"Serendipität"

 except it isn't 

"Serendipität", rather 'Serendipität' as they couldn't say it.

As when i asked them, " do you have a word like 'serendipity' ? " ...

Well, that isn't really important, but they had two opportunities - the second: all day on the beach. 

" In return for me fixing your stove, please could you ponder: what is the most romantic thing you can say in German?"

" we will think about it tonight."

And it turns out even the smileyest Germanics, have no mind, either...

The only thing i learned - as perhaps that is the thing, a "community" of those sharing a way of being, or even 'shared oppression' must always be two way - properly two way. 

" in our language famous for having words for every occasion, we don't have one for that" 

(as at least they lived 'serendipity')