Get a 7-day free trial and 25% off Blinkist Annual Premium by clicking here: bit.ly/FelifromGermanyDecember23 👉Thanks so much to Steffi for sharing your thoughts and impressions with us! 😊Click here to watch them try Cincinnati Foods ▸ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-xdUavDfB1kk.html (Both videos were recorded in May 2023!)
I hope you didn't make them suffer through that abomination that they call chili in Cincinnati, lol. It's pretty durn hard to mess up chili that bad, but they managed it in spades.
Feli's American English accent has been on-point for years now but hearing it concurrently with others that have a stronger foreign accent really makes you realize just how impressive Feli's accent is.
@@michaelrmurphy2734 I don't know her personally but I doubt it. English will probably be intrusive as to how she speaks/thinks in German though. I had this problem when I lived in Japan. I certainly didn't lose my English fluency but it did rewire some stuff in my brain and screw up my English at times.
Oh, wow! So how fluent are you in Japanese? Canada is an "officially bilingual" country, so I can get some French. But what I do is translate in my head from French to English. Which slows down my "processing speed". I can understand somewhat but can't converse. After awhile it becomes too mentally taxing and I just have to withdraw. I admire people who learn a second language as an adult. Germans like Feli learn English from an early age in school. Aside from French, your average Canadian doesn't usually have a second language. And after French, the third languages here can be Arabic, Mandarin, Hindi and Tagalog. In a multicultural country like mine.
I listen to Jpop. And you know what? I can NOT learn Japanese now! If I did, it would take all the charm out of Jpop! Who cares what they are singing?! It could be "gaijin are scum, gaijin are scum" for all I care! ;)
This video shows clearly that Feli is picking up Midwest American habits and pronunciatons of English. When she speaks, you can tell she's not a native, but when her brother and his girlfriend speak they have so much more of an alien accent.
@@BanjoSick I usta speak Bavarisha Deutch. Never understood high German. But I was there for only 18 months. In the late 60s. I do miss the Haufbrau House and the Mathaser. Real bier.
So many German immigrants settled in Ohio. We're all connected. Growing up, and till today, my family has so many recipes and traditions that are German and my family came here from Germany in the 1770's. Amazing how we still honor that heritage through food and tradition
In my home town, we are the Swedes. The Gothenburg Swedes. I'm Swedish, English, and Bohemian. Bo Hunk, lol. Grandma was full blooded Swede, still had the accent.
Feli, I have to salute your absolute mastery of the English language. I am a retired college professor who taught foreign languages, and I have many foreign friends. I am always shocked that people who have lived in this country for 20 years or more can barely put together a sentence in English, and even then they might not be understood. Others got to a certain stage of English, and since that seemed to work for them, that's where they stayed. I have been subscribed to your channel since you began, and your English was already very good, but now it's perfect, in both fluency and pronunciation.
I dated a Slovak whose fifth language was English. She spoke it better than most native people from the states. Some people are just wired differently. 😊
Of course living 20 years in any foreign country without learning the local language is proof of laziness. However, US citizens speak hardly foreign languages at all. I live in Europe and most American tourists only speak English (and think they can pay in US dollars). That's ignorant. I speak 5 languages fluently, get by in a sixth and master basics of a seventh language. That's not unusual among European academics, I don't think that I am especially skilled. The majority of American professors I have met (and there are tens of them) only speak English so even on the highest level of education the language skills can be poor. Probably that reflects American exceptionalism. Most Europeans think that the majority of Americans are ignorant - and I think for a good reason.
@@pekkaahonen5955 There's no reason to learn another language as an American. America is its own economy. It's enormous. And English is the most spoken language, anyway. Of course Europeans know several different languages. Going from one country to another in Europe is like driving to a different state in America. If different languages were spoken in our states, with people moving between the states, I'm sure many Americans would speak several languages, too. Many Americans are ignorant, yes, but not speaking more than one language is more of a practical decision than anything - it's simply not needed.
@@pekkaahonen5955 I didn't make your point. There is no LOGICAL reason to learn another language as an American. America is the world's largest economy. Few people ever leave - salaries are abysmal in Europe. If there were actually opportunity & high salaries in Europe, you would see American's making an effort to learn another language, but as it stands Europe is a great place for one type of person - someone who wants to live a comfortable, average life. No one is going to dedicate 1000+ plus hours to learn a new language when there is literally 0 upside to doing so.
I have visited Germany many times mostly for business but on several vacations as well. I found the people to be friendly and I was amazed how many Germans speak English with many I would though they were British and I met several who I would have believed they were American. The food was different, but I liked it all. I never did get used to the price of gas or buying it by the liter. My favorite places were Stuttgart, Nuremberg, Amberg, and Heidelberg. Germany is very scenic. Amberg looked like it hadn't changed since the Medieval times. Wonderful people. Heidelberg was quaint with lots of out door dinning and lots of people. I was surprised to see several palm trees there because it seemed to be too far north, but there they were. I did visit a small town called Moosburg (not far from Munich) for sentimental reasons. My dad was a B-17 pilot during the War and was shot down over Holtland on July 26, 1943 by Senior Lieutenant Decker flying a FW-190. Five of my dad's crew were killed and five, including my dad, bailed out and were captured. My dad told me that when he landed on the ground, angry farmers with farm tools wanted to kill him, but a German patrol looking for the downed crew actually saved his life. Decker was shot down and killed on July 30, 1943 by an unknown American P-47 pilot. Such are the whims of war. The Germans kept very detailed records. The Americans not so much. My dad was in Stalag Luft III until January 1945 when the entire POW camp was moved to Stalag VIIA outside of Moosburg where he remained until liberated by the advanced forces of Patton's Third Army in April 1945. So I was visiting Moosburg to see if I could find where Stalag VIIA had been. I found the old train station and the camp wasn't too far from there but it wasn't obvious where the camp had been. I went in to a local bar and asked if anyone spoke English. To my surprise and old man with gray hair spoke enough to understand that I wanted to know where Stalag VIIA had been and he took me to where the front gate to the camp had been. I had a map of the camp from 1945 that showed where the different nationalities had been kept. There were Russian, French, British, and American sectors. There were enough streets and other landmarks remaining that I could identify where the Americans had been kept. It was a housing area so I only knew the general area. I paid my respects to my dad and imagined where in that area he had been. It was February and bitter cold that day and I knew the camp was very over crowded and there were not enough barracks to house them all and so many lived and slept in the cold. I can't image it. There was one other city I visited for a few days: Frankfurt. I happed to be there during Octoberfest and very much enjoyed the street vendors selling sausages and beer. Later that night I walked across the bridge to what was called "Old Frankfurt" because the Frankfurt in which I enjoyed Octoberfest looked like it had been built in the 1950's and 60's and I wondered what Old Frankfurt was like. I ended up in what I would describe as a small rustic beer garden where everyone was celebrating the Apple Wine Festival and so I enjoyed a couple glasses of Apple Wine. There was no evidence of Octoberfest that I could see in Old Frankfurt. It was an odd experience for me. And one thing I really enjoyed was the fact there seemed to bakeries and coffee shops along almost every street. I liked everything about Germany and I would like to return but I'm now 77 and age is becoming an issue with regards to travelling long distances. Get your adventures and fun done while you are young and healthy.
I also agree, terrific story about your father. I was stationed in Germany in the '70's and no one spoke English. I go there often for vacation now and am amazed how many speak English.
I think a lot of the accent comes from the teacher. I know I met a Russian a while back that sounded like he was from NYC but he basically learned English watching American TV shows so guess that is where he picked up the accent. I am sure there has to be American or British teachers across Europe. Just like here when I took Spanish classes most the teachers were from either Spain or Puerto Rico.
Feli seems SO American in this video! She said the “merch” ball! I like that she’s based in Cincinnati, because it’s probably our most “Germanic” metropolis next to maybe Milwaukee
I spent a little time in Germany some years ago and I really enjoyed it. What really struck me was the fact that other than local customs, people around the world are pretty much the same. I loved discovering that.
When our friend from Germany visited us in rural Kansas, we asked if he wanted to go clay target shooting. He couldn't believe that we could just do that whenever we wanted and he had such a fun time.
It's called FREEDOM,we need to protect.We are the only country on Earth to be able to do, that's why it's the GREATEST COUNTRY ON EARTH! When you see a person with an "open carry" you should feel safe,not scared...! Just remember the 3 American friends visiting Germany who stopped a massacre by a terrorist on a train...! The rest of the Germans on the train"were scared", and ready to die "heroically". That's what the "new German" generation is,ready to be controlled. It's sad!
@@ottogaher2805 Two American soldiers (!) their American friend, a French and British guy stopped a terrorist attack on a train in France back in 2015. Was that the incident you're referring to? And if you Americans are all so heroic as you seem to infer how come you cannot stop all those many many shootings in your GREATEST COUNTRY ON EARTH. Because according to you an American wouldn't try to hide but courageously attack the gunman and take him down. But it seems in most cases you just do as the rest of us and call the police.
@@knieperkohlunfortunately some criminals understand the laws and often decide to stage their attacks in areas where gun laws are more strict, giving the criminals an advantage.
@@knieperkohl The law abiding citizens prefer to defend themselves from thugs,because by the time the police shows up it might be too late.A recent case in Houston church with around 15.000 people,where a transgender entered the church with a little kid,armed with an AR 15(hidden under her/his coat),and pistol in the back bag trying to massacre many,and luckily there were 2 armed undercover police officers,who took him/her out.Unfortunatly the little innocent kid died also.Years ago,when you could find a gun in every corner of a house ,because that was the way of living of the law abiding Americans,but there were no shootings,and killings.It has changed mainly by the people that came here.They think guns are for killing others.Yiu can take away the guns only from law abiding people, not the criminals,and you end up with more people killed.Hiw many people got killed in Russia recently? I am sure they called the"police" like you suggested...!? How many people got killed in Paris,when the terrorist drove the dump truck into the crowed...? That was done also by someone who should've not ever enter France...!
He would probably poop his pants to see a flame thrower mounted on an AR, or a grenade launcher mounted on an AR. All perfectly legal, by the way? He would have a grin that he could never wipe off? lol. He would, rightfully so, think that we are the GREATEST COUNTRY in the world?
When she was talking about bears and nothing being all that dangerous in Germany, I am reminded of my frequent encounter with boars while we were in the field in Germany when I was in the US Army.They used to chase us up onto our vehicles to get away from them! LOL.
@@FelifromGermanyBoars are _far_ more scary and dangerous than bears. A bear will most likely not want anything to do with you, unless it's a mama bear and she thinks you might be messing with her cubs, but boars are made of muscle, spite, and tusks. Boar spears have these lugs behind the spearhead because otherwise they will work their way down the shaft to make sure they take you with them. I don't fear much in the way of wildlife here, I just give it a healthy distance and try to avoid looking like a danger. Boars, on the other hand, will murder you just because they're pissed off that you exist.
We have Bears and Wolfs specially in Northern Spain, Scandinavia, the Balkan and Carpatian regions haha be aware there as well. Boars and Stags are also quite frequent all over Europe.
I remember going to relieve a guy on guard duty, and he was up a tree. Claimed a boar chased him up the tree. 😂. I had boars run around me several times in Graf and Hohenfels, but never had any problems with them.
I am an old woman and we used to walk to schools, stores, etc...Yes sometime the walks were an hour long. American stopped doing that in the early 80's. It was a pleasure watching this video and how much you all enjoy each other. Thank you for sharing and I have subscribed and will continue to watch your videos.
When I was stationed in Germany me and my boys went on several Folks Marches. I still have little ribbons and trophies from that. It is a cool tradition. I wonder if they still do that.
Feli, you are *SO* perceptive!! Thank you so much for pointing out the often-missed aspect of American poverty: many of them own their own homes, or live with relatives who do, so it's much easier to SEE the poverty here; as opposed to many European countries (and especially their cities), where people living in poverty often dwell in apartments. (Of course, there is practically no such thing as "suburbia" in most of Europe, so it's pretty understandable.)
so interesting! also, not only is their english really good, they use a lot of colloquialisms that a lot non native speakers dont get right. And they are quite expressive! i hope we get to see them again!
Almost every German tourist that I have ever met are so dang cute. They have a sense of innocence about them that perhaps we lack. They always seem to be happy too. Never met a German that I did not like.
You're speaking American English like a true native now. You should be proud of what you've achieved in a relatively short space of time. Also, Steffi is such a lovely, sweet girl. She brings a lot to the channel and Timo is a VERY lucky guy.
The free tap water experience made me laugh because that was my biggest culture shock in reverse. As an American in Germany, I asked for a glass of water with my meal at a restaurant and was given a bottle of sparkling water. It cost as much or more than the soda my mom ordered, and I had never had unflavored carbonated water before (I didn't like it). I just wanted plain old water. LOL!
When I was in Bavaria 30 or so years ago, I remember noticing that there were a lot of green spaces within cities. I'm a country boy, so at the time I didn't really make a note of that in my brain. After watching this video, I can understand and respect the planning that the government did to make those spaces available.
First time I visited Bavaria, it was winter, with at least some snow daily, rain, and cold. As Im driving through the countryside and near forests, never failed to see germans (families and singletons) going for a walk on the forest trails. In the cities, outdoor restaurants and cafes full of diners enjoying as if it was 80° degrees outside...instead of pouring snow (at one point). Eating a sandwich and drinking hot chocolate at an outdoor cafe, next to a fireplace, under an umbrella while its snowing...a cherished memory!
Not only is their English really fluent, they are totally able to express very complex thoughts and ideas. I'm so impressed. Even though they seem timid about speaking English, they're really pros at making their complex thoughts understood. Prost!
@@terrylandess6072 English has been the primary science language internationally for many decades. I studied German in high school and college and was fluent for a while, but have really never needed it for science. Even on travel to Germany, unless everyone in the visiting party speaks German, the default language will be English. Even at conferences, all the presentations will be in English. If I were going to pick a second language today for science and engineering, I'd probably pick Chinese.
They start learning foreign languages from a young age. I looked it up and they start foreign languages in primary school. In the US, that is not a requirement. Hence, few become fluent in a foreign language.
@@jaym8257it's a myth though. I went to germany to live in 2019 from the Caribbean. While some people speak english majority does not, not like these on here. Not hing is available in English and I mean nothing!!!. They literally can't speak it at all. If yoy visit it feels that way but living there it doesn't. I left for the us because I couldn't find a mental health doctor fluent in English to help
As an American with German ancestors, its great to see these videos. The older I get, the more I am impressed by the German people and their perseverance. Not many nations have as much influence on America as Germany has/does, despite our hostilities in the 1910's and 40's.
@@petahpunkThe father of the family I stayed with in Frankfürt had been a POW in US. He got US citizenship and taught his kids English, so they had the option to go there. When he was told my uncle was a British soldier captured in North Africa, where he fought, he embraced me as if I was family, despite being on the other side. Typically, I was all "Don't mention the war" in Germany and had not done so.
Hello Feli and family. My first memory, here in UK, was seeing on TV my dad kick in the door at an armed siege for armed officers to storm in. He was a police officer for thirty years without having a gun. After arriving in US, the open carry was really a shock. I saw someone in a baseball cap with a gun through the motel window in Nashville. My friend laughed and pointed out it was the security guard. Later, in Texas, it was clear that out in the desert, far from any help, you might want a gun, if only because there are huge animals, unlike UK. I was taken to a gun fair and offered a Chinese made kalashnikov cheap. When I said I was from UK, I was offered a hand gun on private sale even cheaper and with no documentation, which it was up to me to get later. The family in Texas had ancestors there before the English speakers. They taught me how to cook their "Tex Mex" food, that was more "Mex" and really good and not like the fast food version. In Canada, my friend's sister in law just stood taking photos of a huge brown bear, whilst we British sat in the car shouting "bear". She said they had large animals on the family farm all the time as kids. In the north of California, I skipped over to a lighthouse, from where I saw fishing with very large rods on the shore. I looked in the water, over which I jumped to see a huge fin. The "jaws" music started inside my head, like the loudest of earworms.
I remember when I was stationed in Northern Germany, just East of Hannover between Rinteln and Hameln in a little town called Hessich-Oldendorf, we used to see these little rat-like creatures we called Hedgehogs. We'd never seen them before and thought they were cute. Loved my time in Germany, especially when we got to go to Bavaria! I love the houses with the painted scenes on the outside walls and the windows with flower boxes. They're so Bavarian! Especially around Garmisch and Oberramagau. Absolutely beautiful country!
Hedgehogs are NOT rat-like ! They are cute wee things, like miniature but more friendly Porcupines (from American point of view), or from an Australian point of view, I'd describe them as appearing like miniature Echidna. English hedgehogs were introduced to New Zealand back in the 1800's by British immigrant gardeners arriving on the wooden sailing ships (or steamerships), to control snails and insect pests on their vegetables. However Hedgehogs are now considered a pest animal as they can eat ground nesting birds baby chicks and eggs (NZ having no native land mammals and being a country with flightless birds filling available ecological niches).
Once I went to the Okefenokee Swamp which South Georgia. You’ll see alligators almost every 20 feet or so. Plus you have black bears and countless snakes. It’s a nature site where it’s not “you might see dangerous wildlife” it’s “you will see dangerous wildlife” really cool place in my opinion.
@@FelifromGermany Because you brought up wildlife, can you do a video about differences in our and Germany's fauna? How we'd each react to each other's wild animals?
Germans learn English and other languages starting in elementary school. Almost everyone speaks English especially the younger people. They are fearless and adventurous
I love the references to wild life. I grew up in Boulder CO, so bears and mountain lions were the occasional (but still rare) backyard visitor depending on which side of town you lived in. Pay attention to where your pets are!
Ich bin alt genug um mich noch an Kneipen zu erinnern in denen man Arcade Spielautomaten hatte, oder auch jede Menge Flipper und so weiter. Seltsam, dass das in Deutschland so sehr aus der Mode gekommen ist!
I love your channel, Feli! I had the extreme pleasure of visiting Munchen, Frankfurt and Austria so very long ago (in 2000) and, I would absolutely LOVE to go back and visit Germany and Austria again. Your Country is absolutely beautiful and, I just remember the people being so friendly. 23/24 years is a long time and, I'm so sure so much has since changed.
A really informative video, Felli. So many takeaways about our culture. One thing not mentioned, but was ever present and that is that Germans speak English nearly as well (sometimes better) than us Americans. Thank you for this format.
I live in Vegas and struck up a friendship with a visiting English girl. One day she walked in on me cleaning my pistol on my kitchen table and did a mild freakout. It took some words to calm her down to the point where she was more curious than afraid.
@@southcoastinventors6583Being scared of machines that fire of 1000s of joules by the pull of a trigger is kind of rational to me. Strange times are when children have to learn drills in school other than fire ones.
@@markvoelker6620that’s just not true, that knives are just as dangerous as guns. Plus I assume you need your knives for kitchen-related things, so they have a purpose besides harming people.
I live in Vegas "Sin City" and I frequently come across coyotes. They are pretty chill creatures as long as you don't corner them. In fact there was a time when i was going to work at 3 am on an electric scooter and they would run alongside me for a bit before going back to finding food. I wouldnt advise getting near them they are very feral, but also very curious
Thanks for sharing, Feli! It's always fascinating to see someone experiencing a new culture for the first time. Your sister-in-law's reactions were so genuine, and it's cool to get a fresh perspective on things like cars and guns in the USA. Looking forward to more videos and insights! 🌍🇩🇪🇺🇸
Hi, Feli! I really enjoy your videos. I live in Greater Cincinnati as well, and I learned German for 4 years in high school. Thank you for your content.
I'm native bilingual in English and German so am very sensitive to accents. She has a very slight German accent and sounds very American, but I would immediately think she was a native German and likely from Bavaria bc of the influence on the vowels sounds. It's very very subtle
Her accent is much more American now compared to when I started watching her videos years ago. She will lose her accent almost completely in a few more years
Absolutely love this gal! She is such an asset and amazing representation of Germany. I hope that she and her significant other find a wonderful place in both countries. Everyone I have met that have lived in Germany or are from Germany are nothing but kindness and amazing! You are a blessing to Germany. Extremely intelligent and just wonderful. I also used to live in Cincinnati and I think this is a perfect place to land. Great blend of the midwest with the south:)
First time in Germany for work and I can attest to everybody being out on Sunday. The train from Frankfurt to Nuremberg and then Erlangen was frigging packed.
Very cool video, nice to see when people visit you guys. I personally have never been one to walk places unless I really know the area. I still would love to visit Germany to see what it is like. It sounds like your family had a great time.
Great video, guys! I (a German) recently spent three months in Ontario, Canada. I experienced a lot of the things Steffi and Timo mentioned there, too. My sister came to visit me and we did a little road trip to go see all the bigger cities in ON. My sister being a vegetarian had a tough time finding vegetarian food when eating out, so exactly what Steffi mentioned. on the raccoon topic: of course we have raccoons in Germany! My earlier mentioned sister had a very unpleasant encounter with one that made a home in our garbage can (schwarze Tonne). However, you dont see them as often as in north america. Seeing skunks frequently (another kind of forbidden cat, they‘re so cute) was also new to me.
Wondering if you went to Toronto. I live in downtown and, not being vegetarian or vegan, I find that almost every restaurant around me has vegetarian and vegan dishes on the menu. There are many that are only vegetarian and vegan. There are at least 50 restaurants in the four blocks surrounding me. I am sorry to hear that your sister was not able to find the food she wished to eat. That would not be fun for her. As for the raccoons, the closer to the downtown of Toronto you go, you will not find any. There are too many huge buildings for them to hang around there. The skunks, as cute as they are, aren't welcome. I haven't seen one in years!
00:00 🚶 Walking around in the US felt different; driving is more common, and the visible variety of cars was surprising. 01:21 🍔 They explored Cincinnati extensively, visiting various places from amusement parks to baseball games, trying local foods and activities. 02:45 🚗 Walking long distances felt odd; free water in restaurants was a pleasant surprise, a contrast to German practices. 04:07 🌆 Cincinnati's skyline impressed them; visible disparity between wealthy and poorer areas stood out, a contrast to German cities. 09:08 🍻 The nightlife experience in American bars felt more club-like compared to Germany; no entrance fees at bars in Cincinnati surprised them. 11:34 🕹 Enjoyed the presence of games at bars, finding it a unique and enjoyable aspect of American nightlife. 12:16 🌳 Noticed fewer people in public spaces and parks, indicating a difference in outdoor culture compared to Germany. 15:19 ⚾ Baseball game experience compared to European soccer games; noticing differences in fan culture and atmosphere. 17:22 🔫 Felt more safety concerns in certain situations due to the potential presence of firearms, a contrasting experience from Germany's safety norms. 19:02 🐻 Encountering wildlife like snakes and bears during hikes, contrasting with Germany's less dangerous fauna. 20:38 🦝 Feli compares wildlife in Germany to the USA, mentioning encountering raccoons and possums, which are uncommon in Germany. 21:47 🐱 Feli explains animals visiting their porch due to feeding a neighborhood cat, sharing experiences with raccoons and possums around the house. 22:28 🥗 Difficulty finding healthy food options on the road in the US is highlighted by Feli, especially for vegetarians or those preferring lighter meals. 23:53 🍔 Limited healthy food choices during road trips in certain US areas compared to more options in city centers or coastal regions discussed by Feli and Teo. 24:33 🍔 Indulgence in different restaurant experiences during their stayin the US, acknowledging a desire to return to healthier eating habits in Germany.
The idea that Germany has healthier food than urban America is kind of nuts. Most German dishes are studies in beige - hardly a vegetable to be found other than potatoes and cabbage. Only rural areas in the US lack healthy quick food options.
@@avengemybreath3084 Yes, but you are missing a big point: these are influencers. So they have to come up with something. Saying there is not much difference, both have Aldi, wouldn't have brought many clicks. Than you have to count in ego. It's easy to shit on America ”they don't have much history”, when in fact America as a nation is older and it makes more sense than Germany, even after over a century of systematic ethnic cleansing. And than you have to add in the rich brat aspect. These are the kids who do doctoral studies and work for some foundation. They are not aware how many people have trouble buying food, because food is so much more expensive in Germany. And so on, you got the point.
@@dameanvil I don’t agree that Germany makes less sense or is newer, although they seem to be emulating the US and drifting toward disintegration. There are countless interesting differences, including ways Germany is better. I just don’t think healthy food tops the list.
It's so interesting to hear your accent change the longer you're here (America). Your German accent used to be so thick. A relative of mine moved from here to Germany over 20 years ago - 25 maybe? - and has started losing some of his English. It's bizarre to hear him speak now. English is his native language, but he sounds like it's his second language.
7 месяцев назад
She probably now speaks German with an American accent.
Cincinnati went through a very bad housing crunch where a lot of people lost most of the value of their houses. Many homes were abandoned and if you had a little money you could get one at a very low price.
About 1 year ago there was a young american influencer complaining about the fact that in the Costiera Amalfitana ( Amalfi coast in Italy ), which is very steep in certain places with amazing and typical little towns with great landscapes over the sea, you have to walk a lot and step up and down to reach the town center and other characteristic places. She was angry because there were no escalators and she warned the potential american visitors not to go there. For us italians is sounded so weird that they spoke about that in the news. Apart the fact that it would be impossible to build escalators in some places , probably it would also destroy the beauty of that little towns. Walking through such old towns and reach hidden little streets and discover special places is part of the experience. The complaining influencer was young and healthy and the places she was talking about were not the mount Everest but reachable by a 10 min walk or so. I love to use my bicycle to go to work for example, which is a 15 min ride. It would take me more time if I had to use my car , park and so on. A daily1 hours walk should be a normal and easy ( and very healthy ) activity for almost everybody. My mother is 85 and she still walks every day to town center. She is slow, but still walking.
We don't get a lot of cardio in our lives so having to do it to get around seems burdensome. We're very focused on Point A to Point B as fast as possible with as little effort as possible. Having to walk an hour PERIOD let alone to get anywhere means "OMG, it'll take FOREVER to get anything done!"
Car culture warps american minds. I didn't get my car license until I was 27. Up until that point, I rode my bicycle, took the city bus, or walked. If it was long distance, I took a Greyhound nationwide commercial bus. I've only been on a few trains in my life in america. One was on the Alaskan Railroad from Denali National Park to Anchorage. Three of us had bicycled there in a few days, but we had to get back to our base soon because our leave was up. Fun trip, even though I got eaten by mosquitos the first night. 🤣🦟🦟🦟🦟🦟🦟🦟
@@ssgtmole8610 I think it has more to do with the idea of purpose-oriented activity. Americans tend not to journey anywhere without a purpose. And with purpose comes the desire for expediency, hence "If I'm going somewhere, it's for a reason and I better get there fast!" So for that reason, the idea of taking time to go anywhere seems troublesome.
@@Theomite I'm not so sure about that. Watch "American Graffiti." Yes, it is dated to 1950s car culture, but the town I grew up in the 60s and 70s had what was referred to as "The Gut." It was a street in town that people would get in their cars and cruse up and down with seemingly no destination - just to be out in their cars driving and to be seen. The city government passed anti-cruising laws and posted signs on the street against cruising, but that just moved the traffic to another street from time to time. A few years ago, I talked to someone who was into street racing when they were growing up in southern california. The last time I was in my hometown I found myself on one of The Gut streets behind someone in a pickup who had jacked it up so much, it they got rear-ended the vehicle hitting them from behind would have missed the bumper on the truck and struck the trucks rear tires.🤦♂
Steffi is so beautiful! I also watched the previous video of yours featuring her as well and thought the same thing back then. Gorgeous girl! Your brother is lucky 💖
Experiences will be different in different cities. In Atlanta, you would find numerous parks filled when the weather is nice and still active when it is not so nice. Also, the Cincinnati MSA is 2.3 million which is a better comparison to Munich. Sports vary more from how important it is. Playoff baseball, pennant race baseball and rival baseball is very different. College football can also be much more intense. But, it depends on the team being played. Finally, if you are cooking out, on a grill, you are grilling. People in the North always talk about barbecuing when they are actually grilling. Barbecue is low heat and slow cooking over 12 hours. You are not barbecuing just because you use a grill.
Hi Feli, it would be interesting to know if you have every visited Australia, which is a very similar, but slightly different English-speaking culture. It is often observed that Australians have become too Americanized, so it would be interesting to know what your impressions of Australia would be. I never cease to be be amazed at how good Germans are at picking up the English language.
I always found the closeness of wildlife within cities in America as startling. Here in New Zealand you are lucky enought o see the odd opossum in big parks and apart from birds that's about it. In the States you'll see deer everywhere, squarrels, racoons, snakes, even bobcats, coyotes and bears.
Iowa has the odd wolf, down from MN or WI, following the big river timbers. We also include mountain lions amongst our occasional visitors. Coyote, fox, deer, coon, and opossom are plentiful. More rare are badger, mink, weasel, and otter. ❤ Iowa.
@@DENVEROUTDOORMANI live on the other side of the metro area in Dougco and we have deer, snakes, giant trash pandas and I think we've also had some bears and cougars spotted in the area.
Most of those younger germans. Landing in florida. Love the sunny warm beaches, clubs in miami and then going to outdoor festivals like edc in vegas or coachella in california.
@@gerhardma4297 most of those don't know the places to go to. Have you been to haulover or the florida keys. Did you rent a large boat to take out to the middle of the ocean in florida for a day?. These are most of the things. Most don't know coming from europe.
Thank you for sharing your family's experience visiting you in the US. It is always informative and entertaining to hear others' experiences here. Great video!
Both KY and OH now have Constitutional Carry laws so you were around hundreds of people that were carrying concealed weapons and you never saw them, and were never "freaked out". Open carry happens more in the rural areas and has been legal in KY since 1792.
The ironic thing about the guns, even though it seems a bit counterintuitive and it can feel uncomfortable seeing someone walking around with a gun, is that the people open carrying are actually the last ones to worry about - the fact that they are open carrying indicates that they are (very likely) law-conscious. They might believe in carrying to protect themselves, their family and the general public if needed but they are doing it the "right way." The people up to no good don't care about that and I would bet you guys have all come across more people secretly carrying illegally than open carrying and that's the more scary thing IMO
I was gonna say the same. Criminals being the cowards that they are, generally stay away from level confrontation. They only go after the weak and vulnerable. They are safest around law-abiding citizens who open carry.
@4erbuks Good luck telling that to the criminals. That argument is pointless seeing as guns were part of this culture since before any of us were born.
Not sure what country you’re from, but one thing that’s important to note for the US is that it’s so massive. Your experience in one part of the country can be completely different in another. I imagine that exists in other countries too, but I’d say it’s a greater degree in America.
Both very nice people and their English is great.One time your brother's girlfriend used "driveway" wrong.That's something that always confused me too, that you park on a driveway but drive on a parkway.😎
Fun interview. When i travel I make sandwiches and salads for lunch, then I don't have to eat junk food. Its easy to do and doesn't take much time and is way less expensive.
For the life of me I cannot imagine why an empty park would be considered a negative. That made me laugh out loud. Loved the additional input from your brother and sister-in-law. Very interesting!
I think you are on to something. When the weather is nice in Germany population density will tell you that German parks will be packed more so than American ones who often are also larger than German parks. As a German in the US I noticed the vast expanse of empty countryside between urban areas, especially on some road trips. Europeans have little to no concept of this.
Great video Feli! I do find it interesting the comments about the individual open carrying the gun. They would probably really be shocked at the number of people that conceal carry these days. Thanks for the great video!!
I LOVE that this is the experience your sister in law got. From the Midwest this is a very accurate representation of what we do for fun, versus just going to a beach
"In baseball in the stands, there's kind of a picnic feeling. Emotions may run high, but there's not that much unpleasantness. In football in the stands during the game, you can be sure that at least 27 times you are perfectly capable of taking the life of a fellow human being. Preferably a stranger." -George Carlin
Of course we have racoons in Germany. They were introduced to Germany like 100 years ago at the Edersee in northern Hesse. They have been spreading to the whole country in the last 20 years. My sister has them in the trash can quite often.
@@bome123 I'm from Lower Saxony, too - and they are there. Probably not within the Eilenriede, but very likely in the Deister and Ith, and definitely in the Harz Mountains where one of them dragged my backpack and shoes out of the tent at night.
Having travelled to Germany several times, I completely understand the disconnect they had. Things are quite different in the US. Lots of fun! And the gun thing is very understandable. I grew up with guns, so for me, it's not a big deal. Open carry is fine. But for people that did NOT grow up around them, it can be disconcerting.
I think a lot of it is expectation. Many Europeans have only been told bad things about American “gun” culture. I’m from the suburbs in Maryland and up until a couple years ago had never really been exposed to guns in person either… BUT, I’m more conservative politically so I’ve always known that lots of good decent people in this country do own guns. Two years ago I went to a range for the first time… and loved it. Now I own 10 guns lol! Of course it’s not just Europeans that can look down on guns… many in this country do too. I think it’s good for people to be exposed to responsible gun owners and to learn how guns are a great self defense tool.
Guns scare me to death, even though I'm American. My dad was in the army, so he was fine with them. He bought one once, but my mom was scared and made him get rid of it.
@@Lorrainecats Have you ever been to a range? It was a great experience for me in terms of demystifying guns. They really drill the safety rules into you, which starts to create a comfort level. And you get to see all these very responsible normal fellow Americans around you. I recommend it if you have never been. The first time I picked up a gun I definitely had a healthy fear. That has transitioned to a healthy respect. It’s not unlike how it is for some people learning to drive, perhaps being fearful initially of controlling a 4,000 pound machine that could kill in seconds if you failed to control it properly. But that fear goes away as you get more and more comfortable behind the wheel.
@@joeterp5615 My brother-in-law was like that. I took him to the range and started him out with some 22LR handguns and then moved him up to 9x19mm. He was doing okay until I pointed to a big 44Magnum stainless-steel revolver with an 8" barrel and asked him, "You wanna try this one?" (For folks who don't know guns, 22LR goes spit spit spit, 9x19mm goes pop pop pop, and 44Magnum goes BOOOOM!) He was wary and cautious, but he said okay. I loaded one cartridge and gave him a quick primer about dealing with heavy recoil in a handgun. He held it out, winced, began trembling as he squeezed the hammer back, and then...BOOOOM! He turned to me with huge eyes and stared at me wordlessly for a few seconds. Then, slowly, a tiny smile started on his face and grew and grew until it was huge. "Can I...can I do that again?" he asked. If you don't know guns, they can be scary. Once you know guns, it's not the _guns_ that are scary, it's the _people_--some of them. I have...ah...stories.
Its always interesting to talk with foreign visitors who are surprised at seeing Americans with guns. Its just so normal here for regular people, Mom's, Dad's, Grandparents all carrying guns. I will admit that here in Ohio, even while its perfectly legal to " open carry" (as long as you are not a convicted criminal) that most people conceal carry instead. But you did say you were in Kentucky, so Im surprised you didnt run across Daniel Boone. Great video!
Absolutely! It's a very American sport though and unfortunately, it wasn't football season when they were here. Next time, he'll definitely check out a football game!
@@FelifromGermany I mean, it's still a slow game. I've been to American football games in London with Europeans and they're always shocked at how little play there is for the great amount of time on the clock. I'm sure he'll enjoy it for the cultural difference, but I think it's just Americans who perceive baseball as slower than football.
I like how everyone is talking about how well they can speak English and how fluent they are. I'm not surprised honestly. I was stationed in Germany for 2 years and I can't tell you how many times I was out in the town and I would need to ask for some sort of directions or something and I would ask in German if they understood English. Either I got completely ignored (which to Germans does not come off as being rude) or the response I would get is "a little bit" and then they would proceed to have a full-on conversation in English with the only broken parts being just not knowing certain words for certain things lol. I cannot wait to go back and visit some of my old German friends.
Your brother is so german he doesn't even smile in images next to beautiful nature ;) It's really interesting to see these videos. I'm originally from Sweden but live in Chicago now, and I almost learn more about how incredibly close Germany and Sweden is when it comes to how we are, how we see things etc. I never thought of that when I lived in Sweden, but now not living in Europe, it's so much more pronounced
This video helps Americans to understand some of the cultural differences between our countries, which is very interesting and educational. Many Americans don't ever get to visit Europe, but having a worldview based on experiences is so valuable. I would like to visit Germany and many other countries one day and be perceived as a respectful tourist.
Well said. Lots of Americans grow up and live most of if not their entire lives without going beyond 100-200 miles from their home. They have TV, they have the internet, but they don't really have the chance to encounter new cultures and people that live differently from them, and that's a shame. But as you said, that's part of why videos like this are so important.
@@american_cosmic Total BS damn near every household in the US has a car, 100-200 miles is nothing in a car. I'd bet 99% of the population has been much farther than that.
@@briangulley6027 Not bullshit at all... 11% of Americans have never traveled outside the state in which they were born, over 50% of Americans have visited 10 states or fewer, and 13% have never flown on an airplane. Per a 2019 study from Forbes Magazine.
@@briangulley6027just because that's your personal experience doesn't mean that it's everyone else's. I know plenty of people when I used to live in Tennessee that have never even left the state that they were born in. I went to school with about a thousand people and I can pretty much guarantee more than half of them have never even left the state. I also think that you're forgetting about a lot of rural places that are too poor to have a car or any kind of public transportation. Then there's also large cities that have public transportation so there's no need for a car.
I really hope you do get to travel to Europe and particular germany! I live there as a child for about 6 and 1/2 years and just loved it so much that I never wanted to come back to the states. I've been back for more than 30 years and I still wish we hadn't come back. It was absolutely beautiful over there, the way people live and the way they treat each other and how they treated us even though we were different. It was really nice and I have a lot of fond memories there! I hope to one day go back, I just can't guarantee if I'll come back home or not, lol. But it really is beautiful and it's really nice how easily you can travel to so many other countries nearby and encounter so many different cultures.
Love your channel. Have you explored the 2nd amendment? Not just from a guns right or wrong but from a historical perspective might be interesting for your German viewers.
Raccoons are actually quite common in germany in many parts of the country now. They are not native of germany but were imported from North America and some of them escaped. Now we have about half a million of them 😬
There are tons of raccoons in the Berlin area! Legend has it that they are all descendants of a group that escaped from a fur farm that was hit by a bomb during WWII
Very interesting video as I moved from Wales to Canada many years ago and was always fascinated by the differences and again with the US as we frequently go there. We notice a difference with the food too as in Canada when we travel around, we stop to eat at pubs and can get any meal with salad, or a completely vegetarian meal if we wanted to. It is MUCH more difficult to do that in the US ! You mention 'Ben' worked for Disney? Is he German? If so, was that at the German Pavilion at Epcot? Our daughter did that at the Canadian Pavilion and still has German friends from that time!
@@cptn_chromo3189 Sad how convinced Americans are regarding to that. Gun control, number of (school) shootings, involvement in wars, the whole healthcare system e.g....It`s terrible.
The food in Europe is so much better than the food in America.. I couldn’t get over the endless salads and lunches at the grocery stores! It was so amazing. Wish the US could catch on. Also I did so much walking in Switzerland, I didn’t even gain any weight after eating fondue and croissants and pastries and pizza. The food was so much cleaner, I felt good for once.
Don't know how I stumbled on this, but what a joy to hear three lovely, articluate people discuss impressions of a foriegn land in a second language, and make more sense than many locals. Living in Canada, therr's one impression of the US I didn't hear (which also applies to us) and that's that our countries are stinking big. We don't measure road trips in miles or kilometers, but in hours or days, something that I first noticed when relatives from Scotland, visiting my parents in BC, Canada, fancied a a quick drive to see Niagara Falls. Three days of hard, 'round the clock driving one way at best. They argued with my mum that it didn't look that far on the map, until she showed them that when you take map scale in mind, the entire British Isles fits nicely within our one province and that Canada is way bigger than Europe. They got grumpy after that. As for bears, there's the old joke warning in our area about being careful when bears are active. Hikers are told to wear little bells to give the bears notice that you're in their area so they can feel safe and move away but that, just in case, you should carry pepper (bear) spray. As a further piece of advice one needs to be able to identify what bears are around by observing their scat (poop). Black bear scat has berries and tufts of squirrel fur. Grizzly bear scat contains little bells and smells like pepper.
In theory perhaps, in practice they are full of flavor enhancers, shelf life enhancers and chemicals. Since having read the ingredients on McDonald's burgers, I haven't eaten one..
@starseed8087 You make a good point and I only eat them when traveling, but they are the best choice from what they offer. The fries/drinks/bread, etc. are worse, although flavor is great and addicting. I was mostly reacting to the comments about meat which unfairly gets a bad rap.
In Utah we also have regulations on skylines because we are surrounded by mountains, and so our capital will not allow massive buildings over certain heights. Every city capital city of each county in Utah's counties is located next to a mountain that peak off at 9,000 to 10000 feet (close to over 4000 meters) because we are in the Rockies. That is a fact and you can look it up. The more you drive down our interstate (I-15) corridor, you will notice and see mountains on both sides (east and west). We like it like this. Some states have similar regulations like Idaho etc., But in Chicago, NY on the East Coast an even coastal California, it's not that way. etc., they don't do that. I cannot even stand to be down in Denver because of this issue. I love living in the Rockies. We prefer to see our mountains and not the tops of buildings, which is very similar to Germany.
Hi Feli! Next time you go on a road trip and get hungry for a meal or a snack, consider stopping at a grocery store. A lot of grocery stores now have ready made, grab and go food that may be healthier in the deli section. I live in Central Pennsylvania and, our Giant supermarkets even have salad bars and hot food bars that are a nice change from fast food. Love your videos! I've learned so much!
You don't think I've done that before? 😅 I have a video on my phone somewhere showing the entire snack selection at Walmart on a road trip in Virginia back in 2019 and they literally had 5 different salads all with either meat or fish and not a single vegetarian sandwich 😂 I think I ended up grabbing a couple of those weird looking boiled eggs in plastic. My go-to food is usually taco bell when there's one around because they have vegetarian options but I wish I didn't have to rely on taco bell only when traveling 😅
Yup. In OH and KY, they have Krogers, so there should be quite a few choices for vegetarians there. At Wendy's they always have a loaded baked potato, most Chinese counters in grocery stores or food courts have a vegetable option as well as a fish option, there is SouperSalad and its many competitors, Subway's veggie sandwich tastes actually really good, most teriyaki places can make a fish teriyaki and it usually tastes even better than the meat ones, and then there is the whole world of buffet style restaurants, or cafeteria style restaurants, even though the pandemic has killed off way too many of them. But some are still around. Also, any southern cooking, or soul food cooking place should have at minimum a veggie platter, or a loaded potato with two extra sides, or something along those lines, which can make quite a decent veggie meal for on the road. In the south, they serve you okra, and collard greens, and all kinds of bean dishes, besides the more classical veggie choices, and with that you can get yourself a reasonable variety of vegetarian dishes, even while on the road. Oh, and in Japanese restaurants you can get miso soup and veggie tempura, and Indian restaurants, which are becoming more and more frequent at truck stops, given that so much of this industry is moving into Indian family hands, that this new option also makes for a great vegetarian choice, while on the road in the US. Hope, this gives you a few ideas for your next road trip. In fact, its kind of funny, but I have usually gotten vegetarian food when I wanted it in the US, but sometimes a bit boring, but at least available, but where I have encountered notorious difficulties finding vegetarian restaurants, is actually Munich, Germany or all places. There are one or two very upscale fancy vegetarian restaurants, sure, but still, very few for such a big city. Markedly different than let's say Frankfurt or Berlin or Cologne, where there are far more places like that available.
@@cailwi9 why you typing like feli just moved here? You know she lives here right? And been here a bunch before right? You watch this channel. That whole essay you wrote was not needed.
@@FelifromGermanybecause that’s Walmart lol. That’s not exclusively a grocery store. You have to go to a grocery store that exclusively sells food and you also have to be in the right area of the store to find what you’re looking for (some things are not placed in the section that you would think they would be at)
The open carry thing in Kentucky is super common, especially in rural communities (like red river gorge). The ones who open carry are actually super safe, albeit weird. Also, smoky mountain bears are like gigantic raccoons. They’ll scavenge and forage a bit but mostly are frightened of people. Don’t leave food in your car if you’re in a cabin and they’ll leave you alone.
Don’t know about Kentucky, but here in Kansas there is probably over a thousand people carrying concealed to every 1 person open carrying. I understand citizens having firearms is crazy to most foreigners. However something they probably don’t realize is the people who carry don’t usually do so just for their personal protection, but also to protect others around them as well.
@@lanejohnson7656 I don't want anyone to protect me with a gun, except trained professionals (aka the military or - in some countries - the police). I'd rather hand over my wallet, then risk getting hit by a stray bullet. Money can be replaced. That said, I would be apprehensive about the regular US police too, considering their meager training programs. 3-6 months is just not sufficient.
@@itsraining3000 Just stay in your country and be at the mercy of your government then. When your government sends your military after you don’t cry for the Americans to come save your stupid azz .. lol
@@lanejohnson7656 But if you see that even the police shoots bystanders and innocent people, how are the chances with non professionals getting it right ?
As for bears, in the US east of the Mississippi River, all of the bears are black. Grizzlies (usually borwn in color) are found in the northern western states (Wyoming, Montana, and a few others) and polar (white) bears are found in coastal Alaska.
"Open carrying a gun." That's strange to me too. If you saw one person open carrying, then you probably passed by 1000 who were concealed carrying. I was surprised by all the times he said he was scared. I guess I shouldn't have been, though. That's the way I feel in foreign countries where the law requires that I be unarmed.
I'm glad your family's experience was a mostly positive one. I am quite close to talking my family into a trip to Germany later this year. I've been wanting to go for many years, and I'm very excited to finally make it happen. Of course that means I need to get back to work on my German.
This was a fun and entertaining video. Your brother and sister-in-law are very nice. You and your brother have the same eyes. I hope you all have a wonderful time during their stay. Feli, regarding the person with the gun, I know your feelings on this but unfortunately there are bad people who rob stores and innocent people. They are less likely to do so if they know an intended victim is armed. Maybe robberies never occur in Germany, but unfortunately, they do here in the US. I live next to the ocean in southern California. In less than one hour you can be in complete wilderness where there are bears, mountain lions, and rattlesnakes. I always carry a holstered handgun when hiking in the wilderness.
@@HavannaSkye Depends on your level of skill and training. Certainly, it would never be necessary to shoot snakes or black bears. The mountain lions are a different story. You don't know what you're missing if you've never seen one in the wild. I did from a distance and that's when I started carrying a handgun.
I don't think I've ever asked for free water at a restaurant without buying something 🙂. I think maybe it's unusual for anyone to ask so they don't mind when the polite foreigners do. If it became normal and they were giving away a lot of cups for free, they would probably say no.
I don't think I have either before this :) But we didn't even ask for free water, we wanted to buy a drink. This restaurant has a pretty spacious bar area in the lobby (almost like a hotel), so it's not weird to just walk up to the bar. But they just gave it to us for free 😊
You'd be able to do the same in Canada. It's not something that happens often but I can't imagine anyone being turned away for water or to use the washroom.
The key thing is - it was at the bar. If you sat down at a table and only got water, then yes, that would not be good (unless you said you changed your mind and decided not to eat there). But getting water from a bartender wouldn’t be a problem in places I’ve been to.
@@bobby_c07 You probably won't get turned away when you ask to use the bathroom even in Germany, they just don't want streams of people using their bathrooms if they're not paying customers. Especially restaurants in crowded places like downtown pedestrian zones don't want just anyone walking in and using their bathrooms, but they won't flat-out say no if you ask nicely or imply that it's urgent.
@@cameronduff884 the Height of Buildings Act of 1910 established that the height of buildings in Washington, DC not exceed 90 feet for residential structures and limited commercial structures to 130 feet. Its purpose at the time was fire safety. It has since come to protect overall views of the city's monumental core.
