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LIVING IN GERMANY

Living in Germany: Annoying your German neighbours and the death of the fax machine

In this week's roundup we write about getting on our German neighbours' nerves by accident, fax machines being phased out in the Bundestag, strikes and differences in life expectancy across Germany.

A Panasonic fax machine from the 1990s.
A Panasonic fax machine from the 1990s. Photo: Panasonic KX-F90.jpg: Pittigrilliderivative work: Georgfotoart - own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=101309544

Living in Germany is our weekly look at some of the news and talking points in Germany that you might not have heard about. Members can receive it directly to their inbox on Saturday.

Getting on your German neighbours’ nerves 

We love living in Deutschland. Whether moving for work, love or just to have a life change, embracing German life has been a fulfilling experience. Many of us at The Local (and our readers) have put roots down in Germany, making German friends and perhaps even marrying a German. But one thing that is also true is: we as internationals will still annoy our German neighbours, even if we don’t mean to.

For example, perhaps you’ve arranged a gathering with friends and forgot to put up a note to say you’d be louder during Ruhezeit (quiet time) only to receive a telling off from your neighbour or a passive aggressive note on the stairwell the next morning. Speaking of Ruhezeit, perhaps you’ve cleaned a little too hard during the period when things should be peaceful. Maybe that involved vacuuming on a Sunday or putting the washing machine on too late. As Imogen Goodman wrote in her story on ways you might annoy your German neighbours, “German neighbourhood laws enforce certain ‘quiet periods’ in which your cleaning, music practice and DIY plans will unfortunately have to be put on hold. You can fall afoul of these if you take out the hoover between 12pm and 3pm on weekday afternoons, or in the evenings after 10pm.” 

These are understandable grievances and we have to adapt to the German way of life. But some just go a little too far. For instance, we’ve heard of neighbours in Germany complaining about balconies that have too many fairy lights turned on late at night, and even complaints about the smells of cooking. And two of our friends were repeatedly told off by their downstairs neighbours in Berlin for walking around in their apartment too much. Our advice? Try and forge a good relationship with your neighbours as soon as you move into your flat – consider getting them bread from a nice bakery as a gesture – so you’re less likely to get under their skin in future. 

Tweet of the week

Germany may be moving into the 21st century. That’s right, we found out this week that the German parliament is pledging to phase out fax machines by mid-next year! Miracles do happen. 

Where is this?

Bremen main station

Photo: DPA/Sina Schuldt

A warning strike by the GDL train drivers’ union took place this week, resulting in disruption for travellers. Here, a rail customer with a suitcase makes their way to Bremen main station early on Friday morning after the industrial action ended on Thursday night. The GDL has warned that more strikes could happen – including during the holiday season – if their demands for better pay and conditions are not met. 

Did you know?

New figures released this week show how long Germans are living. Figures from the Federal Institute for Population Research showed an average life expectancy of 82.9 years for women and 78.2 years for men. But did you know that there are strong regional differences? The state where people tend to live the longest is Baden-Württemburg. Women in the university city of Tübingen take the top spot, living up to 84.7 years, and the men up to 80.2, according to the figures. Meanwhile, the region of Germany with the lowest life expectancy for both men and women is the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, with men living to 75.4 years and women to 82.1.

Life expectancy in Germany is slightly above the EU average but is lower in comparison to countries like Switzerland and Spain. Out of the 16 countries in Western Europe, Germany ranks 15th for men and 14th among women.

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INSIDE GERMANY

Inside Germany: ‘Ampel’ makeover and can Euro 2024 bring Germans together?

From how the Euros are providing a sense of relief in Germany amid heightened tensions to a traffic light transformation in Frankfurt and lucky chimney sweeps, here's what we've been talking about this week.

Inside Germany: 'Ampel' makeover and can Euro 2024 bring Germans together?

Inside Germany is our weekly look at some of the news, talking points and gossip in Germany that you might not have heard about. It’s published each Saturday and members can receive it directly to their inbox by going to their newsletter preferences or adding their email to the sign-up box in this article.

The Euros are bringing Germans together – but tension remains 

Whichever way you look at it, it’s been a turbulent few years. In the aftermath of the Covid pandemic, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, sparking forced migration, an energy crisis and fears over war spreading in Europe. 

In Germany, the cost of living crisis has been gripping residents for years, resulting in increased strike action and protests. Meanwhile, the economy has tanked, support for the coalition government is falling dramatically, division remains over war in the Middle East and the the far-right has climbed in the polls. At the recent European parliament elections, Alternative for Germany (AfD) took second position in the national vote. 

READ ALSO: What do Germany’s far-right gains in EU elections mean for foreigners?

With these unresolved issues, you might think that Germany would struggle to come together to organise the UEFA Euro 2024 tournament this summer.

But so far, Deutschland has been a fantastic host.

The scenes of fans from different countries gathering in German cities and mixing with locals have been joyous to see. 

Games and logistical matters are taking place without any major problems (at least most of the time).

Hammering Scotland 5-1 in the opening game may have brought Germans a much needed boost. Seeing residents from all walks of life huddle around TVs on streets or attend fan zones to cheer on their team has felt like something we’ve all needed after such heavy years. 

Perhaps if the German team goes far, it will unite people even more. 

But the tension is still around. 

A recent survey by broadcaster WDR’s Sport Inside, found that one in five respondents would prefer if the German national team had more “white” players, highlighting racist attitudes. 

It comes after German partygoers were filmed singing “foreigners out!” on the holiday island of Sylt. 

The Euros are providing much-needed light relief in Germany right now – but football won’t fix everything. 

Frankfurt Ampelmann gets makeover

Football figures on the traffic lights in Frankfurt to celebrate Euro 2024.

Football figures on the traffic lights in Frankfurt to celebrate Euro 2024. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Andreas Arnold

Football fever is gripping the nation – and Frankfurt has updated its traffic lights or Ampeln to to celebrate

Anyone walking through central Frankfurt might spot the Ampelmann (traffic light man) giving a red card or kicking the ball – depending on the colour. 

German cities are known for their unusual traffic light figures. 

The most famous are the Ampelmännchen (little traffic light men) in Berlin. These were first created in what was then East Berlin back in 1961 and now appear on various traffic lights in the centre of the German capital. 

Germany in Focus

In the latest episode of our Germany in Focus podcast, we talk about our highlights of Euro 2024 so far, why the German coalition is hanging by a thread, the postal system reform, how offices are preparing for the German citizenship law changes and the German vocabulary you need to watch football. 

Lucky chimney sweeps

My building recently received a visit from a lovely Schornsteinfeger (chimney sweep) to check our boilers were in working order. 

It reminded me that seeing a chimney sweep is meant to bring good luck in Germany. 

That’s because they traditionally came to homes to clean out chimneys, removing soot and dirt, which would help ward off the possibility of fires (as well as unwanted evil spirits). 

A chimney sweep on a roof on Maulbronn, Baden-Württemberg in 2023.

A chimney sweep on a roof on Maulbronn, Baden-Württemberg in 2023. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Bernd Weißbrod

They may not actually be going into chimneys and getting covered in soot these days but they’re still providing maintenance and checking on various heating systems which can only be a Glücksbringer (lucky charm).

You’re supposed to get even more luck if you touch a chimney sweep – for example by shaking their hand or twisting one of their silver buttons – but you should probably ask them first. 

If you see a Schornsteinfeger on New Year’s Day or on your wedding day it’s meant to be even luckier.

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