All in Society
Tis the season to eat Spargel in all its many and varied forms and you better believe Germany takes Spargelzeit very seriously. This makes things difficult for the tiny minority of us who actually don’t like it, but is it worth incurring the wrath of the Spargel lovers?
The simple question ‘How are you?’ can cause consternation in Germany. Is it really a question or another example of dishonest and superficial English communication? Honesty is seemingly prized by Germans in communication, but is this the case in all areas of German life?
A new child is reason to celebrate…except in #Germany. Here I'm not ‘Dad’ I'm ‘Papa’. It's fine for a character in Grimm’s Fairy Tales, but I've no intention of kicking in the doors of a gingerbread house. What do you do when you're forcibly rebranded?
If there is one thing people know about Germany, it’s that it is the home of efficiency. Visitors are certain of it, but many Germans are beginning to have their doubts. Is German efficiency simply a stereotype, a long perpetuated myth or the the true lived experience?
Angela Merkel is often praised as a progressive leader, usually from those outside the country. The ‘Merkel is a progressive’ meme is powerful in the English speaking world, but does that mean it’s true? How progressive is the German chancellor, and if so, shouldn’t there be more progress?
Germany is no stranger to English loan words, they’re everywhere. However, the recent surge in the use of the term ‘Culture-War’ suggests that not all borrowed language is as benign as ‘Beamer’ or ‘Handy’. What has sparked the increase in use of the term and why might it be so damaging in a German election year?
Germany is seen as a land of punctuality and organisation. Although broadly accurate, there are areas where chaos is allowed to reign. Queuing is one such area. Why are German queues a contact sport and what does that tell us about the importance of timekeeping over organisation?
From outside, Germany appears to be a hub of technology and innovation. However, the everyday experience of life here suggests that may be wishful thinking. Is Germany as modern as it seems and what might the pandemic change about how technology is used?
Dating in Germany is full of pitfalls, even more so when you’re trying to find a match online. Our new contributor, Shariya Dilini Algama takes us through her own experiences of what to expect and why so many of her matches seem more interested in her nationality than in their comparability.
Most people in Germany know about the British class system, but few would discuss German society in terms of class. Does Germany have a class system and how is it different from the UK?
It may seem like weddings in Germany are the same as the UK & the US but there are many small differences worth knowing should you be invited to one. Why are German weddings like a marathon and why should you bring some plates just in case?
In Germany they say order is essential, which can sound restrictive, but does create clarity. How does the German desire for order effect daily life and why does it often create conflict with native-English speakers?
According to surveys of expats, it’s hard to settle in Germany and difficult to make friends here. How is German unfriendliness measured and why might it be so difficult for migrants to make friends?
When discussions turn to how nations remember and the role of public spaces in national memory, I can’t help but think about Germany. How does Germany confront the past and what might other nations learn from it?
Germany has a reputation as a country dominated by rules. That might not be completely true, but there are a lot of rules both official and unofficial, but what do you do if you have no idea what the rules are?
It's easy to get confused in Germany, but it’s often just as easy to cause the confusion. Why might saying thanks to the bis driver seem odd and how did ordering chips in a restaurant lead to a minor international incident?
Often compared to the British ritual of afternoon tea, Kaffee und Kuchen is the bedrock of German culture, but how does it differ from the UK?
Learning German is often easier with context, but sometimes you might wish you hadn’t. Is a mother’s mouth really so important and why is mother cake something you might prefer to leave uneaten?
Germany regularly features in the top ten most productive countries, even though Germans work fewer hours than many of their neighbours in Europe. What is it like to work in this environment and has Germany really mastered work/life balance?
Fasching is a favorite time of year for many Germans, with a long tradition going back to the medieval period. Although primarily a celebration, the costumes worn by some have come under scrutiny due to accusations of racism and cultural stereotyping. Can a costume be racist even if worn in celebration and is ignorance ever a defence?
