If you have followed the news about these Germans, you may have noticed that their image has changed over the last years. After being accused of suppressing Southern Europe with austerity politics, more recently reports about the open border policy regarding refugees have taken over the headlines. Almost every person I met abroad in the… Read more »

It’s Christmas season, and while people in the UK, USA or Australia are waiting for Santa to slide down the chimney and deliver the presents, the Germans are once again one step ahead as they already celebrate Christmas on the evening of the 24th. Santa should really do some exercise In Germany the presents are… Read more »

It’s been a while since we last spoke, but if you thought we were just doing nothing, well you’re mistaken. Of course we’ve been keeping ourselves busy 9 to 5 at the day job and also been working on some projets here and there. Now that we are done, we would like to give you a sneak… Read more »

In Lisa’s last post she revealed the secret of German camping organisation: The almighty Excel spreadsheet! If you thought that was just a funny product of her imagination in order to get a good laugh, you’re mislead. This list actually exists and it started to become a living organism on its own, who knows what… Read more »

“Why does your bag have mud on it?” Tom queried, when I arrived in Munich from London one evening. “Oh, you know, the music festival we went to was really muddy and I haven’t cleaned it yet.” I responded. “Why did you take your wheeled suitcase to a festival?” he laughed… This wasn’t the first… Read more »

Apparently, socialising with us Germans is different from socialising with other people. Instead of superficial, meaningless pleasantries we actually give you a piece of our mind if you ask for it. I have been received with bewilderment, if not silent judgement because I told things as they are instead of sugarcoating it. Admittedly, I might… Read more »

It’s Wiesn-season and although the nice waitress already filled the Stein for you (see picture above) it might come handy in other situations to know how to open beer bottles with practically everything that you can grab. It is not only a stereotype that Germans can open Kronkorken with other bottles, lighters, cutlery or body… Read more »

It’s a beautiful Saturday afternoon in late Spring. The family has prepared the big, wooden table outside, under the old oak tree that provides soothing shade for the happy, red-cheeked children and their old and wise grandparents. They’re all looking at the mother emerging from the house in eager anticipation of the big, warm, steaming… Read more »

Tom recently told me about a project idea; a blog that helps people to become more organised. I gently encouraged him, who better to undertake such a task than the (overly organised) German engineer! I mean, really, could there be anybody more fitting to the stereotype? I was pleased when he asked me to contribute… Read more »

So if you followed Julia’s flirt instructions in the last post, you should by now have been able to find a German partner. Congratulations, lucky you! As a recent study reported, Germans have been voted the best lovers among OECD countries (a representative group of 1000 Germans was questioned). But what’s their secret? Is it… Read more »