The school has already given us a schedule for what we can do. We’re going to museums, factory tours, that sort. So no suggestions for any activities to do or places to go to.
I would like some tips on some things I should know about Germany, perhaps some German phrases I should understand, cultural differences, or laws I need to know. Anything important that I should be aware of?
It will be about a weeklong trip
Legal drinking age for beer and wine is 16yo.
I don’t think we will be going to a bar on a school trip haha. Good to know though if I go to Germany next time.
Things you should know how to say (not that it’s necessary, but because it’s nice to know):
People commonly use “Ciao” for Bye, and “Sorry” for sorry.
You forgot “servus” which is hello and goodbye. “Pfia di” or “Pfiaz eich” is goodbye “Grüß Gott” or “grias got” is hello
In BW I’ve heard servus but not the others, are these Bavarian dialect? I am not a native speaker.
Baden-Wüttemberg speaks primarily swabian. Just like swabia the region in bavaria. The baden area of BaWü speaks badisch. Also a little bit franconian in the north
Yes “servus” is austro-bavarian dialect spoken in austria and bavaria
Grüß Gott is also literally “greet God”, I.e., may God greet you, if I remember correctly, which I think is a pretty cool bit of trivia for when you’re in Southern Germany.
Yes. It does.
But i must correct you, its not in all south germany or south german cultures/dialects. Swabians and swiss and badner dont say that. Only austrians and bavarians (which are the same. Yes austrians fuck off you are the same as bavarians and are germans get over it)
As an Austrian I have to insist that Bavarians are a failed attempt at making Germans out of Austrians lol
Historia and science disagrees with you mein freund. The idea of austrians not being german arose in the 1950s at the same time as austria tried to put itself as “hitlers first victim” and not as a perpetrator with the nazis.
I know, it was not meant seriously ;-) We love our neighbors, and we and the Germans both are sometimes making fun of each other 😁
“Grüß Gott” exists in BW but it has become very rare. I would say only the generation 80+ uses it regularly. Edit: source
In Swiss German, “grüezi” (which comes from “Gott grüße euch”, so basically the same origin) is extremely common.
Oh defenetly it exists. But basicly doesnt due to not being used. The same as “overmorrow” is the english word for “the day after tomorrow”. Not really in use
But i never thought “grüezi” stems from “gott grüße euch”. I assumed it was from “Grüßet Euch” not related to “grüß gott” huh. I love linguistics <3
You’ll be staying a few days? A good way to spend thw eveninga is going to a bar. Next to Belgium, Germany has a great herritage of beer crafting. Certainly somehing to do 😊
The schedule has already been set and is pretty tight. Plus, we have to stay as a group!
Really? Things have clearly changed in the 25 years since my last school trip then. We didn’t go to bars with our teachers, but we had plenty of free time in the evenings, some of which was definitely spent in bars.
Health and safety is heavily emphasised in this trip. For the majority of the trip, we will need to stick in our groups, but we do get chances to explore for ourselves in some areas, but even then, we need to meet up as a group after every hour to make sure everybody is here and nobody is missing.
That’s okay, drinking in bars is a popular group activity 😊