Kündigungsfrist – This German monstrosity of a word essentially just means “notice period before quitting/cancelation.” Where do you find it? It comes up in work contracts. In that sense it implies that a certain amount of notice must be given (usually by both sides) for you to leave your job. I have seen it in […]
Germany is the land of beer. It is perhaps best well known for its beer and for festivals celebrating said beer. It doesn’t help you enjoy it though if you can’t order or don’t know what you are ordering. So here is some German beer vocabulary with translations and explanations. Yes, you could just order […]
Language schools are one of the best ways to get a taste of a new culture and country. Learning a language brings so much more than just the words. They can often help with low cost accommodation and visas if you need. Language schools are one of my favorite ways to travel. There are tons […]
Culture always has a tons of different layers. Some things are very obvious and some things are far more subtle. Take for example the German cultural habit of wishing anyone else who is eating “Guten Appetit”. It literally means “Good Appetite”, but comes across more as a wish for a nice meal. Even after 5 […]
Am I going to be fine without speaking German if I come to Germany? One of the biggest worries for travelers to Germany as well as expats here is the language. I often get asked about whether the Germans speak English. This question gets asked in different forms, but the short answer is yes (mostly). Click through for the long answer.
I write a lot about the culture of Germany from an expat perspective. The things that I have learned and absorbed. Being from another culture living here though, such cultural knowledge flows both ways. As much as I spend time learning the details of German-ness, I get to share some of the cool things about the U.S. as well.
I’ve gotten a lot of odd questions over the years of living here. It is interesting to see what people know or think based on their experiences. It shows to an extent that although the American culture is fairly well known in movies and TV shows, the details are not.
Spring seems to be a popular time for birthdays, mine included. The Germans have some unusual traditions, for me, around the celebration of the annual day of getting older. In short, you buy for your friends, cake is not what you might expect and of course they sing a different song.
So how cultural can numbers really be, you ask? We learn them as a kid and just use them. Well there are differences on how things are presented and used in Germany. Here is a guide to them from an American expat’s point of view.