Americans in Germany Drinking Whiskey

As Americans living in Germany for many years, there is of course plenty we love about our new home. Throughout the run of the podcast, we have spoken at length about what makes Germany so great. However, we’re the first to admit it is not a perfect country (none are). This week we present to you part two in our series about what the USA gets right and indeed does better than Germany. Wow, 50 epis...

Who doesn’t love to travel around Europe? If you say, “me”, then this episode is probably not for you. This week we discuss our favorite travel destinations in Europe. These are the places we absolutely love to visit, again and again. Between the two of us, we’ve been lucky enough to spend time in the majority of the EU, which has given us insight into which cities are a “must see.”. During this e...

The epic showdown between the German North and South is finally here: Berlin vs. Bavaria! This week we have a fun comparison between two of Germany’s most popular destinations for expats, Berlin and Munich. The two cities not only have a large physical distance between them, but they also lie far apart in terms of their culture, food, and the daily lifestyles of their residents. If you’re having t...

Here we go again! The “German Shuffle” is a series of episodes in which we don’t focus on only one topic, but instead several unrelated topics. It’s a good ol’ fashioned variety show! This week’s episode will cover: strawberry themed amusement parks, enjoying a BBQ on your balcony, sex in Berlin’s public parks, German dentists, and much more!    Visit our sponsor Expatrio to get help moving to Ger...

Welcome to our second “Story Time" episode! We'll each be sharing interesting, funny and scary stories about experiences we've had traveling around Germany and Europe as a whole. We hope they are not only fun to listen to, but are also educational in their own weird ways. Listen to us talk about: Alex's stay at a party hostel on a Thai island, Geoff’s first Berlin apartment,  Alex's semi-involunta...

If you listened to last week's podcast, you might be noticing a pattern. Yes, yet another episode about saving money! This time, we’re focusing on how you can travel to Europe and within Europe “on the cheap.” We discuss how to pack like a pro, backpack around Europe like it’s the 1970’s all over again, and how to have fun in the popular cities without killing you budget. Come along with us, as we...

We’ve talked so much about how to get by in Germany and how to learn the language, but we haven’t mentioned how to do so when your bank account is running low. This week we’ll go into how to live in Germany on a budget and keep costs down if you have you to. We’ll discuss how to find an apartment, feed yourself, and have fun while not putting a huge burden on your wallet. Especially in cities like...

We're trying something new this week and we hope you all enjoy it. This will be our first ever "Story Time" episode! We'll each be sharing interesting, funny and scary stories about experiences we've had traveling around Germany and Europe as a whole. We hope they are not only fun to listen to, but are also educational in their own weird ways. Listen to us talk about: Alex's crazy night in Bulgari...

Finally, after over a year of requests from our listeners, we have brought our German girlfriends on the podcast! We’ve received many requests to interview them and get their perspective on dating a foreigner, especially an American, from the point of view of a German. We focus on what it was like for them growing up in their respective small villages, residing abroad in English speaking countries...

It’s once again time to hit the shuffle button on your iPod! The “German Shuffle” is a series of episodes in which we focus not on one topic, but on various unrelated topics. It’s a good ol’ fashioned variety show! This week’s episode will cover: the odd obsession Germans have with white asparagus, the surprising amount of items you can carry on your bicycle, what exactly a SCHUFA is, and much mor...

The best things come in threes, and our “cultural differences” series is no different. This week we discuss some of the many ways the USA and Germany are different in every day life. How are German prisons in contrast to those in the North America? Which country’s homes are mostly made of stone, rather than wood? What is a garbage disposal and why aren’t they common in Germany? We’ll cover these o...

We’ll be honest, neither of us are what you would call, “sports fanatics”, however we have had our fair share of experiences with sports while living in Germany. Some of the most popular sports here are football (soccer), handball, hockey and even basketball. Also, did you know there are even professional leagues in Germany that play American football? During this week’s episode we’ll cover - in a...

AGDW fans know we love a good ol’ fashioned Q & A. You continued to send us questions, so how could we not give you answers? Once again, we asked you all to send in your questions about moving to Germany, living in Germany, and…basically everything related to being an expat in Germany. Do Germans do brunch? Is there a visible difference between East and West Berlin? How hard is it to move to Germa...

Well, hello again, Mr. Shuffle! This is a series of episodes in which we focus not on one topic, but a wide variety of unrelated topics. It’s a good ol’ fashioned variety show! This week’s episode will cover: getting your bicycle stolen, the German Impfpass, weird clauses in apartment contracts, buying a home in Germany, and much more! 

Before moving abroad to any new country there are some important things you need to take into consideration. We're not talking about physical tasks, such as submitting paperwork, apply for visas, or finding an apartment (we’ve covered these items in a different episode). Instead, we're referring to the questions every soon-to-be expat should ask themselves before moving abroad. What kind of expat...

This week we discuss what it’s like to raise a child in Germany and the specifically “German” things that set the experience apart. Did you know the government will send you a monthly payment to help you with the extra costs? What is it like for your child’s German language skills to be better than yours or to be required to have the government’s approval of your son or daughter’s name? You’re pro...

This week we discuss some of the most useful German words and phrases that can help someone who has recently moved to Germany. In particular, we will cover the phrases we had to figure out on our own and were oddly not taught to us in our language classes. We’ll explain how we came upon these German gems and in what situations they are helpful. Some things you can’t learn in your German textbook a...

We finally have a sequel to one of our most popular episodes…after 53 episodes. This week we discuss some of the many ways the USA and Germany are different in every day life. Why are you locked out of your apartment in Germany if you simply close the door? Why is the average American toilet not equipped with a toilet brush?  Why does everyone in a German doctor’s waiting room say “hello” as you w...

Those who move abroad will have their own unique experience, however there are a few things all expats will share. For example, the set of questions they’ll inevitably be asked by all of their friends, family, and those they meet in their adopted homelands. This week we’ll be talking about the questions all expats are asked. How are you going to get a job? When are you moving back home? Are you fl...

When a person moves abroad for a long period of time, they sometimes begin to question their identity. There's a duality that comes with considering two different countries your home. What is the answer to, “where are you from?”. How has your adopted country changed your personality, who you are and what you believe? During this week’s episode we discuss our cultural identities and how they have c...

The “German Shuffle” is making another glorious appearance on the podcast! Love it or hate it, it’s here to stay. For the uninitiated, these are episodes in which we focus not on one topic, but several unrelated topics. Some go by quickly and some have much more “meat on the bone.” This week’s episode will cover: the maze of courtyards in German apartment buildings, the metric system, moving abroa...

It’s finally here, a good ol’ fashioned Q & A! You’ve got questions and we’ve got answers. For this week’s episode we asked all of you to send in your questions about moving to Germany, living in Germany, and…basically everything related to being an expat in Germany. Can you secure an apartment before you arrive in Germany? How easy is it to find a job if you only speak English? What does a German...

In 2020, the world changed. We'd loved to say for the better, but it was entirely for the worse. The Covid-19 pandemic hit us all and changed life as we know it forever. How did daily life in Germany change during 2020, with all of the lockdowns, lack of social contact, closure of all entertainment venues, and the requirement of wearing masks in public? What is it like to move abroad during a worl...

In the mood for some romance? This week we’re going to discuss what it’s like to date in Germany. What’s it like as a foreigner to have a relationship with someone from a different culture? Will the language barrier make it difficult to forge a relationship with your partner’s family? As someone from abroad, dating in Germany is at the same time entirely the same and entirely different as dating i...

Ever had a strange roommate? This week we’re focusing on “WG” life in Germany. 'WG" is short for Wohngemeinschaft, which means a shared apartment. A great way to grow your social circle after moving to Germany is to live with some locals, but how do you begin? During this episode we’ll discuss the process of finding a room in a German apartment, the interview process, the dynamics of the flat shar...