American Reacts: CULTURE SHOCKS in Germany for Americans!

[00:00:00]Hey guys, welcome back to my channel.

[00:00:01]Today I'm going to be reacting to a video called American Culture Shocks in Germany. Felly from Germany. This is from a channel called Phy from Germany.

[00:00:09]So I, you know, there's again American culture. I think it's very different from German culture. So of course there going there's going to be a huge culture shock. So I guess we'll see. So let's check it out and comment, like and subscribe.

[00:00:22]>> They're out. They're all walking.

[00:00:24]They're on their bikes.

[00:00:25]>> Every car I noticed was like a tiny hatchback. First of all, how good the food was. Very few disposable anything.

[00:00:32]>> So many environments have little places for children to play. Much more of a welcoming environment.

[00:00:38]>> We've gone out a lot. We've done restaurants. We've been we've been going to breweries and whatnot.

[00:00:43]>> Do as the locals do.

[00:00:44]>> Way cleaner, smelled better.

[00:00:45]>> I found that to be not entirely the case.

[00:00:48]>> The layers upon layers. It will get hot.

[00:00:51]They're all of a sudden down to like a t-shirt.

[00:00:53]>> Stay out of the bike lanes.

[00:00:55]>> Absolutely. [laughter] That's the number one rule. you're getting run over.

[00:01:00][music] We're currently on our way from H Highbec, Germany to Berlin. And when I say we, I mean 22 Americans who are traveling with Ben and me on our 2024 Germany group trip. For some of them, it's their very first time here in Germany or even in Europe in general.

[00:01:16]And we've now been on the road for a little over a week. So, I want to know which culture shocks or cultural differences they've noticed here in Germany over the last 9 days. So, let's ask. What I thought was huge is just how active the Germans are. They're out.

[00:01:32]They're all walking. They're on their bikes all the time. Their crosswalks are enormous compared to ours because so many people are out and about. Um, and it just >> it's like one of the few things I would assume they're bigger in Germany just because I think in the United States everything's kind of bigger. But I think I mean yes, but roads as in for cars, sidewalks of course are going to be bigger in Germany and in Europe because people actually walk.

[00:01:58]>> It was great.

[00:01:59]>> Awesome. Was it your first time in Germany?

[00:02:02]>> Yes, >> first time. Okay, cool.

[00:02:03]>> Won't be the last.

[00:02:06]>> Well, I think the uh thing that really stands out to me was and we've gone out a lot. We've done restaurants. We've been we've been going to breweries and whatnot. I mean, when in Germany, why not?

[00:02:16]>> Of course. Do as the locals do. is the ability to have conversations with people here in Germany.

[00:02:21]>> In the United States, if you go out, you're usually surrounded by loud music and loud TVs, but in Germany, it's all about conversation and being able to communicate with people, whether it's a smaller group, >> whether it's a larger group. So, that really stood out to me in the best possible way because we've been in a nice group here and we've uh been able to bounce around from person to person, have good conversations. So, yeah. Uh, I think Germany definitely lends itself to experiencing social life in a way where you can really connect with people because you can have conversations with them. Couple things >> it interesting. Although I agree with him, I think there's more and more establishments that are they're doing like the loud music thing. So, he's like, I can't I can't listen to the the people that, you know, I'm going out to eat or having drinks with. However, there are still places in which I think in the in the US that still have it like they have like very chill and music and it's not super loud so you're able to have conversations but it's just increasingly been I think in the last few years where everything's just really loud.

[00:03:20]>> Actually stood out to me um first is um how many people ride bikes just as a as a regular mode of transport. everyone does it and it's really cool to see uh the fact that there are actual bike paths in the city that are intentional that regular people who walk cannot walk in.

[00:03:38]>> Uh it's it's in, you know, for that purpose is really cool.

[00:03:42]>> Uh makes a lot easier. And the second thing is, you know, you hear about German customer service not being as good as American customer service. I found that to be not entirely the case.

[00:03:51]Like everyone I talked to was supremely patient when I was uh asking for, you know, the check or anything else trying to struggle. Maybe it's because he's a tourist and people are like, "We have to be welcome." You know, because I don't think Germans are famous for, "Oh, you know, it's a tourist. We have to cater to them." Who knows?

[00:04:08]>> All through German, they're all really nice and patient with me and they were accommodating if I had a request. I have to say it was it was nice.

[00:04:15]>> Awesome. I'm glad to hear that. And the thing about people not being able to walk in the bike lanes, did you have the experience that like you got yelled at or >> I had to move out of the way a couple times pretty quickly. I didn't get hit, thank goodness. Uh but But I did had to like, you know, take evasive action.

[00:04:32]>> Yeah, that happened. One thing that always travels with me no matter where I go is [music] PIA, private internet access. I turn it on whenever I log into the hotel Wi-Fi or when I [music] want to access a website that's geoblocked here in Germany. Like a lot of American government websites, for example, don't work when I'm here. But with PIA, I can select servers in over 90 different countries, which means that I can [music] access the internet as if I'm in that country. This also means that Ben and I can keep watching shows like Forged and Fire. He got me hooked on that one. Even though it's not usually available on Netflix when we're in Germany. But if I set my PIA location to the US, I like to pick [music] the streaming optimized server, we can watch it anyway. That way, you can access thousands of TV shows and movies that aren't available on streaming platforms in your country, but that are available in other parts of the world. When you set your location to the UK, for example, you can watch classic comedy shows like Friends, [music] The Office, or Mr. Bean adree on Netflix and PIA also encrypts your internet connection and hides your IP address which is why I like to turn it on whenever I log into a public Wi-Fi network. [music] If you want to try PIA too just go to piaavvpn.com/fegery or click the link down below and you'll [music] get four entire months completely for free and after that you'll get 83% off which means it'll only be $2.3 a [music] month. So a pretty good deal if you ask me. check it out down below. And thank you so much to PIA for sponsoring this video.

[00:05:54]>> And Nancy, what's something that stood out to you?

[00:05:56]>> So, there are many things, but two of them mostly was uh I did a lot of observing of children while I was here and really appreciated the way so many environments uh like restaurants and stuff have little places for children to play and to color and it's kind of like much more of a welcoming environment.

[00:06:18]Even in the United States, we can bring our children to >> you'd have to go to a Chuck-E-Cheese environments, but there isn't like this welcoming like we want children to be here.

[00:06:28]>> I work at a college and I teach early childhood classes and I um talk a lot about how we are uh >> I say risk averse like we are so worried about our kids getting scrapes on their knees and on their elbows. uh and the attitude in in Germany and many other European countries is let them be uh that that if you give children the risk they will learn how to take those risks and be safe. So it's just a very different way of either overprotecting them so they don't get hurt or allowing them to learn how to keep themselves safe.

[00:07:04]>> I like that type better.

[00:07:06]>> Yeah, I [laughter] agree. And you filmed the playgrounds here in Germany, right?

[00:07:10]>> Yes. Yeah. Well, Mark did, my husband [laughter] did, but yes.

[00:07:13]>> How are those different from American playgrounds?

[00:07:15]>> Uh, well, for one, there's a lot of wood on the playgrounds, and of course, in America, we're worried about kids getting splinters, so we take the wood off the playground, but they're, you know, the structures are taller and and higher. There are like rope type things that kids can walk in that they could slip their feet through and maybe get hurt, but there are all the appropriate challenges that quite honestly when I was young I had by climbing in trees and doing all of those things out in the real world. The other one that I really noticed is that uh when it comes to disabilities, I noticed how difficult it is to get around.

[00:07:53]>> Absolutely.

[00:07:54]>> Yeah. like like even for myself finding bathrooms that if I was in a wheelchair it would be really difficult.

[00:08:01]>> That's right. That has a lot to do with how historical Europe is of course and how buildings are built more up high with stairs and everything.

[00:08:09]>> Absolutely when I'm in >> That's true. But strangely I would have thought that maybe Germany was a little bit far ahead in this just because I they they feel more advanced to me.

[00:08:18]United States when I went to Washington DC noticed how difficult it's I mean they've made a lot of accommodations there but it it takes a lot when the buildings are older.

[00:08:28]>> There's a lot of catching up to do for sure because again workmanship >> and the facilities and the construction materials really makes a great impression on me. Uh particularly the uh the windows, the doors, uh the plumbing fixtures are all outstanding. They're really really wellb built and >> why because they're just like a better quality like the material what or did the saw >> and they operate perfectly. I think in the United States we try to cut some corners on some of those materials >> but uh not in Germany it's just outstanding and I really appreciate the craftsmanship. I wonder if if it's because in the US people tend to use manufacturers tend to use more plastic and in Europe and in Germany probably they tend to use like steel and better like long better quality materials. Is that it?

[00:09:18]>> Always longlasting materials.

[00:09:19]>> The doors for sure, but I never really paid attention to the fixtures like the quality there.

[00:09:25]>> Yeah, we've seen similar ones in the Netherlands areas and so forth, but I it's just it's just very impressive to see the the craftsmanship and the worksmanship and attention to detail in the different building materials.

[00:09:38]>> Likewise, you know, all of the buildings and so forth, uh, just very, very solid.

[00:09:43]Very good.

[00:09:43]>> First of all, how good the food was. In America, maybe Germany has a a poor reputation for >> No, no. I knew he was going to say this, but no, no, they don't. I think it just depends. I obviously it depends on I don't know what kind of people, you know, or their reputation or whatever, but it's not bad. I disagree wholeheartedly with him because no, it's actually better. It's good. I mean, who doesn't like like again it's good sausages, all the sauces, like no no >> food, but it was actually delicious everywhere. Everywhere we went.

[00:10:15]>> Who are you talking to?

[00:10:16]>> Very tasty. The traditional German food was excellent.

[00:10:19]>> And then also just non-traditional food like uh Italian and um some of the ramen we had was really good. So everything that we ate was fantastic. One thing that did surprise me was in America, we also hear how much uh deference is paid to World War II and and things that took place and how much education is provided to uh the German citizens about everything that took place. Uh so it surprised me when we were at the Nerburgg Trials Museum and a group of German teenagers came in and really were uh kind of loud and kind of noisy and sort of a a sacred space. But I think that's also just kids can be kids, teens can be teens. That's sort of universal throughout the world. So, uh, and I think after the guard reminded them to be quiet, they were they were very respectful after that.

[00:11:06]>> That's interesting. I remember the first time that we went to a concentration camp in 9th grade, everyone's 15, 14 years old, right? And I think it's also almost like a coping mechanism a little bit because everyone knows it's really, really heavy. But also, you're on a school trip, everyone's excited that they don't have to be in the classroom that day. So, it's kind of like a balance act between the two. But I remember we were there in nth grade and we were kind of loud too. But that doesn't mean that it didn't affect us.

[00:11:30]>> I think we everyone kind of tried to play it cool a little bit too.

[00:11:33]>> And because again teens are very awkward. They tend to be very awkward about these things because it's an awkward situation and teens don't really know how to behave and they like she said they don't really know how to cope with like this very heavy and powerful thing that happened and they don't really have you know as an adult I think people handle this kind of things better. But it's kind of crazy like she mentioned they went to a concentration camp I think in ninth grade. Obviously you can do that because again they're in the country that I you know those are the the school trips which I think sounds crazy to me.

[00:12:01]>> Sure.

[00:12:02]>> I noticed how prepared Germans seem to be like the weather obviously changes here so much but the layers upon layers.

[00:12:10]It will get hot. They're all of a sudden down to like a t-shirt. It starts pouring. They have their raincoat ready.

[00:12:17]So, it's just like everything is just a little bit more prepared than I think we think about in the States.

[00:12:22]>> I absolutely agree about that because whenever I go out with Ben, I'll be like, "Yeah, don't you want to bring something to wear later? It's going to get cold. We're going to take the bike."

[00:12:29]And he's like, "No, no, I'll be fine.

[00:12:30]You know, I can wear the same outfit all day long." And I'll bring like a sweater and a raincoat and an umbrella and sunglasses.

[00:12:37]You don't know what the weather is going to do.

[00:12:39]>> We actually have a word for that, too.

[00:12:40]In German, we call it skiibble look.

[00:12:43]Onion look >> because you dress up like an onion with lots of layers.

[00:12:46]>> Lots of layers. There you go.

[00:12:48]>> But to add to that, when we were in H Highleberg last night, it started to rain after our dinner. Uh so I threw my poncho on and as we walked back to the hotel, Shaya was behind me and she was noticing quite a few people laughing at me, chuckling a few points.

[00:13:04]>> Like recognize that your wrist is the one with the poncho that can't handle a little ring. So maybe the ponchos are uh looked as as a little, you know, >> maybe not not so >> No, because they probably have jackets.

[00:13:15]They have parkas >> stylish. Not so stylish. And it definitely was not stylish.

[00:13:19]>> A lot of Germans have very expensive functional wear. You know that the correct raincoats. So you're saying they don't wear a garbage bag when they're walking.

[00:13:27]>> Exactly.

[00:13:28]>> A couple things I noticed at first, honestly. Um you know, being tourists as we are, we went to a lot of tourist destinations.

[00:13:34]>> Correct. But I was actually surprised to see that a lot of the prices for souvenirs or just things that you need in day-to-day life, umbrellas, as we need it many times on this trip, >> typical German weather.

[00:13:45]>> Um, but the prices were actually very reasonable, even where, you know, normally as an American, those tourist destinations, I would expect them to be highly elevated, >> inflated pricings. Um, but I was very surprised to see that everything was very affordably priced. And then when we went to the grocery store this morning again, I was expecting to pay 20 $25 and what I bought was about $9.

[00:14:06]>> Yep.

[00:14:07]>> I thought that was really cool.

[00:14:09]>> Wow.

[00:14:10]>> Well, actually on that topic, Ben behind the camera gets a snow globe everywhere he goes. And I think the most expensive snow globe was when we went to Asheville in the US at Buildmore. And your snow globe was what, like 50 bucks?

[00:14:21]>> $50. How much do you pay here in Germany?

[00:14:25]>> $9 or €9 in this case. Yeah. Crazy, right? And this is this may be a New York thing. I'm not sure or not. Um we were in Nuremberg. We were walking down the street one day and I was um looking at all the different cars. They have a lot of different models here that we don't have in the United States.

[00:14:38]>> But every car I noticed was like a tiny hatchback, >> which we don't have many of. I'm, you know, I'm from the South Alabama and what you're going to see there are large pickup trucks, SUVs, um large Suburbans, you know, large cars. Um, but everything I saw, I was like, "Hatchback, hatchback, hatchback." And I thought that was very >> That's not even very [clears throat] true. I think that is a European thing.

[00:15:02]>> Yeah. I was I couldn't believe it. I was like And again, a lot of models I'm not used to.

[00:15:06]>> And then the last thing I really noticed, honestly, was it was a little difficult to find drip coffee >> or filtered coffee. Yeah. Filtered coffee. Um, I would go in and be like, "Hey, do you just have black coffee?"

[00:15:19]No. Do you know a cappuccino? Or I was like, it's all been it's been great.

[00:15:24]Wonderful experience.

[00:15:26]>> Okay. I wonder what's up with the drip coffee. How come they don't sell drip coffee?

[00:15:30]>> Yeah. And Yeah. And then just like Joshua said, stay out of the bike lanes.

[00:15:34][laughter] >> Wonderful.

[00:15:35]>> What stood out to me the most was the quality of the food. It was fresh food wherever you went. It didn't matter if you were in a restaurant or if you were at the local store that would be equivalent to CVS. There was fresh fresh food and it >> I'm going to be so for real and without offending anyone, but it's just Yes. In the US, a lot of the food just tastes like plastic. I'm going to put it out there.

[00:15:58]>> Everything was available, cheeses, meats, and fruits and vegetables. And the quality was fantastic.

[00:16:03]>> And quality beer, too. I just thought that the the taste and how pure and clean it was. The beer was really good.

[00:16:10]>> Do you have a favorite beer?

[00:16:12]>> Um, of all the beers. So, we went to Rothenberg and knew some friends of friends there. Um, and so they had Torm House, which I guess was just a little tiny thing in Roenberg. That was my favorite.

[00:16:25]>> And the transportation, being able to get around by train and, um, being able to travel and go here and there. And the amount of people that were biking and just the conversation in the streets, you'd see people conversing casually and just having a great time. So, yeah, it was a great experience.

[00:16:42]>> I don't think Cincinnati has a lot of that transportation. just because of the amount of hills makes it really hard for people to bike and get around and that kind of stuff. But you know how many times we had to stop loading the bus today going by? Absolutely. uh the fact that they don't have very few disposable anything like no no disposable forks and disposable you know plates >> that has to do with sustainability and I think of course you're going to be better ahead than in the US but I think everything's disposable >> kind of stuff and I mean at one time growing up they had all bottles had deposits on them and they've gone back to that like Michigan still does that you know but you know since it's just easier for people to just throw stuff away so the the use and not throwing everything away was really >> striking. That was a big difference.

[00:17:30]>> That's a really good point. Yeah, >> there certainly wasn't much culture shock >> cuz I was born here and I grew up here.

[00:17:37]So, >> I think the hat gives it away, [laughter] too.

[00:17:40]>> So, I got to see the small town where I grew up before we met and then by coincidence we drove through the c town where I was born on the way to H Highleberg. Um, but the two things that struck me the most, one of them pretty trivial in Bavaria and somewhat invited, I noticed that the crops were corn.

[00:17:59]There weren't [clears throat] a lot of corn crops.

[00:18:00]>> Yeah. Okay.

[00:18:01]>> That wasn't a thing when I when I was growing up.

[00:18:05]>> Interesting.

[00:18:05]>> Oh, really? And the second thing, even though I knew it abstractly before I came here, seeing how active outdoors, >> Germans in particular, but Europeans in general are, >> it's further >> that that really struck me is is when the weather was nice and especially on a weekend, everybody was out bicycle, they're hiking, they're riding their bikes. Okay, Scott, I know that you were on my last Germany trip, too, so it's not your first time in this country, but what's something that stood out to you, whether it was last time or this time here in Germany? Uh, >> I like the trams and the trains in the cities. You can get around very easily, very very inexpensively, and I like the old architecture in the old cities. We just don't have anything like that in in the US.

[00:18:50]>> Mhm. Once I recovered from like the jet lag, >> um just walking down the street, how there's just a lot more people out walking. I noticed there was a lot more like fruit stands and that sort of thing out and about.

[00:19:01]>> Of course, it's summer time.

[00:19:02]>> Cleaner.

[00:19:04]>> Yeah, he's from Washington. I Yeah, unless I think if you're Well, here's Washington State, but I think some sometimes it depends on the city. I think there are big cities but you have like a farmers market and you have all the kiosk stands that they sell like produce but I think that's only like in New York and it's just like when it's market >> oh better yeah I think that probably the first things initially that I noticed >> in Germany I I would believe a lot of cities have this sort of you know every single day or several times a week >> even though >> and it's everywhere a rule follower and I kind of like how people here follow rules sometimes they do so to a ridiculous degree [laughter] >> like standing at a a red light for >> until it turns green, which could be a while.

[00:19:45]>> Yeah.

[00:19:46]>> Even if no cars are coming for a long, long ways.

[00:19:48]>> Yeah. But you're getting fine.

[00:19:50]>> They get angry at you if you break the rules. And they really want you to know that they're angry about it.

[00:19:54]>> Did you have that experience?

[00:19:56]>> Yes. Someone honked at me when I accidentally crossed when the light for bicycles had turned red.

[00:20:02]>> Wow.

[00:20:02]>> Just like a second before. And he [laughter] was like, "No, no, no. You follow the rules."

[00:20:06]>> Oh my god. But but the first time I was here, I think the biggest surprise to me is that people can um carry beers around everywhere >> and um >> oh my gosh, it's like 4:00 in the afternoon. Everyone has a beer in their hand and they're getting on the train and they're hanging out and making seem more like a social time than just get home, get home.

[00:20:27]>> True. I feel like we also saw that a lot on this trip cuz it's July, summer break is about to start for Bayenburg and a lot of the days were very nice weather.

[00:20:35]I mean, we had a little bit of rain, too, but we saw a lot of nice evenings or in Munich also where people were just hanging out at the public squares with a beer or, you know, at the side of the river and just enjoying themselves.

[00:20:47]>> Yes. Yes. So, being outside seems to be more of a priority.

[00:20:51]>> I know this wasn't your first time in Germany. You've been all around.

[00:20:54]>> Yes. No, this is our third time in Germany. So, I was thinking about what is a new culture shock to me here. And one small one was burnt broad.

[00:21:06]>> One of the dads about him quite a lot.

[00:21:08]>> It was like a weird a demented. Let's I'm going to rewind it. Let's see.

[00:21:12]>> Burnt us broad.

[00:21:13]>> Yeah.

[00:21:14]>> Okay. It reminds me of like a pop-tart, but like a weird burn pop-tart that went through the river.

[00:21:20]>> We talked about him quite a lot on this.

[00:21:22]>> Yeah. Yeah. The other one to me was we talked about a little bit the at like children's playgrounds.

[00:21:27]>> Oh, okay. So, no, we're just going to move on. no explanation whatsoever.

[00:21:31]Okay.

[00:21:32]>> So that that measured risk, >> that kind of slight danger that's in built into them and everything and that I found that kind of fascinating.

[00:21:40]>> And do you remember what your first culture shocks were when you came to Germany or to Europe for the first time?

[00:21:45]>> This is uh really stereotypical, but I would say it was the service.

[00:21:50]>> Okay. Yeah.

[00:21:50]>> Yeah.

[00:21:51]>> I I could see that.

[00:21:52]>> Yeah.

[00:21:53]>> Even how you have to twist their arm to even bring you the bill.

[00:21:56]>> Yeah. You're like, "Please let me pay.

[00:21:58]Please come back. We have much to do still.

[00:22:00]>> Also has a really cool Instagram page.

[00:22:03]He makes custom bikes. So you can check him out on Instagram at Alchemist Custom Bicycles. I'm going to put it right here. Have you ever been to Germany? If so, what was the thing that stood out to you the most? Let me know in the comments below. And the same question also goes out to people that have visited the US before. What was a cultural difference that you noticed when you were there? I hope you guys enjoyed hanging out with us here on our bus on the way to Berlin. We're almost there [music] now. I think two more hours and we're all very excited for our last stop of the tour. Thank you to everyone in the group that was willing to share their experiences with me.

[00:22:31]There were also a few people who didn't want to be on camera, but that's totally fine. They're still very much loved.

[00:22:36]Thank you guys so much for watching.

[00:22:37]Don't forget to subscribe to my channel, and I hope I'll [music] see you next time. Cheers.

[00:22:42]Yeah, this it was this was [gasps] it was a very funny video. I think it's you know the one where [laughter] the guy was like, "Hey, there's two guys. I think there's there's a bit of a controver controversial opinion because the one of the guys was like, "Oh, actually customer service is not as bad as I've heard." Which, you know, good for him. Probably he got like one of the good ones. But then the other guy was like, "No, the the the bad sort of service it's really is a thing if you're used to like this very I don't think it's, you know, I said bad, but I don't think it's bad like in the in in reality is that the reality is not that it's outright bad. It's just different and of of course if you're used to this other kind of service as you know in the US for everything like all the waiters or everyone's constantly sort of you know on your table and they're constantly asking you hey like did you enjoy this did you can you know do you want something you know do you want extra do you want something more how's your meal are you enjoying this it's a like a very it's a service that's constantly like on top of things and on top of you which some people may like some people may do not do not like this because you're trying to I'm trying to eat and have a conversation and you know you're constantly sort of coming to me you know you're constantly interrupting and I know but it's just it's a difference in again in culture it's not necessarily they're their their meaning you know they're meaning the wrong thing or whatever no of course not and in Germany and in Europe it's the opposite people will just let you be and you are again if you're not used to this you're kind of linking oh my god I I'm feeling abandoned I'm feeling stranded here you know if you feel as you know even you know asking for the bill it's like oh my god I'm being kidnapped here. [laughter] How for how much longer do I have to stay here? I have places to go. Please like, let me pay. So again, it's just a difference in culture and it's not necessarily one's good or better than the other. It's just a matter of preference. I think it also matters a lot like what what are your plans because I think and but but this is also I think of a cultural thing because in the US I think some people most people let's say well again some there are some sometimes it's not this this is not the case but I think sometimes a lot of the times you feel you know you have very a very short amount of window to eat so you're like oh I have to like eat eat quickly and then I have to like leave because I have other things to do so it's like please you know service has to eat fast has to be really on top of things and then you know can I ask you no I don't want anything please do bill that's it that in Europe I think people tend to be a little bit more chill and they tend to be more hey if I go out to eat then I'm going to this is like a leisurely meal a leisurely pace I want to enjoy my conversation with the people that I'm having a meal with I want to enjoy my food it's just very oh yeah sure bring this bring the other thing and that's why I think you have like you have a glass of wine and that again not always because again I'm not saying, "Oh, if Europeans are not busy," and I think usually that's how it goes. You know, you ask for, you know, you have a a glass of wine, you share a bottle of wine, you ask for an appetizer, then oh, you know, do you you order something for the table, then, you know, you maybe have dessert, you have coffee, then you have like an app, like there's just so many things. It's just like a nice meal, you know, with with especially I think if you're out to eat like during the summer, it's nice or you're going out with, you know, friends, family. So it's just like a matter of enjoying yourself and it's not as if you know I have to go eat really quickly because I have I have places to go. So that I think it's a cultural shock in and out of itself.

[00:26:11]Although of course it depends. I'm not.

[00:26:12]You know sometimes you're no this isn't the kind of meal of like oh I'm enjoying myself and bring an appetizer and bring this. Now sometimes you're just like no I really need to eat very quickly because I have to like I have to [laughter] be somewhere. So, but again, maybe it's about go to another go to a go to like a fast food restaurant or something, you know, a fast food chain, but you know, whatever. I understand.

[00:26:32]It's not one that is better than the other. It's just, you know, differences because it's it's just it's just a difference. It's not it doesn't really mean that one's better than than the other. The other I that was very interesting was like the craftsmanship thing that that one of the people was mentioning. I because you can also tell by the other I think it can relate to the the other woman that was saying oh like how children parks like work because I've never noticed this but it's true again in the US it's just only it's plastic obviously everything's made out of plastic and all I think all the things you know all like the fixtures and all obviously the construction everything's like made out of like a flywall like everything's very it doesn't look sturdy everything looks easily to like you can just I don't know hit it very hard and you like break a hole in your in the wall of course like in Europe because they use different construction methods and I think different manufacturing methods not just for like the houses and buildings also for things like he mentioned it's oh yeah I think there things are made to last which I hadn't really [clears throat] I don't know I hadn't thought of this but I think that's that's really yes it's a it's a big difference because I you know like he said oh even like the the doors and all of that everything is probably made out of metal steel like it's a very sturdy door Everything's made to last.

[00:27:47]Everything looks like very better better quality, like better construction materials. Like probably the design is a little bit better. And it's like, oh yeah, you know, I hadn't thought of this, but I think a lot of And again, that also relates to one of the other people was mentioning how disposable things are in the US, which yes, because everything's made to like not last a really long time. So again, all the construction, everything, which mean things that you may see, but you can reuse this. It's not necessarily that that in the US that's not the case. It's not you just like throw it out and you get a new one and that's there's not like that mentality of like let's reuse this, let's repurpose this or maybe this should last you know a lifetime which I think in Germany things are are the opposite. No, it's more about like I don't know that that's not really Yeah, it's like sustainability like how can we use this, you know, in a better in a better way. How can this last us, you know, a lifetime? Maybe not a lifetime, but this could probably last us, you know, 30 years, 40 years, like things are built to last because that's how they should. And instead of having so many disposable things as well, they're also thinking, you know, the mentalities, how can we reuse this? How can we repurpose this or can this be recycled? Can this be reused? And I think that's just again that's a very different mentality that I assume yes of course that's a huge culture shock but it just goes to show how the little things I said oh yeah you know like you know the the I don't know the the the the the door like the door is just like the most random thing ever like that can show you like how different a culture is from the from another and it's yes because if you really boil down to it and you really start you know you get to the bottom of this that's the reason yes you know some some cultures want things to last because they're into like more I don't know sustainability and just their mentality is just a little bit different as saying again things are meant to last and in the other like everything's disposable and it doesn't really matter that's not that sturdy or that is just made out of plastic who cares you know bad quality or like a cheaper quality because you can get you can just get a new a new one that's it. So yes, it's just oh yeah that's a different that's a huge like cultural thing that again you can get in you know you can actually realize this through something as silly and as unconsequential as a door or like a door note which I find very very interesting. But that was it for today and I'll see you next time. Bye.