Moving To Germany from America: my First IMPRESSIONS and Expectations vs Reality
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 ก.ย. 2024
- Moving to Germany from America: Expectations vs. Reality
#AmericaninGermany
#lifestyleblog
#livinginGermany
#movingtoGermany
#movingfromAmerica
#leavingtheUnitedStates
#lifestylevlog
Welcome to Germany and I wish you and your ones a happy living here ! As you found out, life can be nice here. Thank you for sharing your videos 🙂
Thanks. So far I am in love with the German culture. It is hard to decide which country I will spend the rest of my life.
@@JustinGermany Enjoy it here and dont let yourself bother by idiots :D
Thanks for the advice. I avoid who I can. Thanks for the comment 😀.
6:08
I think you are the first American I hear talking about this who doesn't say "everything" is closed on Sundays. ;-)
Really excellent list, Justin - I'm gonna use this video in my German Culture class! Greetings from Tennessee, my brother!
Wow, that's a great honor for me thanks! I hope to have other videos coming soon that you will also want to show. Sending much love to Tennesee. I would love to know some topics that you will or already have discussed in class. I am curious if I have had similar experiences.
@@JustinGermany Hey man, thanks for writing back! The semester's winding down, unfortunately, so I won't be teaching German culture again until next fall. HOWEVER, I'm really happy I discovered you - better late than never, right? You're really relatable (my students are mostly from TN, so they were happy to see someone from the South), fair, funny (the students loved the "walk of shame" story when you were talking about how the taxes are already included in the price in Germany and how much you love that - my students said they could relate!) and you give the straight dope, good and bad, about living in Germany. I lived there for 2 years (one in high school one in grad school - both on scholarship) and when I was watching your vid about stuff you love the most, I was nodding the whole time! Sending much love back to you and your fam during this holiday season. Keep up the good work, Justin!
Hey you are absolutely right, better late than never. I am glad that others can relate to my pain 🤣. That is my favorite style of comedy when people are able to laugh at their past, that is also a sign of progression. I also hope you and yours have happy holidays.
Welcome to Germany.
A little warning: we do have wild boars who can be dangerous, especially during the time they have babys. I live in a small city in a pretty crowded area near Frankfurt am Main). There's a forest right behind my house and the wild boars are often right behind my fence.
Apart from this you're right: no dangerous animals. Enjoy your hikes!
Also swans tend to be very aggressive around their young.
And there are other animals here that can get dangerous, especially if the animal feels cornered. Wolfs and Bears usually avoid humans, but face to face they're dangerous.
There are also some poisonous snakes, but no deadly ones, still hurtful though. And when you're hiking ticks might also be dangerous as they can carry some serious diseases.
Thanks for the info. 😀
@@JustinGermanyOccasionally there might be some wolfs, but they are quite rare and rather shy.
That's interesting. I wouldnt want to encounter one, but it's kind of cool that they are able to coexist here. It's a hard job to try to balance human and nature.
@@zahgurim7838 come to Brandenburg friend... in the last years they tend to be less shy as they've learned a human most likely won't harm them.
A few Years ago a friend of me had an encounter with a wolf about 10meters apart. the wolf showed no sing of shyness yet wasn't aggressive though. he just looked my friend in the eye and slowly trotted away.
Sooo nicely said, thank you for seeing our country and its people in a positive way for the most parts! Subscribed!
Thanks for the subscription. So far I love everything about Germany even the parts that took me a long time to get used to. I am thankful that people like you have accepted me and my views. That has been the difference in my success vs the failures that so many of my former colleagues have had when trying to move away from America.
Welcome to Germany
Thanks
No dangerous Animals like bears, but wolves, Boars, zecken, Hirschlausfliegen, Pferdebremsen and this anoying stuff😂
Haha I had to look up the last two 🤣. Yea I should have said my region in Germany seemed to be less dangerous
Hope you are enjoying the German Bundesliga, football is by far the most important sport here!
This might be the year someone other than Bayern win ... let's see
A public transportation "system" in the USA simply does not exist. So the comparison is not really helpful since it is supported by tax money.
I would love to disagree and say it does exist. 🤣 that's a debate, that i am not sure I could win
Hi, a bit late to the party, but if you'd like to see the local wildlife for real, take a holiday near a National Park. The rangers there offer guided tours, espacially during the mating season of the deer. Or you could join the NABU (Naturschutzbund= organisation for the protection of nature), they offer walks and information on wildlife and take action like caring for habitats and education. They also have a great kids section.
Thanks for the tips. I will look into both suggestions, especially the NABU. 😀
Even though we don't have Fire Ants we do have some very interesting ants, slaver ants for example that enslave different kinds of ants and make them work for them.
So next time you are out and about: look out for them, they are really interesting.
Even worth looking them up on YT and the like.
Thanks for the suggestion. I will find a video and watch it with my son. We love nature, and I am always up for learning more about all that Germany has to offer.
They are over 3000 Kinds of Bread in Germany, i dont think so that you have tried everyone 😂
🤣 ok let's just say I have tried every type at the 5 closest bakeries in my area.
Germany has at least two types of snakes. "Ringelnatter" and "Kreuzotter", the latter being "slightly" poisonous. But snakes are rather rare and under protection in Germany.
Thanks for the info
No, that´s not correct. In Germany exist 7 species.
Vipera berus (Kreuzotter)
Vipera aspis (Aspisviper)
Coronella austriaca (Glatt-oder Schlingnatter)
Zamenis longissimus (Äskulapnatter)
Natrix tesselata (Würfelnatter)
Natrix natrix (Ringelnatter)
Natrix helvetica (Barrenringelnatter)
Just a correction - there are dangerous animals in Germany. But it depends on where you live. For example there are wolves and wild boars. And we have not fire ants, but there is the oak processionary moth where even the hair is extremely poisonous. These are a big problems in Germany and many day cares had to be closed because of the moth. The main problem is even if you killed the moth, the hair pollutes the earth and the oak for years and you have to dig and burn it to get rid of the poisonous hairs.
Oh wow, I have never heard of this moth. I will have to look it up. This a topic I would love to dig deeper into 😀
Don't make that a bigger threat than it is. The hair can cause skin rash but other than rare allergic reactions, it isn't really "dangerous".
And it's not the moth that's dangerous, but the caterpillars of the "Eichenprozessionsspinner".
@@JustinGermany It's not the moth itself but the juvenile state of the moth, the caterpillar that has the poisonous hair. They walk often in a queue. If you search for 'Eichenprozessspinner Raupe' you get some pictures of the animal in google. Oaks with them on it look like they have spiderwebs on it.
Good to know. I wonder if that is the reason my wife is afraid of moths though
I'm German and wild boars in Germany can be dangerous when you surpeise them - fortunately you can smell when you get close to their playground or water holes - take care on your hikes.
Thanks for the comment. I have ran across wild boars in America, so I agree. Maybe I shouldn't have stated the way I did, but I think the difference is that most of the forested areas where we live have constant visitors so the animals have gotten used to all of the traffic, and stay hidden. Where I am from, we dont always have designated paths, so there are more interactions with animals.
don't forget the ticks, they can really mess you up. so after a walk in the woods or gras, check for ticks and remove them properly, or by a doctor.
Over thousand years of cultivation has eradicated the "dangerous animals" foremost already in medi eval times...for centuries the hobby and sport of the male nobility back then was hunting and predators of all kind were their hunting rivals so they got rid of them first...
Makes sense. There are so many shooting clubs here, I can see that probably was a thing for them back in the day. Thanks for the info 😀
Update on a american youtuber. That was living in germany for over six years and on her way to becoming a german citizen. Yes, she did a about face and moved to the america.
Now, her german boyfriend is also leaving germany for america. That's two individuals. That is happy to move to america and leave germany.
I can't knock anyone that wants to live in America. I love America as much as I love Germany. You just have to know what you are willing to give up in exchange. Most people who voluntarily move to a new country, like me, unfortunately do no research what will be required to be successful in another country. Some face the problems and with the help of others push through, while others give up and move on.
@@JustinGermany it seems many youtubers rely on making a living knocking down american on youtube. Many of these youtubers talk over production videos. Most would call that lazy, but youtube doesn't care about it. As youtubers can make a living on doing videos of their pets. But as least they have the energy not to talk over a production video.
I want to stay neutral on my response. I hope I won't have to choose a side in order to get views
❤
German bread is superb. We have GST included in price in Australia. Our stores are largely closed except at Christmas
No disagreement from me. It took me awhile to really try every kind, and I really found the one that I like.
We do have dangerous animals in Germany too. There are poisonous snakes but they cannot kill you. Tics! Boars! Wolves but you will probably never see or hear them. Some birds during breeding seasons.
Yea that's the thing, I probably should have stated it differently. But I have yet to see anything, except for tics. I am constantly aware of my surroundings, but I have failed to see much of anything. Believe me, I am looking. My son and I are always trying to find them.
You almost never come across any dangerous animals in Germany because...like the German people...they are a bit reserved. 😄
Grerat video btw @@JustinGermany
In the English language, there is a distinction between poisonous and venomous animals. There are two venomous species in Germany.
Vipera berus (European Viper / Kreuzotter) and Vipera aspis (Aspis Viper / Aspisviper). The venom is actually quite strong, but is produced in such small quantities that a bite is rarely life-threatening.
In Germany, Aspis Vipers only exist in a small area in the south of the black forest.
@derwolf9670 🤣 yea i will agree. Great joke. 🤣
@clausfries5590 thanks for the info. Appreciate it 😀
I was chased by wild boars in my childhood once. Me and my friend were just lucky and could manage it in time to climb on a tree / Black Forest
Oh wow 😯. I have yet to see s wild boar, and I hope I never will. They can be very aggressive. Glad that you all were able to get away.
I guess I have just been lucky so far to not have come across anything close to that in Germany. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Wild boars with young (Bache mit Frischlingen) can be really dangerous. This also applies to cows.
Don´t underestimate the wild boars, they´re really vicious
☺️ based on the number of comments about the wild boars, I hope they dont get wind that I underestimated them and will be waiting for me in the woods.
I will pay closer attention to my surroundings.
We do have fire ants, probably regional tho
Edit: sorry, I did mistake fire ants for red ants. Fire ants are not really common here at all
It's all good. Thanks for the comment. 😀
I come from the north of Germany. However, it is more common here for kitchens to be installed.
Really? That's interesting to know. I had been wondering if it was a national or just regional ideology.
welcome
Thanks
The thing is that meanwhile people aren’t shopping for groceries on a Saturday but during the week as everything is so close around. Go to a shop in the late evening is kinda Zen-Type event.
I guess it is different from community to community, Saturday around 6 it is packed. Ibut I agree about shopping in the late evenings.
Hello,
Sunday, closed = family day ;)
The best thing about Germany is the health insurance!
There are no high additional costs for you.
You'll break your leg! = No matter, the doctor costs nothing.
You have an operation! Never mind, 10€ per day in the hospital vs. XXXX $ in the US.
It's super cool
Grüße aus Thüringen. :)
Thanks for the comment. I can't disagree with you. I will actually talk about that in a later video. Health insurance is such a hot topic in the US; if I draw more Americans in to the idea, then I will drop the hot topic stuff on them.
@@JustinGermany Thank you for the Video
Nice. Looking forward to the next one...😉
I will try to drop one in the next couple of days. Thanks for watching
Also in Germany you should tip, especially if you liked the service. Most aren't paid a "normal wage" but the minimum wage, so only 12.50€. Not only in Restaurants btw.
Dont worry, my family and I always tip at least 2 euro or more when we can. The bigger the group, the more of course. And of course we are very loyal to restaurants we love. The difference is in America it is expected whether the service is good or not.
@@JustinGermany. Facts, They expect a tip in the United States for doing nothing.
I'm telling you. At isn't small tip. The last time I was there, they wanted 20 bucks and i even had to ask his colleague for a refill and for silverware. I should have given that tip straight to his colleague and just walked out.
Welcome and have fun.
If you want to know some thing about the schools or the labour law, I made a few videos on some basics.
Cool will check out the labour law. I actually work in a school. Maybe I can compare my experiences with what your videos.
@@JustinGermany so you have to tell me after Saturday if my videos about the schools are correct so far. This time I will have a look on secondary schools in Germany, what is a bit more complex than the elementary school.
we have a few snakes in Germany This one here you have visit a Doc
Art: Kreuzotter
ohne Rang: Toxicofera
Unterordnung: Schlangen (Serpentes)
Familie: Vipern (Viperidae)
Unterfamilie: Echte Vipern (Viperinae)
Gattung: Echte Ottern (Vipera)
We have 7 Snakes in Germany
1 Die Ringelnatter
2 Die Barren-Ringelnatter
3 Die Kreuzotter
4 Die Würfelnatter
5 Die Äskulapnatter
6 Die Glattnatter oder Schlingnatter
7 Die Aspisviper
No Snakes 😉
😂 Thanks for the info and for correcting me. The interesting question I have is, have you or anyone you know seen a snake outside of thr zoo? I know I haven't, nor has anyone I have ever met. Where I am from, I saw a snake at least once a week. On one occasion I counted 20!
Thanks for the information, I love learning. The main point I was trying to make though was how safe it is for my kids to go walking in the forests and I don't have to worry about having a gun or knife with me.
@@JustinGermany yes every day when i visiting a lake here in the north of Germany i c Ringelnattern they are aquatic snakes and harmless and i also meet a few of the Kreuzotter and take care of it and yourself
@@JustinGermany and trust me if u dont c them they see you :) and yes its saaver in germany when u go fishing u dont have to check for gators lol oh wait ok gator gars are nice fish to catch :P
Interesting. I love nature. I will have to take a trip up there one day to check it out for myself. This just proves I have a lot more of Germany to see
You are right alligator gars put up the best fight when fishing and taste pretty good, but you are also right about the other gators... my uncle was fishing when he was about 20. He stuck his hands in the water to untangle his fishing line and a snake bit his finger. Of course his fishing trip was over, and he had to immediately get to the hospital.
we do have fire ants and the red forest ant, you dont want to cross the path with them!
I didnt know that, those types must not be in my neck of the woods, for my wife, first contact was when she was in Arkansas.
I assume that you live in North Rhine-Westphalia (you mentioned the proximity to Holland). Your chance of finding a restaurant that serves American cuisine that is worthy of the name is better in regions where large numbers of American troops were previously stationed or where occupation zones were after the war. And those are the east of Baden-Würtemberg, Hesse and Bavaria. When I was younger, I had a pub 6 km away where the kitchen crew came from the southern states. Their Creole nights were legendary and their chilli was second to none and cheap! A simple chilli with toast cost 4 DM back then and with cheese, 4.50 DM. You were well full afterwards... But unfortunately they are no longer available today. But what comes to mind straight away is the “Red Barn” in Darnstadt. They're Texans and they make absolutely great burgers!
I have never had a post to bring my emotions up , down and back up again. I had always thought about the places on the military bases and my lack of access, but I never considered that there would be places outside the base that would have some delicious food. Reading about the creole meals made my mouth instantly water 🤤. Time for a roadtrip to Darnstadt though.
@@JustinGermany I hope, you got me right. The Schinderhannes, named after a famous German robber captain (played by Curd Jürgens in a movie, perhaps which you could know as Bloomfeld, from early James Bond movies) and the Creol food, did not longer exist. In Darmstadt, those are Texan guys. You may check, if there is an online menue card, of the Red Barn...
Oh yea, I understood you perfectly. 😀 . Will have to try out the burger joint for sure
Public transport is great. The kitchen thing means you get a kitchen you want
That's absolutely true. You get to 100% make the place your own. That's a great way to think about it.
Good evening! . I am pooped 7am start at Mile End today!
"My first impressions of germany" after living here for nine years ? 😂
I was reflecting back to my first time being in Germany
yes , i knew thats what you meant .
i just thought it humorous in a pleasant way .
Hahaha I knew you knew, but I still had to make a comment. 🤣
Hi Justin, welcome to Germany! As always it's interesting to see and hear the insights of people who come over here. You can learn so many things about your home country that you fail to notice or take for granted. I'm looking forward to watching more of your content.
And, of course, you've got a new subscriber, sir😁💛!
Hey thanks for the subscription and comment. You really hit the nail on the head. I love the comments that I have been receiving especially yours because it does helps me go deeper in topics that I probably would otherwise scrape the surface. when my experiences are different from others, we can then share them. These are my truths based on experiences, and not too much research. There are definitely lots of reasons to fall in love with this country. Just to let you know, I will make jokes about Germany, but it's all in good faith, because I truly do love it here.
@@JustinGermany Before we get to know each other in the time to come I'd like to make one fundamental statement upfront: You _live_ here. So, you have _every_ _right_ to say what's on your mind. When you want to discuss anything you don't like don't be afraid to do so. Yes, there will be idiots who'll say some things to the likes of "if you don't like it here...blablabla", you get my drift. Don't ever let that discourage you in any way!
Of course, it's your life and your experiences. Maybe we'll argue at times but everyone's entitled to their own opinions, aren't they? If arguing helps us both to better understand the other's point of view so be it. It even may lead to change one of our minds about a certain topic or gives an incentive to think deeper. As long as it's repectful on both parts I can see nothing wrong with that.
AND most certainly don't be afraid to make jokes about us or fun of us! We must seem strange in some things we do and I'm sure you already came across some quirky behaviors. I am known as being a funny, sometimes sarcastic person myself. So, expect to get as good as you give...😁💛💛
Wise words stated. I never saw myself as a funny person, but every now and then I can let the jokes fly. You are right though, I have seen some strange things. Some though, I have come to embrace 😀
@@JustinGermany I'm taking a nerdy leap on you here: resistance is futile - you will be assimilated..😁💛
Welcome to Germany an I wish you the best
Thanks for the comment. I will do my best to take advantage of the opportunities that Germany is providing to me.
@@JustinGermany As well you should...
Well! What does dangerous animals mean? There are wolves in the woods in Germany and falling into a bunch of forest ants is not exactly pleasant either. Or encountering an angry wild boar in the woods might not end well either. There are also snakes, but they are not so poisonous, so they are harmless to healthy people. As a rule, however, all animals avoid people here.
There is one thing you still have to learn. As a citizen living in Germany, it is difficult to constantly complain about public transport. This is tradition !! Just like honking your horn immediately at a traffic light when the light is green, the car in front should not start driving within 0.5 seconds of green. 😄
I think the tipping in the USA is terrible. Here, the employees usually earn enough to get by without a tip, so no one is angry if you don't tip. But of course the waitress is happy when you tip. It's just not a must. My two favorite restaurants (Greek and Italian restaurant) would not even take a tip from me as a regular customer. They would take that as an insult, Since you are often a guest there. On the contrary, you get a lot extra. Certain spirits after a meal or a special delicacy to try, etc.
One thing is also important ! If you want to live in Germany for a long time, you should learn german and not rely on the fact that the Germans speak English with you. Many Germans can speak English, but in order to really communicate with the baker or the neighbor or to make friends or even at work, it is important to be able to german. You don't have to be able to do it perfectly, but so well that you intrigue yourself into the cultural area. Watching German television helps !!
Thanks for your comments, I will try to respond to everything.
I guess I didnt research well enough. I didnt know wolves still existed in Germany. I have yet to hear a howl or see one outside of a zoo. I have yet to see any tracks either. In Arkansas, I usually can identify tracks of different animals and sometimes hear the howls late at night, but of course I am really deep in the country most of time in Arkansas compared to Germany.
Yea I notice Germans enjoy complaining at times. Even in the supermarkets, I tell my wife it is line everyone has road rage, but of course people might say something, but that is as far as it goes. If I want to pile on, talking about the weather could be added to the list 🙂.
As far as the tipping. I prefer how it is here. I have mu favorite restaurants and you can tell the staff is genuinely happy to see the stamm customers. Most restaurants here really know how to keep customers happy and coming back for sure.
As far as speaking German, you are right, I encourage everyone to learn as fast as possible, but dont be afraid if you struggle in the beginning. I recently passed my B2 exam. I prefer to listen to hörspiele : Die Drei ??? Kids is my favorite. This is actually probably my favorite thing to do and something I wish America would have done. We have hörbücher in america, but I the attention to detail in horspiele is amazing.
@@JustinGermany It is estimated that there are 105 to 110 wolf packs in Germany, plus some loners or wolf pairs. That's the way it's intended. Wolves contribute to the ecological balance in forests as well as grasslands. Beavers or birds of prey from eagles to falcons are also under strict protection. A friend of mine is a forester and once showed me tracks of wolves here in the woods where I live. They are very shy animals that are rarely seen and appreciated by foresters because they do their jobs. Hunts for sick deer or roe deer, etc.
After all, there are over 11 million hectares of forest in Germany. People have never been attacked.
Do you have any more advices to this adult man of what He should do or not ?
@@achimschroter8046 Advice is always good, although this was only meant in general. One thing should be clear. If you want to live in Spain, you should be able to speak Spanish halfway. It may be that you mean that speaking German in other countries is enough to merge into their culture. But with German (as an example) you will always remain a foreigner in Spain and will not be able to have a special conversation with the baker next door 😂
@@westfale520 das ist ja wohl selbstredend
Well, talk with a youtuber called Hayley. That's been living in germany for the last 5 years and on her way to become a german citizen.
She just did a about face and move back to america. She said germany was blocking her to making a good living wage in germany.
That's interesting. I would love to hear her reasoning. Without knowing the details, I do think becoming an entrepreneur in America is easier. Easier doesn't always mean better though. I will have to watch her videos. Thanks for the tip
@@JustinGermany so, you don't think Elon Musk and him building a mega car factory in germany and employing 10,000 germans is a good thing?. How many is she employing in germany?.
So, you look back at her past videos and you will see. She gave the reason she was being blocked from going to school in germany and not getting a good paying job in germany on top of that. It was her choice to go back to america. So, her german boyfriend in the past. Put in a application to become a american citizen,but was turned down by the american government.
So I watched her video, what is interesting is that I know exactly what she is talking about. I went through similar experiences. I, however, met some really cool and helpful people along the way that helped me understand and make it through to the other side. I am even considering making a video based off of hers to reflect on what helped me, because I am sure that there are a lot of people stuck in that position.
I'm from the Hannover area and there currently is a "problem" with wild wolves, killing lots of sheeps, and even cows, horses and ponies. But at least until now, actual sightings of wolves are really rare and they usually do not come in contact with people. However, there is dangerous wildlife in Germany, but (at least currently) the greatest danger is getting into a car accident because of wildlife crossing the roads.
Yea, I realize that I was completely wrong about the information I gave. I apologize.
In NRW though, I have yet to see anything. So I was speaking the truth from my perspective.
Animals on the road I'd also a problem in Arkansas, in one night there were about 30 deer that ran across the road. I also almost hit a cow standing in the middle of the road on a foggy night.
I really appreciate the comment.