLY if it's necessary for the sake of being punctual (e.g. for work), ONLY if there are no children or police around AND the street is clear so it's safe for me. Otherwise I'd stop at the red lights of course, like a good German does.
Yes, that is good advice. I wait at a red light in the UK if there are children (with parents) waiting to cross - I don't want to mislead the children into thinking they can cross against a red light.
In my experience it heavily varies based on the region aswell. I feel like mostly it's okay for most people to j walk if it's obviously save. Basically the only reason I will not j walk is if there are Childern in sight or a police car stopped at the light.
if you're in a hurry, you're already late. doesn't matter if you're 5 or 15 minutes late. you're late. But yes, running for a tram or bus is the only excuse for jailwalking. as a small child, my mom would always say: "never do that when you're alone." 20 years later and I am running over a red light for the bus x'D
When there are no cars coming, why waiting for the green light? It's just a waste of time btw: In some Chinese cities they intalled devices squirting water at people when they cross a red light. Would be very nice on hot summer days.
It's not that the waiter hands you the menu and waits impatiently next to your table for you to make your orders. 😂😂 Most of the time, they'll return after a few minutes and ask for drink orders first, then bring your drinks to the table and when everyone's got his/ her drink, they'll take your food orders right away. That's how it is in 99% of German restaurants. And of course they will check on you from time to time and ask if everything is fine, just not as often as in the US. If you want to place another order or ask for the bill though, it's true that YOU have to make the waiter notice you.
Thanks for that. I've been in Germany several times and I don't think I have ever experienced what the narrator of this video was saying. He made it sound like you get the menu and then have 10 seconds to order. 🙂 Nice to have my thoughts confirmed .
Yes, as far as I know (my parents work in a German restaurant) it's very important to give out drinks before ordering, because that way the conversations at the table are getting started (sometimes there might even be a second round of drinks before ordering food, or the first round of shots). Drinks are where you make the most money, and that way they sell more. And you just normally give off 'the vibe' that you want to order (closing the menu card, looking up, getting silent and waiting for the waiter, ...) And then the waiters will come to you
Another thing might be: Don't stand in the entrance area waiting for someone to assign you a seat. Find your own seat. If a table is reserved, there are usually signs on it.
@@fipsvonfipsenstein6704 I recently went to eat in a bub. Close to the entrance, there was a sign to wait to be seated, so I waited. Just to be told to find myself a seat. I suspect that was a rest of pandemic rules they hadn't cleaned up yet.
@@KaiHenningsen I mean, there might be one or two restaurants out there, which do exactly that ... but I never experienced it. So for me for example, when visiting my sister in the UK, there are usually three things I struggle within the first days: Looking mainly right when crossing a road, sitting in the front left seat of a car without pedals and a steering wheel, and waiting at the entrance of a restaurant to get seated. And btw.: Is eating in Buben not kinda pedophile? 🤔
The thing about "half timbered houses" is, that most of those "My life in Germany" videos are made in the south. If one of them would move to the North, they'd "only" see houses made of brick stone with stepped gables or on the countryside thatched houses.
As others said: We wait on the red light because of children. There are even signs sometimes, saying "Den Kindern ein Vorbild" which means "a rolemodel for children". You think twice about crossing that street on a red light with such a sign 😁
Tbh I'm waiting at a red light for myself, not for some random Child. Even if you think the streets are empty, there is probably an A hole waiting around the corner to run you over
@@ALuna813 Naw, in Germany we have special police sitting in the nearby buildings waiting for Americans that cross the streets while the lights are read and then shoot them ....
The memorial point really struck a chord with me, last time I was in Berlin, several idiots were posing on the piece and it made me so angry that I ended up telling someone how disrespectful they were being, and yes I'm afraid to say they were American 😞..they didn't even have the decency to look shamefaced , just walked away laughing about the 'stuck-up British' ...if having respect for the poor victims of an appalling war crime is stuck-up then I'm glad to be so!
@@ichbinbluna3504 It doesn't matter what the Builder thinks, he was commissioned to build a Memorial and paid for it, Germany uses it as a Memorial and therefore one should behave respectfully there.
@@ichbinbluna3504 I accept that it is a memorial, a graveyard, a place to remember all the people who have died, it is not a Selfiespot to share the snapshots of the day, and anyone with a modicum of thinking will not see it as a playground.
@@ichbinbluna3504 Reading that article, and the main article linked from there, this does not seem to support your "The architect of the Memorial has a completely different opinion about it.". In fact, it seems to support the view that climbing and disrespectful behavior is not appreciated.
Well its a difference in perspective i guess. We germans know every evil thing from ww2 in and out because of how our system and education deal with it. So these spots are very important for us to remember to never let that happen again. For americans especially its more like visiting a victory memorial more of a celebration thing i could think, especially if they dont have the deep knowledge and understanding some people have. Id say as much as it seems wrong to take duckface instagramm pictures there it just as much helps to spread awareness about the matter. And as the memorial is meant to be expirienced from all angles standing on it is fine i guess.
For all the americans: imagine someone did something like this at Arlington Memorial. How would you feel? Or did this duckface thing at MLK's house. Or played skipping stone all over the 9/11 Memorial. Would you like *that* ? No? Then remember that anything holocaust related holds the same value to us as the mentioned above memorials hold value to you. You don't want yours defaced and we don't ours.
The small children learned in school in Germany that you can only cross the street when it is green. So there are extra traffic lessons at our elementary school in the village. A traffic light was also set it up especially for little school children. So we adults are role models for the children. Germans do a lot to commemorate our history and take seriously so it is also important to commemorate all these many victims with dignity, you visit the memorials , the concentration camps , etc.
one thing Americans don't understand is, that in Germany (or Europe) even really youg children walking on the street unattendent (e.g. when they have to go to school). Therefore it is more likely that they pick up bad habits when it comes to crossig a road.
@@petrophaga8523 Normally, the elementary school in Germany is not far from your parents house. If so, you will be taken to school by bus. As already described the children receive traffic lessons at school.They are told to drive more slowly during school hours and the children have learned the road only to cross whe the traffic light shows green. The good thing about it is that the small children learn to cycle to school independently . So far no accident were happened.
@@blondkatze3547 Nah, of course accidents happen sometimes - but when children are driven to school in a car, car crashs do also happen, so that's not safer. You can never be completely sure there will be no accident, that's life.
@@blondkatze3547 No, they don't. They get traffic lessons later, when it comes to bike training. But kids go to school with their parents until they feel safe enough top go alone or with friends. Walking to school often includes Walking over crossings, using busses and trams/trains, etc..
"Bei Rot musst du stehen, bei Grün *darfst* du gehen". Absolute classic. Do you really want to teach children that it is ok to jaywalk? Children are terrible at judging speeds and following rules. We want our children to live. The "touristy" stuff at the camps is new to me but if this is true - these people have a special place in extra-hell reserved for them.
I've been to Germany a few times and had a really good time. People definitely were friendly and also loved to practice their English, which was so often excellent. My parents used to take in German students when I was a child and we were fortunate to be invited to stay with some of their families. It's also a beautiful country, I would certainly recommend going.
I find cultural differences fascinating. In Australia we just wander across streets and dont worry too much about Walk ,Dont Walk signs and zebra crossings if there is no traffic. I wandered across a street in Nuremberg and was confronted by a group of Omas who gave me a good dressing down. There was a kindergarten across the street and I was a bad example to the children. I've learnt my lesson. When in Germany I always check for schools and kindgardens before wandering across a street.
@LisaGM Yes I agree. My own two children were raised to be self reliant and did walk or ride their bikes several kilometers to school by age 5 years. They grew up in a small Australian regional city with lots of space , not too many roads to cross and not much traffic. They both have their own familes now. I've just returned from Nurnberg and miss greatly, my son's three year old Australian/ German grandaughter holding my hand as we cross the street. My daughter lives on Mallorca with my five and eight years old grandchildren. They have an even more relaxed attitude to crossing roads than I do!Another cultural difference.
The pfand (deposit) is on glass and plastic bottles too. If you buy a 12-pack of water in a store, each bottle will attract a deposit of between 10 and 25 cents. So save them up and return them to stores, which have recycling machines which will refund your deposit as you put the bottles in the machine. This sum adds up quickly. Btw, the jaywalking thing applies chiefly at crossings. One often sees people crossing mid-block or across streets in smaller towns where there are shops both sides. Remember, at uncontrolled junctions, pedestrians take precendence over vehicles! You misunderstood one thing, Joel. On the whole, when eating out Germans take their time eating, chatting, drinking, etc. The advice given was to order soon after being offered the menu, as servers won't be visiting your table often.
I was at a completely empty street in Koln - no cars at all.. only three pedestrians and we all waited.. and waited.. and waited to cross (it felt like 5 minutes with no cars at all).. It's really weird for Brits as we would just cross, but in Germany (also Austria and parts of Poland), its massively important to wait. Same goes for pedestrians straying into cycle lanes (which can be quite easy).. you will get told off.
@paul denby. I stayed a while in Frankfürt many years back. I could not get used to this bit being footpath and that bit being cycle lane. Almost no-one cycled in my home city of Bradford as the roads are so steep, so the idea that you would give way to a cyclist without giving them an earful for not watching for pedestrians was totally weird. Plus, being a northerner, I was used to giving anyone who thought they could boss me about an even bigger earful, so I had to really think and bite my tongue.
I would just cross the road. It's hugely ironic that Germans are all busy busy when it comes to food ordering etc but then wait a long time to cross a road that's perfectly safe 😂
@@listey Children in Germany can be allowed to play in the streets or go to Kindergarten by themselves at a very young age, because they know not to cross a street when a car is in sight or the traffic light shows red. And as an adult we tend to be embarrassed by children telling us the rules of the road. Oh, did you ever compare number of killed or wounded pedestrians in traffic between your place and Germany ....
@@wora1111 Children in UK are taught to ignore strangers for their safety and to stick up to anyone telling them what to do. If they "gobbled off" at someone, they would be putting themselves in danger. My policeman father made sure I knew how to fight back for these reasons, but could hardly be surprised when I knocked him out aged about six. So different!
@@alansmithee8831 you can teach children many things, but often they do (and learn) just what they see from an adult. So better not show them bad behaviour.
Two more don'ts: keep conversations in public quite and don't bother other people with ringing mobile phones and phone talks, esp. in restaurants, cafes, trains, etc. The well behaved German is even going outside of the restaurant for a phone call.
The jaywalking thing: Germany is an extremely safe place. The children start going to school by themselves at 6yo, and you will see families with the tiniest kids (1,5-2yo) cycling together. The kids have to learn the rules in order to keep safe. You will see posters beside the traffic-lights: "Be a good example for the children, wait for the green light". It is true: if you show to children that nobody else jaywalk, they won't. If you show them the rule is a bit loose, they will try to cross quickly one time... and there you go. You - as an adult - may be safe 99% of the time, but a kid as small as 6 doesn't have the same instincts and experience. That is also why German drivers will hit the breakes always - *always!* - in proximity of zebra crossings. Edit to add: It is also part of their conception of society. Everybody is responsible for tbe good functioning of society and caring for the children, it's not just "their parents' business". That's why German Omas (Granny in German 😆) will scold you if you do something wrong. They feel like they are a little bit your Grandma too and they are entitled to it 😅
yeah its kinda crazy to see 6 yo old kids going to school alone e.g. when using the German Subway system which is impressive but i guess thats just a thing in Big cities like Berlin. it just stunned me because i grew up in a village and taking the school bus and everybody in the neighborhood knowing each other is very different to taking the subway train in a huge city like berlin as a kid.
In Germany it is about efficiency, an pedestrians (crossing red light) are seen as a part of traffic and are fined the same as bicylce or car drivers. No exceptions for pedestrians! Also you are an exaple for the children. And as we are densly populated it is helpful when people follow rules, it would be chaos otherwise.
Sometimes I feel the urge to cross the road during the red lights 😉🤣- but only if no one is watching, especially no kids, if there are NO cars approaching me and only if I want to do something forbidden lol Viele Grüße ais Deutschland.
With regard to the service, he mainly describes the larger restaurants and breweries. Here his statement applies due to the large number of guests. This does not apply to average, smaller restaurants. Here I describe it more like this: After the first order and as part of the service, we Germans usually have the friendliness to accept someone's privacy and only approach us when the other person signals to do so. This is usually done with eye contact, a smile, a friendly nod, or raising your hand to signal a waiter, for example. Although he does appear in the meantime to clear away empty plates or glasses, he may also ask at this point if everything is ok or if you would like anything else. Only rarely, however, will a waiter offensively interrupt the conversations at the table in order to perhaps snag an order. We Germans usually find this forcible invasion of privacy or rude pressure from salespeople to be impolite. In such a case, the seller must already have a lot of charm. The waitresses usually look around the restaurant to catch those signals. Furthermore, for us, a stay in the restaurant is not just a process of eating, but primarily serves to socialize with family or friends. After the meal we sit together, talk and have a drink. It is common that you at least consume something, but there are only very few restaurants that actually work with fixed time windows and guests complimented out after the meal.
The jaywalking is more being a role model. Germany has lots of apartment complexes overlooking even busy streets. You just can't be certain kids don't watch you. As kids walk to school here from grade 1 (age 6 or do) alone they should not be enticed to potentially consider it a non-dangerous behavior. Many kids can't correctly judge the speed of approaching vehicles, or how quickly they can brake in an emergency, especially not large vehicles. Yeah, theoretically you can get fined here for jaywalking but it must have been the worst day in the world for a cop to actually fine you. Unless you cause an accident right in front of them. In that case, yepp, they probably will, just to drive home the point. Edit: cash. Since the hyperinflation of 1923 there have been at least two, if not three consecutive generations that have lost EVERYTHING in their bank accounts. Once 1923, then again in 1945, then the East Germans in 1990. So a certain mistrust is warranted to banks. In addition banks levy additional fees for using credit cards, which tends to be charged directly on the average prices of a store or restaurant. That's why some places simply don't accept credit cards at all to skip this surcharge and keep prices lower and more competitive. When the society as a whole still accepts cash there is no downside to going cash only. But during the pandemic years card payment (any contactless payment) has become a lot more common.
Me, being born and raised right by the Harz mountains, absolutely melting at the mention of my beloved home as so many travel guides just completely forget about this beautiful region. Thale, Quedlinburg and Wernigerode are smaller but definitely worthy destinations to visit.
the restaurant thing... normally when you get the Menu they already ask you what you want to drink (most germans know they wanna drink their 1 beer and kids get a coke or sth like that) and since nearly every restaurant got the same drinks you pretty much know your order before. Also most restaurants got different sorts of beer so you just ask which beers they have and then you can spontaneous decide otherwise and then the waiter will go and get your drinks and by that time you mostly found the food you want to order in the menu already and so you get the drinks and simultaneously the waiter takes your food order and you can calmly sit with your family without the waiter asking every 5 minutes if everything is okay... the other option is that you get the menu and its mostly in little "books" and when the waiter sees everyone on the table closed his "book" they know what food they want to order and then comes automatically and first asks if everyone knows what he wants and since you most likely do you can order without calling for the waiter but most of them see it themselves... when its about payment yeah mostly you call for the bill and then you calmly drink your beverage after paying.. other option here is all beverages are finished and the waiter asks if you need anything new and you just say you want the bill which he then brings... its quite cool since there isnt a waiter asking you permanently about anything because a restaurant visit for germans in 99% of all cases means time with family and you dont want to interrupt them during their family time where they just wanna talk and have a calm day not cooking for themselves
Punctuality is important. When the electrician says they will be there at a certain time they will be there. One told us 7:30 in morning and they were there. When we were looking at apartments the agent had set appointments at certain times and we were early for one of the appointments so we waited until it was the correct time.
Very good video Joel. German food is fabulous!! It will keep your ribs apart, for sure! I love travelling in Germany and meeting the local people. I have always been spoiled in Germany by such kind, helpful folks. John in Canada
The "never walk on red" thing is a mix of a culture of following rules, traffic education that happens in elementary school and as a mix of both: Be a role model for children. You gotta keep in mind that many children in Germany other than in the U.S. walk to school on their own from the age of 6 / 7 and we all want them to be safe on their way, so we try to be the best role models possible.
The cash thing has changed a lot, in no small part due to COVID. People were asked to avoid using cash so people wouldn‘t have to touch something that might be carrying the virus (most likely overkill), and it got even smaller stores around to accepting cards. However, debit cards are probably more popular with many places and people than credit cards. I know many people who use them because they want the money taken out of their accounts immediately. Still, I almost never have to go to an ATM to get cash anymore; I pay for almost everything by card.
Interesting, I noticed in Austria that many of the smaller places and restaurants that started accepting cards had stopped last summer. Things seem to be slowly returning to pre corona normal. I wonder if there is a noticable difference in Germany between Bavaria and the rest of the country, since Bavaria and northern Austra are so alike a lot if the time.
The distinction between debit and credit cards is really important. It may have changed, just like mobile payments are becoming more popular, but when I last checked, a lot of places only accepted debit cards.
@@haukenot3345 That‘s very true. Pharmacies here in Hamburg accept only debit cards (in my experience; there may of course be some that accept credit cards). It‘s quite common to find places that have the same policy. But before COVID, many businesses wouldn‘t even accept debit cards.
@@michaelmedlinger6399 I think in the next years this thing with the debit cards will change because of the end of Maestro. I don't get it why we Germans love the cash. At our neighbours in Denmark for example I can pay my Hotdog with credit card or mobile payment.
As of May we get the 49 Euro (Deutschlandticket), with that you can use all regional trains, trams and buses for a month. Not the High Speed ICE, but you can technically go everywhere with that ticket, but it takes time because you need to change the trains often. But it will be a very cheap solution to go around.
i have to add that not only the ICE (Inter City Express) is excluded from the umcoming Deutschlandticket, the "normal" IC (well... Inter City... obviously!) and the EC (Euro City) are excluded too. There might be exceptions, but to keep it simple let's just stay with that for now.
well, to be fair - as a german i can say, we (mostly) don't expect getting gifts from visitors, even when we invited them. if you don't know what you will bring, or when you get invited, it's not even a bad thing to ask if you should bring something - just look at they're reactions and what they said. Even for ordering in a restaurant - when you know what you want to drink, order it when you get the menue; you might get time until your drinks arrive for looking at the menue that you can see what they've had and you can order. if you don't understand anything ('cause it might be in german) - just ask; the most will try to explain what stands there. sometimes the restaurants even had a website where you can take a look at the menue - so that you can order right away; a few had a part of they'r menue even oit at the entrance. when you want the bill, it's normal to look out for a waiter and wink to them shortly; if they recognize you, you'll get a notice from them. what wolter (i guess walter, but i'm not sure) meant with "counting up the bill" is just adding the tip to it - 'cause it's not common here to give a tip. if you think, they're doing good service, they're always happy for the tip, 'cause it's just a bonus to they're salary. the "cash" thing is even normal here, but due to corona, in the most places can be in the meantime even be paid with card - but be careful, not all places accepts credit cards. for the cards, here they use the "chip", or, if they're contacless, that one - the magnet stripe isn't really used here (mostly just by the atm's). and just a little tip if you're planning on "flying to germany" - Don't, really DON'T fly to munich. if you're lucky, you will get away from there ('cause there's just a small regional train-Station there, where you need to go to the train-station of munich city - but the train-travelings there are really bad, so you might get stuck and need help), otherways you stay a long time or have a aventural train-ride from there. can say that, 'cause the last time i were there, i needed over 7 hours to get "as close as i can" back home - and that were normally just a 3-hour train ride. the best airport here might be in Frankfurt (callsign FRA), 'cause there's not only short-distance trains as even long-distance trains what stop there - and the airport itself isn't a bad maze (what is in munich, especially when you try to fly to america).
Regarding restaurants, usually it works like this: You seat yourselfs or get seated, get menus, order drinks almost immediately. Then you look through the food section and when everyone knows what they want, you close the menus and that is usually the sign for a waiter to come. If you want to order dessert or the bill, you call over a waiter :) If you are often at a restaurant, it can happen that you just order everything at once. Also often closed: (doctors and) pharmacies on Wednesday afternoons
9:07 it is worth noting the minimum age to rent a car in Germany is 18, and most companies only require you’ve held a license for a day, so it’s not as restrictive as most other countries.
the memorial thing, it is probably not only from USA but lots would be. And they would also be the ones throwing a fit if tourists did that in Arlington
02:13 I remember once as a kid crossing a red line without noticing that the car actually waiting on the lights was an firetruck, so they gave me the sirens and laughed it off but I was scared none the less.
small note to the "pfand": if you REALLY wanna throw away a bottle that has it on it, you can always put it next to trash cans in public, DO NOT THROW THEM IN THERE. we put them next to it so ppl that are less fortunate and need those to get some money dont have to dig in the trash and van just take them
The 'Pfand is an important issue to know about. It's not only 3 or 5 bucks for the mugs, but it's 20 or 25 cent for every can, beer bottle, plastic water bottle, and every shop that sell these items, has to take them back. Usually it's some big machine in a corner, you put everything on the small conveyor belt, and it gives you a coupon you can use at checkout. It does add up, and helps the environment.
Hello Joel. It sounds like the best thing to do in Germany, when you are used to attentive customer service, is to look up things on the internet or written information, so as to know what you want before you go. Angela from Midwest Americans watched this with her sister who lives in Germany, though poor Ethan got left out. You could ask them for tips if you go?
As a small kid I was running on top of that momorial in Berlin, at that time I didn't know what it was. My Parents got me of that quite quickly. I think the fact that so many kids are walking and running on top of that has to do something with how easy it is to get on top because they start at a very low high
About the deposit on bottles or cups what we call "Pfand" is actually much bigger than just at a christmas market or oktoberfest. It goes for plastic bottles that you can buy in a store as well which you bring back to the store after you finsihed them and then they are recylcled. We have specific machines for them which will count the amount of bottles you inserted and then you get a receit after that tells you how much money (deposit) you got back. Not all bottles do have a deposit tho. You can find a little icon on the bottle that will tell you if it has a deposit or not. If it doesnt you just trash it normally. It is an entire recylce system. Also every household has at least 3 bins to seperate trash. Mainly plastic, paper and bio trash such as spoiled leftovers or parts of food you dont eat.
In the beginning of a friendship you can bring gifts when coming over but you for most people i know its just that if they invited you over you’ll invite them at some point too
You probably remember learning in the US: "Safety First." The reason why jaywalking is a big deal is because the children, they learn from adults what to do and when we jaywalk, they will do it also. In Germany, unlike for many places in the USA, there are cars, bicyclists and pedestrians all around and it's important to mind each other. Germans take care of one another, therefore they will tell you when you are not doing what is asked of us. They mean well....Love your reactions, etc...keep it up!!!
jaywalking is not a thing. if there is no traffic light or zebra crossing you can still just cross the street. The only thing you are legally not allowed to do is cross a traffic light at red. People will of couse discourage you because it sets a bad example but it is totally legal.
The common credit cards in Germany are Visa and Mastercard, you can pay nearly everywhere with them, but mostly there is a minimum amount of €5-€10, because there are transaction fees wich also the seller has to pay. Other credit cards are only accepted at larger Hotels. Onyl very tiny shops and restaurants don't over card payments.
I'm living in Germany and about Jaywalking: From my experience people don't think badly about people jaywalking, it's just on the one side if kids are present people like to be strict rule followers then, for kids not to jaywalk and get into an accident, and generally it's more of people think it is risky to jaywalk
You can certainly cross the street on foot if there are no traffic lights nearby (about 50m) and the street does not have structurally separated lanes (e.g. through a flower bed). But if there is a traffic light, it must be observed. Pedestrian zones exist in many inner cities, and there are often no traffic lights. In my town we have only one crossing near a bosstop with a trafic light, to slow down the Soccermoms in their too big and unnecessary SUVs or I like to call them "city tanks".
I've literally just come back from Berlin (Monday). Not sure on the not crossing on the red Ampelmännchen rule anymore. I saw plenty of people crossing on red and in front of police too and to coin a British phrase....'they weren't arsed'
Berlin is special in that case. Many people still don't go with small children around though. But you can definitely cross a red light in front of the police and they don't care at all. But that's not like this everywhere in Germany.
Wolters World recorded this video in 2016, so 6 years ago and before Covid. Especially during Covid the acceptance of payment cards has become a lot more common in Germany.
Fun fact: See the big palace like building behind him? My grandpa used to work there somewhen in the 1950s I think. It's the Bavarian department of Justice.
Since 2020 the cash thing somewhat changed and a lot of places added cashless payment, but still if you want to get a Döner, you most likely have to pay in cash
The thing with the deposit of especially cans and bottles is recycling. Glas or plastic bottles just get cleand up and refilled again where they were come from. Cans get shredded and the aluminium gets back to the recycling system and to make sure this works we have to pay a little extra for the bottle it self that we get back if we bring the cans or bottles back to the store. For example: If buy a bottle of water the price tag sys let us say 1€ und underneath the wil be another price saying + 0.15€ Pfand meaning at the cash I will pay 1.15€. 1€ for the water and 0.15€ for the bottle. These 15 cents that we pay for the bottle is the money we get back if we bring the bottle to the store, Cents is the name of smaller money like in the US (Dollar and Cents in European Unin with some countries that still have their own money it is Euro and Cents). 1€ is 100 in Cents.
In Germany we rather go a few meters away from the traffic lights to cross the street there instead of jaywalking😅 That's usually how we do it, when we don't wanna wait for the red light. Aim for a spot between the traffic lights and use this when there are no cars atm instead of waiting for the light to turn green🤣
The cash ting has changed a lot during covid. It started years ago, but get realy fast during 2020/2021. You can realy pay with card in the most places. Smaler businesses sometimes don't accept cards, but that will change in the years to come. I can't speak for every part in germany, but in the major citys (like Hamburg, Berlin Frankfurt etc.) you can use youre card nearly everywhere. In the countryside it can be more complicated, but it depends. If it's a tourist destination you can use your card mostly.
10:05 its because of the "Mehrwertsteuer", wich is a 19% tax, but when you pay in cash you dont have to pay that tax, so you pay the same amount and they receive the full amount
In regard to the "fast order your food", yes, it's done completely differently in Germany compared to the US. Please, don't forget to consider that the waiters and waitresses in USA are "working" for our tips. They have to do a "song and a dance" to make sure the tip is adequate and hopefully high, because the hourly wages are low in the US and they depend on the tips to survive. In Germany and Europe, they are paid a fair wage and therefore, they don't have to come and shmoos you. It took me forever until I figured out that is the reason, they keep coming to your table to please you, however they also want you to eat and go, because the table has to be free for the next people, who will give tips. In European restaurants you can usually linger and spent time with your friends for hours. On the other hand, that does not pertain to "tourist places." Does that make sense? As I already said it took me a very long time living in the US until I realized what is happening. It's just the way things are different in every nation. All is well!
I am german and on some streets, it's alright to cross the street when it's red. I lived in a small city, and the crossing light system was so awful that sometimes you could cross the street if no car was there. You can as well just go a bit further and cross the street without a traffic light. But if you are not the only one who wants to cross the street (especially if kids are around) you'll wait till the light is green. If you would visit my household we would be really surprised if you brought something for us as a gift. I think this is considered pretty old-fashioned and I can't remember if we ever did something like that. And if your shoes aren't dirty (like really muddy) you don't have to take them off at our house. The ordering thing is really weird. You usually order your drinks first and after you get them you order your food and even if you don't know yet what to order you are allowed to take your time! A lot of places are a bit more modern now so you don't always have to have cash with you.
The Germans generally are logical, efficient, honest and very professional about everything! 🧐 Deposits on mugs makes you think about what to do with it later - if you pay for something, it's worth more! Same in my family, bring a gift if you are invited to visit! 🤗 Jewish Camp Selfies, that's sick! 🤨 Your bet is probably safe! 👍 Be ready and efficient at all times! 😀 "Would you like anything more." "Yes, for you to go away"!! 😏 Autobahn, only with a really good driver! Sunday is rest day, Monday too quiet! 😌 Cash is always handy! 👍 The Bavaria region is definitely worth experiencing, it's uniquely beautiful! 😂😃
With the point about cash in germany he is only half correct. Yes couple of years ago only big shops took cards but since corona almost every shop started to accept cards. You might however see a sign that states that they accept cards only above payments of 5€. That is because of the way the paymentsystem with cards in germany works. In germany the shop rents the cardreader from a provider. Every payment made with this reader goes through the system of the provider who sorts the payments and transfers the money to the financial institute of the shop. They also are the communicater between the financial institute from the shop and the customer when a payment is made with a card without enough money on it. For that reason the provider usually takes couple cents up to few euros per transaction based on the contract the shop and the provider have
Well for the street crossing: it's not that bad like there are lots of people crossing the road while red cause the light periods at some places are just way to short or I for once do so when there is no traffic anyway and even if there are rules getting caught and punish is like winning the lottery 'cause obviously there aren't policemen at every crossing. For the restaurant: I don't know where he was but u can of course call the waitress over if you want something but they also check in on u from time to time. Like u sit down, they give u the card and ask if u already know what u want to drink. Then they leave and when come back with drinks asking if ur ready (u still can ask for more time) and then it depends: after getting ur meal u need to call the service over if u want something else or it can happen that they check on u but of course not every 5 or 10 min. More like when they see that something is empty and need refills or take away.
From 1966 to 2005, the traffic program "the 7th sense" was broadcast regularly on television. The generations that have watched these programs have seen what happens when.... And so many still hold to more or less unspoken rules.
To the jaywalking point. You can cross the street everywhere you want in germany. But if you cross at a traffic light you have to follow the red/green cycle. Everything else just be sensible and cross where it is safe and not a 4 Lane Arterial. There are almost everywhere on this roads crossings nearby because pedestrian traffic is recognised and enthised here.
The thing with the jaywalking/red lights: Yes the Autobahn is wild and scary sometimes...but also very useful I think Germans learnt the hard way that cars can be very dangerous (when you slam into another car at 200 km/h or get crushed by a 30 ton truck that just randomly stops...you see this daily in Germany) So we really obey to the traffic rules because we know the consequenses! Also: When a car hits you while you cross the street and its red light... No insurance will pay your bills You got to pay the damaged car And if you are not dead you can reckon with some medical bills that you have to pay off by yourself Maybe not the surgeries but for example your health insurance can deny you things like a wheelchair or nursing care And all this just because you wanted to cross the street 10 seconds earlier So stay safe guys And greets from Deutschland
9:55 As for taking cash with you. That changed a lot during and because of the pandemic. So you should be able to pay almost everywhere with your credit or a debit card. But I would still have some cash on me just in case.
@1:56 ehre in Germany you can Jaywalk as much as you want. From the side of the law it's not legal to cross a red light, but if decide to cross the street besides the traffic lights, it's ok. but, of course, you have to watch out for cars and bicycles before.
I'm a German of 63 years, and the first time I came across that shoes-off rule was last year, after our business moved again, to a house that has lots of white marble floors. Before, over 60 years, never once.
Public transport is shitty around here in germany. At least on the country side. The right citys can be really good. Frankfurt has quite good public transport for example. But once you go to anything smaller as the suburbs or sometimes even those, it's getting wild.
about #2 crosswalks / lights and jaywalking. Sometimes in the 80' Germany made an effort to combat traffic accidents - especially with pedestrians, especially especially with school kids walking to school. One of the actions taken was the campaign 'Stand when red, walk when green - be an example for the children'. This and a lot of other things like volunteer guides for school children, speed limits on certain ways and so, did the trick and made streets a lot safer for kids (and adults obviously). So yes. When you walk over a red light - it's pretty unlikely a cop will show up to fine you - but the scorn of every parent and elderly person in the vaccinity will burn directly into your soul. edit: Some clarification.
I wonder if Germans do “no substitutions” in restaurants. This annoys me about Americans in restaurants, if you want to change your order that much stay at home.
i never saw this so clearly stated, in my experience people dont really bother with changing and reconstructing a dish. you go out, look for what appeals to you on the menu and order it as is. kindly asking for little changes is still an option though, like leaving out cilantro or something like that. for me it has to do with respect for the restaurant and the staff, like who am i to request all these things. if i want to have a personal chef, a restaurant is not the place for it.
I am German and I always jaywalk and so do my friends and family. BUT... mostly at night or in very rural areas with hardly any traffic and never ever when kids are around somewhere.
we cross streets when the lights are red anyway, especially when you're from a bigger city like Berlin. but we make sure (sometimes) that there are no kids behind so that you're not a bad role model
Jaywalking is generally only illegal in Germany if there is a zebra crossing nearby. The law text leaves a lot up to interpretation: "If the traffic density, driving speed, visibility conditions or the flow of traffic require it, a lane may only be crossed at intersections or junctions, at traffic lights within markings, at pedestrian crossing aids or on pedestrian crossings." I like this law, as it's basically a formal way of saying "use common sense".
More things to go to : Google Europapark and Rulantica Pool , very cool Place - and only 10 min. to France and 50 Min to Switzerland ....just Fly over and enjoy u Vacation... by by Andy ..
I spent 4 years in a small town called lemgo I was stationed there during the cold War. Ourself and the local population got on brilliant even the local hospital came to us in emergency for blood . The harz mountains are beautifull we also did skiing in a place called oy.loved it loved Germany. Not to be forgotten . Berlin is a must see .
@gazelle_diamond9768 no I don't but remember lemgo very well . Especially the small bakery lovely bread rolls .Sam's bar . The park .lemgo Town loved it
Hi there, i would say there are many cultural differences between munich and berlin already :D. Here in Berlin we don't stop at a red light at all except if there are little kids waiting with you, so you have or should be a good role model. If you get caught doing it it costs you a lot of money as will, which can be annoying.
Trueee I visited a friend yesterday and she said I could were my shoes it was my first time visiting and I was like nah girl I rather take them of so I did friendly asf I swear
The cash thing is easy explained because its allready inside the name "Credit card". Credits are debts and we germans hate it to buy things with money we dont have. With cash it is a lot easier to have an overwiev over your money and also the interests on the credits are high, so we dont want to have any credits if we really dont need them.
3:50 In the 1980s and 1990s there were several campaigns against jaywalking because it sets a bad example for children (who mostly can't assess the risk themselves). That campaigns where so successful it's now deeply ingrained in German minds not to jaywalk - at least not where even a small chance exists some kid could see it. And they were also some catchy phrases (some dating even back to the 1960s) by which especially older German women (and also men) remind now others to obey that rule. 7:45 Most Germans do not like offensive servility. They expect mutual respect, which includes some extent of restraint, meaning: leaving the guest alone as long as they not send a signal they need something. 9:30 The work-free Sunday is actually a constitutional right for shop employees. It was introduced in 1891 as amendment to trade law (as part of social reforms aimed at calming down socialdemocratic and socialist movements) and became part of the Weimar constitution in 1919 - and that was one of a handful of constitutional articles which were transferred to the current constitution. 10:00 The reluctance to accept credit cards was mainly due to high fees and commission rates requested by the card (and card reader) issuers and banking companies. (Which are nowadays somewhat reduced, but small businesses still prefer cash, especially for small sums.) Additionally Germany traditionally prefers debit cards to credit cards in order to avoid debt - so debit cards are more widely accepted, at least if they use the national Girocard system and/or the widespread EC / maestro system (by MasterCard). The market share of e.g. American Express is minuscule, only some international hotels will have card readers able to recognize it. Apple Pay & Co are on the rise, but mostly in metropolitan areas.
When u visit a restaurant its not always that u have to tell for ordering, paying etc most restaurants dont have enough personal so its normal that it will take longer, the reason because germans are asking often or telling the personal what u´d like to order is that they think that u could be forgotten and not in a bad way so that we always know we are just humans and after like 15 mins its ok to ask the personal and u dont have to order in an instant, in german restaurants rules time, the personal has to be quick and the guests can take their time like they want, sometimes after some dishes the personal will ask if u want to order more, noone would ask you to pay. if they do than dont get back to them ^^
Actually you are allowed to cross a street if there's no flashlight, it's often understood wrong. You can do it everywhere legally but not where is an "Ampel". If you go over at Red light and get cought you get points that could make you lose your License, if you go to a plays without not. I guess we just like systems that work
The jaywalking thing is probably more accurate for the South of Germany, here in Berlin it is quite common thing. Also you leave not the xmas market mugs but the bottles (especially beer ones with only 8 cents deposit) at the base of the trash bin for the homeless people as one of way of income for them so they don´t have to dig in the trash. We have this habit of taking off shoes in Czech Rep. too, but I don´t follow it anymore and none of my friends (german or nor) do it either. The servis here won´t pamper you but it´s efficient and definitely not rude. The "cash situation" got way better thx to the lockdown as a lot of people wanted to pay contactless - meaning all the supermarkets now accept not only debit but also credit cards (sorry, no AE I´d say). But it´s true that in many bars and small shops cash is still necessary.
half half, many germans here, are love to break a couple of some rules some times, and to go over a red traffic light can get some funny feeling : D anybody are other there
Hi, As soon as there is a deposit on something in Germany it stays in the ownership of the person. This is why they put a deposit on it. 2nd reason is of course to minimise waste etc. So if you pay a deposit on something and you keep it, then its by german law - steeling which gets you in the worst case jail time.
I'm German and I've never heard that you have to bring wine or something when you visit someone, also the shoe thing depends on the family, only one of my friends family does that and their kurds
We germans had 2.562 traffic death in 2022 with 84 mil residents. America 42.900 in 2021 331mil residents. The numbers for 2022 are not out just till sep. Even if we are allowed to drive as fast as we can, the US have 18 times more traffic death but just 4 times more residents . I just never think about crossing if its red becouse, traffic is a passiv. I react and not act .
04:02 thats not correct in munich many of the peoples cross the street when no car is crossing your way, but if you want to be a role model for your parents and their children, of course you only cross the street when it's green
The holocaust memorial was built as a staircase, giving two perspectives. You can be buried away among the blocks, or you can stand on top looking down into the darkness.
There's a difference between dancing on a grave, and walking on and around an art installation commemorating deaths. Art is designed to be explored from all angles. If the artist didn't want you standing on top, they'd have made it difficult or put up signs.
Really? I didn't know this. I walked between the blocks and it was so cold and dark and quiet on a warm summer day... really impression.. I would never have dared to climb those rocks.
thank you for posting this, i do feel the same that memorials should be interactive because i think the memory will stick with me longer (if that makes sense to anyone else)
Fair enough, I think the source video was mainly commenting on the playful selfies and lack of sensitivity displayed by tourists at the sites. Completely agree with your thoughts though.
I have to disagree here. Do not walk on top of the stones! It is not an art installation, and it is not a staircase - it is a memorial! It is meant to walk between the stones.
The memorial is meant to create a feeling in the visitor: from the outside it looks flat and harmless. As soon as you take a few steps inside, you suddenly find yourself standing between meter-high blocks, dark, cold, without light. It expresses how quickly a society is drawn into the swamp of fascism without being able to foresee it.
That's just wrong. Sometimes there are even security guards which will ask you to get down if you climb on the memorial
We Germans sometimes run through red lights, especially at night. It is important to us that children do not take this as a role model and run across the street when it is red. We simply want to protect them from the risk of an accident. The cash thing is really a German peculiarity. One of the reasons for this is that we would like to have an overview of what we can and cannot afford. When paying by card you lose it very quickly and most Germans don't want to have debts (credits).
Yes, I've seen it more in busy places like Berlin (I don't think it was just tourists either) 😂😂
that makes a lot more sense
There's absolutely nothing wrong with crossing at a red light if it's safe to do so. I think it's on the parents not to cross unsafely with their children rather than everyone taking on that responsibility.
If you are driving through red lights, then children crossing at a green walk signal are still going to be run over..the light is red becasuse the walking signal is green. Usually better to teach kids not to rely on technology and use their own senses to check for cars.
@@WildSlinkys Of course, children should also take care of themselves. However, small children often have trouble judging the distance and speed of an approaching car. Therefore they have to follow the traffic lights . In Germany, many children walk to school. That's why adults don't have to teach them that they can run on red. It's safer if they follow the traffic light rules.
Malta, 1 o'clock in the night, 4 people waiting in front of a red light... First question "So you are from Germany too?" And yes, we are :D
Wie geil😂😂
I had the same experience in L.A. - an old chinese guy came to me and asked me, if I am from germany. I was so confused and later realized, there was a red traffic light moments before :D
I had that kind of experience at daylight in London.
Nur wenn Autos da sind, sonst wird gelaufen 😂
lmao
I as a German do also J- walk, but ONLY if it's necessary for the sake of being punctual (e.g. for work), ONLY if there are no children or police around AND the street is clear so it's safe for me. Otherwise I'd stop at the red lights of course, like a good German does.
Yes, that is good advice. I wait at a red light in the UK if there are children (with parents) waiting to cross - I don't want to mislead the children into thinking they can cross against a red light.
In my experience it heavily varies based on the region aswell. I feel like mostly it's okay for most people to j walk if it's obviously save. Basically the only reason I will not j walk is if there are Childern in sight or a police car stopped at the light.
if you're in a hurry, you're already late. doesn't matter if you're 5 or 15 minutes late. you're late. But yes, running for a tram or bus is the only excuse for jailwalking. as a small child, my mom would always say: "never do that when you're alone." 20 years later and I am running over a red light for the bus x'D
When there are no cars coming, why waiting for the green light? It's just a waste of time
btw: In some Chinese cities they intalled devices squirting water at people when they cross a red light. Would be very nice on hot summer days.
It's not that the waiter hands you the menu and waits impatiently next to your table for you to make your orders. 😂😂
Most of the time, they'll return after a few minutes and ask for drink orders first, then bring your drinks to the table and when everyone's got his/ her drink, they'll take your food orders right away. That's how it is in 99% of German restaurants.
And of course they will check on you from time to time and ask if everything is fine, just not as often as in the US.
If you want to place another order or ask for the bill though, it's true that YOU have to make the waiter notice you.
Thanks for that. I've been in Germany several times and I don't think I have ever experienced what the narrator of this video was saying. He made it sound like you get the menu and then have 10 seconds to order. 🙂 Nice to have my thoughts confirmed .
Yes, as far as I know (my parents work in a German restaurant) it's very important to give out drinks before ordering, because that way the conversations at the table are getting started (sometimes there might even be a second round of drinks before ordering food, or the first round of shots). Drinks are where you make the most money, and that way they sell more. And you just normally give off 'the vibe' that you want to order (closing the menu card, looking up, getting silent and waiting for the waiter, ...) And then the waiters will come to you
Another thing might be: Don't stand in the entrance area waiting for someone to assign you a seat. Find your own seat. If a table is reserved, there are usually signs on it.
@@fipsvonfipsenstein6704 I recently went to eat in a bub. Close to the entrance, there was a sign to wait to be seated, so I waited. Just to be told to find myself a seat. I suspect that was a rest of pandemic rules they hadn't cleaned up yet.
@@KaiHenningsen I mean, there might be one or two restaurants out there, which do exactly that ... but I never experienced it.
So for me for example, when visiting my sister in the UK, there are usually three things I struggle within the first days: Looking mainly right when crossing a road, sitting in the front left seat of a car without pedals and a steering wheel, and waiting at the entrance of a restaurant to get seated.
And btw.: Is eating in Buben not kinda pedophile? 🤔
The thing about "half timbered houses" is, that most of those "My life in Germany" videos are made in the south. If one of them would move to the North, they'd "only" see houses made of brick stone with stepped gables or on the countryside thatched houses.
As others said: We wait on the red light because of children. There are even signs sometimes, saying "Den Kindern ein Vorbild" which means "a rolemodel for children". You think twice about crossing that street on a red light with such a sign 😁
And the kids (and other adults) will have some words for you if you ignore the red light.
Tbh I'm waiting at a red light for myself, not for some random Child. Even if you think the streets are empty, there is probably an A hole waiting around the corner to run you over
@@ALuna813 Naw, in Germany we have special police sitting in the nearby buildings waiting for Americans that cross the streets while the lights are read and then shoot them ....
The memorial point really struck a chord with me, last time I was in Berlin, several idiots were posing on the piece and it made me so angry that I ended up telling someone how disrespectful they were being, and yes I'm afraid to say they were American 😞..they didn't even have the decency to look shamefaced , just walked away laughing about the 'stuck-up British' ...if having respect for the poor victims of an appalling war crime is stuck-up then I'm glad to be so!
@@ichbinbluna3504 It doesn't matter what the Builder thinks, he was commissioned to build a Memorial and paid for it, Germany uses it as a Memorial and therefore one should behave respectfully there.
@@ichbinbluna3504 I accept that it is a memorial, a graveyard, a place to remember all the people who have died, it is not a Selfiespot to share the snapshots of the day, and anyone with a modicum of thinking will not see it as a playground.
@@ichbinbluna3504 Reading that article, and the main article linked from there, this does not seem to support your "The architect of the Memorial has a completely different opinion about it.". In fact, it seems to support the view that climbing and disrespectful behavior is not appreciated.
Well its a difference in perspective i guess. We germans know every evil thing from ww2 in and out because of how our system and education deal with it. So these spots are very important for us to remember to never let that happen again. For americans especially its more like visiting a victory memorial more of a celebration thing i could think, especially if they dont have the deep knowledge and understanding some people have.
Id say as much as it seems wrong to take duckface instagramm pictures there it just as much helps to spread awareness about the matter. And as the memorial is meant to be expirienced from all angles standing on it is fine i guess.
For all the americans: imagine someone did something like this at Arlington Memorial. How would you feel? Or did this duckface thing at MLK's house. Or played skipping stone all over the 9/11 Memorial. Would you like *that* ? No? Then remember that anything holocaust related holds the same value to us as the mentioned above memorials hold value to you. You don't want yours defaced and we don't ours.
The small children learned in school in Germany that you can only cross the street when it is green. So there are extra traffic lessons at our elementary school in the village. A traffic light was also set it up especially for little school children. So we adults are role models for the children. Germans do a lot to commemorate our history and take seriously so it is also important to commemorate all these many victims with dignity, you visit the memorials , the concentration camps , etc.
one thing Americans don't understand is, that in Germany (or Europe) even really youg children walking on the street unattendent (e.g. when they have to go to school). Therefore it is more likely that they pick up bad habits when it comes to crossig a road.
@@petrophaga8523 Normally, the elementary school in Germany is not far from your parents house. If so, you will be taken to school by bus. As already described the children receive traffic lessons at school.They are told to drive more slowly during school hours and the children have learned the road only to cross whe the traffic light shows green. The good thing about it is that the small children learn to cycle to school independently . So far no accident were happened.
@@blondkatze3547 Nah, of course accidents happen sometimes - but when children are driven to school in a car, car crashs do also happen, so that's not safer. You can never be completely sure there will be no accident, that's life.
I agree with you.👍@@annkathrinhanamond2982
@@blondkatze3547 No, they don't. They get traffic lessons later, when it comes to bike training. But kids go to school with their parents until they feel safe enough top go alone or with friends. Walking to school often includes Walking over crossings, using busses and trams/trains, etc..
"Bei Rot musst du stehen, bei Grün *darfst* du gehen". Absolute classic.
Do you really want to teach children that it is ok to jaywalk? Children are terrible at judging speeds and following rules. We want our children to live.
The "touristy" stuff at the camps is new to me but if this is true - these people have a special place in extra-hell reserved for them.
I've been to Germany a few times and had a really good time. People definitely were friendly and also loved to practice their English, which was so often excellent. My parents used to take in German students when I was a child and we were fortunate to be invited to stay with some of their families. It's also a beautiful country, I would certainly recommend going.
I find cultural differences fascinating. In Australia we just wander across streets and dont worry too much about Walk ,Dont Walk signs and zebra crossings if there is no traffic. I wandered across a street in Nuremberg and was confronted by a group of Omas who gave me a good dressing down. There was a kindergarten across the street and I was a bad example to the children. I've learnt my lesson. When in Germany I always check for schools and kindgardens before wandering across a street.
On the bright side, it might’ve been good for any children watching to see an adult get yelled at for the same thing they do. :)
@LisaGM Yes I agree. My own two children were raised to be self reliant and did walk or ride their bikes several kilometers to school by age 5 years. They grew up in a small Australian regional city with lots of space , not too many roads to cross and not much traffic. They both have their own familes now. I've just returned from Nurnberg and miss greatly, my son's three year old Australian/ German grandaughter holding my hand as we cross the street. My daughter lives on Mallorca with my five and eight years old grandchildren. They have an even more relaxed attitude to crossing roads than I do!Another cultural difference.
Love Germany...been there twice...he's absolutely correct about everything. One of the most outstanding things is how friendly everyone is.
We’re you in Berlin as well ? 😂
The pfand (deposit) is on glass and plastic bottles too. If you buy a 12-pack of water in a store, each bottle will attract a deposit of between 10 and 25 cents. So save them up and return them to stores, which have recycling machines which will refund your deposit as you put the bottles in the machine. This sum adds up quickly. Btw, the jaywalking thing applies chiefly at crossings. One often sees people crossing mid-block or across streets in smaller towns where there are shops both sides. Remember, at uncontrolled junctions, pedestrians take precendence over vehicles! You misunderstood one thing, Joel. On the whole, when eating out Germans take their time eating, chatting, drinking, etc. The advice given was to order soon after being offered the menu, as servers won't be visiting your table often.
I was at a completely empty street in Koln - no cars at all.. only three pedestrians and we all waited.. and waited.. and waited to cross (it felt like 5 minutes with no cars at all).. It's really weird for Brits as we would just cross, but in Germany (also Austria and parts of Poland), its massively important to wait. Same goes for pedestrians straying into cycle lanes (which can be quite easy).. you will get told off.
@paul denby. I stayed a while in Frankfürt many years back. I could not get used to this bit being footpath and that bit being cycle lane. Almost no-one cycled in my home city of Bradford as the roads are so steep, so the idea that you would give way to a cyclist without giving them an earful for not watching for pedestrians was totally weird. Plus, being a northerner, I was used to giving anyone who thought they could boss me about an even bigger earful, so I had to really think and bite my tongue.
I would just cross the road. It's hugely ironic that Germans are all busy busy when it comes to food ordering etc but then wait a long time to cross a road that's perfectly safe 😂
@@listey Children in Germany can be allowed to play in the streets or go to Kindergarten by themselves at a very young age, because they know not to cross a street when a car is in sight or the traffic light shows red. And as an adult we tend to be embarrassed by children telling us the rules of the road. Oh, did you ever compare number of killed or wounded pedestrians in traffic between your place and Germany ....
@@wora1111 Children in UK are taught to ignore strangers for their safety and to stick up to anyone telling them what to do. If they "gobbled off" at someone, they would be putting themselves in danger. My policeman father made sure I knew how to fight back for these reasons, but could hardly be surprised when I knocked him out aged about six. So different!
@@alansmithee8831 you can teach children many things, but often they do (and learn) just what they see from an adult. So better not show them bad behaviour.
Two more don'ts: keep conversations in public quite and don't bother other people with ringing mobile phones and phone talks, esp. in restaurants, cafes, trains, etc. The well behaved German is even going outside of the restaurant for a phone call.
Cash culture is very important in Germany, also because many old people don't trust the banks
Hey, ich bin nicht alt!
You should never trust a bank
The jaywalking thing: Germany is an extremely safe place. The children start going to school by themselves at 6yo, and you will see families with the tiniest kids (1,5-2yo) cycling together. The kids have to learn the rules in order to keep safe. You will see posters beside the traffic-lights: "Be a good example for the children, wait for the green light". It is true: if you show to children that nobody else jaywalk, they won't. If you show them the rule is a bit loose, they will try to cross quickly one time... and there you go. You - as an adult - may be safe 99% of the time, but a kid as small as 6 doesn't have the same instincts and experience. That is also why German drivers will hit the breakes always - *always!* - in proximity of zebra crossings.
Edit to add: It is also part of their conception of society. Everybody is responsible for tbe good functioning of society and caring for the children, it's not just "their parents' business". That's why German Omas (Granny in German 😆) will scold you if you do something wrong. They feel like they are a little bit your Grandma too and they are entitled to it 😅
yeah its kinda crazy to see 6 yo old kids going to school alone e.g. when using the German Subway system which is impressive but i guess thats just a thing in Big cities like Berlin.
it just stunned me because i grew up in a village and taking the school bus and everybody in the neighborhood knowing each other is very different to taking the subway train in a huge city like berlin as a kid.
In Germany it is about efficiency, an pedestrians (crossing red light) are seen as a part of traffic and are fined the same as bicylce or car drivers. No exceptions for pedestrians! Also you are an exaple for the children. And as we are densly populated it is helpful when people follow rules, it would be chaos otherwise.
Sometimes I feel the urge to cross the road during the red lights 😉🤣- but only if no one is watching, especially no kids, if there are NO cars approaching me and only if I want to do something forbidden lol Viele Grüße ais Deutschland.
With regard to the service, he mainly describes the larger restaurants and breweries. Here his statement applies due to the large number of guests. This does not apply to average, smaller restaurants. Here I describe it more like this:
After the first order and as part of the service, we Germans usually have the friendliness to accept someone's privacy and only approach us when the other person signals to do so. This is usually done with eye contact, a smile, a friendly nod, or raising your hand to signal a waiter, for example. Although he does appear in the meantime to clear away empty plates or glasses, he may also ask at this point if everything is ok or if you would like anything else. Only rarely, however, will a waiter offensively interrupt the conversations at the table in order to perhaps snag an order. We Germans usually find this forcible invasion of privacy or rude pressure from salespeople to be impolite. In such a case, the seller must already have a lot of charm. The waitresses usually look around the restaurant to catch those signals. Furthermore, for us, a stay in the restaurant is not just a process of eating, but primarily serves to socialize with family or friends. After the meal we sit together, talk and have a drink. It is common that you at least consume something, but there are only very few restaurants that actually work with fixed time windows and guests complimented out after the meal.
Exactly. Staying for hours is common. The guests choose when to leave.
The jaywalking is more being a role model. Germany has lots of apartment complexes overlooking even busy streets. You just can't be certain kids don't watch you.
As kids walk to school here from grade 1 (age 6 or do) alone they should not be enticed to potentially consider it a non-dangerous behavior. Many kids can't correctly judge the speed of approaching vehicles, or how quickly they can brake in an emergency, especially not large vehicles.
Yeah, theoretically you can get fined here for jaywalking but it must have been the worst day in the world for a cop to actually fine you. Unless you cause an accident right in front of them. In that case, yepp, they probably will, just to drive home the point.
Edit: cash. Since the hyperinflation of 1923 there have been at least two, if not three consecutive generations that have lost EVERYTHING in their bank accounts. Once 1923, then again in 1945, then the East Germans in 1990. So a certain mistrust is warranted to banks. In addition banks levy additional fees for using credit cards, which tends to be charged directly on the average prices of a store or restaurant. That's why some places simply don't accept credit cards at all to skip this surcharge and keep prices lower and more competitive. When the society as a whole still accepts cash there is no downside to going cash only.
But during the pandemic years card payment (any contactless payment) has become a lot more common.
Me, being born and raised right by the Harz mountains, absolutely melting at the mention of my beloved home as so many travel guides just completely forget about this beautiful region.
Thale, Quedlinburg and Wernigerode are smaller but definitely worthy destinations to visit.
the restaurant thing... normally when you get the Menu they already ask you what you want to drink (most germans know they wanna drink their 1 beer and kids get a coke or sth like that) and since nearly every restaurant got the same drinks you pretty much know your order before. Also most restaurants got different sorts of beer so you just ask which beers they have and then you can spontaneous decide otherwise and then the waiter will go and get your drinks and by that time you mostly found the food you want to order in the menu already and so you get the drinks and simultaneously the waiter takes your food order and you can calmly sit with your family without the waiter asking every 5 minutes if everything is okay... the other option is that you get the menu and its mostly in little "books" and when the waiter sees everyone on the table closed his "book" they know what food they want to order and then comes automatically and first asks if everyone knows what he wants and since you most likely do you can order without calling for the waiter but most of them see it themselves... when its about payment yeah mostly you call for the bill and then you calmly drink your beverage after paying.. other option here is all beverages are finished and the waiter asks if you need anything new and you just say you want the bill which he then brings... its quite cool since there isnt a waiter asking you permanently about anything because a restaurant visit for germans in 99% of all cases means time with family and you dont want to interrupt them during their family time where they just wanna talk and have a calm day not cooking for themselves
100% the same in Belgium.
Punctuality is important. When the electrician says they will be there at a certain time they will be there. One told us 7:30 in morning and they were there. When we were looking at apartments the agent had set appointments at certain times and we were early for one of the appointments so we waited until it was the correct time.
Very good video Joel. German food is fabulous!! It will keep your ribs apart, for sure! I love travelling in Germany and meeting the local people. I have always been spoiled in Germany by such kind, helpful folks. John in Canada
The "never walk on red" thing is a mix of a culture of following rules, traffic education that happens in elementary school and as a mix of both: Be a role model for children. You gotta keep in mind that many children in Germany other than in the U.S. walk to school on their own from the age of 6 / 7 and we all want them to be safe on their way, so we try to be the best role models possible.
The cash thing has changed a lot, in no small part due to COVID. People were asked to avoid using cash so people wouldn‘t have to touch something that might be carrying the virus (most likely overkill), and it got even smaller stores around to accepting cards. However, debit cards are probably more popular with many places and people than credit cards. I know many people who use them because they want the money taken out of their accounts immediately. Still, I almost never have to go to an ATM to get cash anymore; I pay for almost everything by card.
Interesting, I noticed in Austria that many of the smaller places and restaurants that started accepting cards had stopped last summer. Things seem to be slowly returning to pre corona normal. I wonder if there is a noticable difference in Germany between Bavaria and the rest of the country, since Bavaria and northern Austra are so alike a lot if the time.
The distinction between debit and credit cards is really important. It may have changed, just like mobile payments are becoming more popular, but when I last checked, a lot of places only accepted debit cards.
@@haukenot3345 That‘s very true. Pharmacies here in Hamburg accept only debit cards (in my experience; there may of course be some that accept credit cards). It‘s quite common to find places that have the same policy. But before COVID, many businesses wouldn‘t even accept debit cards.
@@michaelmedlinger6399 I think in the next years this thing with the debit cards will change because of the end of Maestro. I don't get it why we Germans love the cash. At our neighbours in Denmark for example I can pay my Hotdog with credit card or mobile payment.
@@MrPhotofan I insisted on cash only in my store even during Covid - its a myth that the virus can be transmitted via cash. Also Frakk mobile payment.
Germany is great, I go there for work alot. The people and food are amazing. I never have had a bad experience.
As of May we get the 49 Euro (Deutschlandticket), with that you can use all regional trains, trams and buses for a month. Not the High Speed ICE, but you can technically go everywhere with that ticket, but it takes time because you need to change the trains often. But it will be a very cheap solution to go around.
i have to add that not only the ICE (Inter City Express) is excluded from the umcoming Deutschlandticket, the "normal" IC (well... Inter City... obviously!) and the EC (Euro City) are excluded too.
There might be exceptions, but to keep it simple let's just stay with that for now.
Yeah, May....if we're lucky.
Yes I can definitely see you visiting Germany Joel . It does seem a lovey place. With very sensible rules! 😁👍
German food is great and some of the funniest people I have met have been German. Stereotypes are often misleading.
well, to be fair - as a german i can say, we (mostly) don't expect getting gifts from visitors, even when we invited them. if you don't know what you will bring, or when you get invited, it's not even a bad thing to ask if you should bring something - just look at they're reactions and what they said. Even for ordering in a restaurant - when you know what you want to drink, order it when you get the menue; you might get time until your drinks arrive for looking at the menue that you can see what they've had and you can order. if you don't understand anything ('cause it might be in german) - just ask; the most will try to explain what stands there. sometimes the restaurants even had a website where you can take a look at the menue - so that you can order right away; a few had a part of they'r menue even oit at the entrance. when you want the bill, it's normal to look out for a waiter and wink to them shortly; if they recognize you, you'll get a notice from them. what wolter (i guess walter, but i'm not sure) meant with "counting up the bill" is just adding the tip to it - 'cause it's not common here to give a tip. if you think, they're doing good service, they're always happy for the tip, 'cause it's just a bonus to they're salary.
the "cash" thing is even normal here, but due to corona, in the most places can be in the meantime even be paid with card - but be careful, not all places accepts credit cards. for the cards, here they use the "chip", or, if they're contacless, that one - the magnet stripe isn't really used here (mostly just by the atm's).
and just a little tip if you're planning on "flying to germany" - Don't, really DON'T fly to munich. if you're lucky, you will get away from there ('cause there's just a small regional train-Station there, where you need to go to the train-station of munich city - but the train-travelings there are really bad, so you might get stuck and need help), otherways you stay a long time or have a aventural train-ride from there. can say that, 'cause the last time i were there, i needed over 7 hours to get "as close as i can" back home - and that were normally just a 3-hour train ride. the best airport here might be in Frankfurt (callsign FRA), 'cause there's not only short-distance trains as even long-distance trains what stop there - and the airport itself isn't a bad maze (what is in munich, especially when you try to fly to america).
Regarding restaurants, usually it works like this:
You seat yourselfs or get seated, get menus, order drinks almost immediately.
Then you look through the food section and when everyone knows what they want, you close the menus and that is usually the sign for a waiter to come.
If you want to order dessert or the bill, you call over a waiter :)
If you are often at a restaurant, it can happen that you just order everything at once.
Also often closed: (doctors and) pharmacies on Wednesday afternoons
9:07 it is worth noting the minimum age to rent a car in Germany is 18, and most companies only require you’ve held a license for a day, so it’s not as restrictive as most other countries.
the memorial thing, it is probably not only from USA but lots would be. And they would also be the ones throwing a fit if tourists did that in Arlington
02:13 I remember once as a kid crossing a red line without noticing that the car actually waiting on the lights was an firetruck, so they gave me the sirens and laughed it off but I was scared none the less.
small note to the "pfand": if you REALLY wanna throw away a bottle that has it on it, you can always put it next to trash cans in public, DO NOT THROW THEM IN THERE. we put them next to it so ppl that are less fortunate and need those to get some money dont have to dig in the trash and van just take them
The 'Pfand is an important issue to know about. It's not only 3 or 5 bucks for the mugs, but it's 20 or 25 cent for every can, beer bottle, plastic water bottle, and every shop that sell these items, has to take them back. Usually it's some big machine in a corner, you put everything on the small conveyor belt, and it gives you a coupon you can use at checkout. It does add up, and helps the environment.
Hello Joel. It sounds like the best thing to do in Germany, when you are used to attentive customer service, is to look up things on the internet or written information, so as to know what you want before you go.
Angela from Midwest Americans watched this with her sister who lives in Germany, though poor Ethan got left out. You could ask them for tips if you go?
As a small kid I was running on top of that momorial in Berlin, at that time I didn't know what it was. My Parents got me of that quite quickly. I think the fact that so many kids are walking and running on top of that has to do something with how easy it is to get on top because they start at a very low high
About the deposit on bottles or cups what we call "Pfand" is actually much bigger than just at a christmas market or oktoberfest. It goes for plastic bottles that you can buy in a store as well which you bring back to the store after you finsihed them and then they are recylcled. We have specific machines for them which will count the amount of bottles you inserted and then you get a receit after that tells you how much money (deposit) you got back. Not all bottles do have a deposit tho. You can find a little icon on the bottle that will tell you if it has a deposit or not. If it doesnt you just trash it normally. It is an entire recylce system. Also every household has at least 3 bins to seperate trash. Mainly plastic, paper and bio trash such as spoiled leftovers or parts of food you dont eat.
Sometimes we say "Grüngänger leben länger. Rotgänger: Totgänger." which means "Green walkers live longer. Red walkers: Dead walkers."
German food is the best. You have never tasted food until you have tasted German food. But then being German, I'm pretty biased. lol
In the beginning of a friendship you can bring gifts when coming over but you for most people i know its just that if they invited you over you’ll invite them at some point too
You probably remember learning in the US: "Safety First." The reason why jaywalking is a big deal is because the children, they learn from adults what to do and when we jaywalk, they will do it also. In Germany, unlike for many places in the USA, there are cars, bicyclists and pedestrians all around and it's important to mind each other. Germans take care of one another, therefore they will tell you when you are not doing what is asked of us. They mean well....Love your reactions, etc...keep it up!!!
jaywalking is not a thing. if there is no traffic light or zebra crossing you can still just cross the street. The only thing you are legally not allowed to do is cross a traffic light at red. People will of couse discourage you because it sets a bad example but it is totally legal.
The common credit cards in Germany are Visa and Mastercard, you can pay nearly everywhere with them, but mostly there is a minimum amount of €5-€10, because there are transaction fees wich also the seller has to pay. Other credit cards are only accepted at larger Hotels. Onyl very tiny shops and restaurants don't over card payments.
I'm living in Germany and about Jaywalking: From my experience people don't think badly about people jaywalking, it's just on the one side if kids are present people like to be strict rule followers then, for kids not to jaywalk and get into an accident, and generally it's more of people think it is risky to jaywalk
You can certainly cross the street on foot if there are no traffic lights nearby (about 50m) and the street does not have structurally separated lanes (e.g. through a flower bed). But if there is a traffic light, it must be observed. Pedestrian zones exist in many inner cities, and there are often no traffic lights. In my town we have only one crossing near a bosstop with a trafic light, to slow down the Soccermoms in their too big and unnecessary SUVs or I like to call them "city tanks".
I've literally just come back from Berlin (Monday). Not sure on the not crossing on the red Ampelmännchen rule anymore. I saw plenty of people crossing on red and in front of police too and to coin a British phrase....'they weren't arsed'
Berlin is special in that case. Many people still don't go with small children around though. But you can definitely cross a red light in front of the police and they don't care at all. But that's not like this everywhere in Germany.
Wolters World recorded this video in 2016, so 6 years ago and before Covid. Especially during Covid the acceptance of payment cards has become a lot more common in Germany.
monday most museums are closed some places are closed on tuesday dresden naples wed, keep coins for toilets
Fun fact: See the big palace like building behind him? My grandpa used to work there somewhen in the 1950s I think. It's the Bavarian department of Justice.
In one way I really like getting asked for directions while abroad.
It means I don't look or behave like a (pause) tourist (shudder).
Since 2020 the cash thing somewhat changed and a lot of places added cashless payment, but still if you want to get a Döner, you most likely have to pay in cash
The thing with the deposit of especially cans and bottles is recycling. Glas or plastic bottles just get cleand up and refilled again where they were come from. Cans get shredded and the aluminium gets back to the recycling system and to make sure this works we have to pay a little extra for the bottle it self that we get back if we bring the cans or bottles back to the store.
For example:
If buy a bottle of water the price tag sys let us say 1€ und underneath the wil be another price saying + 0.15€ Pfand meaning at the cash I will pay 1.15€. 1€ for the water and 0.15€ for the bottle. These 15 cents that we pay for the bottle is the money we get back if we bring the bottle to the store, Cents is the name of smaller money like in the US (Dollar and Cents in European Unin with some countries that still have their own money it is Euro and Cents). 1€ is 100 in Cents.
In Germany we rather go a few meters away from the traffic lights to cross the street there instead of jaywalking😅
That's usually how we do it, when we don't wanna wait for the red light. Aim for a spot between the traffic lights and use this when there are no cars atm instead of waiting for the light to turn green🤣
But there are still some shops that only accept cash so it still is better to have cash on you or ask if they accept cards befor purchasing
In America, everything is Cities. In Europe there are also villages and hamlets. Make sure you don't miss them.
The cash ting has changed a lot during covid. It started years ago, but get realy fast during 2020/2021. You can realy pay with card in the most places. Smaler businesses sometimes don't accept cards, but that will change in the years to come. I can't speak for every part in germany, but in the major citys (like Hamburg, Berlin Frankfurt etc.) you can use youre card nearly everywhere. In the countryside it can be more complicated, but it depends. If it's a tourist destination you can use your card mostly.
10:05 its because of the "Mehrwertsteuer", wich is a 19% tax, but when you pay in cash you dont have to pay that tax, so you pay the same amount and they receive the full amount
In regard to the "fast order your food", yes, it's done completely differently in Germany compared to the US. Please, don't forget to consider that the waiters and waitresses in USA are "working" for our tips. They have to do a "song and a dance" to make sure the tip is adequate and hopefully high, because the hourly wages are low in the US and they depend on the tips to survive. In Germany and Europe, they are paid a fair wage and therefore, they don't have to come and shmoos you. It took me forever until I figured out that is the reason, they keep coming to your table to please you, however they also want you to eat and go, because the table has to be free for the next people, who will give tips. In European restaurants you can usually linger and spent time with your friends for hours. On the other hand, that does not pertain to "tourist places." Does that make sense? As I already said it took me a very long time living in the US until I realized what is happening. It's just the way things are different in every nation. All is well!
I am german and on some streets, it's alright to cross the street when it's red. I lived in a small city, and the crossing light system was so awful that sometimes you could cross the street if no car was there. You can as well just go a bit further and cross the street without a traffic light. But if you are not the only one who wants to cross the street (especially if kids are around) you'll wait till the light is green.
If you would visit my household we would be really surprised if you brought something for us as a gift. I think this is considered pretty old-fashioned and I can't remember if we ever did something like that. And if your shoes aren't dirty (like really muddy) you don't have to take them off at our house.
The ordering thing is really weird. You usually order your drinks first and after you get them you order your food and even if you don't know yet what to order you are allowed to take your time!
A lot of places are a bit more modern now so you don't always have to have cash with you.
The Germans generally are logical, efficient, honest and very professional about everything! 🧐 Deposits on mugs makes you think about what to do with it later - if you pay for something, it's worth more! Same in my family, bring a gift if you are invited to visit! 🤗 Jewish Camp Selfies, that's sick! 🤨 Your bet is probably safe! 👍 Be ready and efficient at all times! 😀 "Would you like anything more." "Yes, for you to go away"!! 😏 Autobahn, only with a really good driver! Sunday is rest day, Monday too quiet! 😌 Cash is always handy! 👍 The Bavaria region is definitely worth experiencing, it's uniquely beautiful! 😂😃
Please react to "This is Germany" by Dr. Ludwig!
With the point about cash in germany he is only half correct. Yes couple of years ago only big shops took cards but since corona almost every shop started to accept cards. You might however see a sign that states that they accept cards only above payments of 5€. That is because of the way the paymentsystem with cards in germany works. In germany the shop rents the cardreader from a provider. Every payment made with this reader goes through the system of the provider who sorts the payments and transfers the money to the financial institute of the shop. They also are the communicater between the financial institute from the shop and the customer when a payment is made with a card without enough money on it. For that reason the provider usually takes couple cents up to few euros per transaction based on the contract the shop and the provider have
Well for the street crossing: it's not that bad like there are lots of people crossing the road while red cause the light periods at some places are just way to short or I for once do so when there is no traffic anyway and even if there are rules getting caught and punish is like winning the lottery 'cause obviously there aren't policemen at every crossing.
For the restaurant: I don't know where he was but u can of course call the waitress over if you want something but they also check in on u from time to time. Like u sit down, they give u the card and ask if u already know what u want to drink. Then they leave and when come back with drinks asking if ur ready (u still can ask for more time) and then it depends: after getting ur meal u need to call the service over if u want something else or it can happen that they check on u but of course not every 5 or 10 min. More like when they see that something is empty and need refills or take away.
From 1966 to 2005, the traffic program "the 7th sense" was broadcast regularly on television.
The generations that have watched these programs have seen what happens when....
And so many still hold to more or less unspoken rules.
Most restaurants in germany have the menu displayed on the outside so u can have a first look before going in
To the jaywalking point. You can cross the street everywhere you want in germany. But if you cross at a traffic light you have to follow the red/green cycle.
Everything else just be sensible and cross where it is safe and not a 4 Lane Arterial. There are almost everywhere on this roads crossings nearby because pedestrian traffic is recognised and enthised here.
The thing with the jaywalking/red lights:
Yes the Autobahn is wild and scary sometimes...but also very useful
I think Germans learnt the hard way that cars can be very dangerous (when you slam into another car at 200 km/h or get crushed by a 30 ton truck that just randomly stops...you see this daily in Germany)
So we really obey to the traffic rules because we know the consequenses!
Also:
When a car hits you while you cross the street and its red light...
No insurance will pay your bills
You got to pay the damaged car
And if you are not dead you can reckon with some medical bills that you have to pay off by yourself
Maybe not the surgeries but for example your health insurance can deny you things like a wheelchair or nursing care
And all this just because you wanted to cross the street 10 seconds earlier
So stay safe guys
And greets from Deutschland
9:55 As for taking cash with you. That changed a lot during and because of the pandemic. So you should be able to pay almost everywhere with your credit or a debit card. But I would still have some cash on me just in case.
@1:56 ehre in Germany you can Jaywalk as much as you want. From the side of the law it's not legal to cross a red light, but if decide to cross the street besides the traffic lights, it's ok. but, of course, you have to watch out for cars and bicycles before.
For every CC and DC transaction a fee is charget to either customer or seller. They just want to avoid the hustle with the fee, hence cash. :)
I'm a German of 63 years, and the first time I came across that shoes-off rule was last year, after our business moved again, to a house that has lots of white marble floors. Before, over 60 years, never once.
Public transport is shitty around here in germany. At least on the country side. The right citys can be really good. Frankfurt has quite good public transport for example. But once you go to anything smaller as the suburbs or sometimes even those, it's getting wild.
about #2 crosswalks / lights and jaywalking.
Sometimes in the 80' Germany made an effort to combat traffic accidents - especially with pedestrians, especially especially with school kids walking to school. One of the actions taken was the campaign 'Stand when red, walk when green - be an example for the children'.
This and a lot of other things like volunteer guides for school children, speed limits on certain ways and so, did the trick and made streets a lot safer for kids (and adults obviously).
So yes. When you walk over a red light - it's pretty unlikely a cop will show up to fine you - but the scorn of every parent and elderly person in the vaccinity will burn directly into your soul.
edit: Some clarification.
I wonder if Germans do “no substitutions” in restaurants. This annoys me about Americans in restaurants, if you want to change your order that much stay at home.
i never saw this so clearly stated, in my experience people dont really bother with changing and reconstructing a dish. you go out, look for what appeals to you on the menu and order it as is. kindly asking for little changes is still an option though, like leaving out cilantro or something like that. for me it has to do with respect for the restaurant and the staff, like who am i to request all these things. if i want to have a personal chef, a restaurant is not the place for it.
I am German and I always jaywalk and so do my friends and family.
BUT... mostly at night or in very rural areas with hardly any traffic and never ever when kids are around somewhere.
3:40 no at the oktoberfest there is normally no disspoist on the beer mugs there is securtiy that wont allow it
we cross streets when the lights are red anyway, especially when you're from a bigger city like Berlin. but we make sure (sometimes) that there are no kids behind so that you're not a bad role model
Jaywalking is generally only illegal in Germany if there is a zebra crossing nearby. The law text leaves a lot up to interpretation:
"If the traffic density, driving speed, visibility conditions or the flow of traffic require it, a lane may only be crossed at intersections or junctions, at traffic lights within markings, at pedestrian crossing aids or on pedestrian crossings."
I like this law, as it's basically a formal way of saying "use common sense".
More things to go to : Google Europapark and Rulantica Pool , very cool Place - and only 10 min. to France and 50 Min to Switzerland ....just Fly over and enjoy u Vacation... by by Andy ..
I spent 4 years in a small town called lemgo I was stationed there during the cold War. Ourself and the local population got on brilliant even the local hospital came to us in emergency for blood . The harz mountains are beautifull we also did skiing in a place called oy.loved it loved Germany. Not to be forgotten . Berlin is a must see .
Oh hey! I'm actually from near Lemgo! Remember a small town called Horn-Bad Meinberg?
@gazelle_diamond9768 no I don't but remember lemgo very well . Especially the small bakery lovely bread rolls .Sam's bar . The park .lemgo Town loved it
Hi there, i would say there are many cultural differences between munich and berlin already :D. Here in Berlin we don't stop at a red light at all except if there are little kids waiting with you, so you have or should be a good role model. If you get caught doing it it costs you a lot of money as will, which can be annoying.
Concerning the street crossing thing: I think it‘s pretty logical, cause the cars follow the light too and it‘s pretty dangerous to ignore them!
Trueee I visited a friend yesterday and she said I could were my shoes it was my first time visiting and I was like nah girl I rather take them of so I did friendly asf I swear
The cash thing is easy explained because its allready inside the name "Credit card".
Credits are debts and we germans hate it to buy things with money we dont have.
With cash it is a lot easier to have an overwiev over your money and also the interests on the credits are high, so we dont want to have any credits if we really dont need them.
3:50 In the 1980s and 1990s there were several campaigns against jaywalking because it sets a bad example for children (who mostly can't assess the risk themselves). That campaigns where so successful it's now deeply ingrained in German minds not to jaywalk - at least not where even a small chance exists some kid could see it. And they were also some catchy phrases (some dating even back to the 1960s) by which especially older German women (and also men) remind now others to obey that rule.
7:45 Most Germans do not like offensive servility. They expect mutual respect, which includes some extent of restraint, meaning: leaving the guest alone as long as they not send a signal they need something.
9:30 The work-free Sunday is actually a constitutional right for shop employees. It was introduced in 1891 as amendment to trade law (as part of social reforms aimed at calming down socialdemocratic and socialist movements) and became part of the Weimar constitution in 1919 - and that was one of a handful of constitutional articles which were transferred to the current constitution.
10:00 The reluctance to accept credit cards was mainly due to high fees and commission rates requested by the card (and card reader) issuers and banking companies. (Which are nowadays somewhat reduced, but small businesses still prefer cash, especially for small sums.) Additionally Germany traditionally prefers debit cards to credit cards in order to avoid debt - so debit cards are more widely accepted, at least if they use the national Girocard system and/or the widespread EC / maestro system (by MasterCard). The market share of e.g. American Express is minuscule, only some international hotels will have card readers able to recognize it. Apple Pay & Co are on the rise, but mostly in metropolitan areas.
When u visit a restaurant its not always that u have to tell for ordering, paying etc most restaurants dont have enough personal so its normal that it will take longer, the reason because germans are asking often or telling the personal what u´d like to order is that they think that u could be forgotten and not in a bad way so that we always know we are just humans and after like 15 mins its ok to ask the personal and u dont have to order in an instant, in german restaurants rules time, the personal has to be quick and the guests can take their time like they want, sometimes after some dishes the personal will ask if u want to order more, noone would ask you to pay. if they do than dont get back to them ^^
One point you can eat and Chat at the Restaurant as long you are want only they are really full the askst if you want the Bill.
Geography now also has a great video about Germany
Actually you are allowed to cross a street if there's no flashlight, it's often understood wrong. You can do it everywhere legally but not where is an "Ampel".
If you go over at Red light and get cought you get points that could make you lose your License, if you go to a plays without not.
I guess we just like systems that work
The jaywalking thing is probably more accurate for the South of Germany, here in Berlin it is quite common thing. Also you leave not the xmas market mugs but the bottles (especially beer ones with only 8 cents deposit) at the base of the trash bin for the homeless people as one of way of income for them so they don´t have to dig in the trash. We have this habit of taking off shoes in Czech Rep. too, but I don´t follow it anymore and none of my friends (german or nor) do it either. The servis here won´t pamper you but it´s efficient and definitely not rude. The "cash situation" got way better thx to the lockdown as a lot of people wanted to pay contactless - meaning all the supermarkets now accept not only debit but also credit cards (sorry, no AE I´d say). But it´s true that in many bars and small shops cash is still necessary.
half half, many germans here, are love to break a couple of some rules some times, and to go over a red traffic light can get some funny feeling : D anybody are other there
10:12 , my Hometown Lübeck. The Queen of the hanseatic League.
Hi, As soon as there is a deposit on something in Germany it stays in the ownership of the person. This is why they put a deposit on it. 2nd reason is of course to minimise waste etc. So if you pay a deposit on something and you keep it, then its by german law - steeling which gets you in the worst case jail time.
I'm German and I've never heard that you have to bring wine or something when you visit someone, also the shoe thing depends on the family, only one of my friends family does that and their kurds
We germans had 2.562 traffic death in 2022 with 84 mil residents. America 42.900 in 2021 331mil residents. The numbers for 2022 are not out just till sep. Even if we are allowed to drive as fast as we can, the US have 18 times more traffic death but just 4 times more residents . I just never think about crossing if its red becouse, traffic is a passiv. I react and not act .
04:02 thats not correct in munich many of the peoples cross the street when no car is crossing your way, but if you want to be a role model for your parents and their children, of course you only cross the street when it's green