5 Things That Surprised THIS American In Germany!

Today I get into 5 random things that Surprised me about Germany Since moving here in 2001. I am still often surprised at little things and life here so if you like this video, I may share more with you soon.
**UPDATE 5.5.2020 : I am currently working on a response video in regards to your questions. Any questions left in a comment up until now will be in the video. THANKS to you all and feel free to leave a comment if YOU have a topic you want me to cover or if you have a question! Good chance I will touch on it in a video at some point. Here, on my YouTube page, you may also let me know what your curious about in the 'Discussion' section. if you feel the need.

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[callmearmstrong]

*OK FOLKS* I am NOW working on My response video to your comments and questions...not sure if I will have it done today or in a few days. Feel free to still comment if you have questions or ideas/topics you wish me to touch on in a future video. I try to read as many comments as possible and respond as needed, but that is starting to get harder these THANK YOU FOR ALL THE SUPPORT! Bis bald /Stay

[TheChiefEng]

When most Americans hear about the systems in northern Europe and Scandinavia, the first reaction is "Communism" or "Socialism", which makes us Europeans think that Americans probably just use these words without knowing anything about the definition or true meaning behind these systems.
The common system used in northern Europe and Scandinavia is based on social democracy, which is basically a highly capitalistic system with a social dimension.
What northern European countries quickly found out after WWII was that there was a necessity of spreading the wealth more evenly in order to get a balanced society.
The result was free healthcare and social welfare systems based on a progressive taxation, meaning the people with more would contribute more. The general idea was that if you could ensure that all citizens had access to education, and especially higher education, and free healthcare, you would eventually end up with a more efficient and happy people.
Education should never only be available to the people who can afford it. An Einstein can come from anywhere. By not ensuring all social classes can get access to higher education, you handicap yourself as a country since you never reach the true potential of the lower social classes.
In all honesty, most northern Europeans look at USA as exciting but in many ways pretty backward. While USA have the highest of technologies etc, USA is also the western country with the highest and worst poverty and health problems.

[DerHoschi]

I'm your best german example! Seven years to 2011 homeless, now married, a good job and only a few problems… I'm paying back, what I needed in "problematic times".

[PJTarver]

As an American living in Germany, you hit the nail on the head. My experience has been the same as yours. We really can learn a lot from Europe.

[abesapien]

So, interesting fact about "nerds" in Germany: Germans are really into boardgames, so much that we are experiencing a "boardgame renaissance" here in the US now. Virtually every big chain from Target, Walmart, and Barnes & Noble carry not just Monopoly, but German-inspired boardgame designs. One of the best-selling boardgames in the US now is the Klaus Teuber's "Settlers of Catan." Germany's "cool" nerd culture has made a positive impact here in the US. And get this--I have been a boardgame designer for nearly 10 years now, with 1 published game here in the US! Thank you Germany!

[LeslieGilpinRailways]

You are the first commentator on YT I've heard mention that Poverty exists in the USA. Most Americans seem to comment on it elsewhere in the world but are in self denial about it at home.

[elisabethkerp]

I would like to know why Americans mix up socialism and social responsibility of the government or even a single human being.

[Shawk]

The first video of yours I watched was about your surgery and the breakdown of costs in the U.S v Germany. I still can't get over the fact that it would have cost you $200, 000+ but you got it for free in Germany. As an American, I am perplexed that America still doesn't have universal health coverage.

[saschamohr]

Nice that you pointed out quality of living is pretty high not only in Germany. I am German and I know it is pretty high here, but that's true for a big part of Europe. Scandinavia, Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland and more. There is always room to improve. Good video 👍

[TukikoTroy]

I love your seemingly random, common-sense ramblings that are actually little nuggets of wisdom. :D

[gerdahessel]

You are a rare peorson when it comes to talk about Amerika versus Germany, because you are no student or footballplayer or military member. Those are the largest groups of Americans in Germany. You're just a person "wie du und ich". That's what I like :-)
Has it always been the way you tell us in Amerika? How did it happen to be this way nowadays?
It once was the country of great possibilities for all. That's why people emigrated to America.

[haraldschuster]

Well, re "German kids seem (on average) to take school more seriously". I'd say this has a lot to do with the fact that you CAN get a better life in Germany if you have a good education. Your background does matter and children from a background of poorly educated parents will have a much harder time but you CAN make it. In, say, the UK - although this is slightly deteriorating - your background is a wall. If you grow up with a strong working class accent, you have much less of a chance than if you grow up with a posh accent. Same goes for where you went to school. This isn't that important in Germany. If you got a good final grade (Abitur), you can visit any university and your boss will NEVER comment on your accent or "oh, so you grew up in Bochum ...." and will make a mark on your application that you're not being qualified. Having a chance gives people a perspective - having no chance often demoralizes them. And the American dream is ... if I may say so ... an illusion but not so much reality. Many kids understand this and ask "Why bother?".

[Celine-fxbq]

German uni student here, I definitely can see the "German kids bully other kids that don't like to study" but I also like to think that it fades away over time. By the time I left elementary school and entered 5th grade, it got irrelevant how good someone was at school. Sure there's social circles but those were never walled up. The hot guy helped the goth girl in PE and the nerd explained maths to the pretty girl during break time. sounds cliche but that's how it was at my school. One of my fondest memories was during our graduation trip to barcelona we all sat together at the beach (yes with our teachers), played drinking games and talked. You wouldn't believe how mixed the groups were and how noone had a problem socializing with e/o.

I really enjoyed this video, you seem really 'lebensweise' and just all around a calming presence!

[joeaverage]

The welfare system here in Germany still has huge flaws, but in broader terms, I think you're correct that life is easier here when you are going through bad times. You will be offered very real opportunities to get your life back together.

[PapaOystein]

On fresh and healthy food: I am German, and I lived in the USA from 1989 to 1991.
I had the mirror experience: I was surprised how easily you can get all sorts of fresh, healthy food everywhere in the USA - at supermarkets! This was all the more surprising as it is still true that many Americans do not buy and prepare much fresh food - takes work to chop up vegetables, season meat or de-scale and cut up whole fish, right? Like a picked a Kohlrabi, which there were plenty of in the produce section, and the cashier had never seen one before and had to send a colleague to verify that this is indeed a Kohlrabi, and costs 99 cents. Like no one ever bothered to by any Kohlrabi before at this supermarket, and yet it was on stock, and fresh. Still, all of this was available at surprisingly good quality and affordable prices.
Just wasn't local, mostly, I presume.
BUT what you see in German weekly farmers' markets, even in rural towns, mostly isn't local, either! You see oranges all year round, eggplant, strawberries in March? None of that is grown locally in Germany. You see sea fish in Munich or Cologne? There is no sea anywhere near!
What the "farmers" sell there is mostly food from wholesale markets (often the same that also stock supermarkets, or restauriants), augmented by whatever local food happens to be in season. The best bet might be that poultry and eggs, apples and onions are locally grown. Other meat may or may not be regional. At my local farmer's market, even the bread booth does not sell locally baked bread - it's a "Großbäckerei" ("Large Bakery") that transports the bread like 100 km to my town - while we still have actual bakeries baking locally and selling their wares from small stores!

[davidhutchinson]

I couldn't agree more. When an adult who has responsibility can hold their head up and feel good about earning a decent living wage is where our nation used to be. Not having to worry about college costs, healthcare and all the other things that Americans have to consider on a more than regular basis frees up a lot of needless stress..

[bz]

I’m German and for the last 27 years lived in the US with stints back in Germany. I feel you are very acute in your observations. One of my first observations in the US was the obvious poverty and also he random abandoned buildings in little towns as you drive through as well as neglected farms next to very well taken care of ones. I, too, have a son and fully agree with your observations about school. He is a nerd here in the US and I am glad about it! He hated the jocks who would talk smack. The huge emphasis on school sports and the culture that goes along with it has always bothered me. Where the Americans thought the participation in school sports somehow makes you a better person or better equipped for live, I thought it was much more beneficial to focus on school. That’s the German in me 😂

[garfieldharrison]

I'm an American who resides here. I like the fact that you elaborated about the standard of living. When I came here many years ago without knowing anything about the government taking care of their people. I was contracted to work here. Coming from New York this was an amazing feeling once I got a chance to go among the people. I felt more free here. It compelled me once again to come to the country after my contract was over.

[MichaelMomany]

Great video! One of the best descriptions by an American who lives in Germany. I returned to Germany after having lived in Seattle for 35 years. I live near Hamburg and was born in Mannheim. This is the best move I've ever made considering the downward spiral of the U.S. in general. Thanks.

[Arltratlo]

typical german, having car, motorcycle, bicycle and sometimes i walk.., people in the US was wondering why i went by walking to the supermarket, 1 mile away, and not ask to borrow a car... Parents in-law looked funny at me, but they got it after they came to Germany first time..