How Germany Changed Our Lifestyles for the Better as Americans 🇩🇪
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 มิ.ย. 2024
- Our daily lifestyles have really changed since moving from the USA to Germany. Before we moved here, we knew our lives might change, but we weren't sure exactly how. Well, now we know for sure! When we Americans think of Europe, we often think of wine, good food, beautiful landscapes, and the more laid-back, relaxing lifestyle here. So has that proven to be true since we moved here? We answer that and share so much more in this week's video!
#germany #germanylifestyle #americansingermany #livingingermany
//JUMP TO YOUR FAVORITE PART//
0:00 - What Americans Think of the European Lifestyle
03:44 - 1 - This Has to do with Our Car
04:47 - 2 - Our laundry routine is much different!
06:39 - 3 - Totally Random Thing about our Towels!
07:36 - 4 - This has to do with the Environment
09:17 - 5 - Traveling in the USA vs Germany
10:46 - 6 - Why We Are Outside More Here
12:50 - 7 - Why are Are Stronger and Healthier Here
16:36 - 8 - This has to do with SUGAR
19:45 - 9 - Driving in Germany
21:15 - 10 - Why We are More Adventurous Here
📖 See the blog post that goes with this video here - mymerrymessygermanlife.com/ho...
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🇩🇪 Life in Germany blog posts and videos here - mymerrymessygermanlife.com
//PLAYLISTS/
🇩🇪 Life in Germany - • Life in Germany
🇩🇪 Raising Children in Germany - • Raising Children in Ge...
🇩🇪 Traveling with Kids - • Traveling with Kids
🇩🇪 Germany is Beautiful - Relaxing Nature Videos of Germany - • How Germans & Scandina...
🇩🇪 Christmas is Magical in Germany - • First Time Trying Germ...
//ABOUT US//
We are a family of six, with four kids and a cat 😹, who moved from the USA to Germany in February of 2021 to pursue our dreams of adventure, travel, learning another language, and integrating into German life. We hope you enjoy our videos about our journey to integrate - the highs and the lows of being foreigners on the adventure of a lifetime.
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It's kinda cute how this lovely american couple describe Germany and the germans. For me as a german their videos literally kinda flatter me. 😅And I think I can speak for every german when I say, people like you are very welcome here in Germany! People like you definitely make our Society a better one. ❤
Thank you, that’s very nice!
I think you are a gift to us Germans who forget what is beautiful and good in our country. I am really grateful for your view. We are taking everything for granted, we don't know that some things are an achievement, we are complaining about our country, not realizing that all these little things are our culture and that they are simply good. I will think of you with a grateful smile when I am hanging my laundry outside and when I am drying my self with a stiff towel. You are wonderful American Bavarians or Bavarian Americans. Thank you for your channel. Every video is a pleasure to watch.
Thank you so much, Helga. What kind things to say, we do appreciate you taking the time to write them.
Gut gesagt, da schließ ich mich von ganzem Herzen an
Honestly, the more I watch about Americans talking about America, the more I am grateful to live here. Especially when it comes to healthcare. I mean I’ve never been ungrateful about it or complained about living here - I always found it safe and good here.
But I’m wayyy more grateful now. XD
I have to admit when I moved from Florida to Germany I found it really difficult to adjust to how much the Germans (bavarians, in my case) are outside. Even though I was from Florida and we spend soooo much time at the beach I couldn’t get why they spent sooooo much more time outside, hiking things, parks, eating outdoors, exercising etc. but now I absolutely love it!!! Seriously my dream weekend Is hiking near Munich(rosenheim) and then a Käse-Wurst-Platte outside at a Hütte. Is that crazy or what! it has become a part of me!! hopefully I will be successfully in passing on my love for the outdoors to my German-American kids! Thanks for this nice video ❤️
Yes! I love those Käse-wurst-Platte too! They are so yummy, especially after a hike!
Spiel doch mal draußen!!! Every German kid hears this a 1000 times!!!😘
Nothing better than a Käse Wurst Platte with good bread after a hike 👍
What a great comment! We also call it "Biergartenkultur" - that means that you got to a nearby "Biergarten" by bike eat and drink and go home by bike afterwards ... And because you go by bike there it is OK if you eat "Schweineibraten mit Knödel", "Käsekrainer mit Kartoffelsalat", "Wurstsalat", "Sauerer Pressack"; "Kalter Braten" or a "Geräuchertes" - because you "burn" all calories when you ride home again :-)
Many cities and "Landkreise" have tips to wich "Biergärten" you can go by bike. Sometimes it is a little journal enclosed in the week end edition of your daily newspaper often called "Biergärten in der Region" ... etc.
@@Humpelstilzchen we are actually living in Malaysia right now and we’re going back to Bavaria to visit in September (first time in 2.5 years!) and I cannot WAIT to get my hands on a Käse Wurst Platte. I literally am counting the days!!!
You have given me new eyes. We should count our blessings in Europe and not take it all for granted.
I'm dating an American for a while now. We met during my year abroad and I just spend the whole summer in the states again. But watching your videos really made me realise that I definitely want my future kids (I'm still in my early twenties) to be raised in Germany. You're just very much right about the insane amount of sugar, the lack of exercise (we take walks with the dogs but today we drove a 30seconds ride to go to the store) and many more things like the better school system. Thank you!
Not to mention you won’t have to worry about health insurance, retirement or your kids getting shot in school!
I find many flaws with both the American and German public school systems! They both need improvements. It's not the schools but what you get out of it inside and outside. I went to the LAUSD, which is not great, and I have degrees from Michigan State University and UC Berkeley! Education goes beyond the system, the school and the classroom! As an adult, I love my sweats!! I don't worry about sweats!! Nothing wrong with sugars in moderation!!
When I'm talkiing with friends, with colleagues in my office or with family members, we (Germans) all do have PROBLEMS. But when I'm watching your videos, I always realize how THANKFUL we must be to be Germans. And also to be Bavarian, where you settled down . Thank you for coming " back to basics" by your videos and explenations. Until next time, Klaus Z 😘.
Hi Klaus! You’ve got so much good going on here. But I guess it’s almost important to complain as no country is perfect and can always use improvement!
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife Hi Sara, my above mentioned comment was written on my mobile phone during my todays bicycle ride.
A short time after sending, I got an answer, which was really suspect for me. The sender was using your profile photo, but it wasn`t from you as channel owner.
Did or do you have a troll on your channel at the moment ?
Yep Germany is really nice, the only problems are the ever complaining Germans who never travelled abroad.
@@KlausZanetti That's pretty common on any video. Scammers use the channel's images to get you to contact them on a messenger and give them money to receive a "Prize" that you will then never receive.
Ja leider lacht inzwischen die ganze Welt über uns wenn man sich ausländische Nachrichten anschaut also ich kann mir türkische russische englische amerikanische Nachrichten anschauen zum Teil spanische die ganze Welt wundert sich weshalb Deutschlands sich wirtschaftlich den eigenen Ast so unglaublich gründlich abschneidet und inzwischen wird auch über das deutsche Schlaf Michel... Einstellung der deutschen dass die sich gar nicht bewegen und für ihre Steuergelder mehr Unterstützung verlangen und eine wesentlich bessere Behandlung auf dem Behörden da damals von England eingeführt made in Germany war damals noch Qualitätsarbeit davon kann man heute nicht mehr sprechen deutsche Firmen werden von ausländischen Firmen aufgekauft der Mittelstand nicht zuletzt durch die völlig verfehlten corona-maßnahmen liegt mehr und mehr am Boden! Es ist schwer im Moment auf Deutschland stolz zu sein bei der Politik die er betrieben wird
German authorities often go to other european countries to inform themselves about new developments for housing, traffic and environment. That way we took over a lot of things like bike infrastructure, city development and so on. I have the feeling the US cannot imagine that others can do something better than they do.
Yes that is often the case. "The best country in the world!" Those that believe that keep the country from actually making improvements. Not all Americans think like that, of course.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife There is definitely a serious 'revival' of roundabouts on roads in America. Officials must have responded to the data on accidents or the lack thereof.
Don't go overboard with that. Most Americans could careless what any country does.
as both a german and american who's lived/lives in both countries i can tell you with 100% certainty that america thinks it's the ONLY country in the world and that no one could possibly do anything better - think healthcare - than them which is precisely why america's arrogance has it way at the bottom of all things good and at the top of most all things bad lists!
@@alfs3 Very well summarized!
When my son started school here in the USA I thought, oh good he gets lunch in school. Makes it easier for me as a single mom. On paper the school menu looked good but when I actually saw what they got I understood why he didn't like it 🤣
Yeah it’s disgusting!!
Anything run by the government is garbage, I was homeschooled.
Yes....everything you listed is what we are missing so much. It is basically the reason why we are moving back from the US to Germany. I am glad that you are enjoying this lifestyle also. We just love outdoors. Thank you for another great video and because of you guys I learned to love my country even more.
Well, I do it the other way around.
As a German from Cologne I travel to the US for vacation. Your nature over there is so compelling every time. In Sept. I'll be in UT, AZ, NV and CO.
And of course: Alternative use of soft and stiff towels is the sh*it😉👍
All the best for your time in Germany.
I am German and have never had a driver's license. I'm over 50 years old and still managed. I find it liberating not to have to worry about a car.
Really?! That’s awesome!
If I lived in the Ruhr area or Berlin, you wouldn't need a driver's license. But on the country side you need a license. Or you have internet and have everything delivered to you.
@@jensschroder8214 Even that doesn't work. Visit a doctor or a specialist for certain deseases doesn't work on the country side. If you want to join concerts, go t a theatre, cinema,... there's no way. Example cinema: I grew up in a village with a population of 600, we were lucky with an hourly bus lane from 7 am to 7 pm, because the village was in the middle between to "cities" (about 8000 population) without cinema. So it was a journey of 1 hour to a city with several cinemas, bus ticket costs twice of the ticket fpr the cinema and my brother had to catch me up and drive 30 Km back, because no bus at 10 pm. There's a lot of stuff, you can't get be internet or delivery.
My dad never had a licence either, and my mom sold her Käfer in the 70s and hasn't used a car since, so I grew up without one. Oftentimes I find the excuses why many people think they need a car really absurd... (Not judging on anyone reading this, only the people I know). I do have a license and occasionally need to drive for work, although I try to avoid it as much as possible.
@@viomouse It very much depends on what you want to do and where you live. As mentioned above, living in the country side won't work well without a car. You can, but lots of things are very difficult and time consuming to achieve. The other thing is hobbies. I have several of them which wouldn't be possible or extremly difficult to do without a car.
The best thing about this video,for sure,you feel the love you have for each other.❤
Awe I'm glad you can see that. We are each others' best friend! Of course we have our normal disagreements and problems, but we continue to be best friends.
I can only repeat it: I am so impressed because you managed to really become a part of the community, even though it was so foreign. That's what we should all do. If we decide to become part of a community, live it or leave it. because you chose it..and u and ur children can live a happy life..
Most white US Americans have German ancestry, they influenced English language with vocabulary, grammar and mannerisms, so don't worry, it's not really foreign.
Ich mag eure Videos sehr. Ich lerne so viel über mein Land. Und alle, die immer nur meckern, sollten sie schauen und würden dann erkennen, dass es hier auch gute Dinge gibt. Weiter so!
Your last words are the most important. You came to know more, to experience other cultures, a new language, new friends. Nothing material, but interpersonal relationships, life quality and family. Very good!
"Came to open our minds and understand how things are different". This to me is the most important point of seeing the world outside of the US. Great vid as always!
Yes! So important for so many Americans. It's easy to live in a bubble there and think most of the world is like the US when it isn't at all.
I hope you visit Austria one day: gorgeous country. I moved here in Vienna from South Africa this year. It’s paradise. Can’t wait to spend the rest of my life here.
We have visited it many times as we live quite close to Austria. 😄
I really appreciate your videos about your life in Germany. Many germans (me too, especially my generation of “baby boomers”) suffer sometimes from a kind of self criticism influenza, and that’s actually sad. When you talk about healthy food I had to grin because of a special experience of mine. I live in a part of Berlin where at least 50 per cent of the people are vegans or vegetarians. In the streets around me there are five bio supermarkets and a huge amount of people who are health coaches. So I catched myself some time ago buying a junk food cheeseburger in another neighbor-hood, so that no one could see me….😎
Oh funny! Going to another neighborhood to get a cheese burger. Those health coaches are probably also doing the same! LOL
No need to feel bad about the cheeseburger. A nutritional expert once said to me that 80 % of your nutrition should be good and healthy. If that's the case it doesn't do any harm to eat some junk food from time to time. To me that sounds like something I can stick too for a long time without developing a craving for the "forbidden" foods.
4:25. The way your daughter eluded a crash by carefully turning on to the grass was beautiful.
Oh true! I didn’t really think about it but you’re right!
I think one of the really nice things in Germany is that we trust in the strength and possibilities of our children 😊 Happy to hear that your kids got stronger now 😊
I love that so much!
It's always refreshing and great to see your videos! Especially with the perspective you have and your enthusiasm for Europe and your emigration! Thank you for your effort!🥰
Thank you!
Great report again!
Getting out of one‘s comfort zone makes the change (Komfortzone nenne ich gerne Komm-vor-Zone) 🙋♂️🙋♂️🙋♂️🙋♂️🙋♂️🙋♂️
Die Antwort auf meinen Kommentar ist doch garantiert nicht von dir, oder?
Unter der US-Nummer scheint ein unseriöses Unternehmen zu stecken - mit Bitcoin-Zeichen bei WhatsApp, nicht mit deinem Foto
Seeing Ella dancing along the hiking path was so cute!
😍😍 Kids are so sweet!
Condenser dryers don't need outlets to the outside. They collect the water in a tank which you empty or water your plants. X
It's nice to see Germany through your eyes and be reminded of the little things that just feel normal to me. And get a reminder that I actually should include more exercise in my day and start walking to work instead of taking the tram.
You guys are getting a fire lit under me again. I have watched a lot of expat videos. Yes, many things attract me to Europe. I have watched different mothers talking about cultural differences. I remember one talking about German parents letting their kids discover. Unlike Americans they are not always out there trying to prevent them from breaking their arms, etc. The German kids are more self confident less fearful. I think it was an English woman speaking.
There are so many things. Quality clothes and things and less of them. No need for car. More family time. Less rush especially meals. More walking. More time outdoors. Eco conscious, recycling, clean and tidy. I was stationed in North Bavaria near Bayreuth Back in the 70s. I want to go back this year.
When I was a kid, in the sixties, we had to go to the volkslauf with our father. It was a locally organized event, where you would run 5 km together, the kids and elderly walked. And then we went to watch our father do his Sportabzeichen, something most adults engaged in to keep physically fit. It was organized by the German athletic association, I think.
You made me remembering the old days with the Trimmdichpfade in the woods and sundays with my siblings and parents there and the campagne Die-Milch-machts.
I have a dryer but i barely use it.. I use it more in winter, because i love the feeling of the warm clothes on my skin. in summer, hanging clothes outside is a must. I have a "Kondenstrockner" it doesnt require a pipe going outside. all the lint is collected in a filter and the water is collected in a bucket which you can use to iron your clothes.
Love it! It's so different and refreshing here.
germany dont do landfills anymore, the "restmüll" goes to "müllheizkraftwerke" power plants where the waste is burned for power the turbines. so some of your waste comes back as electrical power.
Yeah that is so cool!
You are so inspiring and likeable. It's so great how open you are to new things and how you always look at the positive. Now I also have a great desire to move abroad.🙃
Concerning your comment about Canada being “the 51st state“, I had two Canadian roommates in college, one from Montreal, and one from Alberta. I am from Idaho. All six of us in our apartment agreed that western Canadian and western American cultures are more similar to each other than we are to our own countries eastern cultures. We felt like the border should be changed from east/west, to north/south. Idahoan and Albertan cultures are about as similar to each other as we are to those of Montana and Wyoming.
Great video about the changes in your lives from moving to Germany. I have never lived there, but lived in France, Belgium, and Luxembourg for two years, so I understand a lot of what you’re talking about. It’s interesting how the locals may take for granted some of the great things in the area, while visitors and new residents take advantage of them. I’ve seen that work both ways. We do the same here.
I'll definitely see you'll next week Sara, 'till then have a nice week..!
I have been watching you for one year and I want to add: You look happy and it seems that you are full of energy.♥
Thank you!
In the mid-eighties, I lived with my wife in Texas for a few years. She was used to let the laundry dry in the open air. After some time, a neighbor pointed out to us that this is not common in the USA : OTHER MEN COULD SEE MY WIFE'S UNDERWEAR !!!!
Regardless of the health benefits, weekends in Germany have an additional effect: this time for family activities gives a father the opportunity for a better connection with his children.
As a young father, I loved weekends with the kids.
We love to watch your posts on Sundays: thank you for your educational and sympathetic entertainment.
Ihr videos are very interesting I moved here from the United States and have pretty Merch problems with the German metality they are a shamed of the time for this in that in the barrican sand wird also people think about them which I don't know this mentality from the states.... in summ Republican States we Americans are much more free and in the virtuals and there's much more sister Hood if I give a complement to woman than the automatic Deluxe strange a specially in Bavaria but answer used to give in complements when I see something nice around me so I always tell foreigners you have to really Hug to Germans and Smiley lot Adam because they where so much appressions firt World War and we know we political people now all the background why of the happened Germany's politically really a free country it is world by the United States which has to end and it is going to end
@@irisbayer3309 What are you trying to say? Your mother tongue is obviously not English.
I’m so happy for you guys to benefit from all the possibilities you can have in Germany/Europe 😃
I am not really surprised that your children are keeping up in hiking and even being among those with a faster pace. That's one of the benefits of being into sports/athletics, it makes it easier to motivate yourself to be near the top, especially with friends around. As for the recycling: I imagined someone talking about their recycling and then hit with a question like: "Recycling? Are you from California or something?". Still impressed with the "Forelle" though.
Hey guys! It's always fascinating how much one's point of view depends on the perspective. There are so many complaints in Germany on how much sugar is in everything and that kids don't get enough activity outside, etc. But then we hear your comparison to what you were used to in the US and then it seems it's just what we call "Jammern auf hohem Niveau" (in english that would be "complaining about first world problems")... 😀
And good luck to you, Sara, with your driving studies. 😊
Hi Christian! Yeah true, for Germans it’s a lot of sugar and for Americans, it’s a lot less sugar! Perspective is everything.
(more literally: whining at a high level)
although there is a lot of glucose-fructose syrup in German foods too. I always check labels to avoid it
Ein wirklich blöder Kommentar denn die Deutschen werden steuerlich komplett ausgenommen natürlich jammern sie und inzwischen sind ja 80% mit der Regierung nicht mehr einverstanden hier wird sehr wenig für die Bevölkerung getan! Das ist in republikanischen Staaten in the United States komplett anders und die Leute helfen auch wesentlich besser zusammen aber das wird sich jetzt im Winter ändern wenn kein Gas kommt und die deutschen zusammengepfercht werden in Wärmestuben umgebaute Turnhallen dann wird der letzte deutsche merken was mit ihm hier geschieht und wie zu 100% verfehlt diese Politik ist das hat man ja bereits bei der völlig verfehlten corona-maßnahme gesehen Ausrufezeichen Deutschland ist auf dem Weg you will not on anything in you will be happy grüß Gott neue Weltordnung und der deutsche Michel kapiert das weitgehend immer noch nicht also muss er im Winter frieren bis er endlich aufwacht vielleicht macht das sein Kopf frei sehr sehr dumme Aussage Jammern auf hohem Niveau
@@Kram1032 und dann schaut man sich mal an wie die Leute auf dem Behörden behandelt werden und wie Hartz IV Leute ausgenommen werden mein Mann sagt immer ich soll mal ein Buch drüber schreiben auch was ich mit zugezogenen hier erlebe also ich meine jetzt nicht Amerikaner oder wir haben in Düsseldorf auch eine große japanische Gemeinschaft diese zugezogenen integrieren sich wunderbar mein Buch ist schon auf dem Weg ich habe bereits einen Verlag gefunden und meine Freunde wollen das Buch unbedingt lesen und wir werden kleine bucklets erstellen die wir dann alle Briefkästen stecken was hier wirklich los ist in Deutschland auf dem Behörden wird man ziemlich scheußlich behandelt und das ist so gewollt!
Many old houses have a "washing kitchen" in the first floor or cellar with basins, drains in the floor and such. That often includes a fixed pipe to the outside for dryers. Not hard to add that later either. But having a flexible hose for the exhaust air and just putting it out of a window or door is common too.
And when you‘re new to a place, everything feels sometimes like you‘re on a vacation, even if it‘s just for a few hours. Last week I had to drive from a town on one side of the Rhine to a town on the other side of the Rhine. Both towns are about several kilometers apart from the Rhine. I could have used the Autobahn and the route I already knew, but my navigation system suggested a route using a ferry over the Rhine river. And it almost felt like vacation, because for a few minutes you get out of the car watching the river flow and the nice little town while you‘re on the ferry. It really slowed my journey down just for a few minutes. And on the other side I was driving alongside of the river through the imho most beautiful part of the Rhine valley. This route took me probably a few minutes longer than the route using the Autobahn, but since I never was there before and had a nice ride on the ferry it felt like I‘m on vacation for even if I was „working“. So getting to a new unknown place even for just a few hours can help relax from the speed you normally live and helps you to keep calm. 🙂
I personally have a dryer because we are just having a room in the basement to hang our clothes and it‘s not guaranteed that it isn‘t occupied by some of my 9 neighbors in the house where I‘m living. But I have a so called „Kondenstrockner“ which don‘t need a pipe to the outside. It collects the water in a tank and the dust in a filter.
To go outside was something our parents indoctrinated into their kids already. They always said go out and play instead of stay at home in your room. And I remember that we hadn’t had that much toys as kids today. So it was natural for us to go on the playground with our marbles and play. Or we were just exploring the forest and the little creeks. In winter we got our sleds out of the basement and we climb up the next hill to take a sleigh ride down the hill. And the so called „Sonntagsspaziergang“ was also part of that „indoctrination“. Every Sunday we had to go on a walk with our parents, if we liked it or not. But all of that helped that when I was old enough I could ride my bike on the street right to my grandparents home and go visit them all by my self. And my grandma made the best „Quarkstrudel“ ever. 🙂
That’s a very good point. There is definitely something to changing your location.
Yes, i remember the "sonntagsspaziergang" as well.. " nach dem Essen sollst du ruhen oder tausend schritte tun".. we always choose the 1000 steps..
Ja, der obligatorische Sonntagsspaziergang war bei uns auch Standard. 🚶♂️🚶♀️
Als Kind war ich meistens nicht so begeistert, aber die letzten Jahrzehnte liebe ich es spazieren zu gehen. 🙂
Und meine Oma hat auch den
leckersten Kuchen gebacken, am liebsten mochte ich den Erdbeersahnekuchen.
🍓🍰 😋
Gruß aus Rheinland-Pfalz. 🙂
If you wanna know more about German history, I would recommend reading about Willy Brandt. He had a huge influence in why Germany is how it is now. Wiki has a big article about Willy Brandt.
Now I am waiting for the movie. He's life had everything and as a teaser I can tell you he got Nobel's peace price.
Thanks for sharing, I’m going to dive into that right now.
it's refreshing to see how happy you both are now vs before moving to germany!
We were in Sweden for the first time a few weeks ago. Indeed some signs made me think of Kevin, because there are actually some similar words and German sometimes helped to understand. 😂
Thank you for your videos that always sweeten the week.
Guys, You are so lovely! When I first saw your videos one year ago I thought 'that is a nice familiy'. I enjoyed and appreciated your enthusiasm and your excitement about all the beautyful small and big things that you found in your new environment and of course your willingness and your ability to share your perspective and your experiences with us. At the same time I thought: Sure they will sober up a bit when they have been here for a while. But what can I say? Still after one full year there's no sign of recovery.
So glad to see that you somehow have managed to extend your honeymoon with Germany for an indefinite period. 😊
Hahaha yeah but since we aren't German, we have to be careful about publicly complaining as a German would. We know enough about TH-cam to know we could get a bunch of nasty comments and it can really do a number on my mental health. And since we aren't German, we don't fully understand why things are the way they are here - we need to live here long to know that. Here's one thing - I wish our little village was more safe for cyclists and walkers. The sidewalks are too small and it's hard to ride your bicycle through town.
I feel like all the youtubers who came from america (at least the ones I watch ;) ) still really like and appreciate germany even after up to 10 years afaik.
Good Luck with the driving exam. Please make a video about the difference between US and German driving education/training. :) Those are always interesting and entertaining.
Yeah for sure! That will be a great video topic.
Euer Statement zu Deutschland ist echt beeindruckend, chapeau... :-D Meine Frau und ich haben im November 2019 eine Rundreise durch den Westen der USA gemacht. Im Groben war es Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Palm Springs und zurück nach L.A. 5.000 Kilometer in 14 Tagen. Es war DAS Highlight unseres Lebens. Natürlich haben wir alles , was dazwischen an Nationalparks und alten Westernstädten auch gesehen, ebenfalls Death Valley, Bryce Canyon und so weiter... :-D ES war sehr interessant, als Deutsche, auch die amerikanische Kultur und das Leben in den USA kennen zu lernen. Natürlich gibt es da von Californien zu Utah auch gewaltige Unterschiede. Wir haben diese 14 Tage förmlich eingesogen und haben heute noch die besten Erinnerungen and die Reise unseres Lebens. Alles Gute vom linken Niederrhein aus der Nähe von Düsseldorf... :-D
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Your statement about Germany is really impressive, chapeau... :-D In November 2019, my wife and I made a tour of the western United States. Roughly it was Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Palm Springs and back to L.A. 5,000 kilometers in 14 days. It was THE highlight of our life. Of course we also saw everything in between in terms of national parks and old western towns, also Death Valley, Bryce Canyon and so on... :-D It was very interesting, as Germans, to also get to know American culture and life in the USA to learn. Of course there are huge differences between California and Utah. We literally soaked up those 14 days and still have the best memories of the journey of our lives. All the best from the left Lower Rhine near Düsseldorf... :-D
Pro tip for softer towels if you do get tired of the stiff ones: use white vinegar in the washer, and air dry the towels (not on a radiator). I also experimented with cutting down the amount of detergent used, Those help a great deal.
I'm so happy I found your channel! My partner and I are looking to move from the US to Germany in a couple of years and I've been really getting a lot out of your videos. The more bike-friendly culture and proximity to even more countries to travel to are both huge draws for us. :)
You then should probably consider other areas in Germany, because there are really differences between them and everyone of it has It's own charming charakter. For example the area of Hamburg with the harbour and many nice places to be. And from there it is also only a short way to scandinavia. 😉
Well, thern, as soon as you go into action, willkommen:)- perhaps an Visit over 2 or 3 Weeks would be an good start , because no video or catalöouge or Travel Guide can do,what own Impressions will:).
STay Healthy!
@@Caelestan @Alexander Steinmetz Yes!! I'm excited to explore more areas next time I visit. So far I've spent time in München, Köln, Frankfurt, Berlin, Koblenz, and Heidelberg. I would love to check out Hamburg!
@@wwhhiittnneeyy If you do, then message me not to short before, probably we can connect then and i could tell you some places there worth to discover.
@@Caelestan Cool!
What may not be fully understood in the US is that environmental protection can be a significant economic driver. It makes sense to keep values in a cycle for as long as possible. Always top to bottom to top. This applies to money, which stored in a hedge fund only makes people poorer, at the end even the rich. That also applies to goods. A glass is no longer of any use in a landfill. The money for it is lost. But if you make it and then recycle it, you keep the money flowing. Someone earns it, can spend it, another earns, etc.
Many people only see the 25ct deposit and think that's expensive, although they get it back. But they don't see the opportunities, that machines had to be manufactured for the recycling system, which gave companies orders and people jobs. Way more than you need for a landfill or incinerator.
I think another important point that has come into your life after moving: you have become a successful youtuber!
Oh true! We didn’t think about that. 😄
on the one hand i am happy to hear that we as germans are much more eco-friendly than americans. but on the other hand it makes me so worried and kinda angry to know that we're trying over here, while such a big part of the world is paying almost no attention to being eco-friendly 🥲
Danke für euer interessantes Video.
Ich freue mich, dass ihr hier ein Stück Heimat gefunden habt und euch wohlfühlt. Ich denke, dass man von überall etwas Gutes mitnehmen kann und für sich dazu lernt.
Ich wünsche euch noch einen schönen Sonntagabend und eine gute neue Woche.
LG 🙋
So interesting! Thanks for sharing!
as a german , I have to say your videos are so eye-opening in so many ways to me. you are a cute couple. welcome to germany. A bit late, I know but still….
Omg 14:45 Where is that??? That view is stunning!!
Been living in the North my whole life and thinking about moving to Bavaria for the beautiful landscapes and mountains. Just fell in love with hiking ♡
Thank you for another interesting and fun video! Makes me think about being more "adventurous" as a family ourselves (as a family, it's easy to "do what works best").
About dryers: Many dryers you can buy in Germany have condensers, meaning you don't need a hose or pipe for the hot air get out. Very practical in small apartments!
@dryers
We also do not have a dryer. Our Landlord reserved us some space in the basement for the dryer that we intended to buy when we moved in. But since we have a garden we are quite comfortable putting the laundry on a clothes line outside to dry. Not using dryer has so many advantages:
- clothes smell and feel fresher.
- Towels actually do what they are meant for: they absorb water when used.
- UV-light kills germs
- UV-light bleaches the clothes (I admit that is not an advantage for every piece)
- less wear on the textile fiber
- saves a ton of money from the purchase not made and even more over the years in energy bills.
- it is much more sustainable.
- Hanging out the laundry keeps the children away from the mobile (that is if you manage to motivate them to do it. Otherwise it at least keeps you yourself away from the phone)
Y’all got a great personality. I like how honest you all are. I subscribed and hit the bell. 👊
Thank you for your positive comment on stiff towels.
I am so happy I am not the only person that appreciates them. 😅
After seeing this, you might want to try orienteering. During the winter you can change to winter tyres on your bikes. I'll do it. Greetings from Sweden!
I really like your videos and your mindset - keep going!! Greetings from a German in Mannheim 😀
You could buy a "Kondensdryer", that machine comes without any hose for letting the moisture out of the room, it makes water out of that vapor. That water will be collected into a box inside of that machine and you have to empty it after a drying process or you can fit a hose for that water flow into your sink. Very practical and on top of that those machines save energy.
Lovely to see you so happy here! Jens from Munich.
Thank you!
What a lovely channel you have. (Kirsten and Joerg sent me!) Looking forward to watching more of your content. ☺️
Oh wonderful! Glad to have you here!
I grew up in Eastwestfalia, we have a very strong hiking culture here. It's practically the usual Sunday afternoon activity for the whole family. Sundays start with church (though that's quite optional nowadays), Sonntagsbraten, Hiking and has its climax with "Kaffee & Kuchen" in a Cafè near the hiking trail. 🤩 Hiking is highly endorsed in my corner of the world by schools, communities, clubs and social organizations in general. In my school (Gymnasium) there were at least 4 Wandertage (hiking days) per school year and an additional hiking day with the whole school ending with a big barbecue. As you said hiking starts in kindergarden. In 8th Grade we did the Eggefreund hike, that's a hike along the Eggeweg, a 70 km trail through the Eggegebirge, we did it in three parts! In Eastwestfalia hiking is considered a social event, to connect with people and nature, experience belonging and have fun. Even at my work place we rather go hiking when we do a Betriebsausflug. 😁
All of the dryers I've seen in Germany have a condenser, so they don't even need an exhaust vent to the outside like the ones in the US. You just empty the little drawer of condensed water into the sink after each load. This method of removing the water takes longer (2-3 hours instead of 30-45 minutes), but it uses less electricity. It actually just plugs in to a normal outlet, just like the washer. So next winter, if you do decide to get a dryer, you should still be able to hook it up with no outside venting and no special dryer outlet required.
Nice video ! Noticed also that your kids learned how to handle a knife and fork while eating. 🍴So many American expats use only a fork eating like a caveman 🤣
I would love to see a video about what you expected your life to be like in Germany and which expectations came true and which didn't. And thank you so much for this video, I just love this type of content
Thanks for letting us know what you enjoy! It helps us create better videos. 😄
i think also maybe as tought experiment, people love suger and suger makes addicting, hence i think as background tought, they add suger to products to make people addicted to their product to further their sales because $ money. and it tastes good but it is only suger in some form.
Yes! I do think that’s part of it.
Another great video. It’s interesting hearing about the Germans loving the outdoors. We’re in the UK and we have a campervan that we love to travel in. Over the last 12 weeks we’ve been away in our van for 8 weeks. Many of our friends travel throughout Europe in their campervans and motorhomes, or RVs and buses as they are known in the USA Europe. I think the best motorhomes are made in Germany by Erwin Hymer Group and that’s probably due to their love of the outdoors. Thanks for sharing another interesting video.
nicht nur kein Trockner nötig sondern auch keine Mrikowelle etc. Ein bißchen weniger verschwenderisch leben, ist wohl ein Unterschied zu den USA. Aber ihr habt Glück und lebt jetzt hier ;-) haha. Ihr seid eine tolle Familie
Its nice to hear the positive parts of living in Germany.
Received the recipe labels. Thank you!
Oh good! Hope you enjoy them!
8:15 Kevin, in Germany (and in most countries of the EU) there are no more household waste landfills at all! The residual waste is incinerated (of course with the highest exhaust gas standards!) to generate electricity and heat. The ash is vitrified and used in road construction.
YES!! This is amazing!! We should do a video just on this. Thanks for bringing it up.
@hape. Die asche ist problematisch. In der schweiz dürfen schlacken und asche von mva's nicht in den strassenbau.
@@tnit7554 Ich bin kein Experte, das mit dem Verglasen hatte ich mal in einer Doku gehört. Nachdem ich jetzt etwas recherchiert habe, ist die Sache (erwartungsgemäß) etwas komplizierter. Aber wie es scheint, gibt es zig Regelungen, wie die Asche als Ersatzstoff sicher und umweltverträglich eingesetzt werden kann. Siehe z. B. Wikipedia: "Hausmüllverbrennungsasche"
Thanks for sharing your story, how Germany changed you for the better (and how you embraced it with joy). ❤️
Drying things outside is actually much better in winter because of two reasons:
1. Air is dryer so it dries your cloths much faster.
2. Sun is dimmer so it doesn't destroy paint on textiles by photo-chemical reactions.
Not only that (and the obvious electricity used), but dryers also produce a massive amount of wear and tear in the form of lint, causing you to replace clothing and textiles more often than when just being hung out to dry in the sun.
@@forkless ah yes, during my studies some 10 years ago I actually read several science papers on it, how USA regulates textile industry by regulating washing and drying mashines so they destroy closhes faster.
America needed this economic policy because she was conquering a lot of Indonesian, Argentinian and Vietnamese farmland from hands local farmers. Now she finished most of conquest and I hope they will make the law on it normal, healthy and efficent, so the whole country could profit, not just the textile industry.
Nice Video again. I enjoyed watching you while I also enjoyed a good hand brewed coffee. Time to go outside now for a lovely long dog round. Have a lovely Sunday and thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences!
👋 Hallo Hildegard! A Schönnen Sonntag to you!
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife Vielen herzlichen Dank. :-)
Sometimes, as you say in winter, I would love to have a dryer, but actually they are expensive and it costs a lot of „Strom“… and yes, fluffy towels are so much nicer… but we can live with it. And yes, Bavarians are very much „outdoorsy“ than most other Germans and the region is definitely made for skiing, hiking etc.
You two are so inspiring
I really love your videos 😍❤❤❤
Love these videos! Very grateful to have been raised overseas for most of my childhood: Germany, Turkey, France. Very hard act to follow!
That’s good to know you are grateful! What about it makes you feel grateful for the experience?
Our mom had a super attitude and was a living example of how lucky we were to live all over the world as kids. Living among “les vieilles pierres” (old stones) as the French say gave us a rich sense of time and history and impressed upon us that we were not the be-all and end-all. We had the chance to learn several languages and although we were Army kids going to schools set up by the Dept. of Defense we always lived on the economy and had local friends. Dad used to say, “We did not come to France to live with a bunch of $(()*’*&$# Americans!” (Censored!) Gorgeous scenery and delicious foods did not hurt. Times were not always easy but we accepted life with earthquakes, a political revolution, no phones, no TV when we lived in Turkey (this was a long time ago!) and we had to boil the water. In France there was always some kind of strike going on but we dealt with it. Our flexibility talents became very finely honed! My military brat friends and I commented during the pandemic (as horrid and sad as it was for many families dealing with serious illness and death) that doing without, having to improvise, be creative, use what you have at hand, etc., felt pretty familiar to us. The older I get the more impressed I am with how our parents dealt with our situation and how our mothers made wonderful homes for us even while sleeping on army cots awaiting arrival of our household goods. Not sure how they did it! They always looked like a million bucks as well. No sweat pants!
Wenn eure Kleine noch nicht so weit laufen mag, kauft ihr doch ein Laufrad. Ging bei uns damals wunderbar.
Was hier auch noch anders ist, die meisten Kinder bekommen keine Cola bevor sie 10 sind und auch dann nur in Ausnahmefällen. Schön, dass ihr euch hier so wohlfühlt. Welcome to good old germany!
You look like a wonderful positive couple and family that really knows how to live full and enjoyable life. Glad you like living in Europe!❤️
Fan from Myanmar!
I love watching your videos and am very interested in Germany culture. Thx for making wonderfully informative videos!
Wow, cool! Myanmar!
You mentioned the thing with the dryer exhaust vent. In Germany condenser dryers or heat pump dryers are more common. The water goes directly into the sewer. But you are right: many people don’t have or don’t use the dryer frequently.
I love stiff towels too. You can skip the peeling.
Haha, fully germanized kids. Self-sufficient, confident, lots of muscle motor skills, active, loads of sports, but not necessarily under adult supervision.
Nice. I knew it would happen.
That Kevin carries Ella on his shoulders is a privilege younger kids have. I suggest you do it as long as she's small enough to carry. The time will come, quickly, when she outgrows that possibility. At first she might want to be carried on your shoulders but you simply can't carry her any long distances anymore, and soon enough she won't WANT to be carried anymore.
Those are such short years.
Love hamsters. Throughout my childhood I had two, total. My brother had a chipmunk, and all of us kids together had a white mouse that had gotten into a fight with a hamster and had its tail nipped off at the base. That mouse was astonishing. When we got it it was already three years old. She lived with us another three and a half years. We were totally astonished at her final age.
Btw, modern dryers have heatpumps and don't require an exhaust anymore, they condense the humidity directly and have a small hose coming out the back which you can lead directly into a drian or just a bucket to empty afterwards.
Okay good to know! We were just talking to a friend about getting a heat pump dryer.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife Also conventional (non heat-pump) dryers mostly use condensation, exhaust dryers are rare beasts here.
th-cam.com/video/_-nW3wUcn08/w-d-xo.html
Exactly. I just bought a German washer and dryer for our apartment in Canada! And no, Canada is NOT the 51st state! And we’re very thankful for that. Merci beaucoup! 😉
Sehr interessant ihre Sichtweise zu sehen.Wünsche ihnen auch weiterhin alles Gute.
Very interesting to see their point of view. Wish them all the best for the future.🙋♂👍❤
Vielen dank! 😍
New to your channel....all the way from Canada ....always felt like I belong somewhere in Europe
Thx für shareing your experiences. You put quite some work into this vid. I would love to hear some stmts of your children, but may be that already happened in other vids.
Good luck to your driving licence exams.
Hallo und Grüße nach Bayern. Tolles Video! Ihr seid so sympathisch :-). Coming soon to visit Bayern in a week. Can´t wait to be there and seeing something different. Schönen Sonntag und gut durchlüften, bevor die große Hitze startet :-)
Hallo Peter! Gute Reise!
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife Danke!
My family is planning to move to Germany in the next year or so. I was reluctant because I don't know anything about Germany really..but after watching your videos I'm excited to go. We're coming from Georgia too
I do not even have a dryer after 22 years in marriage. Having a dryer is not even included in our family budget. We use our balcony (in winter) and our garden to drying. Not including the dryer and other things enable my family to travel more and explore more than having too many things one would only use once in a while. Our life is outdoors than in our home. Thank you for sharing your life in Germany. Enjoying watching your videos. Viele Grüße aus Hamburg.
I have a tip for when one needs the wet washing to hang dry quicker (indoors): Having a regular fan on and circulating the air. I recommend playing around with how to best direct the streaming air but any movement of air body helps dispurse the saturated air and quickly replace it with air that can take on more moisture.
For reference: I have had laundry loads dry in half the time this way on good nights.
Thank you for sharing your experiences with us, it's great to see how you feel with all these new impressions. I admire your courage to emigrate to another country so far away.
One tip to find a good salsa - in some towns are asian-stores, many asian people like to buy original stuff from their homeland. There you'll find a huge variety of salsa, maybe the one, you like the most.
6:15 that's exactly the only times I use my dryer. To dry sheets and towels in winter.
Modern dryers here don't really need an exhaust. The water is collected in a tank that you take out of the machine and empty into a sink.
So cool! I think I will be getting one for this winter.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife If you do, I would recommend looking for a "heatpump dryer" (Wärmepumpentrockner) instead of a "condensation dryer" (Kondensationstrockner). The heatpump one is way more energy efficient and uses much less electricity. Also, it dries with lower temperatures, so it is a little easier on the fabrics. Downside is that it is more expensive to buy and cycles are longer.
Dryers that use gas are very uncommon here (I have never seen them here and don't even know if you could buy them here at all)
Hello sahra and Kevin,
Nice to meet you . Just in this time i see your Video with Kirsten. I love it. Its a very funny Video..
Very welche in germany. Have a nice time.
Love and greetings
Monika🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
In terms of Salsa: Since it is based on tomatoes, there has to be a little bit of sugar in it, otherwise it doesn't taste that great (this applies, as a rule of thumb, to nearly every dish with tomatoes in it).
Try to make one yourself and you will see, it just starts to taste good at the moment you put a pinch of sugar (or a little squeeze of ketchup) to it. If you are making your own, which is not that hard (a little bit of "Schnippelarbeit", though), you can easily adjust the amount of sugar to your liking, right.
I'm glad that as a Salsa lover I might be of some help and I think, the question was not about a little bit of added sugar to improve the taste, but about ingredients. There are Salsas which I personally call "sugar based" and those who are "tomato based". For example, I just looked up the ingredients of one brand of "Hot Salsa Dip" from a large German discounter and they are "Trinkwasser, Invertzuckersirup, Tomatenmark (14%), Paprika (10%), Branntweinessig, Speisesalz, Stärke, Jalapeño Chilis, Zwiebeln, Gewürz, Tomatenpulver, natürliches Aroma". But there are others, eg. the "Bravo Hot Salsa Dip" sold at the German discounter Penny which has the following ingredients: "Tomaten 50%, Jalapeños 14,4%, Zwiebeln, Tomatenmark 12%, Gemüsepaprika, Wasser, Branntweinessig, Speiesalz, natürliches Aroma, Antioxidationsmittel Ascorbinsäure". One might argue, that tomatos are essentially only sweetened water, but the latter has less sugar per 100 g and to me definitely tastes better. If you can find it, you might give it a try.
@@michaelg.4982 danke für den Tipp, immer schwer etwas mit wenig Zucker zu finden
Stiff towels are the best. Larry David was always right about that! They actually dry you. It's way more efficient.
And of course we germans have been tree hugging for several thousand years, haha.
We have condensers in our dryers here (UK)so don't need the tube to take the steam to the outside.. Our machines have tanks to catch the water/steam.