But here in NRW we only have one season with few short breaks. It's rainy season.

Yeah, winter is fine, summer is hell :(

"Seasons". Half the year is dark, cold and wet and the rest is fine.

Hello Vee, my partner and I are thinking of moving to Australia but struggling with the decision. Would you mind sharing your experience with us or to contact you through social media? We are currently living in Germany. Thanks!

Und dann gibt es noch die Firmen, die die Bürokratie ausnutzen, um die Kunden zu verunsichern.

I'm German, too. I still partly live in Germany and I struggle with spring and summer in Germany. Too much rain during daytime and too much humidity in the air on many hot summer days. This is one of the rare weeks here in the west of Hungary where it's raining during the whole day. Usually rain stops during the late morning hours and summer heat is dry and nearly always we have a bit of wind. - People are friendly and accept people who are doing things differently (unlike Bavarians).

Do you really believe that bureaucracy is LESS in other countries? You will be very surprised if you will try to find out. Its everywhere lots of bureaucracy, thats the sad truth.

Can you please tell me more about the school system? What was the tough part about it? I mean, I’m curious because I’m from the Czech republic and our school systems are similar… I think

I'm from Belgium living since a bit more than 1 year in Germany and I also struggle with winter in Germany, it's really cold and the bureaucracy it's complicated, I hear that every German say this.

The oldest probably went to Kindergarten and the youngest went to preschool. Preschool is before Kindergarten. Preschool means before school. The only way around this is the oldest was in Prefirst (before first) or first and the youngest in Kindergarten.

"soggy white bread"? Damn, that's a red flag ;)

@@jessicaely2521 you're right, my mistake 🙂

Sie sprechen mir aus der Seele

thats not true. here in Berlin masses of people (irrelevant weather German or not) use English in the everyday life. Its not just for work, clubs, events etc. but also just because one has friends from Italy and the Netherlands, the next is partnered with one from Spain with 2 friends from UK and if they meet other combinations then English is the common language. And all the tourists, fluctuations of expats, all kind of migrants (similar situation in Amsterdam etc.).... so, of course they talk English to each others and everyone from everywhere adds to that. Many are not aware that in difference to the 20. century there are now permanently several hundreds of thousands people from all over the world 'part of the population' and they are not separated but share the same big bubble (bubble, because there are of course also some other bubbles, especially if one leaves the central districts) ... anyway: everyone who generalizes Germany is usually wrong ...

@@publicminx >everyone who generalizes Germany is usually wrong .. Exactly. Germany has 83,5 Million Citizens and approx. 80 Million are NOT Berliners. And not only that, more or less all older people from former DDR mostly do not speak a single word of english. And also busdrivers (for example) do not speak english (there is funny video from an american female student which was told exactly the same as you said, she entered the first bus and asked for directions... the bus driver only gave an incomprehensible and rude answer). Of course, if you are already working in an international company or if you are student, you are used to work with people which speaks english more or less fluently (thats what i said in the beginning). Especially the younger people. But not all of Germany speaks English well, and as I said, Berlin is only a tiny part of Germany (even if its the biggest city and capital). Especially in the so-called "flat country", many people speak no English at all or only very poorly. And by no means all expats can choose Berlin as their destination. And the bus driver and the cashier at the supermarket and the plumber from the neighboring village (all of whom usually speak very poor English) are just as much a part of everyday life as the waiter, who is actually studying and supplements his income with a part-time job and therefore speaks very good English. And the dramas that take place in the offices of the German registration offices can even be watched here on KZfaq...

No. You dont get the 21. century. You think like the 20. century. You said 'one has to learn the local language to integrate and thats true for all countries'. Both statements are generalized in this way wrong. If you want as usual foreigner 'integrate' in Dubai then its English, not Arabic, because you want integrate in this dominant and bigger bubble with more options, not really in the rather separated backward local community. Everything what counts is in English. In Berlin, Amsterdam, Iceland etc. the situation is similar with the difference that you reach through English also most of the local population anyway. Between the mostly English speaking main bubble and the (still of course able to speak German) ones is the situation way more fluid. Its not that separated. Now, Germany is among the first 10 best (non-native) English speaking countries in the world (EPI /English Prociency Index). It was even higher without those older generations of the former GDR - likely similar to Austria (Rank #3). Netherlands, Austria, Germany are in reality quite similar. You have of course still some regions where English is less common and practized and German is better to integrate. And the situation in Berlin is a bit special. Already in the 20. century was Germany 'travelmaster' (in difference to France, Spain etc.) - and in Berlin were the highest amount of people traveling. There are reasons why in Berlin a certain 'tipping point' was reached and you have now a huge milieu of rather English than German speaking ones. But the main difference to other big cities like Hamburg, Munich, Frankfurt, Cologne, Duesseldorf etc. is NOT that there are not also capable English speaking Germans (and English-speaking Expats/Tourists/Students,workers etc.), but that a certain 'tipping point' was still not reached which switched the dominant milieu to English. And this means that the difference to Berlin or Amsterdam is partly an illusion. You can of course live English only speaking there AND being part of the German society due to a similar fluidity. And many are doing that and proof that it is possible. The difference between using German or English is in the 21. century just less relevant as you think. You have also often people switching between both languages (or - more rare - between other language combinations). While in many smaller towns or villages the situation is indeed more separated (and you need indeed German to integrate better - also in the infrastructure) in the big cities its much less necessary. And therefor its not just Berlin but in the end of the day all bigger metropole areas vs. truly more separated smaller towns/villages etc. ... The situation in Germany (or the Netherlands, Sweden etc.) is not like in Brazil, Mexico, Belarus, Albania, Jemen, Afghanistan etc.

Interesting experience... being away from home made you appreciate it more. I can relate

I came back to Germany for a second time, and I have 2 years to decide if I should get the citizenship.. Do you think it's worth it ?? I'll still keep my American passport. I just want to hear from a German if it's wise to get the German passport

I'd say yes. Firstly, the German passport grants you freedom of movement in all of the EU plus visa free entry into the most countries in the world for up to 90 days (look up the most powerful passports in the world, we#re way ahead of the US) And you will face much less bureaucracy to get things done. I you wish to take out bigger loans or a mortgage it's also an advantage.And since you can keep your American passport, you won't lose anything :) @@bbpersonalpage1613

@@bbpersonalpage1613 It is indeed wise to get a German passport!

isnt there economic crisis in germany now?

Same girl. I am Latin American and moved to a small town in Bavaria. Lots of racism and immediately I was labeled a Latin hooker without people even giving me a chance to know me. I grew up America btw but have Latin roots. It was HORRIBLE! You are lucky that your husband loves you so much to move with you and support you. Unfortunately my relationship did not last.

But spring is only so beautiful, because you go through those dark, wet and cold months...im not a fan of winter either, but i do love the change/seasons

Winter? It's not winter anymore.

@@Capt.-Nemo You mean you had to dig yourself through snow mountains both way to school? You aren't from Yorkshire, by any chance?

@@franhunne8929 How old are you? 10? 🤦‍♀

Winter in Germany is very beautiful ❤️❤️❤️. The darkness is beautiful and mind refreshing who can get depressed in such a lovely weather.

Really? Imo November is not the worst time in winter. But February and March are! When spring just doesn't want to come yet. You CRAVE for some warmth and sunlight after MONTHS of enduring renouncing it. 😮‍💨

I usually drink beer to cope up with depression. I drink myself to sleep

The German school system is great if your child fits into the box and it sounds like your child does🙂 I have one child who loves the structure of school here and one child who learns better in a creative environment.

​@@AntoinetteEmilyThere are schools for such kind of kids, e.g. Montessori-Schulen or Waldorf-Schulen.

There is no German school system, there are 16 different systems. Most of them are 4 + 9 some 4 + 8 years which is soo middle ages. Even my Yugoslavia that had the same austro-german system switched to 8 + 4 with full democratic right of kids to decide what will they learn in grade 9 and even if it is not elitists Gymnasium they still have direct access to university that is compatible with their professional middle school. Yes even communist in 1950s were smart to say goodbye to German school system. And system where kids first learn how to be bureaucrat: all 123 types of maps, ordnerers, even notebooks by 3 dimensions: number of pages, size of pages and type of lines in pages!!!! And they have different lines in notebooks for each year of studing. Then they learn 123 ways to do the simplest thing, pure German overengeneering like kern aufgabe, rechnen tabelen. They treat kids as idiots.

@@oldeuropemyhome76 Hungary had the same German system as Yugoslavia due to Austro-Hungary having both countries included. From point of view of parents yes now kids are treated as snowflake and parents are more pushy toward teachers, teachers lost their respect in eyes of public. But that is a problem of generation X and Millennials having generation Z kids and widespread corruption and bad salaries in education. As a digression I see that at least in salaries, the same can be said for Germany, teachers complain about salaries, parents that the worst students that can't find a good job would go to teachers, and many teachers are not really educated on teaching faculty but they are profession switchers. From point of view of system first 4 years you have one teacher for many subjects (with exclusion of both foreign languages, sometimes music, fine arts and sport have dedicated teacher), but from 5th grade you have a teacher per subject and you get a lot of subjects: mathematics, serbian language and world literature, biology, chemistry, physics, geography, history, technology... From that point of view it is not boring or easy. It is exactly the same as first grades of German Gymnasiums but just not for selected kids it is for all kids

Goshh.. You make me miss Germany and thinking I am in a beautiful tropical country atm.

In Bavaria, the sky is white and blue, not the other way around 😉

I also like how refreshing the cool air is. If you go for a quick walk in summer after a long day at work you will come back more tired than before because of the heat. In winter you come back refreshed. Also hot cup of tea or hot chocolate just feels so good when it is cold outside. Light some candles it instantly becomes cozy.

​@@j.a.1721 That sounds so lovely.

You are so right in what you are saying. I lived in my life in several countries ( Hungary, Spain, Italy, Germany) and there is always a challenge with the new way of life ( and the language).

Incredible! This doesn't surprise me though, small kids are in a completely different league than adults when it comes to learning languages. It's not fair!

Basically, people who don't want to be called "immigrants" not to be confused with other kinds of immigrants because the word expat means working and, of course, paying taxes Besides that, you don't have to bother yourself by learning the language because you are a cool "expat" who will move to another country/opportunity anyway maybe after 50 years or so.

Yes, expats don't get settled and don't integrate. No idea why she uses this word. Like yes she may like the sound but it just doesn't have a meaning that fits.

You don't buy a house because it's freaky expensive! 😂

I have to disagree. I have several German friends who often say that even they have a hard time making German friends. I think it just takes people longer to open up, in general, but I don't think it has to do with them estimating how long you plan to stay and if it's worth investing in a friendship with you.

Yes, it is very black and white but not very inclusive (at least not here in Bavaria) In my opinion, 4th grade is too early to label and separate a child. Not every child learns in the same way and test scores are not the only way to determine intelligence.

​@@AntoinetteEmilyAs I was bored in elementary school and could not be myself for not wanting to be seen as a nerd who has to be bullied. When I was allowed to enter Gymnasium, I really began to thrive. Being forced to stay at elementary school for two other years would have been torture for me. One school for everybody doesn't fit at all. Therefore, parents can choose here the best school for each child.

I’m really sorry you weren’t able to thrive at primary school for fear of judgement, I understand why you were happy to go to Gymnasium😔 I definitely see where you are coming from and I’m not against streaming. Some kids need to be challenged while others need more help, but I feel the streaming is done too early. Grade 4 is a very stressful year for most kids in Germany especially here in Bavaria. Many parents put huge pressure on their kids to get good grades and push them hard to make it to Gymnasium, even if it’s not a good fit for the child. Parents don’t get to choose their child’s school type in Bavaria, it all comes down to grades here and it’s very black and white. For Gymnasium a child needs to get a minimum grade of 2,2,3 in the three major subjects and for Realschule its 2,3,3. What if the child gets nervous in tests or is sick and misses school for a week, causing their grades to slip? There are also the kids who may not receive support from their parents which puts them at a disadvantage. There are also the immigrant kids who are still learning German, or kids with learning differences who may be intelligent but get lost in the system because they don’t fit in the box. 🤷🏻‍♀️

​@@AntoinetteEmilyspecially unfair to foreigners, kids from poor and uneducated families. Even statistically proved that kids from (political correct definition that is why quotes) "lower socio-economic background" have to have higher average marks to get recommendation for Gymnasium. And with all that separation Germany has the smallest % of high educated people and on PISA test Slovenia with 8 years of primary school (good old Yugoslav system that substituted German like in 1958!) got a bit better place than Germany

Please use a day light lamp an take in enough vit D!

That would be ideal, at least for me. But I find it very very hard.

I am a foreigner at the end of his studies to become a teacher in Germany. 2.Staatsexam. As soon as I finish I am goin to leave. Thanks for being honest about the unfriendliness of the people. There are very few exceptions.

@@dantesparda7719 Actually, I wrote the opposite. I only perceive a small proportion of Germans as unfriendly. However, I have to admit that studying to become a teacher in Germany is the worst choice you can make. You are sure to be bitterly disappointed, both in terms of the training and the way people treat each other there.

@@andreahoehmann1939 I am disappointed. I hope I can find a place in Switzerland after finishing. Concerning the unfriendliness, it might be because I am located in the East.

@@dantesparda7719 How good is your German?

@@andreahoehmann1939 Was denkst du? Eigentlich hatte ich die fünf Jahre an der Universität schon hinter mir, sechs Jahre wegen des Covids und eines Auslandssemesters. Eines meiner beiden Fächer, die ich unterrichte, ist Englisch, also musste ich eine gewisse Zeit in einem englischsprachigen Land verbringen. Ich habe bereits ein Jahr in der Ausbuildungstatt hinter mir und im Mai werde ich das zweite Staatsexamen ablegen müssen. Der Beruf des Lehrers liegt mir leider überhaupt nicht. Auch nach dem Abschluss habe ich vor, etwas anderes zu machen. Aber vorher würde ich es gerne in anderen Ländern versuchen, um zu vergleichen. Vielleicht hängt das auch vom Land ab. Ein weiterer Punkt, der mich dazu bewogen hat, Lehrer zu werden, ist die Tatsache, dass viele Jungs aus Familien mit nur einem Elternteil kommen und die Schulen zu mehr als 80% aus weiblichen Lehrern bestehen. Das bedeutet, dass die meisten Jungen keine männliche Figur mehr haben, die sie anleitet. Ich sehe das sogar auf der Ebene der Kollegen in der Schule. Es gibt viele Karen (Hoffentlich weisst du was eine Karen ist) in dieser Art von Berufen und in Deutschland im Allgemeinen.

This is disappointing to hear. I know we have it better here in Germany than in many countries though. Yes, dealing with German bureaucracy when you are self-employed is an absolute nightmare. Don't even get me started!

Uh, sorry, but how old are you and when was the last time you were here? My parents were born in 1923 and 1930. After the 50s, Germany caught up and overtook them.

@@arnodobler1096 I was born on the last day of the year 1933 in Silesia (Schlesien), which was at that time part of Germany - now Poland. I visited Germany often. The last time in summer of 2005, but I can watch the German News every day via youtube. I moved to America (Chicago) in 1957. Chicago has bad winters and minus 40°C are not uncommon and 2 meter snow. That is why we moved further south to Arkansas beginning 1994.

@khecke My father-in-law is also from Silesia 😊

@@AntoinetteEmily That is nice to hear. Your father-in-law probably left Schlesien also after the war. I moved in October 1946 from Schlesien to Hamburg-Wandsbek and continued my education there at the Gymnasium. Hamburg was very much destroyed at that time, but slowly it got better. Anyway say Hello to your father-in-law from me.

@@khecke Wow, so you'll be ninety this year! In good old German tradition I will not offer any congratulations before. Hope you get to celebrate your 100th, too!

Thank you for deciding to subscribe, I really appreciate it🤗

That is such a great reason to subscribe. I think that is awesome that you wrote your comment. I couldn't do nearly as well as Antoinette has done.

Society is rigid because of 2 things: average German is too old to get adapted to 21st century. They lost ability to learn and they do not see and understand what is going around. The second is the belief that what they do is the best and there is noting to change and make it better (similar to illusion USA citizens are indoctrinated). I had a scene where 2 older neighbors tried to teach me the properties of concrete (Beton). They probably taught that I have grown up in woods not on New Belgrade full of concrete buildings and created with higher standards than building in which I was then... We in our socialism never had communal washing machine where all 30+ flats wash their dirty laundry. We always have guest toilet by JUS (yugoslav DIN), we have place in bathroom built for washing machine. I had to put mine in Munich in kitchen :D Also they got surprised when I say that Serbia has cheaper, faster and more stable internet and better coverage with mobile phone network

@@aurelije I wonder how broad your experience of Germany is.

@alicemilne1444 like being still here in Munich for 8 years. Working, raising kids, Deutch lernen, going through Kindergarten and School with kids, going with them on sports, helping old neighbors... So it is not only my impressions but also from my wife and friends who are Germans or non Germans. All in all Germans are a bit on distance until they get you know. And then you do not have issues... Even between Germans there are impressions like Bavarians are like this, or one German friend said us not to think about buying a property in area close to Pasau because those are too hard people that do not get well with others specially any outsiders even other Germans

@@aurelijeI've lived in various places around Germany over the past 40 years and wouldn't share your opinion. But, of course, it all depends on who you met and when. Not all old people are rigid. I came here from Scotland and had no trouble adapting and making friends.

After having lived 13 years in Germany, I agree with you 100%.

Popelgruner: Just one little thing. There IS such a thing as an expat. Did you ever learn Latin as we did in the Anglosphere? Expat is an abbreviated form of expatriate. Antoinette is an expat. Perhaps if some people in Germany had a more accepting attitude towards newcomers, the people wouldn't want to avoid using a word that people view so negatively. All the people who come and settle here in New Zealand are never described as "common" anything. "Men of every creed and race, Gather here before thy face"... We welcome our migrants, refugees, immigrants, what ever you might like to call them. There is no way, that any person here would call a German immigrant "just a common migrant"!! All are welcome. It is not surprising that NZ rates highly in the areas of happiness, friendliness, peace, and safety around the world. "They are us". Dame Jacinda Ardern. Kiwis gathered en mass to support our Muslim people in March, 2019. These refugees became wellknown to us, and very greatly admired.

Sorry: the whole world has changed - and not just Germany... But: Germany is still a stable country

The US has been dropping in violent crime. It has dropped 2% as of 2022. School shootings did increase, but all of your other violent crimes dropped significantly. Taxes have also went down for people. You are able to make more before you are bumped into a higher tax bracket this year. Last year a married couple could only make 83,000 to stay in the 12% tax bracket. This year they bumped it up to 89,000. Last year my husband and I paid 22% taxes where this year we'll pay 12%. 10% is a gigantic deal for us.

dann miete dir mal 'ne Wohnung in N.Y., setze dich abends auf eine Parkbank in der Bronx, brich dir ein Bein, und lass' dich vom Krankenwagen in eine Klinik bringen (falls du die Parkbank überlebt hast) Dann kannst du ein 'go fund me' starten, damit du dich noch ernähren kannst. Die Wohnung bist du auch los. PLEITE!

@@jessicaely2521 It has nothing to do with the fact that things have gotten worse and worse in Germany

@@Steeler-wg5zo was hat das damit zu tun das es in deutschland immer schlechter wird sieh auch das immer mehr AfD wählen...

You clearly haven’t watched the video

It doesn't. Think about what it means. It says that you are not in your own fatherland. Originally, in British colonial times, it meant someone who was only moving to a colony temporarily and who never meant to stay there. People who are not on company transfer agreements, live in a country for years and still call themselves expats usually don't attempt to fully integrate. This is actually a rather unpleasant term for people who form enclaves in other countries, never learn the language, never try to understand local customs, and are generally usually not well looked upon by the locals. Examples would be Brits and Germans in Spain, Americans in Thailand, French in Polynesia, etc. I've lived in Germany for decades. I never, ever called myself an expat because I wasn't. I was a foreigner living and working in Germany. I absolutely didn't want to be associated with any "expat" groups of people because I found them insular, cliquish and whiny. A better term for someone living in Germany who likes living there but has not yet applied for citizenship would be Wahl-Deutscher (a German by choice).

@@alicemilne1444 to me we are nowhere real "foreigners". The planet belongs to all and to nobody...

@@alicemilne1444 "Wahl-Deutscher" is a good term.