Devilishly good summer reading
Devilishly good summer reading The world-famous author Salman Rushdie has won the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade, which he’ll accept in Frankfurt in October. In this month’s Learning Nugget, you can learn more about this Indian-born, British-educated, naturalized U.S. citizen whose words have enchanted people around the globe while causing others to call […]
Where’s the fridge and my air conditioned closet?
Where’s the fridge and my air conditioned closet? In last month’s Learning Nugget, we looked at a few variations in U.S. and German housing norms. While putting it together, we came across so many interesting distinctions that we couldn’t resist extending the theme to a second month. Keep reading to learn why most Americans would […]
No Rolländen and unlocked doors
No Rolländen and unlocked doors If we asked you to think about cultural differences between Germany and the United States, we’d expect your ideas to revolve around language, food, or how willing people in each culture are to talk to strangers. Some things you probably wouldn’t think about: How windows work and whether or not […]
Pep rallies & diplomas: Surprising facts about the U.S. school system
Pep rallies & diplomas: Surprising facts about the U.S. school system In this month’s Learning Nugget, we’re talking about something close to our hearts: education. If you’ve ever seen a movie about life in a U.S. school, you’ve probably realized there are some big differences in German and U.S. academics. Today we take a look […]
The rebel poet who wrote ‚Auld Lang Syne‘
The rebel poet who wrote ‚Auld Lang Syne‘ We twa hae run about the braes And pu’d the gowans fine; But we’ve wander’d mony a weary foot Sin auld lang syne. This is an original verse from the song „Auld Lang Syne“ that’s sung around the world at New Year celebrations. Don’t worry if you […]
Two strange Christmas traditions from the US & UK
Two strange Christmas traditions from the US & UK Some Christmas rituals are common throughout western cultures: lights get strung on houses, cookies are baked, and trees go up in living rooms. But of course each country has unique customs, too. Today, we take a look at two Christmas traditions from the U.S. and U.K. […]
Shorter work weeks & nicer bosses
Shorter work weeks & nicer bosses As we all know, the last few years have affected the way most office workers do their jobs. The biggest change is businesses accepting that many employees accomplish more and are generally happier when they have the option to work from home at least a few days a week. […]
The alternative car you didn’t know about
The alternative car you didn’t know about A huge focus in the fight against climate change is getting the world to drive vehicles that don’t rely on fossil fuels. The best-known alternative is the purely electric car, which uses a charged battery for power and produces absolutely no emissions when driving. Fuel cell cars that run on hydrogen and emit only water vapor during operation have also received a lot […]
How ‚bout them apples?
How ‚bout them apples? There are well over 150 years of legends surrounding Johnny Appleseed. He’s a man famous for wandering thousands of miles on foot planting apple orchards in what’s now the U.S. midwest before Europeans settled it. Unlike some U.S. folk heroes like Paul Bunyan or John Henry, Johnny Appleseed was a real person. But, of course, there are some very big differences […]
Chocolate-covered scorpions
Chocolate-covered scorpions In Germany, June and July are primetime for local festivals called variously Kerb, Kirmes, Jahrmarkt, and plenty of other regional names. The hallmarks of these events are unhealthy comfort foods, rides and games for kids and adults alike, and a range of entertainment up on a stage. While some towns in the U.S. have yearly celebrations similar to what you can find in Germany, they’re nothing […]