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?
Sometimes the generational divide in Germany can feel rather chasmic, especially when the question of how to pay for pensions with a declining population is discussed. Does Germany have an issue with age, and are politicians making it worse?
It seems trite to say Germany loves a bit of paperwork, but when it comes to the small details, some stereotypes ring true. Why might sharing your full name on official documents cause issues and how might things be changing in the land of process?
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 extra plates just in case?
Learning to drive in Germany is no easy feat, but once you pass, the open Autobahn awaits. It can be exhilarating, but it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. What’s it like to drive on the Autobahn and why should you be careful when discussing speed limits?
Recent protests across Germany against the far-right and the AfD have seen hundreds of thousands take to the streets, but questions remain about their lasting influence. Can such large scale demonstrations change people’s minds and will we see an impact in the polls?
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?
Despite efforts in many German companies to create a “Zero blame” work culture, problems still persist. How does Germany deal with responsibility and does it have a problem with blame?
Random strangers correcting each other is just a part of the everyday in Germany. Unsolicited advice on all manner of topics can be surprising, especially for more indirect cultures, like the British. What drives the German society of auto-correction?
2024 is only two weeks old, but in Germany it already feels as febrile as the last twelve months. The Bauernproteste, along with the rail strikes have to a feeling that things are beginning to fall apart. IS this Germany’s winter of discontent, and is there any light at the end of the tunnel?
In a good year, Germany can have nine public holidays and several regional Feiertagen, with some states getting 14 paid public holidays per year. In a bad year, such as 2021, the quota of public holidays dropped to six. Why do Germans lose their public holidays and why aren’t they more angry about it?
It’s Silvester in Germany, and many will ring in the New Year with a private firework display. At the same time, thousands of people across the country will be treated for firework related injuries. Does Germany have a fireworks blindspot?
On the whole Germans aren’t as socially awkward as the British. How might German grammar help avoid the worst aspects of social awkwardness and what does that have to do with a person’s first name?
Despite Germany being the origin of many British Christmas traditions, I avoided spending Christmas in Germany for almost a decade. What made Weihnachten so odd, and what made me change my mind?
Tchibo is famous throughout Germany for coffee,and a weekly revolving selection of useless product. How does Tchibo manage to succeed when no one is entirely sure what they might be selling or why they're selling it?
Most days it feels like Germany is beset on all sides by numerous problems, many of which are self-inflicted. Given that many of these issues arise from contradictory rules or limitations, it’s odd that German has yet to adopt the term “Catch-22”. Would adding another slice of English to the German language improve the situation, and if not, what will?
Sunday trading is a contentious issue for many in Germany. Whereas some see it as the perfect way to boost local economies after the pandemic, others see it as direct attack on the rights of workers and a particular way of life. Should shops be allowed to open on Sundays or would it be a slippery slope to 24/7 consumerism?
When it comes to dealing with neighbours, Britain and Germany have more than a few differences. How might the German approach to neighbourliness cause problems, and why is inherent British social awkwardness no defence?
When discussions on immigration and integration come up in Germany, the term Lietkultur is never too far behind. The idea that those coming to Germany need a set of “house rules” in order to live here has existed since the mid 90s, but can a national culture as diverse as Germany’s really be so easily codified?
English speakers may have no idea who she is, but Helene Fischer is easily one of the most successful musicians, not just in Germany, but the world. This success has come on the back of slickly produced Schlager music, a genre that is long lived and often very hard to define. What is Schlager music and how has it managed to stay so popular?
