Understanding Train Station

Understanding Train Station

In our podcast “Understanding Train Station”, we (Josh and Feli) explore the intricacies and pitfalls of living between cultures. The title is derived from the German idiom “Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof” which literally translates to “I only understand train station”. Similar to the English saying “It’s Greek to me”, it is used to express a lack of understanding which is an all too common feeling when dealing with another culture and living abroad. Feli (aka “Feli from Germany” on YouTube) is a German living in the U.S. and Josh is probably the most “Germanized” American you’ll ever meet. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/understandingtrainstation/support

Episodes

November 9, 2023 109 mins

All good things must come to an end. Like many cliche phrases, however annoying they may be, they are often true. After over 70 episodes, Josh’s move to Germany, lots of back and forth trips between Germany and the U.S. to see family and friends, the time has finally come for UTS to pull into its final station and blow the whistle one last time. Join us in this last journey down memory lane as Josh and Feli reflect on the early be...

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Go to https://try.lingoda.com/UTS_BacktoSchool and use our code UTS25 for 25% off the first two months of your Lingoda subscription (after the free trial) and save up to 200EUR! #lingoda202308 ▸What's it like applying for a job in Germany and the US? How is the application process different? And what tips do recruiters from the two countries have for applicants? In this week's episode, we had our listeners Tom (from German...

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You know him from TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube Shorts as the guy in the grey tracksuit, the crossbody bag, and the Birkenstocks. Liam Carpenter is originally from the UK but at the age of 18, he came to Germany to pursue a career in basketball. In today's episode, he tells us all about how he went from the basketball court to social media and which of the German stereotypes that he usually makes fun of, he's actually adopt...

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++German speaking part from 01:18:35 to 01:24:57++ What's it really like trying to make it as an actor in Hollywood? And as a non-native English speaker at that? YouTuber and actor  @AramisMerlin  moved from Hamburg, Germany to Los Angeles in 2014 to follow his dreams and in today's episode, he shares with us which obstacles he had to overcome, how his accent affected his success as an actor, and what his biggest roles have...

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July 6, 2023 7 mins

*NO EPISODE THIS WEEK* Hey guys! Unfortunately, we didn't get to record a new episode for you this week (due to the time issue we mentioned last time) and I'll actually be on vacation next week so the next episode will come out in 2 weeks. Thank you for all of your kind comments and messages in response to last week's announcement about the upcoming end of the podcast. We're just as sad as you are but we do still ha...

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You guys submitted your questions for us on Instagram and we picked a wild mix of questions for today's Q&A episode! From funny curse words to questions about the podcast and a throwback to when we first moved abroad. We definitely got a little nostalgic! And we also had some news to share...


Mentioned videos:

AMERICAN FLUENT IN GERMAN! Our Bilingual Friendship ▸https://youtu.be/gr313Rac0Z8

EP72: Growing up German in t...

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June 8, 2023 69 mins

Moving to a new country also means getting used to new customs, different products, and doing a lot of things for the very first time. In this episode, we talk about some of the things that we had NEVER done before we moved abroad. Mentioned videos and episodes: 10 Things I'd Never Done Before I Came to the US▸https://youtu.be/Lwk9zHEjzLQ WHAT'S UP WITH AMERICANS AND NUDITY? ▸https://youtu.be/B5_1eiLzXDY EP45: 100k Dolla...

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Almost two years ago, we got to interview Josh’s high school German teacher, Christine, about her experiences moving to the U.S., teaching German in an American school and raising a family in Cincinnati. This week’s episode is almost the sister episode (or perhaps it’s more appropriate to say daughter episode) to that as we had the chance to chat with Christine’s daughter Lena. She grew up in Cincinnati in a German family and only...

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+Unfortunately, Josh's mic sounds a little muffled in this episode, sorry about that!+ After a short hiatus, Josh and Feli are back with another episode and this time we are in Cincinnati! A few weeks back, when Feli was visiting Munich, we asked you all what you wanted to know from the people of Munich and then we hit the streets and got asking. This week’s episode is the sister episode to that. We asked you all to send us you...

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Living abroad can be one of the most amazing experiences, but it’s not always sunshine and rainbows. While the topic normally takes a back seat to amazing travel experiences with amazing food and landscapes, friends and social circles can make or break your experience while living away from your home culture. In this week’s episode, Josh and Feli discuss their opinions on the importance of building a strong circle of friends while...

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If you follow us on Instagram (@understandingtrainstation) you know this episode has been in the pipeline because a few weeks back we asked you all what you wanted to know from the people of Munich. Armed with the questions we collected from you, we hit the streets and got talking to people. From Munich specific questions about travel tips, rent and favorite breweries to stereotypes of Americans, we collected the answers you wanted...

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While we were both in Munich we tried to make the most of our time together and record as much for you as possible and that, of course, includes a dialect episode! We’ve been doing this series for a while now and after 7 episodes we finally made it through all the audio files you sent in! We love getting to hear from our listeners so this a fun way for us to connect with you and vice versa! Make sure to let us know in the comments ...

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Greetings from Munich! Even though Feli's trip came with some complications, she made it home and we got to record an episode in person for you! Granted, we're fresh off a sugar high from all the Krapfen from Fasching/Karneval/Fastnacht… you get the point! Just as a lot of people are surprised to hear that Fasching is celebrated in Munich, we have both been surprised by certain things or culture shocks in our respective chosen coun...

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Go to https://try.lingoda.com/UTS_Sprint_Challenge and use our code UTS2023 to get 20€ ($25) off your deposit when signing up for the Lingoda Sprint! #sprint202302

▸Moving to a foreign country, even if just for an exchange semester, can be daunting and confusing. For many, it is the first time they are confronted with the complexities of dealing with foreign governments and applying for visas. While it all can seem really scary and...

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January 26, 2023 67 mins

When it comes to adulting, one thing is inevitable - we have to work. Whether you have a 9-5, do shiftwork, or are self-employed, we all have our own ways of financing our lives. While it is something so fundamental to modern society, there are many differences between how work is seen in the U.S. and Germany. A common saying is “In Germany, one works to live while in the U.S. one lives to work” - but is that true? In this week’s e...

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Go to https://try.lingoda.com/UTS_LanguageWins and use our code WINWITHUTS to get 20€ ($25) off your deposit when signing up for the Lingoda Sprint! #sprint202301

▸After a bit of a Christmas hiatus, we are excited to start the new year with some highly requested guests! Jonathan and Ashton are originally from the Midwest but have found their home in Germany's Black Forest. On their YouTube channel The Black Forest Family they ...

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December 23, 2022 84 mins

++Good audio quality starts at 00:07:02++
For the last episode of the year, we decided to make it extra special! 😊🎄 So we got cozy in front of the Christmas tree with some Glühwein and recorded the episode while we were on a live stream so that you guys could interact with us and ask questions! (The live stream took place on the Feli fom Germany YouTube channel due to technical issues.) Thank you so much for everyone tuning i...

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Go to https://try.lingoda.com/UTS_Dec and use our code UTSWINTER to get 20€ ($25) off your deposit when signing up for the Lingoda Sprint! #sprint202212 

This week, we have a real power couple join us on the podcast! Some of you might already know them and for the rest of you, we think it's about time you meet them! Joss and Janik are content creators and entrepreneurs and share a lot of their experiences with the world on You...

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You asked - we answered! It's time for another Q&A episode and this time, we covered everything from serious topics such as the midterm elections in the U.S. or the controversy around the World Cup in Qatar to lighthearted topics like our understanding of comedy and satire in our second language or our taste in music. And maybe your question made it into the episode as well? If it didn't, make sure to leave your questions for u...

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Go to https://try.lingoda.com/UTS_Sprint_Nov and use our code SPRINTUTS to get 20€ ($25) off your deposit when signing up for the Lingoda Sprint! #sprint202211

▸This week’s episode is a first for UTS! Not only have we never had a guest from Brazil on our podcast before, but we've also never had someone join us who we didn't have any prior connections to through social media or friends. Matheus is actually a fan of the podcast and r...

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