6 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT GERMANY 🇩🇪
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.พ. 2025
- 6 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT GERMANY 🇩🇪
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If u don't pay Church tax u have to Pay spmething Differend
The thing with the check out 'rushing' is: you don't have to. Just put the things back in your car (admittedly, you should do that with >0 speed) and then pack the stuff at your own leisure. There's usually a section with small tables or boards for that. Most people just prefer moving stuff from the shopping cart directly into bags in their car's trunk.
The idea behind „TV tax“ (which is actually also for radio) is, that you and everyone else in germany fund independent journalism and public education through TV and radio. That‘s the main reason our news on the first and second channel are neutral, never take sides, never attack people who might have commited a crime before a judge actually agrees with that, you don‘t have any excited panic making and „news“ playing with the people‘s fears and prejudice. The are news in simple german for foreigners to make it more accessible. Not everything about it is actually perfect, but it works really well. Especially with the unexcited neutral fact based news. They don‘t have to make money and they don‘t take money from anyone with an own interest.
I think it is a really good thing. 🙂
Ja stimmt absolut. US Amerikanische Verhältnisse, was die Medien betrifft, braucht keiner: wo der meistgesehene Kanal FoxNews nur Hass, Lügen und Angst verbreitet - für Quote und Geld!
Yes, it is absolutely true. Nobody needs US-American conditions concerning the media: where the most watched channel FoxNews only spreads hate, lies and fear - for quota and money!
Sorry, with the Covid measures this neutrality went down the drain.
@@thomasseidel2381 probably because a lot of stupid people weren't wearing masks. I know it infuriated me, so I can't blame the news hosts if they get annoying. Saying that, the news I watched were always pretty neutral about that, so it must have been your local news host.
"our news on the first and second channel are neutral, never take sides, never attack people who might have commited a crime before a judge actually agrees with that"
" but it works really well. Especially with the unexcited neutral fact based news."
OMFG!!!!!!! On which planet do you live? Everybody knows that they are biased as fuck. In fact, that's the main reason "private" TV companies were allowed: The ÖR Chanels were leaning to far to the left and the CDU/CSU was hoping to create a counter weight.
@@buciallstar Delusional
I really hated it in the US. I dont want to spend my whole day in the supermarket and you guys are so slow. I love it here. Everybody packs the things fast and if its to fast for you, you just put the items in your Einkaufswagen and pack it later. No harm…
LOL, these were all great and true points. I got a funny story for you in regards to the police stop. I had my drivers license for about a year and was never stopped by the police. Just got this new car and installed a stereo system over the weekend and take it out with my friends for a test drive. In Karlsruhe, we wanted to go back on the Autobahn when I saw this big police traffic stop. The police waved me by, not having to stop or talking to them. However, I wanted to be stopped so I know what the overall process of these stops are, so we went around again, windows a bit further down, seats more reclined and music louder in hopes they would stop us. Again, they waved us by. We did this 2 more times, each time, seats more reclined to a point where I nearly couldn't hold the steering wheel any more and the music to the max. The police stopped me...yeah. The officer asked, "Didn't I see you before driving by?", I responded, "Yes, we are trying to find the Autobahn entrance to Baden Baden". I couldn't tell him I wanted to get stopped, so that was the best I came up with;-) The officer looked up and we where literally right next to this big blue sign showing the entrance to the Autobahn to Baden Baden. He looked at me and said, "Please go over there". We were all excited to see what is going to happen. Car was new, nobody did drink anything, all should be good. Well, it turned out, when I installed the stereo system, I disabled the hazard light switch by mistake, thus I got a ticket to pay 20 DM at that time. When I explained to the officer that we wanted to get stopped, he got mad as we were wasting time and resources.
The story is, never mess with the police, no matter what country you are in. If they wave you by, be happy;-)
I have just been grocery shopping at target in Manhatten a few weeks ago and was surprised. No cashier, only self checkout and you had to bring your own bag or buy a thin cotton one for 5 Cents. Different to my visits before I did not get one single plastic bag when I bought something and sometimes had to pay for a paper bag. Felt like shopping at home in 🇩🇪
in north germany we have the Maifestival with "MaiBaum". so each house/group put up a Maibaum(eng: May-Tree) and try to "protect" it while drinking, having a fire and having fun. if another person from another group come steal it by touching the tree when noone else is touching it than the person can take the tree home until you pay for getting the tree back. usually this happenes by giving a box of beer. so you can tell it is very funny event and you are getting drunk very fast.
Concerning the supermarket checkout: After the start of the pandemic, many supermarkets started to offer "click & collect" (I've read about this e.g. concerning many ReWE shops). Then you can choose calmly at home on their website what you want to buy and a time when you want to pick it up, and then you just have to go to the supermarket and everything is already collected in a box or basket (and scanned) so that you can take it with you ... no need to run through there market yourself, or putting it on the checkout and then in bags yourself in a hurry.
7:50 Not everyone has to pay broadcasting fees, but the household/apartment.
If 10 people live in an apartment, they pay the same as a single household.
If you live with your partner, you only pay once; otherwise you did something wrong!
The checkout at groceries is the same here in Italy too lol :) France also as far as I remember.
The checkout at the grocery is a highg-pace experience is because the cashiers have to reach a high level of customers per hour, and this is because of saving money - and so have low prices.
And - if the cashiers don`t have to sit at the cashiers table - they have to fill up or clean and do all the other work in the market..
And this is also why there are these small cahier-tables - this is a modern thing, they once where longer,
(and before the scanners at some stores they were even faster - for example at ALDI they knew all the prices in their mind, and put them in, faster as you can get your stuff on the table. it was amazing)
So the cashiers were likely to help you over the (a little) longer table to put your things back - and that caused health-issues.
TV-Tax: Every household has to pay.. (if they have income - if not there is a bunch of paperwork..)
Church-Tax - the church loves this about germany..
but don*t mind.. we also have an enjoyment tax (Vergnügungssteuer)
Oh! Something I have to add about Police on the autobahn. Yes, your rarely see a police car on the autobahn, but be aware that unmarked police cars do exist. They do patrol the autobahn occasionally. They check for safety distances and right side overtakers mostly, I'd say.
Hallo Zoie-Marie, ich sehe Deinen Kanal schon eine Weile, weil mich interessiert, wie das Leben in Deutschland auf Menschen aus anderen Ländern wirkt. Viele Dinge, die uns in Deutschland vertraut sind, wirken auf andere verstörend oder lustig oder erfreulich. Es ist schön, wenn der eine vom anderen lernen kann.
Ich möchte zu einigen Anmerkungen einige kurze Erklärungen schreiben.
1. Polizeikontrolle
Es gibt in der deutschen Sprache ein Sprichwort "Wie man in den Wald hineinruft, so schallt es heraus." Das trifft genau meine Erfahrungen mit Polizeikontrollen. Ein höflicher Umgang mit freundlicher Sprache sollte eigentlich der Normalfall sein. Dann ist die Kontrolle auch nach wenigen Augenblicken beendet. Wer Konfrontation sucht, der wird sie finden.
2. Hektik beim Einkauf
Meine Schwester lebt in Texas und meine Erfahrungen beim Einkauf dort waren ebenfalls interessant. Es gibt offensichtlich zwei völlig verschiedene Systeme beim Einkauf. Während man in den USA wohl seine Einkäufe noch an der Kasse in Tüten einpackt oder einpacken lässt, werden in Deutschland die Einkäufe erstmal wieder in den Einkaufswagen gelegt. Danach hast Du alle Zeit der Welt, die Sachen in Tüten und Taschen zu verpacken oder mit dem Einkaufswagen zum Auto zu fahren und dort einzupacken. Problematisch wird es nur, wenn man versucht, beide Systeme zu kombinieren.
3. TV Gebühren
Mit der Rundfunkgebühr wird der öffentlich-rechtliche Rundfunk in Deutschland finanziert. Das ist nicht nur das Fernsehen, sondern auch das Radio. Die Erfahrungen mit einem politisch gelenkten Rundfunk sind in Deutschland nicht ganz so gut (Nazi-Propaganda). Nach dem Ende des Zweiten Weltkriegs wurde in Deutschland eine unabhängige Presse und unabhängiger Rundfunk aufgebaut. Weder politische Parteien, noch finanzielle Macht sollte den Rundfunk für sich in Anspruch nehmen. Ein solcher Journalismus benötigt zur politischen Unabhängigkeit auch finanzielle Unabhängigkeit. Das soll der Runkfunkbeitrag ermöglichen. Damit werden Nachrichten, Unterhaltung, Sportereignisse und wissenschaftliche Informationen produziert und gesendet.
Es gibt genug Beispiele, welche verheerenden Folgen es haben kann, wenn Reiche sich Fernsehsender kaufen oder mit gekaufter Sendezeit finanzieren. Da bezahle ich lieber einen Rundfunkbeitrag. Den bezahlt man übrigens nur einmal pro Haushalt, nicht pro Kopf.
4. Kirchensteuer
Man entscheidet selbst, ob man Mitglied einer Kirche sein will. Dieses Recht hat sogar Verfassungsrang. Und auch hier git, dass man das bekommt, was man bezahlt. In vielen Ländern sind Kirchengemeinden auf Spenden angewiesen. Kirchensteuern gibt es dann dort nicht. Wenn ein Priester in einer reichen Gemeinde arbeitet, bekommt er viel Geld, arme Gemeinden müssen sparen oder verschwinden ganz. 1933 wurde zwischen dem Deutschen Reich und dem Vatikan ein Vertrag (Reichskonkordat) geschlossen, der unter anderem auch vorsieht, dass der Staat eine Kirchensteuer einnimmt und diese an die Kirchen (katholisch und später auch protestantisch) abgibt. Diese können dann die Einnahmen entsprechend dem Bedarf auf alle Gemeinden verteilen. So ist sichergestellt, dass Prieseterinnen und Priester gleich bezahlt werden, egal ob die Gemeinde reich oder arm ist. Kirchenneubauten und Reparaturen können sicher geplant und bezahlt werden. Die Höhe der Steuer ist abhängig von der Höhe des Einkommens. Je nach Bundesland zahlt man 8 oder 9 Prozent der Einkommensteuer als Kirchensteuer.
Wer wenig verdient, zahlt wenig oder sogar gar nichts, wer viel verdient, zahlt viel.
Wer das sparen will, kann aus der Kirche austreten. Dann bekommt aber auch keine Leistung. Wer ins Kino will, muss Eintritt bezahlen.
Ich hoffe, ich habe nicht zu sehr genervt, aber ich denke, dass einige Dinge klarer werden, wenn man sich mit den Ursprüngen beschäftigt.
Wichtig ist doch nur, das niemand alles richtig oder alles falsch macht, man macht es eben nur anders
Liebe Grüße
Good explained..
Danke.
Lol the shopping experience reminded me when I first went to aldi probably 3? Years ago the cashiers were really fast and we had to rush to put our groceries back on the cart and bag it on the counter. And of course no plastic bags
In some stores, especially "Diskonter", it is said that cashiers are not paid per hour, but per scanned item. Therefore: The faster the scan, the more they earn.
I was in France and I know the random checking which I loved so much.
I wish they do random check in USA. Accidents could be minimized.
Murderers would be scared and many lives saved.
The alcohol check - there probably has been a festival nearby - that is when they sometimes check cars. It only happened to me once in the last 34 years that I am driving a car.
I do not want more service in the supermarket or slower cashiers - that makes the products more expensive. In my eyes it is just a question of organisation - sort the stuff when you put in on the conveyer belt for heavy and light, have bags that you can just throw your things in (the big ones from e.g. Aldi etc.) or throw them into your cart and pack it elsewhere.
The TV Tax (Rundfunkbeitrag) is essential for our press (TV and radio). They have to be independent and neutral (that works most of the time). But the fact that we havent a fucked up press landscape like the USA speaks volumes.
it doesnt even work most of the time. The Concept of indepentend State Media is a contradiction.
The TV tax thing had me rolling. I have a similar experience when I moved to Japan. I had found out that we have to pay the NHK, which is like the equivalent to Deutsche Welle, or the BBC a fee and I just couldn't believe it. And when the "NHK man" came knocking at my door, I tried to explain in my limited Japanese that I didn't even have a TV (because I had just moved there) and he couldn't understand me and just left me alone lol. But they come after you! Avoiding the NHK man is a running joke among the Japanese people and foreigners living there
Wow! Learned so much just from this!
During the Maiwanderung most groups usually walk alongside the road and have a sign that says "You honk, we drink" :D
As a former grocery checker in the US, we have the same policy. We are timed on how many items we scan per minute and get in trouble if we're too slow. It's pretty stupid.
What you talked about regarding the police sounds like a 'ride program' they have them in Canada especially on nights where a lot of people are drinking like New years. It's mainly to check drunk drivers I believe
In Switzerland when entering small towns there are sometimes road blocks/checkpoints at night
Great Tip, Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
Having lived the first half of my life in Germany I have never heard of the Maiwanderung. I suspect it might be a regional thing. Mai 1st is similar to Labor Day, a day for celebrating and demonstrating for the rights of workers. The situation at the grocery store can be a bit annoying but don’t let it bring you down. If you go to an Aldi is the US you will have a very similar experience. Aldi is a German chain. Don’t forget that the speed at the checkout results in fewer staff that the store has to hire which at least in part explains the lower prices for groceries in a Germany versus the US.
Wow super useful info! Thanks for talking about the grocery store thing, that’s totally something that would make me anxious. Church tax is odd! I’ll have to look into that haha
Thank you, very useful information.
I've never heard of 'Maiwanderung' before. What you are describing sounds to me like 'Vatertagstour' ( father's day tour) where young men - mostly not even fathers - fill their carts up with alcohol and go hiking and drinking. I was horrified by that as a child because the drunk guys scared me and I'm still disgusted by them today because I see no benefit in getting so drunk that you can't even walk home on your own feet.
If you want to slow down the speed at a check out desk in the supermarket just throw your goods into your cart and walk to your car where you can put them in your bags at your own speed.
TV charges guarantee some corporate free independent channels where you can watch unbiased news ( no Tucker Carlson and the like in Germany !).
Church : If you are a believer you want to be a member of your church and pay church taxes to support that church. In return you will get services like wedding, funeral, confirmation, communion etc.
If you are not a believer you are not a member of any church, do not have to pay church taxes and you probably won't want to marry in a church, right ? So that decision is up to you.
The police randomly checks cars for their technical safety , drivers for alcohol / drugs if they are suspicious or they stop drivers for speeding or other traffic issues.
Of course they don't announce their check ups.
Maiwanderung is very typical in the south of Germany. On May 1st a lot of groups (Vereine) go hiking together for a couple of hours and then usually meet up on a public place, preferably with a fire place, and you grill together.
I was a volunteer firefighter in Düsseldorf. We would do "Maiwanderung" (we called it Mai-Tour) on every first of may, pulling a cart with beer with us and ending the tour a restaurant with a Kegelbahn to play for the "Maikönig" who would get a more than a thousand Euro as a price. But there is a catch, from this price, the Maikönig had to pay for the tour, the beer, the food at the restaurant and everything, usually just a few Euros are left for him. So, the Maitour is paid by the Maikönig, from the money he won when he became the Maikönig :)
Thanks for the great video. I am really surprised. I did not know about some of the things you mentioned especially about being checked while driving. I will definitely keep that in mind. Shopping is still stressful for me here. Lastly I did not know about not being able to marry in the church if you opt out of paying the tax unless your partner is in the church. That is really interesting. Thank you again. Loved the video.
The marriage thing makes a lot of sense though. Why should any church provide you with that service if you don't pay church taxes ? In Germany churches don't have private or corporate donors. They are financed by the church tax.
As far as police patrols : They check not only for alcohol or drugs but also if you have a valid license or if your car is safe ( we have a mandatory technical car test every 1-2 years where you get a stamp on your license plate after you passed it).
Thank you so much for this video, it is very informative ☺
I live in Namibia and we also pay yearly tv license...its a must according to the law if you own a tv😀
In South Africa too, but last I checked in SA pensioners get a discount so people buy TV in their grannies names. The same goes for free-pat healthy whch is mostly free for pensioners.
@@nomxhosapekani7966 yes , even in Namibia,pensioners get a discount
In Germany it also has to be paid if you don't have a TV.
Until some years ago, the tv tax had to be paid if you had a TV, radio or "other device which can be used for receiving tv or Radio broadcasts" (which included computers etc. with internet connection).
About 8 years ago they decided that, as most people have Internet connection now, and the public TV and radio stations offer a lot of their content also online, everybody is now a potential consumer of public broadcast, and therefore it shouldn't depend anymore on the possession of a TV set. Therefore every household needs to pay now, no matter what TV or other devices someone has.
Thanks for the insight
Really enjoyed this video, pleaseI wanted to ask what the job market is like in Germany for non-German speakers particularly in the business and finance sector
Hi Zoie-Marie, nice video as usual, just a word about that "TV tax", German hate them as well and up to a couple of years ago, before they changed the rules, it was seen as a German "Volkssport" to try to avoid this "tax". BUT it is not a tax, it is a direct payment to a fund that finances the public tv/radio and web broadcasters. And the important thing is, that by this the media are truly independent, not only from the state, as he has no access to this fund, but also from any other entities like firms or billionaires, which make the public broadcast in Germany not only very independent and quite objective (there is of course no 100% objectivity), but also the one with the largest budget in the world, so they can offer a lot of different news formates, documentaries (like on arte) and more. And as you may have figured out by now, the largest critics of the goverment originate are these broadcasters. After I learned that, I am happy to pay that GEZ.
The way you talk about public transport you sound like a typical German :-)
It's not just Maiwanderung/May hike. There's also Wintergang/Winter walk, Raschelgang - a walk in fall then the leaves fall from trees and make this noise then one walk through a lot of them. The alcohol card is happen at many walks. Some German areas find everytime a reason for drinking. One mentionend the Fathers Day and that there also men without children walk around with the Bollerwagen. I wanna add: I saw already girls maybe 15-16yo at Fathers Day, with the alcohol card.
The police on the Autobahn is sometimes also hidden or they using civil cars. They're mostly on the search for overweigth or unsecure cars & trucks or someone with bad driving manner. Maybe you seach for Zivilstreife Autobahn vids.
We had longer check out lanes, but it's all about money for the owner.
I’m from Ghana west Africa, we do pay TV taxe
Hope you're doing well, Zoie🇿🇦🌟
"Maiwanderung"? This has to be a local tradition of the specific region you're domiciliating in. I've never heard of that before. May 1st is Labor Day ("Tag der Arbeit") in Germany and many other European countries, the most iconic day to flood the streets to demonstrate against exploitation of the working class. However, this tradition of getting drunk together reminds me of Father's Day ("Vatertag"). BTW, I'm living near Frankfurt :-)
Ja hier in Norddeutschland kenne ich eher den Brauch "Tanz in den Mai" Und Maifeuer…
Police check for drunk drivers are important. We had this cavalier attitude about drunk driving and check ups remind people to stop this deadly custom. Here in Canada, they have roadside checks for drunk drivers as well. I don't mind. First of May was always Wandertag with family or your social group. It cannot be just a little walk. Basically, it's the start of summer time. You know Germany very well. As the years go by, you'll get the hang of it...
@Tv Tax: Every household who earns more than a certain sum (all earnings from all persons combined) has to pay, no matter if refugee or on public aid.
Pls do a video on what it is like dating a German. Or is Germany a good place for a single lady
Interesting 😁. Church Tax? TV Tax? I have never heard of this? You did an excellent job explaining this topic Zoie’ … interesting content 👍🏼
They have a Tv Tax in the UK too.. I found out b/c I’m going there for grad school..it’s definitely different
actually it's not a "TV tax" it's a (mandatory) fee to keep public broadcast stations funded. that does not mean i like the expense or that this is well spent, though. And since a few years it's not per person but per household, regardless how many people live there. there are ways to get around it but only for low wage earners, students etc. as far as i know.
The church tax is basically a membership fee of the two big traditional church organizations (the Roman Catholic church and the Protestant church) in Germany, as well as also some smaller religious organizations/communities (e.g. some Jewish congregations).
Most smaller religious organizations / congregations don't use the church tax mechanism but instead ask for donations for their financing.
The "big churches" probably use the church tax as their main method for raising their finances (1.) for historical reasons (based on centuries-old traditions / "it has ever been that way, why should we change it now?), (2.) because the about of church tax is probably more calculable and steady than when asking for voluntary donations (and probably also much more than could be expected on average when out were voluntary donations), and (3.) less administrative effort for the church (because with the church tax, the "fundraising" is done by government authorities)
The worst about grocery store is when there a long weekend (3 day weekend) Germans will shop like there's no tommorow😀
Church tax: just deregister on your local district court and you won't pay the tax ever again.
Grocery checkout is something every german is used to. Just put the things back in your cart and pack it somewhere else away from the checkout.
Police: there is in fact a higway patrol (Autobahnpolizei) BUT they are always patrolling with a normal car and in plain clothes. So they are filming you with a camera if you drive too fast or if you are too close behind some other car. If they catch you, they will signal you out to the next stop or exit and then you need to pay.... be also aware that there a lot of temporary speed traps hidden alongside the highway AND there are even permanently installed traps. So if there is a speed limit, you better watch out.
Tv tax is an annoying thing that most germans hate for sure, too. This is a total ripoff and robbery. Yeah, they say you get independent tv and something like that but german tv is like a moloch with dozens of stations and thousands of employees. You don't get good tv but you pay their royals pensions and they even want more, they are never satisfied. The day that tax is gone will be a nationwide holiday....
I'm pretty sure that not necessarily "most" people hate the Rundfunkbeitrag. At least most people I know don't. Sure, it's far from perfect, you could and should debate how that money is distributed and used, and more innovation is desperately needed, but the point is that you shield news organisations from special interest and purely profit-oriented private market forces, as well as allow for culture-oriented contend that isn't necessarily profitable but nonetheless valuable (documentaries come to mind, among others). The goal is a higher degree of independence and neutrality, funded by the entire public together. Granted, that can always be improved and things could and should be more transparent, but those are still valuable qualities that are certainly worth keeping.
Personally, I shudder at the prospect of not having that and having to deal with the hyper-partisan, ultra-sensational shouting contest and poop-flinging that dominates the US media and news landscape (as an example I'm rather familiar with).
There is Police in the Highway, the are in normal Cars that you can not see them
I m German myself but didn't know about about Maiwanderung😂 I only know about Himmelfahrt/ fathers day when guys do that and get drunk 😂
Lol! 😂
Yes, I am German too and at my place it is not the case. Maybe it is a regional thing.
It's definitely a regional thing. Esp, in southern or more rural parts there is a bunch of may and summer festivals, but not here in the large cities (probably excluding Munich, I guess). Here it's just a public holiday and it's more a thing of workers and worker unions celebrating the 'day of work' on their free day. I think it's a myth similar to all Germans drinking beer and wearing Dirndl or leather shorts.
The other things are true though. You can like them or not. For me, for example, getting groceries is a necessity, not something I do for fun (I do other things for fun). So, I also try to get through the cashier as quick as possible and then head for my free time. It's enough if the lady if the lady is professional, she doesn't need to smile at me or do small talk. She knows I just wanna get home quick and I know she is just doing it for the money, no need for fake cuteness - actually I don't like overly artificial friendliness when I'm outside of Germany, because it is just fake. If someone, elderly people for example, are extremely slow I've patience though, since I know I might once become like them. Not all people share this insight, though.
Maiwanderung is a tradition in Bavaria
It used to be that you had to pay the church tax no matter what. You got to decide between Catholic or Protestant, but that was your only choice. As someone who has zero use for any church or religious organization, that really bothered me. The current method is an upgrade that takes into account that fewer and fewer people care about organized religion.
Church tax also for non-members? I haven't heard of that before. Must have been surely more than 40 years ago.
Your channel is amazing Zoie...
Thank you! ☺️
@@ZoieMarie i want to confirm if it is easy to find accommodation kin @Berlin. i am moving in the coming days .... how much can a 2 bedroomed house cost?
When police ask me in checkpoints where I’m coming from I’m always like to hell with that question it’s none of your business 😂 - that’s how you got further checked. However it happens extremely rarely
I swear the whole check out thing stresses me out. I get super anxious and panicky and at the end of it all you feel like everyone noticed you & it just feels embarrassing tbh. Never liked it, never will but used to it now. I opt to put everything back in my cart then pack away from the till.
Of course, there are also patrol cars on Germany's roads. Unusual for Americans are the civilian patrols.
OMG! i didn't know about the TV and Church Tax. I just moved back to the US from Germany and didn't know this. Maybe because I was military affiliated? or maybe because I had all utilities including internet included in my rent? Don't know and the church thing didn't get asked. planning on moving back in a year or two, so great info. Know about the grocery store. It's a contest every time between you and the cashier to see if you can bag all of your groceries by the time they get done scanning. LOL!!! Cutthroat stuff. They play no games...LOL!! Never seen the police stops either.
Me and my wife are driving for like 60 (combined) years through all germany and have never been in such a police check situation. I wish there were such checks... but there arent... really... dont know if the police does still exists in germany.
Why would you want to spend more time then neccessary in a store? Grap your stuff and leave... quickly
1. of mai is "Vatertag" or fathers day. So primarily young male ppl - usually without haveing kids by their own - go out hiking. But more for the reason of drinking, but for the hiking.
This is so interesting!! I wonder if you pay church tax does the church expect you to pay tithes as well or is that more of an American thing??? 🤔
You still pay tithe because the church tax goes to the government and not the church.
@@chipobenkele1362 Not true. The money is collected on behalf of the church; the money does not go to the government.
This "church tax" is the "membership fee" for either the Protestant Lutheran Church or for the Roman Catholic Church.
If you're member of a different Christian church (or any different religious community for that matter), e.g some sort of free church parish, you wouldn't pay "church tax" and how your parish handles paying a tithe or something similar would be up to you and them.
"I hate public transportation" => You become German
I just saw this for the first time. I subscribed, so I will see more. I am curious what part of Germany you are living in. Also how long you have lived here. I have never heard of the Maiwanderung thing. I live in Leipzig. I moved here three years ago, at age 70. So I am an old fart, in a new country. Since I have to pay that damned TV Tax, I investigated. It is to support Public TV Stations. Unlike in the US where they constantly are asking you for donations. There is a lot more to choose from here, though. I still panic at the Supermarkt, LOL. I agree they move way to fast, but it has always been that way. If you ever shopped at Aldi in the US, they are the same way, maybe not quite as fast, but fast. The thing is, most Germans don't buy a ton of stuff like we do. They just buy what they need that day, for the most part. So when they see an American with a full shopping cart, taking forever. They get angry. Like someone else said, just put the stuff back in your cart, and pack it up outside. Regarding the traffic stop, they do that in many parts of the USA, as well.
The police do hide behind the bushes with their speed Camera on random basis to catch you out🤣🤣.
This video was very informative and I hope you will do another video discussing things that are not commonly known about Germany. 🌻
Never heard of 1.Mai Wanderung.
Think thats wrong
Not wrong 😊
No, I did it for many years with my firefighting colleagues in Düsseldorf. We had a Bollerwagen with beer, and would go an a hike for about 5-6 hours, end it in a Restaurant with a Kegelclub and play for the "Maikönig", who would get a nice pile of cash. But from this cash he would have to pay the tour, the beer, the food at the restaurant and so on, so not much would be left for him in the end.
Not me thinking someone made a mistake and gave me free cable 😂
I just moved back from Germany. Didn't have to pay this. I think it's because all of my utilities and internet were included in my rent.
@@marcialillie4109 That is not it. You on your own have to register for it - and if they catch you later on not having done it you have to pay it then. It is not the same as paying your fee for cable.
@@geneviere199 My cable wasn't in my name. All of my utilities were in my landlord's name. Was I still responsible? I'm thinking about moving back, so would like to know.
but if you don’t pay the church tax you have to pay some other tax, i don’t know exactly what but you pay either way
What's the problem with random checks? Besides rasism and this should not be but is definitly a fakt. They are random to cut you of guard and make sure that you don't exploit or cheat. For example drive public transportation without a ticket (of course you need a ticket!).
False. You can see police car on the Highway in germany. I lived in Cottbus in Germany and when I went out to party to Berlin and every weekend they were there. Therefore False. there are indeed police cars on the highways. Even those who work very early in the morning. those who have to hit the road at 06:30 am in the morning. they see the police cars.
Which city you live in Germany ?
I was wondering the same.
You look so classy Zoie 🌹
Thank you 🤎
Ok... Well ...
Marriage: when get married in a christian church, both sides must be members of the church , according to the religious and not to the state law. E.g. In Greece marring in a church demands that both sides are... Greek orthodoxes! So, if I was to be married to a catholic woman, she should firstly be baptised Greek orthodox and then proceeding to the wedding (again religious rule snd not state law. Does not apply for civil marriage in the townhall).
One of the things the non-european foreigners misunderstand for Germany is the Hitler's era:
every symbol,song,sound,name, gesture etc that comes from the 3.Reich (1933-1945) is strictly forbidden by the the german Constitution. That means you are NOT 🚫 suppose to have a swastika as cover on your cell phone, you are not allowed to salute at the same way they did back then and so on.
The police is extremely sensitive to such issues and you will end up at least with a prestigious fine...
Maiwanderung? The 1.of May is the labour day and it is day-off .. worldwide! The fact that in Germany they celebrate it with beers in the forest is one way.. in Berlin there is a "traditional" fight between police forces and left extremists every year in Kreuzberg ( "the cross mountain"...nothing to do with a mountain though, thus berlin is flat!)
The church tax thing is wild!
It is!
Quit the Church... No More Taxes!
Das mit dem Stress beim Einkaufen kenne ich und ich hasse es. Wenn man viel kauft, alleine ist, dann noch einen Pfandbon und eine Kundenkarte hat. 😣
Wenn man zu zweit ist, ist es leichter, einer packt ein, ein anderer kontrolliert und bezahlt...
Vor 20 Jahren war der Platz zum einpacken auch länger, die Sachen wurden über den Scanner gezogen und nach dem Einkauf wurde so ein Teiler rüber geschoben, sodass der nächste Kunde dran genommen werden konnte und der andere IN RUHE einpacken konnte.
Manchmal gibt es auch einen separaten Platz zum einpacken, man soll also alles schnell in den Wagen schmeißen und kann dann woanders einpacken, aber das ist doppelte Arbeit finde ich...
Bei manchen Läden sind sogar die Kassenbänder so kurz, dass man kaum seinen Einkauf drauf bekommt...
Ja klar, Platz ist Geld und man könnte da mehr Waren hinstellen blabla, aber es ist so stressig und ich fühle mich oft so schlecht dabei...
Meine Therapeutin hat mir tatsächlich schon vorgeschlagen es mir als Aufgabe zu setzen LANGSAM UND IN RUHE einzukaufen und mich nicht hetzen zu lassen...
Aber ja, die Atmosphäre ist oft sehr unangenehm und mich stört das auch als Deutsche. 😩
Und die Maigänge... Das gibt es nicht unbedingt in ganz Deutschland. Je nach Region gibt es verschiedene Traditionen, Maigänge, Maiherzen aufhängen, "Versteigerung" von Maibräuten, Tanz in den Mai.
Das hängt viel auch mit der Jahreszeit zusammen. Es wird wieder grüner und wärmer, Frühlingsgefühle und Lebensfreude blühen auf, die Tage werden länger, die Nächte kürzer etc. 😁
6:26 - I’m not down for the racing grocery shopping. …but I guess that’s what happens when they close the damn stores every Sunday.
Also, if people like to pay in cash so much over there, doesn’t that slow the line down?
Between, the staring, the people shoving you without excusing themselves, and the rush at the checkout line, I know I’ll end up punching someone’s teeth in sooner or later.
Germany is definitely not the place for me; Interesting to learn about, but I’m good over here in the States.
As a German, I agree. Stay away.
Man zahlt für den TV keine Steuern. Es sind Gebühren
If public transportation sucks in Germany, what does it in the U.S.? 😂
Church tax, interesting
YOU TALK AMERICAN FAST. TAKE IT EASY
Yes, its correct what Sabrina Schmeing says, thats the idea behind the "Tv tax" is to fund independent journalism but this idea has been demasked a lot in the past. But the other point behind is, that you fund now "independend" pensioneers with a second pension from your money. Most people do not know this. And if you do not pay the "Tv tax" YOU HAVE TO GO INTO PRISON!
Ins Gefängnis?
Erst mal wird gepfändet.
Wenn du nichts hast was gepfändet werden kann...bist du so arm, daß du sowieso keine Gebühren bezahlen musst.
Wen kennst du den,der mal deswegen in den Knast musste?
...oder sende mir einen Link eines Berichts von jemandem der deshalb eingebuchtet wurde.
...und bitte sag nicht Georg Thiel,der hat darum gebettelt!
Yes it is to avoid so biased private paid broadcasting like Trumps Fox Fake News
Everything you mentioned applies to the whole Europe except the church tax and the may thing
Yes in Ireland police stop you regularly at odd times, checking for licence, insurance, road tax, drugs and alcohol use. We also pay for a TV Licence. Cable TV is a rip off in Ireland. Supermarket shopping just put stuff in bag quickly! Usually there is a counter at back of Store where you can sort out you shopping afterwards. Unfortunately time is money.
Despite the economic downturn,I'm so happy. I have been earning $10,000 returns from my $2,000 investment every 8days