The school has already given us a schedule for what we can do. We’re going to museums, factory tours, that sort. So no suggestions for any activities to do or places to go to.

I would like some tips on some things I should know about Germany, perhaps some German phrases I should understand, cultural differences, or laws I need to know. Anything important that I should be aware of?

It will be about a weeklong trip

  • Grail@multiverse.soulism.netEnglish
    1·
    18 days ago

    You can face legal consequences for many phrases critical of Israel, such as:

    • From the river to the sea
    • Stop killing children
    • Never again

    (Slight exaggeration)

    • dfyx@lemmy.helios42.deEnglish
      1·
      18 days ago

      I think you’re confusing us with the British.

      Germans are careful about anything that could be considered antisemitic because of history but unless you go straight to Nazi slogans, there is no law that forbids you from being critical of Israel. Insulting someone can be illegal but that can only be applied if you insult a specific person, not a country and it’s only enforced in extreme cases.

      So unless OP plans to join a full-blown anti-Israel protest that risks getting violent, I don’t think they have to worry about that.

      • Grail@multiverse.soulism.netEnglish
        2·
        18 days ago

        https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/10/un-experts-urge-germany-halt-criminalisation-and-police-violence-against

        During the past months, Palestine solidarity protesters in Berlin have been reportedly subjected to police violence, leaving some injured and requiring medical care. Dozens were reportedly arrested, some for simply chanting “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”. This slogan is widely used by the global Palestine solidarity movement yet has been treated by German authorities as expressing support for Hamas, the experts noted. While some courts upheld fines or bans deeming the slogan as “condoning violence”, other courts recognised it as protected under freedom of expression. Moreover, the experts expressed concern that, during protests marking the two-year anniversary of the 7 October Hamas-led attack and the subsequent genocide in Gaza, arbitrary arrests, detentions, and police violence were reported, including officers punching non-violent activists in the face; while the police in Berlin reportedly imposed a last-minute ban on protests without evidence-based justification.

        They stressed that the use of foreign policy-related justifications and misuse of immigration law to reject citizenship or deport activists are alarming. “These are contrary to international standards and have deep chilling effect on the protection of democratic freedoms,” they said.

        OP isn’t going to be treated with the same generosity as a German citizen, and they don’t seem to get all that much generosity either.