THINGS THAT PEOPLE THINK ABOUT GERMANY THAT ARE NOT TRUE

⤹Everything you want to know is here!⤵︎

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Do you use the word Vaterland to describe Germany? Let me know if it is common to you or not!

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00:00 Intro
02:22 Things people think about Germany that are not true

FTC: THIS VIDEO IS MOST DEFINITELY SPONSORED!!!

How old are you?
older than you think

Where are you from?
Florida

Where do you live?
Munich, Germany

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[chrisrudolf]

Your analysis about the word Vaterland is spot on. It isn't necessarily a bad word and it is still part of the lyrics of our national anthem, but that is a text from the early 19th century and not how we speak in everyday life. Also, the term Vaterland (as well as the idea of strong patriotism as such) has been heavily tainted by the Nazi era, so the assumption that a German who throws that term around in everyday life is a Neonazi or at least very far rightwing conservative is true more often than not. The term Vaterland itself can still be harmless, but when you hear it used as an adjective (like in "vaterländische Gesinnung") you can be almost sure that you are talking to a Neonazi.
A "normal" German who wants to use an endearing term for his country would rather refer to it as "mein Heimatland" (=my home country) or simply "meine Heimat".

This may be different for German minorities outside Germany (like Texas Germans or Brazilian Germans) who are proud of their German heritage and like to romanticize the land of their ancestors, since "Vaterland" makes more sense than home country for someone who never actually lived in Germany himself and also because such communities outside Germany who preserved their German language over generations tend to speak an oldfashioned German that is almost frozen in time like the language was at the time of their ancestors emmigration.

[ErklaerMirDieWelt]

I work for the Federal Employment Agency and have counselled lots of people looking for jobs over the years. The key thing in Germany to get a job is qualifications and I mean this as in written documents, diplomas, proof that you know your shit. It's not enough to just be good at something. Also, while there are some international companies in Germany, most jobs will be in German companies and require at least a B2 level of German, if it's in an academic setting even C1. If you come here directly after high school without any qualifications to show for and without speaking the language, you end up in a pool with all the other non-EU immigrants from Africa and Asia and you can fight them for the jobs scrubbing toilets, washing dishes or flipping burgers. Another thing to consider is that you can't just come and live here if you're not an EU citizen, you need a visa and a visa needs a valid reason. On a tourist visa, you can only stay for a limited amount of time and you're not allowed to work. Better ways to experience Germany as a young person might be as an au pair or as an (exchange) student.

[horbuchasmrkanal]

A common misconception is that bavarian culture equals overall German culture 🙈🤓

[HayleyAlexis]

Since I have been uploading a lot of videos lately I might be taking a mini 5 day break :) I will still be here reading your comments but you probably will not see an upload for a few days!! I am on my way to Hesse right now and am ready to start my wine drinking tour!!

[sushipancake]

We literally moved to Germany without knowing German, jobs and a place to live. It sounds so dumb for many people but we managed to live comfortably. I've been watching your videos even before moved to Germany 🇩🇪

[tutnichtszursache]

I just love the way you're saying "Volltrottel vom Dienst".

[ramblingmillennial]

One of my friends is from Texas and is one of those super annoying Americans saying they are German (or any nationality) when they do not speak German, or know anything about Germany at all. I remember saying something like: maybe my BF does this cuz he is German and this guy was like iM GeRmAn AnD i DoNt dO tHaT... No youre not Gereman you are American and have a distant German relative!!! ARGH.

[XynxNet]

You make an excellent point regarding getting a good job in Germany!
I often wonder about other Youtubers totally misrepresenting the job market in Germany. Either they have no clue, are living in a special bubble or have very low income expectations.
In addition to your points, it is noteworthy that formal qualification is a big thing in Germany. Without formal qualification your chances of getting a high paying job are pretty slim.

[HenryLoenwind]

Arguing that Schnitzel is not a German dish because it was invented elsewhere is like arguing that beer is not German because it was invented in Mesopotamia.

[temilybadillaserrano]

I couldn't agree more with you. I've been spending the past two years applying as many jobs as I can and I've just collected 3-4 unfruitful interviews, I speak Spanish, English and I'm B2 German student, have a master degree, +10 years of work experience... IT'S HARD AF to find a job in Germany!

[mambofornasa]

Thank you for clarifying the issue about finding a job in Germany. You brought out the common sense which seems to be disappearing on the internet

[investmentgammler]

"Vaterland" is just the translation of latin "patria", so it does not necessarily refer to Germany at all. There is a piece of classical music with the title "Mein Vaterland", but it's from a czech composer (Smetana) and it's about Czechia.

[mikebag]

Imho, Germans tend to be "patriotic" on local/state level. "I am an Bavarian, Badener, Schwabe, etc." (ok, I'm a Badener - and to be even more precise: Alemanne :-). Like our slogan in Baden-Württemberg: "Wir können alles ausser Hochdeutsch" - We can do everything, except standard German"). Today, you celebrate and identify yourself by your local traditions, your local German dialect, your local food/dishes or drinks/liquire (Weissbier, Kölsch, Köm, etc.), local fests (Oktoberfest, wine fests, etc.) or fashion (Bavarian Lederhosen) etc. and like you mentioned: Local brands/companies (Mercedes vs. BMW).

[LythaWausW]

Thank you so much for the message about jobs - I have a degree in the sciences at University of Washington and I am unable to find a job in Germany. I could, perhaps, in Berlin or Frankfurt, but I don't live there. So I've thrown my diploma out the window and I've taught Business English and I've become a medic. Not what was intended! But my job simply does not exist here. If I were lucky, I'd be able to find a *good* job without relying on marriage. That's not me.

[bress]

Guess it's a sad but common misconception to think one could find his/her dream job without even having a basic knowledge of the language spoken in the place you want to move to...
It's that "Goodbye Deutschland" kind of attitude making me think some people just never learn...

[gerdforster]

The joke about Vaterland goes like this: Why is it called fatherland, but mother tongue? Because father has no say at home.

[wjhann]

About jobs in Germany, I would warn everybody since there are many and different hurdles.

In most cases you need some sort of documented profession to get a specific job.
As a craftsman you have to have a German degree of that profession (Geselle, Meister)
As a teacher in an regular school you have to have a German degree in university
and so on. Otherwise you are only a low payed helper.

And the problems continue (perhaps lawyer or physician you already know from states): For example as a qualified teacher in the US wanting to work in Germany (perhaps all over Europe) your examines from the US have to be converted - if possible at all.
Also - working in a kindergarden requires a graduation, or you might hired as a helper at low rate.

And also as i the US - you can't just fly here and take a job - you have to have an allowance to work here. EU residents may work in every country. This does not be the case for not EU residents.

[lotharschepers]

As a native older German I love your Denglisch. And so I now have the idear in mind to sell T-Shirt with the German flag on it and print "I'm" in huge letters above the flag and in small letters "der Idiot vom Dienst" underneath the flag and sell them in the US.

[ingaurban]

I love your videos!! I never heard someone in the US referring to Germany as their fatherland. That's really interesting. AND you are totally right, no one in Germany would refer to it as "Vaterland" except people who are REALLY old or right-wing or both😀 Regarding the flags you are also right, except when there is a WM or EM, which always means Soccer Contest of men(!) Weltmeisterschaft or Europameiszerschaft! THEN you can see flags all over the place, even on let's say cereal boxes. That started in 2006 by the way, when we hosted the WM (world championship) Keep up the good work!😃

[roesi]

I really like your way of explaining German patriotism. Great analysis, hadn't looked at it like that before - but you are so right!