I love hearing your stories. I arrived in Germany in 1990 with the US army, fell in love with the country and after leaving the army in 1995 I'm still here.

I was an exchange student here from '91-'92 and didn't want to leave but I did due to not having time at the end of my stay to find an alternative. I had always wanted to come back but life kept getting in the way. In '15, my ex-gf from '92 contacted me, we started talking again, she came to visit me in the US, and I moved back here two months later. We are now married and it's been amazing ever since. Btw, I think that you just stayed for the butter pretzels.

I have been studying here for nearly a year, with a little over a year to go. I do not want to go back to the USA, I have fallen in love with Germany and Europe as a whole.

My Mom came to Germany from the US in 1968. The first day in Germany she met my father. They got married and had 4 children. In 1993 they left us children in Germany and moved to the States. 10 years later, my brother moved to the States. Both countries have advantages. I like both, and I am annoyed by both. 😅

You need snail mail because an E-Mail is not a „written document“ under German law. This is also true for many European countries.

I studied in both Göttingen & München back in the 90s, and I would have loved to stay. I loved the language, culture, and people. I love going back, although it’s not very often. Even after all these years, I still think of it as my 2nd home.

Hi, Nick, I was in your shoes (or similar shoes) about 30 years ago when I moved from Northern California to Berlin to work at the headquarters of a german insurance company while getting also paid to play semi-professional for a Berlin Regionalliga tennis team. Was supposed to be a 2 stint and in my 2nd year I met my future wife. 30 years later I am still loving life in Germany with my wife and daughter. I am really impressed with your often funny and entertaining, but also very insightful videos sharing your experiences as well as pointing out various differences between life in the US and here in Germany. Got to tell you that you really nailed so many topics that either amuse me or sometimes frustrate me regarding germans or life in Germany. I also really like how you always point out that it is almost impossible to generalise about typical "german traits", since they vary a lot even regionally. However, some things like the "relaxing" german supermarket grocery shopping experience with the wide aisles, cheerful and relaxed salesperson at checkout....can be found all over this great country. 😂. We do try to visit the States each year, though, and the 30 days paid vacation in Germany makes it possible. That has helped me greatly and my wife and daughter love visiting the US. I look forward to hearing and seeing what lies ahead for you in this new chapter of your life. All the best.

I am so happy that you stay and take your time to explore Germany outside your football perspective 😊

I live near Grafenwöhr and there are many americans who decided to stay in the area after their service overseas. They are all great people. Always friendly, integrated in our local culture but also in love with their own and always down to joke around.

Germany is a good place for culture these days. People are supportive of the arts. The pace of life is sane and the quality of life is good. All the best on your projects, Nalf! Keep writing the next chapter-

Best of luck in Germany, greetings from California 🙂

Viel Freude noch in Deutschland mit genauso viel positive neue Eindrücke. Grüße aus Schleswig Holstein

The hardest part in living here, is the language and bureaucracy, if you can handle that, life is very easy and relaxing.

We are lucky to have you here, any country would be. It is always a win to have grounded and common sensed people around. You are welcome!

Nice video!❤️ But my mentor would always say; Desire + Motivation + Action = Success

Hi Nick, I can relate to all that you are saying. I came as a british soldier to Germany in 1983 and after 7 years of service, I stayed here. I had quite a lot of chapters here, changing jobs, towns and one or two relationships. Now, I'm at that stage where I don't want to change anything anymore. Returning to the UK would mean going to a foreign country,. Or getting a job in some place new very unlikely at nearly 60 years old. So anyone who wants to do something new, do it now, because there is never a better time.

Many people come to Germany or other country and start the new life from the bottom without any help from others, they have to find the place to live, learn new language, place to work etc. Those are the real struggles..

I am very pleased to hear from you that you feel so comfortable here in Germany.☺🌷

Nick I really can relate to your decision. I grew up in Germany, studied in Italy and then moved to Greece. And me and my husband are talking about how we're also open to reinvent our lifes when the kids will have moved away for good (we live on an island, so whatever the kids want to do, they'll probably have to leave if they don't want to work in the tourist industry). Good luck. Just stay open and curious, it really makes life sooo beautiful ❤️

Alles wird gut. Du hast bis jetzt alles geschafft, du schaffst noch mehr

I am 70 year old American that lived 25 plus years in Germany and Austria . One thing you will learn fast is the life style in Europe is a much better Balance .

So good to see Nick is settling in step by step combining the past and the new ... Good luck to you Nick for your next step in life and many to come!

Thank you so much for your interest in our country to stay even longer. This is quite a compliment - because it shows that you seem to have such a lot of desire to understand how life here is and that is wonderful....

I absolutely love this page. Wish I would have found it sooner, or KZfaq would have suggested it sooner, but luckily I can go back and binge watch the old videos. Excited to be here for the next chapter!

Proud of you and will follow along. So happy you're staying and get positive experiences in Germany

only the best wishes for your future journey, wherever it may lead you eventually🧡🙏🏻 glad to have you here in germany🇩🇪:)

Happy you're still here. All the best for that new chapter in your life! 🍀

One question: Did you think this through when you choose an attic apartment?? I mean I can hear already the complaints because of the heat in summer.

I have been to Germany a couple of times and not even once to America but, from what I see and learn on the internet, I know for sure that as long as you are well, anywhere in the world is fine, when instead you get sick you wish you were in Europe. I agree with your choice because for me Germany is better.

Wishing you the best of luck. Great to have you here with us in Europe.

That's great that you are back in Germany. I have learned a lot from you about US American culture and customs. I am glad and I hope that it continues with your channel. Good luck! Greetings from the region "OWL"

Glad you stay😊. I wish you the best for your chapter 2 in Germany. I appreciate your videos and your perspective of life here. You are an amazing storyteller and video-photographer. Looking forward to all your new stories. 🤩👍

Thanks for sharing ❤ I wish you all the best on your new journey here in germany. I hope that your experience will be a good one.

It's good that you're staying connected to football. Finding a way to stay connected to your foremost passion - even if not in a playing capacity - will anchor you as you deal with the transition.

Best of luck! Just remember, don’t let the bad days make you forget about the good ones. Living in a foreign country can be both very exciting and extremely difficult. The fact that you have friends and your girlfriend around you will make it much easier, and I’m very happy to see that you decided to stay. Also, was that coach Esume?

Be well. I'm looking forward to the details of your adjustment to a life in a new land.

Yo Nick. All the best for this decision. Love your channel and your honesty. 🤘🤘

Hi nick, it s still nice to have you her and i wish you all the best for your now "private"life in germany. maybe there will be a possibility to realize your dreams in film (or maybe tv!?). Anyway, I wish you the best of luck! Michael/Hanover

Or maybe because of Laura ❤ You love her ❤ Laura is a good dancer she should teach you 💃

Nick, since you lived in CT -Unicorn Town is in the Westport Library!

I wish I had the same optimism when it comes to moving to the States. I feel like it's easier to settle down here than over the ocean. Plus I'm too much used to my "social net" to give that up. All the best! I'm sure you'll make it!

You've created quite some suspense for your personal discovery channel. I'm looking forward to what the wilder life in Germany will offer to you.

Wishing you all the best 😎 Glad you decided to stay👍

hope you do longer than the next Year Nick...all the Best to you.

Alles Gute für deinen neuen Lebensabschnitt! Beste Grüße aus Hamburg!

Awww, c'mon Nick. The main reason has got to be Laura. And if that's the case, I can't blame you. As been said before in the comments, she's a keeper!

I love the fact that you joined the Surge, even if it‘s not on the field. Hope to see you in Gazi Stadion on gameday.

Haay Nalf, hows Mickey doing - is he setteling in just fine in Germany or has he dropped the German adventure? - nice to hear yer still think the life in Germany is exiting and thrilling, and its still exiting to see your experience with the life in germany as it goes by. looking forward to the next one.

I hope you stay,but of course listen to your heart,if your journey takes you to other shores,we will still follow (if you have us riding along). Due to our past i have a hard time enjoying the landmass i was born in. Seeing my own country through your experience here for the past 6years+ have made me appreciate things,and dislike others even more^^, in this country we call germany. Came for some vibes,stayed because of you adding your own vibes. You do you Mr. Alfieri and iam sure you will have a wonderfull part 2 of your journey here in germany...or perhaps somewhere else. All the best from sunny schleswig holstein ^^

I have followed you for years and I love your stories. If I were younger, I would consider moving there. I am too old now even though I have in demand skills. Also, I am two generations from my closest German ancestors so I do not qualify for dual citizenship😢 my Dad was stationed in Munich before I was born in the Army and he loved Germany 👍🏻

wish you all the best and all the luck for this next chapter in your life! Another wonderful and great person from abroad in Germany! You're a win for our country. Excited to see what's coming. :)

Hey Nick, new subscriber here. I enjoy your perspective on life!

Good luck m8 and great having you here in 🇩🇪

I have watched you for several years now, and can inly say one thing ----- I sure do respect you.

All the best with Chapter two 👍🏽

Welcome! Nice to have you here. ☺️

Respect for taking on the new challenge. Your football resilience def. will help you outlast it.

I do financial consulting for expats here in Germany and I have so many clients who originally only planned to stay a couple of years and then were so in love with the country and the people that they decide to stay long-therm.

Best of luck in Germany! Wishing you much success.

Good luck to you sir. You seem like a good guy, who carries his heart in the right place, you'll manage;)

Best wishes. I think you've got lots of opportunities. Coaching, management, PR for a sports club, making commercials as videographer,... Or try something completely new. You're open and willingly to learn new stuff. I'm sure, you'll make your way.

Wish you all the best here in Germany Nalf!👍

You’re a cool dude and I wish you viel Glück for the next chapter, greetings from Thuringia 😄👍🏻

Schön, dass du hier bist!🤗

Germans don't really like to move a lot. Yes, maybe during College/University, they might move but mostly within Germany. Overall people tend to stay where they grew up and that's how you maintain a certain kind of circle of friends and you basically stay close to what you know. To Americans this might sound weird but that is normal to us. I am glad you continue your journey/adventure in Germany and you can stay where you are and still explore the rest of the country. It's not like it takes days to get from the eastern to the western border compared to taking a ride from NYC to LA.

Brave and open to new things. I like this.

good choice man, we are happy to have you here

I'd travel around a bit. Europe and also Germany has many interesting places with different vibes and sights to explore, love or hate ;)

i wish u the best. u will rock what ever u decide to go for

My best friend lives in Schwäbisch Hall..its a very nice little town . Very quiet to live but much culture. I very much believe you enjoy it there and it has lower costs to rent as in Stuttgart.

Best of luck with your Chapter II in Germany!

You seem to be a cool guy - happy you will stay! 👍

Awesome to see you on the ELF!

Thank you for your stories

Best of luck for your new chapter. I strongly believe that you can't find another modern country in the world where you can do what you want and when you want it without any fear as long as you are willing to do sth./work. Also the "small town" of Schwäbisch Hall is just a beautiful place to live. don't try duisburg or most of NRW tho ;) you would get depressed. kinda like detroit over here :D

Great decision and best of luck. You are real pro.

5:00 Interesting choice of literature. Also, good luck for your continued exploration of Germany. Hope you are also going to check out the rest of Germany some more.

This is what life is all about! Home is where your heart is!!!

Sounds like a plan. I never quite had it like you did during your pro career. I had to dive right into every day Swiss life. But it wasn't difficult, because I was able to earn some money, more the longer I stayed. Meeting your life partner helps also a lot, for that adds to the attractiveness of the new home. But at the end of the day you havee to experience, analyse and decide. There is no right way, only the way that's right for you. OTOH, Schwäbisch Hall is so charming. We met really shortly on the street right before your championship game. It was actually my 2nd time in your lovely town. There are a LOT worse places you could live your life in. Good luck and let us know what's up. Love your insight ad commentaries.

Glad to have you here in good old Germany

Enjoyed the show. Fun as always. You have communication skills that most germans don't. It may take some convincing to get germans to appreciate your style, but certainly there is one attractive female who gets it. Keep up the good work.

As someone who grew up just 20km from the town you're now I have to say you've found a very beautiful and cozy new home town.

Freue mich sehr über diese Entscheidung!

Which side of the pond do I like better? Both! There are things I like here such as languages, culture, & history. There are things I miss back home. I miss wide open spaces in the States & Provinces (yes I’m including Canada too). I would love to drive again along the coast of California or camp in the boundaries waters of Minnesota. I would love to spent part of the year here and the other back in N America.

So again! Welcome to Germany and best of luck to you.

imho you are doing the right thing ;) All the best mucker from the UK

Happy you still bear with us :)

One thing I hear again and again from people in sports, is how tough the year after retirement tends to be, trying to find a new place and purpose in the world for yourself, after a time where everything in life was centered around training, etc. This transition would be tough enough if it were to take place in your own home environment. You are trying to sort all that out while being in Germany. Again others might move to Germany for a job and thereby have a clear purpose and they just have to work through the logistics of doing all this in a different country. Difficult enough. You are trying to do both at once. I can sense your frustration, but also your determination to keep fighting. I hope you can find a path for yourself, and can manage both the career transition as well as life in Germany. Alles Gute...

Herzlich Willkommen und Frohe Ostern.

By the way, big cities usually are very expensive. Berlin is a little bit the exception to the rule. But if you choose it, your experience will be absolutely completely different to the life in Schwäbisch Hall. Munich is very beautiful but one of the most expensive big cities - but it might be closer to our experience that you had up to now as it is also in the South. Cologne is called the most Italian city of Germany and it is close to the Rhine river which plays a big role in German mystery. But the experience might also differ a lot to your life in Schwäbisch Hall. Frankfurt is often called Mainhattan and plays a big role as far as Germanys banking sector is concerned. In the East, Dresden is very beautiful and has been called the Florence of the river Elbe, Leipzig has a lot to do with books and Potsdam is close to Berlin but not really Berlin. The East would be a completely different experience as there are still differences because of the reunification not being that long ago so yu might be able to learn a bit about the younger past of Germany that does not have to do anything with the 3rd Reich and is a little a dive into the unknown for most people. who come from other continents. Hamburg of course has often been called the door to the world because of its big connection to trade overseas but I believe you had quite a bad experience in Hamburg... I am very curious which big city you might take.

Wish you good luck and fun in your german future.

Du bist mutig und hast dich auf ein Abenteuer eingelassen... Alles wird gut, du hast dein eigenes Menschen, Liebe, Beruf, Deutschland ist ein gutes Land...

Hi Nick, your Videos are interesting, entertaining and funny. But the reason why i like them most is that i can see wonderful actual pictures of my hometown. I was born, grow Up and went to school in Schwäbisch Hall. I left it 30 years ago. Now i live in Bonn. My mother and some other relatives and Friends still live there. So i come back sometimes for a visit. Last time 2 weeks ago, for easter. PS: My cousin's son plays in the Junior Team of the unicorns. Hope you furthermore enjoy Germany. Have a good time. Bye, Wolfgang

Wie schön. From Cologne with best wishes. Michael

Soooo welcome to chapter 2, Nick. Hug ya!

many more years to come and many more places to explore in germany 💪

Give it shot. I think you could also try other european countries. Each one is so different. Spain, Italy, Sweden would give you a totally different experience

Everybody loves the expat life. You get to leave all the stresses of your life and identity back home. And as an outsider in a new country, there are a lot less burdens to carry, in a way. You can kind of float outside it all it while enjoying your surroundings. It's kind of like a long-term, low-level vacation. But does it come at a cost? I don't know.

Welcome to Germany and good luck for your plans. Indeed, we can use a dose of this typically exaggerated American optimism and "let's do it" very well in these times where one crisis follows the next. 😉 And you have chosen the most German of all German regions (Stuttgart & Swabia) for this, okay, THIS man really wants to know. Seriously, all good wishes for you (your spouse and you)!

I´m sure you will perform Excellent. 💪