Decades From Home - A Podcast About Germany

Nic is worried that the producer is trying to blackmail him, although Dili seems less than supportive of his current predicament. We discuss problem neighbours, if it’s better to live next door to family or have them as far aways as possible, and whether independence is both a blessing and a curse. Also, Dili challenges Nic to watch an awarding winning German TV show that seemingly revolves around an incestious relationship.

We look at how moving to Germany presents some unique challenges to new arrivals, chief among them being making friends, but also how migrant success can give a person a deep sense of pride. We also take some time to look at how children can change perspectives, hunting for Kindergartens, and different cultural approaches to raising kids.

The resignation of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern leads to a discussion on how women in public life are treated in Germany, shock at how patriarchal Germany can be, and the sometimes worryingly rigid ideas about gender roles.

For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees currently fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can:

Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.

Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Save the Children

Ärzte ohne Grenzen

Image Credit

Foto von Kelly Sikkema auf Unsplash

Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

Sadly Dili was out this week, but luckily for us freelance writer & journalist Aaron Gasch Burnett was able to step into the breach. Some listeners may know Aaron from his work on the Germany in Focus podcast, as well as a variety of articles for many other publications.

We kick off proceedings in typical German fashion with a test on Aarons credentials, and by credentials we mean opinions on German politeness, maple syrup, and of course cakes. Aaron discusses his experience of hosting the I am Germany Twitter account (@Germany_iam), his German grandparents, and even schools Nic on Canadian rodeo.

With attention on potential changes to citizenship rules in Germany, Aaron shares his thoughts on the likelihood of a new law coming into effect, how things might actually change for those hoping to gain dual citizenship, and potential stumbling blocks along the way. We finish this week on the rivalry between Bavaria and Berlin, and why Berlin is one of the best places to live in Germany.

For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees currently fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can.

Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.

Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Save the Children

Ärzte ohne Grenzen

Image Credit

Foto von Moises Gonzalez auf Unsplash

Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

December is upon us, and with the arrival of Advent we discuss wooden Advent calendars, homemade calendars, and why giving chocolate to children at eight in the morning seems a terrible idea. We also chat German football terminology, direct translations, and our most used German words and phrases.

After an email from a listener sparks a discussion on language learning, we compare notes on how we maintain our German, and offer some tips on some of the small things we do to keep improving. The recent announcement of proposed changes to citizenship in Germany leads us to talk about our own experiences of gaining citizenship, the pitfalls, and why taking a different passport isn’t simply a matter of paperwork.

We finish on a study from the Kraftfahrtbundesamtes (Federal Motor Transport Authority) which has found that more traffic offenses are caused by men than women in Germany.

Links

Men commit more traffic offended than women

German citizenship faster? Sounds like a good idea, but guess who’s against it?

For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees currently fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can:

Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.

Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Save the Children

Ärzte ohne Grenzen

Image Credit

Photo by Elena Mozhvilo on Unsplash

Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

A listener’s email gives us a chance to celebrate Dili’s new microphone, although we might forgo the traditional celebratory cup of tea given Germany’s track record for making a decent brew. Why is tea so maligned here, and might it have to do with some good old British Schadenfreude?

It’s the second week of January, and with most people head back at work, we take a look at the world of German politics as planning for 2023 begins. We discuss the various fault lines within the Ampelkoalition, and what we can expect from our politicians over the coming year.

Sticking with politics, we look at the verbal mudslinging between Bavaria and Berlin as two prominent politicians highlight the regional differences that can be found in a country of 16 very different states. Finally, Dili has some questions about the Royal revelations coming out of the UK, and what they mean for the future of the monarchy.

Links Mentioned in the Show:

Ordered a tea in Germany. Milk added to hot water. Tea bag on the side. Feels like a hate crime.

For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees currently fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can:

Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.

Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Save the Children

Ärzte ohne Grenzen

Image Credit

Foto von Joanna Kosinska auf Unsplash

Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

On the show this week:

Living in Germany presents unique challenges, not all them are entirely predictable, such as fighting an 8 year old for a seat on the train. Dili may not have known she was about to throwdown with a small child, but she’s never been one to shrink from a confrontation. We discuss confronting unruly kids, another Bavarian Volksfest, and an invasion of hornets.

With Germany still suffering from a heatwave, we look at government advice for keeping cool, and why putting your pants in the freezer is an alternative to air conditioning. We also turn our attention to the recent electoral success of the AfD in Thuringia, and the ramifications of the first district administrator from the far right party.

We finish on a happier note as Nic attempts to educate Dili on the wonders of football in the run up to EURO 2024, starting with choosing a name for the tournament’s new mascot.

For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees currently fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can.

Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.

Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Save the Children

Ärzte ohne Grenzen

Theme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß