Germans do like to look and chat over their gardens but most do not like video or being shown online especially their house. Therefore when she is outside compliment her on the garden. Say hello if she is chatty and maybe one day ask her if you could film and publish her garden. Greetings from Northern Germany
J. A. the best is take time to befriend her. most of them want privacy and doesn't like to be on someone's video's content but they are so nice.. they just want their peace. Filipina here and single mom living for more than a decade. Germans are naturally and genuinely so helpful. i remember when i was new here and could't understand and speak german yet 😍
@@disikebot3186 Oh wonderful! You moved here from the Philippines. We have also found the people here to be wonderful. They have been so kind and helpful to us also.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife be careful with filming/taking pictures of people or private propery. It's at least heavily frowned upon if not straight up illegal
When I stayed in the suburbs of Atlanta during my school exchange, I really confused my host sister by asking about taking a walk around the area. She told me that they never do that, but since I wanted to see where I was, she reluctantly agreed. I soon realized that they didn't even plan for people walking around when the suburb was built, because there were not even sidewalks in front of all the houses. Sooo weird for me as a German.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife that is very sad, because the area where I stayed (Marietta) was so beautiful. I would have enjoyed walking around, looking at the beautiful gardens and houses if there were enough sidewalks.
What you reffer to is the "suburban project" in USA that is failed. In very short terms, US goverment is forcing the citizens to do everything by car. In EU we have small shops like groceryshops scattered around in walk distance. In every air photo from any city in US, you see massive carparkings where they habour all shops in one. This is also why a young child can be seen alone in EU walking to and from school, while in USA you get reported if your child is even alone on the frontyard (kinda). "Eyes on the street" doesnt exist in USA because of their failed city planning. In EU you find people walking everywhere so its less common for a crime to actually happen because of "eyes on the street"-term.
Kind of different in Albuquerque (Southwest US) though. I am actually in the city. But it is common to walk around. I often go out, and we do have sidewalks, etc. There are also some hiking trails in the foothills about a mile (2 Kilometers) from here. We also have a more outdoor oriented life than in the US South, I think (mountain biking, hiking, etc.) However, I don't think the houses are so pretty, the gardens are though. I think Germany looks amazing though. (However, I just am writing this, because you can't assume that all areas of the US are identical.)
Every time I watch a video of Americans in Germany it makes me smile, because sooner or later they all get excited over the same things. You already mentioned some of them, like bread, freedom for kids, the feeling of history when you see churches and other buildings. You actually found a breathtakingly beautiful spot to live. I hope you enjoy your time here!
@@AtoZenLife the eggs are unfridgerated only in the store because they will stay fresh longer if they don't change humidity and temperature too often. You're supposed to keep them in the fridge at home.
Yeah, true. We decided if we can chose where in Bayern we want to live (as long as it’s somewhat close to Munich) we will live where we would vacation! Life is short. Love where you live if you can (I know not everyone has that privilege.
Yes, but most germans are really happy to only spend their holidays in Bayern because for most germans Bayern would be a nightmare to actually live in. I only need to think about the politics and the dialect etc.
Many Germans couldn't even afford to live in the area.... Especially since Bavaria is very expensive in many areas and you should not consider this environment as "standard" Germany either.
@@confusedsophie4053 That’s actually not true, I am originally from Northern Germany and live in Bavaria for a couple of years now. I will never go back to the north.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife We have over 3000 different types of bread. Thats the most in the world. When it comes to beer, cars, bread and sausages, no one can beat us :P
Germans are obsessed with fresh air. They air out the house or apartment several times per day also in winter, it's called 'lüften'. Also being outside every day, spending lots of time out and about in the fresh air, is considered of great value. There is a German saying - there is no bad weather, only bad (wrong) clothing. I like your bavarian village, it looks beautiful. Cheers form Hamburg.
Hi from Hamburg! We want to get up there and visit Hamburg at some point. Yes, I love how Germans love their fresh air. I think it’s great! We air out our house regularly now.
Yes, but only when they are not in the room or when it is that hot that they like a little breeze. Otherwise we hate draughts, hence ventilators and ac-units that constantly blow air at us and gives colds, stiff necks, red, inflamed eyes...
I love your videos ❤️ I am from South America married to a German and living in USA. I do understand the excitement of living in other country than your own. I have been in Germany many times visiting my husband’s family and I absolutely love it , so our children. Our kids used to spend summers in Germany and Colombia almost every year so they could learn the language and the culture. Our children are grown up now and they believe those experiences really made a huge positive difference in the way the see the world. I applaud your open mind about living and exposing your kids to German culture.
Wow what amazing experiences you gave your children! Living in other countries, learning other languages. Spending summers abroad. I’m sure it did wonders for them.
concerning the lady with the garden: next time you see her, just pay her a compliment about the amazing garden, and ask if you can take a video of it. Maybe explain, that you respect her privacy and do not want to put her garden or her face on youtube without her constent. most people will really appreciate this and also let you take a video :-)
When you talked about the kids forgetting to tell the parents where they go...reminded me of my childhood :-) I lived in a small village surrounded by forest. I had a small backpack with some tools (hammer, pack of nails, small jackknife to carve and a roll of cord). During school vacation we went everyday from morning till evening to the forest to build a hut (ok we tried :-P but it was fun) or we went to the little creek and build dams. Loved it. I also had to tell my parents where I go (but honestly when we where at the forest we started there and ended up somewhere else - no one got hurt, so everything was fine). I always tell everyone with small children that the best thing they can do to their children at young age is to live in a small town with nature around. Played football/soccer, rode bicycles, skated and sometimes just returned home during the day to get sth. to eat or ask for some money to get some icecream - think this will definitely will also happen with your kids :-P However I can also tell you that as a teenager I didn't like it that much as the bus to the next village was only going every hour - but I survived that too ;-) I once watched a documentary where a german TV correspondent in D.C. talked about the situation that it's not usual in the U.S. to let children play alone in front of the house or on the street without supervision and someone called the police...as I experienced my childhood in such freedom and have these good memories I was a little bit shocked. I never want to miss that experience. Keep up with the entertaining videos, also like the two of you having such a relaxed conversation in front of the camera and a lot of laughs
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife I had the same experience in my childhood. "Be back when it gets dark" was the only rule we had. But that is 30 years ago. Even in Germany things changed a little bit.
I assume your children go to the local German school and can't wait to hear how they are doing with trying to learn and communicate auf Deutsh. When you spoke a out the delicious bread and hard boiled eggs on Sunday, it reminded me of the summer I worked in he Grindelwald, Switzerland youth hostel and we had a huge laundry basket of wonderful moist brown bread delivered every morning what I used to slice with an electric slicer, about 12 big loaves. With it we had the most delicious butter and Configure made of rose hips that looked like ketchup and was so delicious! And I had forgotten on Sundays our Kitchen head, Rosa would make hard boiled eggs for all the hostelers who had purchased breakfast.
I bet the lady will love to give you a tour, just ring at her doorbell, tell her your new in the neighborhood and ask her to give you a tour of her garden and greenhouse. Us gardeners are proud of and happy to share our gardens, gardening is sharing.
Very warm welcome in Germany. :-) I lived in many countries before (even the US), but Germany is the best (culture, costs, restaurants, 4 seasons, and...and...and...)
Maybe it would be cool for Grayson to join a local sport club in your community. They have often different sections for each form of sport and teams for every age. Also a good way to get to know some kids in his age with the same interests
I cant help myself you guys are wunderbar Please stay forever. Immigrants like you are a blessing for Germany and Europe God bless take it easy and stay save
I think you moved to the town I grew up in because i recognize the church and the mountain...thats so cool! I have been in the US for about 50 years now . but I have always been happy to visit my family there. I hope you enjoy it there!
Congrats, you finally landed in one of the prettiest areas of Germany (from my point of view at least - as an original Bavarian) It‘s so funny when you talk about „Bäckereien“ but the video shows a „Metzgerei“ 😂. Looking forward to your next video and what you explored next.
Na. That isn't true. The most beautiful part of Germany is for sure the Rhine and Mosel area. You know, the Wine area with old castles, small medieval villages, and spooky legends.
Such a heartwarming video! I admire your positive attitude towards living in Germany! I live in Northern Germany and and relate with you. The people are so so friendly and bend over backwards to help in every way possible! You also have great kids who are so lucky to have such great parents! Eileen ☘☘☘
What a charming couple! Just found your channel and subbed. Hope to be visiting Germany (and France, Switzerland and Austria) in Sept from California Covid willing. I plan on going mostly through Bavaria (Bayern?). Just love looking at pics and videos of the incredibly charming towns. I'm glad to hear they are even more charming in person. Thank you for sharing your stories! Tschuss!
I like your moving to Germany series, they are amazing to watch. My best compliments for the place you have chosen to settle. We live about 60 km north of your town and are used to drive to your region for nordic skiing (just this weekend), snowshoe hiking, mountainbiking, hiking, paragliding. This is the perfect place where our German saying "Warum in die Ferne schweifen, wenn das Gute liegt so nah" becomes reality. If you are bored having no car, just jump on the train to visit other towns nearby.
When you go shopping, insist that germans are speaking german with you and try to speak as well german. Don't be afraid to make mistakes, they will help you, no one will laugh at you! This is the only way to learn a language quickly. Pay attention from the beginning to the correct pronunciation and learn the main words with articles! Later: watch german kids tv. Ask your kids because they will learn fast and will help you.
Watch dvds with captions. First in English with German subtitles, then German with English subtitles. Repeat it. My first steps to gain my terrible well English skills are from watching titanic a lot of time, means my Vokabulars contained mainly katastrophic and nautical words. 😂 „check the Sound of the ship“ .
I’m thrilled with you both and your channel. Not even when I was young did I have your energy. I had 2 children and shopping and cooking I loved for 4. Looking at 6 amazing me. My best friend had 4 children and she said no. 3 was like doubling that . 🙃 I am more than amazed and impressed At 80 you give me a new lease of life. At least in my head. You make your life such fun. I will work my way through all your videos. Thank you. ❤
My instant thoughts too... 😊 ...and don't be irritated if you see coloured eggs even when eastern is far over... they sell them as "Partyeier" nearly throughout the whole year.
Thank you for saying it - I wanted to but I live in NRW and maybe it's different in B. I wanted to mention that as an American I'd never heard of or eaten a soft boiled egg but now I love them and even have a little egg maker machine that helps me cook them the right amount.
Boiling eggs is one thing Germany does differently. Try to buy an Eierpiekser outside Germany, people elsewhere never seem to realise how much easier it is to boil an egg when you pinch it with a small needle, and even if they did, it apparently never crossed their mind to engineer a contraption for doing it. And don’t get me started about Abschrecken 😂😷
Guys, it is so lovely for me seeing you getting used to life in Germany and how open-minded you are about it all. Exactly the right mindset to have a great experience. I have no idea how I discovered your channel originally, but I have been watching for weeks and I just couldn't wait to see the first images of your new home. I made a similar trip 30 years ago, when I went to Michigan as a foreign exchange student for one year (1991/92). Exciting stuff. I hope you keep on exploring and enjoying and I am happy to help out with any questions you may have. I live in Frankfurt, so I'm a bit off, but please do ask at anytime! Sorry we have the Covid situatian right now, that is the only problem with the time you chose to come here. Loving the videos, keep it up!
Thanks so much for your support of our videos! We really appreciate it! And how cool you did an exchange in Michigan many years ago. Those kinds of experiences change us for the better. It’s always good to get out of your comfort zone and see the world through different eyes.
I enjoy watching you both talk about your move and experience in Germany. You’ve chosen a beautiful place to live! We’re moving from NC to Cologne in a few months and hope that all of us adjust quickly. Looking forward to watching you guys travel with your kids, (as we’ll be doing the same once we are able to travel) ☺️
Oh how awesome! Cologne is a big and fun city. We went to Karnival there once, about 12 years ago. We got all dressed up and hit all of the bars! It was soooo much fun! Anyway, that is so exciting! We can’t wait for things to open up so we can really experience life here. It doesn’t feel like Europe with all of the closed up restaurants and bistros 😢. What’s bringing you to Germany?
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife Same here, we can’t wait for things to open up!! Fun fact: we used to live in Johns Creek, GA a few years back and been blessed to be able to work remotely. My husband is American & I am German and after living in the States for more than 20 years we decided to move to my home country. (The kids are still young enough). I actually feel more American than German. 😊 We’re excited for this next season of our life!
Unfortunately the small bakeries are dying out, we had 4 bakers in the village, where they baked at 4 a.m. and it smelled great. there are now only the big branches in supermarkets, which have destroyed the small bakers.😔
In Southern Germany you will find a lot of elaborate murals called "Lüftlmalerei" ("Lüftl" is the diminuative form for "Luft", air). Poorer people could not afford carvings and stucco so they decorated their houses in that art. But in contrast to most other parts of Germany Bavarian farmers were well-to-do. They were free and had bigger farms than most of the German peasants in the Middle Ages who lived in serfdom. That is why there are so many big farms that are isolated from each other and scattered around in that part of the world. About that Italian icecream-makers. Many of them come from two valleys in Northern Italy. They brought the art of icecream-making to Austria and Germany shortly after the 1860s. In winter they close their parlours and head home for family reunions and experimenting in their shops for the next season.
Lüftl Malerei hat nichts mit Luft oder Lüften zu tun. Eine Familie Lüftl in Bayern hat ihr Haus als erste mit Heiligenbildern bemalen lassen. Darauf hin hat sich der Begriff Lüftl Malerei für diese Bilder verbreitet. #Klugscheissermodus aus#
In most churches there is a place with lots of candles. You can light a candle for a donation. No matter where i visit a church, i light a candle either for all the dear people around me or in memory of those who have already passed away.
What a sweet family! You have surely ended up in one of the most beautiful places in Germany, with Austria and Italy so close, too. Hope, you`ll settle in and make new friends. In summer you´ll also enjoy going to the lakes. Warm greetings from a German.
I love watching your videos. Your new family life in Germany. ❤ Can't wait for the next video. I hope you're doing well and we'll hear from you again soon.
I love your enthusiasm for travel, for the particularities in Europe, in Germany. It shows me the beauty of my home again. And I can understand you well. So far I have traveled around the world a lot, lived in Italy, Spain and Portugal. I have been to the USA, Canada, Australia and I can say that these experiences made me more open and tolerant and also more curious. I hope that you and especially your children have a good time and that they can gain a lot of good experiences. I myself and my wife have 3 children and sharing the world and curiosity with your own children is a great experience.
Listen to Silvio. If you want a town that is similar to Rothenburg you should go to Dinkelsbühl. Similar style, also a complete medieaval wall, and way less touristy and overcrowded.
Oh my goodness I love your video now I have kind of feeling to move back to Germany , from Canada 🇨🇦 I am getting sick and tired of driving everywhere with cars I want to go for shopping walking 1 mile or 2 love it
What a beautiful and positive video! You mention so many things that are totally normal to us in Germany but hearing them from you makes me so humble and thankful! I'm so happy you like it here and hope you will keep enjoying it!
Hallo, ich schreib jetzt mal auf Deutsch, ich finde euren Kanal total interessant, Dinge die für uns selbstverständlich sind, findet ihr total toll, es ist echt nett eure Reaktion auf für uns alltägliche Dinge anzusehen, ihr kommentiert das echt gut...;-) und mir würde es sehr wahrscheinlich in USA genauso gehen... alles Gute für die Zukunft...🙂
I love how you guys take different things with humour even hard lessons like your kid came home with "wrong" clothes :D The thing I love at children is every weather is fine. As adult you complain about everything ^^
I love the local original Germany butcher and bakerys nothing beats it.fresh tasty and so many variations of meat and bakery stuff Amazing The typical historic german buildings style got so many different variations across Germany
Just discovered your channel and love it. A very belated but big "Welcome to beautiful Bavaria!". You´re such a sweet family and enrichment to the village you moved to. Have a great time here 🙂 In case you need any support or tipps just let me know.
If you need school supplies, the easiest to get everything is THALIA, a big national book store, where you can get everything you need for the school, books of any kind, DVDs, magazines, greeting cards etc
I usually buy everything at Amazon. You have Prime already? Of course it is good to support stores, but for you in your „cowkaff“ 😂 it may be more convenient to shop online. Even with and for 3 children.
Convenience is nice to have. But that excludes one from the learning experience. How would one know that there are Rechenhefte and Schreibhefte, Vokabelhefte, Ringhefte (with 2 or 4 rings instead of the three-ring-binders in the US), even Binders (only for the older kids). Then the different writing utensils like: Bleistifte (pencils), Buntstifte (Crayons), Füller/Füllfederhalter (fountain pens), Kugelschreiber, Tintenkiller, Radiergummi with a hard (for ink) and a soft end (for pencil), even Tipp-Ex tape and flüssig. All those things will get by unnoticed. But these are so essential to a school experience. And that should be shared by parents and kids. The how to get a Ränzel! The good stuff made from leather or the cheapo ones from the discount store. Choices and experience gained you will remember fondly for all your life!
A drugstore chain called Drogeriemarkt Müller also has a wide range of school supplies and good offers especially at the beginning of the school year. There are two Müller stores in Traunstein.
I'm glad you like it in your new German home ! The houses with paintings on them ( the paintings are called "Lüfterlmalerei" ) as well as the Baroque church are very typical for the Bavarian area ( and some places in Austria as well). You won't find that anywhere else. Sunday breakfast : It's true also in Northern Germany where I live that on Sundays many fathers take their kids to the bakery while the mothers prepare breakfast which typically is Brötchen (rolls) with butter, jam, cheese and 'Wurst' ( sliced sausages or ham) and a boiled egg . It depends on the individual preference if the eggs are hard boiled or creamy inside though. Some might even have scrambled eggs or smoked salmon on their rolls. Since you live in a small village it's safe to let your kids run around by themselves or send them shopping. I wouldn't recommend it in a big city.
I just stumbled across this video.. I am German, grew up in the Chiemgau area (my parents still live in our family home but us four kids have moved to the cities for work and Uni) and this looks very familiar! I love the fact that TH-cam decided to show this video to me. I hope you have an amazing time settling in. Love watching this video, definitively going to subscribe!
So happy to see you guys settling in so well! The area looks absolutely gorgeous, what a wonderful opportunity for you and your family. And I agree with the others, ask your neighbor if she's ok with you showing her garden. I could imagine she'd be proud to show it off 😅
In villages kids can usually do anything! It is still quite common just to tell them when they have to be back home and that's it! There is simply nearly no way how they can get lost in a village, as soon as they have learned to be reasonably careful!
I managed to "get lost" a lot as a kid in the woods around the village I grew up in. Or rather, I completely lost track of the time. Much to the annoyance of my parents.
Oh, I almost forgot, when the time comes for you to travel within Germany I'd suggest going to Lübeck in Northern Germany ( my town). It still has parts of its medieval city centre and famous churches ( the Dome being first mentioned in the 11th century ). It's by the Baltic sea and has a lovely beach, too. I'd love to lead you around as soon as it's covid safe.
If you go shopping for groceries more frequently, you always have fresh food to eat. Fresh bread rolls daily , or at least on sunday mornings. Enjoy everything that makes you feel good.
Every time I look at the two of you I think you are a typical British couple. Can't help it.Of course, that changes once you start talking. Than you turn in a very Un-American family. Starting to learn the language of a country before moving there, planning ahead, which American still in his mind does that? Easy answer: The kind we like to see here.
Awe thank you, saying we are not typical American is (unfortunately) a compliment! Americans can be quite clueless when it comes to foreign languages and other cultures. It’s embarrassing. 🤦♀️
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife No need for "Fremdschämen". It is less a problem of the people than rather a problem of the system. If you bring American people into a different environment their mindset will usually change. Just take a look at all the current and former expats on YT (Hayley, Montana, Aspen, ...). Even many of those, that are PCSing to Germany, have opened up throughout their stay (also it is harder if you have little contact to the locals).
I just came across your chancel. You are such a friendly couple. Exactly what you need in these times right now. I am so happy that you are enjoying my home country so much! Try semi boiled eggs. I cook mine for 7 minutes. My mum always made them like this. This way I could „tunken“ my bread in it. 😀
The village looks really beautifull with the mountains in the background! Seems that your kids enjoy the environment! We have April weather with fast changes from sunshine to snow/rain! So it s important to be prepared for everything😀 Grüße aus dem Ruhrgebiet!
Speaking of seasons... you are going to notice that some things especially foods are very seasonal. Like the Asparagus craze in May/June or Kale (not sure if it's a thing in Bavaria, but in Northern Germany it definitely is a fall food) or the Christmas foods and beverages.
I have to tell you something so very very European. We were on a guided tour of the Kolner Dom (Cologne Cathedral) and the tour guide said (in English) that it was built around 1250... but a group British teenagers just wasn't interrested, but then I heard them talk among themselves. It was not because lack of interrest itself, but because their home church back in England was 100 years OLDER !!!
Please be prepared for other people in your village to reprimand your children if they do something wrong or put themselves in danger! Your children will have a great time! Adventure and freedom, independence, they will get dirty and hurt themselves, yes! Unfortunately, helicopter parenting is always on the rise here - I don't know why! I hope you enjoy your new life! Of course, living in the provinces can also have its disadvantages, but Munich is not far away. Lake Constance, where I live, is worth a visit!
@@arnodobler1096 You're too honest!! I would add that up until 2019 we spent many holidays on and around lake Bodensee. We cycled round it in 2018 and stayed at the hotel Schiff at Moos near Radolfzell then and on different occasion. We also stayed at Fischbach a couple of times in our caravan. We've done a number of cycling trips around Baden Wurrtemberg and Bavaria over the years. It's a beautiful area and you are very fortunate to live where you do.
I just can imagine the struggle when you move to a different country in the middle of a pandemic. Still had to laugh 😂 because it’s so true that we pack our kids in so many cloth during the winter. I life in Bavaria as well and I have to say „you described this place very well“. Also you don’t have to be nervous before waking in a store. Just be honest and let the people know, that you don’t know the words in german. I promise you, they will help you and make you feel comfortable.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife Having 4 kids and a cat and a husband, I highly recommend having a "heat pump" dryer in your house . with an energy rating of up to 8 you can't go wrong. Luv ya
You guys are amazing. I really hope you find friends in your small town. It can get quite difficult to get in kontact in a small town especially for foreigners.
While rewatching some of your videos, I still love your energy. It would be interesting to learn in a video about the friends you made and how it has changed/evolved between then and now.
The beautiful garden: you might just tell the lady that you are admiring her garden and have some smalltalk with her. And some time later you might tell her about your youtube channel and ask her whether she'd allow you to take a video if her garden :-)
Just a quick (first!) comment. ;-) It's so amazing seeing your love for your new home and how overwhelming every new thing to discover is for your family. Yes, we're out come rain or come shine... btw Did you already get your "Allwetterjacke" to be prepared for the rapidly changing weather conditions in Germany (esp. in the alps)...? ;-D
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife waterresistant or waterproof perhaps with an inlay that you could take out!😀Pardon for my bad english (so much forgotten after 30 years out of school)
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife Yepp, they often have zip-in liners inside. You often open up a button in the long sleeves each, and another zipper on both sides of the lapels to take out the warm, often fleece inner lining if it get's warm. The outside is usually a fairly water-proof coating. You often can get them from Northface, or Jack Wolfskin. Or just google "Allwetterjacke" and add "Damen" or "Herren" or "Kinder" and you will be inundated with different options.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife Among New Zealanders it's kind of a running gag that germans can easily be spotted and identified by there more-practical-than-fashionable all weather jackets made by Jack Wolfskin, Northface or Fjäll Räven. ...and that this item is not only to be worn while hiking in NZ, but on a day by day basis in Germany.
Out of season - I really hate this. When summer starts, they are stopping selling light shoes, in August they start selling snow boots ... it's really crazy! And - I refuse to buy snow-boots in August!!!! (inspite of being german)
You asked for suggestions: in small towns always greet people at least the ones living in your street. Buy local if possible and I think the lady with the beautiful house would be very proud if you asked her if you could take a photo. Someone who puts that much effort into it would even like that I think.
I've wached one of your videos and instantly subscribed. You guys are so genuine, nice and down to earth. Very respecting of the German (or any other) culture. I enjoy your calm, but entertaining style of vlogging. I'll be looking forward to more vlogs about your family settling in!
Love your videos. My parents did a lot of travelling (we live in Canada) and Germany was always their favourite country to visit. Both were fluent in German and I'm sure this added to the enjoyment. Also they loved good food and my dad LOVED German beer! Looking forward to seeing more of your adventures.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife Both sets of grandparents were fluent. My maternal grandfather came from Romania but was Polish in ancestry, my maternal grandmother and both paternal grandparents were German although had come through the settlement camps in Russia. But all were fluent in German which made Germany one of their first and as it turns out favourite, places to visit. My parents had a tendency to speak German when they didn't want us to know what they were saying, however my older brother could understand enough to let us know what they were saying - lol. Love your adventures - looking forward to seeing more of them.
We have a Müller here where I live in Baden-Wurtemberg. They're a chain store for all kinds of general stuff. If you give the employees your school supply list, they will go around and pick out all the things for you. (They will not notice you and offer to help, but are very nice and helpful if you ask directly.) This was so helpful when trying to figure out which kid needed which Heft. They all look the same to me. We also like Decathlon, Ernstings Family, and sometimes Tchibo for kids' clothes and weather-gear. All the stores are closed now where I live, but they have friendly return policies for online orders. I've bought many waterproof winterwandern schuhe and boots from Decathlon. When my kids started school and all needed a pair of Hausschuhe, Gummistiefel, Sportschuhe, Regenhose, and a Regenjacke each, I felt so panicked until I had them all outfitted.
The Müller-stores all seem to be open, because they do sell food (most of it organic) and drugstore supplies. Although about 80% of what they sell is other stuff (like toys, CDs, crockery...) they still are allowed to open. Same with big supermarkets like "real" where you can buy clothing, TVs or other electronic stuff. It's not fair to smaller shops.
@@thomasbucher5311 A local thrift shop simply cordoned off the areas with garden furniture and such in order to remain open. That way they could claim to sell 80% (or some such percentage) food stuff.
When you get some wheels, take a day trip to Landsberg. It's probably less than an hours drive from where you are. It's a neat little medieval town. You'll enjoy spending a day there. That's where I had my Bavarian experience and loved everything about it. There are some nice TH-cam vlogs showing the town. Check it out.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife A 30 min. longer trip to Kaltenberg Knight tournament ( schloss-kaltenberg.de ), i have great memorys from my Childhood there. Sadly not this year, but i hope next year i can visit again. Tip: reserved tickets and a Dinnertable bevor, much less stress. Dont get hungry: th-cam.com/video/GIX3AhND9pM/w-d-xo.html
Doing grocery in a supermarket is one way of doing it but you also should look out for a so called Wochenmarkt. There you can get it directly from the farmers. It could also be possible to find farmers with a so called Hofmark.
Parenting style is very different to the US from what i heard and read. You should have a look at it to don't get any nasty surprises. During easter there is a tradition of "eier bemalen (color eggs)". It's really fun for kids. You can buy a special color and then paint cooked eggs that will be sitting in a small basket on a table during easter to be picked up and eaten whenever you like. You probably have noticed that eggs are not refrigerated here. It's because the shell isn't cleaned and therfore hasn't lost it's protective mantle. Therefore no worries, it's a total safe tradition.
Just recognized in which village you live 🙂 I actually had a vacation apartment in "Bergen" which is pretty close. I think you chose one of the best spots in upper Bavaria. Beautiful but not as crowded by tourists as for instance the area of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. If you have not yet been there I recommend Kloster Maria Eck which is close to you and very pretty.
My dad walked me to school for the first and maybe second day of school in my life. And after that I went to school on my own each day. It was a quaint small city named "Bad Tölz" with a nice view towards the alps. ;-)
Welcome. I particularly enjoyed your comments on Germans going outside whenever the weather allows. Well, we do while wearing weatherproof clothes. Someone in New York told me one day: you can recognize Germans easily because of their outdoor clothing as if they were hiking in the mountains, 😆
Welcome to Germany! Hope you enjoy your time and your stay here in my beautiful home county 😄😄it just discovered your channel and it is so great to watch all your videos 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
I learnt about The Sound of Music only when we stayed in their old family home in Salzburg, which has been converted to a charming hotel. We always travel by train and public transport, anywhere in Europe - at least we did before Corona, now our car is getting used more often than to just haul groceries - and my thrifty husband found this conveniently situated, not too expensive cosy little hotel in a romantic park, connected to the station and the old town centre by good public transport. Villa Trapp, romantic memories, sigh.
I highly recommend you guys to visit Hamburg. In my opinion it's one of the most beautiful citys in Germany. If you need any help in translation or just want to improve your German let me know :) (I'm studying to become a special needs teacher for German and English)
Having school kids is the best way to meet people. The next thing you should do is to join a german Verein, a club, where you also can meet people. For hiking, there should be a Alpenverein, or join a local runners club or a group that does northern walking. And the kids will need to join a Sportverein, as sport is not big in schools. Or play in a brass band. And try to learn german, or in that case, bavarian. Then you will have a good life here. Upper Bavaria is one of the most beautifull and richest parts of Germany.
Yes we are happy to have our kids in the German public schools. They will integrate and learn German much faster this way! And we are excited to join a Verein, but I think they’re all still closed for now, right? I’m a dancer so I would love to learn traditional Bavarian dancing and join a Verein for that. 😍
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife if you love visiting churches in your area, have a look what they offer (once they open up again). You will find choirs , reunions of any kind up to dancing. Best way to get in contact with the locals in those areas you live in even if you are not catholic :)
I dont know about the thing that dads go to the bakery. Cuz since I was in 2nd or 3rd grade it was my responsibility to go to the bakery on sundays. And my little brother would be in charge of setting the table and my mom would make eggs. Sometimes my mom did the table and i took my brother with me to the bakery.
Great to see you, and especially your kids, appear to have gotten settled allright ! If you would like to see really old churches (of course, Germany is not setting the standards here, e.g. France and Italy being much richer in cultural heritage) you may consider visiting the cathedrals of Speyer and/or Aachen some day, Corona allowing. They are not as decorated as the Baroque church in your town, but hey, they are about 600-700 years older... Just another idea: How about riding bikes as the entire family ? Unlike in the US, Germans (and even more so the Dutch) continue to consider bicyles as a means of transportation and not just sports equipment. Makes for great exercise, too. Who wants to avoid excessive physical activity can turn to electric versions.
Okay thank you for the suggestions! I just bought a bike for myself today, and Kevin is still looking for one for himself. Once we all have bicycles our plan is to have family bike rides! We are excited.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife And not to forget the Wieskirche in Steingaden, a UNESCO world heritage site, located between Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Neuschwanstein castle. Unfortunately, the latter one is very crowded. Maybe should visit Herrenchiemse castle, Ludwig II's copy of Versailles, first as it is only some km away from your home.
![[LIVE] : ONE ลุมพินี 78 | คู่เอก "ปกรณ์ vs ฟาบิโอ"](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/LSOmgl0Th2c/mqdefault.jpg)
Germans do like to look and chat over their gardens but most do not like video or being shown online especially their house. Therefore when she is outside compliment her on the garden. Say hello if she is chatty and maybe one day ask her if you could film and publish her garden.
Greetings from Northern Germany
Okay good advice! Thank you.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife it's probably fine if you ask her if you can take a picture. I am sure she is proud of it anyway.
J. A. the best is take time to befriend her. most of them want privacy and doesn't like to be on someone's video's content but they are so nice.. they just want their peace. Filipina here and single mom living for more than a decade. Germans are naturally and genuinely so helpful. i remember when i was new here and could't understand and speak german yet 😍
@@disikebot3186 Oh wonderful! You moved here from the Philippines. We have also found the people here to be wonderful. They have been so kind and helpful to us also.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife be careful with filming/taking pictures of people or private propery. It's at least heavily frowned upon if not straight up illegal
When I stayed in the suburbs of Atlanta during my school exchange, I really confused my host sister by asking about taking a walk around the area. She told me that they never do that, but since I wanted to see where I was, she reluctantly agreed. I soon realized that they didn't even plan for people walking around when the suburb was built, because there were not even sidewalks in front of all the houses. Sooo weird for me as a German.
Yes that sounds like Atlanta! It’s dangerous to go walking or riding your bike.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife that is very sad, because the area where I stayed (Marietta) was so beautiful. I would have enjoyed walking around, looking at the beautiful gardens and houses if there were enough sidewalks.
When I was in Atlanta i was almost robbed in downtown on the First day .
What you reffer to is the "suburban project" in USA that is failed. In very short terms, US goverment is forcing the citizens to do everything by car. In EU we have small shops like groceryshops scattered around in walk distance. In every air photo from any city in US, you see massive carparkings where they habour all shops in one. This is also why a young child can be seen alone in EU walking to and from school, while in USA you get reported if your child is even alone on the frontyard (kinda). "Eyes on the street" doesnt exist in USA because of their failed city planning. In EU you find people walking everywhere so its less common for a crime to actually happen because of "eyes on the street"-term.
Kind of different in Albuquerque (Southwest US) though. I am actually in the city. But it is common to walk around. I often go out, and we do have sidewalks, etc. There are also some hiking trails in the foothills about a mile (2 Kilometers) from here. We also have a more outdoor oriented life than in the US South, I think (mountain biking, hiking, etc.) However, I don't think the houses are so pretty, the gardens are though. I think Germany looks amazing though. (However, I just am writing this, because you can't assume that all areas of the US are identical.)
Every time I watch a video of Americans in Germany it makes me smile, because sooner or later they all get excited over the same things. You already mentioned some of them, like bread, freedom for kids, the feeling of history when you see churches and other buildings. You actually found a breathtakingly beautiful spot to live. I hope you enjoy your time here!
Yeah that’s so true - all of the other American TH-camrs living in Germany say the same things as us! 🤣
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife How about the unrefrigerated eggs??? 🥚 That freaked me out our first time here. 😂
@@AtoZenLife the eggs are unfridgerated only in the store because they will stay fresh longer if they don't change humidity and temperature too often. You're supposed to keep them in the fridge at home.
@@grandmak. We do! But the first time I came to Germany I was shocked. 😉
@@AtoZenLife Sure, you would be if you aren't used to it .
You are living in a part of germany, where even germans like to spend their vacations. Enjoy it!
Yeah, true. We decided if we can chose where in Bayern we want to live (as long as it’s somewhat close to Munich) we will live where we would vacation! Life is short. Love where you live if you can (I know not everyone has that privilege.
Yes, but most germans are really happy to only spend their holidays in Bayern because for most germans Bayern would be a nightmare to actually live in. I only need to think about the politics and the dialect etc.
@@confusedsophie4053 😂 I think you have never been to Sachsen oder Sachsen-Anhalt... You will never understand one word...
Many Germans couldn't even afford to live in the area....
Especially since Bavaria is very expensive in many areas and you should not consider this environment as "standard" Germany either.
@@confusedsophie4053 That’s actually not true, I am originally from Northern Germany and live in Bavaria for a couple of years now. I will never go back to the north.
Germany ist extremly proud of its bread and it has the most kinds of bread worldwide. Not only Bretzel 😉🙂
Oh yes! We have tried many types of bread here so far and have enjoyed them all.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife We have over 3000 different types of bread. Thats the most in the world. When it comes to beer, cars, bread and sausages, no one can beat us :P
We call that Brez'n not Bretzel, down here. ;-)
I only like Bretzel and the Italian type of bread prepared for my Kantine at work 🙃
@@TheDevilMethod Ah, I think in sausages it's a colse call with with the polnish :)
Germans are obsessed with fresh air. They air out the house or apartment several times per day also in winter, it's called 'lüften'. Also being outside every day, spending lots of time out and about in the fresh air, is considered of great value. There is a German saying - there is no bad weather, only bad (wrong) clothing. I like your bavarian village, it looks beautiful. Cheers form Hamburg.
Hi from Hamburg! We want to get up there and visit Hamburg at some point. Yes, I love how Germans love their fresh air. I think it’s great! We air out our house regularly now.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife Oh dear, nothing better than fresh air in the early morning ours - it's a shower for the soul and for the lungs :)
Lüften is a Must with those windows. Otherwise mold will grow
Yes, but only when they are not in the room or when it is that hot that they like a little breeze. Otherwise we hate draughts, hence ventilators and ac-units that constantly blow air at us and gives colds, stiff necks, red, inflamed eyes...
@@Jammanich It had died out by now but in former times people hang their featherbeds out of the windows every fine day to air them.
I love your videos ❤️ I am from South America married to a German and living in USA. I do understand the excitement of living in other country than your own. I have been in Germany many times visiting my husband’s family and I absolutely love it , so our children. Our kids used to spend summers in Germany and Colombia almost every year so they could learn the language and the culture. Our children are grown up now and they believe those experiences really made a huge positive difference in the way the see the world. I applaud your open mind about living and exposing your kids to German culture.
Wow what amazing experiences you gave your children! Living in other countries, learning other languages.
Spending summers abroad. I’m sure it did wonders for them.
concerning the lady with the garden: next time you see her, just pay her a compliment about the amazing garden, and ask if you can take a video of it. Maybe explain, that you respect her privacy and do not want to put her garden or her face on youtube without her constent. most people will really appreciate this and also let you take a video :-)
Okay, great idea!
When you talked about the kids forgetting to tell the parents where they go...reminded me of my childhood :-) I lived in a small village surrounded by forest. I had a small backpack with some tools (hammer, pack of nails, small jackknife to carve and a roll of cord). During school vacation we went everyday from morning till evening to the forest to build a hut (ok we tried :-P but it was fun) or we went to the little creek and build dams. Loved it. I also had to tell my parents where I go (but honestly when we where at the forest we started there and ended up somewhere else - no one got hurt, so everything was fine). I always tell everyone with small children that the best thing they can do to their children at young age is to live in a small town with nature around. Played football/soccer, rode bicycles, skated and sometimes just returned home during the day to get sth. to eat or ask for some money to get some icecream - think this will definitely will also happen with your kids :-P
However I can also tell you that as a teenager I didn't like it that much as the bus to the next village was only going every hour - but I survived that too ;-) I once watched a documentary where a german TV correspondent in D.C. talked about the situation that it's not usual in the U.S. to let children play alone in front of the house or on the street without supervision and someone called the police...as I experienced my childhood in such freedom and have these good memories I was a little bit shocked. I never want to miss that experience. Keep up with the entertaining videos, also like the two of you having such a relaxed conversation in front of the camera and a lot of laughs
What wonderful memories of your childhood! They sound amazing. Thank you for sharing and watching our videos!
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife I had the same experience in my childhood. "Be back when it gets dark" was the only rule we had. But that is 30 years ago. Even in Germany things changed a little bit.
It's the American mothers made anxious by TV and having to control everything being perfect à la Disney.
I assume your children go to the local German school and can't wait to hear how they are doing with trying to learn and communicate auf Deutsh. When you spoke a out the delicious bread and hard boiled eggs on Sunday, it reminded me of the summer I worked in he Grindelwald, Switzerland youth hostel and we had a huge laundry basket of wonderful moist brown bread delivered every morning what I used to slice with an electric slicer, about 12 big loaves. With it we had the most delicious butter and Configure made of rose hips that looked like ketchup and was so delicious! And I had forgotten on Sundays our Kitchen head, Rosa would make hard boiled eggs for all the hostelers who had purchased breakfast.
I should have spell checked this first! Confiture, not configure.
Wow what an amazing memory of your Sunday’s in Grindewald! That town looks absolutely amazing, I can’t wait to visit it.
And yes, our kids go to the local German schools and it’s ALL in German!
I bet the lady will love to give you a tour, just ring at her doorbell, tell her your new in the neighborhood and ask her to give you a tour of her garden and greenhouse.
Us gardeners are proud of and happy to share our gardens, gardening is sharing.
Yeah good point!
Very warm welcome in Germany. :-)
I lived in many countries before (even the US), but Germany is the best (culture, costs, restaurants, 4 seasons, and...and...and...)
I agree, it’s an awesome country.
Thank you!
And Austria also :)
I think Germany and Austria are the best Countrys in Europe
@@kirchenglockentv Sind Sie beruflich mit Kirchenglocken beschäftigt oder es ist private Interresse?
@@stay_with_me_natalija Im Privaten ;)
Mache das als Hobby nebenbei
Rolling carts are a MUST in Germany. Those mountains and that creek, wow. 🤩
Right? We’d not have made it this first month without an awesome cart!
Maybe it would be cool for Grayson to join a local sport club in your
community. They have often different sections for each form of sport and teams
for every age. Also a good way to get to know some kids in his age with
the same interests
I cant help myself you guys are wunderbar
Please stay forever.
Immigrants like you are a blessing for Germany and Europe
God bless take it easy and stay save
Thank you!
I think you moved to the town I grew up in because i recognize the church and the mountain...thats so cool! I have been in the US for about 50 years now . but I have always been happy to visit my family there. I hope you enjoy it there!
Waaaaah! Gasthof Alte Post! We stayed there on a family vacation years ago. Great memories. Greetings from the netherlands.
I must say that I am very pleased with how you are doing. Michael from Cologne
Congrats, you finally landed in one of the prettiest areas of Germany (from my point of view at least - as an original Bavarian)
It‘s so funny when you talk about „Bäckereien“ but the video shows a „Metzgerei“ 😂.
Looking forward to your next video and what you explored next.
Na. That isn't true.
The most beautiful part of Germany is for sure the Rhine and Mosel area.
You know, the Wine area with old castles, small medieval villages, and spooky legends.
@@danielkaufmann15 didnt the area got flooded
@@mochichichi2458
Nope my friend, the Area didn't be floodet.
It's the "Ahr" in Rhineland palatine 😔
@@mochichichi2458
But thank you for your Response 😁
i worked at that Edeka About 10 years ago :)
that is the best Ice Cream. As soon as the Sun is out even a little bit, you stand in line for forever.
Such a heartwarming video! I admire your positive attitude towards living in Germany! I live in Northern Germany and and relate with you. The people are so so friendly and bend over backwards to help in every way possible! You also have great kids who are so lucky to have such great parents! Eileen ☘☘☘
What a charming couple! Just found your channel and subbed. Hope to be visiting Germany (and France, Switzerland and Austria) in Sept from California Covid willing. I plan on going mostly through Bavaria (Bayern?). Just love looking at pics and videos of the incredibly charming towns. I'm glad to hear they are even more charming in person. Thank you for sharing your stories! Tschuss!
Oh wonderful! I hope and pray COVID doesn’t stop you. That will be an amazing trip! Yes, it’s even more beautiful in person! And Bayern is Bavaria.
I like your moving to Germany series, they are amazing to watch. My best compliments for the place you have chosen to settle. We live about 60 km north of your town and are used to drive to your region for nordic skiing (just this weekend), snowshoe hiking, mountainbiking, hiking, paragliding. This is the perfect place where our German saying "Warum in die Ferne schweifen, wenn das Gute liegt so nah" becomes reality. If you are bored having no car, just jump on the train to visit other towns nearby.
When you go shopping, insist that germans are speaking german with you and try to speak as well german. Don't be afraid to make mistakes, they will help you, no one will laugh at you! This is the only way to learn a language quickly. Pay attention from the beginning to the correct pronunciation and learn the main words with articles!
Later: watch german kids tv. Ask your kids because they will learn fast and will help you.
true!
Oh yes totally agree. We are already doing all of those things. We speak in German everywhere we go and it’s helping us learn faster.
I suppose in her tiny village most people would have to be forced to speak English? Not meant to be racist against harmless Niederbayern 😀😂
Watch dvds with captions. First in English with German subtitles, then German with English subtitles. Repeat it. My first steps to gain my terrible well English skills are from watching titanic a lot of time, means my Vokabulars contained mainly katastrophic and nautical words. 😂 „check the Sound of the ship“
.
@@berndschaffmann8522 Traunstein ist OBERbayern. In Niederbayern gibt es keine Berge.
I’m thrilled with you both and your channel. Not even when I was young did I have your energy. I had 2 children and shopping and cooking I loved for 4. Looking at 6 amazing me. My best friend had 4 children and she said no. 3 was like doubling that . 🙃 I am more than amazed and impressed At 80 you give me a new lease of life. At least in my head. You make your life such fun. I will work my way through all your videos. Thank you. ❤
You’d be more likely to have soft boiled eggs with a sunday breakfast. Hard boiled eggs are rather for Easter or a lunch package.
i was thinking the same thing too
My instant thoughts too... 😊
...and don't be irritated if you see coloured eggs even when eastern is far over... they sell them as "Partyeier" nearly throughout the whole year.
Thank you for saying it - I wanted to but I live in NRW and maybe it's different in B. I wanted to mention that as an American I'd never heard of or eaten a soft boiled egg but now I love them and even have a little egg maker machine that helps me cook them the right amount.
Boiling eggs is one thing Germany does differently. Try to buy an Eierpiekser outside Germany, people elsewhere never seem to realise how much easier it is to boil an egg when you pinch it with a small needle, and even if they did, it apparently never crossed their mind to engineer a contraption for doing it. And don’t get me started about Abschrecken 😂😷
@@OliverJWeber i've seen such a contraption here in the US years ago
Guys, it is so lovely for me seeing you getting used to life in Germany and how open-minded you are about it all. Exactly the right mindset to have a great experience. I have no idea how I discovered your channel originally, but I have been watching for weeks and I just couldn't wait to see the first images of your new home. I made a similar trip 30 years ago, when I went to Michigan as a foreign exchange student for one year (1991/92). Exciting stuff. I hope you keep on exploring and enjoying and I am happy to help out with any questions you may have. I live in Frankfurt, so I'm a bit off, but please do ask at anytime! Sorry we have the Covid situatian right now, that is the only problem with the time you chose to come here. Loving the videos, keep it up!
Thanks so much for your support of our videos! We really appreciate it! And how cool you did an exchange in Michigan many years ago. Those kinds of experiences change us for the better. It’s always good to get out of your comfort zone and see the world through different eyes.
I enjoy watching you both talk about your move and experience in Germany. You’ve chosen a beautiful place to live!
We’re moving from NC to Cologne in a few months and hope that all of us adjust quickly. Looking forward to watching you guys travel with your kids, (as we’ll be doing the same once we are able to travel) ☺️
Oh how awesome! Cologne is a big and fun city. We went to Karnival there once, about 12 years ago. We got all dressed up and hit all of the bars! It was soooo much fun! Anyway, that is so exciting! We can’t wait for things to open up so we can really experience life here. It doesn’t feel like Europe with all of the closed up restaurants and bistros 😢. What’s bringing you to Germany?
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife Same here, we can’t wait for things to open up!! Fun fact: we used to live in Johns Creek, GA a few years back and been blessed to be able to work remotely. My husband is American & I am German and after living in the States for more than 20 years we decided to move to my home country. (The kids are still young enough).
I actually feel more American than German. 😊 We’re excited for this next season of our life!
Awesome! Rheinland is also great place to live. We are in Bonn.
Unfortunately the small bakeries are dying out, we had 4 bakers in the village, where they baked at 4 a.m. and it smelled great. there are now only the big branches in supermarkets, which have destroyed the small bakers.😔
Oh that's really a shame! We still have 2 small bakeries here in our town and I do my best to shop there and not at the supermarket bakeries.
In Southern Germany you will find a lot of elaborate murals called "Lüftlmalerei" ("Lüftl" is the diminuative form for "Luft", air). Poorer people could not afford carvings and stucco so they decorated their houses in that art. But in contrast to most other parts of Germany Bavarian farmers were well-to-do. They were free and had bigger farms than most of the German peasants in the Middle Ages who lived in serfdom. That is why there are so many big farms that are isolated from each other and scattered around in that part of the world. About that Italian icecream-makers. Many of them come from two valleys in Northern Italy. They brought the art of icecream-making to Austria and Germany shortly after the 1860s. In winter they close their parlours and head home for family reunions and experimenting in their shops for the next season.
Wow cool! Thanks for sharing. Learned so much!
Lüftl Malerei hat nichts mit Luft oder Lüften zu tun. Eine Familie Lüftl in Bayern hat ihr Haus als erste mit Heiligenbildern bemalen lassen. Darauf hin hat sich der Begriff Lüftl Malerei für diese Bilder verbreitet. #Klugscheissermodus aus#
@@Alwaysonthroad Danke sehr, nun weiß ich mehr. :-)
In most churches there is a place with lots of candles. You can light a candle for a donation. No matter where i visit a church, i light a candle either for all the dear people around me or in memory of those who have already passed away.
I do love that about the churches!
What a sweet family! You have surely ended up in one of the most beautiful places in Germany, with Austria and Italy so close, too. Hope, you`ll settle in and make new friends. In summer you´ll also enjoy going to the lakes. Warm greetings from a German.
I love how real your channel is! I am smiling the whole time!
I love watching your videos. Your new family life in Germany. ❤ Can't wait for the next video. I hope you're doing well and we'll hear from you again soon.
I love your enthusiasm for travel, for the particularities in Europe, in Germany. It shows me the beauty of my home again. And I can understand you well. So far I have traveled around the world a lot, lived in Italy, Spain and Portugal. I have been to the USA, Canada, Australia and I can say that these experiences made me more open and tolerant and also more curious. I hope that you and especially your children have a good time and that they can gain a lot of good experiences. I myself and my wife have 3 children and sharing the world and curiosity with your own children is a great experience.
Thanks for your comment, Oliver! I can see that you totally get where we're coming from.
Take the kids to the medieval town of Rothenburg o.b.t! They’d absolutely love it! There’s also a year round Christmas store there.
Oh yes! That is definitely on the list once restaurants and hotels open back up.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife they are a million better destinations without that mainstream ripoff.... believe me :)
Listen to Silvio.
If you want a town that is similar to Rothenburg you should go to Dinkelsbühl. Similar style, also a complete medieaval wall, and way less touristy and overcrowded.
Oh my goodness I love your video now I have kind of feeling to move back to Germany , from Canada 🇨🇦 I am getting sick and tired of driving everywhere with cars I want to go for shopping walking 1 mile or 2 love it
Yeah that’s a huge benefit in many parts of Europe 😍
Heard of Not Just Bikes? He's a Canadian who moved to Amsterdam, and loving it.
What a beautiful and positive video! You mention so many things that are totally normal to us in Germany but hearing them from you makes me so humble and thankful! I'm so happy you like it here and hope you will keep enjoying it!
just stumbled across your channel. looking forward to catching up on you vids and following your family adventure.
Thanks for watching!
Hallo, ich schreib jetzt mal auf Deutsch, ich finde euren Kanal total interessant, Dinge die für uns selbstverständlich sind, findet ihr total toll, es ist echt nett eure Reaktion auf für uns alltägliche Dinge anzusehen, ihr kommentiert das echt gut...;-) und mir würde es sehr wahrscheinlich in USA genauso gehen... alles Gute für die Zukunft...🙂
I love how you guys take different things with humour even hard lessons like your kid came home with "wrong" clothes :D
The thing I love at children is every weather is fine. As adult you complain about everything ^^
I love the local original Germany butcher and bakerys nothing beats it.fresh tasty and so many variations of meat and bakery stuff
Amazing
The typical historic german buildings style got so many different variations across Germany
Es ist so herrlich erfrischend, wie ihr die Geschichten erzählt. Dankeschön ;-)
As an American who wants to move to Germany one day, instant subscription.
You guys are funny! Thanks for the video.
The new impressions you talk about and the energy when telling, is what makes this video sooo good!
Just discovered your channel and love it. A very belated but big "Welcome to beautiful Bavaria!". You´re such a sweet family and enrichment to the village you moved to. Have a great time here 🙂 In case you need any support or tipps just let me know.
Hi Thomas and Wilkommen! Glad to have you here!
If you need school supplies, the easiest to get everything is THALIA, a big national book store, where you can get everything you need for the school, books of any kind, DVDs, magazines, greeting cards etc
Okay, thank you!
I usually buy everything at Amazon. You have Prime already? Of course it is good to support stores, but for you in your „cowkaff“ 😂 it may be more convenient to shop online. Even with and for 3 children.
Convenience is nice to have. But that excludes one from the learning experience. How would one know that there are Rechenhefte and Schreibhefte, Vokabelhefte, Ringhefte (with 2 or 4 rings instead of the three-ring-binders in the US), even Binders (only for the older kids). Then the different writing utensils like: Bleistifte (pencils), Buntstifte (Crayons), Füller/Füllfederhalter (fountain pens), Kugelschreiber, Tintenkiller, Radiergummi with a hard (for ink) and a soft end (for pencil), even Tipp-Ex tape and flüssig. All those things will get by unnoticed. But these are so essential to a school experience. And that should be shared by parents and kids. The how to get a Ränzel! The good stuff made from leather or the cheapo ones from the discount store. Choices and experience gained you will remember fondly for all your life!
A drugstore chain called Drogeriemarkt Müller also has a wide range of school supplies and good offers especially at the beginning of the school year. There are two Müller stores in Traunstein.
Ich habe meine Ausbildung bei Thalia gemacht und das wärmt mir das Herz 💛
your talking about a bakery, showing the butchers shop :-D
I know 😫😅...editing mistake!
But that butcher shop sure looks good!!
Best wishes from Canada 🇨🇦
I'm glad you like it in your new German home ! The houses with paintings on them ( the paintings are called "Lüfterlmalerei" ) as well as the Baroque church are very typical for the Bavarian area ( and some places in Austria as well). You won't find that anywhere else.
Sunday breakfast : It's true also in Northern Germany where I live that on Sundays many fathers take their kids to the bakery while the mothers prepare breakfast which typically is Brötchen (rolls) with butter, jam, cheese and 'Wurst' ( sliced sausages or ham) and a boiled egg . It depends on the individual preference if the eggs are hard boiled or creamy inside though. Some might even have scrambled eggs or smoked salmon on their rolls.
Since you live in a small village it's safe to let your kids run around by themselves or send them shopping. I wouldn't recommend it in a big city.
I just stumbled across this video.. I am German, grew up in the Chiemgau area (my parents still live in our family home but us four kids have moved to the cities for work and Uni) and this looks very familiar! I love the fact that TH-cam decided to show this video to me. I hope you have an amazing time settling in. Love watching this video, definitively going to subscribe!
So glad you enjoyed our video since you grew up in the same area! We love it here! 💖 Thanks for subscribing!
So happy to see you guys settling in so well! The area looks absolutely gorgeous, what a wonderful opportunity for you and your family. And I agree with the others, ask your neighbor if she's ok with you showing her garden. I could imagine she'd be proud to show it off 😅
In villages kids can usually do anything! It is still quite common just to tell them when they have to be back home and that's it! There is simply nearly no way how they can get lost in a village, as soon as they have learned to be reasonably careful!
Love it! Not so much in America. Kids can play and ride around their own neighborhood fairly safely.
I managed to "get lost" a lot as a kid in the woods around the village I grew up in.
Or rather, I completely lost track of the time.
Much to the annoyance of my parents.
Yes! Every day life keeps you active!
Oh, I almost forgot, when the time comes for you to travel within Germany I'd suggest going to Lübeck in Northern Germany ( my town). It still has parts of its medieval city centre and famous churches ( the Dome being first mentioned in the 11th century ). It's by the Baltic sea and has a lovely beach, too. I'd love to lead you around as soon as it's covid safe.
Best wishes for your new life in Germany from a German!
Thank you so much!!
If you go shopping for groceries more frequently, you always have fresh food to eat. Fresh bread rolls daily , or at least on sunday mornings. Enjoy everything that makes you feel good.
Yes that is true!
Every time I look at the two of you I think you are a typical British couple. Can't help it.Of course, that changes once you start talking. Than you turn in a very Un-American family. Starting to learn the language of a country before moving there, planning ahead, which American still in his mind does that?
Easy answer: The kind we like to see here.
Awe thank you, saying we are not typical American is (unfortunately) a compliment! Americans can be quite clueless when it comes to foreign languages and other cultures. It’s embarrassing. 🤦♀️
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife No need for "Fremdschämen". It is less a problem of the people than rather a problem of the system. If you bring American people into a different environment their mindset will usually change. Just take a look at all the current and former expats on YT (Hayley, Montana, Aspen, ...). Even many of those, that are PCSing to Germany, have opened up throughout their stay (also it is harder if you have little contact to the locals).
I just came across your chancel. You are such a friendly couple. Exactly what you need in these times right now. I am so happy that you are enjoying my home country so much! Try semi boiled eggs. I cook mine for 7 minutes. My mum always made them like this. This way I could „tunken“ my bread in it. 😀
Oh I so agree. I’m the only one on my family that likes soft boiled eggs!
It looks beautiful. I think you'll be very happy in your new home 😊
The village looks really beautifull with the mountains in the background! Seems that your kids enjoy the environment! We have April weather with fast changes from sunshine to snow/rain! So it s important to be prepared for everything😀 Grüße aus dem Ruhrgebiet!
you forgot to mention spring thunderstorms
they also happen quite a lot depending on area
Gah so true. Spring weather is volatile!
Speaking of seasons... you are going to notice that some things especially foods are very seasonal. Like the Asparagus craze in May/June or Kale (not sure if it's a thing in Bavaria, but in Northern Germany it definitely is a fall food) or the Christmas foods and beverages.
I have to tell you something so very very European. We were on a guided tour of the Kolner Dom (Cologne Cathedral) and the tour guide said (in English) that it was built around 1250... but a group British teenagers just wasn't interrested, but then I heard them talk among themselves. It was not because lack of interrest itself, but because their home church back in England was 100 years OLDER !!!
Haha that’s so cool! We love the rich history here that you can see. So many important political and cultural events took place in Europe.
Welcome to Germany! All the best! I‘m from the south as well, it‘s super beautiful. Enjoy!
Oh awesome! Thank you so much!!
Just ask the Lady if you could take a picture of the Garden because it’s looks so amazing.Most People Are very proud of their gardens.
Please be prepared for other people in your village to reprimand your children if they do something wrong or put themselves in danger! Your children will have a great time! Adventure and freedom, independence, they will get dirty and hurt themselves, yes! Unfortunately, helicopter parenting is always on the rise here - I don't know why! I hope you enjoy your new life! Of course, living in the provinces can also have its disadvantages, but Munich is not far away. Lake Constance, where I live, is worth a visit!
Arno, I must say that for a German (I assume you are German with such a name) your written English is exemplary.
@@paul756uk2 deepL a german translator helps 😂😂🙋♂🙋♂
@@arnodobler1096 You're too honest!! I would add that up until 2019 we spent many holidays on and around lake Bodensee. We cycled round it in 2018 and stayed at the hotel Schiff at Moos near Radolfzell then and on different occasion. We also stayed at Fischbach a couple of times in our caravan. We've done a number of cycling trips around Baden Wurrtemberg and Bavaria over the years. It's a beautiful area and you are very fortunate to live where you do.
@@paul756uk2 Moos ist Nachbarort 🙋♂🙋♂😂😂 ich leb in Böhringen
@@arnodobler1096 Nearby then? Have you ever been to the UK?
I just can imagine the struggle when you move to a different country in the middle of a pandemic. Still had to laugh 😂 because it’s so true that we pack our kids in so many cloth during the winter.
I life in Bavaria as well and I have to say „you described this place very well“. Also you don’t have to be nervous before waking in a store. Just be honest and let the people know, that you don’t know the words in german. I promise you, they will help you and make you feel comfortable.
The people here in our town continue to be sehr sehr nett. 😍 I appreciate their kindness so much!
Welcome to our beautiful area! Greetings from someone living in your neighboring town.
Great to see some joy and excitement in this rather strange times all over the world. Luv ya videos. ❤👍
Yeah, these are hard times.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife I am telling you the truth now : Germany is a very rough place to live . But it is worth it after rall .
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife Having 4 kids and a cat and a husband, I highly recommend having a "heat pump" dryer in your house . with an energy rating of up to 8 you can't go wrong. Luv ya
You guys are amazing. I really hope you find friends in your small town. It can get quite difficult to get in kontact in a small town especially for foreigners.
Thank you! We’ve already made friends with several families. They’ve been so kind and welcoming!
While rewatching some of your videos, I still love your energy. It would be interesting to learn in a video about the friends you made and how it has changed/evolved between then and now.
The beautiful garden: you might just tell the lady that you are admiring her garden and have some smalltalk with her. And some time later you might tell her about your youtube channel and ask her whether she'd allow you to take a video if her garden :-)
Just a quick (first!) comment. ;-) It's so amazing seeing your love for your new home and how overwhelming every new thing to discover is for your family.
Yes, we're out come rain or come shine... btw Did you already get your "Allwetterjacke" to be prepared for the rapidly changing weather conditions in Germany (esp. in the alps)...? ;-D
Ooo that sounds like something we need! An all weather jacket? Like a lightweight rain jacket? Tell me more. ☺️
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife waterresistant or waterproof perhaps with an inlay that you could take out!😀Pardon for my bad english (so much forgotten after 30 years out of school)
@@JaneDoe-ge5di your English is great! Okay so a jacket that’s convertible basically
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife Yepp, they often have zip-in liners inside. You often open up a button in the long sleeves each, and another zipper on both sides of the lapels to take out the warm, often fleece inner lining if it get's warm. The outside is usually a fairly water-proof coating. You often can get them from Northface, or Jack Wolfskin.
Or just google "Allwetterjacke" and add "Damen" or "Herren" or "Kinder" and you will be inundated with different options.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife Among New Zealanders it's kind of a running gag that germans can easily be spotted and identified by there more-practical-than-fashionable all weather jackets made by Jack Wolfskin, Northface or Fjäll Räven.
...and that this item is not only to be worn while hiking in NZ, but on a day by day basis in Germany.
Out of season - I really hate this. When summer starts, they are stopping selling light shoes, in August they start selling snow boots ... it's really crazy! And - I refuse to buy snow-boots in August!!!! (inspite of being german)
You asked for suggestions: in small towns always greet people at least the ones living in your street. Buy local if possible and I think the lady with the beautiful house would be very proud if you asked her if you could take a photo. Someone who puts that much effort into it would even like that I think.
I've wached one of your videos and instantly subscribed. You guys are so genuine, nice and down to earth. Very respecting of the German (or any other) culture. I enjoy your calm, but entertaining style of vlogging. I'll be looking forward to more vlogs about your family settling in!
Watching your videos make me feel a bit more homesick. lol
Love your videos. My parents did a lot of travelling (we live in Canada) and Germany was always their favourite country to visit. Both were fluent in German and I'm sure this added to the enjoyment. Also they loved good food and my dad LOVED German beer! Looking forward to seeing more of your adventures.
Wow that’s so cool that your parents were in Canada but were fluent in German! What made them want to be fluent in German?
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife Both sets of grandparents were fluent. My maternal grandfather came from Romania but was Polish in ancestry, my maternal grandmother and both paternal grandparents were German although had come through the settlement camps in Russia. But all were fluent in German which made Germany one of their first and as it turns out favourite, places to visit. My parents had a tendency to speak German when they didn't want us to know what they were saying, however my older brother could understand enough to let us know what they were saying - lol. Love your adventures - looking forward to seeing more of them.
Admirable move with a family of 6 ... new language, new culture, new social environment ..... respect!!!
Yeah it has not been easy!
We have a Müller here where I live in Baden-Wurtemberg. They're a chain store for all kinds of general stuff. If you give the employees your school supply list, they will go around and pick out all the things for you. (They will not notice you and offer to help, but are very nice and helpful if you ask directly.) This was so helpful when trying to figure out which kid needed which Heft. They all look the same to me. We also like Decathlon, Ernstings Family, and sometimes Tchibo for kids' clothes and weather-gear. All the stores are closed now where I live, but they have friendly return policies for online orders. I've bought many waterproof winterwandern schuhe and boots from Decathlon. When my kids started school and all needed a pair of Hausschuhe, Gummistiefel, Sportschuhe, Regenhose, and a Regenjacke each, I felt so panicked until I had them all outfitted.
The Müller-stores all seem to be open, because they do sell food (most of it organic) and drugstore supplies. Although about 80% of what they sell is other stuff (like toys, CDs, crockery...) they still are allowed to open. Same with big supermarkets like "real" where you can buy clothing, TVs or other electronic stuff. It's not fair to smaller shops.
@@thomasbucher5311 A local thrift shop simply cordoned off the areas with garden furniture and such in order to remain open. That way they could claim to sell 80% (or some such percentage) food stuff.
When you get some wheels, take a day trip to Landsberg. It's probably less than an hours drive from where you are. It's a neat little medieval town. You'll enjoy spending a day there. That's where I had my Bavarian experience and loved everything about it. There are some nice TH-cam vlogs showing the town. Check it out.
Oh cool! Thanks for the suggestion.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife A 30 min. longer trip to Kaltenberg Knight tournament ( schloss-kaltenberg.de ), i have great memorys from my Childhood there. Sadly not this year, but i hope next year i can visit again. Tip: reserved tickets and a Dinnertable bevor, much less stress. Dont get hungry: th-cam.com/video/GIX3AhND9pM/w-d-xo.html
Just found your channel and enjoying your adventure with you!
Thank you! So glad you’re enjoying our videos.
Your close to my hometown, i think it is one of the nicest places in germany
It is so beautiful here!
Great video of the village. Keep the footage coming, the open space is inspiring.
Okay good to know that you like it!
Doing grocery in a supermarket is one way of doing it but you also should look out for a so called Wochenmarkt. There you can get it directly from the farmers. It could also be possible to find farmers with a so called Hofmark.
Nice! Okay one of my new friends here told us about the market here.
Parenting style is very different to the US from what i heard and read. You should have a look at it to don't get any nasty surprises.
During easter there is a tradition of "eier bemalen (color eggs)". It's really fun for kids. You can buy a special color and then paint cooked eggs that will be sitting in a small basket on a table during easter to be picked up and eaten whenever you like. You probably have noticed that eggs are not refrigerated here. It's because the shell isn't cleaned and therfore hasn't lost it's protective mantle. Therefore no worries, it's a total safe tradition.
Just recognized in which village you live 🙂 I actually had a vacation apartment in "Bergen" which is pretty close. I think you chose one of the best spots in upper Bavaria. Beautiful but not as crowded by tourists as for instance the area of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. If you have not yet been there I recommend Kloster Maria Eck which is close to you and very pretty.
Yes! We have been to Maria Eck many times and you may spot some footage from it in many of our videos. It’s a beautiful place!
My dad walked me to school for the first and maybe second day of school in my life. And after that I went to school on my own each day. It was a quaint small city named "Bad Tölz" with a nice view towards the alps. ;-)
Bad Tölz! That is a gorgeous city! We looked and looked to find a house or an apartment there.
Welcome. I particularly enjoyed your comments on Germans going outside whenever the weather allows. Well, we do while wearing weatherproof clothes. Someone in New York told me one day: you can recognize Germans easily because of their outdoor clothing as if they were hiking in the mountains, 😆
Yes! I know have waterproof pants I got a week ago and I’m so happy I did. Germans are smart. 😍
"There are no bad weather only bad clothing."
Is a maxim in Scandinvia.
Welcome to Germany! Hope you enjoy your time and your stay here in my beautiful home county 😄😄it just discovered your channel and it is so great to watch all your videos 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Thanks for following along!
So nice to see, how you like it here in germany. Stay save and healthy!
Good luck and a warm welcome!
I learnt about The Sound of Music only when we stayed in their old family home in Salzburg, which has been converted to a charming hotel.
We always travel by train and public transport, anywhere in Europe - at least we did before Corona, now our car is getting used more often than to just haul groceries - and my thrifty husband found this conveniently situated, not too expensive cosy little hotel in a romantic park, connected to the station and the old town centre by good public transport. Villa Trapp, romantic memories, sigh.
Love it!
Greetings from a German living in Alpharetta, GA. Enjoy your life in Germany, your video makes me so proud of my home country. :-)
From Alpharetta! No way, we used to live in Acworth, on the other side of town from you.
I highly recommend you guys to visit Hamburg. In my opinion it's one of the most beautiful citys in Germany. If you need any help in translation or just want to improve your German let me know :) (I'm studying to become a special needs teacher for German and English)
Having school kids is the best way to meet people. The next thing you should do is to join a german Verein, a club, where you also can meet people. For hiking, there should be a Alpenverein, or join a local runners club or a group that does northern walking. And the kids will need to join a Sportverein, as sport is not big in schools. Or play in a brass band. And try to learn german, or in that case, bavarian. Then you will have a good life here. Upper Bavaria is one of the most beautifull and richest parts of Germany.
Yes we are happy to have our kids in the German public schools. They will integrate and learn German much faster this way! And we are excited to join a Verein, but I think they’re all still closed for now, right? I’m a dancer so I would love to learn traditional Bavarian dancing and join a Verein for that. 😍
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife if you love visiting churches in your area, have a look what they offer (once they open up again). You will find choirs , reunions of any kind up to dancing. Best way to get in contact with the locals in those areas you live in even if you are not catholic :)
I dont know about the thing that dads go to the bakery. Cuz since I was in 2nd or 3rd grade it was my responsibility to go to the bakery on sundays. And my little brother would be in charge of setting the table and my mom would make eggs. Sometimes my mom did the table and i took my brother with me to the bakery.
I am sure you will love the christmastime... ask your friends about Christmette... think you will like it ;-)
Yes it will be so much fun!
Great to see you, and especially your kids, appear to have gotten settled allright ! If you would like to see really old churches (of course, Germany is not setting the standards here, e.g. France and Italy being much richer in cultural heritage) you may consider visiting the cathedrals of Speyer and/or Aachen some day, Corona allowing. They are not as decorated as the Baroque church in your town, but hey, they are about 600-700 years older...
Just another idea: How about riding bikes as the entire family ? Unlike in the US, Germans (and even more so the Dutch) continue to consider bicyles as a means of transportation and not just sports equipment. Makes for great exercise, too. Who wants to avoid excessive physical activity can turn to electric versions.
maybe Ulmer Münster or the several churches in Munich are a good start, they are not all so "barock" like in the bavarian countryside
Okay thank you for the suggestions! I just bought a bike for myself today, and Kevin is still looking for one for himself. Once we all have bicycles our plan is to have family bike rides! We are excited.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife And not to forget the Wieskirche in Steingaden, a UNESCO world heritage site, located between Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Neuschwanstein castle. Unfortunately, the latter one is very crowded. Maybe should visit Herrenchiemse castle, Ludwig II's copy of Versailles, first as it is only some km away from your home.
I love the Stone Mountain Hiking trail in spring time.
Oh yes! The one in Georgia, right?
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife right. Not far away from Atlanta.
Loving your channel! I totally want to come visit Germany soon and would love if y’all did some recommendations for fun places to go