We answer your questions even before you have the question.
Questions
How to cope with the relentless gloom of German winter?
• Get appropriate warm clothes and go outside. Explore the Christmas markets, have dinner at new places, try a new cafe, go to a friend’s house or invite them over.
• Get vitamin D supplements so your guts are stronger and your infection or inflammation rate less throughout the year.
• Enjoy what comes with the winter mood: warm tea, cozy blankets, a nice book or a movie, comfort food, hugs, etc.
• Get a full-spectrum light bulb, meaning a lamp which emulates sunlight. This will help avoid depression.
• Just try to enjoy. Make videos for future memories.
Best christmas market to go in western Germany?
- North Rhine-Westphalia (Nordrhein-Westfalen)
- Rheinland-Pfalz (Rhineland-Palatinate)
- Saarland
- Aachen
- Bonn
- Cologne
- Dortmund
- Düsseldorf
- Essen
- Koblenz
- Mainz
- Saarbrücken
- Trier (Treves)
- Cologne
- Dusseldorf
- Dortmund
- Aachen
- Mainz
I want to make an international transfer from my German account but no amount was deducted and I don't see the estimated date of arrival, why?
Can I convert my driving license to international so it works in Germany?
How is Christmas celebrated in Germany?
If you feel you have COVID, and your university attendance is mandatory, what do you do?
• If your schnelltest report is negative, it could be because we don't push the bud too deep inside our nostrils, therefore giving inaccurate results.
• If the Apotheke test is positive, you call the doctor again for a medical certificate. They'll ask you to come to the hospital or even they might come home.
If I change my city registration (Stadt Anmeldung) address, will I also have to change my Tax ID (Steuer ID)?
What trash should you throw in which bin?
- The black or green (dark colored) ones are used for trash to be landfilled, meaning left-over foods, dust and dirt, old clothes. Basically non-recyclable items.
- The yellow are for plastic and aluminum packs as well as tetra pak (milk or others) packaging. Exact rules vary according to place. Basically all the recyclable materials.
- The blue ones are for paper and cardboard.
Is it true that it's not polite to wear a hat inside a building in Germany?
This standard comes from traditional times when a soldier entered another soldier's home, they took the hat off because having the hat on means they are on duty and are on war. So taking it off is a gesture that it's a friendly visit.
So it's a standard not just in Germany but all over Europe.
But but but, it's a rule "because that's how it's always been" means if you have a strong reason to keep the hat or cap on, you can and let the host know that reason.
Which means, "this rule" only applies to private spaces and not in public spaces. A train station, airport, shopping mall is a building but it's a public space where you can wear the hat.
But if you are in an elevator, it can turn into a private space. Or even a small compartment of the train can be a private space. It's a nice gesture to remove your headwear at that time.
When meeting or dining with someone in a private setting, it's expected to make eye contact and not hide your gaze or intentions. That's another reason.
Even without any reason, you'll feel that taking off the hat always feels like a gesture of showing respect and demonstrating consideration.
And when there is not a predefined reason behind a rule, people assume. Some people assume that the reason behind this standard could be that if you don't remove your hat when you visit someone, it might meant that you think the host is unable (too poor) or unwilling (too cheap) to heat the place to a comfortable temperature.
If a car is blocking your private parking space, what do you do?
But initially if it's the first time, try to find the car's owner and politely tell him/her about it.
If they repeat, maybe try leaving a note saying: "I would have to get it towed and you'll have to bear the towing expense if I see it parked the next time too."
But please don't try to block her car with your car to make her suffer because it's illegal.
So if you later want to get it towed, you can use the app called Parknotruf. You sign in to the app and send them pictures of the car and they'll tow it at no cost for you. But they'll collect all the towing and other expenses from the owner of the car.
If someone blocks your car in a public/street parking space, what should you do?
What is the most basic German dining etiquette I should know?
Proper cutlery usage in Germany is:
- Fork in the left hand, knife in the right hand. But if you are left handed, it can change.
- And you cut the food once, then have it.
- Then you do it again.
- If you are having mashed potatoes, use your knife in the right hand to help you push it to your fork, rather than trying to take it all just with the fork.
I have a sore throat. What is the best cough drop in Germany?
You can try: Em-Eukal, Ricola, Wick, Dolo-Dobendan lozenges, Dallmann's Salbei-Bonbon, or Pullmoll drops.
Some of them contain menthol and some sage which are great for relaxing the intestinal and respiratory muscles and treat internal ailments.
You can find all of them here.
A good tablet is Neo-Angin and you can find it only in a pharmacy but it can fix your throat right up.
But always try to consult your doctor before filling yourself with any sort of medication. Because each of us are different.
ACC Akut 600 is also good.
A spray from Wick is good too.
Usually you can find all the logenzes and drops in a supermarket but tablets and medication will only be found in a pharmacy.
I see a small mold in my washroom, should I inform my landlord?
But usually small molds can be cleaned with a chlorine mold remover and you can buy it online.
If it comes back, report it and pay for it to someone and get it fixed. You should report it so that there is a record of it or else in future you might face a blame even if you didn't do anything.
I need a quick anmeldung but I don't find accommodation unless I am physically present in Germany. And when I am in Germany, staying with a friend or relative won't let you do the anmeldung.
So: there are some companies like City4Loving and they offer furnished apartments as short term accommodation and anmeldung is possible as each flat has its own letter box.
But they are expensive.
Which you can try if you have no other option for now and it's urgent.
It's been forever and still I didn't receive my parcel. Why?
Sometimes they miss intentionally and sometimes not.
Usually when you live on the top floors like the seventh floor, if they have to bring your parcel to the floor, it's highly time consuming and they have countless more products to deliver within the set 10-hour timeframe.
In this case they either drop you a mail to collect it from the nearest office or packet station or in some cases the product is resend to the sender. The latter happens especially when you are not at home.
I have to tip 10% in a restaurant even if I am a student?
But if you want to, you can round off the amount and say "Passt so," meaning "It's okay, you can keep the change". This way they don't even have to look for a change. So you make their life easier and better by not making them look for a change.
Example: If you get a coffee for £3.49, you can give her £5.
It's a great gesture. Wait staff (waiters and waitresses) get paid a living wage and that's enough for them. So your tip is just given as an appreciation but it's not mandatory.
"Generous tipping can get you a foot in the door with the staff which can come in quite handy if you are somewhat regular."
Yes, so the first generous tip will make you stand out. You will always be remembered the next time.
I noticed a weird symbol on my front door, what could it be?
Burglars use this to notify other burglars of a potential target or give an overview of the home scenarios so that another burglar doesn't need to check again and they can target a date and time for an attack.
Those symbols are usually understood by the Polizei (police). So call the Polizei and they'll keep you safe.
Btw, the German word for hobo signs is Gaunerzinken.
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