Homemade Germans. German Germans
Sometimes some things amaze only an American (for example, a wall-hung toilet), but sometimes they surprise me too (roller shutters throughout the house, regardless of the time of year or day).
German houses are not usually built of brick or wood, but rather use metal reinforcement and a sand/limestone mixture. The outside and inside of the walls are covered with plaster and paint (usually yellow on the outside, white on the inside). Wallpaper is not used due to high humidity. American homes, typically built of wood/plywood, do not require a signal booster for wireless Wi-Fi. IN German house it is required.
In Germany they prefer to rent housing rather than own their own. For example, in Berlin, more than 80% of people live in rented housing. Perhaps this is due to a lack of funds (the salary is small and you don’t want to commit yourself to a loan), or perhaps people do not see their future in this city and want to have freedom of choice and movement. If in America it is common to rent housing for a period of 1 year, then in Germany the minimum period is usually 3 years. The more, the more convenient for the landlord.
German houses usually do not have a system central air conditioning and heating (grids in the ceiling and on the floor). With the American hot climate and high humidity you just need constant air conditioning of the premises. But Germany is located further north, and it is enough to ventilate the rooms here. Although in old German houses, which are already several centuries old, there is often mold that is difficult to remove. Germans may use small home fans. In cold weather, houses are heated hot water, which is supplied to batteries on the wall or under the floor (“warm floors”). The heating level can be adjusted independently. It's no surprise that Germans use less electricity than Americans.
Heating under the window. Balcony door made entirely of glass:
But there is light sensors movements that save electricity. For example, they are triggered near the entrance, in the corridor, in the basement.
It was a revelation to Americans that windows could be opened vertically. Sometimes on forums they write that they broke a window in a rented apartment and ask how to fix it and what to tell the landlord. Americans are also puzzled why the Germans don’t put insect screens in all their windows. It’s just that in Germany they spray all sorts of chemicals from helicopters in swampy areas to prevent mosquitoes from breeding. There really are almost none. A summer night turns into torture for Americans, as all the moths and bugs fly from the darkness into the bright house. The battle begins between fresh air and the absence of insects. One day, an American woke up to find a grasshopper sitting on his chest.
In German houses, roller shutters (metal, wood, plastic) are usually built into every room. They will be everywhere except the bathroom and toilet windows. In America, such powerful window reinforcements are found on the east coast or in the southern states, where hurricanes are frequent and windows need to be saved from strong wind and flying debris. Or, with the help of thick blinds in the south, they can escape the scorching sun. Americans are wondering why such powerful blinds are needed where there are no hurricanes and the hot south? Versions being considered:
So that the light from the night does not interfere with sleep street lamps(but the blinds are lowered in all rooms at night);
- so that in winter, when leaving home, you can keep it warm (but modern double windows and insulated walls perfectly retain heat);
- to keep the house cool in the summer (Germans are afraid of drafts, so they don’t ventilate their houses in this way in the summer);
- so that glare of light does not fall on the TV screen;
- to keep their private life secret (it seems to them that 60% of the time neighbors look into their windows);
- to feel safe (Americans think that the Germans prepared for the zombie apocalypse in this way);
- perhaps this is a memory of the time when, in July 1939, instructions were issued about the need to tightly close windows with blankets at night so that the light from inside the house could not be seen.
- perhaps there is no logic here. The habit that my mother and grandmother did this is enough.
For example, in Holland they rarely curtain their windows; rather, they try to decorate them with orchids, lighthouses, seagulls... The Dutch like to live without curtains, as if demonstrating to all people that they have nothing to hide. Perhaps the Dutch like to look out the window more often than at the TV. Perhaps this is their favorite TV program. Or perhaps the Dutch simply love the sun and do not like turning their houses into underground rooms where light does not penetrate.
Dutch house in the evening.
Window shutters are what surprises Americans the most about Germany. But these shutters on hundred-year-old buildings never close.
Usually residential buildings in German towns day and night they look like this:
Maybe this is an echo of war and it seems to them that there is a sniper sitting on the roof? But all of Europe was at war.
When moving into a rented apartment, you need to be prepared for the fact that instead of lighting in the rooms there will only be wires. Buy light bulbs lighting and you will have to install them yourself. For example, at first we were really helped by two desk lamp brought with you...
Americans are surprised that German toilets have not one, but two flush buttons and they are different! In the US, older toilets use 13.6 liters of water to flush, newer ultra-low flow toilets use 6 liters. In Germany, pressing the large button uses 7.5 liters of water, and the small button uses 3.8 liters.
Also for Americans the design is amazing wall hung toilet. They are used to it being attached to the floor. And Americans are also surprised that there is a brush in the toilet...
Americans are accustomed to having a two-door refrigerator with a minimum height of 1.8 m, a huge oven and a large space for utensils and creativity in the kitchen. German cuisine disappoints them in this regard. Not all German rental houses have kitchen furniture, and if they do, they are not of “American” dimensions. When baking a turkey in a German oven, Americans even have to cut off its legs, otherwise it simply won’t fit inside.
Usually, when new tenants move into a rented apartment, the only thing they expect in the kitchen is the ability to connect water and electric wires. The previous residents will even take the sink and countertop with them (most likely, due to its size, it will be useless in the new place, but here the Germans are driven not by logic, but by a sense of justice - you didn’t pay them for this kitchen). Usually kitchen furniture tenants buy on their own or buy inexpensively from previous tenants who have moved out (fortunately, people rarely move in Germany).
What does a typical American stove look like:
What a kitchen looks like in a rented German apartment (a small elevation on the left is a refrigerator):
I am now beginning to understand why the Germans go to the store every day... They simply don’t have room for anything at home. However, from the previous post you already understood that Germans prefer not to cook at home; they eat ready-made food, which at most needs to be heated (What do they eat in Germany? and).
German built-in oven:
What was the first thing the Americans did? Of course we bought it new refrigerator! True, they did not measure in advance the doorway of the storage room where they intended to put it, but it fit in anyway:
A storage room inside an apartment is often used to install an additional refrigerator or freezer. In our house, for example, there is a place for connection washing machine. Also, usually the apartment has a basement where you can store bicycles, skis, barbells and whatever your heart desires (except for flammable and flammable items). Yes, when moving, Germans will also take with them a dryer and washing machine.
If in America it is customary to have a large and beautiful space in front of the house, then with the Germans it’s the other way around: in front of the house there will be quite small space, and all the beauty will be behind the house, away from prying eyes. Even apartment buildings in Germany, unsightly people from the street will have a pretty patio. Perhaps this is because the Germans do not want to “show off” their beautiful courtyards, while Americans, on the contrary, like to look attractive. Typically, Germans cook sausages and grill meat in their backyards.
In American homes, it is usually customary to make lockable niches in the wall, which can be conveniently used as dressing rooms or storage rooms. They will be present even in the smallest New York apartments:
In Germany, instead of such niches, they buy furniture where they hang and fold clothes. Americans believe that cabinets are where Ikea does its main business in Germany.
Americans are accustomed to their big houses have large furniture. But it simply won’t fit in comparatively smaller German apartments. For example, this big one dinner table for 10 people and chairs the Americans had to sell before moving to Germany:
Of course, there were still difficulties in finding an adapter for equipment designed for a different network voltage. For example, electronics purchased in Germany will not work in the US unless adapters or transformers are used. Therefore, those who leave Europe for America usually sell all their equipment through websites inexpensively. This is very convenient for those who move to Germany and do not want to invest a fortune in purchasing new equipment. Electrical plug in the EU is different from the US (2 small round prongs vs 2 small flat prongs). Things that usually don't work from the US: TVs, irons, hair dryers, coffee pots, electric shavers, lamps, etc.
I’ll add from myself:
If the house is old, post-war, most likely the bathroom will only have a shower. But when modern renovation everything looks nice:
In old houses, the division of rooms into kitchen and dining room has been preserved, i.e. they don’t eat in the kitchen, they only cook (however, as in pre-revolutionary houses in Moscow and St. Petersburg).
Small German kitchenette. Here they prepare:
And here they eat:
In the kitchen you can only have a snack, sitting at this makeshift table on high bar stools:
The central place in the living room is occupied by the TV (every room in a German house has a TV outlet). For example, our neighbors watch TV as scheduled - every day from 18 to 22 hours. Then they lower the blinds and you can’t hear them. His barbell remains in the shed, her bicycle is there too. It seems that in their life there is only home and work.
The German bedroom differs from others in that there will be an additional switch above the bed. Americans are surprised that Germany has large switches, not in the form of a lever. Very often, even on a double bed there will be two separate blankets (rather than one large one) and there will be no blanket on top (this is a novelty for the Germans). Terry stretch sheets are often used.
For some reason, Germans avoid eating on balconies, although they buy flowers, trees and beautiful furniture there.
A balcony in Holland is literally created for lunch and dinner:
Nice balconies in Heidelberg.
What kind of German houses are there?
A person who has never been to Germany, finding himself in a modern German village, will not immediately realize that this is a village. In fact, what is a village in our country? Dirty streets, rickety fences, dilapidated houses, vegetable gardens...
There is nothing like that here at all. There are no dirty streets - you won’t see dirt here at all, asphalt and tiles are everywhere. There are no fences, neither lopsided nor straight, there are no fences at all! There is no talk of dilapidated houses at all. And no gardens! IN best case scenario lawn next to the house.
What is a German village?
Germany is located in the northern part of Europe. This is one of its most densely populated countries. There is little land, but many people. And all of it (the land) is divided into sections - patches. There is no undeveloped land here at all.
The climate, in contrast, is quite harsh by European standards. That's why people here live in communities, in groups. In this sense, German villages are truly villages. That is, in clusters of houses, unlike in Italy, where mostly in rural areas houses stand in splendid isolation.
At the same time, modern German village, looks more like a small town. It has shops, pharmacies, schools and other amenities of civilized city life. Well, with the exception of the very small ones. This is what a German village looks like in the photograph.
The old German village, and there are a lot of them, given that people have lived here since time immemorial, consists of several streets. Sometimes it has an area. And the churches are local Catholic churches– is found in almost every village.
German country house
Accordingly, there are many very old houses. Such houses cannot be dismantled and rebuilt. You can only patch and reconstruct. How else can you preserve a traditional German house?
A country house in Germany almost always has two floors. Its architecture cannot be confused with anything else. This frame house, the beams and braces of which are visible from the outside. In general, half-timbered timber means “cellular thing” in German. Because of this, the facades of German houses in the photo look very beautiful and unique.
In the old days, the space between these cells was filled with anything: clay, stone, garbage. Now, of course, they use modern Construction Materials for filling cells and insulation.
Houses are sometimes faced with tiles or bricks. It is rare, but it happens that the entire first floor is made of brick. It is more expensive than the frame construction method. The Germans are very thrifty people, which is why their houses are not distinguished by the elegance of their forms and the variety of designs.
Almost always it is a rectangular box with a simple gable roof. Again for reasons of economy. The roofs of old houses are covered with tiles. That's why there's a village above orange color. The second or third floor is often made into an attic.
A house in a village in Germany is not very cheap. Its price is usually from 200 to 400 thousand euros. But, of course, they are also significantly more expensive. Therefore, it cannot be said that the owner of German real estate in the village is poor, quite the opposite. Apartments in the city are much cheaper.
There are no fences around the houses here. There are small ones sometimes, and even those get done faster decorative function. Sometimes there is a lawn next to the houses, and most often everything around the house is tiled. And the street is completely asphalted.
Despite the fact that the villagers are not poor people for the most part, they do not flaunt their wealth. There are ordinary small cars parked next to the houses. Life in the village of an ordinary burgher in years proceeds calmly and measuredly.
Entertainment in the villages is a bit tight. Therefore, young people, of course, tend to move to the city. After seven in the evening life generally calms down. Where do these people work, not on a tractor? Why, some of them are on tractors, about ten percent of the population.
The rest go to work in the city. Fortunately, the roads here are very good. And the nearest town is usually ten to twenty minutes away. This is how the story about a modern German village turned out.
If you ask me what a typical German apartment looks like, I will throw up my hands - there is simply no exact answer to this question. Standard layouts in Germany there are practically none, therefore, even knowing the number of rooms and area, you can never be sure of what you will see. For example, half of the apartment may be occupied by a cunning system of corridors. There are rooms without windows or heating. A hundred-meter apartment may have a guest toilet, but the bathroom will only have a shower. The attic in German houses is almost always inhabited, and in the attics you can come across a variety of apartments: those with a barely noticeable slope at the ceiling, and those in which the walls are located strictly at an angle of 45 degrees, and therefore you feel like you are in a wigwam.
Kitchen curse...
Quite a lot of housing is rented in houses that were once built for one big family. They are inhabited by pensioners whose children have long since left. Part of the house is empty, and they decide to rent it out. Sometimes owners do redevelopment for this purpose, but not always. In this case, the apartment looks exactly like Holmes and Watson’s home on Baker Street: a common entrance, the owners are on the first floor, the residents’ rooms are on the second, and nothing separates them except the stairs.
But the main problem with German apartments is, without any doubt, the kitchens. In most homes they are not just small, but tiny. This is some kind of curse, after which even kitchens in Khrushchev-era buildings seem like airfields. In one of the apartments I visited, everything was perfect: large rooms, a bathroom, a twenty-meter terrace with access to the garden... The kitchen was a corridor in which it was impossible to even sit down without blocking the passage. After this, it’s easy to understand why Germans are so willing to spend time in cafes and restaurants. My wife and I were somehow phenomenally lucky to get an apartment with a kitchen at 15 square meters- probably the largest in the city. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the rooms.
... and balcony happiness
On the other hand, there are unconditional advantages in German apartments. One of them is Keller. This is, as a rule, a separate room in the basement measuring from five to fifteen square meters. In terms of the number of apartments, Kellers have almost all houses, regardless of whether they are two hundred years old or two years old. Thanks to this simple solution, balconies and loggias were saved from the sad fate that befell them in Russia. A German balcony is not a warehouse for junk, but a place where the owners grow flowers, drink coffee and fry meat on an electric grill.
Also in the house there may be several more very useful premises. These include a shared garage for bicycles, a trockenraum - a room in the attic where clothes are dried (yes, exactly the same one in which Carlson pretended to be a ghost, scaring the robbers). I also once came across a house in the basement of which there was a small gym for residents with ping-pong and wall bars, and in another in the attic there was a common children's room game room. Special mention must be made about laundries. Even if there is enough space in the bathroom or kitchen for a washing machine, you will not always be allowed to put it there. Instead, there is a room in the basements where all residents turn on their Boshis and Indesites. However, today even the Germans themselves do not find it particularly convenient - it is a vestige of the time when any self-respecting washing machine hummed like a steam locomotive. Laundry facilities are a rarity in new homes. But in the old ones, it often serves as a kind of communal kitchen and hobby club for neighbors.
Tenants also receive the right to use the space around the house - a garden or lawn. True, you should first carefully read the list of what you can do there and what you cannot do. I’ve never come across “do not walk on lawns” signs, but there are more than enough other prohibitions: “do not walk on the grass with your dog,” “do not have picnics,” “do not smoke.” At first, the abundance of such restrictions is, to put it mildly, puzzling. But if you look around, you will definitely find that somewhere nearby there are separate places for picnics (with an obligatory public grill), a children’s playground, and a place for sports.
The deal is more valuable then money
In any case, when moving in, it will be useful to ask the owner or building manager about what can be done in the apartment and the surrounding area, and what cannot be done, because the lease agreement does not include everything. It usually takes the form of a four-page printed form; only the tenant’s data, amounts and, if necessary, some information are entered into it by hand. special conditions. For example, we insisted that ours include a clause allowing keeping pets - in standard form it is not included.
Perhaps the most important difference between renting housing in Germany is that the standard rental agreement is for an indefinite period. And if the tenant fulfills his obligations, it is very difficult to force him to leave the apartment. Even if the property changes ownership, this does not lead to automatic termination of the lease. Moreover, the new owner does not have much leverage even to revise the price in the contract. First, he will need to prove the validity of this decision. And if the tenant turns out to be intractable, he can sue the owner all the way. In every city in Germany there are tenant associations, staffed by lawyers who are well versed in the intricacies of housing legislation. Membership isn't free, of course, but it's usually worth it. People go there not only in case of a dispute over the price of housing, but also in a host of other situations. Our friends, for example, thanks to the help of consultants, forced the landlord to replace poorly installed equipment at his own expense. plastic windows and insulate constantly damp walls. Mold, by the way, is a typical problem in local housing, such is the climate.
By the way, apartments with seasoned, litigation-hardened tenants are usually put up for sale much lower than their market price. Local buyers are well informed about the contents of such Pandora's boxes. But a considerable number of our compatriots who dream of real estate in Europe do not know about this. As a result, an unpleasant surprise awaits them. On Russian-language forums you can find a lot of stories about how people, having fallen for a tempting offer from realtors, spent a lot of nerves after the purchase and spent a lot of money on lawyers, and in the end were forced to sell the housing in which they were never able to live at a loss.
The Case of the Cracked Sink
It should be noted that a lawsuit with the owner of an apartment is as commonplace for a German as going to the dentist. In fact, the relationship between owners and tenants here and in Germany differs little - it is exactly the same mixture of distrust, pettiness, quarrelsomeness on the one hand, and sloppiness, irresponsibility, impudence on the other. It's just that the way to resolve conflicts is slightly different. Of those of our friends who have lived in Germany for a long time, litigation housing issue Almost no one escaped. However, the matter does not always come to court. More often than not, everything ends in a settlement agreement, because this is more profitable for both: the amounts involved are small, and the process can drag on for a very long time.
Although, if there are particularly principled citizens on both sides, very revealing stories emerge. For example, our friend’s father sued his former landlord for three years over a crack in the sink. When the respectable pensioner moved out, the owner noticed damage to the plumbing, replaced the sink, and withheld the costs from the deposit. The price of the issue was several hundred euros, but the indignant tenant decided that they were trying to deceive him, which means he had to go to the end. And he filed a lawsuit against the owner of the apartment. The process took place in full, with the invitation of witnesses, photographic evidence and speeches from lawyers. As a result, the landlord was found to be right, and the plaintiff still cannot recover from this terrible injustice. Having learned that I was a journalist, he called me and recounted his misadventures in the most detail, and only with great difficulty did I manage to convince him that there was no point in coming to me personally with all the materials of the case. The victim of the judicial system really wanted his story to be known in his homeland. I take this opportunity to fulfill this request.
By the way, the mentioned deposit is perhaps the most popular reason for disputes between moving out tenants and the owner of the apartment. This deposit in Germany is called a kautzion, its size is equal to two or three months' rent. It is entered at the conclusion of the contract and is strictly regulated. The owner of the house must put the entire amount into a deposit in the name of the tenant. When he moves out, the account will be unblocked, but only if the landlord does not find anything to complain about. And there is certainly a reason.
Here it must be said that, when vacating an apartment, the previous tenant must not only take things out, but also work as a painter as a demobilization bonus. The thing is, typical finish walls in Germany are paintable wallpaper. Each new inhabitant receives a white apartment and paints it to his liking, but before leaving he needs to return everything to its original appearance. An exception can only be made for the kitchen - when Germans move, they usually do not try to take away a kitchen set, because the likelihood is that it will fit into new apartment, not too high. Accordingly, there is no need to repaint the kitchen. If the furniture is almost new, they will try to resell it to new residents. This is what our predecessors did, for example.
In general, burghers change furniture often and with great pleasure. It is considered the norm to completely change the environment at least once every five years. And moving is a wonderful reason to get rid of excess belongings. Moreover, a simple rental of a van for a day will cost 120-150 euros, and the services of a company with loaders will cost at least 500-600 euros. And this is only if you do not have bulky furniture, and with it the price tag often rises to a thousand. If the previous furnishings still retain their marketable appearance, then they put them up on eBay. You can also call the Red Cross and report that you have an unnecessary sofa or closet. Among the wards of the service there are always those who need these things, they will come and take what they need.
The rent is cold and hot
Housing rent can only be paid by bank transfer. Usually, simultaneously with signing the contract, the tenant issues a long-term payment order to the bank and after that, all he needs to worry about is whether he has the required amount in his account at the beginning of the month. The cost of housing in Germany consists of “kalt” - cold and “warm” - hot parts. Kalt is the rental price itself, Varm is housing maintenance and public utilities. Typically this includes heating, water supply, sewerage, garbage removal, elevator, cleaning in the house and yard, and some other expenses of the owner, for example, payment for the work of the house manager, insurance, and so on. It was a revelation to me that the Germans do not receive any monthly receipts. Instead, during the year, a fixed amount is withdrawn from the subscribers’ account, and then a recalculation is made, after which the owner sends letters to the residents: if there was an excessive consumption of water, or there was a cold winter and the residents were diligently warming themselves, then they will have to pay several hundred extra. If, on the contrary, you saved, the overpaid amount will be returned. But this happens much less often.
The same applies to energy workers, whose services are not included in the “warm” and with whom the tenant has a direct contract. It should be noted here that the electricity and gas market in Germany is competitive. By default, having moved, a person becomes a subscriber of the organization with which the previous resident had an agreement. If its tariffs suit you, then you don’t need to do anything - in a few days you will receive an agreement by mail, select one of the tariff plans, sign the papers and send them back by mail. But if you wish, you can change the supplier to any of those who work in your area. The difference can be quite significant, especially if you are able to accurately calculate your energy consumption, including different time days. There are special websites where you can compare prices and choose the most profitable option.
Green kilowatts
Moreover, you can choose not only a supplier, but also an energy source. The Germans are obsessed with defense environment and fundamentally do not want the light bulbs in their homes to be powered by nuclear power plants. In this regard, contracts with energy companies clearly indicate where the energy comes from to the consumer. You can even choose tariff plan, in which all energy will be produced exclusively by solar panels and wind turbines.
I was interested in the mechanism of how this is achieved. After all, electrons, as you know, cannot be signed, and you cannot stick a label on them. It turned out that the scheme was quite crafty. The company can only guarantee that at the same time you turn on the light bulb, it purchases the appropriate amount of energy from a trusted supplier. But, of course, there is no separate network into which energy is supplied, only wind generators.
On average, electricity costs Germans 25-30 cents per kilowatt. For a family of four this is approximately 80-90 euros per month. But the most serious article utility costs in Germany it is still heating. Of course, the climate here cannot be compared with Siberian, and the batteries are not kept on around the clock, even in winter. But fuel also costs much more.
District heating, by the way, is considered a German invention. But in our usual form - with thermal power plants and large boiler houses - it is rare. The hundred-thousandth city of Trier, for example, manages just fine without its heating plant and about summer blackouts hot water its inhabitants had never heard of it. Central heating today in Germany is called a communal boiler in the basement, running on fuel oil, diesel fuel or gas.
Heating and chimney sweeps
This is the most common method of heat supply, but there are other options, for example, electric floor heating or electric storage heaters, which operate at night, when energy is cheap, and release heat during the day. IN Lately Fireplaces for which special fireplaces are made from waste wood have gained popularity again. fuel briquettes. In our house, the rooms are installed connected to the chimney gas convectors, they need to be ignited by pressing a button.
By the way, all heating equipment in Germany is controlled by chimney sweeps. They not only check the condition of the equipment, but also measure the level of emissions into the atmosphere. Reducing carbon emissions is a new global priority for the Germans, which is why people in this profession walk around important and full of their own importance. When we found out in the fall that an inspector was coming to see us, we were at first delighted at the rare chance to see a live chimney sweep, hold his button and make a wish. But he entered the apartment with such a stern and serious expression on his face that we decided not to risk it.
Moreover, it immediately turned out that one of our convectors sends more harmful substances than it should be. The chimney sweep said that he would immediately write a threatening letter and demand that the owners of the apartment eliminate the violations within a week. Indeed, a few days later a technician came to us and tweaked something in the device. A week later, a chimney sweep showed up to check. He took measurements, and only when everything turned out to be normal did he allow himself to smile for the first time. Here we could no longer resist and asked him about the buttons. It turned out that they know this sign in Germany, and our chimney sweep willingly allowed us to make a wish.
We wished that our next apartment in Germany would be more like a Russian one.
According to the stories of readers published on the site as part of the competitions “My Living Room”, “My Kitchen”, “My Bedroom”, one gets the impression that Belarusians are wealthy people who live in interiors made with taste and attention to detail. Wooden cabinet and leather upholstered furniture, German wallpaper, designer sanitary ware and Italian tiles are almost the norm. It’s curious, what kind of “mansions” do ordinary Europeans live in then?
We have studied housing that is for sale or rent. We also went to visit “ordinary Germans” - pensioners and an “IT specialist” - and asked permission to take pictures for this material.
Kitchen in a house that is on sale for 375 thousand euros. Photo from immobilienscout24.de 
Kitchen in a house for 400 thousand euros. Photo from immobilienscout24.de 
Kitchen in the house for 399 thousand euros. Photo from immobilienscout24.de
It turns out that by Belarusian standards, the Germans live little better than us.
Dining-living room in an apartment, which is rented for one and a half thousand euros 
The bedroom is there too. 
Bathroom in a house for 399 thousand euros. Photo from immobilienscout24.de What I immediately noticed is that the Germans are terrible conservatives. Rarely will any of them think of, say, buying a cheaper shower cabin in Poland or hiring finishers from Lithuania. They love everything German here, even if you have to overpay for the goods.
Yes, the average salary of Germans differs several times from the Belarusian one. But, given the high prices for utilities, food, gasoline, school after-school programs, services in hairdressing salons and auto repair shops, there is not much free money left. And obviously designer new items do not fall into the category of what practical Germans are willing to spend their free money on.
Living room in the house of German pensioners 
In a house valued at 400 thousand euros. Unfashionable tiles, simple plumbing. Photo from immobilienscout24.de 
A beautiful, by German standards, bathroom in a house worth 395 thousand euros. Photo from immobilienscout24.de 
Plumbing fixtures that have gone out of fashion in Belarus are in a German house for 398 thousand euros. Photo from immobilienscout24.de We were in the “rich” (according to the German citizens themselves) state of Baden-Württemberg. Just like in Belarus, furniture from IKEA is very popular here. The nearest store of this chain is crowded on a weekend: there are crowds of people around the furniture exhibits, queues for consultants, and lines of carts stretching to the cash registers. For comparison, in the largest local mall XXXL Mann Mobilia, where expensive (mass-produced, non-designer) furniture, dishes, lamps and other household goods are sold, in trading floors quite deserted.
IKEA is also loved in Germany. The photo shows the apartment of the family of a teacher and a social worker. The finishing of the floor, walls and ceiling is not given as much attention here as in our country. Often in wealthy homes you can see inexpensive laminate flooring and paintable wallpaper on the walls and ceiling, painted white. Even in bathrooms.
- Why is almost everything white here? — I asked the owners.
“It’s practical, everything goes with white, it’s easy to choose furniture.”
I almost never saw painted, pre-plastered walls here.
Paintable wallpaper, popular in Germany. In the photo - the apartment of the family of a teacher and a social worker 
All around there is wallpaper for painting. House for 396 thousand euros. Photo from immobilienscout24.de 
Simple finishing and furniture in the house for 396 thousand euros. Photo from immobilienscout24.de Only in two apartments was it possible to admire German patterned wallpaper, so popular in Belarus.
Colored wallpaper in the dining room in the house of German pensioners By the way, the Germans have no idea what “German stretch ceilings” are. There are almost no plasterboard structures here - to make the walls even, they are often upholstered wooden slats.
Living room in the apartment of a teacher and a social worker. The walls are finished with wooden slats and wallpaper for painting 
The house for 398 thousand euros has a wood ceiling. Photo from immobilienscout24.de 
Wooden ceiling in a house for 398 thousand euros. Photo from immobilienscout24.de 
"Dry" interior with budget furniture in a house for 396 thousand euros. Photo from immobilienscout24.de Comparing the approaches of Belarusians and Germans to housing, you quickly come to the conclusion: we attach more value details and strive to create interiors that look expensive.
No-frills interior in a house for 399 thousand euros. Photo from immobilienscout24.de 
Strange bathroom in a house worth 396 thousand euros. Photo from immobilienscout24.de 
Nothing extra. In a house for 396 thousand euros. Photo from immobilienscout24.de In Germany, they make interiors within their means, “for themselves.” As, for example, in the house where the family of a German IT specialist with two children lives:
1. In German bakeries, female workers are prohibited from packing bread during their menstrual periods. It is believed that it will quickly become moldy. Energy, however.
2. The largest number of police cars in Germany are Mercedes.
3. The Germans do not know and are afraid of dried fish.
4. Affirmative answer “Yes, yes!” pronounced with the intonation of the Russian “Nu-nu!” means “Kiss my ass” and is understood as such.
5. Due to a demonstration of forty nationalists, traffic in Gamurga is blocked, and the path of the demonstration is cordoned off by a regiment of policemen in helmets and bulletproof vests. They protect... nationalists. Not a joke, but a fact.
6. In Germany you can not work and live on social assistance. True, it’s very poor, but there’s life.
7. The difference in dialects of the German language is such that television programs in the north of the country are sometimes broadcast with sign language translation when spoken by southerners.
8. If the question: “How to get there?” They will smile at you, take out your iPhone, look at the navigation and, after explaining how to get there, offer to give you a ride by car - you are in Germany.
9. The fine for slapping is 500 euros.
10. If you want the court's leniency, you must confirm that at the beginning of the fight you did not clench your fists.
11. If you do not work in certain areas and do not engage in dubious activities, then you can live your whole life in Germany without ever encountering obvious crime.
12. If you are nevertheless attacked and hit, a retaliatory blow must be struck within one second. If after two, then you will be judged.
13. In Germany, traumatic pistols and gas cartridges are prohibited.
14. The police in Germany, even after catching up with you, do not beat you.
15. 80% of crime in Germany is carried out by foreigners.
16. If you have incurred even half a million in debt, it is enough to declare your ruin and they will be obliged to find you permanent job, will leave you about a thousand euros to live on and in less than 10 years, your debts will be written off.
17. It is extremely difficult to evict even a tenant who does not pay rent in Germany.
18. Living in rented housing in Germany is the norm. Three quarters of the population live in rented apartments and houses. The security of the tenant is extremely high. Even the wealthiest segments of the population live in rented housing.
19. Repairing anything in Germany is so expensive that it is often easier to buy a new thing.
20. The Germans relate to their Nazi past in the same way as the Aborigines do to the eating of Cook.
21. Guilt for the Second world war is being introduced into the consciousness of Germans from kindergarten.
22. Children in Germany can do anything. Actually, that's all. Parents will be responsible. If there are no parents, then no one.
23. Beer in Germany is very good and there are an incredible variety of it.
24. In Bavaria, a person has the right to drink a glass of beer during the working day.
25. Homeless people often have dogs. They receive additional money for their maintenance.
26. Germans are wary of foreigners. And there is a reason for it.
27. Drawing a swastika or raising your hand in a fascist salute is prohibited by law in Germany.
28. With the introduction of the euro, most prices in Germany doubled. But the standard of living in Germany is still considered one of the highest in the world.
29. In Hamburg, the Hells Angels motorcycle gang gained such influence over local criminals that bikers were legally prohibited from wearing club symbols. Any large convoy of motorcyclists is accompanied by a police truck.
30. Riding a motorcycle without a helmet is prohibited. Strictly.
31. The worst German insults translate to “Ass hole” and “Son of a bitch.”
32. Germans are very attentive to their health and what they eat and drink.
33. The former mayor of Hamburg and the mayor of Berlin are homosexuals. In society, “gay” people are treated almost as if they were the norm.
34. The level of culture of the average German significantly exceeds the level of culture of the average Russian. But, as a rule, the level of education is inferior.
35. Alcohol intoxication is a mitigating circumstance in court. With the exception of traffic precedents and malfeasance.
36. Until recently, German women practically did not use cosmetics. Due to the influx of colorful foreign women, German women began to wear makeup and ceased to be one of the most terrible women in Europe.
37. High heel German women wear it only for “occasional occasions.”
38. Treating the boss at companies is most often on a first-name basis.
39. One of the leaders of the Green Party proposed singing the second verse of the German anthem in Turkish.
40. Organic stores are quite popular. Prices there are on average 30% higher than in a regular store. Organic bananas are smaller than regular bananas, and lemons are indeed much more flavorful.
41. Only prostitutes wear over-the-knee boots work time and foreigners, those who haven’t figured it out yet and those who don’t care.
42. An offer to drink a cup of coffee together in the evening from a German often means an invitation to sex.
43. In Germany there are fewer women than men.
44. The Germans are sure that the most popular Russian toast sounds like “To your health!” It is useless to persuade.
45. Christmas in Germany is celebrated much more significant and brighter than the New Year.
46. A crowded refrigerator in Germany means that you are from Russia.
47. People at the institution may be rude to you. If you pretend that you are about to grab your face, they become very polite.
48. Dogs in Germany are very friendly. It is extremely rare to hear a dog bark.
49. The idea of a multicultural society in Germany failed miserably, Merkel herself was forced to admit this.
50. In Germany sanitary standards so high that you can safely eat not only uncooked meat, but also raw meat.
51. In Germany, quite often you can enter a residential building without taking off your shoes.
52. A one-time ticket to the sauna costs just under 20 euros.
53. The cost of prostitute services on the Reeperbahn averages 200 euros per hour.
54. Germans rarely respect non-German beer. Surprisingly, I quite often heard positive reviews from Germans about one Ukrainian manufacturer; I will not indicate the brand of beer, so as not to advertise.
55. Among German women, it is common to view sex as fitness.
56. A bribe to an official in Germany, for example a police officer, usually starts around 50,000 euros. However, in one of the cities where I lived, it was possible to remove a photograph from a traffic machine for only 300 euros.
57. A civil servant in Germany does not pay public taxes and he cannot be fired.
58. Most apartments in Germany are equipped with fire detectors. If you overcook something or haven’t closed the door to the shower, it goes off, starting to squeak disgustingly. A naked man swearing and poking the ceiling with a mop is a common sight seen by pets.
59. German women often don’t know how to cook.
60. The “Nationality” column in Germany is determined by citizenship.
61. Germans are surprised at Russians’ ability to pronounce the letters “P” and “Y”
62. The proverb “Without a piece of paper you’re a turd” was apparently invented by the Germans.
63. Everything business letters in Germany they end with the phrase “With friendly greetings.” Even a summons for a fine.
64. The word “Foreigner” in Germany is a dirty word.
65. Germans are usually welcoming and friendly in their communication. But don’t flatter yourself too much, they’re just well-mannered.
66. Married couples of Russians and Germans are quite rare, due to too different mentalities. They prefer to remain lovers. That's good.
67. In a café-eatery, leaving a tip for the waiter more than one euro is regarded as a good tip.
68. Germany becomes home to an emigrant when there is a feeling that if you litter on the street, you are littering in your apartment and there is a desire to clean up someone’s trash in a public park.
69. Tattoos and piercings are very popular in Germany. Both among women and among men.
70. In Germany, a popular TV presenter was fired because she said that good autobahns were built under Hitler.
71. In Germany, they are very attentive to how owners treat pets. Even if a blind disabled person mistreats his guide dog, the dog will be taken away from him.
72. Germany is a paradise for those with a sweet tooth. It seems to me that there are no more diverse and beautiful sweets anywhere in the world.
73. Russian grocery products can be bought in almost every large supermarket in Germany.
74. In Germany, I sometimes met men who had never fought in their lives.
75. To go fishing in Germany, you first need to complete the appropriate courses. Where one of the sections will be devoted to how to handle caught fish so that it does not experience unnecessary suffering.
76. One of the most expensive hunting clubs in Germany is the Wolf Hunters Club. The annual fee is around 100,000 euros.
77. A change of workplace often leads a German to a psychotherapist.
78. The reason for not allowing you into a German disco or club may simply be that the security guard did not like you. Girls are rarely allowed in. Beautiful girls are always missed; they serve as bait for visitors. They are also often given special cards entitling them to free drinks. A group of young Turks in many cities has virtually no chance of passing. The security guard could be fired for this. There is no smell of Nazism here, it is a justified necessity.
79. Germany goes to bed and gets up very early.
80. You can walk along a zebra crossing across a German road with your eyes closed.
81. The fine for throwing a cigarette butt on the asphalt in Germany is 20 euros.
82. One of the most popular drinks among German bikers is Jackie-Cola, a mixture of Jack Daniels whiskey and Coca-Cola (in no case with Pepsi!)
83. The Germans snack on beer with special rolls with grains of salt, they are called “Pretzel”
84. You get less drunk from draft German beer than from bottled beer. Why dont know.
85. German cuisine is not distinguished by any special delights. But it’s hearty and substantial, like everything German. Potatoes, cabbage, pork - classics, in general.
87. Everything that is necessary is very cheap in Germany. Everything related to convenience and whims is expensive.
88. The closest ice cream in taste to Soviet ice cream in Germany is at McDonald's.
89. Germans are sentimental and surprisingly romantic.
90. Germans, when communicating with Russian friends, often say “I am a German potato.”
91. The mentality of the Germans is such that they do not get into a fight first. But, if the fight has already begun, they often fight to the last.
92. Unfortunately, there are many pedophiles in Germany. However, in Russia they probably just beat them very painfully. But here it’s impossible. Even planting it is difficult.
93. In Germany, it is normal for a girl and a guy to pay for themselves. If you pay for a girl, this can be seen as unexpected generosity or a claim on her independence.
94. Once an emigrant masters the language, interethnic problems practically disappear.
95. German police, as a rule, are not looking for unnecessary heroism. There are exceptions. But rarely.
96. If I had not undertaken to write these 100 facts, then at the beginning of the second night I would not have been the only one in apartment building who is still awake at this time.
97. In Germany, getting sick leave for three days is not a problem.
98. Common in Germany seasonal disease, practically unknown in Russia - intestinal flu. If you catch it, hold on... Otherwise, from a low start, it will blow you away.
99. In Germany, the fiercer the chef, the tastier the meat he cooks.
100. When getting a job in Germany, you should remember that the immutable law of developed capitalism begins to operate - “Are you carrying one bag faster than others? Well done! Carry two. Are you carrying two? Great, here's your third one. Can not? Do not want? He’s fired, we don’t need lazy people.”
101. If you have public rather than private health insurance, the wait to see a doctor can last several weeks.
102. When the German list of the most dangerous dog breeds was compiled, not a single German breed was included there, even being ahead of others in the number of unmotivated attacks on humans.
103. A German kneipp is a small beer hall, more like a club, where many middle-aged and older Germans while away their evenings, sometimes staying in the kneipe until nightfall, and the owner practically lives in it. How many interesting stories you can hear from old regulars there, over a glass of beer...
104. In Germany, many people do not smoke. The Germans, as I already said, take care of their health.
105. Mixed couples are very common in Germany. African guys often choose incredibly fat German women. This is a tradition. It is a great pride for an African to have a fat wife. This means he is so rich that he can feed her. Well, fat German women, walking next to the ebony handsome man, are quite happy with life and, finally, with themselves.
106. “Mine, mine, mine” - this is very developed in Germany. But it must be said that “Yours - yours - yours” will be respectfully and delicately taken into account and observed. This applies to everything from candy to silence.
107. On many municipal buildings in Germany, menacing eagles have been preserved, clutching shields in their claws, from which the swastika has been neatly knocked off. They say, well, the bird has sat down, now it’s beautiful.
108. German humor comes in two types - black and abstract.
109. In Germany, it is required to separate waste into food and plastic. In fact, in trash bins, most often everything is thrown into one pile. The purpose of this idiocy is to discipline the already disciplined Germans.
110. "Duckstein" - German beer with cognac aroma, aged in oak barrel. But for some reason it gives me a headache in the morning. Maybe because I'm not German.
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