The benefits of learning a foreign language for your brain are numerous! It can also be very difficult, especially if you’re wanting to be fluent or get a job in a foreign country. We have found the German language to be particularly difficult as it has very complicated grammar. However, learning German is helping our brains in many ways. Here are some of the ways learning a foreign language can positively impact your brain. Benefits of Learning a Foreign Language – Your brain will thank you! Improved Cognitive Functions Learning a new language engages various cognitive processes, such as memo ..read more

Since moving to Germany, we have come to LOVE the local German village festivals that happen all around us from May to October. The communities come to life and we just so enjoy hanging out with our friends, drinking some beer, letting the kids play, and listening to some Bavarian music! Oktoberfest is Overrated Oktoberfest is seriously overrated. It’s very expensive and SO crowded. You have to book a table at least a year in advance, or you won’t be sitting down, at least on the weekends. During weekdays, however, it is much less crowded and more manageable. Thankfully, there are many other ..read more

Germany is famous for it’s many festivals, from rock music, to metal, to beer and wine, to medieval festivals – they really have it all! Here are some of Germany’s most famous festivals. German has many festivals each summer, many of which are musical festivals. Germany hosts a wide array of festivals during the summer months, offering a diverse range of cultural, music, food, and regional celebrations. Please note that festival schedules and details might change, so it’s always best to check official websites for the most current information. 10 Most Famous Festivals in Germany Oktoberfest De ..read more

Summer in Germany is a special time. The long, dark winters really make us appreciate the warm sun that comes out between June and August. Germans seem to come to LIFE during this time. Kids are back out on the streets playing with friends, people are out walking/hiking/biking, families are grilling, hanging out at restaurants and in beer gardens, young adults attend music festivals, and many flock to lakes, rivers and the local public swimming pool to swim. Here Kevin and I were enjoying a medieval festival at Burghausen Castle in Burghausen, Germany! The culture of Germany during the summer ..read more

I love to read quotes about living abroad since that has become a way of life for our family! Here are some that really resonated with me as part of an American family who lives abroad in Germany. “A nomad I will remain for life, in love with distant and uncharted places.” My Favorite Quotes about Living Abroad For as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated with other cultures and languages. The first time I remember wanting to travel and explore the world was at only six years old! My parents took us for the first time my parents to Disney World, and I saw the “It’s a Small World Afte ..read more

Train travel in Germany is something we never got to enjoy in the USA. It’s a huge perk of living in Germany (and in Europe in general)! But it’s not always perfect. Here are some pros and cons of the system and our own experiences with it. German Has One of the Best Train Travel Systems in the World! Train travel in Germany is considered to be one of the best in the world. It is efficient, reliable, and extensive, with trains running on time and connecting almost every town and city in the country. The national railway company in Germany is called Deutsche Bahn, or DB for short. Different Ty ..read more

Germany’s “Freedom to Roam” right, or Betretungsrecht, is guaranteed by multiple federal laws. It is something that would be totally foreign to Americans. In fact, many Americans wouldn’t dream of having such a law! So what is this law, this German right, and how does it affect the lifestyle of many Germans? Let’s explore. Hiking, Biking, and Walking Trails are All Over Germany We moved to Germany on a cold Valentine’s Day in February. On our drive from Munich to our new home in a small village in southern Bavaria, we immediately noticed all of the people walking on trails near the A8 highway ..read more

My American parents came to visit us for the first time since moving to Germany – what did they think? From munching on traditional German cuisine and hiking up mountains like locals, to driving on the Autobahn and learning new words, we captured it all. Want to know what they thought of their time in Deutschland? Check out our video for their first impressions! We took them to eat dinner at a monastery that overlooks the Chiemgau mountains and lake Chiemsee! First Visit to Germany – What Did We Do? We moved to Germany from the USA more than two years ago, right in the middle of the COVID pand ..read more

Venice is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.he city is small and overtourism has become a big problem. How can we still visit this ancient and charming city, while being conscious and considerate tourists? I know for us, we want to make sure these historical locations will be around for generations to come. Venice Overtourism – What is Overtourism? Overtourism refers to a situation where an excessive number of tourists visit a destination. This leads to negative impacts on the environment, culture, and economy of the area. When the number of visitors surpasses the carr ..read more

Here are many German words for foreign parents that you won’t learn in German beginner-level classes (A1-A2)! As a foreign parent in Germany, you’ll need to know these words soon after moving to Germany. We’ve been learning German since before we moved here in February of 2021 from the USA. But we’ve noticed that many of the words we’ve needed as parents of four kids, we didn’t learn in our A1 and A2 (beginner) level courses! So here are the German words for parents we learned by immersion. German Words for Foreign Parents In the video, we mention more than a dozen words. Here in this post ..read more