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Living abroad is amazing for so many reasons - it opens your heart and mind to new people and different cultures, languages, climate, food... the list goes on. The things that seem mundane at home, going to work or running errands, for example, take on a whole new meaning as you have to figure them out from a fresh and exciting perspective.

Getting used to local customs as a foreigner is not only a fun challenge, but it can also be a good laugh too. Misunderstandings and funny things are bound to occur as you try to get to grips with a complicated new language and way of doing things, and the best way to deal with them is to try not to take yourself too seriously!

American English teacher and blogger Jessie Meier knows this all too well. Her witty and erudite observations about life in Germany encompass things like the endless joy and beauty of the German language, some lighthearted complaining about slightly odd local habits and the German culture, and the funny everyday sightings and occurrences that living as an 'expat' can throw up sometimes.

Scroll down below to see what we mean for yourself, and let us know what you think in the comments!

#1

German-Funny-Things-Jessie-Meier

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Julia Federkiel
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Nehmt Rücksicht!" is like, Take into consideration that you're not alone on this path (Best tanslation I can came up with xD)

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Aaron Kara
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No flying and cycling at the same time

Tor Rolf Strøm
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why is that rocket kid carrying a bicycle?

Laci
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Do not launch yourself off your bike when there are pedestrians around.

RitaGG
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Laughed so hard it made my butt pucker. :-)

Monika Soffronow
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To add a little more meat on the bones for non-Europeans: many European countries have a lot of designated bike lanes. Cyclists will likely be going full speed ahead and if a pedestrian then steps into the bike lane without looking, a bad accident may happen.

Sandera
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, truth be told, we just say YOLO. Translated it would be man lebt nur einmal

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Jenica Thomas
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Extra points for the guy with the cane!

NWB
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Graphically it has so much going on! the designer probs thought...hmm how many folks can I get in this sign! AND speed lines!! epic!

Mary Rose Kent
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don’t know German, but judging from the graphics on the sign I’m going with “Don’t Be A Rocket!”

Tom Hardeveld
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Watch out, Johnny Knoxville ahead"

Michael Morgan
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sign: "BE CONSIDERATE" Why flying? Just illustrate his stopping

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    #2

    German-Funny-Things-Jessie-Meier

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    #4

    German-Funny-Things-Jessie-Meier

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    GodOfHyperdeath
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Alpaca my stuff and go to Germany just to drink that

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    #5

    German-Funny-Things-Jessie-Meier

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    Thyamath
    Community Member
    6 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's a very popular childrens book from Wolf Erlbruch. He taught illustration at our university. Considering most of his stuff aims at kiddos, he was a very... let's say difficult person! :D

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    #7

    German-Funny-Things-Jessie-Meier

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    Demonic Darkness
    Community Member
    6 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Offenkar.. What a long word. What does it mean?

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    #8

    German-Funny-Things-Jessie-Meier

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    Orillion
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Thing is, when men are drunk, everything looks like a urinal...

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    #9

    German-Funny-Things-Jessie-Meier

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    #10

    German-Funny-Things-Jessie-Meier

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    Wil Vanderheijden
    Community Member
    6 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    But you do need a lot more education to be a busdriver then to be a blogger.

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    #11

    German-Funny-Things-Jessie-Meier

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    Koalamonster
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    In fairness there are weird lawn ornaments everywhere.

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    #12

    German-Funny-Things-Jessie-Meier

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    Night Owl
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I love the animals ready to eat with knifes, forks, napkins and everything LOL

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    #13

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    Gregor Samsa
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Der Hinweis ist für die Amerikaner gedacht. Die könnten darauf kommen.

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    #14

    German-Funny-Things-Jessie-Meier

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    Linda Something
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yeah, she does have a slightly skeptic look on her face...

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    #16

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    Falcon
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    clever sentence, the design on the other hand still requires a lot of work.

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    #17

    German-Funny-Things-Jessie-Meier

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    Vex Boxx
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Maybe she's just tossing them all up in the air and then smiling as she walks off, not catching them but setting herself free.

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    #18

    German-Funny-Things-Jessie-Meier

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    Mimis Nachbarin
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ich finde den Begriff "Trend-Wasser" wesentlich bedenklicher...

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    #19

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    #22

    German-Funny-Things-Jessie-Meier

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    Vicky Zar
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Itts just a name. Doesn't mean anything. Look up Hella von Sinnen

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    #23

    German-Funny-Things-Jessie-Meier

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    Dynein
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I feel the need to add that the sign says : Will by gold fillings (also with teeth). Never seen that specification...

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    #24

    German-Funny-Things-Jessie-Meier

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    Rissie
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Well F**k in this context doesn't need to be blurred out, since it's not used as a profanity. And it's pronounced f**k anyway.

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    #25

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    Koalamonster
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I can't get past that face... the other 2 the eyes are just kinda cute but THAT one creeps me out.

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    #26

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    #28

    German-Funny-Things-Jessie-Meier

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    Wil Vanderheijden
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    But German kids don't need bulletproof schoolbags.

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    #29

    German-Funny-Things-Jessie-Meier

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    Ellie Ragsdale
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I immediately thought of dank in another context... I guess this business is fine while people ar high?

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    #32

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    Richard Olson
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    How does washing your FACE make THAT gorgeous? And probably not a good idea to have anything labeled 'Cactus' near your teint...

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    #33

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    Stimpy
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    ... But even in America "bang" has other, more dominant, meanings than "f*****g", right?

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    #34

    German-Funny-Things-Jessie-Meier

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    Miklós Nagy
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's actually really a ghost in the commercials.

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    #35

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    #36

    German-Funny-Things-Jessie-Meier

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    Candace Fitzpatrick
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Also 5 warnings for Germans and only 3 for English 🤔

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    #37

    German-Funny-Things-Jessie-Meier

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    earringnut
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The grammar is humerus but let's take a second to appreciate the punctuation.

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    #39

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    AJu
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Honoré de Balzac is a Frech writer. As far as I know, this chain of coffee shops was named after him

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    #40

    German-Funny-Things-Jessie-Meier

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    Caridina Japonica
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Some kids play firefighter because they are big fans, some play family because they repeat their experienced family life, some play nurse or doctor because themselves or a kindergarden fellow is sick, there's nothing wrong with giving your kids (non-functional childproof) doctor toys.

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    #41

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    AJu
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Those are Nike shoes. So actually American design

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    #42

    German-Funny-Things-Jessie-Meier

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    Sanne H.
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I believe Follower is also plural in German?

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