Birthday parties in garages are not common across Germany. This may be the case in rural areas where the need for space may be greater because you are inviting a large part of the neighborhood and, most importantly, have a garage or barn at your disposal. In more urban areas there are smaller birthday parties in the apartments or in the house, maybe in the adjoining garden. This is mainly dependent on the time of year, for example for a barbecue party. If there are larger celebrations with more people, then the celebrations either rent appropriate premises, e.g. with a catering service, or you reserve a large table or a corresponding closed room in a restaurant or pub. There used to be a lot of bowling alleys in these, for example, but even this is not so common anymore. There are often more party rooms with seating and music systems.

Hm, I often hear about this "Do not jaywalk in Germany!" on Yutube. But, being from the Rhineland, living in Westfalia and also often staying in Berlin, I can asure you, that I do "on a regular base", as long as - no cars - no children - no police are around. I'm 50 years old and I think the last time, that someone else complained or even yelled at me, must have been 15 to 20 years ago.

American living in Freiburg here: I actually had the privilege of participating in the formal ceremony of changing from "Sie" to "Du". Our friend's mother, being from the older, more formal generation, asked my husband if he would "Du" with her, he said yes and thank you, she rose and offered her hand and told him her first name. And he told her his. Then they sat down, and she repeated the whole interaction with me. It was quite touching, since we'd known her for years and spent every Christmas with them.

I studied German 50 years ago and I spent a summer as a Gästarbeiter at Die Firma Leicht in the village of Waldstetten in Schwabenland. I went back to Germany with my wife in 2015 and we spent one night in a small hotel, in the Black Forest. We were having a quiet dinner in the rather empty dining room. It was November and there was only another group of 10 people there. At one point we heard them starting to sing very soft songs the German of witch I could hardly understand. It was very nice and we appreciated the moment. As we were leaving I had to satisfy my curiosity and I asked the person at the end of the table the reason for their singing. I was deeply touched in learning that it was the local church choir meeting in honor of one of their companion who had recently passed away. Their friend's portrait was there on the table and they had been singing songs he had liked, in his memory. They were charming people and were surprized in seeing a Canadian trying very hard to put words together in his very rusty German. Fond memories of that beautiful country and it's people.

Very interesting as always, but a small note as a German lawyer. The naming in Germany is restricted with very few rules. These restrictions are all about the best interests of the child and also to prevent crazy parents from giving their children impossible or historically charged names. Accordingly, in Germany it is not allowed to name your children something like this: Störenfried, Hitler, Lenin, McDonald, Sputnik, Grammophon, Atomkrieg, Judas or Satan. I think these limitations make perfect sense. Note to the Welsh lady: Which Welsh parents would name their child Medrawd, for example. This Welsh leprechaun comes to King Arthur's court, devours all food and drink, and even drags Gwenhwyfar (Guinevere) off her throne and mistreats her.

As harshly as Germans react to violations, I admire that they actually speak up because it leads compliance. Here in the US, people seldom speak up out of fear that they'll be disrespected and so rules are violated all the time. When the culture is that citizens don't take initiative to correct others, we get things like shopping carts left in parking lots, trash being thrown out of cars and slow drivers who tie up express traffic lanes, creating congestion because because they won't let faster drivers through.

What a wonderful afternoon that was, meeting Ashton and sharing our experiences! I can tell you guys, she’s absolutely as lovely in person as in her videos. And now I know, it’s not just me, who was confused by all the cultural differences when I first got here!

Fun story about jaywalking: my wife and I - when visiting Calgary - stood at a 4 lane main road in downtown. We were looking around just to check where we should go. Suddenly the traffic on all 4 lanes stopped. We just crossed the street although we didn’t want to. But we didn’t want to upset the kind Canadians. 😅

Going in the wrong direction for 2 hours isn't that bad. There was a wife of a British soldier in Germany, she wanted to go to Zeebrügge (Belgium) in her car to take the Ferry to Britain. She noticed that she had taken a wrong turn - when she arrived at the Spanish border... :)

About the Autobahn: The jumble of Autobahn crossings around Mannheim is an absolute nightmare, and it is perfectly normal to get lost there, because the signs are not there or don´t make sense and are totally confusing. I am from southern germany, my sister lives in Weinheim. The first two times I tried to drive to her place, I totally got lost and ended up downtown Mannheim......On my way back, i wanted to take the A5 to Karlsruhe, and ended up on the A6 towards Heilbronn. So, yeah. Especially around mannheim....it´s perfectly possible to end up somewhere.

As you touched the topic of birthdays: from what I understand at least in the US it is common if you meet your friends in a bar or restaurant on your birthday that they pay for your food and drinks. Don't expect that in Germany. It is more likely that your friends expect you to pay for their food and drinks. In a way your not seen as the guest of honour but more as the host. In most work environments it is also expected of you to bring something for your co-workers on or after your birthday. Like cake, sweets or Brötchen. Another don't: don't expect to split the bill in restaurants. At least not to equal parts. It is more common that every person tells the waiter what he or she had ordered and pays only for that plus a tip.

i just LOVE the mixture in laurens german: slight british accent but with a bavarian sound in it :) btw i had a neighbour many years ago... her name was "rosa schlüpfer"

The reason a lot of restaurants don’t take credit cards is because as the owner they have to pay 1 to3% on every dollar to the credit card company. I used to own a business and I had to pay anywhere from one to 3% for each charge. A small business sometimes finds this difficult.

sounds funny, but many germans enjoy taking things seriously. we love it when things work the way they should. we love to do things right. and that's not a personal decision, but a national endeavour you partake in. i.e. if you enter an autobahn you join in to the effort to make traffic for everyone as effective as possible. its like joining a football match. you can't just join and do what you want.

Regarding the names: Many over 40 still know "Ashton" as the mean and scheming sister of Orry Main from "North and South" (German: Fackeln im Sturm = "Torches in the Storm"). But probably more people know Ashton Kutcher by now. I don't think it's true that German registry offices have "catalogs of allowed names", but check new names and of course allow them if they are appropriate. It's quite funny: "Pumuckl Satan Pfefferminza" is forbidden, "Legolas Speedy Napoleon" is fine.

Regarding carrying cash: Make sure, you have mostly small bills, because large bills are not welcomed. As opposite to Switzerland, where you can pay a chewing gum with a 200.- bill without rising awkwardness.

There are Germans who jaywalk. Exhibit A: me. I guess the rule is to make sure there are no children AND/OR police around. Obviously, I want kids to be safe, nor do I want to pay a fine, but I don't like the whole car-centered concept. Just a thought experiment: What if the light was green for pedestrians by default and drivers had to push a button and wait? BTW: If my birthday party was to take place in my garage (not likely, it's completely cluttered), I would certainly let my guests know beforehand.

Another lovely video! I'm an American who's been living in Germany for nearly 40 years now, and everything you say is so spot-on! When I arrived in the 1980's it was even more of a culture shock for me. I committed nearly every faux-pas you gals mentioned 😊🤦! I have seen things ease up over the years, though. Store and business opening hours have gradually lengthened, credit and debit cards are more widely accepted, sports casual dress is more common, and even the informal "du" form of address is becoming more prevalent in the workplace and such. The names section really made me smile! My first name is Renée and people who don't know me, or don't speak French, are often surprised that I'm a lady because they only know the masculine spelling René. I get mail addressed to "Mr." so often that I hardly notice it anymore. I once had a French friend named Rolande, and she had it even worse because everyone pronounced her name as "Roland", a common German men's name. My heart goes out to any male Andrea from Italy who gets addressed as a lady everywhere else! 🤗 Edit: I forgot to mention that birthday parties in the garage or garden aren't common unless maybe you're in the countryside. In the city most people live in apartments and even if they have a garden, they must always be mindful of the neighbours. (In general, I'd say don't be offended if German friends don't invite you to their homes even after you've had them over. Germans tend to be more private in general, but if they do invite you, it's much more meaningful.) If I have a big birthday celebration, I reserve a large table or a party room at a restaurant. The big culture shock for me was that traditionally the birthday kid was expected to pay for the guests, not the other way around. Thankfully, that too has eased up over the years. At least, my friends always reimburse me or cover my bill. One big DON'T about birthdays: NEVER wish anyone happy birthday before their actual birthday. For some unfathomable reason, even the least superstitious German will tell you that brings bad luck. At least, that's been my experience. Anyway, thanks for the great work, and have a wonderful day! 🤗

Actually Seppi is just the diminutive form/nickname of Sepp and Sepp is originally the nickname of Joseph but it can be also a name for itself. And because Lauren mentioned that her name is in German a male name, so I have to say first of all "Lauren" is an English name and not German at all, the actual German form for "Lauren" is "Laurenz" and the female form is "Laurenzia" in German decending from the Latin name "Laurentius/male" and "Laurentia/female" meaning somewhat like "the with laurel crowned one"

Hiya Lauren, I'm German & Welsh and you might be happy to hear that there are no tolls for the Severn Bridge since 2018 anymore. Free entrance into beautiful Wales :) I can also recommend Wales to Dr. & Mr. Blackforest, as there is lots of beautiful nature and even dolphins all year round in west Wales! X

Rosa is already a very old name in Germany. My grandmother (who was born in 1900) was called Rosa. Rosa comes from Latin and actually means rose.

One big don't for me is don't be late. If they say the party starts at 7, you better be there or they will have all eaten already by 7.15.

I'd say your #8 strongly depends on generation and region. I live close to Hamburg, and here it's pretty common to use first names and "du" - not with complete strangers and officials (police officers and the like), but on nearly any other occasion it's ok to introduce oneself using the first name. In groups it's still considered polite to ask if it's ok for everyone. But I noticed in the south of Germany it's still more a thing to strictly stick with surnames and "Sie".

Jaywalking really isn't a concept that exists in Germany, unless you make the point to cross right at a red light. We don't even have a word for that. Just move 20 meters to the side without making it too obvious that you are just avoiding the crossing and you should be fine.

The hint on carrying cash with you is true for essentially every Bundesland, especially for places with relatively low turnover or revenue or with mostly German customers. As soon as revenues go up or international guests are expected, then girocard and some credit cards are usually accepted.

The don't Jay walk one I can relate to. I got hauled up on in Canada years ago (early 2000's) at a well lit junction with a set of traffic lights. It's 0330 in December and I'd had a few beers (I was not drunk!). The Trans Canada 1 highway was between me and my hotel, so, as there wasn't a sole or vehicle to be seen in either direction (2500m view and no headlights visible anywhere), I being British thought I'll cut across the highway early rather than walk the extra 100m to the controlled line crossing. I got all the way across the easterly traffic sode, joined the second half of the highway crossing (westerly traffic) and made it to the other side completely fine cutting out of the marked lines early as my hotel was way over to my right! Next thing that happened scared the life out of me, there were multiple sirens and flashing lights as two patrol cars pulled up next to me, one of which came in hot sliding to a stop rally car esk!!! The officers got out and started telling me off and writing me a ticket each! I didn't know what for as they just told me off for being dangerous and a reckless civilian! I got a CA$150 fine (I think, it was well over 100) and driven to a cash machine to pay the fine immediately as I hadn't the cash in my pocket. If I didn't pay up, it was the police cells for me untill the bank opened in the morning! Only at the cash machine did they inform me that I'd broken two laws, not crossing using the controlled button push crossing and two, as I had cut across the highway, I had jay walked because I wasn't between the marked lines for the crossing! I paid the fine and tried explaining to them that in Britain, what I did was completely fine due to the no traffic, good visibility and other circumstances! It didn't wash and I got another telling off! I've had similar much nicer run in (for jay walking again) with German Politzi, but still managed to get a fine! US cops in NY were just as busybody but the fine was dropped as I was on "holiday!" Being a grown up, sometimes being treated like a child is annoying, but I get it now when they say "JUST follow the rules!!" however weird they might seem! Better for your bank balance as well! I find it odd that I can buy a gun in the US at 18, but crossing a road when there is no traffic in the middle of the night is dangerous for my and other road users safety!! NOTE: crossing the road on a red when there is traffic about and or kids watching is frowned upon in UK. I don't do it now as I am not often out at those times and teach my kids to use the crossings.

I'm American and lived in a village next to Freiburg for 2 years. My husband and I left for 5 years and have been living in Bavaria for 2 years so my experience is limited. When I have gone to birthday parties in Freiburg, they were always inside the house. Only one of the birthday parties we've gone to in Bavaria was in the backyard/garden. It was in Summer and the family had a BBQ. In the US, BBQ parties are usually held outside so it's good to know this may happen more often than I would expect. Also, I found a lot of bicyclists breaking the rules (while I was driving) in Freiburg but this only happened when we were in the inner city (Innenstadt) though.

1. Cellphones at the restaurant: it depends. When I'm at a restaurant, it's usually our weekly computer Stammtisch (after all this time, usually reduced to 3-6 people), and cellphones tend to come up fairly often in a "let me show you this" situation. I also use mine to measure my blood sugar as a diabetic or to look up something relevant to the conversation, so it's generally laying on the table. *But* texting, or any other activity not related to meeting people, is something you really should avoid at almost all costs. In the past, I've also fairly often been to a restaurant alone (still happens occasionally), in which case, you can obviously do what you want. Oh, I almost forgot. This is a more general rule, not just about cellphones in restaurants, but about any situation where you are in fairly close distance to a bunch of strangers (restaurant, bus,, ...): keep down the noise! Don't (for example) play music at concert levels, or talk at typical American loudness values! 2. ... or in the garden. In fact, I haven't heard of doing it in the garage - that would really surprise me. 6. That would probably surprise me, too - I've done this or similar often enough as a German, after convincing myself that it's safe to do. And while they certainly can fine you for that, I've never heard of a case where people got more than a warning. 7. That has changed a lot recently. Many more places started to take cards or eliminated their limits for using cards, due to the pandemic, and they kept doing this since. I pretty much do everything cash-less except situations where I want to get a tip - such as restaurants or taxis - because that can get complicated with cards. 9. Hmm. I do know noise ordinances exist in the US. I do know calling the police when your neighbor plays loud music is a thing in the US. 10. Baby names - I'm pretty certain you're not limited to a list. I *think* the main rules are (1) the name has to be appropriate for the sex of the child (don't call your daughter "Rudolph" or "Table") and (2) don't use something offensive (like "Asshole"). However, that results in a few gray areas, so there are always court cases about what names are and aren't allowed. Maybe those lists were of "safe" names, where you can rely on not getting into trouble? As for those letters ... it was fairly common for my mother (with a very female German first name) to get letters addressed to "Herr Wiltrud Henningsen". I think it's just a combination of computers and bad assumptions (that is, going through an address list and just assuming everybody on it will be male).

I like your video. I am a person of an age that I can remember in the United States no one wore exercise clothing outside of the gym. In school we would carry our gym clothes and change to do athletics and then had to change back into our clothes. It was not even a thought to wear exercise clothes or gym shoes outside of the gym. So I grew up at a time that it was really look down upon and just not done. So this is not unusual for me. I have lived around the world and in the US. I also lived at a time where in the big cities in the 80s and 90s you had to wear dress shoes to go into clubs. You literally would be turned away. As college students we had one guy that would forget and try to wear tennis shoes and it was very maddening that we could not go into certain clubs when we had this one guy with us. Remember the reason that athletic clothes have become so popular is because the athletic companies clothing companies that make these clothes want to sell high priced polyester type clothing. A silk, cotton, linen, or wool outfit looks so much nicer on people rather than athletic clothes made out of polyester.

Beware that "driving on the right side" applies also for walking, or let's say which side you go to in order to avoid collision. I'm German but live mostly in a "drive left or wherever the dirt road allows you to"-country. Every time I'm back in Germany, if I forget to concentrate, I have multiple almost-collisions with shopping carts and on the sidewalk because I'm programmed left-sided. And of course I get angry stares and sometimes rude comments 🤷🏽‍♀️

This is like having Kaffeeklatsch with friends! 😄 the two of you make sure I constantly discover new things and places in Germany.

Rosa is not only a colour in Germany, it's a name, too. It was the short form of longer names that start with Rosa. Rosamunde for example, which is a very old medieval name. But the short form became a name over time and that's why Rosa Schwein is legit.

Oh, Germans jaywalk a lot, too (at least when speaking about myself🙂). Especially in the larger cities jaywalking is pretty common. But Germans wouldn't jaywalk when kids are around, that's true.

Birthdayparties in Garages are also common in Thuringia. Rules, especially traffic rules, taken very serious in Germany. That's why the traffic runs as smooth as it can be. You better have cash at hand, that's caused by the unstable connections even nowadays and the rules applied by the Insurance-companies securing the payments (and the fees you have to pay to the card-companies. Not every small business is willing to pay 5-6% for the processing of the payment).

The famous German Karl Lagerfeld once said that who leaves the house in jogging pants without actually doing sports, has lost control over his/ her life. I guess that there is nothing to add. People do not need to be a facionista, but below a certain standard they do not give the impression of taking things seriously.

Collaborations are always so refreshing, to see new creators and watching their view.

Tbh, there is an exception to the athletic clothing in university. It applies to sports students. Even if they don't have any classes that require physical exertion, they will probably wear sweatpants. It's a good way of spotting them.

The first thing: We germans love our cash money, so you can buy only that much that you have in your pocket and won't buy things you can't afford, what would be the case if you pay by credit card. The second thing: There's a saxing from Karl Lagerfeld, a former german designer, who said: " Wer Jogginghosen trägt, hat die Kontrolle über sein Leben verloren". And i have another topic what not to do: Never take a right turn at a traffic light when it's Red, it's only allowed when you have a green light or there's a green arrow at the traffic light that allows you to turn, but carefully watching the oncoming traffic.

In berlin you don't really need cash. I even don't have a pocket for cash. Since 2017 i get along with mostly visa and if it's not accepted, i use the old EC System( now called girocard). But! You have to know the city. As a foreigner you better take some cash with you. If you live here for some years you will find the places where you can get your currywurst, döner or whatever with cards. Tickets for public transportation you can get via app. We also have shops like netto where you have self service. You take the products you want to buy scan them on a machine, then you can pay via card or phone and bye. No cashier needed anymore.

Need to make a statement here: l’ve lived in Bavaria for over 30 years and I’m married to a Bavarian and I have never, repeat: never, celebrated a party or any other occasion in anybody’s garage! Maybe, it’s just the people you know and I know a lot of people here.

Interesting video, though I think some minor things might not be completely accurate. If you allow me to add my thoughts and what I found out. BTW I am German #1 Cellphones at the table: I usually have my phone on the table, because I take pictures of the food and/or friends with whom I am, BUT: that is all I do with it. #2 Birthday party in a garage: Now, that I find extremely unusual. I am in my sixties, I've lived in Bavaria now for over 30 years, but I have never ever, in Bavaria or somewhere else, been invited to a party in a garage. I have been invited to garden parties, but I guess if I don't hurry up to be invited to a party in a garage, I doubt I will experience this in this lifetime. Very odd, and somehow I don't think it is something many people have experienced. #3 Athletic clothing: yes. Just don't do it. Wear your athletic clothing only to the gym or when you are out running. #5 Bicycling: I mean isn't it just common sense, that you should know the rules before participating in traffic? I don't think this would be different in the US and/or Britain (Wales)? I mean it is not really surprising to being yelled at if your are literally a risk for everybody else's safety. Though I am generally very sorry for your unpleasant first experience in Germany. #6 Jaywalking: oh the stories I could tell ... on the police being armed, that does not mean they'll do a showdown. They carry their guns in their holster on their hips, you would really have to do something terrible for them to draw them. Unlike in the US, where it is a lot more normal that they actually carry them in their hands. That was a shock to me, living in the US. #7 Cash: yes, absolutely! Always carry enough cash with you. I have cards, I have a smartphone, even a smart watch with which I could pay, and there are places where you can, but I prefer not to. Especially since it is common in Germany to "round-up" when tipping. So you need cash anyway. How do you tip without cash? In Germany. Also I think if you pay by cash you don't tend to overspend so much, as you might with cards. In Supermarkets , however, I use my EC card, that is pretty common these days, especially since Covid. But also many places like restaurants and hotel these days prefer EC cards (not credit cards, because they have to pay a fee when you pay with your credit card and that means they earn less - even if it is only a small portion, so I don't see this changing any time soon). #9 quiet hours: YES! PLEASE observe them. We Germans like our quiet! #10 Baby names: Well, yes, I find it quite strange when I see some American names like Apple, Honey, Candy, Brooklyn, Bronx, Sparrow, Princess, North, Golden, Bear Blue, Poppy, Blossom and I won't get into the really crazy ones ("celebrities" really are crazy! ). Most of the names are places, food or flowers, and I ask myself "WHY"? Basically in Germany, unless the name is something really crazy or political or disrespectful or will prompt your child being teased, you can really give them almost any name. But some crazy names just won't fly, or as I learned in your case the "number" after the name. That's just not a thing here, but I am sure you can change that in the US. A simple name change like that shouldn't be a problem (in the US). Here it somehow just is superfluous. To name your child Rosa when the last name is Schwein is cruel, but Rosa is actually a regular name in Germany. I was not aware that there exists a list of names you can choose from in Germany, so far I have only heard this from expats, I never heard it from a German. Sometimes I think maybe it is an urban myth among expats? As far as I know some crazy names like cities, rivers and more are actually allowed in Germany, so for example you could have tea with London and Shakira at Kurdistan's house this afternoon (in Germany). I could find no source for a so-called list of names, but I learned that it pretty much lies in the discretion of the "Standesamt" of your city. So they might allow you a name that the Standesamt in the next city over would not. I have also found an article with crazy names that have been allowed. So I would say that the myth of not being able to name your child as you want has some truth to it, but seems to be highly exaggerated (by expats). Lauren is not a male name in Germany. I went to school with a Lauren and she was definitely a girl and that was in the late 60's early 70's. There is a very similar male name "Laurin". Note the spelling. I learned that Lauren used to be a male name in Germany (loooooong time ago apparently) but has for maaaaaany years been a female name. Which probably means that these days you could name a boy or a girl Lauren. Which makes it another unisex name in Germany - and yes, we have many of them - although I constantly hear that we don't have them (again, only from expats).

Lived my entire life (except for a year in San Francisco and six in the UK) in Germany, never came across a birthday party in a garage, must be a Bavarian thing :) (or your particular group of friends?!). The mobiles are getting more common - and I agree with both of you, that‘s a shame! If I go out to have a nice meal, spend time with friends, I invest time and money, so I want to enjoy my time properly with the food and / or the people. With the athleisure wear, again, getting much more common these days in Germany, too. - The world is getting more global, I guess, for better or worse :)

Paying in Germany: Cash is king. Debit Card (EC) is common. Credit Cards are still the exception in most places. But contact less payment acceptance got a boost since the pandemic.

I have lived in Germany for many, many years. Yes you guys are right. But not all Germany will scream at you for making mistakes. (The guy in the bike story was just rude!) But many of the practices you describe here are seen as showing respect to others. At dinner, you are with your friends; not your phone. Space to live is a scarce commodity in many parts of Germany. Being quiet in the peaceful hours is just common courtesy. „Proper“ attire, paying cash, and jay walking rules are, as you point out, part of living here.

living in bavaria, I've never seen a party in a garage, but if the weather is good its usually in the garden. same situation in terms of clothes, and many have heaters. but a thing you shouldn't forget: you can still enter the house and dont have to pee in the garden.

Claire is a popular female given name in English-speaking countries. In German it would be Kläre, Klara. But imagine how it would sound if her last name was Grube. To a German, Claire Grube sounds like Klärgrube (septic tank). I think it wouldn't be funny for Claire to live in Germany with a surname like that. And she shouldn't fall in love with a guy named Axel Schweiß. Because his name sounded like Achselschweiss (armpit sweat). The trouble would be predetermined.

Unlucky or absurd joke names are "Axel Schweiß" (it sounds like "armpit sweat"), "Melitta Filter" (possible but sounds like a famous brand of coffee), "Anna Nass" (sounds like the German word for pineapple) , "Reiner Jux" (pure joke), "Reiner Zufall" (sheer coincidence, but as far as I know the real name of some German criminal investigation policeman; we speak of "Kommissar Zufall" when a crime mystery gets solved because of an unpredictable coincidence and not the sharp wit of the detectives), "Claire Grube" sounds like "Klärgrube", the German word for a septic tank. The civil servants at the registration offices can refuse a name when they have reason to think that such a name will make a person the subject of public ridicule for the rest of their lives.

Cash is king. As we have friends in the Gastronomie / restaurant business they've told us that the credit card companies levy a rather hefty percentage of the final bill on the restaurants for the 'benefit' of being able to paying with card they've decided not to accept ANY cards at all. Not even the EC debit card. It cuts into their already tiny profit margin significantly. In many areas profit margins for restaurants runs in the 2-5% range for food items. The only somewhat profitable item on their menu are the more expensive drinks, with a profit margin of around 100%-400%, depending strongly on the area, region, type of drink, etc. But with a standard sparkling, bottled table water, the margin is only around 100%, but the cost for a 0.7L bottle is still only around 4€ in the restaurant. So if they have the great 'opportunity' of allowing guests to pay with card a deduction of 20 cents due to a 5% surcharge by the credit card companies is a very significant cut to their slim profits. Or for a 25€ food item (relatively high class already) cutting it by 50 cents when the profit margin is only 50 cents, then you are working for effectively nil, unless the guest drinks copious amounts of champagne. Nobody in their right mind would do that. So, yeah, I completely get why many restaurants demand cash instead of card. One other thing you DON'T do in Germany is offer the Nazi salute anywhere in public. Not even as a (bad taste) joke. From my personal opinion, you shouldn't offer it anywhere, period. But that's neither here nor there. But if you decide to still do it, especially at a concentration camp memorial, or any other memorial, be prepared for some very evil looks cast your way, at the very minimum. In many cases you may have instigated a shouting match among the surrounding people calling you everything from minor to grave insults. If you do it in front of cops you may be even be arrested AND fined. In especially egregious cases you may even land in prison when coupled with flying Nazi insignia, flags, or any other such paraphernalia. If you are stupid enough to actually pose that way in a concentration camp memorial, wearing an SS uniform, Totenkopf markings, while flying the Swastika flag, make some selfies along the way, and post them on pro-right wing sites, weeeell... get ready for a shitload of court cases thrown your way. Oh, and don't wager on a lawyer getting you a free of jail card in that case; a lawyer might only help in getting you a more lenient sentence, but definitely NOT an aquital. While it may sound harsh, Germany has come a LONG way from its dark past, but we still remember it, and have made it our goal to never allow it to be repeated.

The thing with the names always comes up and still there is so much more variety in names in Germany. It feels like in the englishspeaking world 80% of people share the same one or two dozen names. In a German classroom two students occasionally might share a name, it is really rare that two pairs of students share a name, but it's also not that unlikely that there is only one other student in the whole school who has your name even when the name is not particular exotic. Also, we don't need middle name because there are not that many people with the same first and last name.

The baby name thing is so often displayed wrong in media! There is no list of names! It is the decision of the officer to accept it or not, but there are rules. You can give turkish names, hindi names or whatever. They must be writable with the german alphabet, they must not set the bearer of that name to been bullied, a few years back, it must respect the gender of the baby or you must give a second name to make gender clear, but I believe they skipped that rule. And you can not give last names, city or place names. But if you can clarify that in your cultural background the wanted name is appropiate, the authorities have to accept it as long as other rules are obeyed.

I'm going crazy, you guys made a video with Lauren, which I've also subscribed to for a while. Your stories complemented each other very well.

My grandpa went to the mayor to tell them my mom was born, but the name they picked wasn‘t clearly female and so on the spot he gave her a second name (my grandma’s) :D So yeah, it can be difficult even for Germans - and the name, Gesa, none of us has heard it ever be a male name yet it’s really a pretty common name at least in the north for girls. I looked it up and it’s a Frisian name. Maybe the worker was from the south

Nice list of "not-so-common" differences! As far as dressing for the occasion, the first time my wife and I went out for drinks in the US after coming back from Germany I was amazed at how many people didn't dress nicely. Most of them looked like they just got off work and still had their work clothes on. In Germany we would spend the time to get ready and dress nicely anytime we were going out, even if it was just to a pub. And I was actually turned away at a club once for wearing Adidas pants (before I knew the proper etiquette!).

Yeah, Germans tend to party outdoors as often and long as possible. Yesterday I was on a party with people from school 37 years ago. We didn’t rent a large room but we went to a Grillhütte you can find almost everywhere in close approximation to almost every little village. And even while it was cold and rainy, for the most time of the evening we were standing around the „Schwenk-Grill“ while inside of the Grillhütte was the music playing. There is no bad weather only bad clothing. 😉 But to be fair, we also celebrate our birthdays indoors but mostly with the family and close friends. If it‘s going to be bigger, it‘s mostly outdoors or in a bigger room at a restaurant. But even if it‘s a garden party, guests still can use the toilet inside the house. 😊 And sometimes hosts show guests around if they never been there. Yeah, to introduce yourself as Rudolf is so unfair, because even Germans can‘t decide if it‘s his Vorname or Nachname. But since we mostly use our last name to introduce ourself to strangers we would assume it‘s the persons last name. Especially if the person is a woman. 😉 There is only one person I met who didn‘t have that problem of getting his last name confused with his first name and he was called Gabriel Gabriel. He probably had very funny parents. 😉 Don‘t forget noon as quiet hour, too. Often you are not allowed to throw bottles into the recycling container during „Mittagsruhe“ between 13-15 o’clock. But this depends on the area and the community you‘re living in. So if i get this right, Katelynne is somehow like Madisynn? 😉 And when it comes to names that can be used for all genders like Kim, you are legally allowed to give your boy the name Maria. But not alone and only as a second name. A famous example is Klaus Maria Brandauer who once played a Bond villain.

Regarding jaywalking: It's just isn't allowed when there's is traffic light and path for pedestrians and the light is of course red. But if you do it like 20m further down the road with no traffic light and path it's ok.

As someone living in Baden-Württemberg I have to say that I barely need cash. Occasionally if I just want to grab a Döner, they might require cash if the bill is less than 10€. But even the bakeries in Karlsruhe take your Visa if you just have something for 2-3€

in my experience, girocard (German Debit Card System) is much more widespread than actual Credit Cards (Visa or Mastercard), presumably because the transaction fees are lower. I've been surprised at times at where I'd been able to pay with my girocard - dry cleaners, small restaurants, even some food stalls... it's dangerous to rely on that. And it won't be of use for American or Welsh tourists :)

There is not a positive list for names, but the registration office will interfere when they see the child's welfare in danger. So you can't purposefully misgender your child (there won't be a boy named Sue in Germany), or give it a ridiculous or evil name (the registration office interfered, e.g., with Atomfried and Hitlerike). Also, the in South America quite common first name of Wagner could not be given to a person in Germany because it is such a frequent last name.

I'm a German who moved to NYC some years ago. It's funny to see what you encounter in Germany - I had similar experiences the opposite way here in the US. And I began to love to wear US sports gear and comfy sneakers/shoes.

The phrase Lauren was looking for is "side hustle"

In Germany, mobile payment terminals for credit cards cost a rent, so that they are only worthwhile with a certain regular turnover. Therefore, small shops do not use them if there are not enough users for them. Of course, the number of users also depends on how many card users are actually available and want to use them. Therefore, such systems are more common in tourist centers or in big cities than in rural areas or smaller towns.

Thank you both for your entertaining video. I have lived in Germany, being originally from Britain, for 15 years. So I sympathised with your “don't“. Re: carrying cash At least prior to the pandemic cash is king in Germany I have to say I always pay for bread especially with cash. In the pandemic contactless arrived even in bakeries. I still make sure I have cash even though I have a bank card. Re: the Autobahn Lauren's experience reminded me of my mother-in-law. Who when she drove was famous for getting on the Autobahn and driving the wrong way before stopping to phone for directions LOL

Did I miss something? "Is today collaboration day?" Feli from Germany & My Merry Messy Life Black Forest Family & Lauren in Germany

As a German, I'm allowed to share my thoughts, I think. #1 Yes, that's a No-Go. It is impolite to the physical present people and it is not the mobile alone. I always try to tell the girls in the company NOT to pick up the phone, when I'm talking to them, but most of them do not realize this faux pas. #2 That may be a Bavarian special (Bavaria is NOT Germany, remember that, it is just the southern part) - in the North I never have been at a garage party for a birthday - very odd idea. #3 That's correct. Only people on a low social level are wearing running gear or leggings all the time. And for men: No brown shoes after six, please. #4 Just get a map (or Google maps). That explains where the Autobahn will lead you to. Simple as that. Not really complicated. #5 That's interesting. Most cyclists in Germany do not accept any rules. Darwinism is the key - the strongest will survive. And red traffic lights just do not exist. #6 That's a fairy tale. I would not recommend to do that, but when you look around, most people jaywalk. It is similar to the cyclists - the people rely on the other people to have an eye on them. Very strange. But: A German policeman/woman may have a gun - before this will be used, there should have happened some serious things. It is not like USA... #7 Yes, to carry cash is not a mistake. #8 That's correct, before we do not know each other better, we call each other by the surname. And this could be similar to the first name. Irritating, I know. #9 Depends on the location. Lawn mowing, loud music and yelling kids are a No-Go on a Sunday, that's for sure. #10 Yes, that's true. In the case of Rosa Schwein I think that was a good idea.😂 Notice: Not that all Germans follow the rules...

If it is any consolation, when I was at uni in the UK, I spent six weeks avoiding addressing any of my professors directly as I was completely worried: they all introduced themselves by their first names - and you would NEVER address a professor by their first name :) And, Ashton, I would blame Mr Kutcher for all the letters you get addressed to you as a male ;)

He Ashton and Lauren, really loved this video especially because not only do you tell them very engaging and funny but also because you also took the effort to understand "why" there is a difference. Also funny to see how much we Dutch have in common with our neighbours. Keep up the great work and might I suggest a collaboration with Nalf (another American in Germany)? Ps. Great editing 👌

One thing I remember from when I studied in germany over 30 years ago. In germany if someone is buying you a drink, never take a drink before the person buying it takes one. We made that mistake when we were studying and were told about the custom. So keep it in mind. Not sure if all over germany, but that was in Bavaria.

DON'T dare to not hop over to Lauren's channel! Seriously!

Hmm, I not sure about jaywalking. I lived my full life in NRW, some years in Hanover. I can cross the red light with noone around. I don't think it is a thing in Berlin either. Sure, there is a law/fine regarding it. But, I have violated it a few times and never seen it executed. Usually, police has better things to do but this might be different in south Germany.

Well, the table manners in Germany are also different, you leave both hands on the table and eat with a knife and fork. Americans only eat with a fork and one hand on their leg from what I've observed.

Nice to have u both in one Video.

19:39 WOW! Did *not* expect that.😂

Über eine rote Ampel zu gehen, das kann schon mal vorkommen. Bei manchen Radfahrern scheint das Anhalten bei Rot sowieso nur eine Empfehlung zu sein. Meine grossen Geburtstagsfeiern fanden bisher immer innen statt. Vielleicht hatten die Personen innen einfach keinen Platz, oder es war schon während der Pandemie, da bleibt man ja freiwillig bei Wind und Wetter draußen!

Because I had a look at "names which can/ cannot be legally registered" yesterday I may can shed a light on the name topic. In Germany it's forbidden/ frowned upon to give your child names which can be interpreted as derogative (like Rosa Schwein/ "pink pig") or are related to personalities (like Hemingway (the author) or Heydrich (yes, the "architect" of the Holocaust) as a male first name) or objects (like Benz (car brand) or Rowenta (house appliance brand)). A name could be registered if you give your child a second name which is unambiguously male or female. As an example: there's an actress called Wolke Alma Hegenbarth, Wolke meaning "cloud" while Alma is a female first name. Hope that helps! :)

Super interesting: As a German, I have never heard of birthday parties in garages? In summer we celebrate outside in the garden, but you are definitely allowed to go inside, for example to use the bathroom. A lot of people in germany do wear leggings, just not sweat pants or full athletic wear etc outside of the house.

A very delightful vid this time with a welsh Lady. Love it!!!

Hello Ashton, happy Sunday! Really interesting conversation with Laureen. For me I would be funny if you hat translated some german sayings Word by Word, like " zweites Standbein" to " second standing leg" . To be honest your german language still are really, really good. This Just for entertainment. Best regards Ralf

I would debate the no leggings rule. Track suit would be different. Also university is not that dresscodey. It might be peer pressure or you'd stick out but that might depend on the courses. BWL (business management) for instance is famous for being "superficial", in Munich at least.

I love the Quiet Hours rules!

I've been paying without cash for a few years now. In restaurants, too. Because of Corona, cashless payment is becoming more and more accepted and sometimes even required.

Happy Sunday! We have an exciting update to share with everyone regarding our Black Forest Family gear! A few months back we teased that we had been working behind the scenes designing and testing some new clothing, accessories and gear.... well, the wait is finally over! We are SO excited to announce that our new Black Forest Family Shop is OPEN FOR BUSINESS. All of the designs were created by Jonathan and I to reflect some of our favorite landmarks in our "neck of the woods". We hope you love them as much as we do. Check out our shop here: the-black-forest-family.myspreadshop.de

Hello Ashton, hello Lauren!! That was really a great video that you two made there, really interesting to hear what experiences you had, super exciting. Thank you very much for the insight. I can only say from my side, of course I don't know all the universities in Germany, but in Berlin I have also seen young women who also went to the university in leggings, of course the clothes should be clean and be well-groomed, but I would not have consciously noticed that they were all wearing a specific dress code. Also in other parts of life, the girls wear what they want and mostly don't care that much, maybe a thing in southern Germany, the people are even more conservative, that's why so many young people from these areas like to come to Berlin. Personally, I don't think it's a bad idea to dress appropriately for the occasion when a certificate is handed over. You will find that you can only pay with cash again and again here in Vienna, Austria as well, and it doesn't matter which cuisine the restaurant offers, whether Italian, Mexican or Austrian, there are establishments that only take cash. The thing about crossing the street on red doesn't just have something to do with children and being a bad role model, in Germany people just drive very fast and especially at night when the streets are relatively empty, people speed , especially young men with big tuned cars, when you hear them it's usually too late and an accident can happen. If it is then determined that you crossed the street on a red light, then you will share the blame for what happened and that would be really bitter. There have been a few cases where people have been killed trying to cross the causeway on what appears to be an empty road. It's for your own good In Berlin there are some problems with speeders who keep making the Ku' Damm unsafe and killing people. Thanks a lot for sharing, have a nice week!! When making an appointment in Germany it is very impolite if one person is busy with their own mobile phone all the time, then I ask myself, am I actually wanted, does the other person even want to spend time with me and is they really interested to spend time with me or am I only disturbing because the mobile phone is more important?

Well, I’m German so I’d like to add a few things: 1. On the topic of “Autobahn”: always drive on the right lane or go back to the right lane after overtaking the other driver as long as as you can maintain speed. Also don’t forget to signal when approaching the and of a stop and go and to form a lane with the other vehicles so that emergency vehicles can pass. 2. We don’t just have quiet hours but we also have quiet compartments (also referred to as mobile free zones) on trains where you can’t actively talk or take a call. 3. Please don’t hug people for a greeting even if you’re fairly close. If they open their arms and offer you the option you may but otherwise don’t. 4. Don’t expect everyone to be able to speak or understand English, this goes especially for the federal states that made up the former GDR as the first foreign language was Russian until the school year 1989/90. 5. German is a tricky language to begin with but there are not only regional dialects, there are also differences between the former GDR and the former federal republic. Try to keep up your patience with our language it is very rewarding, once you get a decent grasp. Just imagine being finally able to go to the cinema 😅 because Germany doesn’t do subtitles 😝 or original voice even if the title is in English. 6. If there’s a line (for waiting), use it. 7. Don’t cross a red light on a bicycle, it could cost you your driver’s license. Not sure if it’s the same when walking but, just to be safe, don’t. 8. Be on time if not a few minutes early. It is considered polite to be up to 15 minutes early for a meeting and about 5 minutes for a date. And while the German railway is often late, they also often change the platform which can be a hassle, if you don’t know your way around or can read fast. 9. Don’t do small talk when you have a complaint in a hotel. Simply greet the receptionist and politely state your complaint, so that the problem can be solved ASAP. It is not polite to take up to much time especially if others are waiting, too. 10. Being polite includes greeting especially in villages but also getting up from your seat when an elderly enters the bus/tram and there’s no other seat available. Unfortunately, many young Germans tend to forget that, too. 11. Don’t drop the ashes of cigarettes on the ground, especially not near playgrounds, parks and forested areas in summer because of the potential for accidentally starting a fire. While on the topic, you might encounter areas where smoking is prohibited entirely… 12. Don’t use the restroom in a restaurant without asking unless you are a customer of the establishment. Non-customers often have to pay a small fee (0,50€-1€) to use the bathroom. And for the love of God, don’t shriek if you encounter a self-cleaning toilet. There’s probably a lot more that could be added but I’ll leave it at that.

Das war echt lustig, macht das mal öfter....habe mich halb tot gelacht über diese scheinbar kleinen Unterschieden und vor allem darüber, wie Deutschland von Expats wahrgenommen wird ;)

i am from bavaria and never heard that it is bad to wear leggings and such things. I dont care if girls wear that on their daily life, in university or restaurants. Never heard someone else talking about that

I think there is not an actual list of approved names, but the office that registers the name can refuse it if it makes it (a) impossible to identify the person or (b) it would be harmful to the wellbeing of the child.

My birthday is on 26.12., which means, I have no chance to invite somebody for my birthday party on that day. It's a family meeting day in Germany. So what I did, some years ago, I shifted it for half a year, into the summer, and invite my friends into a restaurant with a garden, where we can also eat and celebrate in the open. More fun.

this was so a fun and chill video thx ^-^

It's always amusing when these channels perpetuate the myth of Germans not jaywalking. :-) We do. There's probably some regional variance that might further that impression for some people. And there is an understanding to avoid doing that while young kids are nearby, so they don't run on the street without looking. Crossing on red while the police is nearby is just unlucky. ;-) Just giving a warning for that is also very typical. A bunch of Germans jaywalked while you read this. ;-) Just less than New Yorkers :)

Another don't in Germany: never take video/pictures at the swimming pool. The Germans are certainly all about privacy, even if your subject is consenting to the video/pictures. And if you are caught, the lifeguard will approach you.

"Don't leave your cellphone on the table"… with an exception that I heard in the past: everyone *must* put their phone in the middle of the table, and you're not allowed to pick it up for an agreed-upon period (until everyone's done eating, or until the evening or event or meeting is officially "closed"). If anyone does… the first one to do picks up the bill for everyone ;-)

General rule, the smaller the establishment the more likely it is that credit cards are not accepted. There are several reasons for this: 1. Credit card terminals essentially are rented, meaning monthly costs of about 9€-30€ depending on provider and device. 2. Each payment costs about 7 to 15 cents, again depending on the provider. 3. The credit card service used comes with additional tarifs, usually something in between 1% and 3% for each payment. 4. You need a payment printer on top of it, because credit card payments need to be attached with the bill - and not just any printout will do. 5. Book-keeping and tax handling, as a measure to support small businesses, is quite easy if you are going cash only, but once you allow credit cards a very thorough documentation is required including expensive standardized ERP software meeting stiff requirements such as for documentation type and customer privacy. 6. Price-lists are absolute, meaning what you see is what you pay, and this is no matter how you pay. Due to your competition, you can't go wild on your prices, but at the same time you can't demand surcharge for credit card payers. So yes, you essentially pay a lot of money out of your own pocket so that your customers may be using a credit card. 7. Unsurprinsingly, credit card payment is seen as something of a luxury great a many opt out of if their business concept allows for it.

If comparing to Netherlands, #1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 are all acceptable in my country. I never realized how different it is to Germany in these examples and how close NL has come to American culture. When I am in (mostly Northern) Germany though I do jaywalk and call young people by their first name.

I thought jaywalking was to cross outside cross walks.

I lived in Kӧln (Cologne) in the late 50s. My Dad was in the RAF but we lived in a private flat in the suburbs (2B Feltenstraβe, Bickendorf) rather than on base. One Sunday he was outside washing the car, when a German police officer came up to him and explained, very politely, that this was not permitted in public on a Sunday. Dad was a bit surprised, but their country - their rules, so he happily complied. No problem 🙂.

I lived for 5 years in Korea and I have a Philipina wife. I also have a great friend in Stuttgart. I loved this video!!! I will watch many more!

Hi ladies, first I thought that Lauren is a very well english speaking german cos I heard some sort of german accent in her pronounciation. May be it was much more a welsh accent 😀 Yes, always have some cash with you. I appreciate that Germany is one of last bastion using cash for some good reasons. My hint to english speaking visitors: dont be to shy to start communication with others here. Be open, dont get shocked if someone dont understand but be happy when someone try at least to speak in your language. They are in advance so dont laugh about wrong pronounciations. Thats would be rude, very rude.

People wearing sports clothing outside sport activity are seen as poor, lazy and anti social. Simply mean they don't care about how they look. Privatly I know for certain most people prefer sporty outfits too, so while at home they dress in comfy clothes.

Regarding the cash thing: make a bank that does not charge that much for cards&card payment systems and people could use them more often. But right now, most banks and companies charge just too much money for a business to see the value in it and make a profit on it, so we don't use it. And the cultural thing about it: we don't want to be the "Gläserner Bürger" where everyone can track our movement, our habbits by simply looking at our purchases.. And on the topic of short variations of Names. You know what Schorsch stands for?

In Switzerland you can pay in most places without cash. Though the means you can pay with vary. Bigger places offer everything but smaller places often only allow bank cards or twint (mobile payment). Also, it is fairly common for places to only accept card payment etc. Above 20.- or something the like because of the fees that are disproportionally high with smaller payments.