Author Archives: Expat chatter

50 years later – Triumph and tragedy of the Munich Olympics. Part II: Tragedy

The 1972 Munich Olympic Games brought many long-lasting improvements to the city, but they were....

50 years later: The triumph and tragedy of the Munich Olympics – Part I: Triumph

It’s been 50 years since the Munich Olympics were held, but their impact lives on....

How chicken legs, triangles and sphincters will make you laugh

The German language is very precise and detailed, sometimes to the extent that it goes....

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The French girl who wouldn’t talk

Language class is where you learn to speak a language, but just memorizing vocabulary and....

Linguistic sleight of hand – bilingualism at any cost

After I had kids in Germany, I knew I wanted to raise them bilingually. But....

On a train to everywhere – Germany’s €9 ticket and its surprising consequences

The next best thing to free is Germany’s €9 ticket. Apart from motivating even motorheads....

Bombs away! The WWII gift that keeps on giving

Read by Brenda One of the punctuality challenges to the Munich train system, as noted....

If this is punctuality, my watch is broken

Germany has the reputation of being punctual and reliable. But recent snafus in city planning....

Trainin’ the Ukrainians – Refugees in the classroom

There are millions of Ukrainian refugees in Germany, and I decide to help out by....

Emotional baggage: why I pack too much on trips home

I used to feel sheepish whenever I took an overpacked suitcase home on a trip....

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The Great Resignation is leading to great consternation

The staffing shortage in the U.S. and Europe was visible everywhere during my recent trip....

My cowboy boots didn’t fool the cowboy

I thought cowboy boots would help me develop my rodeo skills. An evening at the....

In awe of Colorado’s awfully good athletes

Hiking and biking regularly might lead you to believe you’re in good shape. If you....

Kraut and about – what are all those Germans doing abroad?

German immigrants used to flock to the U.S. They still go there in droves, but....

On The (Same) Road Again in New York City

I used to get lost all the time, but that all changed when GPS technology....

The travails of travel, from Mozart to the moon

I was tempted to feel sorry for myself when my plane was delayed by a....

Follow the Narrow Brick Road – and hope for the best

A man was recently caught on camera driving a Maserati down the famous Spanish steps....

Think digital technology is a cure-all? Don’t bet your life on it

A WWII air raid siren startled me once while I waited for a train. Such....

What’s that schmuck doing in the jewelry store?

Read by Brenda The war in Ukraine has catapulted yet another German word into English....

Karl Marx’s penguin and Richard Wagner’s design for Madonna’s corset

Read by Brenda Karl Marx and Richard Wagner are featured in joint exhibits at the....

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Ukraine on the train – from a military to a cultural conflict

Taking the train home from Berlin, some Ukrainians boarded the train. Watching their interactions with....

Juggling work and family, German minister drops the ball

German minister for the family Anne Spiegel recently resigned after major errors of judgment. Did....

Bring out the Easter eggs – the kids are coming home

Just as I was getting used to not being a mother, my COVID-harassed daughters came....

The ladies, the rest home and the bombs

The oldest residents of a rest home suddenly developed mild illnesses. They all shared a....

Aren’t you glad you got the orange car after all?

The sky was suddenly a muddy orange, but what was causing it. I had an....

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That map might just quash your travel plans – so focus on fun instead

Germans are usually so logical, it’s hard to believe how that can make such planning....

The distant agony of past wars is suddenly revived by the attack on Ukraine

The five German cities I visited on a college tour with my daughter were all....

The two dots that will make or break you

Speaking a foreign language can be tricky. Sometimes it can also get you into trouble....

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Think your vacation was spectacular? Don’t make me yawn

Germans take vacations every year without fail. If you need to know something about your....

Canada, oh Canada, what have you done?

Canada and New Zealand have been bastions of rationality until the trucker protests broke out.....

Get that rotten banana peel out of the plastic recycling

Read by Brenda Photo by Louis Hansel on Unsplash My muesli stuck in my throat....

AI is cutting edge but it still ain’t perfect

Technology has exploded over the past decades. Artificial Intelligence is leading the pack, but even....

The queen turns out to be a football

Languages often adopt foreign words, but this can cause some odd situations, especially when the....

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800 years of history found their way into my bike lock

I thought I had a foolproof way to remember my bike lock combination. But I....

The 10 kilometers that triggered Acute License Plate Trauma

The small Munich suburb of Zorneding may not be famous, but harbors a few surprises.

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Can your dog help improve your listening skills? Yip!

What can dogs teach us about communication? Quite a bit