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

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

We're both international students and live in a 2-room shared apartment provided by the Studierendenwerk. I am registered with the ARD, so I pay 55.08 quarterly. My current flatmate moved in 2023. And since then, I haven't received her contribution. She has the Beitragsnummer. Every time I ask her, she makes excuses. Honestly, I'm getting really tired of constantly reminding her and asking her. I seriously need advice on how I can get my money.
Recently, I've been selected for a workshop from DAAD, even though it is completely paid. But I won't get the money until the end of the workshop. I would like some extra cash.

Please help. Thank you for reading

I just saw the american Abendbrot post remembered a discussion I had with friends while on vacation - should cheese, sausages and other things you have for breakfast or dinner be taken out of the packaging and put on a plate or not? I'm not talking about a more formal setting with guests, but a normal weekend family breakfast (or weekday dinner).

I'm firmly on team "leave it in the packaging". I think you should avoid unnecessary touching of foods your might not immediately eat. While in their packaging, the things are also still fairly protected from sneezes, spit while talking or flies.

My friends were of the opinion that putting them on a plate simply looked nicer and that all of my hygiene concerns were exaggerated.

What do team are you on? Packaging or plate?

Hi everyone! We are planning a 2–3 night trip to the Black Forest in mid-October, travelling entirely by public transport.

We’re thinking of visiting Freiburg, Titisee, Feldberg and Schluchsee. We’re not planning any long hikes, but short walks/hikes for autumn scenery are fine.

Where would be the best base for this itinerary without a car? Titisee, Freiburg, Hinterzarten, or somewhere else?

Any recommendations or suggestions for the itinerary would be much appreciated!

(pic as proof I went 😂)

Hi there,

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

I'm extremely confused.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hi everyone,

I'm living in a furnished apartment in Germany, and I'm looking for some advice on a situation with my landlord.

I recently discovered moisture in a wall and reported it immediately. After inspecting the apartment several times, my landlord acknowledged that it's not my fault and that there's a leak in the separation wall causing the moisture to spread.

Now, after a few inspections, the landlord handed me a mutual termination agreement with four months' notice, asking me to move out because the cause is still unclear and the repairs could take a long time. I haven't agreed to this or signed anything.

Apparently, the repairs may not even begin for another three to four months, and I haven't received a clear timeline or a written report explaining the extent of the damage or whether the apartment is safe to live in until then.

I really don't want to move. Finding accommodation is already difficult, and my current apartment is furnished. Moving would mean potentially higher rent, buying furniture, paying deposits, moving costs and possibly rental-search fees, not to mention the time, stress and emotional burden.

Can my landlord legally ask me to leave in this situation? If the apartment becomes uninhabitable during repairs, are they responsible for temporary accommodation or related costs?

I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who has experienced something similar or understands German tenancy law. Thank you!

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

Hi everyone,

I have a question regarding how to turn off water completely in my apartment. I live in Munich and this is what I see in my washroom. I want to install a water filter to my shower because of the water hardness. For that I need to turn off the water supply. The knob on the right turns off cold water completely but hot water still seems to be running and in that case, I can not open the shower connection and install the filter. When I checked with AI, it told me to take off the bottom left "cap" and there I would be able to turn off the hot water. But it seems to be glued and I am scared to break anything. Can any of you decipher how to tackle this.

Just FYI, I had installed this filter at my previous apartment with ease as the similar known turned off the water completely. I didn't have to worry about hot or cold water. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Hi all, this is a question about which my friend is wondering. I will try to explain as well as possible regarding the timeline.

My friend came to germany for masters in 2021, so in nov it will already be 5 years for her here. She already has a B1 language certificate. Currently she is on a Blue card job which she has till August 2027 (her Blue card expires in nov 2027). She is not sure if her contract will be extended and considering the current job market, lets assume she doesn't have a job after next year August. She lives in a small city in Saxony. So her application wont be in a bigger city like Berlin which might or might not expedite the process.

According to timeline she will be eligible to apply for a citizenship in nov this year (so next month). Assuming, she has all the other documents for eg. the einbürgerung test certificate (she hasn't given that test yet), B1 language, completed her probation for the blue card job, etc...will it affect if her contract expires in aug 2027? Ofc she will start applying for other jobs and everything but is it safe to assume that if everything works on time from next month, that she gets the citizenship before aug 2027 ends? And if she gets the citizenship, she doesn't have to worry much about her contract not extending and worry about her visa status, right?

Sorry if this query seems stupid, any opinions are welcome. Thanks

Hallo,

Recently I arrived at the Berlin Brandenburg airport,

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

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

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

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

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

Thanks!

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

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

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

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

Please don't be like me when I came to Germany. Totally uninformed and I had to survive on crackers.

If I buy online in Germany, can I get a shipment in a specific place for ne to pick up? Because they are telling me I need a German number which I don't have and I will stay in Germany for only 18 hours.

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

Hello, I am searching for a data provider as I move to Germany in a month and I am not sure witch to chose,I am looking for an unlimited plan, from what I found online the average plan is around 50 euros(I come from Romania where the average unlimited 5G plan is around 2 euros) so I am not sure where to search.

Edit: if U have any referral links u can send them to me as long as I found a good deal I don't care

I always thought Germans were pretty big on keeping work and personal life separate. But the other day, I ran into my son’s kindergarten teacher outside of work, and she actually hugged me. I was honestly caught off guard.

I didn’t hug her back at first because I really wasn’t expecting it, but then I kind of awkwardly offered my cheek instead 😂

How should I interpret this? Is this just a sign that she feels comfortable with me, or am I reading too much into it?

If your Expatrio Blocked Account is still showing “Activate” despite completing POSTIDENT multiple times and getting your address proof approved, please read this. This might save you days of frustration!

I was facing exactly this issue. I contacted Expatrio support several times, but most replies were chatbot-generated. Even when a human replied, they just pasted the general FAQ instructions without addressing my situation.

Here’s what worked for me:

- I visited the Expatrio office in Berlin.

- I spoke directly with an employee who checked my account and resolved the issue in around 10 minutes.

- Approximately 3 hours later, my first blocked-account payout arrived in my bank account!

📍 My advice: Based on my experience, you can visit the Berlin office after 10 a.m. and ask for help with your activation issue. I had previously been told that walk-ins weren't possible, but I was able to speak to an employee in person and get my issue resolved.

I can't guarantee every case will be the same, but if you've completed all the verification steps and online support isn't helping, this may be worth trying before repeating POSTIDENT again.

I'm sharing this because I know how stressful it is when your money is inaccessible and rent and other living expenses are due. Hopefully, this helps someone else avoid the same hassle!

If you're facing this issue, don't lose hope.

Hi everyone! ❤️

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

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

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

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

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

or

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

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

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

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

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

Thanks to the Redditor who has the original Idea. 😍

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

What I remember:

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

What I don't think it was:

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

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

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

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

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

Thanks!