I'm a nurse in the US and completely agree with living your life fully everyday and not waiting for retirement. Throughput my career I have taken care of so many patients who have waited to retire only to suffer from devastating illness. Keep up the great posts!

"The little Frenchies are wearing socks and sandals. What's happened while I wasn't here?" OMG, LOL so hard. This was funny. I've liked your videos and down-to-earth approach for years now, and still do. It's fun to see the changes over the years.

Our Daughter in Law is French, from St Etienne, and I am always amazed at her absolute love of food. Planning, preparation, eating and discussing food. I have never know anyone that adores food the way she does. I love that she loves it so much….

I live in Wisconsin which was mostly settled by German immigrants. Most of my ancestors were German, too, and I see every German characteristic that you described right here in my own local culture. Expectations of punctuality and practicality; emphasis on comfort, cars, and cohesive living spaces; obsession over retirement funds: de-emphasis on food and fashion. Amazing, now that I come to think about it. I really love hearing about how other countries live differently. It helps me avoid thinking that my way is “the only way” to live happily. That’s a trap that can lead to all kinds of ugliness. Thank you, Justine!

I am Greek living in the Netherlands the last 10 years and I can relate with all mentioned aspects. Regarding food: I remember taking food at work cooked by my mum (stuffed tomatoes & peppers) and once I opened my lunchbox my manager and colleagues were (positively)amazed 😆, it seemed so special to them who were just having a very basic sandwich every day. Another aspect I would like to point out is the family patterns- in NL people are more independent but also not having that strong family bonds while in Greece it is the opposite, stronger bonds, feeling more close and “warm” but in the same time it is very common to see parents who tend to interfere more in their child’s decisions and choices, so boundaries tend to lack sometimes. I think every culture has a lot to learn from another one and definitely living abroad or traveling helps enormously to that!

I am German and I really have to laugh several times, because you described our chracteristics so well. One important point: German men love to go to the hardware store. They don't spend money on craftsmen, but want to do everything by themselves

As a French who also lived in Germany, I loved the lack of pressure about appearance there. I feel that French people are a lot more judgmental about how you dress. As a student in France, I started to carry all of my university stuff in a giant handbag, because all the girls were doing so. Whereas in Germany, girls have a backpack, because it's waaaay more convenient !

I lived in Germany for a while and I noticed that German people are very outdoorsy (in a different way to the 'outdoor living' you describe for France)... in that, they're happy to spend way more than I usually would (as a Brit) on outdoor gear, appropriate outdoor clothes for every different kind of sport and season and they really appreciate a good hike, like getting out to the lakes, woods and mountains is a real holiday favourite. I lived in Bavaria though, so it's quite a different culture to Berlin for sure. Great video! x

Food=the same in Italy! We spend hours cooking, eating, and once we eat, we talk about what we ate, and plan what are we going to eat at the next meal! And what can we say about the quality! 🤤🤤🤤. Btw, wellcome to Italy for vacation ❤🤗⚘

I will offer an “American” perspective: my husband’s family has a German/English background and I have a French/Hungarian background. While we have these roots at the same time we often don’t have any connection to them. Example, I am big on food, quality, presentation, complimentary dishes enjoying and savoring separately and I love to sit and chat for awhile after I eat. My husband on the other hand piles huge portions on his one (large serving), mixes dishes together on his plate and in his mouth and then eats it all in a flash and excuses himself from the table…now I know why and after 40 years of this I laughed so hard I almost fell off the couch!!! Thanks (merci) Justine! 🌸

I have a colleague (American) who did his postdoc in Austria. One Saturday night he was out with colleagues very late. The traffic was non-existent. They came to a red light and his colleagues dutifully stopped. He asked why they were not crossing, considering the complete absence of cars. One colleague said that it would set a bad example if a child saw them. My colleague did not say it, but thought "If a child is out at this time, they need a lot more help than our good example". I found the story funny and his thinking not without merit, but I understand his Austrian colleagues. If one starts to turn the "setting a good example" on and off, then it may be off when it should be on. It's like turning signals on a car. Regardless of whether there are cars behind, they need to be used.

I looooove this video. It was so fun to see a French person seeing their own country from an outsider’s point of view. It was also fun learning about the differences in culture in both countries. ❤️ I would love to see a video like this about your time in Chile.

I live in Norway and we have a similar relationship to our homes as the Germans do. We spend a lot of time nesting and making our indoor spaces cosy because we only have three months of somewhat warm temperatures. My home is my sanctuary and it reflects who I am 🙂

As a 34 year-old Dutchie I've been living in Barcelona, Spain for over a decade. I so recognize all your points! In my case, I had to get used to the southern culture and habits. For example, waiting for someone I meet for over 10 minutes made me a bit nervous and angry, which is pretty much the only typical nordic thing I kept. Also being self-employed, no retirement plan for me because of the same reasons as you. I learned to live more in the moment instead of making future plans, being more flexible with myself and others and life in general, which has made me a less stressful and more mindful person. When I go back to The Netherlands now and then, it feels like my roots and at the same time those differences are so clear. I'm always glad to see my family and friends, the surroundings and nature, and then happy to go back to Spain ;-)

After spending over 10 years in the US, my dinner time duration has gone from a Chinese typical 1 hour or more to less than 20 mins. But even in that 20 minutes, my American husband loves to talk about subjects that require full attention or high brain functioning (e.g. math or physics theories) when all I want to think about while eating is the delicious food in my plate.

As a New Yorker, when I was in my 20s and 30s, it never would have entered my mind to go to and from the gym in my workout clothes. My parents would have questioned their parenting skills if they knew when in college I went off-campus wearing jeans and sneakers! But mores/conventions have changed over the decades. Now I’m in Chicago; the Midwest dress code, if there even was one, is very relaxed. But I too will never get used to socks with sandals. And we do obsess about food in the Midwest, much more so than in NY. Even food at the airports is good!

"Being on time" in Germany actually depends on the situation. For a business meeting you should be present and prepared a couple of minutes before the meeting begins. When you are meeting friends in a casual situation outside their house/appartement: you can be a couple of minutes late. But if you visit someone at their home, it is really very good manners to be 5 to 10 minute late! The hostess/host has been preparing her/his home and the meal. Give them a bit of time to relax before the guests arrive. But at latest you should arrive 10 minutes after the agreed upon time. Being later than that ist really, really bad manners!

Would you ever make a video talking about where you lived and what you did while in Chile and New York? It would be fun to look at one single issue from the 4 different perspectives you have 🙂

Years ago I drove through Germany and France. The firewood was piled so perfectly in Germany and going into France the wood piles were not! I thought that was telling! Love both places and they are different!

When I go back to Germany, I feel like a Canadian. In Canada, I am still very German. You put your observations into context, like climate, traditions etc. and that makes this video so valid. More than twenty years ago, Canadians often annoyed and shocked me. Now I understand how much the wether and geography influence our daily lives. Great video!

I’m a stickler for punctuality 😀 Being on time shows respect for my time and that of others

Dear Justine, as italian i really enjoy this video. France and Germany are both great, wonderful countries but each with its own caracteristcs. That's why makes travelling through Europe so funny and interesting. All the best! Emanuela

Hello Justine! I’m from the US, more specifically, the Midwest (WI) where many people that live up here are of either Scandinavian or German descent. For me, I’m both and when you explained the differences with the French vs. German, I can honestly say that I can relate to the German side. Even though I’m an American, the points you brought up is how my family is. Lol. Punctuality, precision, directness in communication, and cars…I’m 52 and I still remember how my Dad stressed not being late. Don’t even get me started with my grandparents, lol. I had to chuckle when you mentioned cars and right away I thought of my 22 yrs old daughter when she bought her first car, a brand new Volkswagen. Personally, I wouldn’t be caught dead in a pair of sandals with socks, but then my 22 yo does wear that occasionally. I just shake my head and let her two older sisters deal with that issue, lol. I did live in Germany for a year and felt that I never left home, however, I did travel to France and felt more relaxed there…people were more easy going, much like how you described here in your video. Thank you for sharing 🥰

Justine, love this video. One detail that got my attention was inviting friends over for dinner at 9pm. I live in Australia and that would be considered very, very late - people wouldn’t want to come 😁. I think 7:30 would be the latest for a dinner invitation and often summer BBQs start at 6pm.

No, Justine, I didn't think for a moment that you were biased in favour of France. I was thinking, "How objective she is in her assessments"! I enjoyed your video very much, it was fun to hear of the differences. Being English I can say: the English are an odd mix of Aldi/Lidl standards for meat yet expect French fine dining with only basic cooking skills! Have a great day! :)

I think you'd like The Financial Diet, Justine. They're all about living your life while also being responsible for your retirement (since statistically, you'll most likely live to be that age and it's no fun having no money when you're old, sick, and unable to work). Ik they're American, but a lot of the principles stand here in Europe too

I was in Florence in May and the biggest change in fashion (my opinion) was beautifully dressed women from 16-96 were wearing tennis/sneakers all times of the day and evening. They looked great and their face was void of the pain of high heels and pinching shoes. Nice video.

A few years ago, I was flying Air France. They made this upbeat video about putting on your seat belt and safety--dancing, right red colors, fun music. On the way back, I saw the US flight video--practically put me to sleep--all, blue and calm! Totally different takes on the same information!

Regarding French cars: Grand Tour did a whole episode on how French people treat their cars, it's called "Carnage a trois" and it is imho the best episode they've ever made, highly recommend! Also in terms of general life planning, Germans have insurance for *everything*. When a friend's kid broke our TV it was fine because they were insured. When I drove into a column it was fine because I was insured. You buy additional dental insurance on top of the dental plan already included in your medical insurance because it covers more. You break a leg your way to work - your work insurance covers that. Coming from Poland where insurance is (pretty much) only bought if legally required - it's crazy! (But of course I have Zahnzusatzversicherung...)

I am a French living in London for the past 10 years. I think for style and fashion the French definitely care a lot about how they appear but that comes with a lot of judgment on how others appear. We learn to dress in a way that is flattering without being "vulgar", for example, and it's very important to be aware of that, but that's also reflecting how judgmental of everyone else's style French people are. It's very common for French (especially women) to comment on how someone else's style doesn't fit them, or make them look a certain (undesirable) way. I feel like in London people just don't care as much, and that means less judgment of yourself and others, and more space to express your individualism and own personal style.

So cool! I’m from Canada and when I was in France I fell in love with your culture’s behaviour towards food. My husband and I stopped to eat at an outdoor cafe in a small town and two young men (very early 20s) sat next to us ( they did not seem to be on a date). In Canada, best case scenario, they have a couple of beers and a sandwich + fries. The two young men in France, had several courses, including salads and vegetables and shared a bottle of wine. They were not rushed! They talked, I don’t think that their phones interfered. I loved it! Thank you!

Can I just appreciate quickly how nice and contributing the exchange is on here? Love you, Justine 😊. (Stuck in one country, travelling on line 🥰)

This was so interesting and fun. I would love to live in France! As a 62 year old American, I have to agree with the Germans on planning for retirement and old age. Nursing homes, memory care facilities, rehab facilities are all so expensive and it's an eventuality we all have to think about. My mother is in a memory care facility so my perspective comes from a place of truth.

Im from Czech Republic, we are closer to German than to French culture, also we tend to be closest to German/Austrian habits from all Slavonic countries. I realized that when I was studying one year in France, not only the food culture, but also humour is different, sometimes the french were using so much irony and sarcasm that I didn't understand if they are being for real, on the other hand we tend to have more dark and "dry" humour and we make a lot of fun from each other, what made my french friends speechless sometimes 😁 but I have to tell you, I really appreciate how the life almost "stops" in France, that you take time to do things and the others are not upset that you seem to enjoy yourself more than giving that workoholic vibe impression if you know what I mean. Once I came back home from France, I felt again very stressed and also criticised a lot for being bit slow than others, the criticism is really huge thing in our culture and I personally hate it and the impact for human being and life rythm. Also, I learnt that not everything have to be on time, like in France you have many Grèves and stuff, at the beginning I didn't like it cause I had to be somewhere or catch another car/bus/train, but to my surprise it always worked somehow and I got everywhere without many problems and people were nice and patient, that's great 😊

Loved this video! You have such a positive and open outlook on life Justine, I just love hearing your take on things. The cultural differences you've noticed between France and Germany might as well apply generally to northern Europe vs southern Europe lol. As someone from Scandinavia I can relate so much to the German perspective. I think generally people in northerns Europe tend to prefer predictability/practicality/straightforwardness to the opposites you described in the French/southern culture. There are upsides and downsides to both imho, I can sometimes envy the more relaxed joie de vivre and food culture you enjoy in the south, but feel more at home in the cosy homes, natural vibe and safety of northern Europe.

OMG YASSS finally someone else said it about the traffic lights! I am Dutch and live in Austria and I get sooo frustrated by this. The pedestrian traffic lights are set suuuper slowly so people are waiting for what feels like minutes for the light to turn green while there is 0 traffic. And then when you cross because you have your own brain people will judge you for it (even out loud sometimes!)

The bit about food made me very happy. In a world where our bodies don't even know what kind of substance enters through our mouths, hearing that French people pay attention instead was like a bit of fresh air, and it also explains why French people are definitely healthy compared to other Western people. I enjoy your videos very much. Thanks Justine

Merci, Justine! What a fun video. Your reverse culture shock at this early point in your return allows us to see French culture through your eyes as a sort of very well-informed visitor. Watching this definitely made me hungry for cheese. You make both countries sound appealing: Germany sounds satisfyingly organized & predictable/reliable; France sounds messier in an exquisite, artful way, & definitely where I'd want to be when I'm hungry or want to see art. Love the contrast in attitude toward cars: I guess I lean more French on that one. And the floors: making people remove their shoes whenever they visit my home? Unless I have clean socks or slides for all visitors, mais non.

It was brilliant. I’m an Australian Francophone. Classical musician and work in German and Italian languages. I am always bringing these differences in culture to the front of conversation in my teaching. It’s of fundamental importance and I thank you for taking the time to put your thoughts on video. I hope your relocation is going well and your business is thriving. 🙏🌈🍀🍀🍀🍀

As a half French half German having grown up in Berlin and now living in the UK I love this comparison ❤️

You can hear her heartbreak. The disappointment, the agony. But honestly, is there any other way one should react to socks and sandles?

OMG, food, food, food! I grew up with a French “Canadienne” mother; her name was Lillian Caron. At the end of every meal, my mother would talk about what we would be eating at our next meal OR what we would be eating the next day. I thought it was just her, well, being her. So funny… now I realize she just couldn’t help herself. Justine, I loved this video. Thank you for sharing this with us.

Thanks for this video, Justine! I'm an American living in the south of France and I think that all the "French characteristics" you picked up on are the reasons I love it here! For example, I love getting "dressed up" (by American standards) but in France that's something that's expected every day. I always pack way too many "dressy" clothes whenever I go back to the US for vacation, then I end up wearing athleisure the whole time -- that's just what Americans wear when they aren't at work or a special occasion. I hope you're enjoying being back in France ! Des bises ! 💜

This reminded me of a maxim that I learned as a child growing up in the U.S., that was supposed to indicate a high level of morality: "Eat to live, don't live to eat." I used to agree, then felt eating was a sacred act, now I am starting to see that it has truth to it. Full circle.

What a fun video! I'm Australian, but have lived in Germany and travelled extensively throughout France and can speak both languages. I think a key difference is also regional variations within those two countries. For example, those in rural France, are not typically as fashion focussed as those in a German city. That said, on the whole, French fashion is certainly more chic! Definitely agree that France is far more food focussed (you should come to Melbourne if you want to see a city that lives and breathes food - it gives France a good run for its money!). One thing that surprised me about city-dwellers in both countries was their general level of friendliness/hostility towards foreigners. I've consistently felt welcome and accepted in Germany (across numerous large cities), but felt like I was a major annoyance to restauranteurs, shop keepers and tourism operators in Paris. I do wonder why this is...

Please soon show us some more about your new French house or the landscape, culture and people there... 😊❤️

Thanks for sharing💕💕💕💕I’m the only one I know who wears socks with Sandals. Not always. Just when walking longer distances and in the fall when it starts getting colder. You should try it; revolutionary! And, you could design some beautiful socks for evenings out in the fall! Cashmere/cotton blend. I would buy it.

I (from US) will never forget observing parking practices in Paris. I was jet lagged and sitting by the window in a cafe drinking tea, waiting for my hotel room to be ready. I watched in absolute amazement (and then delight) Parisienne parkers banging their cars - front and back - into the other parked cars trying to wedge their cars in the very small parking spots. It wasn’t just a on-off situation. It seemed to be a the way they do it there. Amazing.

What a fun video! I find that I save and plan like a German, enjoy food like a French person, but occasionally eat on the run like the native New Yorker I am!

Interesting topic. You're right about socks and sandals being on trend. My 20 year old son and 18 year old daughter wear them too and it always appalls me!

As a Swiss in Switzerland we get influenced heavily from Germany and France. The cultures are wildly different in so many aspects, in my opinion. To me it seems that both nationalities really struggle to bring up the will the learn French or German. A reason why I like Alsace :)

This was SO interesting to me! I could listen to you all day Justine. I am American... my father's family background is German, and my mother's family background is French. I now see why I'm such a dichotomy, but I feel so lucky to have both influences in me! I LOVE good, quality food, and I agree, in our current world it cannot be cheap *and* good quality. I buy organic, free range, etc. wherever possible because paying for the destruction of our environment and health is where our money will go otherwise! We have to tell these corporate farmers what we think with our money! (And YES, same with fast fashion!) I am ALWAYS late... terrible, but I can't help it! I try, but I feel like it goes against my entire being, lol! I could care less how my car looks as long as it gets me from point A to point B. My husband washed my car the other day and then said something about it just yesterday... I didn't even notice, LOL! I thanked him of course, but he rolls his eyes... oops... sorry, honey... My home is eclectic, although I do long for the Scandinavian look and feel...but I love my garden areas just as much. We live where it's unGodly hot in the summer and the exact opposite in winter, so I think you have a good point about that being a big influence on home and garden design. I'm all for paper over computers, and I would probably be one to freak out if changes were made with me trying to get to my destination. That might have something to do with the 'always late' thing I have going on though... I'm definitely not good with fashion unfortunately. I would love to see fashion and comfort come together more often, and I think a lot of people would buy that. I want to be in natural fabrics and comfortable shoes. I'm not so bad as some of my fellow Americans I see in the stores wearing pajama bottoms and slippers at least... yikes, why?! I don't own a pair of high heels, but I would never go as far as socks with sandels, lol! Wonderful video Justine! It makes me happy that we have all these differences in the world and wishful that we could appreciate it and laugh with each other rather than all this fighting in the world. How boring it would be if we were all the same!

I so relate to German, but love the French way as well. It's so interesting that countries that are so close in proximity have differences. I think it's wonderful

The Italians and the French are more similar than they will ever dare to admit. Love it.

I'm Dutch, and our culture is very similar to the German culture, I recognised myself in most of your German observations (and cringed at your retirement plans but I get your point). I've been to both France and Germany many many times, and I think you're spot on! I do think you can now apply the best of both worlds though: German efficiency with French laidback-ness, a French house that is cosy and well put together both inside and out!

Oh my mom is going to enjoy this video very much. She was born in Germany then moved to a French city in Canada. I send her links to your videos and she thinks you're absolutely fabulous. She loves you. I really enjoyed this video having roots to both cultures.

We've been living in France and moving back to Germany was a clash of culture too. Today we live part time in Spain and Germany. You become a mixed personality. It's in one way difficult as you do not belong to both of the two cultures completely, but it is really fulfilling to live both ways, picking out the best of all worlds

I totally understand your reverse culture shock. I was born and raised in the U.K. and have lived in London most of my life, but ethnically my family is Serbian and I grew up bilingual. I’m the first generation born in the U.K. I’ve always lived between the cultures, especially as I’m Orthodox Christian and a practising Christian, so I celebrate Christmas 13 days later and Easter also varies. So I’m used to seeing lots of differences, but also similarities. Many of these cultural differences are amusing. For my relatives in Serbia my punctuality is incredibly English, but my attitude to food is very Serbian for my English friends. English punctuality is closer to German than Serbian, whose attitude is far more flexible than French. Food in Serbia is closer Italy and USA than England, in that a lot of time is spent at the table, with friends and family, but the silly portion sizes in Serbia are closest to America. I adore French culture around food. To me it’s the perfect attitude to food and especially ingredients and the respect for food. England has many wonderful cheeses, but my favourite cheeses have always been French: Roquefort, Camembert, Reblochon and Sainte Maure de Touraine. In general I’m huge Francophile. I love the French attitude to life, its culture, gastronomy, art, language. However, the Virgo in me loves German punctuality and general orderliness. I wish both Serbia and the U.K. trains would learn from Germany. In England the leaves on the line from trees can cause delays, to the point that a Serbian joke about timetables always comes to mind: timetables are there to tell you how late the train is. There is so much fun in looking at cultural differences and so much for us all to learn from one another.

Thank you, Justine, this was so interesting!! I am American, with an American father and an Austrian mother, who grew up both in Germany and the USA, and also traveled, studied and lived in various countries: Italy, France, England, Japan, Hong Kong...My husband is British and our three sons were educated mainly in the UK, but also studied in France. So I really understand how these cultural differences affect us! I have had a long-standing argument with my boys about "punctuality"--I suppose because I was raised by an American military man and an Austrian mother, we were always "on time" or even early for things! But my boys were taught at school that it was actually polite to arrive a bit late. Now I understand this better thanks to your video! I guess in our family we are a combination of all these traits! I love comfort but also always want to look nice, even when walking my dogs, perhaps because of my mother's influence. She never left the house without lipstick, mascara, high heels and a nice outfit, her hair perfect. I am of course a lot more casual than she was. We do spend an awful lot of time and effort on planning, shopping for and cooking our meals--dinner is very important to us as a family, and we also talk at great length about what we are eating and how it could be "improved". Our sons often comment that in their friends' families, it is not like this at all! So again, thank you for this video! Vive la difference!

Welcome back, Justine. It's good to see you again. What a roundtrip!

I live in the southwest of Germany near the french border, the people here live the advantages of both cultures for example eating and preparing their meals. I love eating in restaurants and spend hours with friends there. ;)

I am a Portuguese living in Israel and I totally get your insights. I feel after all these years as an ex-pat I am neither Israeli nor Portguese anymore and I actually see this being in-between cultures as a huge advantage. One thing I learned to love is the directness of Israelis, something I found really rude in the beginning but now I find so convenient 😃

It’s so funny as a French Canadian I feel like I relate to both! We need the practical aspect due to the climate and the amount of work required to deal with the snow and the fact that canada is quite large of a country. But I feel often a lot more leisurely than other people, I LOVE food as does my entire family, and we try not to stress too hard about the rules.

I laughed at the cars being scratched. My French friend when parking says bumpdy bump and actually bumps the front and back of her car and the other parked cars 😂

I really enjoyed this video. I’m an American who loves the French culture, having experienced it when I lived there for a year many years ago. I’ve always thought that the French have a knack for living life well. They’re not uptight. Americans (and Germans?) could learn a lot from them. I would love to see you post pics of the interior of a French home vs. a German home, and the fashion of a French woman vs. a German woman, etc.

A faction of my family came to the Americas as French Huguenots and from listening to you today, it seems we have retained the values, traditions and lifestyles from long, long ago in our history. This is particularly true concerning gardens and food. We talk about food endlessly, we grow and buy the best, we spend hours and hours preparing and we DINE in well appointed spaces on tables beautifully set and arrayed. My Grandmother instilled this in us. Thank you.

Very interesting video! I find a strange similarity between French and Bulgarian culture but my be it's the south thing :) When I was for 6 months in Germany as Erasmus student I had a real cultural shock - 5 minutes late and the look at you like a criminal or the panic for every little schedule change in the last minute... It didn't turn well so I was happy to go back home. But all that experience I find good for me - seeing another kind of living gives you an unique perspective to your own life and culture.

As a Franco-Belge (dad french, mom Flemish Belgian) I feel like you described both my parents and their differences. Very interesting and relatable video! I feel like a good mix of both :)

Bonjour Justine, this was fun! My sister and I had a conversation yesterday about fast fashion and how I noticed that garment quality has decreased dramatically over the last 2-3 years. I referred her your channel for more content 😁

I live in Australia but I’m from Scotland. My husband is Australian and my children too. We had 2 German girls stay with us for 3 months and they used to say “I was so European” lol! They thought my husband and kids were so laid back . These young girls were so mature for their age, they loved the relaxed lifestyle of the Aussies. We were so fortunate to have them stay with us. We even met up with their parents in Berlin 👏

I LOVED this video! I'm an American who lived one year each in both France and Germany (as well as in the UK and Australia) and can very much relate to the differences you point out between the two. I loved both countries for different reasons. I understand your reverse culture shock, as I experienced it also every time I returned to the US. It's eye-opening to look at your own country/culture as an outsider would. I laughed out loud at your description of the trains situation in both countries. I used to take the train to/from work every day in Stuttgart, and if the schedule said the train was going to arrive at 17:42, you could see the train coming round the bend at 17:41 and it would stop at EXACTLY 17:42. On the rare occasion that didn't happen for whatever reason, you could see/hear/feel the anxiety and stress among the passengers on the platform. The same with crossing the streets only when "permitted" as opposed to when it was safe - hilarious observations. Thank you for sharing! Bon courage!!

This was such an interesting video. I currently live in Texas, but lived in New York City in the early 2000s and spent time in Chile in the 80s. In Chile, I learned that dinner can take several hours. At first I was impatient, but I grew to love that. I also learned to do things on "South American time," and after one horrible faux pas never again arrived at an event or dinner on time. In New York, I had friends visiting from Texas who got snapped at at the deli for taking too long to order. I have never been to Germany, but my husband was snapped at there for crossing on a red light when there were no cars - this must happen a lot. Visiting Paris was heavenly to me - I loved all the great food, how good everyone just looked, and the slow vibe. It is very interesting how cultures are different from place to place, and that is what makes visiting and living in new places so much fun.

The traffic light thing- I've crossed streets on sleepy Saturday mornings in Madison, WI, US when the light for me was red, there were no cars, and in front of cop cars, with no problem. So I'm with you on that one.

My son is due to start studying French this year. This is a timely reminder for me to explain that learning a new language involves learning about the culture as well. Thank you xx

It was very interesting to hear it, thanks for sharing!

Justine, I just love you. You have such a positive energy. I'm living in Germany currently and moved here from Bulgaria years ago. I can relay on so much of your observations :D

Very interesting observations. I lived in Greece many years and what I noticed about the German tourists which stood out for me was meal time dining out. The Greeks are very social, noisy and expressive. You will find they dine out very late sometimes after 10:00 pm and have their little children with them eating. There is a lot of noise going on. The tables with German tourists were noticeably different. You would see them seriously eating, hardly any conversation at all and no one smiling. It looked more like a serious business meeting than a happy, social event. I won't even go into the driving in Greece. The German tourists were horrified!

In the US, if you don't save for retirement, you are screwed. Life will be very, very hard. I have a friend who had to sell her house because she was diagnosed with cancer after she retired. She had not planned well enough to be able to afford good supplemental health insurance (to go with her medicare) and everything she owned was sold to help pay for her treatment. I have an aunt who did not save well and she eventually died from lack of care (she could no longer afford physical therapy and her (cheap) insurance did not cover it. She ended up paralyzed in a wheelchair and then died. It is VERY important in the US to save for retirement. Very, Very important.

This was very interesting! I lived in Japan for many years and now I'm back in Canada with my Japanese husband so I understand that feeling of being between two worlds. My poor husband is having a hard time dealing with the chaos of multiculturalism here as he's used to there being a defined way of doing almost everything. It'll be interesting to see if he gets used to it and then has reverse culture shock when we go back for a visit.

One Thing about our beloved Discounters: they meanwhile offer a Huge variety of organic produced vegetables and fruits. The prices are moderate so also people who struggle will BE able to afford Them.

Italians are one of the European countries with the highest levels of savings. Most families have at least one family home that is owned outright and can be used as a multi-generational home. We LOVE our food and quality of life; and we also take good care of the quality things we have. Ultimately northern/central European cultures seem more focussed on independence (hence the perfect house and pension plan etc.). Many cultures from the south of Europe are more aware of the imminence of death and the benefits of relying on your own family/tribe: and of course we are DEEPLY sceptical of governments and politicians in general.

I absolutely agree and loved this video😂 I am a German who studied and lived in France for many years. I definitely live the best of all the cultures I've lived in. I also grew up in the States and the Netherlands. And yes, the most difficult thing in a language are the fine nuances, which only come when really diving in deep.

Moved few months ago to Germany and can’t help but notice all the points mentioned by you ! Especially when it comes to making the house cozy and gemütlich ! Love you videos! Would love to hear about differences in culture Chile vs France 🇫🇷

Chaque fois que je vais en France, la qualité de la bouffe pour son prix m’impressionne…. La chance qu’ont les gens, c’est fou. Même dans les grandes chaînes, c’est remarquable. Pour les bagnoles, un Français qui se stationnait en touchant le pare-choc d’une autre voiture me disait que « c’est là pour ça! ».

Justine, THANK YOU for doing a video on reverse culture shock. This is a topic that does not get enough attention. I have gone through it twice in my life and it is traumatic. To return home, but to feel and see home from an outsider's perspective is very uncomfortable. And to struggle with your own language is so disconcerting. I believe your comparison of the two cultures was expressed with dignity & respect. I always enjoy your videos and insights. Thank you for sharing your gifts with all of us so we can grow and learn with you. ❤️

Gracias este nuevo vídeo, Justine! Cada cultura es diferente y nos enriquece a tod@s! En España pienso que tenemos más aprecio por disfrutar cada momento, y no pensamos tanto en planificar nuestra vida futura... Lo ideal es disfrutar el presente sin perder de vista al menos un período razonable de meses a futuro... Si hay niños pequeños cerca no cruzo con el semáforo en rojo...por dar un buen ejemplo...Aunque he visto muchos padres cruzar con sus bebés en los carritos con el semáforo en rojo...Es una gran responsabilidad... Cuídate mucho, Justin! 🤗💜

I was married to an American of German heritage for 15 years. (His grandmother was a war bride and I got to know her very well, and his mother inherited ALL of her mother's traits!). Your description of German culture is exactly right!! Even after living in the US for 50 years, I saw all of those traits in his mother and grandmother. Some of them, I have also adopted. I have been studying french culture for a few years now, and I also agree with your assessments of their traits. I don't see either culture as better or worse. I think there is good in each of them. It is helpful to know the differences, and how it effects the way they live and make choices.

Great to see you making videos again, Justine. And as fascinating as ever.

I've been working for an originally German company that was bought by a French company only a couple of years before I started there. It's now been well over 10 years of working side by side with our French colleagues. I was laughing so hard at the meeting thing - since it's a running gag here on both sides where also both sides tend to try their best to be more punctual and more forgiving but often just failing most comically. I have also caught myself prefacing things I want to say with "this might sound very direct, but I can assure you I don't mean to be rude" and then editing out the things I would say to a fellow German and probably still sounding rude ^^

Amazing how similar Italy and France are, much more so than with Spain I think, which we usually consider to be more similar to us. Interesting 🙂

The traffic light I have to agree with you! I have seen Germans in Dresden at 2 am waiting for the light to change where there were no cars. 😳

I also live for now. I live within my means but I also enjoy my means. I do not plan to leave this world with a large amount of money stashed away for a future that may never come. I have seen my parents and grandparents do that and the relatives fight over the money after they're gone. I decided it's not the approach I want to take in my own life. Great video today! Thank you for sharing your observations!

I was brought up in Germany, left age 24 to move to the UK. Now 58. Can totally sympathise with the struggles of two clashing cultures. I appreciate both my German roots and the very laissez-faire attitude of the Brits. One thing that keeps bugging me in the UK is when people cross roads in very dangerous ways (often to catch a bus they are late for) and in Germany when people stand at traffic lights on a bank holiday waiting for the lights to turn green with no car in sight for miles. Probably the best is to aim for a nice middle ground, but that’s easier said than done. Good luck with your resettlement in France!😊😊🍀🍀🍀🍀

In Thailand and India, those traffic lights are a mere suggestion- red meaning “maybe you should stop”! Same for the streets in New Delhi - “maybe you should drive on the street but if the sidewalk will be more effective, go ahead and drive on the sidewalk”! 😂

Hi Justine ! So glad you mentioned “time” and French people. I’ve been living here for a long long time but still haven’t gotten used to the French inattention to meeting times. It drives me crazy 😜!!! (I prefer being exactly on time say for a hair RDV - sometimes I’ve waited 30 mins!) Also great you mentioned “reading between the lines” in France…it’s so confusing 😂. Honestly, I must be German at heart !! Loved the video & I hope you’ll do more like this on French culture shocks.

I KNEW that you were going to say socks and sandals!!! hahahaha loved this video. I want to move to France soon!!!

Such a great video! I’m an American who lived in Southern Europe a few years and much of the US is very similar to a lot of the German values you expressed. I found out just how American I really was after living abroad: while I loved my experience in Europe and adore visiting, I definitely identify with more Anglo/Germanic values of punctuality, planning, and even though my household spends a lot of money on food (local organic high quality, top restaurants) I will happily skip a meal or eat on the go for the sake of getting more work done! I actually get stressed out from taking a leisurely meal if I know I’ve got things to do. Different cultures definitely have different priorities

As I´m a German, situated in Saarland, I allways enjoy hearing about those differences :) Here we´re seeming to be a mixture of both countries. A lot of Germans still believe we´re French. Visiting capitals in the rest of Germany, I´m often told that my German is pretty good for someone not growing up with it XD

I really liked this video. I know many German people but not one French person! I watch the Daily Connoisseur and know her living in France as a student had a lasting impact on her life many years later. I'd love to visit both countries someday. You are very good at explaining things.

Justine while holidaying in Paris my husband and I watched a person trying to park his car in a small space and “bumping” the cars in front & behind to fit his vehicle into that spot. We were fascinated and horrified. (I’m an Aussie, husband Canadian & car lover) That spectacle was all we talked about while enjoying our coffees LOL