MAKING GERMAN FRIENDS IS VERY DIFFERENT 🇩🇪 You first need to understand this

it's not more difficult for foreigners. When you are German and move to a new part in Germany and you are not super extroverted, it's the same difficult for a German as it is for a foreigner. In Germany, you are really screwed if you have not one of the following connection points: you have already friends from childhood, school, univerity you have automatic connections with the neighbors because e.g. you built at the same time a house or have other interests and goals in common e.g. concerning the house you have kids and there are kids in the neighborhood that fit to yours so that the parents are similar you have kids in school and some of the other parents have the same life style like you you have special interests that are useful for such clubs, where closer connections are typically made (not every club like every sports club or music ... or ...) works for building friendships, have been for example to a table tennis club where nobody met the other buddies somewhere else beside the sports training. you have such a work where it is possible to connect to colleagues you are foreigner and can start with a small friend circle of other foreigners e.g. in a language school. you are super extroverted anyway and few other chances. So if you have not one of these possibilities, it's a rare luck to find German friends in an other way.

6:00 we Germans wouldn't be us, if we hadn't a word for that type of intense but short term committed relationships: "Strohfeuer" (lit. "straw fire")

I met my Germany best friend 11 years ago this past December. We met in the Dominican when my husband and I were there on a vacation. We became friends on Facebook at the resort and we talk all the time. I went to Germany twice to visit her - alone (no hubby or kids). She visited me in Canada in 2019 and I took my 2 boys with me for 3 weeks in the summer of 2022. Can't wait to see her again.

When i was a University student ten years ago we met an african exchange student in the library. His sister had told him not to just hang around with other africans so he „hooked up“ with us. He struggled quite a lot because he called anyone a friend when he couldnt even remember their name. Total clash of cultures 😂

I-phone quality is great.

Casual friends in Germany are „Bekannte" - usually you have a lot of them. Friends/Freunde are close friends, nearly like family members. In Germany most people are members of at least a few „Vereine"/associatons. In Germany there is a saying: three germans make an association/ Verein. Actually you need seven persons, but there is something true at this saying. By the way I attended wonderful parties at table tennis clubs. Also Volkshochschulen are a great place to meet people.

As a kiwi I totally know what you're meaning, however New Zealander's have friends which are casual, but we also have close friendships which are formed over a number of years. Friendships which are so strong and last through all the ups and downs in life. There are many casual friendships but less of those super close and meaningful friendships, which are so precious. Both types of friendships are good and super important.

A German woman here, 58 years old... My experiences and tips on the subject of friendships / friends in Germany: 1) Germans make a very strong distinction between acquaintances and friends! It is relatively easy to make acquaintances - some of them arise out of the most impossible situations. FRIENDS on the other hand, are not so easy to find, even as a German... 2) as others have already written: joining a club (sports, dancing, fire department, games, handicrafts, ...) or e.g. parent-child groups, church groups, voluntary work in all kinds of areas offer both - emigrants and Germans, who move to a foreign city - good opportunities to build up a stable social environment. It is often the case that initial acquaintances develop into deep friendships over time... 3) True friendship has to be earned (even as a German!) - it doesn't just fall from the sky ^^ 4) Once you have found a real friend, it really is a friend for life! This friend will ALWAYS help you in any situation, at any time and for any reason. They will ALWAYS be there for you, have your back and do everything in their power to "prove themselves worthy" of your friendship... And whatever you need - your friend will move heaven and hell to fulfill your wishes / needs within the scope of his possibilities. He is there when you are sad... He listens, respects you and your opinion - but is always honest (even if this honesty may be painful for you)... A friend is then no longer just a friend - he is part of the family! 5) Conclusion: an acquaintance happens - a friendship has to be earned (although acquaintances are of course also valued!)! // As an example of really deep and long-lasting friendships, I can cite my father: he has exactly ONE friend - but he's had him for over 80 years! The two of them have been through EVERYTHING together and have shared every happy, sad, emotional or funny event in their lives ^^ On the other hand, I only call 3 people friends myself - and I have also been connected to them for about 55 years... Of course, both my father and I also have a number of acquaintances that we hold in high esteem and have grown fond of, no question about it... But FRIENDS are, as I said, few and far between ^^ // THAT is (in my experience and opinion) the essence of friendship in Germany - completely independent of origin, skin color, religion etc. or whether you were born in Germany or not ^^

Same here, 11 years in Germany, my hubby is German but I managed to gain one good German friend xD And I spoke German from the very beginning as I had studied it at a university in my country. All the other friends I have here are of other nationalities. I never had any trouble making friends until I moved here. Try hanging out with Germans haha they will maybe give you one hour of their time in 2 months time if you're lucky😅 Least spontaneous nation I've ever encountered. Many of them stabbed me in the back as well. It's hard out here.

A german friend is someone you can call anytime and he gives an arm and a leg to help you.

This is so true. I enjoyed this video. 😊❤

Great video. So needed. Thank you for quality content.

55y old austrian here - i amassed the incredible number of 2 friends during my lifetime. There´s a reason it´s called the 'Inner Circle'.

Beautiful artwork on the wall, table gorgeous

Seeing your beauty makes me addicted and i always wait for your latest videos🤩🌹

Hi Antoinette, for you in German: " Du hast zwei Freunde im Leben. Und das ist schon viel ". Der Rest sind Bekannte. Einen Freund kann ich egal wann, egal von wo und egal was war, anrufen und Ihm sagen: " Hilf mir. " Mein Freund hilft mir.

We have a lot of Vereine..Actually for everything. A good way to make friends quickly.

Interesting. My German ancestors came to the US in the 1880s and 1890s. When you talk about German personality traits, I STILL see those reflected in my family over 100 years later. Must be something in the DNA. 😆

I guess it depends on the region in Germany, or certain types of people, because where I live people do smile at each other.

Hello Antoinette, I have been more or less a 'silent' follower of your channel I love to listen to your perception of us as a nation. I agree 100 % with you . Making friends in Germany can be challenging due to cultural reservedness, direct communication styles, and established social circles. While we may seem formal and slow to open up initially, we can form deep, loyal friendships over time that can last for lifetime. By the by- I love your warm set-up of this video. Simply beautiful.