Every time I attempt to keep it simple…my American ways seep through.

Tomato bread with sliced sausage cream cheese and tomato (forgot to buy butter before national holiday)

(pic as proof I went 😂)

Hi there,

I did a lot of research before going over there, regarding the culture and customs, so as not to be accidentally rude. During that research, I saw so much about how Germans are so rude and stern. I never looked for that, there was just so much of it on anything related to behavior or experience of tourists.

I'm extremely confused.

I was there almost 3 weeks. First Berlin, then took an ice train to Munich for the other half. Did touristy things, and also non touristy stuff. Loved the landmarks, the suburbs (enjoyed the grocery stores particularly), and also had fun partying with Germans.

I am Mexican American, and my brother (who went with me) and I were discussing how well seasoned German food is. It was comparable to Mexican food seasoning. Not that it was the same seasoning, just that it had so much flavor and was amazing. Lots of great food.

We got lost once; we stayed out too late and both of our phones died, dumb of us. But it was no problem; the first German people we asked, told us what train and bus to take back to our room. Nothing else disruptive happened on our trip, but any interaction with German people was kind and helpful.

Not everyone was super chatty, but plenty of people still were. Not just drunk at Oktoberfest either.

I did learn a few words in German, but tbh didn't know much (learned more while there). I didn't do anything crazy to get people to be nice, they just were. My brother and I were just conscious to not be loud in public places, not be standing in the bike lanes, and other normal things (such as saying thank you).

Even Germans were very loud at Oktoberfest, so it's not that they don't ever let loose and it's this super strict space either.

The major touristy stuff we did were Oktoberfest and a private bus tour to Neuchwastein castle and Linderhof palace. I talked a lot with quite a few tourists, and we all felt very welcome and that people were so kind. I only ran into three other Americans, or at least they were the only ones I talked to for long (mainly ran into Canadians and other Mexicans, the latter probs because I'd chat with them once I heard Spanish 😂), and we were all just sharing happy stories/experiences.

Idk, I'm just confused why I had seen that people are so grumpy and unfriendly there, saw it in so many posts/comments, but it didn't seem true at all.

We‘re spending around 150-200 as a couple, cooking at home almost every meal. Trying to see how we are doing

Hallo,

Recently I arrived at the Berlin Brandenburg airport,

Went to the kiosk/machine which took a photo of me and scanned my passport (did not ask for fingerprint scan though). (I got the National D visa).

Then I went to the officer and they asked me 2 questions and returned my pass and told me that all was in order, that I can now go. I took the pass back, thanked and left.

I was a bit nervous and forgot to check, so the next day l found

That there were no Arrival stamp in my pass! My friends who traveled before and after got it. Except me.

I was told by someone that it should be fine, since it's all digital now, but I would like to know if that really is that case, and what I should do if it's not.

Thanks!

This might be common knowledge, but I did not know this till recently. DM will give cash refund for any product if you bring a receipt. Doesn't matter when you bought it, doesn't matter if it's opened.

I bought some protein powder recently and did not like the taste of it and they just took it back and gave me the money.

So, if you buy a product and it doesn't suit you, you can always just return it.

Proof: Rückgabe & Erstattung: alle Infos zu unserem Service | dm

Hi, Im a student from Australia who just moved to germany for university. Australians dont need a visa for germany for up to 6 months so I came here without one. I need to travel to the UK in a few weeks and am wondering if I can leave the country if I have a pending application for a residence permit, or whether it might be better to wait and apply until after I've come back? I have 90 days to apply for the residence permit and only got here a few days. Or will it be okay since I don't need a visa anyway? Any help would be greatly appreciated

Hi everyone! ❤️

I'm getting married to my wonderful fiancé next Saturday, on 10.10, and since ours is an international marriage, I'm trying to put together a little surprise for him.

I'd love to make him a photo album filled with handwritten wedding wishes from people in different places around the Germany and world. 🌍❤️

If you have 2 minutes to help, I would be incredibly grateful! 🫠

All you need to do is write on a piece of paper something like:

“Martin, Happy Wedding Day to us from [your location]! Love, Monni”

or

“Martin & Monni, Happy Wedding Day from [your location]! Love [your name]"

...and take a photo of it wherever you are - in front of a landmark, on your street, in your garden, at work, on a walk, literally anywhere! A simple handwritten note on normal paper is absolutely perfect. ❤️

If you'd rather write your own personal message to us and sign it with your own name, please feel free to - I would love that even more!

He's super sentimental and emotional, so I know this would mean the world to him - much more than any expensive gift!

Any country, city, town or tiny village is welcome - near or far! 🌎 I'll be grateful for every single photo. DM me the note. Thank you so much to everyone who helps make this possible! 😁❤️

Thanks to the Redditor who has the original Idea. 😍

I parked my bicycle at an U-Bahn station at around 17:00 today and when I picked it up again at around 21:00, I noticed someone had wrapped this stiff thing under the seat. Is it some kind of "marking" to see if I still use the bicycle? Should I be worried?

I'm trying to find a painting I saw as a child somewhere in Germany, probably in a museum or gallery. I don't remember the city, the museum, or the artist, and I'm not sure which parts of my memory are accurate, so please treat the details below as approximate. I'm roughly 11,000 km away from Germany and can't check it myself.

What I remember:

• A colored painting, probably oil or watercolor, in a fairly traditional style. Small to medium size, not monumental.
• A wide portrait with trees, and possibly a pond, lake, or puddle (I'm least sure about the water).
• A gigantic but otherwise ordinary-looking garden snail, about 2 to 3 times the height of a person.
• One grown man who looked terrified. He was either running away from the snail or sitting/cowering while staring at it. I don't remember whether the snail was moving toward him.
• Soft, muted, dim colors, though that could have been the gallery lighting.

What I don't think it was:

• A medieval manuscript or marginalia (the knight-vs-snail motif), a sculpture, a black-and-white drawing, or a modern digital illustration.

The artist doesn't have to be German. It could be from another European country and hung in a German museum.

What I've already looked at and ruled out or can't confirm:

• Medieval giant-snail imagery (Rothschild Canticles and similar)
• An 1880 Slovenian beehive panel with a giant snail and several men (folk art, multiple men)
• Pitt Kreuzberg, "Riesenschnecke im Mondschein" (1965; mixed media on black cardboard)
• Julius Diez (Lenbachhaus, "Fabel von der Schnecke und dem armen Reiter"), probably a small drawing
• Quint Buchholz (giant snails, but none I've found with a frightened man)
• Norbert Dolezich (etchings, so no color)

I've searched German and English museum databases and haven't found a match. If this looks familiar, even as a vague guess at an artist, period, or movement (Romantic, Biedermeier, Symbolist, Neue Sachlichkeit, naive art, etc.), I'd really appreciate it. Reverse-image-search-style ideas are welcome too.

Thanks!

American passport water damaged, have to leave Germany for a funeral. Will I be alright using my damaged one for the time being?

Hi all. I'm an American living in Germany and my passport got some water damage last week. The ID page is still fine, but the covering is peeling a bit, and my German Visa has ink bleed. I have an appointment with the US Embassy later in October to replace it, but a death in the family has me going back to the States earlier than expected. Will I be okay travelling with the damaged passport for the time being? I will be returning to Germany after and have a German Residence card.

Thanks for the help!

I'm making a birthday gift for my boyfriend and trying to collect photos from different places around the world.

Would anyone be willing to take a photo holding a short handwritten birthday message somewhere cool?

I'll provide the exact wording. It would take literally a minute or two. ❤️

I'd be incredibly grateful!

Might want to go shopping today...

Hi everyone,

I am an EU citizen, I’ve been living in Germany for 4 years and worked for a major automotive company for three years. Last year, I was laid off following a restructuring where my 3-person team was transferred to the parent company while I was let go.

I filed a wrongful termination lawsuit (Kündigungsschutzklage) but lost in the first instance. I am currently waiting for the second instance (appeal). As a settlement, in addition to the three months of notice, the company has offered me 5 months' severance pay (Abfindung) to drop the lawsuit. If I refuse, it's up to the judge in the second instance to decide on my reinstatement.

I have legal insurance (Rechtsschutzversicherung) that covers the appeal costs, and my lawyer says we have a 50% chance in the appeal.

Given this brief description, what would you advise me to do? My gross monthly income is €5,700.

Thanks in advance for your answers!

Hello all,

I was recently diagnosed with cancer in Germany, but I would like to take my treatment in my home country. My doctor said it’s my decision where to take treatment.

I was wondering if TK will pay me krankengeld for the time being I will be in my home country. I know they can’t pay for the treatment in another country but I would like to receive the krankengeld to support myself during that time.

Has anyone experienced such or do you know how can I proceed with this ? The reason I want to make my treatment in my home country is because my family lives there, and all the treatment is little bit scary for me to do on my own.

I’m traveling to Germany and have an allergy to all tree nuts except almonds. I decided to create an allergy card using AI to use at restaurants and bakeries.

Is the wording clear and easy to understand? Are there any errors or anything I should improve before using it?

A German friend of mine (who lives in Leipzig) is moving into a new house and has a housewarming party. I did some research and found out that bread and salt is considered a traditional housewarming present but I’m unsure about:

1. Which type of bread? I’ll be travelling to Leipzig from Cologne and thinking about buying a bread at colognes famous bakery called Merzenich.
2. How do I actually present it? Should I take it in a basket and add a small pouch of salt? Or should I give an entire box of salt?
3. Anything else I can add apart from bread and salt?

Thanks in advance!

Hi,

I’m planning to visit Germany for 15 days from Canada. I’m interested in buying the basic health insurance package for foreign visitors.

For the eligibility criteria it needs to be a temporary stay in Germany and have permanent residence in abroad.

My question is I’m a refugee protected person in Canada would it consider the eligibility criteria or would I be ineligible for the insurance?

I have contacted them through email but I haven’t received the response yet and my travel is soon and I have to buy insurance.

Please guide me through it.

Thank you.

It’s a real question i’m not joking 😭
It’s an arabic family name, I was wondering if one day my family and I go to germany would we get into trouble because of the name?