RESPONDING TO 5 POSITIVE STEREOTYPES ABOUT GERMANS | New Zealander in Germany

Summary

In this video, Antoinette, a New Zealander living in Germany, discusses positive German stereotypes from a non-biased perspective. She highlights Germany's reputation for quality, associating it with excellence in products like Birkenstock sandals and German cars. Antoinette also praises the educated nature of Germans, their tidiness, reliability in services and punctuality, and their honesty, which she finds refreshing and trustworthy. The video provides a balanced view of the positive traits that Germans are known for worldwide.

Takeaways

• 😀 Antoinette, a New Zealander living in Germany, discusses positive German stereotypes from a non-biased perspective.
• 🏭 Germany is renowned worldwide for its quality products, from boots to Birkenstock sandals and German cars.
• 🎓 The term 'educated' is associated with Germany, reflecting a high level of knowledge and inquisitiveness among its people.
• 🌍 Many Germans are multilingual, often speaking a second or multiple languages, which is a sign of their education.
• 🧹 Tidiness is a notable trait of Germany, with a clean environment and well-maintained public spaces.
• 🏡 Germans take pride in their gardens and yards, contributing to the overall tidiness of the country.
• 🛠️ Regulations in Germany ensure that houses and neighborhoods maintain a certain aesthetic, contributing to the country's tidiness.
• ⏰ Reliability is a key trait of German companies and individuals, with punctual public transport being a notable example.
• 🤝 Honesty is valued in German culture, with people being direct and truthful, even if it may come across as blunt.
• 👍 Antoinette's mother appreciates the honesty and reliability of her German son-in-law, which she sees as a positive trait.
• 📝 The video suggests that there are many more positive German traits that could be discussed in a follow-up video.

Q & A

What is the main topic of Antoinette's video?

The main topic of Antoinette's video is discussing and responding to positive German stereotypes from a non-biased point of view as a New Zealander living in Germany.

Why does Antoinette feel it's important to discuss positive stereotypes about Germany?

Antoinette believes discussing positive stereotypes is important because it provides a balanced view and allows her to share the many positive traits that Germans and Germany are famous for, as recognized globally.

What is one of the key positive stereotypes associated with Germany that Antoinette mentions?

One of the key positive stereotypes associated with Germany mentioned by Antoinette is 'quality', as Germany is known worldwide for its high-quality products.

How does Antoinette's personal experience relate to the stereotype of Germany being synonymous with quality?

Antoinette's personal experience relates to this stereotype as she instinctively associated Germany with quality even before she visited the country, and she shares examples such as her Birkenstock sandals and her children's shoes made in Germany.

What does Antoinette mean by 'educated' when discussing German stereotypes?

By 'educated', Antoinette means not only having a high level of formal education but also being knowledgeable, inquisitive, and well-informed about the world around them, which she finds to be a common trait among Germans.

How does Antoinette's experience with Germans' knowledge about New Zealand support her view on the 'educated' stereotype?

Antoinette's experience is supported by her interactions with Germans who knew quite a bit about New Zealand, its location, and facts, which was surprising to her and indicative of their inquisitive and educated nature.

What is another positive stereotype about Germany that Antoinette talks about in her video?

Another positive stereotype that Antoinette talks about is 'tidiness', emphasizing that Germany is a very clean and well-maintained country.

Can you provide an example from the script that illustrates the stereotype of Germany being tidy?

An example from the script is Antoinette's mention of her brother's observation about the cleanliness and tidiness of Germany, especially when compared to his experiences in Asia.

What is the stereotype of 'reliability' that Antoinette discusses in relation to Germans?

The stereotype of 'reliability' Antoinette discusses is that Germans are dependable and punctual, following through on plans and commitments, which she finds to be a positive trait in most of her interactions with them.

How does Antoinette's personal experience with a German company contrast with the stereotype of reliability?

Antoinette's personal experience contrasts with the stereotype as she had a negative experience with a German company that went bankrupt before starting a house building project, demonstrating that not all Germans or companies embody the stereotype of reliability.

What is the final positive German trait that Antoinette mentions in her video?

The final positive German trait that Antoinette mentions is 'honesty', highlighting that Germans are known for their directness and truthfulness in communication.

How does Antoinette's mother's perspective on her husband Rob exemplify the honesty stereotype of Germans?

Antoinette's mother's perspective exemplifies the honesty stereotype as she appreciated Rob's honesty and reliability from the start, which made her feel comfortable and trusting of him, qualities she associates with being German.

Outlines

00:00

🇩🇪 Embracing German Quality and Precision

Antoinette, a New Zealander living in Germany, discusses the global recognition of Germany's commitment to quality. She shares personal anecdotes and observations that highlight the country's reputation for excellence in manufacturing, from durable shoes to reliable cars and appliances. The video emphasizes how 'Made in Germany' is synonymous with high standards, and how this trait is a source of pride for Germans. Antoinette also touches on the preference for quality over quantity in consumer choices.

05:00

📚 Celebrating German Education and Knowledge

The script delves into the stereotype of Germans being well-educated and inquisitive. Antoinette explains that this doesn't just apply to formal education but also to the general curiosity and knowledge about the world that many Germans possess. She recounts her experiences with Germans who have shown interest and knowledge about her home country, New Zealand, and highlights the importance of accurate information and meaningful conversations in German culture. Additionally, she points out the multilingualism prevalent among Germans, which further contributes to their image as highly educated individuals.

10:01

🧹 Praising German Tidy Habits and Reliability

Antoinette talks about the tidiness and cleanliness of Germany, as observed in her neighborhood and shared by visiting family and friends. She mentions the pride Germans take in maintaining their gardens and yards, as well as the strict government regulations that contribute to the country's orderly appearance. The video also addresses the trait of reliability, using a personal story about a house-building project with a German company that went bankrupt. Despite this negative experience, Antoinette asserts that most German companies and individuals she has encountered are dependable, with punctual public transport services as an example of Germany's overall reliability.

🤝 Valuing German Honesty and Trustworthiness

In the final paragraph, Antoinette discusses the positive stereotype of German honesty, which she had previously addressed as a potential negative. She appreciates the directness and clarity that come with German communication, where people are not afraid to express their true thoughts and feelings. This honesty is seen as a positive trait that builds trust and reliability in relationships. Antoinette shares a story about her mother's appreciation for her husband's honesty and reliability, which are characteristic of many Germans, making them trustworthy and solid individuals.

Keywords

💡Quality

Quality refers to the standard of something as measured against other items of the same kind. It is defined by attributes such as durability, reliability, and overall excellence. In the video, the term 'quality' is closely associated with Germany and German products, such as Birkenstock sandals and German-made cars and appliances. The video emphasizes that Germany has a global reputation for quality, which is a source of pride for Germans and a positive stereotype.

💡Stereotype

A stereotype is a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing. The video discusses both positive and negative stereotypes about Germans, aiming to address and challenge these perceptions with a balanced view. The script uses the term to explore common beliefs about German characteristics, such as their association with quality and education.

💡Educated

To be educated means to have knowledge or training in various areas, not just formal academic education. The video script highlights the stereotype that Germans are well-informed and knowledgeable, with many speaking multiple languages. This term is used to illustrate the positive perception of Germans as being inquisitive and having a deep understanding of the world around them.

💡Tidiness

Tidiness is the state of being neat, clean, and free from disorder. The video describes Germany as a tidy and clean country, with well-maintained public spaces and private gardens. The term is used to convey the idea that Germans take pride in their environment and adhere to high standards of cleanliness and orderliness.

💡Reliability

Reliability is the quality of being dependable or trustworthy. In the context of the video, it is mentioned as a positive trait of Germans and German companies, suggesting that they are likely to follow through on commitments and plans. The video contrasts a negative experience with a German company with the overall positive reputation of German reliability.

💡Honesty

Honesty is the quality of being truthful and sincere. The video discusses the stereotype of Germans being brutally honest, which is seen as both a positive and negative trait. Honesty is portrayed as a fundamental characteristic of Germans, where they are direct and do not shy away from expressing their true thoughts and feelings.

💡New Zealander

A New Zealander is a person from New Zealand. The video's host, Antoinette, identifies herself as a New Zealander living in Germany. This keyword is used to establish her perspective as an outsider to Germany, which lends credibility to her discussion of German stereotypes, as she is not biased by being German herself.

💡Germany

Germany is a country in Central Europe, known for its rich history, culture, and economic strength. The video script frequently mentions Germany as the subject of the discussion, exploring various positive stereotypes associated with the country and its people. The term is central to the video's theme, as it is the focus of the stereotypes being examined.

💡Public Transport

Public transport refers to vehicles and systems that provide transportation to the public. The video mentions the reliability of German public transport, such as trains and buses, which are known for their punctuality. This is used as an example of the broader theme of German reliability and efficiency.

💡Birkenstock

Birkenstock is a brand known for its high-quality footwear, particularly sandals. The video uses Birkenstock as an example of German-made products that are recognized for their durability and quality. The mention of Birkenstock sandals that lasted for years without wearing out illustrates the video's point about the association of Germany with quality.

💡Vacuum Cleaner

A vacuum cleaner is a device used for cleaning floors and other surfaces by suction. In the script, a vacuum cleaner made in Germany is mentioned as an example of the positive stereotype associated with German products. The fact that it is German-made is enough to imply its quality, even without knowing the brand, according to the video's narrative.

Highlights

Antoinette, a New Zealander living in Germany, discusses positive German stereotypes from a non-biased perspective.

Germany is globally renowned for its quality, with products like Birkenstock sandals and German cars known for their excellence.

Germans often prioritize quality over quantity, preferring to invest in long-lasting items.

The term 'educated' in Germany extends beyond formal education to encompass a general knowledge and curiosity about the world.

Germans are often multilingual, with many speaking at least two languages.

Tidiness is a notable characteristic of Germany, with a clean environment and well-maintained public spaces.

Germans take pride in their gardens and yards, contributing to the overall tidiness of the country.

Government regulations in Germany ensure a consistent and tidy appearance in neighborhoods.

Reliability is a key trait of Germans, with punctual public transport and dependable services.

Despite a negative experience with a German company, Antoinette acknowledges the general reliability of German businesses.

Honesty is a positive stereotype of Germans, with a preference for directness and truthfulness.

Germans are seen as trustworthy and solid individuals, a trait appreciated by Antoinette's mother.

Antoinette's video may lead to a part 2, indicating the abundance of positive traits attributed to Germans.

The video encourages viewers to subscribe and engage with Antoinette's content on social media.

Antoinette's unique perspective as a non-German living in Germany provides a balanced view of German stereotypes.

Transcripts

hey guys welcome back to my channel and

if you're new here at a so great to help

you I'm Antoinette and New Zealand her

living in Germany and recently I made a

video responding to negative German

stereotypes and I've decided to make a

video responding to positive German

stereotypes today there are so many

positive traits that Germans and Germany

and general is famous for and I'm going

to be talking about this positive traits

and stereotypes from a non bias point of

view because I think if the German was

talking about how great Germany was and

you know positive stereotypes about

Germany people would think you know

you're German of course you'd say that

but I'm not German I'm a New Zealand to

living in Germany so I did a little bit

of googling and you guys will not

believe how many positive stereotypes I

found about Germany

so many people from all around the world

had such great things to say about

Germany the words that keep coming up

time and time again when I was

researching this topic was quality

Germany is known all over the world

for quality and I have to agree with

this 100% yes

Germany in quality just go together

something I find quite interesting is

that before I visited Germany I did not

know a lot about Germany at all but I

already associated Germany with quality

so I remember a long time ago in New

Zealand I was shopping for a nice pair

of winter boots and I remember the shop

assistants saying to me oh you might

like these boots they're actually made

in Germany and she didn't have to say

anything else I knew that they must be

good quality if they were made in

Germany I just instinctively associated

Germany with quality and I actually

remember not long ago my sister told me

that who that can clearly broken down

and she said I thought this new vacuum

cleaner I don't actually know the brand

but it's made in Germany it must be good

made in Germany just has a reputation

for excellence and quality all over the

world everyone knows about it and it's

true it's 100% true for example my

Birkenstock sandals like how German can

you get that I just love my Birkenstocks

and they

took me four years and they are still

going strong they're such great quality

whenever I buy my kids shoes that are

made in Germany I know that they are

going to be practical comfortable and

just excellent quality and they're going

to last and so I always look at for

shoes that are made in Germany for my

kids also German cars German appliances

do I need to say any more than just that

just excellent also I think a lot of

Germans would choose quality of a

quantity instead of buying maybe 10

pairs of really cheap shoes and all

different colors they would prefer to

invest and a really nice pair of quality

shows and like a neutral color or

something like that because that would

last some fears instead of lasting like

you know a few years so I really like

this mint Ellison defense that the word

Germany and quality are so closely

linked as something that Germans can be

so proud okay so the next word

associated with Germany which came up

when I was researching this topic was

the word educated work I found really

interesting and I really thought about

it and I have to agree I definitely

would associate educated with Germany

and German people personally I don't

necessarily associate the word educated

with somebody who has a high level of

education on paper so somebody that has

their PhD or doctorate or somebody who's

an engineer who has been to university

and studied obviously they are educated

but I also would say that somebody who

hasn't been to university but allows to

research and as inquisitive somebody who

is very knowledgeable about the world

around them I would also consider them

to be educated and I think a lot of

Germans are very knowledgeable very

inquisitive compared to people from

other countries for example I was super

surprised when I first came to Germany

that so many Germans knew quite a bit

about New Zealand and not only where it

was but they knew fact about New Zealand

and this surprised me because I spoken

to people from other countries who

barely knew when New Zealand was they

couldn't point to New Zealand on

and if the Germans I spoke to didn't

know a lot about New Zealand they often

would ask me questions and they'd be

really interested to find out more about

New Zealand which I thought was so great

often if you get into a conversation

with a German you'll find that they are

very fete orientated and so they like to

get the facts right they like to

research topics and they like to have

really meaningful conversations about

the world about events and I was really

impressed by this when I first came to

Germany and so I would definitely

associate Germany and Germans with the

word educators also when it comes to

languages most Germans speak a second

language if not multiple languages which

absolutely blew my mind when I first

came to Germany because growing up in

New Zealand monta New Zealanders just

speak English and I remember if I would

ever meet somebody that would speak a

foreign language I thought it was

absolutely incredible you could

definitely say that many Germans are

highly educated in a range of different

areas okay so the mixed positive German

trait is tidiness and I have to agree

with this I think Germany on a whole is

a very tidy and clean country and family

and friends who visit me in Germany

often will comment on how tidy and clean

Germany is if you go for a walk in the

area of Germany where I live you will

hardly ever see litter laying around all

of the hedges will be nicely trimmed and

the grass will be mowed nice as short

and it's just overall a very tiny

ordered country I remember when my

brother came to visit us in Germany this

was years ago he previously been

traveling around Asia and I remember him

saying to me

Germany is so tidy and so clean and I

think he noticed it because it was such

a contrast from where he'd been to where

he was and he really appreciated the

cleanliness in the tidiness of Germany

also a lot of Germans they take so much

pride and their gardens and their yards

and they like to make sure everything is

neat

Heidi and it's really nice when you're

going for a walk around the neighborhood

and everything's looking like and

span

and just really nice also when we were

first planning our house that we're

building in Germany there were so many

government regulations about how the

house had to look a whole neighborhood

looks a certain way it has kind of like

a traditional German look to it and so

the angle of our roof had to be a

certain way besides of our house it had

to tie in with the surroundings it was

really annoying at first with all of

these regulations but looking back now I

can definitely see why they set these

regulations in place because they want

everything to look a certain way and

needs to look tidy and it needs to kind

of tie in with the rest of the

neighborhood so definitely Germany on a

whole is a very tidy country and I think

most Germans are actually pretty tidy

people not all of them that I think most

of them are ok so the next positive

German trait is reliability and I

definitely agree with this to a certain

extent we just had a very bad experience

recently without house building project

so I had talked about this before but

the original German company who we were

building our house with filed for

bankruptcy right before we were about to

start building which was devastating for

us we had invested so much time into the

planning of the house and then they'll

elect see you later so we just had a

really bad experience with this German

company obviously they weren't reliable

but I wouldn't say that all Germans are

like this it's quite the opposite

actually

we just had bad luck most German

companies and services that I've had to

deal with have been incredibly reliable

the same can be said with German people

if you make a plan to do something with

a German they will most likely follow

through Germans are just not flaky

people who pull out of plans and muck

you around

I think Germans in general are very

reliable and I really love that about

Germans and living in Germany also when

it comes to things like public transport

and general public transport in Germany

is so reliable that trains the trans the

bus

they usually arrive like on the second

and this is definitely not the case in

many other countries German public

transport services for the most part are

extremely punctual and reliable

obviously it's not the case all the time

but for the most part your public

transport is going to arrive on time ok

so last but not least a positive traits

that many Germans are famous for is

honesty and this actually might be

surprising to some of you because in my

last video I spoke about honesty or

brutal honesty shall I say as being

something that is like a negative

stereotype about Germans that Germans

can be too honest but I also mentioned

that I don't necessarily think that this

is a negative thing and in many cases

it's a very positive trait I feel like a

broken record talking about this because

I bring it up a lot in videos but one of

the things that I love about Germans is

the fact that they are just so honest

you know exactly where you stand

they never beat around the bush they

never lie to you just to make you feel

good many Germans are very direct very

straight up what they think and what

they feel is what they will say and

there's no sort of blurriness in the

middle and I I really like this I would

much rather somebody tell me the truth

then lie to me just to make me feel

better you may have seen a video that I

made with my mum and we were discussing

Germany from her point of view and she

talked about the fact that one of the

things she absolutely loved about my

husband Rob before we were married when

she sort of first met him was the fact

that he was just so honest and just so

sort of reliable and she just felt that

from the start

and she always trusted him and when I

moved to Germany with whom I was

originally just going for a holiday that

she always felt the sort of ease and

comfort she never worried about me

because she trusted him

and she loved his honesty and she just

thought it was just a very solid genuine

guy

this is just a very German

characteristic so many Germans are just

very trustworthy reliable solid people

which I love so anyway guys that's all

I've got for this video there are so

many other positive German traits that I

have left off this list so I think I

might have to make a part 2 if you're

interested in that thank you so much for

watching if you enjoyed this video then

don't forget to give it a big thumbs up

I would love you to consider subscribing

to my channel feel free to connect with

me on Instagram and I will see you again

really soon bye

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you

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