Youtube daily Feb 12 2017

You might think that there can't possibly be that many differences between making phone

calls in Germany and in the U.S. I mean, it's a phone.

You pick it up and you call people.

It can't be that different in the two countries, right?

Well, actually when it comes to phone calls, there's quite a bit to talk about.

Talk about...phone call...

Hey everyone! I'm Dana and you're watching Wanted Adventure Living Abroad.

Let's start with what happens when you call someone.

You dial a number and then put the phone up to your ear and you listen and you wait.

And the phone goes "ring ring ring" in your ear, right?

Not in Germany.

Phones make a different sound as you wait for someone to pick up in different parts

of the world.

In Germany the sound is less ring like in the U.S., and more like "boop boop."

Okay so, you call someone, the phone rings, they pick up.

Well, right there is a really big, glaring difference.

And I learned this difference when I still lived in Prague, actually.

I called Mr. German Man back when I still lived in Prague, from a phone number that

he didn't recognize, and he picked up the phone and just blurted out his last name.

That was it. Just his last name. No hello.

No hi, this is Stefan.

Nope, just: last name.

I was like: oh my God, Stefan are you mad at me?

Or are you just super upset in general?

At the time I didn't even realize that it was his last name he had said.

He said it so quickly and kind of mumbled.

All I heard was like, mmhrr.

"No, why would I be upset?" he asked.

Yeah, in the U.S. I was taught to answer the phone with "hello" first and foremost.

Hello Dana speaking. Or: hello this is Dana. Or maybe just: hello.

But certainly not just saying the last name and nothing more.

No, I had never heard anyone doing that in the U.S., but here in Germany I've learned

that it's a pretty common way of picking up the phone.

Alright, so now the person has picked up the phone and you can really sink your teeth into the

meat of the conversation, right?

Ehh not so fast if you're in the U.S. or if you're calling an American.

First it's time for the smalltalk, of course.

Hi Sally, how are you?

I'm good how are you?

Good, how's the cooking going?

I think you mentioned that you were going to take a cooking class?

Yeah, that's right, I am.

Well, I mean, you know, Jim and I haven't burned down the house yet or anything.

So I guess it's all going pretty good.

Oh yeah, that's good. That's a good goal to have at least.

So Sally, I'm calling you about the fundraiser next week.

After the smalltalk then the main conversation can begin.

In Germany it's a little more streamlined.

Last name, hi this is so-and-so.

Hi so-and-so. And then you launch into the main reason for the call.

And then eventually the call is over, and I would like to highlight here that saying

goodbye is pretty much the same in Germany and the U.S.

I have gotten lots and lots and lots of questions about this in the comments from people who

noticed that in American movies and TV shows people often just hang up the phone without

saying goodbye.

They're like: yeah totally. I totally have your back. Whatever you need, I'm there for you.

Click.

Yeah, no problem, I'm happy to care for your dog while you're out there chasing

after bad guys this week.

No worries. Click!

No, that is not an American thing, I just want to clear that up.

It is a movies and TV shows thing.

In the U.S. we definitely say goodbye before hanging up the phone.

And as far as cell phones go: when I first moved to Europe, I was shocked -- pleasantly

shocked, but still shocked -- to learn that if someone called me on my cell phone or texted

me that didn't cost me any of my minutes or charge me for the text.

Only the person who made the call or sent the text was charged.

In the U.S., at least 8 years ago when I left, both parties were charged when talking on

cell phones.

And both the sender and the receiver of a text message were charged.

But I guess nowadays with the unlimited plans, this really isn't such a big deal anymore.

Yeah, technology and the way that it is used has definitely changed a lot in the last 8 years.

So my question for you is: What other phone or calling differences do you know of around

the world and what about in German movies and TV shows?

Do people say goodbye or just hang up at the end of a sentence?

Please let me know in the comments below.

Thanks so much for watching and liking and commenting and subscribing to my channel.

I really hope that you enjoyed this video and I also hope that you will enjoy the bloopers

that are coming up next.

Until next time auf Wiedersehen!

Launch into main call for reason.

No, main reason for call!

Chasing after bad...

So, he was like, uh, I totally forgot what I was talking about.

Why aren't you listening to me? I said wait.

I'm talking to technology that can't hear me.