German traditions or superstitions? (Nina from Germany)
June 8, 2022
If you've ever wished a German "Happy birthday" before their actual birthday, you will no doubt have quickly learnt that it's just not done. It's just a tradition based on superstition, but many Germans abide by it. So, is i…
How to be a good dinner guest in a German home (Nina from Germany)
Feb. 9, 2022
Getting invited to a German's home for dinner is difficult enough, but if it happens, you're probably nearing the German's "inner circle". But how do you behave? What is good etiquette? Are there unwritten rules you need to …
German culture: Der Struwwelpeter and other horrifying children's stories (Nina from Germany)
Oct. 6, 2021
After watching the Calvin & Habs duo do a reenactment of a German children's story called "Paulinchen", I decided to buy the collection of stories it appears in. It's called Der Struwwelpeter, named after one of the characte…
Common things Germans say and do, and what they mean (Nina from Germany)
March 15, 2021
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 "O…
German youth words of 2020 (Nina from Germany)
Sept. 28, 2020
Every year, the Langenscheidt publishing house searches for the youth word of that year. It's happening again, and Nina from Germany (who previously appeared in the Fasching episode back in February) helps me explain the wor…
Carnival/Fasching in Germany: "pomp and splendor" (Nina from Germany)
Feb. 17, 2020
It's the middle of Carnival (also known as Fasching or Fastnacht, depending on where in Germany you are). I am not a big fan of it, and so I got a real live German who IS a fan of it to come on the show and explain to me why…