Expat Chatter

It is best to learn the standard version of a language, but what if you can’t differentiate between what is dialect and standard? In a bizarre twist of events, I speak more German dialect than my dau…

The pandemic is over, but its effects continue - sometimes in strange ways. I got used to wearing a mask and seeing others wear them but didn’t realize that taking them off would have some unexpected…

There was a lot of hullabaloo when Adidas dropped its sponsorship of the rapper Ye for his antisemitic and racist remarks, a deal worth hundreds of millions of euros. But people might not realize tha…

Companies sometimes use shady tactics to gain the upper hand in a market. But this is nothing new. In the past, one city even went so far as to burn down their competitors’ town. Cutthroat competitio…

Germany has become a land of immigrants but is still grappling with this new identity. Munich’s population consisted of 28% foreigners in 2021 and has continued to grow. The perception and treatment …

There’s a lot to be said for approaching challenging situations with the right attitude, which is called reframing. On a recent trip across the Atlantic, I had my reframing capabilities put to a seri…

Signs are there for the express purpose of helping you find your way. They tell you where you are or which direction to take. But signs in a foreign country, even or especially when you think you und…

Everybody has their idea of a perfect vacation. I enjoy the ocean, but I don’t have any particular need to get down into it and rub elbows with the creatures of the deep – or fins, as the case may be…

Germany already experimented with a cheap train ticket last summer. People loved it so much that as soon as summer ended, they started clamoring for a repeat performance. So now we’re getting another…

The U.S. is not just a large country, everything in it seems bigger, too. This includes the huge piles of garbage created from every restaurant visit that are not recycled. For someone living in Germ…

Eyeglasses and watches used to be mundane utilitarian accessories until designers were invited to the table. The ordinary sock has now joined in on the game and is no longer a simple stocking, but a …

Just as I was getting used to not being a mother, my COVID-harassed daughters came home - left - and came home - repeatedly. Now I'm trying to remember, what was it again that I always did for Easter…

Chicago was named by French fur traders who founded the city, which was destroyed by a big fire started by a cow. It is the windiest city in the country and is called Second City, trailing behind New…

I fantasize about taking my kids back to where I grew up to show them the real America. Except when I arrive, it’s often to discover that many things have changed. Shops have disappeared, new restaur…

When is a snack a meal? It depends on what country you’re in, as Germans discover when they go to America to find potato chips on their dinner plate. Europeans brought foods with them across the Atla…

New York feels like another world compared to Munich. Many elements are obvious and in plain sight, but the essence of the city is more elusive. New Yorkers are different from Munich residents in so …

American companies have made serious inroads into the economies of Europe and elsewhere, but this has come at a cost. There have been some pretty big flops along the way as executives naively thought…

There are grocery stores, and then there’s Aldi. In the decades since WWII, this discounter chain has not only won over the wallets of its customers but also their hearts. Faithful Aldi customers fro…

Many Americans think their sports are “all American” but football and baseball have long been a popular export. Millions of people across the world watch the Super Bowl. As an American raising my kid…

Germany has the reputation of having generous social programs, with vivid descriptions such as "cradle-to-grave" care. This makes it sound as if the state holds your hand and guides you gently throug…