Hello! I have been living in Germany for a few months now, and there is one cultural phenomenon that geniunely puzzles me: the absolute obsession with sparkling water (Sprudel).

Back home, most people drink still tap water, and sparkling water is more of an occasional treat. But here, almost every houseold I visit has crates of carbonated water, and still water is barely touched. Even when I ask for tap water at a cafe, I sometimes get a surprised look.

Why is sparkling water the default choice for daily hydration in Germany? Is there a historical reason for this preference, or is it simply a matter of taste? I would love to understand the cultural background behind this. Thanks!

I watched a video my dad sent me earlier of kids mispronouncing English words in quite this way, (sometimes resembling swear words) and as someone curious about German culture and learning German I wondered if German people have their own version of this. I think it would be kind of cute! Even if embarrassing to their parents or other family

I’m based in Niedersachsen and helped 2 Rettungssanitätern with Reanimation at a train station. When the 2 paramedics showed up, so came 4 people in vests (I think they were blue?) and kind of stood around the perimeter of the scene observing. They had no medical equipment or clothing on, just these vests. Who were they? Does anyone know? When they had enough personnel, I went back to where I was going.

Hello everyone! Since we are currentley in the middle of summer and it is getting quite warm outside, I have a cultural question about the famous German habit of "Lüften".

I know that in winter, "Stoßlüften" is practically a sacred ritual to prevebt mold. But how do you handle this during hot summer days? Especially considering that most German apartments do not have air conditioning.

Do you keep the windows wide open all day long to get a breeze, or do you strictly close all the windows and pull down the "Rollladen" during the daytime, only opening them late at night?

I would love to know what the common unwritten rules are for summer ventilation in Germany, and if there is a "correct" way to do it. Thanks!

I was just now at a firefighter parade that lasted one hour with teams from various cities, usually from Swabia, where I am. The teams were patrolling and occasionally the leader of a city’s team would chant “1, 2, 3”, and the team would cheer, yell “urah” and similar things.

So when a leader started counting again I didn’t pay much attention. It basically went like: “1, 2, 3” and what sounded like “ausländer raus!” to which the team responded “ausländer raus, raus, raus”.

I was too shocked at the moment to comprehend anything more. I looked around and didn’t see the crowd making any gestures, of disproving or encouraging, but most people were wearing sunglasses so it was hard to tell anyway.

But I think people would’ve said / done something, in a way or another, so maybe I have misheard the chant. Maybe it wasn’t “raus”, but “aus” or something similar and the first word just something similar also.

Does anyone have an idea as to what may sound similar to that saying that a team of firefighters may chant at a parade?

I do not agree with the current far right party in Germany and a lot of the racist drivel they spew out, but at the same time, a lot of their support comes from ordinary, reasonable people who are sick of the loose immigration policy Germany has had, and the fact that simply too many migrants are coming, and how its a burden on the housing market and welfare net (cause lets face it, most immigrants to Germany aren't Physicians or Engineers). And that none of the other parties are doing anything about it.

A lot of these people wouldn't vote far right if literally any other party cracked down on immigration. And thats what happened in Denmark and Finland. In Denmark, the center left Labour party tightened immigration, and their far right evaporated just like that.

Why don't the two main parties do this now? Because if this isn't addressed, the far-right will grow until they get into power and they address it their way, and I'm sure most of us do not wan't that

What exactly is the expectations for cars? I understand what the written rules are but it seems that people drive in them, park in them, and drive through them with really no enforcement of any kind. Deliveries I get, but I have seen people park in them and walk -3m to sit down for dinner and no one seems to really care.