Expat Chatter

Long gone are the days when you could walk down to the local five-and-dime store to buy anything. These days, no matter what you want to buy, you’re going to have to drive. Support the show www.expatchatter.net   Brenda Arnold

Germans are so careful about maintaining their cars and build their houses so well that they are practically airtight. But on New Year’s Eve, their sense of caution quite literally vanishes into thin air. Support the show www.expatchatter.net   Brenda Arnold

I loved Christmas cookies growing up and thought they were pretty good, but have since discovered that German holiday confectionary is in a league of its own – the premier league. Support the show www.expatchatter.net   Brenda Arnold

The news is all abuzz about the World Cup games in Qatar, but the coolest action is taking place outside the stadiums. Support the show www.expatchatter.net   Brenda Arnold

It wouldn’t be a holiday without pumpkin pie, but what I bake today is a far cry from what my mother used to put in the oven. Support the show www.expatchatter.net   Brenda Arnold

On just a 10-minute walk through Munich, I passed a murder scene leading to the end of Bavaria’s first parliament, an infamous chapter of WWII and the rebirth of Bavaria’s democracy.   Support the show www.expatchatter.net   Brenda Arnold

My trust in native speakers was boundless, and it caused me to maneuver myself into an excruciatingly embarrassing situation  Support the show www.expatchatter.net   Brenda Arnold

Somehow I keep coming across the camino or Way of St. James, leading to surprising encounters on rural country roads in Spain and urban squares in Munich. Support the show www.expatchatter.net   Brenda Arnold

Looking at U.S. politics over the past few years, Germans recognize many patterns from the Third Reich. One of these is the banning of books. Support the show www.expatchatter.net   Brenda Arnold

Some Germans celebrate Halloween, but not all of them. I was determined to find a way for my kids to enjoy it the way I did, spurring me to take some unusual action.  Support the show www.expatchatter.net   Brenda Arnold

 It’s that time of year again: The leaf blowers are back! They add to an increasingly noisy world, but it’s also possible to create pleasant sounds or eliminate them altogether. Support the show www.expatchatter.net   Brenda Arnold

English has its downsides. But when you compare it to German, French, and Spanish it suddenly looks surprisingly efficient and user-friendly. Support the show www.expatchatter.net   Brenda Arnold

Following a three-year hiatus, Munich’s favorite party returned. Corona didn’t dampen people’s spirits, but I wondered if the fleas survived the long stretch. Support the show www.expatchatter.net   Brenda Arnold

I thought my French was good enough to get me around southern France. But language skills were not enough. Support the show www.expatchatter.net   Brenda Arnold

My experience with mushrooms was confined to cans as a kid. In Germany, collecting them is a cherished hobby – but don’t bother asking anybody where to find them because they aren’t telling. Support the show www.expatchatter.net   Brenda Arnold

The 1972 Munich Olympic Games brought many long-lasting improvements to the city, but they were overshadowed by a tragic terrorist attack. Support the show www.expatchatter.net   Brenda Arnold

It’s been 50 years since the Munich Olympics were held, but their impact lives on in both triumph and tragedy. Part I – Triumph. Support the show www.expatchatter.net   Brenda Arnold

The German language is very precise and detailed, sometimes to the extent that it goes well beyond being descriptive and descends into hilarity. Support the show www.expatchatter.net   Brenda Arnold

Language class is where you learn to speak a language, but just memorizing vocabulary and practicing dictations won’t do the trick. I found a surprising way to get our exchange student to talk.  Support the show www.expatchatter.net   Brenda Arnold

Raising a family in Germany was a golden opportunity to raise my kids bilingually. I initially thought this meant just speaking to them in English, but reality proved to be a lot trickier. I discovered I had quite a few tricks up my sleeve.  Support the show www.expatchatter.net   Brenda Arnold

 It’s funny, but when you go abroad, you are suddenly expected to be fully informed about activities in your home country. Worse still, you are often held responsible for their shenanigans, especially abroad.  Support the show www.expatchatter.net   Brenda Arnold

 The next best thing to free is Germany’s €9 ticket. Apart from motivating even motorheads to hop on the train, it has inspired a few surprising insights and may even have a permanent impact on Germany’s urban transport.  Support the show www.expatchatter.net   Brenda Arnold

 The same things that make mothers worry often provide the most valuable lessons to their children. Leftover bombs from WWII provided just such a harrowing but valuable learning opportunity.  Support the show www.expatchatter.net   Brenda Arnold

 Germany has the reputation of being punctual and reliable. But recent snafus in city planning are putting a big dent into that image.  Support the show www.expatchatter.net   Brenda Arnold

  There are millions of Ukrainian refugees in Germany, and I decide to help out by teaching a German class. It was nothing like teaching English and demanded more of my creativity than I had imagined.  Support the show www.expatchatter.net   Brenda Arnold