Everyday Germany

Everyday Germany

By Shaun + NinaSociety & CulturePersonal JournalsPlaces & Travel
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Everyday Germany episodes

  • Using "servus" as a greeting // Germans and boardgames
    Inspired by the passing of Klaus Teuber, creator of Catan, Shaun and Nina discuss boardgames in German culture. They also look at the top boardgames in Germany.

    Shaun also tries to establish when it's appropriate to use the Bavarian greeting, "Servus".


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    Music + Artwork by Adrian Bran
    29 min
  • Common things Germans say and do, and what they mean
    The original show notes from The Germany Experience:

    The Germans have certain words, sayings, and gestures that they do very often, often without even thinking about it. And some of these things can be very confusing to people new in Germany. For example:  you'll often hear "Oh je" or "So!" in a conversation.

    Nina tries to explain some of these mannerisms to help us understand what they mean.

    Watch this interview on YouTube to see all the gestures.

    The German podcast that Nina and I had: Listen to the show 

    We discuss:
    • Pech gehabt/selber Schuld
    • Oh je!
    • Tja!
    • So!
    • Na?
    • Two different "Hmmm" sounds
    • Boah!
    • Drücken die Daumen and "Toi toi toi!"
    • The windshield wiper gesture ("Bist du bescheuert?")
    • Rubbing fingers together
    • Pulling on the eye 
    • Jein
    • Knocking on the table to applaud


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    Contact us: [email protected]
    Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Everyday Germany on YouTube
    Music + Artwork by Adrian Bran
    40 min
  • Germany kind of declares the pandemic over // Germans eat less meat // 4 day work week
    Some notes from our discussion: 
    • Lauterbach kind of declares COVID over: So endet die Pandemie
    • Germans are eating less meat: Die Deutschen essen weniger Fleisch (sagen sie zumindest)
    • The 49€ rail ticket is going to be popular: Jeder Fünfte könnte das Deutschlandticket nutzen
    • Four day work week: German metalworkers' union IGM pushes 4-day work week


    SEND US MESSAGES OR FEEDBACK!
    Contact us: [email protected]
    Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Everyday Germany on YouTube
    Music + Artwork by Adrian Bran
    30 min
  • Der Struwwelpeter and other horrifying children's stories
    This episode was originally released in October 2021 on The Germany Experience podcast.

    After watching the Calvin & Habs duo do a reenactment of a German children's story called "Paulinchen", Shaun decided to buy the collection of stories it appears in. It's called Der Struwwelpeter, named after one of the characters.

    Written in 1845 by Heinrich Hoffman, the book contains a set of cautionary tales for children. Sometimes horrific, sometimes bizarre, and always entertaining, the book offers a great view into German culture of the time, including parenting insights and the view on racism.


    SEND US MESSAGES OR FEEDBACK!
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    Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Everyday Germany on YouTube
    Music + Artwork by Adrian Bran
    28 min
  • German youths are in debt // German bureaucracy
    German youth are in (minor) debt, according to a news report. A man accidentally handed over his weed instead of his driver's license. And Shaun rants about his recent run-in with the foreigner's office in his area.

    And for all the potato content you could want: Kartoffel Kanal on Instagram


    SEND US MESSAGES OR FEEDBACK!
    Contact us: [email protected]
    Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Everyday Germany on YouTube
    Music + Artwork by Adrian Bran
    37 min
  • Germans love breakfast, and spring traditions in Germany
    Shaun and Nina discuss German spring traditions, including the Germans' bizarre obsession with asparagus. 

    Some notes from our chat: 
    • The article Shaun found: Breakfast is the Germans’ favourite meal of the day
    • The Mahlzeit video Nina referenced: At least it's not "moin"


    SEND US MESSAGES OR FEEDBACK!
    Contact us: [email protected]
    Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Everyday Germany on YouTube
    Music + Artwork by Adrian Bran
    39 min
  • Sustainable consumerism in Germany
    Shaun found a study that showed that Germany lags behind other countries in sustainable consumerism, and Shaun and Nina discuss their observations on the topic.

    The article: Deutsche kaufen weniger nachhaltig ein als andere Nationen

    From now on, new episodes of Everyday Germany will come out on Fridays.


    SEND US MESSAGES OR FEEDBACK!
    Contact us: [email protected]
    Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Everyday Germany on YouTube
    Music + Artwork by Adrian Bran
    20 min
  • Safety for women in Germany
    Trigger warning: In this episode, we discuss sexual assault, which could be emotionally challenging for some. 

    The telephone service who will talk to you on your way home: Heimwegtelefon

    The episode of The Germany Experience that we referenced: Language barrier problems, and overcoming the challenges involved with reporting sexual assault


    SEND US MESSAGES OR FEEDBACK!
    Contact us: [email protected]
    Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Everyday Germany on YouTube
    Music + Artwork by Adrian Bran
    32 min

About Everyday Germany

From the publisher's feed

Nina is a German, living in Germany. Shaun is originally from South Africa, living in Germany. Together they compare notes about their perspectives of life in Germany.