There was shock this week as some polls suggested that Germany’s far-right AfD party may become the second largest in the country. This may seem surprising, but to anyone living in Britain, the patterns seem awfully familiar. What might Germany learn from Britain’s decade long slide to the right?
If there’s one thing we all know it’s that Germany is the land of punctuality, but everywhere you look there are examples to the contrary. Time keeping here isn’t always as simple as just being on time. How punctual are the Germans and why might it be counterproductive to punish latecomers?
“Es Zieht” or “It’s draughty” is a common complaint heard in Germany, even during the summer. Are the Germans overly sensitive about the dangers of air flow and why might it be difficult for the British to take their concerns seriously?
There are a number of generational shifts occurring in Germany at the moment, but one in particular should be a serious cause for concern: young German men are choosing to stand rather than sit when they pee. Why have German men traditionally chosen to stand, and why are they changing now?
Few may have noticed, but last Saturday saw two coronations, one in London, the other in Nürnberg. Bavaria’s largest and most successful political party, the CSU, reappointed Markus Söder to lead them into state elections this October. Why do Bavarian voters find the CSU so appealing, and what does this mean for the future?
The British monarchy fascinates many in Germany, and as a British person, I’m often called upon to explain why it still exists. Is there a reason Britain continues to cling to the Royal Family, and why might that prevent the UK from moving forward?
I’ve come to really appreciate the first time I see the advertising go up for our local Volksfest. The festival season has become a through line in my life, but also for many others. How do the many Volksfeste in Germany differ, and also bring the country together?
Despite the protests of northern Germans, Lederhosen are still considered to be the national dress of Germany. They might be a rather Bavarian peculiarity, but how common is it to see people wearing their Trachten out in the wild?
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?
Despite the chocolate and schools holidays, Easter isn’t really much of a celebration in the UK. Here, things couldn’t be more different. Whether it’s decorations, fairs or Ostermarkt, Germany seems to come alive at Easter. the only question is: Do you say Easter, Eastern or Ostern?
Learning to deal with direct communication is key to living in Germany, especially if you come from a culture that avoids brute force bluntness, but what happens when you adopt the power of German directness?
For another year running, Germany has been labelled as unwelcoming to expats. While some may dislike the results, Germans will surely recognise the issues mentioned. How useful are the opinions of expats, and is it possible for Germany to change?
For much of my adult life, pubs have been deeply important spaces. While Germany has many bars, they tend to differ from the pub culture in the UK and Ireland in various ways. What are these small but important differences, and how do Irish pubs in Germany help or hinder a new arrivals?
For years, Germany has been talking about "digitalisierung". It’s the perennial topic, the mood music to discussions about the future of Germany. What seems to be holding up progress, and why do some blame German culture itself?
English speakers often assume their politeness rules are as global as their language, but this is not the case. Politeness is not uniform from country to country, Germany has different ideas of what is or isn’t polite. What happens when these rules clash?
As long as I’ve lived in Germany, I’ve been asked a particular question; “When are you going back home?”. For migrants, the question of home can be a contentious issue and can lead to an identity crisis. What is home and can we ever return to it?
While the stereotype of the humourless German is overblown, there are differences in how Germans and the British use humour in their everyday lives. What do Germans find funny, and why might the British instinct for jokes cause problems?
According to surveys, 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?
Is food a useful way of viewing a different culture? Is Wurst an indicator of how Germany thinks? Maybe, but what happens when you mess with traditional recipes and what do reactions to simple culinary changes tell us about a country?
It’s a common complaint that Germany is a land of pessimism and negativity, but is that really a bad thing? How does German and British pessimism differ and might German pessimism actually be a superpower?
