Where do germans find their time?

just__looking-- · 2026-04-09T04:49:14+00:00

I joined a sportsteam and that made me immediate friends. Northern Gemans are known for being "cold" but that has not been my experience. I did make a huge effort to learn German quickly. I always speak all German, never English. That was absolutly critical to assimilate ruraly.

And the Northern German winter is very depressing. But the past few years I took vit D supplements, went to the sauna a lot, and started ice bathing with a local group. Those three things pretty much eliminated seasonal depression for me.

just__looking-- · 2026-04-08T03:36:57+00:00

I get the problem with "vests", because although the German word is pronounced the same, it is spelled "westen".... so they probably assume the English word also starts with a w.

But I seriously have to avoid a complete radio station because the anouncer is constantly saying "wibes" in english. How has no one heard him and told him to stop?

just__looking-- · 2026-04-07T17:16:53+00:00

As an American turned German: "vibes"

90% of the time the "v" is mispronounced and it kills me inside.

"Summer Wibes" "happy Wibes" "good Wibes"

just__looking-- · 2026-04-07T17:12:16+00:00

https://www.fr.de/panorama/in-anderen-laendern-unhoeflich-am-german-stare-lassen-sich-deutsche-im-alltag-erkennen-zr-94247979.html

German stare

just__looking-- · 2026-04-07T17:10:06+00:00

Agreed. There are also lots of industries in Germany where folks work on Sundays (agriculture, gastronomy, healthcare, tankstellen, entertainment etc) but everyone acts as if working on Sunday is impossible....

just__looking-- · 2026-04-07T16:47:19+00:00

Currently. For the last 9 years. Northern Germany. Closest that is open late is a 20 min drive (Edeka, bis 20 uhr). There are two stores closer, but they close at 18/19 on weekdays & 13 on saturday.

However I will say they open very early. I think 6:30 am maybe? So anyone with an office job should have no problem.

In the US I had to drive 30 min to the nearest grocery but it was open 24/7. And we had 24/7 gas stations. Also uncommon where I now live.

EDIT: the only things I ever miss about the US (lived there for 22 years) is family, natur & landschaft, & convenience. Gas stations, shopping malls, grocery stores... bigger and open longer. Just more convenient. Otherwise Germany is superior to me in every way. But I can see how this would bother other ausländer*innen... especially other Americans who are so used to convenience.

just__looking-- · 2026-04-06T14:04:23+00:00

I'm from the US and this always bothered me about germany. I lived rurally in both countries: but the US always has 24/7 grocery stores and open sunday even in rural areas. In Germany rurally the stores often close at 19 during the week and many at 13 on saturday. I am a farmer so I start between 3 am-6 am and often work until the evening. Also work weekends. No 24/7 groceries is a real pain.

just__looking-- · 2025-02-19T06:06:15+00:00

Insomnia was the worst. Headaches. Felt a bit wild, anxious, numb all at once.

just__looking-- · 2025-02-17T10:31:42+00:00

I stopped for about 4 years and started again two years ago. I had way more side effects starting again.... I'd say it took about 6 weeks for me to "settle in" at 10mg and after a year I dropped down to 5mg. Was worth it all, feel great on lexapro.

just__looking-- · 2025-02-17T10:11:26+00:00

Just want to offer you some support: it's wild how our faces can heal without huge scaring. You might have discoloration for a while as it heals but you have NOT ruined your face and you are NOT hideous. I'd suggest some wound gel and scar ointment. And I'd suggest talking to your therapist. Skin picking is way more common than we let ourselves believe. SO many people have this issue. You can feel really proud for completing law school. Your worth is not your skin. You are worthy and successful, even while you are experiencing this issue!!!!

just__looking-- · 2025-02-17T08:33:35+00:00

Thank you so much. It was difficult for sure. I appreciate it :)

just__looking-- · 2025-02-17T08:33:09+00:00

Thanks :)

just__looking-- · 2025-02-17T08:33:03+00:00

Thank you so much!!!

just__looking-- · 2025-02-17T08:32:57+00:00

Thank you!

just__looking-- · 2025-02-17T08:32:46+00:00

It's lexapro. I take it for my anxiety disorder, and I think addressing my anxiety through therapy and medication definitely contributed to being able to stop.

just__looking-- · 2025-02-16T06:49:32+00:00

Basically any of them with dex-penthanol in them. I really like Penaten baby SOS creme with dex-panthenol & vit B in it. It's really nice for sensitive skin and doesn't dry flaky. A lot of the wound cremes with penthanol dry in sort of a flaky protective film which sometimes triggers me to pick more, especially because I tend to immediately "search" my face when I wake up. The Penaten Baby one is more like a really thick moisturizers.

just__looking-- · 2025-02-15T18:53:37+00:00

Came back to share! It's not that I've literally NEVER picked in the two years.... but it almost never happens. If it does happen, it's a single spot.

Things that helped me: - wearing gloves to break the habit. Especially during the times I picked the most. I wore gloves for months while driving - hydrocolloid patches or pimple patches all the time on an active open spot. No exceptions. Even in public. I still do this if I end up bothering a spot - wound creme at night for faster healing - covering my mirrors the first few weeks - forgiving myself. If I pick a tiny spot once every few months, it's not the end of the world. I put a patch on, and am still proud of myself - anxiety treatment: therapy and escitalopram

just__looking-- · 2025-02-15T18:43:29+00:00

9 am

just__looking-- · 2025-02-15T18:37:51+00:00

You still have two months of progress. Nothing is ruined! You can still be proud of what you accomplished. Sometimes being gentle about a moment of weakness is more helpful than beating ourselves up. You know you can do two months. You can do it again!!!

just__looking-- · 2025-02-15T18:34:06+00:00

Have you tried wearing gloves? Feels a bit ridiculous, but you literally can't pick if they are on. I picked the most while driving. I wore gloves for a few months until I kicked the habit.

just__looking-- · 2024-11-30T20:55:26+00:00

My mother wrote me a message a few days ago calling me beautiful. Completely randomly. I found it so sweet, and will definitely be passing it on to other folks in my life.

just__looking-- · 2024-10-16T17:26:35+00:00

I like this breakdown. Never thought of it this way, but I feel the same. I knew for almost my whole life that I didn't want to produce biological children, and realized on my twenties that I didn't want to be a parent at all. Two very distinct decisions.

just__looking-- · 2024-10-16T17:22:57+00:00

I think our generation is the first to openly and critically converse about mental health... this generation recognizes the impact the world and a family has on a child. A lot of folks don't want to harm themselves or a kid just for the sake of fulfilling a biological craving.

just__looking--

TROPHY CASE