We just got back from a family trip to Bavaria, Germany, earlier this week. Although it was a relatively brief stay, we had an absolutely fantastic time exploring the stunning alpine town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen and the surrounding areas. We sampled the local cuisine (on our last day, we indulged in nothing but delectable German pastries for lunch!) and even tried skiing for the first time. My son loved it; my daughter and I... not so much!
(If you haven’t already, check out my video where I attempted to learn some basic German phrases before our trip. )
In this blog post, I want to share three lessons I took away from this short but rewarding holiday—insights that opened my eyes to a different way of life and reminded me, once again, why learning languages is such a wonderful thing.
Lesson 1: Making an Effort to Speak the Local Language Can Break Down Barriers
As I demonstrated in the video, I made an effort to learn some basic German phrases before our trip…
Hallo (easy).
Danke (already knew this one!).
Bitte (easy).Entschuldigung (tongue twister).
Sprechen Sie Englisch? (another tongue twister).
Did I actually get to use these phrases on our trip?
Let me share two contrasting experiences…
On Day 1, shortly after arriving at Munich Airport, we were rushing through the arrivals hall, searching for the car rental desks, when I accidentally bumped into someone with one of our suitcases.
Instinctively, I blurted out Entschuldigung—even if my pronunciation was probably awful!
To my surprise, the man I bumped into raised an eyebrow, then gave me a warm smile. I like to think that my clumsy attempt at speaking German broke down a small barrier between us in a meaningful way.
Such is the power of language. Even a single word spoken with a heavy accent can forge a tiny connection that wouldn’t have existed otherwise.
On the flip side, I also learned how not making an effort can sometimes backfire…
On Day 3, I went into a small bakery in Garmisch-Partenkirchen to buy a bottle of water and some doughnuts for the kids. The place was bustling, and everyone around me seemed to be a local.
Nervous about my lack of German skills, I mumbled to the staff member in English, “Sorry, I don’t speak German.” I was too flustered to recall the German equivalent!
To my shock, the woman groaned dramatically, threw her arms up in frustration, and summoned a younger colleague to assist me. While her reaction felt excessive (and, frankly, a bit rude), I also recognised my own responsibility in the situation. As a visitor, I shouldn’t assume that locals will speak my language, no matter how widely spoken it may be. The least I could do was try, however imperfectly.
Lesson 2: Stereotypes Are Just That—Stereotypes
What are some of the common stereotypes about Germans?
Efficient and highly organised but rude and humourless?
While I dislike stereotypes in general, I’ll admit that, having visited Germany many times, I’ve sometimes seen hints of truth in them. But one event during this trip completely usurped my assumptions.
On Day 4, after our skiing adventure, my daughter and I decided to have a “girls’ day out” while my husband and son went for another day on the slopes. Since it was a Sunday and most shops were closed, we headed to a local ice-skating rink. It turned out to be a fantastic choice—an Olympic-sized rink where we could skate all day, including skate hire, for just EUR 20! This felt like a bargain compared to the UK, where a 1.5-hour session costs GBP 15 per person where we live.
Even better, there was a kiosk selling freshly made waffles—yum! Determined to avoid another bakery incident, I confidently ordered einen Waffel mit Nutella and einen Waffel mit Biscoff, finishing with Bitte! The friendly staff member understood me perfectly.
But then came a problem—I took out my bank card to pay, only to be told, “No card!” It was a cash-only kiosk!
I was about to give up when a man behind me—tall, friendly, and there with his own family—offered to pay for the waffles. He suggested I transfer the money to him via PayPal. Five minutes later, we had our waffles, and the payment was sorted.
This small act of kindness completely refuted the stereotype that Germans are “unfriendly” or “rude.” Every country has its fair share of lovely people and not-so-lovely people—Germany is no exception.
While stereotypes often stem from a grain of truth, they are ultimately unhelpful. Statements like “Germans are rude” or “Chinese people are good at maths (I hear this ALL the time as a Chinese person myself, who is, as it happens, not good at Maths at all)” are meaningless generalisations.
Let’s judge individuals by their actions, not their nationality.
Lesson 3: Travel Opens Our Eyes (and Our Kids’ Eyes) to Different Ways of Life
We were incredibly fortunate to stay with friends who have made Garmisch-Partenkirchen their home.
Originally from Australia, they have been enjoying their new life in this idyllic part of the world for several years. Seeing how different their lifestyle is from ours in suburban England was eye-opening.
Their 11-year-old daughter and her friends have always walked to school on their own, in their own clothes (no school uniforms!), and enjoy a level of freedom and independence that few children in the UK experience. Whole Saturdays are spent wandering the town with friends, cycling through breathtaking landscapes, and embracing nature.
For me, our friends are truly living “the good life”: high-quality housing, easy access to the Alps and stunning lakes like Eibsee, an abundance of excellent baked goods (a major plus in my book!), and the freedom to drive to other parts of Europe without the need for meticulous planning—something we can only dream of in post-Brexit Britain.
(Of course, even without Brexit, I’d never dare drive on the right-hand side of the road—no chance! 😆)
I realise that Garmisch-Partenkirchen is an affluent part of Germany and that our friends’ lifestyle isn’t necessarily representative of the average German family. But still, it was fascinating for all four of us to get a glimpse into a different way of life. As my husband very insightfully observed: "On the news, ou don't hear about how people actually live in other countries! You only ever hear about Germany when there's another terrorist attack!"
This trip reinforced why we love travelling: it broadens our horizons, reminding us how vast and varied the world is beyond our daily routines and little bubbles, and allowing us a beautiful glimpse of how other people live their lives beyond the negative news headlines.
And we’re looking forward to many more adventures across Europe and beyond in the years to come!
Which of these three lessons resonated most with you? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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