https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Germany in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed It's common to romanticize the parenting techniques of other countries, but some tendencies of German Eltern can leave foreigners utterly confused. https://www.thelocal.de/20191204/weird-things-german-parents-do-raising-their-kids Wed, 04 Dec 2019 14:52:41 +0100 weird-things-german-parents-do-raising-their-kids Moving to another country is a stressful experience at the best of times, let alone during a global pandemic. Eve Bennett reflects on the struggles and the rewards of coming to live in Germany in such an unprecedented year. https://www.thelocal.de/20201027/what-moving-to-berlin-as-a-british-exchange-student-during-the-pandemic-taught-me Tue, 27 Oct 2020 15:28:05 +0100 what-moving-to-berlin-as-a-british-exchange-student-during-the-pandemic-taught-me Germany’s first nationwide 'catastrophe awareness day' was described as “a fiasco”, after cities reported having no sirens, while too many digital warnings sent at once led to a system meltdown. https://www.thelocal.de/20200910/no-sirens-since-cold-war-catastrophe-awareness-day-flop-embarrasses-government Thu, 10 Sep 2020 19:12:50 +0200 no-sirens-since-cold-war-catastrophe-awareness-day-flop-embarrasses-government Pupils should have affordable access to the Internet, schools need high speed broadband, while all teachers should have laptops, according to a new government plan. https://www.thelocal.de/20200814/digital-upgrade-how-germany-plans-cheap-internet-access-for-all-school-pupils Fri, 14 Aug 2020 11:12:48 +0200 digital-upgrade-how-germany-plans-cheap-internet-access-for-all-school-pupils From changes to coronavirus restrictions, travel, tax deadlines and increased funding for training and hard-hit businesses, here's a rundown of what to expect this August if you live in Germany. https://www.thelocal.de/20200729/everything-that-changes-in-germany-in-august-2020 Wed, 29 Jul 2020 15:30:54 +0200 everything-that-changes-in-germany-in-august-2020 From invoices to slot machines and patient care, there are a lot of changes in store for people living in Germany in November. https://www.thelocal.de/20191030/everything-that-changes-in-november-2019-in-germany Wed, 30 Oct 2019 11:21:59 +0100 everything-that-changes-in-november-2019-in-germany Rents in Berlin are not only rising excessively for private apartments – but also in commercial properties. Here’s how the local government wants to take action. https://www.thelocal.de/20190813/berlin-seeks-to-keep-rents-down-on-commercial-properties-to-save-small-shops Tue, 13 Aug 2019 13:08:33 +0200 berlin-seeks-to-keep-rents-down-on-commercial-properties-to-save-small-shops The state government in Berlin is taking over 670 apartments in the former East of the city from private ownership after an outcry over gentrification in the German capital https://www.thelocal.de/20190716/why-berlin-is-buying-back-nearly-700-apartments-on-its-historic-karl-marx-allee Tue, 16 Jul 2019 17:13:35 +0200 why-berlin-is-buying-back-nearly-700-apartments-on-its-historic-karl-marx-allee Berlin is considering cutting the cost of its annual ticket to encourage more people to use public transport. We want to know: what is the S-Bahn, U-Bahn and bus network like where you live and how can it be better? https://www.thelocal.de/20190708/tell-us-how-can-public-transport-be-improved-in-germany Mon, 08 Jul 2019 17:00:47 +0200 tell-us-how-can-public-transport-be-improved-in-germany From taxes to 'Kindergeld', there are a lot of important changes coming to Germany as June becomes July on Monday. https://www.thelocal.de/20190628/everything-that-changes-in-germany-in-july-2019 Fri, 28 Jun 2019 18:46:03 +0200 everything-that-changes-in-germany-in-july-2019 Former meteorologist Lars Hattwig has achieved the "frugalist" dream that is gaining ground in ageing Germany: retiring in his 40s and living on the proceeds of a working life lived sparingly. https://www.thelocal.de/20180627/thrifty-germans-look-to-escape-the-rat-race-early Wed, 27 Jun 2018 11:29:59 +0200 thrifty-germans-look-to-escape-the-rat-race-early What Currywurst is to Berliners, the Fischbrötchen is to residents along the Baltic Sea coast. So revered is the fish sandwich that it will be celebrated in various north German cities and towns on Saturday. https://www.thelocal.de/20180504/baltic-sea-coast-to-celebrate-world-fish-sandwich-day Fri, 04 May 2018 17:48:05 +0200 baltic-sea-coast-to-celebrate-world-fish-sandwich-day Foreigners - and some Germans themselves - in Berlin can now take a sigh of relief. The district office of Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg is offering the possibility to read about several of its services in simple German. https://www.thelocal.de/20180320/berlin-city-services-website-translates-itself-to-easy-german Tue, 20 Mar 2018 11:25:20 +0100 berlin-city-services-website-translates-itself-to-easy-german The annual day of love on February 14th isn't as big in Germany as it is in countries like the US. But since the 1950s Valentine's Day has grown increasingly popular across the country. https://www.thelocal.de/20180214/then-and-now-valentines-day-in-germany Wed, 14 Feb 2018 16:26:54 +0100 then-and-now-valentines-day-in-germany Every year, thousands of pensioners move abroad to retire in another country and Germany is no exception. These are the 5 most important things to know about retirement in Germany. https://www.thelocal.de/20171124/5-things-to-know-about-retirement-in-germany Fri, 24 Nov 2017 18:22:01 +0100 5-things-to-know-about-retirement-in-germany Life in Germany’s hedonistic capital city can take its toll on the psyche. Faced with long waiting lists and local therapists who can’t relate to their experiences, Berlin expats are turning to less conventional sources. https://www.thelocal.de/20171004/how-foreigners-in-berlin-are-turning-to-a-mental-health-black-market-to-treat-their-needs Wed, 04 Oct 2017 14:29:15 +0200 how-foreigners-in-berlin-are-turning-to-a-mental-health-black-market-to-treat-their-needs It's always exciting when you first touch down in a new country, and more so if you're planning on staying a while. But these seven things will undoubtedly get on your nerves in the first few weeks. https://www.thelocal.de/20161229/seven-things-that-grind-your-gears-when-you-first-arrive-in-germany Thu, 29 Dec 2016 11:00:43 +0100 seven-things-that-grind-your-gears-when-you-first-arrive-in-germany Getting married in Germany isn't as simple as eloping and having an Elvis impersonator read out your vows. Here's what you should know as an expat. https://www.thelocal.de/20170725/how-to-marry-a-german-as-an-expat-marriage-weddings Tue, 25 Jul 2017 20:00:16 +0200 how-to-marry-a-german-as-an-expat-marriage-weddings The Federal Court of Justice (BGH) on Thursday came to an important ruling on illegal downloads that has consequences not just for those who break the law. https://www.thelocal.de/20170331/what-you-need-to-know-when-you-download-music-in-germany Fri, 31 Mar 2017 18:13:38 +0200 what-you-need-to-know-when-you-download-music-in-germany An English couple has taken on the ambitious task of bringing back to life a century-old east German train station that has been left largely abandoned for more than 20 years. https://www.thelocal.de/20170330/the-british-expat-couple-bringing-a-historic-train-station-back-to-life Thu, 30 Mar 2017 12:21:23 +0200 the-british-expat-couple-bringing-a-historic-train-station-back-to-life