American guy: "Oh, btw - I was just being sarcastic, just to let you know." German guy: "Whoa, thanks, mate, I would have never noticed!" American guy: "No problem."

First off all, before i've seen it. Germans are Sarcasm Overlords.

We don't stare, we are watching reality TV :)

According to sarcasm...I went to the states a long time ago, and me, my sister and a bunch of our american friends wanted to walk to the supermarket, just the idea of walking seemed already been crazy to our american friends but that’s different story. On our walk my sister ate up a banana and was obviously waiting for a trashcan to throw the peel away and suddenly got ask what she is suppose to do with the banana peel. My sister answered in a very obvious sarcastic way that she wants to get a refill in the supermarket. Our american friends were kind of shocked and didn’t get the joke at all. What? You don’t have refills for fruits in the US? How pathetic 😄! In Germany you can bring any kind of peel to the supermarket and get a refill for that. This was really hilarious.

Sarcasm is no fun if you make it too obvious, what is the purpose to use irony when you mark it beforehand? That kills all the fun of it.

I think germans like dry humor more, and what's the fun in sarcasm if you make it obvious, like the funniest sarcasm is when someone says it dead serious. That might also be a reason why everyone thinks we don't understand it, since they think we're being serious and germans rarely make sarcasm obvious.

Ob ich Sarkasmus verstehe? Nein, ich versteh nur Bahnhof

"we have france right next to us with good cheese" *stares offendedly in swiss*

I think that staring is not seen in Germany as "staring", but as "being attentive", "being interested in others". And if someone just looks at me furtively or avoids my gaze, I get the feeling that he is not open or honest with me and that he has something to hide. German directness certainly plays a role here.

“People go crazy biking in Germany”. Well, you must never have been to The Netherlands 😜

People are not staring, they are scanning you because they're interested in you. It may be a kind of appreciation.

So in Germany it is allowed to look at people, but not to photograph them. In the USA it is allowed to photograph people on the street but not to look at them. Right?🤔

The fastest 20min of my life. More. More. More!

European sarcasm is different from American, in my experience when working with people from the US. EU sarcasm includes statements that COULD be true, so it's taken seriously, US sarcasm is usually silly and outlandish (that isn't supposed to be an insult either).

I love how Nalf is behaving when he is talking to a cute girl. Different vibe then talking to his buddy's

Please make part 3. I would be interested in „Family life“ in both countries . Great conversation!!!

I don't leave the house very often, but when I was driving somewhere and coming back after many hours, my neighbors were standing there, 30 meters away, looking at me. I looked back, and they were not quitting, just staring on at me... I wanted to go inside, but I didn't move and held eye contact with them. Eventually they retreated into the house. (walking backwards!) I told my mom (who knows this couple) about them staring at me, and she said: "Yeah, these guys are awful..." And then she added: "You should wave to them!" :D

Let's have a part three, please.

One or two years ago I asked myself how Americans are thinking about Germany, when they have really been here. I couldn't get enough of it and saw people in those videos who show lots of respect for the differences, the similarities and people themselves. I saw people who really tried to understand us Germans. Very respectful. Nice to see people like you and your collegues.

Enjoyable. You two make a good combo. Do more.

German is a great and complex language. It may be hard to understand and "feel" the sarcasm in it. It´s very subtle, but also direct. Very specific and hard to understand for foreigners. That´s just my theory.

I am from California and grew up with sarcasm, and it was my favorite form of humor. When I moved to Wisconsin, I noticed that people did not use sarcasm, and they often took it at face value and/or considered it rude. I was told that this was common throughout the Midwest which of course includes Ohio.

The German sense of humor sounds like the New England sense of humor where I live. Very dry and the sarcasm sounds serious.

It's not a bad thing. Look at it this way: they stare, they care!

i could even imagine to watch this kind of exchange like every other months on a regular basis between you two, it's just nice and entertaining and i'm laughing the hole time :)

My wife and I loved this video, we are both native San Diegans . We vacationed in Germany and Austria July 2019, spending time in Munich and Salzburg. We absolutely loved it there: the people, the country, just wonderful. I am not a beer drinker but my wife and I were amazed at the great tasting beer; her favorite beer is Franziskaner and mine is Stiegl. The food was incredible, loved it. We laughed out loud when in your video you said you missed Mexican food and referenced Chipotle. We'll cut you some slack since you said you're from Oregon (over 800 miles from Mexico) and in San Diego California we are less than 20 miles from Mexico. That is probably what we would miss the most if we moved to Germany.

Personally I have never noticed the staring, but it might have to do with the individual level of feeling comfortable within a culture. Plus:...if someone looking is making you feel uncomfortable...either just greet them, or take it as an opening for a casual chat...those that want to interact will...and those that don't, will leave. Just be friendly about it

I lived on the border to Switzerland and when things were closed in Germany, I just got on my bike and went to Switzerland "zum Einkaufen".

I have been watching Feli's channel for years as I am a Connecticut person moving to Nederland in the next few years. And though the Dutch would hate me saying this, from both your perspectives, it nakes me miss life there so much as it's so similar!!! Love that you guys are collaborating! Keep it up!

I love Felicia's facial expression when it comes to the different beer brands (Bud Light vs. Franziskaner).

I am glad you did the colab. I am 63 and I love to learn of the differences in cultures. I have been watching German Girl for a long while and did not know of your channel until the colab. It is very interesting on how we do things differently or see things differently. This is very true in the States too, just the normal culture from one state to another can be strikingly different on things. New sub here :D

I love that you have that 'High Budget Background' paper on your wall for a video about sarcasm. :-)

For me, "starring" is also a way to interact and to communicate. It is like building up a connection to other people and also feeling more as a community. You care of the others around you. And the eyes are like a mirror of the personality. And yes, that's true, you are trying to keep it up for a given time, to show you are self conscious enough. I like the German starring. You can easily add a smile to it and brighten up the other person's day. 😊

Sarcasm is dependent on language skills in any country.

Great conversation with Felicia, and she has a great smile. 😁

You should do one where you both hang out in the states, then in Germany. These are great

I love your videos together

When I notice I am being stared at in Deutschland, I just smile back. This throws most Deutsch off kilter. It also lets them know I am not Deutsch. The Deutsch rarely smile at strangers. Off to the store to buy a Franziskaner to try it.

Love this. It's so fun and entertaining to watch you both. Keep it going!

They are vibing! Please do more videos! I watched a 20 minute video and it just flew by!

It's really nice to listen to you. You two have this fun,critical, positive way to see yourself and your surroundings.

Great convo. Pls do more.

I like your conversations with Felicia, please keep doing that. I enjoy both of your channels.

Def make more videos like this, please! I like that format very much.

another #nalfelicia video? amazing! you two really match so well on this kind of things... you should do this more often

Really good vlog! Please do it again, it's wonderful .

Please do more videos together, this is so much fun to watch!

Please more videos together in the future :) I like the four parts a lot.

Thank you guys for this kind of conversation. It is great to see how you are having such an open conversation, free of judgement. This kind of conversation would help with so many problems in the world.

This is so entertaining with you 2! Thanks a lot, danke und weiter so ihr beide!

Great video, i just love your collab vids with Felicia 👌♥️ please give us more 🙏

The German staring thing is such a mystery to me (as a German). I've heard of it countless times and I totally believe that it exists since I don't think all the foreigners who experience it in Germany are hallucinating. But I'm 100% sure that I almost never stare at people myself and if I do, I avert my eyes as soon as the person I looked at for too long notices it. And I can honestly not remember when someone stared at me the last time and I'm quite certain I would notice for I am rather shy and uncomfortable when I get stared at which is very rare. Of course one could assume I just don't perceive looks as staring which are considered staring by American standards. But if so, it is a matter of one or two seconds which does definitely not explain the American experience of being blatantly stared at for a longer period of time. Long story short: I have hardly ever experienced a phenomenon in an area where it is prevalent. Maybe I look so inconspicuous or I just somehow learned to ignore stares without even noticing it.

You two have so many common experiences, reversed in many cases, of course, but very enjoyable to watch. Yes please, bring on more collab content. Great job

I love this video! Some great perspectives! I miss my Boy though!

jeeesus, i LOVE your high budget background 👍 it looks really classy

Great video!!!

When I moved to the US (age 7), everything was new so I would stare at everyone and everything... I remember my mom pulling me aside and telling me that staring at people is rude (and if I really wanted to do it, then do it behind a pair of sunglasses). Maybe, unless you're taught otherwise, staring is innate in all of us.

I like Felicia's way. She talks very naturally, not trying to sound American.

Do it again! So interesting guys. Time is flying by when I watch that. ;)

Staring to People is totaly out! Staring to your Handy(Cell Phone) is in!

I am so happy that KZfaq exists and that I can still learn English so easily at my advancing age. I love this type of video, which is about differences in cultural things and I always find that some steriotypical behaviors are based on the language barrier. Super interesting!!! On the topic of staring, let me try to explain it for myself like this.... Staring = curiosity People in Germany are incredibly curious about what makes strangers think that we are staring at someone. When I think of myself, I stare at someone because the person interests me in some way. This could be the behavior, or the look, or the conversation. We watch, we think and then we talk. That's why we are not smalltalkers 🙃🤷🏻 greatings NL

The variety of sarcasm varies greatly across the USA. I am from New England just north of Boston, and there we use a very deadpan, seemingly more German style of sarcasm. I have lived in all parts of the US and this has gotten me in plenty of trouble as people in other parts of the country only understand sarcasm if you like tell them beforehand that you are being sarcastic, or explain that you were being sarcastic, which of course completely ruins the sarcasm!

You really should do more Videos with Felicia

I enjoyed the conversation. It was interesting with the differences and likeness

where i am from (Köln) the cafes & Restaurants are open on Sundays; you can buy Bread, Brötchen, cakes & coffee etc to take out or eat there.

Strange, I lived in Frankfurt for two years as a child and never noticed anyone staring at me or other people. Even decades later when visiting Germany as an adult, I didn't notice it.

I think our starring-thing in Germany is a part of showing selfconvidence and espacially in the villages we greed even strangers if crossing their way, if you look away hasty or just obviously, we think you are shy or not selfconvident.

Maybe part 3 comparing vacation habits or travelling in general? HAGW

I would like to see a Part 3, just speaking German! :)

I am close to say: one should be happy that someone looks at a face instead of endlessly staring onto the phone screen ;-)

Loves your videos. I’m moving to germany next year to start university from Seattle, Washington

Comedic tone and timing is different in both cultures. That’s why confusion can occur when sarcasm is applied

I've never realized that germans stare at other people. I as a german can identify pretty much with what nalf said americans tend to do when they're gettin looked back. But what i can say is that sometimes i'm just so in my own mind, focussed on what i gotta do later in the day or just daydreaming, that i dont notice that i'm currently just starring in someones direction. As soon as i notice it, I'll get a little embarrassed and look away.

It's noticeable that both of you really enjoy the place you're currently living in. As if you both found the right spot for you at this point in time. She's definetly a big America-phile and you're getting ever so slightly Germanized as well ;)

She was hardly blinking nor at any point averting her eyes during the initial ‘staring’ question 😅👍

What you both have in common: You are both sooooooooo appreciative of the OTHER culture and life-style - that makes it so enjoyable to watch the Videos that you have posted together.Thereby you're representing an attitude that many would perhaps perceive as somewhat American but, I find, has caught on in Germany (a bit). Along the lines of: If you don't have something positive to say, don't say it. Nice, do it again. A topic you might want to cover is German bluntness or directness - that' something I'd be curious in perhaps in contrast to American politeness or "beating-about-the-bush-ness". Just an idea... would be nice. Thanks for your insights and shared perceptions.

You both should do a weekly podcast on spotify

Nalf and Feli. What a great match!

lmao! I have never been to Germany, but after watching her vids, I seem to have some natural or innate habits from my German heritage! this includes "just looking" at people! lol loved her face when you said bud lite! lol

As I mentioned in another video, how could anyone in the entire world be able to resist staring at that awesome face N A?! IMPOSSIBLE!!!

Absolutely do more videos together. It's just starting do get interesting 😉....

I used to ride before they had bike trails and now I’ve gotten out of shape for different reasons but you have one of the best bike trails in the area. If memory serves, it begins in Morow in the north eastern part of Cincinnati and the main trail runs north up to Xenia all the way north of Springfield. It’s one of the first rails to trails bike paths in the United States. It’s the Miami river bike trail. Check it out. I think you’ll like it.

No one yet mentioned that being sarcastic in the tone you're talking in without any exaggeration is dry humor 🤷? It's as simple as that 😉...... Some Germans have mastered this behaviour to perfection 👌. Sometimes even I need a little bit of time to get the joke but then it's even better 🙃. I like your conversations, so keep them coming every once in a while. Topics could be like how do people react when then hear that you're talking with an accent, dating rules, tv-content like the news, etc. etc. So many more things to talk about.

So, 30 years ago, when I was a teen, looking someone in the eyes while having a conversation - like DIRECTLY in the eyes - was taught as a virtue. Of course that desensitized one to look directly at people - like DIRECTLY into the eyes. I think that "starring" has its origin there. Our pastor would not speak to you during Sunday school for example, if one wasn't looking him into his eyes etc.

A comment to your chat with Felicia in her channel: I'm proud to be a German. This phrase and the feeling about did we loose nearly totally after two lost wars and the Holocaust and that didn't changed for decades, in both German states. Only with the reunification that began to change. The best picture to see the difference between before and after is when seeing pictures or videos about the soccer world cups in 1974 and 2006. In 1974 in entire Western Germany you could see only a handful of our flags outside of official buildings. Do you remember the pics from 2006? Despite to the pic in 1974 the West Germans were very aware of their economic strength, but we didn't showed that in flying flags everywhere, we had and have very much respect about of what we did in the past. I hope to travel again to the US(I've been there in 1995 and 2005), even if only as a tourist. Enjoy your stay in the "Schwabenland", with Spätzle and Trollinger!

Als Kind/Jugendlicher lernt man das es unhöflich ist jemandem nicht in die Augen zu schauen wenn man redet .... aber Starren ist manchmal einfach das Interesse an Neuem ;)

Really enjoyed the video; glad to hear that there is still American football in Germany; was stationed in Europe when almost every base had a team and it was a huge community event. I find myself either laughing or nodding with every issue you and Felicia discuss having been an American living in Germany for so much of my career; especially touched a nerve with the European breads and biers though I am an Erdinger fan for sure

It’s indisputable that the Brits are the complete global masters of sarcastic humour. But perhaps technologists should invent a Sarcasm Detector as mentioned in an episode of The Simpsons, for the benefit of humankind & world peace. 😉

Damn, 🤣🤣 the exact same picture in the background with all the taxis is at the dentist room I go to and always stare at durkng the procedure 😂😂 it's literally the same, brings back memories to me

👍 more please!

And again very entertaining and funny. It’s really nice and it would be cool if you two do it again. I probably have a question. What is with the quality of food here in DE and the US? Felicia mentioned it shortly but it’s interesting for me to know a little bit more. Thanks 🙂

I love sitting in a cafe outside and watch people. I try to avoid coming across agressivly. I am just a curious person. Another topic, we do love and understand sarcasm. It is our second name. Thanks for the colab. It is awesome.

Sarcasm - sometimes it's not the country but the people. Years ago, working for a Japanese company in the UK, I got a new boss and he was (atypically) a fellow Englishman, so you would think he'd have sarcasm in his genes, but... He asked me "you do a lot of overtime - why?" and I answered (shrugging, tongue in cheek) "greed" because obviously I loved my job so much that I was sacrificing my life and health at the altar of overwork, in a company culture where longer hours among the Japanese expats were a sign of dedication. Naturally I expected him to respond to this icebreaker with something like "ha ha, but really, let's see what we can do about the situation...", but instead my words flew right over his head, he looked at me stone-faced and replied "I don't approve of overtime..." - and that was my cards marked for ever afterwards. A good bloke he was.

You guys ..... start a talk show. You are great together. Yes how about a show on music like German Rap or German pop and American Rap and pop or fashion ! You both have good personalities and are a good collaboration

You should do a video with conversation with other people in germany from abroad.

In NYC a free daily newspaper had a piece about detecting foreign people, which is hard here because every possible kind of person already lives here. For Germans it was "holds eye contact on the subway WAY too long".

Just a comment to make 200. Love your energy.

Yep, as an Aussie I reckon Americans struggle with sarcasm. well, Aussie humour anyway. You should come to Australia some time Felicia, once C-19 is done with.

"Do Germans understand Sarcasm?" **Insert Listen here Meme here**

Staring. The sense of sight is our primary sense and we can't ignore what it does and to what it may lead. I... like to witness behaviour. People are interesting. They do interesting stuff. And it's not for my amusement, because I try do see the little things, that make people alive. Those are things I can use in my stories to make people more authentic. Sometimes my Eyes are just wandering around and get stuck at something. The mind isn't still there and needs it's time to catch up. So I stared mindlessly. And then there are things one likes to look at. Nature, art, and people. Those are feasts for the eyes. I like the German word Augenweide in the sense of it's parts. If I'm caught "staring", I try to smile and politely look away keeping smiling. I try to avoid showing any guilt for being caught staring, because I think it would be more offensive. And if someone still feels offended, I apollogize. As stated above the sense of sight is our primary one and we shouldn't deny it.