Anyone live in Germany?
Discussion
Pros include a higher standard of living - generally things work as expected, without all the grubbiness and drama you seem to encounter in the UK these days. Renting a high quality apartment is relatively cheap and easy, outside certain hotspots.
Cons include the time it takes to make friends (they're notorious for being slow to build trust).
I don't think you'll notice the politics unless you particularly engage with it. The AFD popularity (far right) is concentrated in particular areas.
It's a big and varied country - which region / city will you be living in?
Cons include the time it takes to make friends (they're notorious for being slow to build trust).
I don't think you'll notice the politics unless you particularly engage with it. The AFD popularity (far right) is concentrated in particular areas.
It's a big and varied country - which region / city will you be living in?
Yes, just dropped you a pm
Politically though, unless you get involved in that sort of thing, you don't notice it really.
Depending on where you currently live but Germany isn't the land of milk and honey, currently lots of strikes happening and they allow strikes on 24 hours notice so can really f
k your day if you are meant to be flying/train etc.
But they do have 100 and 102 ron petrol at the pumps
Politically though, unless you get involved in that sort of thing, you don't notice it really.
Depending on where you currently live but Germany isn't the land of milk and honey, currently lots of strikes happening and they allow strikes on 24 hours notice so can really f
k your day if you are meant to be flying/train etc. But they do have 100 and 102 ron petrol at the pumps
Did it 20 odd years ago and haven't looked back. Health system is better than the UK. People are slow to make friends until you learn the language which isn't difficult if you don't mind making mistakes regularly...
Our social life is pretty damn good but then we work at it.
Administration can be a pain but it is better than it was 20 years ago when the civil servants looked down on you.
Politics are not a problem unless you are in the east and then for you probably not if you're white, not a muslim, etc, etc,
I've met a few strange people but generally I've had a great time. But then again I had a great time living in Spain, Italy and the USA.
It might be a question of your attitude about being the new guy/girl and having to make a big effort to find your place in a new society.
Good luck if you decide to do it.
Our social life is pretty damn good but then we work at it.
Administration can be a pain but it is better than it was 20 years ago when the civil servants looked down on you.
Politics are not a problem unless you are in the east and then for you probably not if you're white, not a muslim, etc, etc,
I've met a few strange people but generally I've had a great time. But then again I had a great time living in Spain, Italy and the USA.
It might be a question of your attitude about being the new guy/girl and having to make a big effort to find your place in a new society.
Good luck if you decide to do it.
Skeptisk said:
I don’t know where. Having a discussion next week. We have offices in some of the biggest cities but if there is a possibility I might not have a choice as most likely it would be where there is a need.
Then I wouldn't start to decide until you know which city - it's like not knowing whether you'll end up in Bradford or Bath for example.FilH said:
Pro, if you a pistonhead, then buy something v8 and twin turbo'd . They have some roads that have no limits, so ive been told?
And also a toll road, that maybe of interest , again if your into cars
.
I did some research for my April road trip, and was informed all roads [unlikeAnd also a toll road, that maybe of interest , again if your into cars
.the b
d France] were free for all vehicles under 7.5 tons dan98 said:
Skeptisk said:
I don’t know where. Having a discussion next week. We have offices in some of the biggest cities but if there is a possibility I might not have a choice as most likely it would be where there is a need.
Then I wouldn't start to decide until you know which city - it's like not knowing whether you'll end up in Bradford or Bath for example.
having spent a considerable time over there I could live in Munich or Berlin but less so Frankfurt or stuttgart Skeptisk said:
More Bath than Bradford so would probably be either Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Cologne, Hamburg or possibly Stuttgart.
Well I know which of these I'd be happy with but one person's dream is another's nightmare. Best thing is just go and visit when you find out - the last thing you wanna do is move somewhere without experiencing it first.Generally though, yes it's a truly great country, just a bit marmite.
Edited by dan98 on Wednesday 14th February 22:10
You would need to spend some time in the country to decide and it depends on partners/kids/etc.
I have only spent time in Cologne and Berlin. Both nice, I'm not a city person... but Berlin is one of the few cities I actually really enjoy. Low rise, lots of green space, good metro, great food, high standard of English spoken (I am multilingual but always struggled with German)...
I have only spent time in Cologne and Berlin. Both nice, I'm not a city person... but Berlin is one of the few cities I actually really enjoy. Low rise, lots of green space, good metro, great food, high standard of English spoken (I am multilingual but always struggled with German)...
vaud said:
You would need to spend some time in the country to decide and it depends on partners/kids/etc.
I have only spent time in Cologne and Berlin. Both nice, I'm not a city person... but Berlin is one of the few cities I actually really enjoy. Low rise, lots of green space, good metro, great food, high standard of English spoken (I am multilingual but always struggled with German)...
Both wife and I lived briefly in West Germany and we are both fluent in German, but that is not far off 40 years ago and I am not sure how relevant it would be to today. I was working in hotels so very different from my current profession so no experience of German office life.I have only spent time in Cologne and Berlin. Both nice, I'm not a city person... but Berlin is one of the few cities I actually really enjoy. Low rise, lots of green space, good metro, great food, high standard of English spoken (I am multilingual but always struggled with German)...
Whenever I see your username I can’t help but think of Switzerland. And pronounce it “vo”
Skeptisk said:
Both wife and I lived briefly in West Germany and we are both fluent in German, but that is not far off 40 years ago and I am not sure how relevant it would be to today. I was working in hotels so very different from my current profession so no experience of German office life.
Whenever I see your username I can’t help but think of Switzerland. And pronounce it “vo”
I've lived in both Berlin and Cologne. Berlin is a nice place to live, lots to do in the immediate surrounding area, though its quite far away from anywhere else. Cologne has a much more relaxed vibe. Also near the aforementioned toll road.Whenever I see your username I can’t help but think of Switzerland. And pronounce it “vo”
German office life is.... different to UK office life. Knowing German is a big plus.
Lyons said:
Skeptisk said:
Both wife and I lived briefly in West Germany and we are both fluent in German, but that is not far off 40 years ago and I am not sure how relevant it would be to today. I was working in hotels so very different from my current profession so no experience of German office life.
Whenever I see your username I can’t help but think of Switzerland. And pronounce it “vo”
I've lived in both Berlin and Cologne. Berlin is a nice place to live, lots to do in the immediate surrounding area, though its quite far away from anywhere else. Cologne has a much more relaxed vibe. Also near the aforementioned toll road.Whenever I see your username I can’t help but think of Switzerland. And pronounce it “vo”
German office life is.... different to UK office life. Knowing German is a big plus.
Germany beautiful place somewhere I would like to live
Been living in Germany for nearly 50 years now. Here's my take...
Towns: avoid anything over 50000 population, (where they don't even know how to say good morning without glowering at you as if you're trying to mug them). Lived in Berlin for 10 years when it was still civilised (before the Wall fell), was good but was much younger then. If you're going to have to be based in a large city, try to live outside, somewhere smaller, and check your public transport into town (some don't run late)
People: Try to join a club (Verein), hiking, choir, music, sports... you'll find you'll get accepted much sooner, especially in a small town/village... language, try to speak german, trying is the operative word, they accept that and may well reply in a better English!!!
Traffic: getting bad in larger areas, used to be able to run speeds higher than 250kph, now rare purely due to poor Autobahns (a lot of 2-laners) and huge amounts of trucks, as Germany is Europe's largest transit country N/S and E/W!!
Beware of mad cyclists, not quite as bad as London but getting there!
Gatsos and equivalent are getting slyer but you MUST be photographed from the front identifying the driver.
Trains: used to be punctual, and ran to the minute... NOT that way now...
Airports: Greens and socialists trying to make it illegal to use planes for internal flights and force you to travel by train (unreliable, see above) Expect the Government to increase a boarding tax for ALL flights soon!!!
Work: depends on the branch, but usually conditions far better/stable than UK.. but change is taking place especially where AI could/will be used. If you have a qualified trade you'll be more needed than most degree qualified people. Pay usualy is 13 months (1/2 month Christmas pay 1/2 month summer pay). Pension/Tax/Medical all taken out before you see it. Private Medical insurance is to be recommended!
Sports: they don't know anything (almost) about sports unless it's soccer.... unless of course a german marbles team is playing in Fiji, then of course you'll get TV coverage (joke). BUT Germany is the Ice Hockey vice world champion and NOT A SINGLE GAME was on D-TV!!! Disgraceful!!!
Food: oop North not much variety (German food) but plenty of other national foods.
German bread is probably the best anywhere, the variety is massive, none of that ghastly white bread as in the UK!!
Fish good in north, otherwise poor fish distribution throughout. Southwest food VERY good due to French, Swiss, and Italian influences. Asian foods mostly poor, mostly generic seemingly run by chinese from Holland with godawful buffets and standardised sauces....and asian standards of hygiene!
Shopping: food shopping good, avoid the chainstore bakers, very good butchers (again avoid chains), clothing styles getting more european. Decent shoes a problem, I have to get my shoes from GB, otherwise overpriced asiatic junk. Shirts fine provided you are prepared to pay, otherwise order from UK.
NB!! ALL shops closed on Sundays and holidays
TV: mostly state run, relatively poor translations, bring a freeview box and get a dish if you want British TV. TV license coast €154 p.A. includes screen use (computers) but they have no vans!!!
Internet: in general poor, vastly behind other EU countries (my upload is just 1MB, download around 12 MB, although cable is on my property they can't seems to be able to get it to my router, using a 60y.o. copper wire!!). May be better in large cities... Beware!!! Telekom gives all it's poorer connections to their competitors, have cases of this in my street where people went with Telekom's competitors and they had breakdowns regularly!!
Radio: Traffic news excellent, german pop rather boring, monotonous...
Bureaucracy: feckin mad!!! you can get sent from pillar to post..... you have to know your rights and tell them so if necessary. As a Brit now expect to be treated as if you were a beggar due to Brexit
Politics: avoid it, but keep your eyes and ears open. They're screaming about the right nowadays (rightly so) but as usual completely blind to left terrorism. The Greens and Socialists here are so far left they want to turn the EU into the EUSSR, and think that's democratic!
Economy: slowing down rather badly!!
Feel free to send me a PM if I can help!
Towns: avoid anything over 50000 population, (where they don't even know how to say good morning without glowering at you as if you're trying to mug them). Lived in Berlin for 10 years when it was still civilised (before the Wall fell), was good but was much younger then. If you're going to have to be based in a large city, try to live outside, somewhere smaller, and check your public transport into town (some don't run late)
People: Try to join a club (Verein), hiking, choir, music, sports... you'll find you'll get accepted much sooner, especially in a small town/village... language, try to speak german, trying is the operative word, they accept that and may well reply in a better English!!!
Traffic: getting bad in larger areas, used to be able to run speeds higher than 250kph, now rare purely due to poor Autobahns (a lot of 2-laners) and huge amounts of trucks, as Germany is Europe's largest transit country N/S and E/W!!
Beware of mad cyclists, not quite as bad as London but getting there!
Gatsos and equivalent are getting slyer but you MUST be photographed from the front identifying the driver.
Trains: used to be punctual, and ran to the minute... NOT that way now...
Airports: Greens and socialists trying to make it illegal to use planes for internal flights and force you to travel by train (unreliable, see above) Expect the Government to increase a boarding tax for ALL flights soon!!!
Work: depends on the branch, but usually conditions far better/stable than UK.. but change is taking place especially where AI could/will be used. If you have a qualified trade you'll be more needed than most degree qualified people. Pay usualy is 13 months (1/2 month Christmas pay 1/2 month summer pay). Pension/Tax/Medical all taken out before you see it. Private Medical insurance is to be recommended!
Sports: they don't know anything (almost) about sports unless it's soccer.... unless of course a german marbles team is playing in Fiji, then of course you'll get TV coverage (joke). BUT Germany is the Ice Hockey vice world champion and NOT A SINGLE GAME was on D-TV!!! Disgraceful!!!
Food: oop North not much variety (German food) but plenty of other national foods.
German bread is probably the best anywhere, the variety is massive, none of that ghastly white bread as in the UK!!
Fish good in north, otherwise poor fish distribution throughout. Southwest food VERY good due to French, Swiss, and Italian influences. Asian foods mostly poor, mostly generic seemingly run by chinese from Holland with godawful buffets and standardised sauces....and asian standards of hygiene!
Shopping: food shopping good, avoid the chainstore bakers, very good butchers (again avoid chains), clothing styles getting more european. Decent shoes a problem, I have to get my shoes from GB, otherwise overpriced asiatic junk. Shirts fine provided you are prepared to pay, otherwise order from UK.
NB!! ALL shops closed on Sundays and holidays
TV: mostly state run, relatively poor translations, bring a freeview box and get a dish if you want British TV. TV license coast €154 p.A. includes screen use (computers) but they have no vans!!!
Internet: in general poor, vastly behind other EU countries (my upload is just 1MB, download around 12 MB, although cable is on my property they can't seems to be able to get it to my router, using a 60y.o. copper wire!!). May be better in large cities... Beware!!! Telekom gives all it's poorer connections to their competitors, have cases of this in my street where people went with Telekom's competitors and they had breakdowns regularly!!
Radio: Traffic news excellent, german pop rather boring, monotonous...
Bureaucracy: feckin mad!!! you can get sent from pillar to post..... you have to know your rights and tell them so if necessary. As a Brit now expect to be treated as if you were a beggar due to Brexit
Politics: avoid it, but keep your eyes and ears open. They're screaming about the right nowadays (rightly so) but as usual completely blind to left terrorism. The Greens and Socialists here are so far left they want to turn the EU into the EUSSR, and think that's democratic!
Economy: slowing down rather badly!!
Feel free to send me a PM if I can help!
Nethybridge said:
FilH said:
Pro, if you a pistonhead, then buy something v8 and twin turbo'd . They have some roads that have no limits, so ive been told?
And also a toll road, that maybe of interest , again if your into cars .
I did some research for my April road trip, and was informed all roads [unlikeAnd also a toll road, that maybe of interest , again if your into cars
.the b
d France] were free for all vehicles under 7.5 tons 
JMGS4 said:
Been living in Germany for nearly 50 years now. Here's my take...
Towns: avoid anything over 50000 population, (where they don't even know how to say good morning without glowering at you as if you're trying to mug them). Lived in Berlin for 10 years when it was still civilised (before the Wall fell), was good but was much younger then. If you're going to have to be based in a large city, try to live outside, somewhere smaller, and check your public transport into town (some don't run late)
People: Try to join a club (Verein), hiking, choir, music, sports... you'll find you'll get accepted much sooner, especially in a small town/village... language, try to speak german, trying is the operative word, they accept that and may well reply in a better English!!!
Traffic: getting bad in larger areas, used to be able to run speeds higher than 250kph, now rare purely due to poor Autobahns (a lot of 2-laners) and huge amounts of trucks, as Germany is Europe's largest transit country N/S and E/W!!
Beware of mad cyclists, not quite as bad as London but getting there!
Gatsos and equivalent are getting slyer but you MUST be photographed from the front identifying the driver.
Trains: used to be punctual, and ran to the minute... NOT that way now...
Airports: Greens and socialists trying to make it illegal to use planes for internal flights and force you to travel by train (unreliable, see above) Expect the Government to increase a boarding tax for ALL flights soon!!!
Work: depends on the branch, but usually conditions far better/stable than UK.. but change is taking place especially where AI could/will be used. If you have a qualified trade you'll be more needed than most degree qualified people. Pay usualy is 13 months (1/2 month Christmas pay 1/2 month summer pay). Pension/Tax/Medical all taken out before you see it. Private Medical insurance is to be recommended!
Sports: they don't know anything (almost) about sports unless it's soccer.... unless of course a german marbles team is playing in Fiji, then of course you'll get TV coverage (joke). BUT Germany is the Ice Hockey vice world champion and NOT A SINGLE GAME was on D-TV!!! Disgraceful!!!
Food: oop North not much variety (German food) but plenty of other national foods.
German bread is probably the best anywhere, the variety is massive, none of that ghastly white bread as in the UK!!
Fish good in north, otherwise poor fish distribution throughout. Southwest food VERY good due to French, Swiss, and Italian influences. Asian foods mostly poor, mostly generic seemingly run by chinese from Holland with godawful buffets and standardised sauces....and asian standards of hygiene!
Shopping: food shopping good, avoid the chainstore bakers, very good butchers (again avoid chains), clothing styles getting more european. Decent shoes a problem, I have to get my shoes from GB, otherwise overpriced asiatic junk. Shirts fine provided you are prepared to pay, otherwise order from UK.
NB!! ALL shops closed on Sundays and holidays
TV: mostly state run, relatively poor translations, bring a freeview box and get a dish if you want British TV. TV license coast €154 p.A. includes screen use (computers) but they have no vans!!!
Internet: in general poor, vastly behind other EU countries (my upload is just 1MB, download around 12 MB, although cable is on my property they can't seems to be able to get it to my router, using a 60y.o. copper wire!!). May be better in large cities... Beware!!! Telekom gives all it's poorer connections to their competitors, have cases of this in my street where people went with Telekom's competitors and they had breakdowns regularly!!
Radio: Traffic news excellent, german pop rather boring, monotonous...
Bureaucracy: feckin mad!!! you can get sent from pillar to post..... you have to know your rights and tell them so if necessary. As a Brit now expect to be treated as if you were a beggar due to Brexit
Politics: avoid it, but keep your eyes and ears open. They're screaming about the right nowadays (rightly so) but as usual completely blind to left terrorism. The Greens and Socialists here are so far left they want to turn the EU into the EUSSR, and think that's democratic!
Economy: slowing down rather badly!!
Feel free to send me a PM if I can help!
Thanks for that! Towns: avoid anything over 50000 population, (where they don't even know how to say good morning without glowering at you as if you're trying to mug them). Lived in Berlin for 10 years when it was still civilised (before the Wall fell), was good but was much younger then. If you're going to have to be based in a large city, try to live outside, somewhere smaller, and check your public transport into town (some don't run late)
People: Try to join a club (Verein), hiking, choir, music, sports... you'll find you'll get accepted much sooner, especially in a small town/village... language, try to speak german, trying is the operative word, they accept that and may well reply in a better English!!!
Traffic: getting bad in larger areas, used to be able to run speeds higher than 250kph, now rare purely due to poor Autobahns (a lot of 2-laners) and huge amounts of trucks, as Germany is Europe's largest transit country N/S and E/W!!
Beware of mad cyclists, not quite as bad as London but getting there!
Gatsos and equivalent are getting slyer but you MUST be photographed from the front identifying the driver.
Trains: used to be punctual, and ran to the minute... NOT that way now...
Airports: Greens and socialists trying to make it illegal to use planes for internal flights and force you to travel by train (unreliable, see above) Expect the Government to increase a boarding tax for ALL flights soon!!!
Work: depends on the branch, but usually conditions far better/stable than UK.. but change is taking place especially where AI could/will be used. If you have a qualified trade you'll be more needed than most degree qualified people. Pay usualy is 13 months (1/2 month Christmas pay 1/2 month summer pay). Pension/Tax/Medical all taken out before you see it. Private Medical insurance is to be recommended!
Sports: they don't know anything (almost) about sports unless it's soccer.... unless of course a german marbles team is playing in Fiji, then of course you'll get TV coverage (joke). BUT Germany is the Ice Hockey vice world champion and NOT A SINGLE GAME was on D-TV!!! Disgraceful!!!
Food: oop North not much variety (German food) but plenty of other national foods.
German bread is probably the best anywhere, the variety is massive, none of that ghastly white bread as in the UK!!
Fish good in north, otherwise poor fish distribution throughout. Southwest food VERY good due to French, Swiss, and Italian influences. Asian foods mostly poor, mostly generic seemingly run by chinese from Holland with godawful buffets and standardised sauces....and asian standards of hygiene!
Shopping: food shopping good, avoid the chainstore bakers, very good butchers (again avoid chains), clothing styles getting more european. Decent shoes a problem, I have to get my shoes from GB, otherwise overpriced asiatic junk. Shirts fine provided you are prepared to pay, otherwise order from UK.
NB!! ALL shops closed on Sundays and holidays
TV: mostly state run, relatively poor translations, bring a freeview box and get a dish if you want British TV. TV license coast €154 p.A. includes screen use (computers) but they have no vans!!!
Internet: in general poor, vastly behind other EU countries (my upload is just 1MB, download around 12 MB, although cable is on my property they can't seems to be able to get it to my router, using a 60y.o. copper wire!!). May be better in large cities... Beware!!! Telekom gives all it's poorer connections to their competitors, have cases of this in my street where people went with Telekom's competitors and they had breakdowns regularly!!
Radio: Traffic news excellent, german pop rather boring, monotonous...
Bureaucracy: feckin mad!!! you can get sent from pillar to post..... you have to know your rights and tell them so if necessary. As a Brit now expect to be treated as if you were a beggar due to Brexit
Politics: avoid it, but keep your eyes and ears open. They're screaming about the right nowadays (rightly so) but as usual completely blind to left terrorism. The Greens and Socialists here are so far left they want to turn the EU into the EUSSR, and think that's democratic!
Economy: slowing down rather badly!!
Feel free to send me a PM if I can help!
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