Perhaps we Germans should learn to see this country through the eyes of 'strangers'.
We have simply forgotten how to be grateful for what this country has to offer us and what our fellow human beings give us.
Greetings and a heartfelt thank you for the kind words to your mother. Hopefully she will come to Germany very often and can still spend a lot of time with you here.

I think the ice cream parlors are in many cases something that we owe more to our hardworking fellow citizens of Italian origin who are specialists in ice cream making. Many spend the summer high season in Germany to run their business, which is closed during the winter, which they spend back in their native Italy.

Ice cream culture is originally not german at all, but the "german" ice cream culture is an import, that came with italian imigrants. It now has become a part of german life culture. An example of genuine cultural and culinary enrichment through immigration. Whereas german cake culture is definetely a really german thing. And the cake variety and quality is great.

I do get the feeling that a lot of these things, except the ones about cake / ice cream and casual dressing, have more to do with living in Bavaria, specifically in a small town, than living in Germany in general.

Whenever I watch your videos I feel rather proud of "my country". That is nice because usually we Germans are raised feeling guilty for past crimes of our country. Thank you for your point of view!☺

I remember that is Sweden, at least in the 7ties, it was a tradition to not lock your house. Up here in the Hamburg area, we have exchange-boxes (in our village even a tiny shed) for books, sometimes clothing and other things. You're free to take what you like, as long as you contribute things you wanna give away.
Another thing are fields of flowers, where you can pick some, and there is a box to put your money in.
In our street one neighbour offers fruits and veggies this way. A few hundred meters later, neighbours offer books and toys the same way.
Don't get me wrong: we had burglars, here. 2 times in our house, 1 each in the houses to our left and right. Fortunately, that all happened before the turn of the century.

i grew up not far from where Antoinette Emily lives. back in the 80s i did commercial deliveries, like paint and construction materials, mostly in the country. Some of these were farms, and the owners would be gone during the day doing their jobs, and i am talking businesses with employees, and trucks, etc. we would just drive in, unload the truck, and walk into the house and put the paperwork on the kitchen table. germany in the country is a special place.

Since your mother likes the German cake culture so much: I think the coffee in New Zealand is unbeatable!  A combination would be perfect.

My mother bakes cakes every weekend and we have them in the afternoon. Coffee and cake.

That video is a very nice compliment. Thank you very much! Particularly to your mum!

The thing with the firewood: In rural parts some people prep some of the firewood with gunpowder or firecrackers, so they explode when burned. It is a form of defense against theft. Highly illegal but still done by older generations. As we say in Germany: trust is good, control is better😉.

Super sweet words from your mom! ♥ Such a wonderful and lovely Lady! There are here in our rural area often small self-service stores or cabinets with trust cash ("Vertrauenskasse") with fruit or handmade decorations and I thought earlier really very naive that it is everywhere like that. I once talked to a nice owner and she told me that in 12 years she was never stolen from and often there was even more money in the cash register because people rounded up. The little shack is located on a busy main road, where a lot of tourists pass by, especially in the summertime. I think that is wonderful. 😊

And I can confirm that about watching the kids. Often my mother was already standing in front of the house with her arms crossed and a grim look on her face when I came home, because some neighbor had told about my naughtiness. 😂

@1 : Würzburg and Rothenburg are just one part of Germany. But the vast majority of bigger cities do all have areas where you are not going to walk with a good feeling. You can breathe "respectfulness" in Essen, Berlin, Duisburg, Bochum, Dortmund, Köln, Düsseldorf, Mannheim, München, Stuttgart ..... and you will draw a totally different picture. It´s a good recommendation to travel in trains - this way you will get to the train station surroundings. Enjoy!
Firewood in front of the house is common in small villages. The neighbourhood has an eye on all people and criminal people always prefer the anonymity of cities. Comparing cities and rural areas will lead to different conclusions. Probably also in NZL.

Viele Grüße an Euch und an die prächtige Mama! Viel Freude noch in den verbleibenden Wochen! Vile Grüße aus Mittelfranken!

@Antoinette. Locking the doors, wouldn't likely help as much any way, if a burglar really wants to get in - although police and locksmiths tells us, that a strong lock encourages a burglar to try elsewhere. Most neighbors wouldn't even dare to try to enter without having somebody answering the door.
But if you actually get burglarized, your insurance might try to refuse to pay, because not locking the door may be seen as neglect.  And while the probability is low, it unfortunately isn't zero either. There have been streaks, where gangs systematically targeted certain areas they evaluated as 'high value' and vulnerable for some months on end, before they moved on to other hunting grounds, after residents started to fortify their homes and police stepped up patrolling the targeted area.
So: better safe than sorry.

it is so nice to hear these positive things you are always saying about Germany. Thank you so much for this. I live in the North of Germany and here things are different. A lot of Crime. So lucky to live in Bavaria, the world is better down there. Have a great life

A lot things you said, you cannot do in USA in terms of safety. I am glad, that your mom feel safe in Germany.

I have because of a stupid quarrel with my parents - where today, by the way, no one knows what it was actually about, 30 years had no contact with my parents. Therefore I would like to say to you: You have only this one short life, and your parents of course also. So do not waste it. I think it's great that you made your mom happy. Love you.

We feel very protected by our neiborhood and our dogs.
For more than 12 years, the key stays inserted from the outside of our front door even at night. With a family of 7 kids and two dogs, it's the easiest way to deal with it. And when someone is able to pass our dogs when we are working and the kids in school, he diserves to get away with some stolen goods ;-)
But when we host friends of our kids over night, they always freak out noticing the key stuck from the outside.
My car locks itself when I leave it, but my wife always kept her key in her car. BUT in Hamburg, Duisburg, München,......or any other big town, we would not be able to live like that.
Greetings from a little town in Schleswig Holstein

Hello Super Family ! Nice to hear that your mother Likes IT Here in Germany! I think if I we're to visit New Zeeland I might end Up Like your lovely mother! I only know News Zeeland from films ,but IT must be fantastically beautiful there! Best regards frm Hamburg😊