Decades From Home - A Podcast About Germany

On the show this week:Dili is on holiday this week, but we’re joined by the wonderful Rachel Loxton of The Local & The Germany in Focus Podcast to talk about being Scottish in Germany, how paying the bill separately is a sure fire way to upset British friends, and why pretending to be Scottish might help make friends.Loneliness is a common complaint for many who move to Germany, but a recent initiative in Bavarian supermarkets may have the solution. Rachel and Nic discuss chatting at the checkout, why it can be a cure to the blues, and what may prevent small talk with your average German cashier. We finish off the show with Rachel’s experience of rising rents in Berlin, and why the capital isn’t the only city where affordable housing is hard to find. For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees currently fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can.Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal Save the ChildrenÄrzte ohne GrenzenTheme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

An angry reaction to a curious Oma leads to questions about whether it’s ever OK to compliment someone else’s child, and why Nic’s resting face may be preventing him from making friends with other parents. We also discuss ever increasing supermarket prices, and what a small selection of groceries tells us about the state of the German economy.We run through some of the major news stories, with claims of nepotism hitting the government, we wonder if it’s ever alright to employ friends and family. We also take some time to discuss EU proposals to make drivers over 70 retake their driving tests every five years.We finish with the nightmare scenario taking an exam, only to find that there’s an unanswerable question. Who should be blamed for such an extraordinary screw up, and should pupils be expected to resit the exam at a later date? For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees currently fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can.Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal Save the ChildrenÄrzte ohne GrenzenTheme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

A listener email concerning the coronation finally breaks our resolve, and we address the exciting news that a rich man will finally get to sit on his mother’s golden chair. We ask whether the many public appearances of Markus Söder are a cause for concern, and we address the recent criticism of Annalena Baerbock by public “intellectual” Richard David Precht. The sight of Maibäume appearing all around Bavaria gets us in the mood for spring, as we look at the many accompanying traditions to celebrate May 1st. What does a modern Maibaum party look like, do you really need Lederhosen, and why might stealing someone’s may pole lead to a reward?We finish the show with a look at scandal merchant and Mayor of Tübingen, Boris Palmer, who was criticised for his defence, and repeated use, of the N-word. For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees currently fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can.Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal Save the ChildrenÄrzte ohne GrenzenImage CreditPhoto by form PxHereTheme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

Hell hath no fury like a Dili scorned, a lesson that a certain German bank learned when they attempted to overcharge our erstwhile co-host. Luckily for Nic, he owns his own bank, which certainly seems to help. We also discuss adventures in the Bavarian Wald, and whether observing German traditions is vital to living here. The price of ice cream has become a major talking point in the German media, and as experts in eating various scoops of the sweet stuff, Dili & Nic breakdown why. Why are prices increasing so dramatically, and is the price of an Eiskugel a good way to measure annual price inflation?We also turn our attention to the debate raging over government plans to phase out gas and oil heating systems across Germany. Is the anger over the proposed law warranted, and how feasible is it to make people change the way they heat their homes? Ice Cream articles mentioned on the show:Und plötzlich kostet eine Kugel Eis locker zwei EuroKostet Eis heute wirklich so viel mehr?War die Kugel Eis früher wirklich günstiger?For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees currently fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can.Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal Save the ChildrenÄrzte ohne GrenzenImage CreditPhoto by Abby Savage on UnsplashTheme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

Nic’s been having some adventures, all of which seem to have involved wood. We discuss terrifying marionettes, and the joy of hanging out with an old school Bavarian Handwerksmeister. The recent nuclear shutdown in Germany has been at the forefront of public discussion, we recap the debate, and discover that Nic has issues with some basic pronunciation.German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach presented a revised version of coalition plans to legalise cannabis across the country, following criticism and negotiations with the EU. We look at how the new proposal differs from ideas presented in October 2022, the plans for “Cannabis clubs”, and whether a slow and careful rollout might be the best approach to legalisation.We finish on the scandal swirling around Axel Springer CEO Mathias Döpfner, who’s private communications were leaked to newspaper Die Zeit. How might this impact his position, and what does it tell us about Axel Springer’s largest publication BILD-Zeitung. For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees currently fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can.Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal Save the ChildrenÄrzte ohne GrenzenImage CreditFoto von Ray Harrington auf UnsplashTheme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

With the Easter behind us, Dili and Nic catch each other up on a weekend of family dinners, spicy cakes, and whirlwind trips to the UK. Nic seeks reassurance from Dili over the troubling development of Easter gifts within his German family, and asks whether too many presents will turn his daughter into an overly entitled Bavarian. In turn, Dili wonders whether her partner is trying to kill them both by refusing to refrigerate leftover food.Having only just returned from Britain, Nic is in the minority of Germans that still see old blighty as worthwhile holiday destination. According to reports, many Germans are choosing not to travel across the channel for a variety of reasons. We ask why that might be the case, and whether there is anything Britain can do to attract Germans back.We finish on the alarming reports that an app may be to blame for the dramatic increase in abortions within Germany, and also ask why Germany likes to project the image of progressive country, but still has some very draconian views on women’s health. For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees currently fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can.Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal Save the ChildrenÄrzte ohne GrenzenImage CreditFoto von cottonbro studioTheme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

Easter is upon us, and with novelty chocolate seemingly spilling down the aisles of every supermarket, we compare notes on recycling Christmas chocolate, rabbits with chicken pox, and the power of Creme-Eggs. Since Nic is also in the UK this week, we also talk about the difference between how Germany celebrates, whether Britain has a translation for “Tanzverbot”, and why you shouldn’t invite a donkey into a church. After more than one listener request, we review the recent Royal visit to Germany by King Charles & Queen Camilla. Was a Berlin newspaper right to name Charles “King Cool”, what made the visit such a success in the eyes of many Germans, and what are good jokes to make in front of German dignitaries? We also suggest some alternative gift ideas to share the best that Britain has to offer.We finish the pod with the recent failed education summit called to find solutions to Germany’s many education problems. Why did only 2 education secretaries from the the Bundeslander turn up, and how will Germany address the serious failings throughout all levels of education?For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees currently fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can.Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal Save the ChildrenÄrzte ohne GrenzenImage CreditFoto von Julian Hochgesang auf UnsplashTheme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

Following a busy weekend, we discuss family birthdays, how to bake cakes for Germans, and what makes the perfect party goodie bag. Nic also learns what it takes to throw him into a homicidal rage. The release of the InterNations Expat Survey, and Germany’s awful results, leads us to a discussion on whether expats are a trustworthy source, what the results tells us about Germany, and where Germans and expats might agree.Berlin once again went to the polls, this time for a referendum on climate neutrality. Sadly for climate activists, but seemingly typical of Berlin, things didn’t go according to plan. We ask whether referendums are ever a good idea, and why the results may not be as catastrophic as some might believe. We finish this week on the “Megastreiktag” that occurred on Monday, and saw much of Germany’s transport networks totally shutdown. We look at why the strike happened, the demands of those on the picket lines, and how Germany handled a day with no trains.For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees currently fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can.Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal Save the ChildrenÄrzte ohne GrenzenImage CreditFoto von John Cutting auf UnsplashTheme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

After a week off with Corona, Dili is back in the co-host hot seat, and comes equipped with questions about Nic’s adventures on St Patrick’s Day. We discuss how to survive an all day drinking session, changing trains with a hangover, and the secret power of cheese and ham croissants. We tackle the thorny issue of Wahlrechtsreform after the German government voted to change the current election system, and reduce an overly bloated Bundestag. How will these new plans change the next election, and why might the opposition to reform create some strange political alliances? Finally, the announcement that one of Germany’s largest department store groups, Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof, is planning to close 50 of its 129 stores across the country leads us to a discussion about the changing face of German city centres, and how empty shop spaces might be used for something more innovative. For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees currently fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can.Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal Save the ChildrenÄrzte ohne GrenzenImage CreditFoto von Paul Hanaoka auf UnsplashTheme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß

Sadly Dili was out this week, but luckily for us freelance writer & journalist Aaron Gasch Burnett was able to step into the breach. Some listeners may know Aaron from his work on the Germany in Focus podcast, as well as a variety of articles for many other publications.We kick off proceedings in typical German fashion with a test on Aarons credentials, and by credentials we mean opinions on German politeness, maple syrup, and of course cakes. Aaron discusses his experience of hosting the I am Germany Twitter account (@Germany_iam), his German grandparents, and even schools Nic on Canadian rodeo.With attention on potential changes to citizenship rules in Germany, Aaron shares his thoughts on the likelihood of a new law coming into effect, how things might actually change for those hoping to gain dual citizenship, and potential stumbling blocks along the way. We finish this week on the rivalry between Bavaria and Berlin, and why Berlin is one of the best places to live in Germany. For those of you looking to support Ukraine or the many refugees currently fleeing the conflict, please take a look at these different charities and consider donating if you can.Ukraine Crisis Media Centre - A list of different donation pages to help the Ukrainian military response.Disaster Emergency Committee - Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal Save the ChildrenÄrzte ohne GrenzenImage CreditFoto von Moises Gonzalez auf UnsplashTheme tune courtesy of Kloß mit Soß