Sometimes, when coming to Germany, visitors have the stereotype of dour, rigid, and humorless Germans firmly lodged in their mind. Fortunately, this cliché regarding German customs and behavior is exactly that – just a cliché.

Germans tend to be rather reserved with strangers, business partners and casual acquaintances.

Meet and Greet

In order to describe German customs and social interactions, intercultural consultants like comparing Germans to coconuts. Both have a hard exterior shell, which may take some time to crack, but are soft and sweet on the inside. Practically speaking, this means that German customs generally impose a certain formality when interacting with strangers and casual acquaintances.

Most first meetings in Germany are characterized by a great degree of reserve. Germans will treat you politely, but not warmly, and they may not appreciate levity, joking around, or ironic wit. This is probably where the preconception of the dull German devoid of humor comes from. Just give them a little time. If you are gradually getting to know them better, they will eventually relax and prove that Germans do know how to have fun.

Proper Forms of Address

When you meet a German for the first time, polite German customs require you to err on the side of conservatism: Make direct eye contact with your new acquaintance; shake hands briefly, but firmly; use a formal greeting such as “Guten Tag, Herr Schmidt” or “Guten Morgen, Frau Müller. Es freut mich, Sie kennen zu lernen.“ (”Good morning, Ms Müller. It’s a pleasure to meet you“). German customs place lots of emphasis on the correct form of address and a person’s title, particularly if you interact with business contacts, a person you have never met before, the elderly, and people entitled to your respect (e.g. your superiors in a business setting or an academic context).

Make sure to use the polite way of addressing Germans at first (“Sie”). Also use Herr/Frau (Mr/Ms) + title + last name: for instance, Herr Doktor Meier. The word Fräulein, which is often quoted to be one of the more important among German customs, is even more outdated than the English “Miss”, and younger women in Germany often regard it as patronizing.

First names and the casual form of address (“Du”) are reserved by German customs for friends, family, and younger people like university students. However, when your new acquaintance, neighbor or coworker offers you to talk on a first-name basis, courtesy in German customs dictates that you accept: They are trying to be particularly friendly. In young-skewing, international, or “trendy” businesses, though, most people will be on a first-name basis immediately – just see how they introduce themselves and follow their example.

On the Phone

Erring on the side of formal politeness is also recommended when making phone calls in Germany. Don’t phone people at home late at night or early in the morning, during lunch hours from 1 to 3 p.m. when stay-at-home parents with children like to rest, or on a Sunday, a day reserved for quality time with the family and meeting up with close friends.

Always remember to say your full name when answering the phone (“Hallo, John Smith am Apparat.” – “Hello, this is John Smith speaking.”) When calling someone who is not a close friend of yours, treat the person on the other end of line with formal courtesy, even if it’s “only” the receptionist offering to forward your call. (“Guten Tag, hier ist John Smith. Könnte ich bitte mit Herrn Doktor Meier sprechen?” – „Good afternoon, this is John Smith speaking. Could I talk to Dr Meier, please?“)

For most people, buying property in Germany is not only a solid investment but also a place where they and their family spend the rest of their lives. Unless they are required to move, most people in Germany will not abandon the house they bought or even built themselves. So when they decide on buying property in Germany, most people take their time – because for them, it is usually a permanent decision. Moreover, compared to other countries, a larger percentage of the population in Germany prefers renting their home to buying property in Germany. Buying a house in Germany takes a considerable degree of preparation. But it’s hard to know where to start. Here are several things to consider before buying property in Germany.

1. Is it a good time to buy?

Industry leaders confirm that Germany’s strong economy is stable and growing. At the same time, residential real estate prices continue to rise. Many German cities already have housing shortages, which pushes prices up.

The German Institute of Urban Affairs notes that, “Industry experts expect this trend to continue for years to come.”

Indeed, population growth in cities like Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt and Düsseldorf will sustain the high demand for housing. Since rising property value also means higher rent, becoming an owner in many German cities can save money long term.

Even though demand keeps prices high, Germany’s currently low interest rates are ideal for buyers. Interest rates recently dropped by 40%: from 5% in 2009 to 2% in the beginning of 2018.

With a strong economy, robust housing market and low interest rates, now is a good time to buy property in Germany.

2. How much can I afford?

Everyone can apply for a mortgage in Germany. There are no restrictions for non-Germans purchasing property. It does not matter whether you are an expat, a blue card holder, an EU citizen or non-EU citizen.  As for how much you can borrow, that depends on whether you live and work in Germany or not.

If you live and work in Germany, you can borrow up to 100% of the property price. Overall, your deposit should cover the purchase fees, which depends on the property’s location.

Usually, purchase fees are between 5-15% of the property price. Such fees include: stamp duty, notary fees and real estate agent tax. Like to a downpayment, purchase fees come from the buyer’s own equity instead of a bank loan.

If you do not work in Germany, you can borrow up to 60% of the property price. So, your deposit should cover 40% of the property purchase price as well as the purchase fees.

Before anything else, review your income and find out what you can afford to pay monthly. Apartment costs vary depending on region and city, as shown in the chart below. Here is a detailed research on German house price development in the major cities.

Lenders in Germany will request documentation to verify your financial and personal situation, as well as information about the property. Perhaps even more than other countries, Germany lenders are strict about due diligence.

3. How can I find a property?

There is more than one way to find a property in Germany. Common resources include:

• An online resource
• A local real estate agent

More than likely, you will need a real estate agent find and bid on most properties. Look for an agent who is a member of an association like IVD, the association of German realtors, to avoid scams.

When you view a property, prepare a list of questions on items like nearby transportation, schools and homeowner association fees.

4. How can I win a bidding war?

Housing shortages in many German cities mean that competition is fierce. The easiest way to make yourself stand out is to show the seller that you are ready to buy.

So, confirm financing before you start to visit properties with a mortgage pre-approval.

Prior to pre-approval, your lender will ask for a list of documents to verify your financial and personal situation, like proof of income, monthly expenses and proof of deposit. The whole process can take up to three weeks.

Then, you can put your pre-approval letter in your offer to show sellers that you are serious and ready to act.

5. How does the process work?

Once you win the bid, the rest of the purchase process is fairly standard.

First, make sure you place a reservation on the property and have all necessary documentation for your specific property handy. Then, begin to filter loan offers. Try to negotiate to improve the financing conditions. If you have a mortgage broker, they can help ensure that you get the best deal.

Before your notary appointment, ask your lender for financing confirmation. Allowing time between the financing confirmation and signing the purchasing contract will reduce risk that the contract conditions will change.

When you sign the purchase contract in front of the notary, the notary will read the entire contract. Both buyer and seller must be able to fully understand the terms. Plan to bring a certified German interpreter if necessary.

With a signed purchase contract in hand, you can sign the loan agreement. Then, the bank or mortgage broker will register the mortgage to secure the right of lien for the mortgaged property.

Lastly, you will receive the loan on the agreed date. You can then transfer the total purchase price, including your capital and the loan.

6. How do I pay off my mortgage?

Thoughtfully choosing the best mortgage is the best way to ensure that you can pay it off.

Many homebuyers today choose a loan with a fixed interest rate for 10 years. Some lenders will also let you make an additional annual payment of 5%. After 10 years, you may need to refinance at a higher interest rate. Even a slight increase can raise – and in some cases double – your monthly payment, so consider refinancing costs in your initial budget.

To find the best option, it’s a good idea to talk to a broker. They can compare options on your behalf and walk you through every step of the process.

There are over 20 breeds that originated from Germany, some of which make great hunting partners like the German Shorthaired Pointer, the Munsterlander or the Dachshund others make excellent guarding dogs like the Rottweiler, Doberman and Leonberger (the gentle lion) and some just make incredible companion dogs, for example the Pomeranian. The most famous breed developed in Germany is of course the German Shepherd, a medium-sized dog that slightly resembles a wolf. This breed is one of smartest in the world and can take on any given task. Due to its psychological and physical qualities, it can be used in the most varied fields of activity: detection, war, intervention, fires, tracking, search and rescue, guide dog and many many other activities.

Learning about German dog breeds not only gives you a great crash course in some of the most beloved and popular dogs of our day, but also offers a unique way to turn back time and learn more about these dogs’ home country and culture.

How many German dog breeds can you name? Let’s see:

1. Affenpinscher (Monkey dog)
2. Boxer (German Boxer, German Bullmastiff, Deutscher Boxer)
3. Dachshund (Standard Dachshund, Miniature Dachshund, Toy Dachshund, Doxie, Teckel, Sausage Dog)
4. Doberman (Dobe, Dobie, Doby)
5. Eurasier (Eurasian Dog, Eurasian)
6. German Pointer (Vorstehhund)
7. German Pinscher (Deutscher Pinscher)
8. German Shepherd (Alsatian, Berger Allemand, Deutscher Schaferhund, GSD, Schaferhund)
9. Schnauzer (Schnauzer )
10. Great Dane (German Mastiff, Danish Hound, Deutsche Dogge, Grand Danois, Gentle Giant)
11. Hovawart (Hovie)
12. Munsterlander (Münsterländer, Vorstehhund, Munsterlander Pointer, Moonster)
13. Leonberger (Gentle Lion, Leo)
14. Pomeranian (Deutsche Spitze; Zwergspitz; Spitz nain; Spitz enano; Pom; Zwers, Pom)
15. Rottweiler (Rottie, Rott)
16. Weimaraner (Weimaraner Vorstehhund, Weim, Grey Ghost)

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AFFENPISCHER

First up on the list of German dog breeds is the Affenpinscher, often called Affens by enthusiasts. At first glimpse, this pint-sized pup seems to be all hair! Chewbacca, anyone???

Affenpinscher is quite a name for a pup that rarely tops 10 pounds. The name literally translates to mean “ape terrier,” a nod to this dog’s shaggy coat and terrier lineage.

These dogs were originally bred to be ratters on farms and in kitchens. But it didn’t take long for this pseudo-serious canine comedian to transition from kitchen help to constant companion. These dogs are great athletes and do well in the show ring as well as in agility training and service dog work.

The Affenpinscher may be small in size, but like many petite pups, he doesn’t seem to realize it. One anecdote describes a teensy Affen facing down a grizzly bear!

BOXER

The Boxer is considered one of the bigger German dog breeds, weighing anywhere from 65 to 80 lbs.

These dogs are all muscle— incredible athletes who exhibit an unfailingly happy, positive nature towards their owners.

However, these dogs were born and bred to work on farms, in the military and police forces, with hunters, and in service work as guide dogs.

Therefore, they really do well when they have a job to do or lots of daily exercise and activity. Not surprisingly, Boxers make excellent guard dogs and watchdogs for many families today!

One fun fact about the Boxer is that this dog gets its name from the way it “boxes” with its front paws when play-sparring or hunting prey. The Boxer has a lovely short, neat coat that requires minimal brushing to maintain.

DACHSHUND

Is there any more classic representative of German hound breeds than the diminutive and distinctive Dachshund. It comes in two sizes: miniature and standard.

So depending on your Doxie’s lineage, she might weigh just 10 lbs or less, or more than 30 lbs! The name dachshund literally translated means “badger dog.”

This is a nod to what these dogs were born and bred to do—chase down badgers and extract them from their underground burrows. This explains their long bodies and low hanging ears, as well as short, sturdy legs. But today, the Doxie is mostly called upon as a lap companion, a job which these dogs are excellent at.

Dachshunds, like many small dog breeds, don’t realize they’re a tiny size and have loud, hound barks, which they have been bred to use. You can expect plenty of alerts from your pint-sized, sausage-shaped watchdog.

Dachshunds can have smooth or wiry-haired coats, short or long. So the amount of brushing and grooming your dog will need can vary depending on the type and length of their coat.

DOBERMAN

The Doberman actually takes its name from its creator, Louis Doberman, a tax collector who wanted a canine companion to protect him during his rounds. Understandably, debtors were never too delighted to see him showing up!

The word “Pinscher” translates to “terrier,” which makes the Doberman a particularly large, sleek and powerful type of terrier. As it turned out, Doberman’s initial canine was very good at his job, and soon the Doberman Pinscher became a fixture in military, police, and service work.

The Doberman has a short, smooth coat that is very easy to groom and maintain. These dogs are also very smart and active and to thrive, require regular exercise.

EURASIER

It is a relatively new breed that was developed by crossbreeding the Chow Chow, Wolfspitz and Samoyed.  It is a medium-sized dog, long rather than tall, with a brawny body. The head is strong and conical, similar to a wolf’s, with a flat skull and a frontal wrinkle. It has a conical muzzle and strong jaws. The eyes are medium-sized, slanting and dark. The ears are medium-sized, pointed, triangular, round-ended and erect. The tail is thick, bushy and carried on the back. The fur is double-layered, with a thick, short, fluffy inner layer and outer layer that has medium-length, straight hair that gives it a shaggy look. The hair is short on the muzzle, face and front side of the legs and long on the rest of the body. It can have any color except white and dark red.

It is an intelligent, quiet, well-balanced, alert, pretty friendly and obedient dog that doesn’t bark too much, but sometimes can have an independent thinking. It is affectionate and devoted to its family, it gets along with children, but it is careful and reserved with strangers. Generally it doesn’t have problems with other dogs or other household animals, especially if it was socialized with them from an early age.

GERMAN POINTER

Thanks to its name, the German Pointer is easy to identify as one of the German dog breeds! Like the Dachshund, another German breed, the German Pointer can sport both smooth and wire-haired coat, which can vary in length from short to long.

The wire-haired German Pointer is often slightly bigger and heavier than its smooth-haired cousin. The German Pointer was originally born and bred as a sport and hunting dog.

As such, these dogs are extremely smart and active—this is not a dog who will happily sit on the couch all day. German Pointers are great at agility and obedience training, service work, and tracking work.

GERMAN SHEPHERD

The German shepherd is arguably Germany’s ambassador dog! What is less commonly known is that there are actually several different German shepherds. For simplicity, they can be categorized as either working lines and show lines.

It’s important to be aware that show lines are increasingly plagued with lower back issues on account of the steeply sloping back curve currently prized in the show ring. Overall, the German Shepherd makes a great family companion for active families that like to run, play, and exercise with their dog.

These dogs have thick, double layer coats that shed seasonally, but generally, weekly brushing is sufficient to maintain their coat. German shepherds bond closely with their owners and don’t do well left on their own or cooped up for long hours.

SCHNAUZER

Even today, the Schnauzer is a staple on German farms. Schnauzers are bred in three sizes: miniature, standard, and giant.

All of them are extremely intelligent and share a wiry, close-fitting coat, exaggerated whiskers, and arched eyebrows. Schnauzers make very good family dogs and are great with kids. They are also excellent watchdogs.

It is important to hand-strip (manually remove dead or shed hairs) your Schnauzer’s coat rather than using electric clippers. This allows their coat to retain its protective waterproof properties. These dogs are very sociable and active and don’t do well when left on their own for long periods of time. You will also need to make time daily for exercise and play.

GREAT DANE

There are many opinions regarding the evolution of this breed. In 1876 the Great Dane was proclaimed Germany’s national breed. It is a large-sized dog, with a well-built, square, muscular, sturdy body and an noble and elegant look. The head is long with a square muzzle, equal in length to the skull. The eyes are medium-sized, almond-shaped, deeply-set and dark. The ears are medium-sized, drooping but can be cropped to stay erect. The neck is long and brawny. The tail is large and tapers from a broad base to a point at the tip, is kept low at rest and curves when alert. The fur has short, soft hair, close to the body and it can be brown, blue, black, harlequin, striped or with mantle (black with a white collar, chest, nose and feet).

It is a watchful, smart, enthusiastic, playful, calm and sensitive dog. It is very devoted and faithful to its family but especially to one person. Friendly by nature, it accepts other animals and dogs. It gets along well with other dogs. It is not very hospitable with strangers but the friends of the family are accepted straightaway. It isn’t a very noisy dog. It is a one-owner dog. If alienated as an adult, it will never be the same.

HOVAWART

The Hovawart is a medium to large size German dog breed. The name of the breed means “an estate guard dog”, which is the original use for the breed. The breed originated in the Black Forest region and was first described in text and paintings in medieval times. It is a large-sized, strong dog, with a robust build. The head is medium-sized, with the muzzle equal in length to the skull and with a wide, rounded forehead. The eyes are medium-sized and dark. The ears are triangular with pointed tips and drooping. The tail is bushy and long, but without touching the ground. The fur is double-layered, with an outer layer made of soft, glossy, slightly wavy,  medium length hair, longer on the neck and tail. It can be black, black with a patch, black with yellow to golden, with a white patch on the chest and the tip of the tail.

It is a brave and watchful dog with a very good sense of smell, well balanced and playful. It is gentle, affectionate, loyal to the family and attached especially to one person. Playful and patient with children, it is reserved with strangers and accepts them only with the master’s approval. It accepts other animals and other dogs, even treating them with indifference if it was socialized from an early age.

MUNSTERLANDER

It is the descendant of the “Hawk dog” from the Middle Ages and the result of the crossbreed between Pointers, Wachtelhunds and Stoberhunds. It was developed mainly in the region Munster from Germany, where comes the name. Through supervised selections were the current specimens were obtained which are very appreciated in Germany and Switzerland.

The Large Munsterländer is a large gundog originating in Germany. It gained recognition in the early 1900s. It differs from the Small Münsterländer due to its size and color, as the breed is only found in solid black or black and white (with black ticking spots allowed). 

The Small Munsterländer is similar to its larger cousin but isn’t closely related. The breed was developed in Germany as a gundog capable of hunting on land and in water. They were first used by royal families to hunt alongside their falconers. The breed comes in white and brown with brown ticking acceptable. 

LEONBERGER

The Leonberger sure is a looker among German dog breeds! This extra-large fluffy dog can weigh anywhere from 90 to 170+ pounds as an adult, but their long manes make this dog look even larger.

The Leonberger is considered one of the aristocrats of the German breeds and although this dog may be huge in body, they are truly gentle and patient in spirit. Sometimes referred to as Leos by their fans, the Leonberger is a fabulous family dog as well as a great working dog. And a surprisingly good swimmer!

The Leonberger takes its name from its birthplace, the town of Leonberg, Germany. The dog’s creator, Heinrich Essig, wanted to breed a dog that looked like the Leonberg town’s mascot, a lion. When you see this dog, you’ll see he succeeded!

POMERANIAN

No discussion of German dog breeds would be complete without including the Pomeranian, the miniature dazzler hailing from what was once Pomerania and is now part of Western Germany.
In some parts of the world, the Pomeranian is called the Zwergspitz, a nod to the dog ’s Spitz ancestors.

However, it’s fairly safe to say that the Pom, as many fans call them, is hairier than any spitz dog on the planet! Pomeranians are incredibly smart but can be stubborn. They are, however, easy to train. Pomeranians, like many miniature dog breeds, just don’t seem to realize their size, despite the fact that Pom could be described as a big ball of fluff on legs.

The Pomeranian became popular outside of Germany after Queen Victoria, smitten with the breed, took Poms back to England to breed them. Pomeranians require a lot of combing and brushing to maintain their luxurious coat.

ROTTWEILER

This breed is the result of the crossbreeding between the dogs brought by the Roman legions and the German shepherd dogs. The name comes from the town Rottweil, the center of cattle and grain merchants, whom they accompanied and protected. It is widely spread in Europe and also in the USA, where it is very loved.

It is a large-sized dog, with a strong and muscular body that inspires strength. The head is medium-sized, wide, with a short and strong muzzle. The eyes are almond-shaped and dark. The ears are medium-sized, pointed, triangular and drooping. The neck is strong, of medium length and the chest is prominent, wide and brawny. The tail is docked. The coat is short, thick and rough. It is black with reddish-brown patches.

This dog is intelligent, brave, obedient, watchful and steadfast. It is very protective and devoted to the family, but especially to one person and if it was socialized with children from an early age, it will be a great playmate for them. The Rottweiler will defend its master and its territory until the end.

WEIMARANER

The Weimaraner is called the “Grey Ghost” in its home country of Germany. These truly gorgeous dogs and there are many Weimaraner supermodels that have been immortalized by artists.

With their short close coats, Weimaraners are easy to groom. But you’ll need to make time weekly to check and clean your dog’s ears since they hang closely over the ear canals and are prone to infection.

The Weimaraner is a smart, high-energy dog that really needs a lot of daily exercise and activity! If it’s not provided, you can expect your intelligent dog to find her own fun, which may include remodeling your interior décor and perhaps your lawn and garden as well.

Here are some things about Germany and its inhabitants you will notice during your time spent in Germany, living in Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia, Weiden in der Oberpfalz, Bavaria and Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein. A hilarious (and true!) list by Liv Hambrett.

1. Germans are tall.
2. They enjoy dairy products. The refrigerated section of their supermarkets are homages to experimentations with yoghurt and quark. They will put a cheese or cream-based sauce with most things.
   
3. Sauerkraut is both enjoyed and often consumed, as per the universal expectation.
4. But the cabbage thing doesn’t stop there. Both krautsalat and rotkohl are regular meal (and döner) companions, the latter readily available in the frozen section of your local supermarket.
5. Germans have excellent winter wardrobes (perhaps because German winters are endless.)
6. They are punctual. It’s in their genetic make up. They cannot be late.
7. In fact, Germans place an enormous premium on the three Ps – Practicality, Punctuality and Planning.
8. Their babies are particularly beautiful.
9. They are very good bike riders – nay, they are exceptional bike riders. They manage to look elegant while free-wheeling down cobbled streets, pashminas blowing out behind them. They are also highly adept at riding with umbrellas.
10. Thus, German kids learn to ride young. They start in small wagons attached to their parents’ bicycles and move through the ranks until, at 6 years old, they are fully fledged members of the cycling community.
11. Germans can eat. And drink. A lot. They have excellent constitutions.
    

    Grilled bratwurst at festival.

12. They love meat. In all its incarnations. Raw, fried, crumbed and dripping in mushroom sauce. But mostly, processed and stuffed into stomach lining.
13. Germans worship wurst.
14. Germans worship the pig. He is revered as both a lucky (Glücksschwein) and delicious little fellow in this country and there is no part of the pig that cannot be boiled, shredded, fried, processed, mashed, diced and consumed. And there is no end to the various pig likenesses that can be crafted from marzipan.
15. They can and do, often, stomach minced raw pork for breakfast … topped with onion and a bit of pepper.
16. They are good at mostly anything they do. Or, if they’re not, they try hard and become competent. Because …
17. Germans are thorough. They seem to live by the ‘do it once and do it well’ principle. They work hard and effectively, despite working some of the shortest hours in the western world.
18. Consequently, they are the strongest economy in Europe. What they do during those short hours is probably double what every other country manages to do in twice the time.
19. For many Germans, the weekend begins at 1pm on Friday afternoon. The week’s work has been done and done well and now it is time to enjoy the spoils of a well-spent weekend.
20. They speak English better than most English people I know, or at least get their ‘there, they’re and their’ correct every time which is more than many English speakers can say.
21. They have unexpectedly wicked senses of humor. David Hasselhoff, anyone?
22. … a man they continue to embrace by playing Looking for Freedom far, far more than any other country.
23. They love a good boot.
24. And they never scuff them. Even when bike-riding down a cobbled street in the rain, holding the shopping and an umbrella, pulling a wagon behind them with a child contained within.
25. They do not suffer fools gladly, thus only put up with drunk Australians and Americans during Oktoberfest because we’ll pay hideous amounts of money for hideous amounts of beer.
26. They are extremely hospitable.
27. They seem to enjoy Westlife. And Take That. And Backstreet Boys.
28. In fact, your garden variety house party can often remind its attendants of the universality of 90s pop.
29. Were you aware Germany was responsible for the 90s smash, Coco Jumbo?
30. Germans simply do not understand thongs/flip flops/jandals as viable footwear. Even when it’s warm and sunny, and a boot is impractical or too warm for the feet to be comfortable. Outside of a very small, very obviously summer window, they will stare, bewildered, at thonged feet and quietly wonder if the wearer is mad.
31. They love a large, mind-bogglingly well stocked hardware store (with a bratwurst stand out the front). Perhaps because another mantra of the Germans could be: if you want something done well, do it yourself. Therefore they must be permanently well-equipped to do things themselves, like renovate apartments with the help of a good friend and a few beers.
32. Germans lose their shit when the sun comes out and act in a manner I can only describe as suspicious. They flock to outdoor cafes and tip their faces to the sun … but remain in boots and jeans with a pashmina close by. Even when it’s 25 degrees. Even when it’s obvious the weather isn’t going to turn. Because …
33. Germans are always prepared for the rain.
34. They are very fair people and largely adhere to regulations that exist to keep things fair for the masses.
35. This works because Germans love a good rule. And they reap the benefits of a rule-abiding society.
36. They don’t appreciate the use of the rude finger when driving. If you give it to a fellow driver, that driver reserves the right to report you and your license plate and you will get a fine.
37. Not that it will break the bank – fines for breaking road rules here are, on average, about 30€. When rules aren’t that often broken, you don’t need large rule-breaking deterrents.
38. They love the breakfast meal and fill the table with four different types of cheese, five different types of meat and a basket of bread rolls.
39. As a general bread rule, Germans seem to enjoy a darker or seeded bread. Or at least bread with a long name that nods to exciting contents.
40. In the same vein of their love for enormous hardware stores, Germans favor a mesmerisingly large Ikea (and other such stores in the same vein as Ikea) complete with an upstairs restaurant, a downstairs cafe and the all-important bratwurst stand out the front. Because …
41. Germans can always enjoy a bratwurst, no matter the time, no matter the place. And they never seem to drip the sauce all over themselves.
42. Germans don’t jay-walk. And they judge those who do with a piercing, back-burning gaze.
43. They are refreshingly comfortable with nudity. The further East you go, the more apparent this becomes.
44. Germans are generally candid, frank people.
45. German men don’t tend to leer lewdly.
46. But, Germans stare. Not in a way designed to be particularly rude, but in an unabashed, piercing, inquisitive way that makes you wonder if you have food on your face or your skirt is tucked into your underpants.
47. Germans love doing Kaffe und Kuchen for all sorts of occasions.
48. Collectively, German people seem to have a very sweet tooth and the cake, biscuit, chocolate, sweets aisles of their supermarket are of Willy Wonka proportions.
49. Germans can drink. And not just write themselves off, vomit in the bath tub at 2am, wedge in a kebab and back it up the following night, a la American/English/Australian binge drinkers … but drink. While the rest of the world is vomiting in the bath tub, the Germans are calmly ingesting their 57th shot and washing it down with a beer, their cheeks a little rosy, their eyes a little glazed, but their livers working as smoothly as a German made automobile.
50. This is because Germans start drinking young. They are allowed to drink ‘soft alcohol’ at 16 and ‘hard alcohol’ at 18. By the time we’re all losing our shit with the Breezers, the Germans are enjoying a much more tempered relationship with alcohol … and the benefits of a much more match-fit liver.
51. They don’t necessarily say it to you face, at the time … but Germans don’t like it when you go against the tide in the supermarket.
52. Or get on the bus through the wrong door. This they will say to your face, using a microphone and an unimpressed tone.
53. If there was a study done on countries and how well they dance in a club/bar situation, Germany probably wouldn’t be in the top ten for general skill. But would they would absolutely ace the enthusiasm component.
54. Germans struggle enormously with the concept of ‘naked feet’. It is better feet be clothed at all times.
55. Germans, largely, are always exceptionally well-groomed.
56. They embrace one hit wonders. Royalties from German radio probably single-handedly keep the singers the rest of the world wants to forget, in rent-money.
57. Germans are not afraid to whip out the smoke machine on the dance floor.
58. They are not ones to make small talk at the supermarket check-out. Or in general, really.
59. In fact, Germans hate small talk. Words without purpose are wasted words.
60. This is because Germans are generally extremely direct people. They do not see a need for conversational subtext. They say it as they see it, while keeping you at the appropriate arm’s length distance. Directness and distance are valued social commodities.
61. Apropos, Germans will always try and shake your hand, even if you feel you’ve reached the status of hugging.
62. But when you crash through those notorious barriers, you have a German pal for life.
63. Germans enjoy frozen vegetables.
64. Germans are generally very open and relaxed about most things sex-related.
65. They have the single most nerve-wrackingly rapid supermarket check-outs in the world.
66. Germans seem to really enjoy watching (dubbed) How I Met Your Mother, Two and a Half Men and The Big Bang Theory.
67. And reading crime fiction.
68. They love their dogs. Often their dogs catch the bus with them and sometimes their dogs even dine with them in restaurants.
69. Germans. Love. Bakeries.
70. They don’t tend to go to the shops in track-pants and slippers.
71. It saddens me to report there seems to be a higher instance of socks and sandals paired together in Germany, than in other countries.
72. Germans seem to be distrustful of any beverage that doesn’t sparkle and, despite having excellent tap water, relegate it to second best beneath the bottled, sparkling stuff.
73. They also seem to enjoy mixing drinks. For example, their beloved cola/orange soft drink – Spezi, Schwip Schwap, Mezzo Mix. And the truly excellent Apfelschorle, apple juice and sparkling water. And why stop at white wine spritzers when you can have a red wine spritzer?
74. In keeping with this, they enjoy mixing beer (with cola, pear, cactus fruit, lime) which, for a nation famed for its superior beer production, is somewhat unexpected.
75. Germans like buying drinks in six packs of 1.5l bottles which are then dutifully recycled, bottle by bottle.
76. It is extremely rare to see a German throw out a recyclable bottle and, if they do (in the midst of a brain-snap) someone passing by the rubbish bin will very quickly pull the bottle out and take it to the recycling automat themselves.
77. During large events (festivals, Summer grilling bonanzas) there will be people making serious money by collecting revellers’ beer bottles.
78. They aren’t big on bread slicing. Sliced bread, ‘toast brot’, is relegated to the toaster and sandwiches made with sliced bread enjoy a disproportionately small section of the bakery display in comparison to their friends, the Brötchen.
79. Germans love Dackels (Dachshunds) and seem to own several of them at once. Perhaps this adoration of Dachshunds stems from their physical similarity to wurst.
80. Germans extract a curiously large amount of pleasure from the acts of giving, receiving and processing paperwork. They revel in it. Photocopy it. Sign it. Photocopy it again. Roll in it. Cover themselves with it and inhale the scent of paper.
81. Those who work for the German government seem to … never work at all. It’s like their entire system is efficient enough to work by itself, without humans doing anything except photocopying and stamping things.
82. Some German banks take lunch breaks which is unfortunate because many working people can only do their banking in their own lunch breaks.
83. Germany loves a public holiday. Bavaria in particular.
84. Germans have this … thing … with bureaucracy.
85. Should a contestant, for example, on a family friendly ‘celebrity special game show’ or something, be a nude model, German TV is totally down with displaying a great deal of her portfolio, to the audience at home. Pre 9pm. In fact, pre 8pm.
86. They are rather thrifty and don’t have the weird Anglo qualms with talking about money.
87. Germans seem to enjoy camping and driving campervans through Europe.
88. They are bizarrely superstitious about wishing people a Merry Christmas too early, opening presents early and celebrating birthdays early.
89. Germans have bottomless basements.
90. Boris Becker and Til Schweiger are the go-to celebrities for game shows.
91. Germans. Love. Football. Love it. In fact the most passionate you will ever see a German is when they are watching, talking about, thinking about, dreaming about or playing, football.
92. You may also catch a German in an act of passion if you raise the topic of cars. Germans love their cars and are very proud of their ability to make such good ones. Just ask them.
93. It is a good thing they have good cars and an Autobahn of terrifying speed because the Deutsche Bahn is Germany’s dirty little inefficient secret. Delays come with your ticket purchase, free of charge. It’s DB’s gift to you.
94. Most Germans seem to always buy or possess the appropriate public transport tickets, even though there are so many occasions upon which they could get away with not having one. This sense of honesty will eventually rub off on you.
95. Germans of a certain age really enjoy Jack Wolfskin jackets. Come winter, Germany turns into a sea of identical jackets, people’s age distinguishable only by the brand they’re wearing.
96. There is an obvious divide when it comes to what kind of high school you went to and what kind of leaving certificate you gained. And what kind of further education you go on to do, whether it be university for an extremely long period of time – honestly, no one does university quite like the Germans – or one of Germany’s millions of Ausbildungen (apprenticeships).
97. The whole country quivers with excitement every New Years Eve when they sit down and watch Dinner for One. But the supremely odd thing isn’t a national obsession with a 1960s black and white sketch comedy from another country that has nothing to do with New Years Eve, but the fact that this is the one film the Germans don’t dub.
98. Germans have this thing with online privacy. It is a rare German indeed who uses their full name on Facebook as opposed to a bizarre cross section of their first and last names, eg: Mo Na Berg or Le Na.
99. Germans can’t queue. Full stop, the end. They don’t know how, they have no interest in trying. This is the one time Germans embrace a lack of system and what happens when a queue is called for is the unfortunate culmination of Germanic forcefulness and uncertainty in the face of a system-less world.
100. Take, for example, what happens in a supermarket when another check out line opens. Instead of calmly indicating the person at the top of the queue, yet to unload their basket onto the conveyor belt, should head up the new checkout line, there is this mad dash like a scattered flock of sheep, and one’s standing in the original queue becomes completely irrelevant. If you are fast enough, you can theoretically come from well behind and end up getting served before the person five people in front of you, who has been patiently waiting for 10 minutes. And no one thinks anything of it.
101. Germans can open a beer bottle with anything. The couch, a coffee mug, a banana. Body parts. It’s like they all secretly take a class at school when they’re eleven, in preparation for a life time of beer consumption.
102. Should you not have a garden, but yearn for one, you can rent a small square of land called a Kleingarten (or Schrebergarten). Here you can cultivate a garden and sit back and enjoy the fruits of their labors by resting in a little hut. The Kleingärten (small gardens) are kept neat by the adherence to a set of rules specifically developed by and for each community.
103. In the average German garden, big or small, you will notice they seem unable to resist the lure of the garden gnome. There is almost always one, lurking sinisterly beneath a bush, or partaking in some sort of Mise-en-scène with other concrete characters and a perfectly clipped shrub.
104. Stefan Raab. He owns Germany.
105. Germans are inordinately proud of their states, districts, district-free cities, city states, regions, sub-regions, dialects, entirely different vocabularies, sub-cultures, traditions, festivals and basically being really different from the ten-house village that is 5km away because that ten-house village is in an entirely different region and therefore nothing like this village.
106. Generally speaking, Germans simply love celebrating.
107. And dressing up.
108. And that dastardly Schlager music which they all know the words to.
109. Often all three passions are combined at an inexplicable pop-up festival that features, without exception, the following: medieval beer stalls, a pommes stand and a wagon with a dazzling array of sugared nuts, waffles and chocolate covered baked goods.
110. And Spargel. They love Spargel and anything to do with Spargel, like Spargel peelers and Spargel steamers and Spargel platters. Forget Christmas or Easter or any other notable markers, the German year revolves around Spargelzeit.
111. Germany has assumed the döner kebab as a national dish, Germanified it with pickled cabbage and elevated it to where it now sits, loftily, alongside other key German snacks like currywurst and fischbrötchen.
112. Germans largely respect ‘Quiet Time’ on Sundays, when they don’t vacuum, use lawn mowers or other loud appliances and generally keep noise levels to a bare minimum. In some parts, an unspoken evening Quiet Time is enforced, via disapproval or neighbourly note leaving.
113. Church bells are exempt from all Quiet Times.
114. As ingrained in the German psyche as Quiet Time on Sunday, is the Sunday viewing of crime show, Tatort.
115. Germans have really embraced the organic food trend and dedicate shelves to products emblazoned with ‘BIO’.
116. Germans make loyal, warm, life-long friends.
117. German television seems to produce a startling array of game shows very close to – but not quite the same as – ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire?’
118. They like saying ‘juhu!’
119. While they may borrow the concepts for their solid repertoire of scripted reality TV, the German population yields the strangest, most awkward characters in the entire genre.
120. Germans can have entire conversations that consist solely of the word ‘doch’.
121. Occasionally they replace ‘doch’ with ‘eben’, if it fits, grammatically.
122. They like buffets.
123. And ‘house shoes.’
124. Germans seem to enjoy bringing activities to the park, when the weather is fine. Things like wooden blocks to throw around and rope to tie between trees as a sort of make-shift tightrope.
125. They like drinking yoghurt.
126. They can eat enormous sausages clamped between very small bread rolls, smothered in sauce, while walking and talking, and not getting a drop of it on themselves.
127. Germans make for extremely excitable sports commentators.
128. Mark Twain was not lying about the German language.
129. It is always too hot, too cold, too windy, too warm, too humid, too snowy or too rainy.
130. Germans blame 95% of ailments on the weather.
131. They may be the only people in the world to a) have a word for and b) accept the notion of ‘Frühjahresmüdigkeit‘ – ‘Spring time fatigue’.
132. On that note, no one does a compound word like the Germans.
133. Germans like going to Ikea just to eat hotdogs.
134. No matter where you go – to a festival, on a road trip, to a sporting event – you will find a clean public toilet.
135. Contrary to all evidence pointing to a socially restrained and reserved people, Germans are actually quite excitable.
136. They are extremely good-natured when it comes to laughing at themselves (and accepting lists like the very one you’re reading.)
137. Meals with Germans can be quite quiet affairs, the participants seeming to adhere to the unspoken rule of Eat Now, Talk Later.
138. Many Bavarians have enormous moustaches.
139. The mullet is alive and well in Germany.
140. As per Point 99 – Germans Cannot Queue – they are terrible pusher-innerers.
141. As per Point 123 – Germans Like House Shoes – many Germans seem to choose a pair of fake Crocs both for themselves and their children, as a general house/garden shoe.
142. Many, many Germans (and, to be fair, Dutch people) seem to love camping, camper-vans, camping grounds, and holidays that combine all three in a country like France or Italy.
143. Germans love their ‘hobbies’.
144. A favored hobby seems to be hiking.
145. Indeed, Germans enjoy walking in general, particularly after a meal, or indeed on a quiet Sunday afternoon (in pairs, wearing matching Jack Wolfskins).
146. Tchibo.
147. Germans are, surprisingly, rather enthusiastic applauders. They especially seem to enjoy falling into the rhythmic clap, while performers are taking their bows.
148. I have noticed Germans seem to enjoy ‘seasonal decorations’ for their front doors, doorsteps, gardens etc. A floral wreath for Spring, a twiggy one for Autumn (along with pumpkins and red leaves), your classic evergreen conifer for Christmas. Und. So. Weiter.
149. In keeping with their love of all things ornamental, Germans really seem to like home decor stores, ranging from the kitsch (Nanu Nana, Butlers) to the positively chic (any store that’s name features the words ‘Lebensart’ or ‘Landart’).
150. You will never actually see a German doctor at the appointed time. That famous German punctuality doesn’t exist in medical practices.
151. At many social gatherings, you will find a plate of cheese cubes and grapes, held together with a toothpick.
152. Germans and their pharmacies have a lot of faith in the healing powers of homeopathy and herbal teas.
153. Speaking of teas, Germans enjoy fruit teas immensely, including flavours such as ‘strawberry and cream’ or ‘blueberry yoghurt’.
154. Germans love being in, strolling and/or hiking through, or just flat out enjoying, ‘the nature’.

Surnames play a huge role in our life and you can expect any surname you can think of already exists. But it gets really bizarre when you start to browse through the German telephone book.

Here are 9 of some of the weirdest German surnames and they are all real! First names have been altered though, to spare real people the ridicule.

1. Jens Vormelker (Pre-milker)

The German phonebook is awash with surnames like Müller, Jäger and Meier. And this makes perfect sense. Every community back in feudal times needed a miller, a hunter and a manager.

Some ye oldie professions seem harder to explain. What exactly the farmland function of a Vormelker was is beyond us. We imagine though, given that Melker (Milker) is also a surname, the Vormelkers always had to make do with being the warm up act to the main event.

2. Friedrich Handschuh (Glove)

Given some of the other names on this Hildegard can perhaps consider herself lucky. It’s a shame for her that the word Handschuh conjured such strange images in an Anglophone’s head – but that is our fault not hers. According to forebears.io the name stems from a profession of glove makers. There are still over 2,000 Handschuhs in the world today.

3. Thomas Trinkenschuh (Drink-shoe)

Talking of shoes serving a strange purpose, we can only guess what Thomas’ forebears got up to. Perhaps they were responsible for creating the legendary beer boot so beloved in German bars in the US.

4. Silas Bierhals (Beer-throat)

There are several German surnames that seem to pay tribute to a person’s love for the liquor. Among our favourites are Saufhaus (Drink-house) and Bierwagen (Beer-cart). We can only imagine Mr. Kotz (Vomit) spent a bit too much time round at the Saufhauses.

5. Martina Eierkuchen (Eggcake)

It isn’t all about boozing though. As we all know, Germans love their sweet desserts – so why not take your name from one? While an egg cake might not sound like the most exquisite thing going, Hans Sauermilch (Sour-milk) is in no place to poke fun.

6. Michael Durchdenwald (Through-the-forest)

Someone back in days of yore either really liked going on walks in the forest or lived on the other side of one. Perhaps irritated neighbors were so sick of explaining the directions to the family home that they decide to name them after the way there.

7. Nika Nachtnebel (Night fog)

One can only conclude that there was something of the night about Nina’s forbears. We also happen to know the perfect companion for her: Karl Kühlmorgen (Cool-morning).

8. Lothar Leichenberg (Pile-of-corpses)

Trust Germany to get super, super dark with some of its surnames.

We just don’t want to know what Herr Leichenberg’s ancestors did. Want to go a level darker? Judenfeind (Jew enemy) is a real German surname, but then again, so is Judenfreund (Jew-friend). At least people nailed their colours to the mast back then.

Meanwhile the surname Frauenschläger (Women-beater) makes Helmut Katzenschläger (Cat-beater) sound positively cuddly.

9. Hildegard Kitzler (Tickler)

If this lady’s name is anything to go by, she must be a favorite auntie. Kitzler doesn’t just simply provide the innocent fun of a bit of tickle torture though, the name is also a nickname for the clitoris.

While Hildegard’s name no doubt gave her classmates a good giggle, we can only imagine the look on the teachers’ faces when they had to call out Willi Fickbaum’s (F*ck tree) name every morning.

The cost of living in Germany generally differs according to the city you are in, while Leipzig can be bizarrely cheap and affordable, Munich is nothing like that. Among the bigger metropolitan cities as Hamburg, Cologne, Stuttgart and tiny yet cozy towns like Erfurt, Freiburg or Osnabrück, Berlin is caught somewhere in the middle as a common ground to shed some perspective on a random students truthful cost of living when in Germany.

Berlin, besides being relatively cheap has also the advantage of being a huge city with numerous options given that in this same city one can live on a few hundred bucks straight and decent close to some millionaire celebrity whose limit is the sky. So to say, with few managing skills you are in for the kill.

As of October 2014, all of the Universities are free of charge; Germany has finally approved the abolition of tuition fees in the country. However before you get ahead of yourself, there’s no such thing as free lunch; yes all of the Universities are free of charge now but there is this thing called “Semesterbeitrag” considered a semester contribution that is mandatory and it ranges from 250 to several hundreds of Euros depending on the University. The benefits of this so-called contribution are the access to free public transport in and around the city area which long-term saves loads and loads of money.

Public transport in Germany is comfortable, fast and efficient. For the ones who appreciate weekend getaways and wish to explore the country, there is the Bahn-Card purchased annually that offers discounts ranging from 25%, 50% and 100%, basically a free ticket.
The annual price of this card varies from 57 EUR second-class to 114 EUR first-class under the 25% discount up to the 100% discount costing 4080 EUR second-class and 6400 EUR first-class.

Assuming that, while new in town one wants to share the apartment with a roommate, split rents in the common student neighborhoods go up to 300 EUR even cheaper, tax included. If you’re lucky enough to find out that you share the same interests with the roommate so you end up being friends you may as well start using the apartment fridge after all, split the food supply expenses and do some cooking of your own. In the end of a month you will end up saving a fortune.

Cheaper rents for the ones not able to afford this kind of a lifestyle are offered by dormitories and student residences meanwhile the student Mensa has always hot soup, meat and potatoes for less than nothing.

On the contrary, if you are used to having the space to yourself and most importantly can afford renting a flat on your own prices may vary from 350-800 EUR. The outrageously expensive deal breaker about renting on your own is the acquired deposition of approximately 1500 EUR in case any damage is done.

Shopping for groceries and essentials monthly won’t escalate a sum of 100 EUR and if you are sharing it with the roommate even less. Cooking in is healthier, make’s a perfect hobby and saves tons of money. This is another reason why sharing the apartment with roommates is much more fun, you get to cook for each other and dine together while cooking for one person is usually dull and kills the joy. Below you will find a list of the vital items every student’s kitchen must own:

• Milk (liter) – 0.69 €
• Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) – 1.25 €
• Rice (1kg) – 1.70 €
• Eggs (12) – 2.00 €
• Local Cheese (1kg) – 8.00 €
• Chicken Breasts (Boneless, Skinless) (1kg) – 7.00 €
• Apples (1kg) – 2.00 €
• Oranges (1kg) – 2.00 €
• Tomato (1kg) – 2.00 €
• Potato (1kg) – 1.00 €
• Lettuce (1 head) – 0.99 €
• Water (1.5 liter bottle) – 0.55 €
• Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) – 5.00 €
• Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) – 0.80 €
• Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) – 1.00 €

In an average restaurant, a proper 3 dish meal including a glass of wine costs up to 40 EUR per person which is considered an affordable treat more or less. Dinning at local cafes or small neighborhood pubs is always cheaper, where surprisingly one can find a meal for less than 10 EUR. In a café/bar regular cappuccino is no more than 3 EUR, coke is 2 EUR, one beer domestic or imported ranges from 3-5 EUR and one pays 2 EUR for a bottle of water so you be the judge.

Tickets to cultural venues like museums, theater, cinema, musicals or club entry fees range from nothing to 10 EUR max. As a student you always get some discount, everywhere, even in shopping malls.
Clothing in this city is a rather complex matter. Shopping in chain stores like Zara, H&M and so on is relatively cheap especially if you are patient enough to wait for the gigantic sales. Yet, Berlin fashion is known for its vintage flavor, therefore ironically clothing items in second-Hand shops, worn and torn are utterly pricey.

Of course fashion victims shop only genuine seasonal in and chic’ therefore Berlin also has also its deal of Gucci, Armani and Dolce packed and waiting for you to pour your money away. For the ones who appreciate quality, a pair of leather shoes is nowhere to be found under a 100 EUR so voila… better appreciate them.

The bottom line is – a monthly income of 600-800 EUR give or take will be more than sufficient to live happily and prosper.

Parental leave in Germany may seem amazing, but it is also complex and can be confusing, especially to a foreigner.

Adjusting to motherhood is made a little easier if you happen to be an employed woman working for a German company. You will actually be provided mandatory time-off from work, before and after childbirth. Basically the Mutterschutzgesetz, Maternity Protection Act of 1968 was instituted to ensure that expecting mothers are not discriminated against when applying for jobs and to provide them with added protection from being dismissed from work as a result of their pregnancy or arrival of their newborn child. This law actually goes well beyond that fundamental claim and provides much more.

In order for the Maternity Protection’s measures to be activated, the expectant mother, who is employed, must inform their employer of their pregnancy and the expected date of delivery. If a verbal notification isn’t good enough, then a doctor’s Certificate of Expected Date of Delivery is to be provided to the employer. Keep your receipt, because employers must reimburse their employees for this certificate when they request it.

Expectant mothers applying for employment are not required to make their pregnancy known before entering into employment.

Employers may not disseminate information about an employee’s pregnancy to a third party.

After an expecting mother has informed her employer of her pregnancy, the employer must forward the information to the Arbeitsschutzämter, Employment Protection Office or the Gewerberaufsichtsaemter, Business Supervisor’s Office. Both of these offices ensure that all Mutterschutz provisions are properly regarded, just as they serve to assist both employer and employee on all issues pertaining to Mutterschutz.

The German system appears relatively gender-equal, with mothers and fathers granted the same leave entitlements, and rules allowing for both parents to devote large periods to both family and career in turn.

But despite this, a recent Forsa poll of 1,000 fathers and stepfathers between 20 and 55 suggested that just 38 percent of dads of children under six chose to take no parental leave at all, and 80 percent of fathers overall only stayed off work for two months after the birth. Both parents come under the same system of “elternzeit” (parental leave) so mothers and fathers can be confident their jobs are protected by the law for as long as they like until their child turns three. This includes step-parents sharing in the child’s care.

Mothers, meanwhile, also have six weeks of compulsory paid leave before the birth and eight weeks afterwards. This is extended to 12 weeks following premature or multiple births.

The parent intending to take time off work must apply seven weeks in advance, and must limit their periods of leave to two during the three years – but each period can be as long as they want.

Additionally, if a parent takes a whole year of parental leave they cannot take any in the following year without their employer’s permission.

Grandparents and other family members can also take parental leave under certain circumstances, for example if the parent is a minor.

Mothers are entitled to full pay during the six weeks before, and eight weeks after, the birth, known as “mother protection time”.

Both parents can claim parental benefits – if they are on leave during the first 12 months after the child’s birth, along with two extra “partner months” of benefit if the couple claims jointly rather than separately.

The benefit is calculated at 65 percent of the parent’s previous monthly salary, though it gets boosted slightly if they were earning €1,000 or less. Those with more young children also get a 10-percent (or a minimum of €75 a month) “sibling bonus”.

The total benefits are ring-fenced at a minimum of €300 and maximum €1,800 per month, while parents who were unemployed can also claim at least the minimum €300 a month.

Those receiving parental benefit are still allowed to work part-time up to 30 hours a week. And if their existing job is at a company with more than 15 employees, they are entitled to 15 to 30 hours part time work per week, unless the firm has specific reasons for not offering it.

In general, unplanned extensions and changes to parental leave must be agreed between the parent and their employer. For example, parents can extend their agreed leave with their boss’ express approval, but there is no legal entitlement.

And if the employer agrees, a parent can also “carry over” 12 months of their possible three years to be used at any time before the child’s eighth birthday.

Are there any planned reforms to parental leave?

No major reforms are expected in the near future, although new Families Minister Manuela Schwesig said in a recent interview she wanted to extend the system, subsidizing parents to cut their working hours in a bid to help them balance family and career.

Every region in the world is easily identifiable by the kind of clothing that was traditionally worn there. From the ‘kimonos’ worn in Japan to the ‘sarees’ draped in India, from the ‘kilts’ of Scotland to the ‘pueblas’ of Mexico, these outfits were, and still are, synonymous with the culture of the country. Clothing that was traditionally worn in Germany is no different. The clothes that men and women wore traditionally tell us a lot about the country and its culture.

In earlier times, each ‘tracht’ identified a person as belonging to a particular group in terms of social and legal status (married, single), origin or trade. Today, the term is used to describe any garment reminiscent of the attire of rural communities. Regional varieties vary greatly.

 

If you’ve been to Oktoberfest, which is celebrated all over the world, you are familiar with lederhosen and dirndls. Lederhosen, which means “leather trousers” in German, are the short leather pants worn by men. These are usually knee-length and are the historically worn by working-class German men with rustic shoes and wool socks. Lederhosen worn in the Bavarian region had features such as suspenders and front flaps, and these were quickly adopted by other countries. These pants were worn with shirts and sweaters made of coarse linen or wool. Other clothes teamed with the pants were wool stockings and country shoes. Jackets and hats vary according to region and occasion.

The dirndl is a ruffled apron dress worn by German women that consists of a bodice, or blouse, and a skirt. In the 19th century, the dirndl was the standard uniform of servant girls, but today it is mostly worn in Bavaria and Austria, and like lederhosen, usually for celebration. Each of these garments is a type of tracht, which historically was used to help identify people as members of a certain status (social, political or otherwise). Wealthy women in Bavaria and throughout the Alps had dirndls made of silk and other fine materials and wore them to church, weddings, funerals and other community events to show how in touch with the common people they were. Unwittingly, these appropriating ladies saved one of the most flattering garments ever constructed.

As for comfort, the dirndl is basically the yoga pants of years gone by. Intended to be worn for difficult labor, the outfit was often made from easily washable and breathable material like cotton, and without a corset or hoops.

In the last 10 years, the dirndl has undergone a sort of renaissance. It is not uncommon in Bavaria to see young women wearing one on the weekend, to a wedding or to family birthday party. Modern material and patterns and a whole slew of new, young dirndl designers are breathing new life into the garment yet again.

Hats are often costly and elaborate. They vary according to occasion and region: ‘Goldhauben’ (Upper Austria) and ‘Bollenhut’ (Black Forest region, Germany) are only worn on festive occasions.

 

In many regions, especially Southern Germany, Bavaria and Austria, it is still acceptable to wear ‘tracht’ on official occasions like weddings, festivals, etc. Contemporary fashion adapts to traditional elements, the production of dirndl and lederhosen is a thriving industry in Germany.

There are many societies dedicated to ‘tracht’ revivals. Often, those efforts coincide with an interest in traditional crafts, like porcelain, glass-making or wood carving.

Doberman  is a medium-large breed of domestic dog originally developed around 1890 by Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann, a tax collector from Germany, for his own protection. Here’s how it happened.

In 1890, Karl Friedrich Louis Doberman was a tax collector in Apolda, Germany. Unsurprisingly, he wasn’t very popular. But luck was on his side: he owned the local dog pound, where he was able to combine a long list of breeds to create a guard dog to protect him. After combining big, fearsome breeds like the German Pinscher, Rottweiler, Greyhound, Great Dane, Weimeraner, German Shorthaired Pointer, Old German Shepherd Dog, and more, Doberman created his prototype: a dog that was strong, fast, durable, loyal, intelligent, and, when he needed to be, ferocious.

After years of development, the end result was what we know today as the Doberman Pinscher, named after the breed’s creator. Made an official breed in the United States 1908, the Doberman has a long history of military and police service. He served as the official War Dog of the US Marine Corps during World War II as a sentry, messenger, and the breed was made famous for its role in Pacific battles in Okinawa and Guam. The Doberman was also used for search-and-rescue when the World Trade Center towers collapsed in 2001.

Now it is one of the most loving, loyal, and protective pets a family can have.

The Doberman has a long muzzle and stands on its toes (not the pads) and is not usually heavy-footed. Ideally, they have an even and graceful gait. Traditionally, the ears are cropped and posted and the tail is docked. However, in some countries it is illegal to do so. Dobermans have markings on the chest, paws/legs, muzzle, above the eyes, and underneath the tail.

Dobermans are well known as intelligent, alert and tenaciously loyal companions and guard dogs. Personality varies a great deal between each individual, but if taken care of and trained properly they tend to be loving and devoted companions. The Doberman is driven, strong and sometimes stubborn. Owning one requires commitment and care, but if trained well, they can be wonderful family dogs. With a consistent approach they can be easy to train and will learn very quickly. If properly trained, they can be excellent with children.

This athletic dog needs brisk walking every day and all-out running as often as possible. Too little exercise and too little companionship can lead to restlessness and other behavioral problems. Mental exercise (advanced obedience, agility, tracking, Schutzhund) is just as important to this thinking breed.

Though some Dobermans are big softies who love everyone, most are reserved with strangers and protective of their family. Early and extensive socialization is mandatory to avoid either shyness or sharpness. Some Dobermans are dominant with other dogs. Some are confirmed cat chasers, while others love small animals.

Some excel in advanced obedience competition, while others are hardheaded and will test to find their place in the pecking order. Calm, consistent leadership is a must, and obedience training must be upbeat and persuasive rather than sharp. This breed does not tolerate teasing or mischief.