On behalf of all Germans: I would gladly like to announce that we really, really appreciate your videos and the love you show for our country and at this point I think that you should have all right to officially call yourself German and European. What you've done this past year is, without a doubt, a prime example of how to successfully integrate yourself into another culture. I mean that with all sincerity, well done.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife Do not wait to travel until you got retired, that is a mistake! You never know if you still have the health with 60 or 70 for a journey to South Africa (or if you still WANT to sit in a plane for 15 hours to Vietnam in this age)...
As Ukrainian living in Germany I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your help and support to Ukraine 🇺🇦 🇺🇸It is so kind of you to take in a family of FOUR!!! People you have never met before, people who are probably traumatised and don’t always speak your language. You guys are amazing for helping 💛💙 Thank you!!! Слава Україні!
I moved from Los Angeles to Germany and lived in the country for ten years.This is a very accurate depiction of the country.Those years were by far the best years of my life.
I'm 54 and my wife and I are VERY worried about our future, gas and food prices rising daily. We have had our savings dwindle with the cost of living into the stratosphere, and we are finding it impossible to replace them. We can get by, but can't seem to get ahead. My condolences to anyone retiring in this crisis, 30 years nonstop just for a crooked system to take all you worked for.
I feel your pain mate, as a fellow retiree, I’d suggest you look into passive index fund investing and learn some more. For me, I had my share of ups and downs when I first started looking for a consistent passive income so I hired an expert advisor for aid, and following her advice, I poured $30k in value stocks and digital assets, Up to 200k so far and pretty sure I'm ready for whatever comes.
Its only better here cause we keep pointing out thigs that dont quite work and we try to change them. Apreciation is good but fighting for change is just as important
my friend don't believe a bit of it , I'm a German American , living in the greatest country in the world ,be proud of it , Germany's DARK Side us cruel , does folks Rich liberals who got our country in the place where we at right now
@@ramonawestberry4751 you are really enjoying spamming our videos with your negative comments. We are TH-camrs who actually read and delete unkind comments, so be careful what you write. And don’t you even dare bring up their dark past and use it against them. Germany has done a phenomenal job in completely turning their country around since WWII. They are a shrinking example of how to take something horrible and turn it into something very good. America also has a very dark past and they have NOT owned up to their mistakes or fully corrected them yet.
@@ramonawestberry4751 I don't get your comment. You think they tell lies? And you know it, because you are German American? But the person commenting is german. This person knows better. :D Oh, and no problem to talk about WWII here in Germany. There are documentarys about it 24/7 and we learn about it on school for years. So trying to use this against Germans wont work here, maybe kn the US or wherever you are from. We know, that things were cruel back then. And still there are too many nazis, in Germany, in the USA and all over the world.. german or not.
What a heartwarming video. As a German, I am happy that you can fulfill your dreams here in our indeed beautiful and safe country. It's an honor to have you here! 💜
It's so great to have you with us here in Germany! Your list might be an eye opener for some Germans as well, as we sometimes tend to be more on the pessimistic and dissatisfied side of live. Hopefully, Putin will not ruin, what we built up in Europe.
@UCwOrK8lw5TgJOEtRQ9WE7bg are you kidding? If yes this is not funny, if no you don‘t see what Putin is doing to Ukraine, Russia and the rest of the free world - or you are just a Russian troll. I don‘t understand how you came to this wonderful and heartwarming videos over here?
@@bNeagle I apologise for hurting your feelings, it was Sascha who made this political. I'm a peace-loving pensioner who loves wonderful and heartwarming videos, but I recommend - gonzalo lira - Patrick Lancaster - Russell Bentley - george Galloway - max blumenthal - the jimmy dore show
I am also very happy for the German education system and the flexibility. After my realschule I didn't want to continue with Gymnasium and I only knew that I wanted to do sth with chemistry. That's why I did a vocational training (Ausbildung) as a chemical lab technician. Then I found a solid job with good money. However, in that time getting more mature, I figured out that I would be more happy with higher education. I quit my job, went to Gymnasium to get my university entrance certificate and now I have a PhD in chemistry. My sister had a similar career path. She started a Ausildung as a bank clerk. In her second year she figured out she didn't like it that much but finished anyway and afterwards she went to university to study construction management. So she ended up in a totally different occupational field. But her previous vocational training is still a solid skill which is a big bonus in job applications and interviews. Unfortunaltely, in the last decade the vocational training in Germany lost a little bit of reputation, more and more students try to enter universities and in some fields there is a lack of candidates for open positions (Ausbildungsplätze). Honestly, I think a Ausbildung is an equally good career path, considering you are still able to move up in the career ladder, especially in fields where skills matter and not just theory. Secondly, some people need more time to get more mature and know what they want. An Ausbildung is a perfect way to get first hands-on experience and is more practical from the beginning. Thirdly, it feels increadibly more comfortable to aim for higher education, but always know that - even if you fail or quit university - you can fall back on your previous qualification (Ausbildungsabschluss) and still find a job and be able to make a living. I'm sure your kids will make the right choice and be happy no matter if Ausbildung or Hochschule. And if they are not happy anymore, a new door and career opportunity will open. All the best!
All of this, and also Ausbildungen afford a HUGE advantage to young people that due to whatever circumstances need to support themselves financially. Sure, it’s usually not a huge amount of money, but you can definitely stay afloat, and get education at the same time earning your own money (not to dump on bafög, but to a lot of people it does feel different to get wages instead of social credit). If you get kicked out at home or just want to leave and be independent or want to train in a job that isn’t available anywhere, that money can tide you over, especially if your family can’t help you out financially. That’s a HUGE difference to having to go into major debt to get a college degree in whatever just because society deems it necessary
Yes, agree. I did it quite similar... . except to get a PhD. Congratulation! 😊 Dipl.-Ing. TU was enough for me. 😊 An apprenticeship previously to Uni was always an advantage. To get the "Allgemeine Hochschulreife" after the apprenticeship was a tough task. Mentally, I mean. You are a skilled person... and have to become a pupil again... weird! 😢
2 ปีที่แล้ว +43
This video is like a love letter to Germany.... Thank you.... And thank you for giving shelter to a family from Ukraine. That will be another experience for you and your children that helps to understand the world and another culture. Unfortunately, the circumstances are not more joyful.
I as a kraut who is used to the german "complaining about everything, but on a high level" culture feel truely honored for the reasons you have choosen germany for your future live. You did cut off your local roots, leaved your US familiy and friends, and moved to germany to give your kids a better start for their live? Honor to you! Your family is an enrichement for germany and europe!
What an awesome start to this beautiful Sunday, with one of your videos! Great to watch it and especially with all the details, simply perfect 👍🏻!!! And by the way I would like to congratulate you for the courage to welcome a Ukrainian family in your life in this really dark time for them. Much, Much respect for That 👏🏻👏🏻you are a true rolemodel, ihr seid ein wahres Vorbild !! Beste Grüße aus Köln 🤙🏻🤙🏻😃😃
After I arrived in Austria 40+ years ago, and began to learn German and we started planning a family, I realized that it was a better idea to stay here than to move back (NYC area) . An uncle of DH said to me: "with your qualifications, and when you learn even more German, you have a better chance in this little pond as a medium fish, than as a little fish in a huge pond over there". "Besides," he continued: "here you have a great big family that has your best interests at heart all nearby; over there, as you tell me, they are spread all over the country." I was convinced.😄
what you've done not just for yourselves but for your children is invaluable they will be completely different little humans because of it, its a great way to live and to have your mind shaped
A great video! I couldn‘t agree with you more. I have never regretted my choice to move to Germany and become a German citizen (many in my family and circle of friends back in the US still don‘t understand how I could have given up that „precious“ citizenship). The system here is not perfect but when you compare it to the US, it is much fairer and just more „human“, if that makes sense … it is a system built for your regular jo schmo and not for the privileged. Yes, there are inequalities built into the German system but they are a far cry from those in the US. The US, as far as I can tell, is just an exploitative system. It will take a lot to change it and I fear it will get worse before it gets better. Your points about the dual educational system were right on the money. Had I grown up in Germany, I would have been a carpenter instead of majoring in poli sci and then trying to figure out how to make a career out of that (had no interest in law, which is the usual next step). There should be no shame in choosing any career path forward, regardless. We americans like to sing praises about our „classless“ social system but that is just not true. If you ask me, a plumber or a baker or a carpenter has MORE job security than someone with a poli sci degree in some job at some investment bank (speaking from experience here). Think about it. You ARE basically your skillset and can take those skills wherever you go. With a Meisterbrief, you can set up shop anywhere and train the next generation. And, how great is it that you can test things out here? If you find you don‘t like doing the work of a carpenter, you can switch gears, learn - and try out - some other trade. OK, at some point you do have to choose ;-) but there is tremendous flexibility built into the system. I believe that is something that the Germans have difficulty seeing but those of us coming from the outside can appreciate it. The work life balance - and consume-terror-free Sundays - are also so key. As you mentioned, there is this zero-sum competitive game in the US … actively stoked by (some) employers. It exists here, too, but it isn‘t prevalent in society. It is OK to take vacation. It is OK to take Mutterschutz. It is almost like it is OK to be replaceable only because no firm should be so dependent on any one employee. I could go on and on singing the praises of Germany and of your video. Isn‘t it nice that a place like Germany exists and welcomed us in? ❤️
Stone...the USA liberated Nazi germany in 1945 so you can live there in peace now...42000K americans lost they're life ....to this day germans are protected by the USA ! did that fact ever entered your mind !
Reverse story on my end I came 32 years to United States became a US citizen never look back to Germany there are many stories to tell about this country
Sadly, many many parents now think that Gymnasium at 10 is the only way. And if you look at the media (TV, books)...notice how all the child and teen characters are in a Gymnasium. A Real or Gesamtschule doesn't seem to exist, Haupt or Mittelschule only if you want a certain kind of character (if you know what I mean). I'm 100% not a fan of the school system and think they sort to soon. Especially in Bavaria it's sad what 4th graders go through for the selection process. I've seen some break down because so and so said, if you end up in a Realschule (or god forbid a Mittelschule) you will be a cleaning lady. That being said...I could never imagine giving up my German citizenship to become American like Ramona. I know that I'd lose too much.
The more I watch these videos and the more i read such comments - the more I think what a wonderful country I´m living in as a german. Sometimes we forget this and off course we are far away from perfect ...
You highlight some excellent reasons to move to Germany. Thank you for another informative and well-developed video. I have lived in Germany for almost four years and could not imagine going back to the US. The Healthcare system alone is a big issue for me since I suffer from Hashimoto's Disease. We live in the Upper Harz in a small village. Life here in Germany is definitely better.
Yes isn’t the healthcare so much better here? And all of the propaganda that goes on in the US about “socialized medicine” just makes my eyes roll. They have no idea what they’re talking about!
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife Well, if only the US would listen to one of their own great writers: “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.” ― Mark Twain
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife 'socialism' and 'communism' are used interchangeably by Americans who don't understand the concepts of public healthcare and free education. I've read many comments on cnn and other US media in which people called those 'government hand outs' not understanding that those things are supported by taxpayers' money. I think many conservative Americans believe in the principle of working yourself up without any financial help. That's why they consider everybody who doesn't succeed in that a loser.
It's such a pleasure to follow your channel. This time I wanted to shout out loud to all those grumpy, discontented fellow Germans who are complaining permanently about their life here. From time to time it is necessary to step back and have a look from a different perspective to appreciate what we have. Thank you so much.
That is so awesome to know that you intended this to be a permanent move! At first I had assumed it was only temporary for a few years for work and or professional reasons. Thank you for giving Germany such a high rating and all the good reasons to live there! You are such a lovely family!! ❤❤
We Germans might complain about everything and forget the good things we have. Thanks to your reminder by telling how bad things can be in other countries. BTW: if you love novels set in the Alps, I would recommend "Heidi" by Johanna Spyri, one of the well-known children book in the world, and the film adaption by Alain Gsporner, pubilshed in 2015.
I have great respect that you gave a Ukrainian refugee family a safe haven! These people need protection and support now at a time when everything they had has been lost to Russian aggression.👍
Everything you say brings on nostalgia for me. Back in the a 1960s and 70s we lived in Germany for over sixteen years but had to leave because German laws wouldn’t give long term visas. We came to the U.S. That changed after we left. Now , as old people, I suspect they wouldn’t want us. But we made great friends there and do not miss a chance to visit them whenever we can.
It's simply amazing what you've been doing and achieving since you came here. I admire your energy and good spirits and openmindedness. And your last example of international solidarity brings a tear to my eyes. I believe we can be proud to have you here among us. All the best to you all!
Hi my friends from abroad 🙋♂! Your todays video was the biggest DECLARATION OF LOVE to Europe and especially to Germany, I`ve ever heard from you. I`m glad to hear , how confident and safe you feel, living in our marvellous country. I hope, this will go on, as long as you will stay with us 👍👍👍 !
Been watching your channel for a while now , I'm not German I'm Scottish but love Germany and where you are in Bavaria is just beautiful. It's been lovley watching you adjust to your new home and seeing how well you are all getting on .
Ah very cool! I have a lot of Scottish heritage so I just LOVE Scotland! I have traveled there twice and I just feel like I'm coming home when I go there.
As an American woman who moved to Germany from California when she was 38 because her partner was/is German, I can only celebrate your understanding of the virtues of living in a confusing and challenging environment because of your comprehensive understanding of the ultimate health this radical change in your adult experiences would insure the best for your children. And, of course, ultimately the best for the two of you. I was 38 then. I am 73 now. I was never blessed with children, but I can assure you, you have made the very best possible beginnings for your children’s lives.
I'm from the uk and totally agree, it's an unforgivable crime to skip the queue.... Unless they open a new till, then it's every man woman and child for themselves! The rationale being, there is no queue to skip yet, its like a free chance to get to the front guilt free. Have you noticed the ripples and frantic calculation that happen when they get even a whisper that the extra till might open? Everyone starts to slowly edge closer to get in the best position when they shout "next". 🤣🤣🤣
What a great video! It really leaves me almost a bit teary about all those beautiful things you mentioned about my homecountry that I just take for granted.... Good reason to think about it every now and then.... I can understand all your mentioned points very well. It is so nice to hear strangers speaking so well of Germany because sometimes it seems that everyone ist just complaining on and on.... You give us the reasons why we should be much more thankful! I love your videos and hope you will go on showing many more - thanks a lot!
I find it so interesting that for a lot of us in my generation (I was born in the 90s) moving to the US was kind of something one aspired to or at least daydreamed about at 14-16. However, now that I am in my mid-20s I already see how I only can imagine working or living in the US for some years but certainly would want to be back in Europe by the time I think about having a family at the latest. Also fun fact, when you were talking about how you don't need another car for some years as a family, I was thinking about how your kids, even with a driver's licence might not have the need for their own car. Neither my brother nor I nor any of our peers has their own car although we are in our twenties already, we all live in cities and as university students there is just no need for it. Only my cousin who lives more in the Bavarian countryside has a car, but again he really has a need for it.
Yes! I loved the idea of the US too, when I was a child/ teen. I was born in the early 80s. But now? I am nearly scared to go there even for a visit. About the drivers licence: I was around 30 when I got mine. I never needed it before. I grew up in a small town, did my apprenticeship on the outskirts of a slightly bigger town and then worked for some time in Hamburg. You definately do not need a car there. I would say it is even easier without a car….
Growing up in the countryside of mountainous Bavaria, it was definitly not common to geht a car with legal age ... Some got a scooter/motorbike(< 50 km/h) with 16, but I was thaught to plan stuff, look up bus schedules, ride my bike, ask in advance ect. I walked many kilometers home at 3 in the morning 😅
lol, bin in den 60er geboren, war für eine kurze Zeit in den USA und bin froh in Deutschland oder Europa zu leben.... die USA können mir gestohlen bleiben! ich war sogar schon in Neuseeland, hätte dort Arbeiten können, für 60€ die Stunde....aber ich kann nicht auf die andere Seite des Planeten ziehen, weil ich 1-3 mal im Jahr nach Frankreich fahre, die Alpen mit dem Motorrad durchquere etc! und ich brauche meinen Wald vor der Tür...
A couple of points: 1. I love what Kevin is wearing, it light enough to wear in the house, yet warm enough to check the mailbox or bring out the trash. 2. Regarding the vocational training there are only two downsides in my mind. The first is the lack of recognition in other (especially non-EU) countries and second the increase in demand in some jobs to have a college degree. I heard a couple of people in the US saying they make a decent living in the HVAC sector without going to college and earning more than a lot of college graduates (who in addition have to pay back their student loans) so maybe there is a trend going towards good jobs without needing a college education. A couple of years some states had programs on a trial basis like the German vocational training system (Senator Bernie Sanders seemed to be a huge supporter) but I don't know if they are still active. 3. Regarding the opportunities for mothers through paid maternity leave, a huge factor is also that in Germany a lot of people stay in the same company for a long time so it is in the companies own interest to provide it, especially since it is financially supported by the government. So, in short, Ella can basically become a barbarian-princess-lumberjack (Well, in the wides sense. Or, just for Kevin: She can easily multiclass here!) with children if she wants it. 4. I agree with the advantage of the geographical location of Germany, especially for people who love to travel or are open to work or study in other countries (and still have the opportunity to visit family in Germany on the weekends including an overnight stay). 5. I always wonder why I hear some Americans say that you have to wait long for a doctors appointment (pre-pandemic) in societies with socialized healthcare systems, that usually is only the case for non-emergencies that still involve a specialist and even then there is a hotline where you can get an appointment in 4-5 weeks maximum, you just have to get a "Überweisung" from your "Hausarzt" with a special code on it. The downside for this is just that you can't choose your doctor and that a lot of Germans do not know about it. 6. There a still a lot of things that Germans complain about, but most are just inconveniences that you can plan ahead for, like weather not ideal or public transportation being late/off-schedule (but still more punctual than most other countries). For example when I was at University we had to pay the "Semesterbeitrag" and I struggled with it while people from the US would have laughed it off for being only 500 Euro. Keep doing what you are doing, I really enjoy your videos from the perspective of people with (4) children (and a cat and a hamster), which is different to the others I watch (Where I occasionally see Sara in the comments, lol).
A lot of Germans always complaining about their life here in Germany and it feels so good to get a look from the outside and listen to you telling how good life here is if you compare it to a lot of other places. We can make Germany a better place for sure, but it's not as bad as a lot of Germans think it is. Thank you!
Hi Sarah, hi Kevin. It is good to here the things we have and enjoy while living in Germany. You should always be aware of how good we have it here! I like it every time when you post a new video. Always an honour to have you here in Germany 🙂
It's quite interesting to hear about these cultural differences from "foreigners". For me as a native German things felt quite gloomy here over the past few years. You changed my perspective about that. Thanks 🙂
I guess that’s true for most of us. We can easily forget all of the great things about our own countries. But yeah, Germany and many other EU countries are really fantastic places to live!
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife Maybe. I loved visiting the USA for 3 weeks in 2001. But of course this was just a short glimpse. And traveling around in a Bus with a complete german tourist group is naturally not accurate to get to know the culture😅.
For me the golden standard for integration is when people succeed and love to integrate. Not trying to build a copy of where they come from. You’re proud of a thing of the country you came from? And teach us the these aspects. We love it! And we are thrilled if you include us in your celebrations.
The Thing with kids independance is really true. I travelled through Berlin alone at the age of 10. Obviously not at night, but beeing able to just hop on a train, and visit your friend in a different suburb, was a nice perk during my childhood.
Thank you so much for this video! There is one thing you forgot to mention: We Germans are also pretty good at complaining about things that do NOT work. 😉 Your video was perfect to reflect a little. Even if we keep on complaining about our health care system (for example) it is still better than in many other countries. I also want to say (even though I did write this before in another comment) that you are such a wonderful family with open hearts and open minds. Everyone can be thankful to be inspired by you. 🤗 Thank you, thank you, thank you! 🙂
Okay, I am German and I confess: I sometimes complain about our heath care system. Not because I am not able to see the advantages compared to lots of other countries, but because I am old enough (60) to have experienced the system while it was way more better than it is today! My complaints root in "realizing what we once had and have now". But that means by no way that I am not aware how special and great the system still works nowadays. And I am absolutely glad we have it, though our population grows older and by that gains permanently in health vulnerability. Which causes increasing costs.
My husband is from a military family and was raised in France/Germany as a child in the late 70s. He always talks about how safe and family oriented Germany was. He graduated high school in Bitburg Germany. We both lived in UK for a number of years and agree that for a family, the U.S. school issues contribute to families looking for safe alternatives, which include overseas, home schooling, etc. It’s a privilege, but an option that people are taking.
I always enjoy your videos and I'm especially glad that you found a place that fits the way you want to live. As a German I agree that there are always things that can be improved but we're complaining at a completely different level compared to many other countries. Btw if your children choose to study at university, they'll be recognised as part of Kevin's health insurance until they have completed their degree or turned 27 (whichever comes first)
That's not true at all. Children can be part of the public health insurance of one of the parents (the one with the higher salary) when they don't have an income of their own. Kids in an apprenticeship have the same terms and conditions as regular employees. Students (at a university, Fachhochschule etc.) have to pay for their insurance which is about 100-120 E per month for public hi (depending on the provider and whether they are up to 22 or 23 and older because of care insurance "Pflegeversicherung"). They can get cheaper pricate insurance but may not be able to get back to the public system. But, as long as the kids are in some kind of educational program, you may receive Kindergeld up to their 27th birthday.
@@grandmak. My son is at university and he had to insure himself and pays shy of 700 Euros per semester. But I admit that he has had an income of his own (prior to his start at university) since his father passed away and he inherited rental flats. That may play a role in this.
I have an interview for a PhD program in Berlin on Thursday. It's mathematically a bit more advanced than my comfort zone, but it would be a dream come true if I get it. I grew up near and live in Chicago, and one of our neighborhoods has a homicide rate of ~200 (compared to ~5 in the US and ~1 in Germany), and I really want to get out of here, especially because I don't see anything changing. I spent time in Paris and Oxford, and I fell in love with Europe, its people and their joie de vivre, and the PUBLIC TRANSIT (and everything else you pointed out that were spot on). Hope to join the US immigrant group in Germany (or some neighboring country) soon!!!
PRIME WEST INVESTMENT, a pioneer of commisssion free investing, gives you access to investing and more ways to make your money work harder for you. Whether you're new to investing or a seasoned pro, it's time to partner with a company that believes you could and should be getting more from your money.
I didn't get it, but I ended up getting something else in Paris and so moved at the end of last year! I should rewatch these videos about settling into a new country 😬
@@mathieumaticien that's great news. Lived near Paris for almost 10y. That city has so much to offer, that maybe I saw not even half of it, of course incl. museums and the like. So I wish you all the best especially with the language. Quite a challenge ;o))
@@mathieumaticien I live in Germany now, so I know a lot about the pro and cons of both! The comparison is really interesting. But you are not so far off so you can make the experience yourself.
You have recognized this very well. One of the few unregulated situations in Germany is when another checkout opens in a grocery store. There, everyone wants to be the first.
Really good idea to not wait for retirement to experience the things you want! My inlaws had so many plans and things they wanted to do once they were both retired. Well, he's already been unable to work due to an accident for quite a while and officially retired now for two years. She retired febuary of last year. And well, he has really early onset dementia and basically all those dreams and plans they had talked about have gone down the drain. So, long story short, always better, if you can, to experience and live life to the fullest here and now. You never know what the future holds...
You guys are just a rolemodel for how to integrated successfully. You are Proud to be who you are nur you also Accept the German ways. Taking a family from Ukraine in to your home and share it with this family is just heartwarminng and truly humanitarian. This family will never forget who Lent a helping hand in times of need. And in love the fact that nearly the complete world increases what Putin has to pay for starting this war. I truly love and Respekt your family for just being you and authentic. Thank you very much.
I'm listening to your videos again (nebenbei). - 12:55 "Except in a grocery store... when a second line opens up": In the supermarket, I always keep my eyes open when the queue is getting long. (Aldi has done a lot to be customer-friendly in recent years.) A newly opened checkout is a good opportunity to stay fit and practice your responsiveness. Nevertheless, I would always let an older person go first.
Just want to say, love your videos! The thing about standing in line made me smile. Yes, there is definitely some national psychology lurking under the surface here. I am German, but I spent a year studying in the UK, and that's where I learned what queueing can be: An art form, a meditation, a way of life, a philosophy. People queue even before the thing they queue for is even here (like the bus). It almost looks like queueing is a passtime. As if, when you want to spend quality time with the family, you go queueing. The queue is the natural state of existence of a Brit. If you drop a bunch of British people from a plane with parachutes in the middle of the desert, they will form a queue once they've hit the ground. It feIt relaxing, but also slightly unnerving when my brain kept telling me that I didn't actually have to queue. Like this one time: I needed cash, and there was a long line at the ATM outside the bank. I figured there might be another ATM inside the bank, so I went inside and there was absolutely nobody there. I got my cash and left the Brits to their queueing. Even before I got back home to Germany, at the check-in line for my flight to Berlin, I felt the difference. The thinly veiled aggression in a line full of Germans. You see, we absolutely, positively HATE standing in line. When we go somewhere to get served we expect to get served RIGHT AWAY. It's a matter of pride and self-esteem. You want to get the special deal on your flatscreen and the super sale for your groceries, not because you can't afford full price, but because you want to beat all the others. You don't want to be a loser. Why do we stand in line so orderly then? Because there is another part of us: We don't want to be the guy who loses it, who can't follow rules or behave properly. You want to be on the RIGHT side of the rules, and damn you if you don't come out of a situation being RIGHT. Blood feuds begin when someone doesn't properly separate their own shopping from yours on the conveyor belt using a WARENTRENNER. So there is the inner rule-following Vulcan who - barely - oppresses the savage Klingon inside you who just wants to bat'leth all those p'takhs around you. So you stand in line, but not just any line, oh no. You watch the lines and you choose carefully, ever so carefully which one is the best line. Being able to gauge which line will move fastest validates you as a person. If you end up in the slowest line, you walk home in shame. I can't shake it, even when I have time on my hands, there is compulsion to check if the line next to me might move faster. Recently they introduced single lines in some places, where they call the next person to a free desk. It's kind of undignified. A lion wants to hunt, you don't spoon-feed him mashed carrots. So you stand in line at the store, and there are some free cash registers, and you feel it. Deep down inside you know it's coming. People are restless. Someone calls out "Can you please open another line?". One of the cashiers grabs a telephone. At this moment there is absolute silence. Everyone quietly calculates various trajectories to the free check-outs, accounting for evasive moves, kinetc action and the speed and strength of your opponents. Then you hear steps. An extra cashier is walking up from the back of the store. Where are they going? Which line will it be? Once he or she has entered a particular aisle, the crowd begins to stir. The Vulcan and The Klingon are now struggling. "Go You Fool!" shouts the Klingon. "The definition of the situation has not changed yet", reasons the Vulcan. But once the cashier says "You can come over to register 3 now", the gloves are OFF, baby! All rules are suspended and the inner Vulcan is OFF YOUR BACK! That applies until a new order is established. You see, the relative peace of the queue is tenuous as it is, the fragile balance of aggression and collective controlling authority. But the instinct of envy and aggression is always there and it is very much accepted as a driving force in our lives. The last famine is only two, maybe three generations away. Where the British have the stiff upper lipp, we have the shared conviction that, when push comes to shove, you better push and shove. So the mother of fights ensues as people rush forward to be at the tip of a new line, a new frontier, a second chance, leaving behind the shackles of your old life, the shame of standing at the back of the line. Winners will become losers and losers will be winners in the new order that rapidly unfolds at cash register 3. When you made it, you will go home a new man. That, in essence, is why we don't move over to the new line in an orderly fashion.
It's amazing to see how much you and your family are enjoying to live here in Germany. Particularly in view of the fact that you've chosen a quite difficult time for such a move, and also that doing so with four kids (and a cat!) is certainly an extra adventureous challenge. From the depth of my heart welcome and best wishes for you.
Vielen lieben Dank für die Unterstützung und Gastfreundschaft, Hilfe, Empathie und Menschlichkeit für die ukrainische Familie die ihr jetzt beherbergt. Besser kann man sich nicht in das wirkliche und hoffentlich bleibende friedliche europäische Wesen einfügen. Willkommen, willkommen, willkommen!
Ihr habt alles richtig gemacht! Und erst jetzt habe ich verstanden, dass ihr richtige Einwanderer seid und hier dauerhaft bleiben wollt! Dann bin ich gespannt, wie lange es dauern wird, bis wir euch hier als deutsche Neubürger begrüßen können. Willkommen!
I think, we germans like it, when very nice people from all around the world come to live with us. That ist much better, than we where famous for around 80 years ago. And I love, that you showed solidarity with ukraine by hosting a family from there. Thank you!
Cues in grocery stores: Some stores have a first come first serve policy with one line and who's in front gets the privilege of being served next. When there are multiple lines and mulitiple cashiers you choose the line. And in this line it is "first come, first served". When a new cashier starts, it is just shuffling a deck of cards. Those who are most agile will see the new cashier be opened and go there. Contrary to the perception, they don't get in front of you, They go to be first in a new (!) line.
The lack of paid parental leave in the US blew my mind when I learned about it and even more so how many women on a forum thread were almost boasting how quickly they were back to work after giving birth and that they wouldn’t even want six weeks off if they had that option. 🤯 Like with so many things today they had their heels dug in deep and so it basically was because they neither needed nor wanted that time off it shouldn’t even be an option to anyone. So sad. The US is basically alone along with Papua Guinea to not have paid parental leave made mandatory by law!!! In the entire world!!! There are one or two other small countries where it seems a bit unclear, but yeah, basically just the US and Papua Guinea. You”d think that made people go ‘🤔’ but apparently not.
About the second cashier opening: Well, the line at the first cashier is its own entity. Once a second cashier opens up, that line does not translate over, so first come, first serve. Hence all the rushing to establish a new line with a maybe better position at the other register :D
I just stay in the same line, let the others rush around and I can simply move forward more quickly because those in front of me moved over. But I do laugh at how hectic the natives get.
I love this video...and I love your hair!! Any plans on showing us your current beautiful curly hair routine? I stuggle with mine and always admire seeing yours!!🤩🤩😍
OMG, after watching this I feel sooo ungrateful how I always complain about life in Germany. It is nice to see it from your side. (Well…I mostly complain about the weather 😅)
VERY interesting video, hearing your thoughts (and research) on all these different aspects. And I do agree with you. I had the privilege of being able to live in the US and Italy for some years, and I would not want to miss that, but in the end, I am quite happy to live in Germany. Though I am intrigued by Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Netherlands (I really prefer countries with a colder climate, I am not a summer person), but I still need to learn the languages :-)
Ooo me too! All of those countries intrigue Kevin and I as well. They are so progressive and such safe places to live, always ranking in the top 10 for happiness and education.
@@Dutch1961 Dank je wel! 😊 I grew up not far from the border and spent many, many weekends in the Netherlands. Cities and of course beach as well. I always loved it. I like the people!
Basic rules sor queueing in Germany: "Neue Kasse, neues Spiel" und "weggegangen, Platz gefangen" "New register, new game" and "Left the lot, catch the spot".
Thank you so much for this video ! I was born, raised and educated in Germany. When I was young { a long time ago } I married an American Military Man. The Air Force transferred us to different Countries, that was very exciting. We eventually ended up in the US ! Culture Shock ! Many years ago the US was a good place to live, but not anymore ! It's the Wild West now ! How did it all go so wrong ? I deeply regret the choice I made to leave Germany and live in the US. I have always liked the American people and always will, but something has gone badly wrong with this country. At this point in my life I am unable to return to Germany to live ! I wish with all my heart that I could. You have made the right decision to move your family to Germany, you obviously did a lot of Research . Your statements are absolutely correct about life in Europe ! Your children will greatly benefit by life in Germany ! I congratulate You for making this Decision !
Liebe Familie, ich möchte mich bei Euch für Eure Beiträge herzlichst bedanken. Ihr seid ein Vorbild für uns alle. Das Leben ist kein Zustand, sondern Bewegung und Entwicklung. Gestalten wir unsere Zukunft für uns und vor allem für unsere Kinder, so dass diese Zukunft lebenswert ist. Ihr seid aktiv und gestaltet mit, und dafür danke ich Euch. Liebe Grüße, Josh (Solingen, Germany)
I've been watching your videos since you arrived in Germany. Sometimes I feel ashamed because I am happy and proud of our little country. I guess it's just a cultural thing that we Germans feel uncomfortable having just a little pride for what we have achieved as a society. You are such a great and loving family and I hope you continue to have a great time here. You are an enrichment. So are all the people who come here, no matter where they are from. In my opinion, diversity only makes a society and therefore a country stronger. I am looking forward to the next years with you and maybe watching the kids grow.
Hi!! You and Kevin said something that sparked my light bulb. He said something about the German / Alps that , well he just had that excitement that I felt when I started to learn how to speak German. I also get so excited to speak and watch videos about the Munich area. It makes me feel so elated to see all your videos. It`s even hard to explain the feeling , it`s almost like if you lived somewhere in a past life. Feeling so much love for a country but probably never being able to go to it (I have panic attacks). Thank you again for your channel, I`ts wonderful and so informative.
Yes, Sunday = calm day! Love it! My wife always says Germany in general is totally decompressing the moment you get off the plane arriving or coming back to it. On Sunday I took a long walk with my sister in the fields and forest .... and it is exactly that, calm, decompressing ... recharging.
Greetings, I lived & worked in Salzburg for 4 yrs. & Munich for 10 yrs. All great comments! However, an issue is that kids are out of school early (around 1pm) without lunch. Also, kids have a lot more homework. This puts pressure mostly on mom’s to stay at home, or get a part time job. You can sign up for a “Kita” (after school care), but open spots are few & babysitters expensive. In this sense, the US system is better. Also, very early, around 5th grade, it is decided by the school (based on grades & teachers opinions), if your child “qualifies” to go to high school (& eventually university), or trade school. This also puts immense pressure on parents & kids (at a very early age). The teaching mindset is also different, focus is often about toughening you up (instead of enabling you). All not for the faint of heart, for some kids this can be defeating.
How do you feel about doing a vlog about a typical day in your life in Germany (either from your own perspective or in general about your family)? I would be very interested in that. Pretty sure I'd watch it over and over again to get the warm and happy energy you and your lifestyle spread. Love what you do, keep it up :)
I am a german, living in Munich - thanks for the video - it made me feel very grateful for the things you mentioned, sometimes one takes it for granted...
I really love your perspective of our country 🤗 I lived in the states for a year after school and experiences like that are invaluable! If you are ever in the Stuttgart area and need a Tourguide or just some information I’ll be glad to help 😊
My German husband and I (American) love your videos. We live in the states but also love the mountains, culture, lifestyle of Germany. If circumstances were different I would absolutely adore living in Germany for the reasons you mention. Sara, when you mention women's rights, that resonates with me. Here women's rights are being restricted and sharply curtailed, sad to say. There are many new laws that have passed in certain states and more are proposed that aim to disenfranchise women and minorities.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife Sie können es aber nicht sein lassen mir zu Antworten ,ich bin Deutsch Amerikaner,lebte meine ersten 32 Jahre in Deutschland ,wo bin ich Negativ? Weil ich meine Heimat Die USA liebe ,ich brauche nicht vorsichtig sein ,Drohen sie mir nicht ! OK!
What a well thought out informative video. As a Canadian we have some of those European advantages but I too love the attributes you have highlighted. So looking forward to visiting Germany this August for 3 weeks to experience a little of what you are enjoying.
Thanks for making a video like this! More videos like this really feel like they can be used to wake people up about how just accepting things the way they are in the US is not okay.
Very interesting video. We want to leave Germany and are actually looking for a place to go right now. The plan was going to Lithuania, as it's my native land and that's where my family lives but the war messed it all up...
Welcome and thanks for showing your reasons and giving perspective. Healthcare, maternal leave, 25 days of paid vacation, social security, over 75 years of peace, tuition free universities are taken as granted.
I‘m so proud of „my Germany“. We have our public insurances (including health) since Bismarck in 1881. We‘ll always have our public insurances. My cousin (born in Germany, his mother is German, his father was a soldier stationed in Germany. After my cousins birth his Dad has to leave Germany with his family to be stationed in the U.S.) wants to move with his wife to Germany. His Mum was murdered when he was 5. He wants to know more about his roots and his Mum‘s family (also my family). His wife has to finish university before moving to Germany and I show these 2 sweethearts you video. You talk about all their questions. You give them the answers as a „new German“ and I answer the questions as a native German. So they know how safe it is and how the government takes care of you. While I‘m writing or talking with my cousin and his wife, it’s so crystal clear for me how glad I am growing up and live in such a wonderful country.
I'm a German (Franconian) expat living in the US (for over 30 years). Been enjoying your channel since before you moved to Germany. Thanks for sharing your personal experiences and reassuring the world with humility that it's okay and even fun to have learning curves. The perfectionistic pursuits of having to be "great/best" at everything is not only tiring but a main contributor to global divisiveness. Thus, as much as I appreciate (as a Franconian/Bavarian/German) how you showcase Germany with such love and appreciation, I thank you even more for modeling openness, humility, and reaching out. ❤️ As my Irish husband and I are contemplating repatriating to Germany (possibly via digital nomadism or remote work -likely reimbursed from US employer/customers or a hybrid of German and US income), I wonder how you deal with filing taxes? Do you pay Germany or the US or both? Would really appreciate any experiences you've had... Sounds so confusing and nightmarish to me...And thanks again for your contributions! 🙏 (P.s., how blessed are you with this gorgeous hair of yours! 🤩)
As a Canadian, I like the bit about Kevin driving your son to “ice hockey “ (just hockey in Canada). I love hockey - game is just starting actually! So I gotta go! P.S. you’re a lovely family ❤️.
I’m so glad that you are happy living in Germany. I hope that here in the US we can create a better quality of life in the future. Things like, vacation, holiday, & maternity leave/paternity time are so important we must change this. And of course, healthcare & free university needs to be more common. Although in Atlanta, for academic good students Georgia University is free. There simply needs to be more. Best of luck to All of us.
As I mentioned in a comment of an early video of yours: You guys are enriching our country so much and we need you and likeminded people as you so desperately, that I can barely express howmuch this is the case. Really, you guys should get paid by the german diplomatic service for your videos (= ads for Germany) a lot of money... or better by the BDI (= Bundesverband der deutschen Industrie = Federation of German Industries = is the leading organization of German industry and industry-related service providers) because they are a lot richer. And you should also get an offer as a junior professor at a FH (Fachhochschule = college) for social work, teaching: workethics, family ethics, environmental ethics and so on. You are such a good example in all these fields, without the load of a strong believe system or (heaven forbid) a dominant church in the background, that we can not afford to loose your talent to youtube alone (at least not as long as they pay you so little, while your channel is still small). So until you are not having a million followers and are getting a ton of money, please show your work to the BDI and to the diplomatic Service (= Auswärtiges Amt = german State Department) and to the nearby FHs and apply for sponsorship and a Job. You are great ambassadors for Germany, great teachers, great role models. And to my 10 year old niece I always say: watch out for boys like you sons ... but she is not yet interested in boys! ... and we live in Berlin, therefore your boys are safe. All the best to you and your family for thze future.
Great video! I can relate to basically every point you made...we also moved from the US to Munich with small children and work in the tech industry here. We really love it here and plan to stay forever, and we really believe our children will live a much better, safer, and more cultured life than they would have in Oregon. One point I was surprised not to hear was childcare - most Germans are shocked when I mention that full time daycare was approx. $1500/kid/month in Portland and in Munich it is essentially free (just a small fee for the "club" and food). Our money just goes so much further here, it really has been the best decision of our lives. Anyways...great video and viel Glück!
Yes! Our money really goes farther here as so many expenses are covered. Even with the lower salaries and higher taxes, our money still goes farther here!
Your reasons for moving to Germany are bang on - you read my mind. On the infrastructure side Germany (as well as France) looks at long term benefits - not the short term bang for the buck. So roads, bridges, and rail lines are not only built to last a long time (German engineering/quality!), but are kept up and well-maintained. So it's one thing to build it, and another to keep it well-maintained for the long term ($$$$ for upkeep). Long term rate of return.
Thank you very much for this video. As I can see, you were also in Cochem/Mosel. That’s where I live. I have been to Biloxi MS, Bowman and Comer GA, Charleston SC many times. I also did a long internship in Mississippi. Ultimately, in 1990, the question arose whether I wanted to work as a doctor in the USA or in Germany. I chose Germany because of the healthcare system. Even for a doctor, it’s a luxury to be able to treat everyone without first checking their credit card before starting work. I really like the Southern states, the hospitality, the Southern food, etc. But here in Germany, it’s really nicer.
As a German I totally get your love for the calm on Sunday, you said it exactly right, there is a calmness around you on Sundays in Germany that lets you take a breather. I love them too! (In Germany we actually call it "Ruhetag" = calm day)
I'm happy that you both love living in Germany. I live out side of Munich 45 minutes from Austria. Germany does offer a lot for people who work outside of the food industry however, just to let you know that people working in the food and beverage industry work really hard and most of them don't have that time off as office workers. If you own a small business here, it is hard and very expensive because of the strict laws. Many times our employees would take advantage of the paid sick leave. That is why many people and small companies are moving to Poland or Hungary because it is more business friendly. Munich is one of the top cities in Germany to live in but you have to be able to afford it. Living here for over 28 years, I have seen also the ugly side. I love listening to your stories because I was also just as excited as you guys when I first came here and yes seeing all the other different countries was a great experience for me but, there is nothing more better than family back home.
I live in Pennsylvania. I love all your reasons why you choose to live in Germany. I am fighting for those items you mentioned so we can have them here. It’s sad that you had to leave for something better.
What I find a pity though with education and jobs in Germany is the sort of inflexibility to rely more on skills/cross-skills. A lot is based on an official 2 year or 3year training which is requested for pretty much every little thing and they are often not really ready to give a chance to people based on whether they could fit in well into a team or whether they have already skills that can be useful for or fit the job profile. I think skills and personality should be considered more. A proper Report of Ausbildungszeugnis often doesn't state whether you are completely clumsy with two left hands, whether you would be a good fit for the company or whether you are able to learn anything while doing the job. Here in Ireland I work in insurance, never been formally trained for it, learned all on the job and it works grand. 6 years on that job now, plus I had been given the chance to do so. I doubt I'd get a job like that in Germany if I went back home...
Many in the insurance industry in Germany have not done any training for this and are career changers. For many jobs there is no obligation for training - it is not that rigid here either. Of course, not everyone can become an electrician - that's good. BMW in the USA has now adopted the German dual training system in their plants because they simply could not find suitable skilled workers.
Oh, I love this video! So positive! I totally agree about the education system. The education is generally much better than in Britain, I find. And I pay for my Master’s degree €175 every 6 months. I’m a mature student, but it’s the same for everyone. That’s Semestergebühren and includes public transport within the town. Germany invests in its future, that’s how it is viewed. And the apprenticeship system is phenomenal, absolutely! And all that tuition money saved can go towards fabulous experiences.
WOW, 175 euros every 6 months for a Master's?! I mean, Americans would be so shocked by this. It's so much more fair here. So many jobs are requiring people to have a degree to apply (even though it's not really needed) but the poor really cannot afford college, so it's becoming harder and harder for them to get jobs. It's not equitable and it's making the divide between rich and poor much wider.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife yes, €175 per semester. That’s it. You might need to buy some books, and of course, accommodation and food. And you can sometimes stretch out how long the degree takes, to have a semester working somewhere, for example. It’s the same for a bachelors. Depending on which degree your kids are interested in, they may need to have passed their latin exam, so a heads-up to do it in school, and get it out of the way. Oh, and they may need to speak English 😁
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife last year i talked to a danish student. they get paid like 820 euro free per month for six years to go to university... take this Germany lol
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife Die "Semestergebühren" können in den verschiedenen Bundesländern unterschiedlich sein. Beispielsweise die Gebühren im Saarland (ein "armes" Land): Zusammensetzung der Beiträge Beitrag zum Studentenwerk 98,70 € Beitrag zur Unfall-, Haftpflicht- und Diebstahlversicherung 1,30 € allgemeiner Studierendenschaftsbeitrag 13,00 € Verwaltungskostenbeitrag 50,00 € Semesterticket 127,00 € -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Summe 290,00 € Nur der Verwaltungskostenbeitrag ist für die Universität. Das Semesterticket ist für den öffentlichen Nahverkehr und ermöglicht das kostenlose Fahren in allen Zügen und Bussen im Saarland.
I grew up as a German expat kid in Asia and I’ve traveled all over the world. There are so many great places and countries. But there’s nothing like home. I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else than Germany for the exact same 15 reasons.
Thank you for spicing up my Sunday morning. Kindergeld only depends on the number of children you have, not the place you live in. You get more for the 4th child than the1st. You are lucky to have state insurance, where you don't have to pay extra for dependents, that makes things so much easier. And I would still like to find out how come Kevin spent 5 years in Sweden. I admire you for taking in the Ukrainian family. Two cultures getting to know a third one together. You are truly international 😀
Actually, it does also depend on where you live. When we were looking to live closer to Munich, the Kindergeld was 250€ per child. Out here in the countryside where it’s cheaper, the Kindergeld is about €215 for each child.
Oh yes, so Kevin did a study abroad program in Sweden and then graduated and got a job there! And yes it’s so interesting for us to be foreigners, helping other foreigners. I feel like I’m German because I’m showing them German foods, speaking German for them in the stores, things like that! So bizarre!
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife Well, for them you probably feel German as well. You immersed into our local culture and adapted quite a lot. Listening to you now is like listening to a long time neighbor telling from his youth but generally having the same value system as you do.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife Kindergeld gibt es für eigene, Stief-, Adoptiv- und Pflegekinder. Es beträgt seit dem 1.1.2021 je 219 € monatlich für die ersten 2 Kinder, 225 € für das 3. Kind und je 250 € ab dem 4. Kind.
What timing! We just uploaded our video on 5 reasons we moved here! As another American family with kids, I have to agree with most of your reasons for coming here. While not everything is perfect, we have loved our life here as well.
On behalf of all Germans: I would gladly like to announce that we really, really appreciate your videos and the love you show for our country and at this point I think that you should have all right to officially call yourself German and European. What you've done this past year is, without a doubt, a prime example of how to successfully integrate yourself into another culture. I mean that with all sincerity, well done.
Thank you so very much!
Very well said! Their whole family dynamic and values seems to be a perfect fit for Germany
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife Do not wait to travel until you got retired, that is a mistake! You never know if you still have the health with 60 or 70 for a journey to South Africa (or if you still WANT to sit in a plane for 15 hours to Vietnam in this age)...
agreed 100% ... my utmost admiration to that, I feel humbled.
I second that! Suprisingly, while beeing born and raised in germany, I do love to hear the outside perspective😅
As Ukrainian living in Germany I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your help and support to Ukraine 🇺🇦 🇺🇸It is so kind of you to take in a family of FOUR!!! People you have never met before, people who are probably traumatised and don’t always speak your language. You guys are amazing for helping 💛💙 Thank you!!! Слава Україні!
Thank you! We are so happy we can help! 🇺🇦🇺🇦
Never forget, in Ukraine start the war 2014 and Nobody Care.
@@m.2085 Russian propaganda. Stop lying.
@@thomaseck3210 Stop lying!! Yes!!
Vorher Hirn einschalten
Thank you. Because in the moment it seems Ukraine is not satisfied with us.
I moved from Los Angeles to Germany and lived in the country for ten years.This is a very accurate depiction of the country.Those years were by far the best years of my life.
@@hbbh6591 ebenfalls!
@@renardjohnson5658 and now you left back to LA or USA ?
@@hanifarjo5222 Yes,I'm back in Los Angeles.
@@renardjohnson5658why?
I just felt like my time in Germany was done and it was time to come back.@@antjee
I'm 54 and my wife and I are VERY worried about our future, gas and food prices rising daily. We have had our savings dwindle with the cost of living into the stratosphere, and we are finding it impossible to replace them. We can get by, but can't seem to get ahead. My condolences to anyone retiring in this crisis, 30 years nonstop just for a crooked system to take all you worked for.
I feel your pain mate, as a fellow retiree, I’d suggest you look into passive index fund investing and learn some more. For me, I had my share of ups and downs when I first started looking for a consistent passive income so I hired an expert advisor for aid, and following her advice, I poured $30k in value stocks and digital assets, Up to 200k so far and pretty sure I'm ready for whatever comes.
@@EleanorMabel That's actually quite impressive, I could use some Info on your FA, I am looking to make a change on my finances this year as well
@@LiamOlivia-4 My advisor is Victoria Carmen Santaella;
You can look her up online
Nah I Can't say I can relate, Victoria Carmen Santaella charge is one-off and pretty reasonable when compared to what I benefit in returns.
I love your perspective on Germany. That shows me the things we should be more grateful we have here in Germany!
Thank you!
Its only better here cause we keep pointing out thigs that dont quite work and we try to change them.
Apreciation is good but fighting for change is just as important
my friend don't believe a bit of it , I'm a German American , living in the greatest country in the world ,be proud of it , Germany's DARK Side us cruel , does folks Rich liberals who got our country in the place where we at right now
@@ramonawestberry4751 you are really enjoying spamming our videos with your negative comments. We are TH-camrs who actually read and delete unkind comments, so be careful what you write. And don’t you even dare bring up their dark past and use it against them. Germany has done a phenomenal job in completely turning their country around since WWII. They are a shrinking example of how to take something horrible and turn it into something very good. America also has a very dark past and they have NOT owned up to their mistakes or fully corrected them yet.
There is so much to be grateful for here in Germany. It’s a great country.
@@ramonawestberry4751 I don't get your comment. You think they tell lies? And you know it, because you are German American? But the person commenting is german. This person knows better. :D
Oh, and no problem to talk about WWII here in Germany. There are documentarys about it 24/7 and we learn about it on school for years. So trying to use this against Germans wont work here, maybe kn the US or wherever you are from. We know, that things were cruel back then. And still there are too many nazis, in Germany, in the USA and all over the world.. german or not.
Germany is lucky to have you ! ❤
What a heartwarming video. As a German, I am happy that you can fulfill your dreams here in our indeed beautiful and safe country. It's an honor to have you here! 💜
Thank you so much! 💕
It's so great to have you with us here in Germany! Your list might be an eye opener for some Germans as well, as we sometimes tend to be more on the pessimistic and dissatisfied side of live. Hopefully, Putin will not ruin, what we built up in Europe.
I hope if there are those who are pessimistic about Germany our video can help them see how fantastic it is!
@UCwOrK8lw5TgJOEtRQ9WE7bg are you kidding? If yes this is not funny, if no you don‘t see what Putin is doing to Ukraine, Russia and the rest of the free world - or you are just a Russian troll. I don‘t understand how you came to this wonderful and heartwarming videos over here?
@@bNeagle yeah I deleted that comment - pretty sure it was another annoying Russian bot trying to spread lies.
@@bNeagle I apologise for hurting your feelings, it was Sascha who made this political. I'm a peace-loving pensioner who loves wonderful and heartwarming videos, but I recommend
- gonzalo lira
- Patrick Lancaster
- Russell Bentley
- george Galloway
- max blumenthal
- the jimmy dore show
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife So do I - very much.
I am also very happy for the German education system and the flexibility. After my realschule I didn't want to continue with Gymnasium and I only knew that I wanted to do sth with chemistry. That's why I did a vocational training (Ausbildung) as a chemical lab technician. Then I found a solid job with good money. However, in that time getting more mature, I figured out that I would be more happy with higher education. I quit my job, went to Gymnasium to get my university entrance certificate and now I have a PhD in chemistry.
My sister had a similar career path. She started a Ausildung as a bank clerk. In her second year she figured out she didn't like it that much but finished anyway and afterwards she went to university to study construction management. So she ended up in a totally different occupational field. But her previous vocational training is still a solid skill which is a big bonus in job applications and interviews.
Unfortunaltely, in the last decade the vocational training in Germany lost a little bit of reputation, more and more students try to enter universities and in some fields there is a lack of candidates for open positions (Ausbildungsplätze).
Honestly, I think a Ausbildung is an equally good career path, considering you are still able to move up in the career ladder, especially in fields where skills matter and not just theory. Secondly, some people need more time to get more mature and know what they want. An Ausbildung is a perfect way to get first hands-on experience and is more practical from the beginning. Thirdly, it feels increadibly more comfortable to aim for higher education, but always know that - even if you fail or quit university - you can fall back on your previous qualification (Ausbildungsabschluss) and still find a job and be able to make a living. I'm sure your kids will make the right choice and be happy no matter if Ausbildung or Hochschule. And if they are not happy anymore, a new door and career opportunity will open. All the best!
All of this, and also Ausbildungen afford a HUGE advantage to young people that due to whatever circumstances need to support themselves financially. Sure, it’s usually not a huge amount of money, but you can definitely stay afloat, and get education at the same time earning your own money (not to dump on bafög, but to a lot of people it does feel different to get wages instead of social credit). If you get kicked out at home or just want to leave and be independent or want to train in a job that isn’t available anywhere, that money can tide you over, especially if your family can’t help you out financially. That’s a HUGE difference to having to go into major debt to get a college degree in whatever just because society deems it necessary
Yes, agree. I did it quite similar... . except to get a PhD. Congratulation! 😊 Dipl.-Ing. TU was enough for me. 😊 An apprenticeship previously to Uni was always an advantage. To get the "Allgemeine Hochschulreife" after the apprenticeship was a tough task. Mentally, I mean. You are a skilled person... and have to become a pupil again... weird! 😢
This video is like a love letter to Germany.... Thank you.... And thank you for giving shelter to a family from Ukraine. That will be another experience for you and your children that helps to understand the world and another culture. Unfortunately, the circumstances are not more joyful.
Oooo a love letter to Germany, I like that!
I as a kraut who is used to the german "complaining about everything, but on a high level" culture feel truely honored for the reasons you have choosen germany for your future live.
You did cut off your local roots, leaved your US familiy and friends, and moved to germany to give your kids a better start for their live? Honor to you!
Your family is an enrichement for germany and europe!
Das sehe ich genauso.
Was für wundervolle Worte und Komplimente für Germany. Dankeschön :-)
What an awesome start to this beautiful Sunday, with one of your videos! Great to watch it and especially with all the details, simply perfect 👍🏻!!!
And by the way I would like to congratulate you for the courage to welcome a Ukrainian family in your life in this really dark time for them. Much, Much respect for That 👏🏻👏🏻you are a true rolemodel, ihr seid ein wahres Vorbild !! Beste Grüße aus Köln 🤙🏻🤙🏻😃😃
I’m so glad you enjoyed it and thank you for the kind words 😀💕.
After I arrived in Austria 40+ years ago, and began to learn German and we started planning a family, I realized that it was a better idea to stay here than to move back (NYC area) . An uncle of DH said to me: "with your qualifications, and when you learn even more German, you have a better chance in this little pond as a medium fish, than as a little fish in a huge pond over there". "Besides," he continued: "here you have a great big family that has your best interests at heart all nearby; over there, as you tell me, they are spread all over the country." I was convinced.😄
Yes! And now you’d have maternity leave, affordable and very good healthcare, free college for your kids…the list goes on!
what you've done not just for yourselves but for your children is invaluable they will be completely different little humans because of it, its a great way to live and to have your mind shaped
Yes I sure hope so! Opening up the world to them. Even though it’s been so hard!
A great video! I couldn‘t agree with you more. I have never regretted my choice to move to Germany and become a German citizen (many in my family and circle of friends back in the US still don‘t understand how I could have given up that „precious“ citizenship). The system here is not perfect but when you compare it to the US, it is much fairer and just more „human“, if that makes sense … it is a system built for your regular jo schmo and not for the privileged. Yes, there are inequalities built into the German system but they are a far cry from those in the US. The US, as far as I can tell, is just an exploitative system. It will take a lot to change it and I fear it will get worse before it gets better. Your points about the dual educational system were right on the money. Had I grown up in Germany, I would have been a carpenter instead of majoring in poli sci and then trying to figure out how to make a career out of that (had no interest in law, which is the usual next step). There should be no shame in choosing any career path forward, regardless. We americans like to sing praises about our „classless“ social system but that is just not true. If you ask me, a plumber or a baker or a carpenter has MORE job security than someone with a poli sci degree in some job at some investment bank (speaking from experience here). Think about it. You ARE basically your skillset and can take those skills wherever you go. With a Meisterbrief, you can set up shop anywhere and train the next generation. And, how great is it that you can test things out here? If you find you don‘t like doing the work of a carpenter, you can switch gears, learn - and try out - some other trade. OK, at some point you do have to choose ;-) but there is tremendous flexibility built into the system. I believe that is something that the Germans have difficulty seeing but those of us coming from the outside can appreciate it.
The work life balance - and consume-terror-free Sundays - are also so key. As you mentioned, there is this zero-sum competitive game in the US … actively stoked by (some) employers. It exists here, too, but it isn‘t prevalent in society. It is OK to take vacation. It is OK to take Mutterschutz. It is almost like it is OK to be replaceable only because no firm should be so dependent on any one employee.
I could go on and on singing the praises of Germany and of your video. Isn‘t it nice that a place like Germany exists and welcomed us in? ❤️
Stone...the USA liberated Nazi germany in 1945 so you can live there in peace now...42000K americans lost they're life ....to this day germans are protected by the USA ! did that fact ever entered your mind !
Reverse story on my end I came 32 years to United States became a US citizen never look back to Germany there are many stories to tell about this country
Sadly, many many parents now think that Gymnasium at 10 is the only way. And if you look at the media (TV, books)...notice how all the child and teen characters are in a Gymnasium. A Real or Gesamtschule doesn't seem to exist, Haupt or Mittelschule only if you want a certain kind of character (if you know what I mean).
I'm 100% not a fan of the school system and think they sort to soon. Especially in Bavaria it's sad what 4th graders go through for the selection process. I've seen some break down because so and so said, if you end up in a Realschule (or god forbid a Mittelschule) you will be a cleaning lady.
That being said...I could never imagine giving up my German citizenship to become American like Ramona. I know that I'd lose too much.
The more I watch these videos and the more i read such comments - the more I think what a wonderful country I´m living in as a german. Sometimes we forget this and off course we are far away from perfect ...
You highlight some excellent reasons to move to Germany. Thank you for another informative and well-developed video. I have lived in Germany for almost four years and could not imagine going back to the US. The Healthcare system alone is a big issue for me since I suffer from Hashimoto's Disease. We live in the Upper Harz in a small village. Life here in Germany is definitely better.
Yes isn’t the healthcare so much better here? And all of the propaganda that goes on in the US about “socialized medicine” just makes my eyes roll. They have no idea what they’re talking about!
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife Well, if only the US would listen to one of their own great writers:
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.”
― Mark Twain
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife 'socialism' and 'communism' are used interchangeably by Americans who don't understand the concepts of public healthcare and free education. I've read many comments on cnn and other US media in which people called those 'government hand outs' not understanding that those things are supported by taxpayers' money. I think many conservative Americans believe in the principle of working yourself up without any financial help. That's why they consider everybody who doesn't succeed in that a loser.
would L-Thyroxin cost much in the US?
@@100100freak What i could find it's available for a similar price
It's such a pleasure to follow your channel. This time I wanted to shout out loud to all those grumpy, discontented fellow Germans who are complaining permanently about their life here. From time to time it is necessary to step back and have a look from a different perspective to appreciate what we have. Thank you so much.
I totally agree 😍. Germany is a great place to live! 🇩🇪
That is so awesome to know that you intended this to be a permanent move! At first I had assumed it was only temporary for a few years for work and or professional reasons. Thank you for giving Germany such a high rating and all the good reasons to live there! You are such a lovely family!! ❤❤
Thank you! We are loving life here so far!
We Germans might complain about everything and forget the good things we have. Thanks to your reminder by telling how bad things can be in other countries. BTW: if you love novels set in the Alps, I would recommend "Heidi" by Johanna Spyri, one of the well-known children book in the world, and the film adaption by Alain Gsporner, pubilshed in 2015.
Yes!! I have loved that book and movie since I was a little girl.
Don’t be afraid of loosing healthcare system in Germany. It was founded nearly 150 years ago and still works. It has issues but in total we do good.
I have great respect that you gave a Ukrainian refugee family a safe haven! These people need protection and support now at a time when everything they had has been lost to Russian aggression.👍
Thank you, it has been a wonderful experience so far! We are so happy we can do this.
Was für eine wunderbare Liebeserklärung an Europa. Thanks, You made my day.
Everything you say brings on nostalgia for me. Back in the a 1960s and 70s we lived in Germany for over sixteen years but had to leave because German laws wouldn’t give long term visas. We came to the U.S. That changed after we left. Now , as old people, I suspect they wouldn’t want us. But we made great friends there and do not miss a chance to visit them whenever we can.
It's simply amazing what you've been doing and achieving since you came here. I admire your energy and good spirits and openmindedness. And your last example of international solidarity brings a tear to my eyes. I believe we can be proud to have you here among us. All the best to you all!
Thank you so very much!
Hi my friends from abroad 🙋♂!
Your todays video was the biggest DECLARATION OF LOVE to Europe and especially to Germany, I`ve ever heard from you.
I`m glad to hear , how confident and safe you feel, living in our marvellous country. I hope, this will go on, as long as you will stay with us 👍👍👍 !
Hi Klaus!! Yes, a declaration of love. 💖🇩🇪
Been watching your channel for a while now , I'm not German I'm Scottish but love Germany and where you are in Bavaria is just beautiful.
It's been lovley watching you adjust to your new home and seeing how well you are all getting on .
Ah very cool! I have a lot of Scottish heritage so I just LOVE Scotland! I have traveled there twice and I just feel like I'm coming home when I go there.
As an American woman who moved to Germany from California when she was 38 because her partner was/is German, I can only celebrate your understanding of the virtues of living in a confusing and challenging environment because of your comprehensive understanding of the ultimate health this radical change in your adult experiences would insure the best for your children. And, of course, ultimately the best for the two of you. I was 38 then. I am 73 now. I was never blessed with children, but I can assure you, you have made the very best possible beginnings for your children’s lives.
I'm from the uk and totally agree, it's an unforgivable crime to skip the queue.... Unless they open a new till, then it's every man woman and child for themselves! The rationale being, there is no queue to skip yet, its like a free chance to get to the front guilt free. Have you noticed the ripples and frantic calculation that happen when they get even a whisper that the extra till might open? Everyone starts to slowly edge closer to get in the best position when they shout "next". 🤣🤣🤣
Yes! Hahaha it’s such a funny cultural difference for us.
What a great video! It really leaves me almost a bit teary about all those beautiful things you mentioned about my homecountry that I just take for granted.... Good reason to think about it every now and then.... I can understand all your mentioned points very well. It is so nice to hear strangers speaking so well of Germany because sometimes it seems that everyone ist just complaining on and on.... You give us the reasons why we should be much more thankful! I love your videos and hope you will go on showing many more - thanks a lot!
Thank you, Tina! 💕
I find it so interesting that for a lot of us in my generation (I was born in the 90s) moving to the US was kind of something one aspired to or at least daydreamed about at 14-16. However, now that I am in my mid-20s I already see how I only can imagine working or living in the US for some years but certainly would want to be back in Europe by the time I think about having a family at the latest.
Also fun fact, when you were talking about how you don't need another car for some years as a family, I was thinking about how your kids, even with a driver's licence might not have the need for their own car. Neither my brother nor I nor any of our peers has their own car although we are in our twenties already, we all live in cities and as university students there is just no need for it. Only my cousin who lives more in the Bavarian countryside has a car, but again he really has a need for it.
Yes!
I loved the idea of the US too, when I was a child/ teen. I was born in the early 80s.
But now? I am nearly scared to go there even for a visit.
About the drivers licence:
I was around 30 when I got mine. I never needed it before. I grew up in a small town, did my apprenticeship on the outskirts of a slightly bigger town and then worked for some time in Hamburg. You definately do not need a car there. I would say it is even easier without a car….
Yes that’s a huge benefit - even our children may not need cars as young adults. Love it!
@@nitka711 yeah so sad the US has changed a lot. Well, it never was very safe for anyone but white men, but I digress…
Growing up in the countryside of mountainous Bavaria, it was definitly not common to geht a car with legal age ... Some got a scooter/motorbike(< 50 km/h) with 16, but I was thaught to plan stuff, look up bus schedules, ride my bike, ask in advance ect.
I walked many kilometers home at 3 in the morning 😅
lol, bin in den 60er geboren, war für eine kurze Zeit in den USA und bin froh in Deutschland oder Europa zu leben.... die USA können mir gestohlen bleiben!
ich war sogar schon in Neuseeland, hätte dort Arbeiten können, für 60€ die Stunde....aber ich kann nicht auf die andere Seite des Planeten ziehen, weil ich 1-3 mal im Jahr nach Frankreich fahre, die Alpen mit dem Motorrad durchquere etc!
und ich brauche meinen Wald vor der Tür...
A couple of points: 1. I love what Kevin is wearing, it light enough to wear in the house, yet warm enough to check the mailbox or bring out the trash. 2. Regarding the vocational training there are only two downsides in my mind. The first is the lack of recognition in other (especially non-EU) countries and second the increase in demand in some jobs to have a college degree. I heard a couple of people in the US saying they make a decent living in the HVAC sector without going to college and earning more than a lot of college graduates (who in addition have to pay back their student loans) so maybe there is a trend going towards good jobs without needing a college education. A couple of years some states had programs on a trial basis like the German vocational training system (Senator Bernie Sanders seemed to be a huge supporter) but I don't know if they are still active. 3. Regarding the opportunities for mothers through paid maternity leave, a huge factor is also that in Germany a lot of people stay in the same company for a long time so it is in the companies own interest to provide it, especially since it is financially supported by the government. So, in short, Ella can basically become a barbarian-princess-lumberjack (Well, in the wides sense. Or, just for Kevin: She can easily multiclass here!) with children if she wants it. 4. I agree with the advantage of the geographical location of Germany, especially for people who love to travel or are open to work or study in other countries (and still have the opportunity to visit family in Germany on the weekends including an overnight stay). 5. I always wonder why I hear some Americans say that you have to wait long for a doctors appointment (pre-pandemic) in societies with socialized healthcare systems, that usually is only the case for non-emergencies that still involve a specialist and even then there is a hotline where you can get an appointment in 4-5 weeks maximum, you just have to get a "Überweisung" from your "Hausarzt" with a special code on it. The downside for this is just that you can't choose your doctor and that a lot of Germans do not know about it. 6. There a still a lot of things that Germans complain about, but most are just inconveniences that you can plan ahead for, like weather not ideal or public transportation being late/off-schedule (but still more punctual than most other countries). For example when I was at University we had to pay the "Semesterbeitrag" and I struggled with it while people from the US would have laughed it off for being only 500 Euro. Keep doing what you are doing, I really enjoy your videos from the perspective of people with (4) children (and a cat and a hamster), which is different to the others I watch (Where I occasionally see Sara in the comments, lol).
A lot of Germans always complaining about their life here in Germany and it feels so good to get a look from the outside and listen to you telling how good life here is if you compare it to a lot of other places. We can make Germany a better place for sure, but it's not as bad as a lot of Germans think it is. Thank you!
Totally agree! It’s not perfect but it’s a really fantastic place to live.
Hi Sarah, hi Kevin. It is good to here the things we have and enjoy while living in Germany. You should always be aware of how good we have it here! I like it every time when you post a new video. Always an honour to have you here in Germany 🙂
Hi Peter! Thanks so much for the kind words. Yeah Germany is a fantastic place to live!
It's quite interesting to hear about these cultural differences from "foreigners". For me as a native German things felt quite gloomy here over the past few years. You changed my perspective about that. Thanks 🙂
I guess that’s true for most of us. We can easily forget all of the great things about our own countries. But yeah, Germany and many other EU countries are really fantastic places to live!
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife Maybe. I loved visiting the USA for 3 weeks in 2001. But of course this was just a short glimpse. And traveling around in a Bus with a complete german tourist group is naturally not accurate to get to know the culture😅.
Unfortunately they live in dreamland in the countryside! That's another reality of our country!
For me the golden standard for integration is when people succeed and love to integrate. Not trying to build a copy of where they come from. You’re proud of a thing of the country you came from? And teach us the these aspects. We love it! And we are thrilled if you include us in your celebrations.
The Thing with kids independance is really true. I travelled through Berlin alone at the age of 10. Obviously not at night, but beeing able to just hop on a train, and visit your friend in a different suburb, was a nice perk during my childhood.
Thank you so much for this video! There is one thing you forgot to mention: We Germans are also pretty good at complaining about things that do NOT work. 😉 Your video was perfect to reflect a little. Even if we keep on complaining about our health care system (for example) it is still better than in many other countries.
I also want to say (even though I did write this before in another comment) that you are such a wonderful family with open hearts and open minds. Everyone can be thankful to be inspired by you. 🤗
Thank you, thank you, thank you! 🙂
Okay, I am German and I confess: I sometimes complain about our heath care system. Not because I am not able to see the advantages compared to lots of other countries, but because I am old enough (60) to have experienced the system while it was way more better than it is today! My complaints root in "realizing what we once had and have now". But that means by no way that I am not aware how special and great the system still works nowadays. And I am absolutely glad we have it, though our population grows older and by that gains permanently in health vulnerability. Which causes increasing costs.
My husband is from a military family and was raised in France/Germany as a child in the late 70s. He always talks about how safe and family oriented Germany was. He graduated high school in Bitburg Germany. We both lived in UK for a number of years and agree that for a family, the U.S. school issues contribute to families looking for safe alternatives, which include overseas, home schooling, etc. It’s a privilege, but an option that people are taking.
I always enjoy your videos and I'm especially glad that you found a place that fits the way you want to live. As a German I agree that there are always things that can be improved but we're complaining at a completely different level compared to many other countries.
Btw if your children choose to study at university, they'll be recognised as part of Kevin's health insurance until they have completed their degree or turned 27 (whichever comes first)
Okay, good to know!
That's not true at all. Children can be part of the public health insurance of one of the parents (the one with the higher salary) when they don't have an income of their own. Kids in an apprenticeship have the same terms and conditions as regular employees. Students (at a university, Fachhochschule etc.) have to pay for their insurance which is about 100-120 E per month for public hi (depending on the provider and whether they are up to 22 or 23 and older because of care insurance "Pflegeversicherung"). They can get cheaper pricate insurance but may not be able to get back to the public system.
But, as long as the kids are in some kind of educational program, you may receive Kindergeld up to their 27th birthday.
@@twinmama42 Has that changed recently ? My daughter was health insured via my insurance until she had finished university.
@@grandmak. My son is at university and he had to insure himself and pays shy of 700 Euros per semester. But I admit that he has had an income of his own (prior to his start at university) since his father passed away and he inherited rental flats. That may play a role in this.
@@twinmama42 yes, I'm sure it does.
I have an interview for a PhD program in Berlin on Thursday. It's mathematically a bit more advanced than my comfort zone, but it would be a dream come true if I get it.
I grew up near and live in Chicago, and one of our neighborhoods has a homicide rate of ~200 (compared to ~5 in the US and ~1 in Germany), and I really want to get out of here, especially because I don't see anything changing.
I spent time in Paris and Oxford, and I fell in love with Europe, its people and their joie de vivre, and the PUBLIC TRANSIT (and everything else you pointed out that were spot on). Hope to join the US immigrant group in Germany (or some neighboring country) soon!!!
PRIME WEST INVESTMENT, a pioneer of commisssion free investing, gives you access to investing and more ways to make your money work harder for you. Whether you're new to investing or a seasoned pro, it's time to partner with a company that believes you could and should be getting more from your money.
hi Matthew, how did it go??? :o))
I didn't get it, but I ended up getting something else in Paris and so moved at the end of last year! I should rewatch these videos about settling into a new country 😬
@@mathieumaticien that's great news. Lived near Paris for almost 10y. That city has so much to offer, that maybe I saw not even half of it, of course incl. museums and the like. So I wish you all the best especially with the language. Quite a challenge ;o))
@@mathieumaticien I live in Germany now, so I know a lot about the pro and cons of both! The comparison is really interesting. But you are not so far off so you can make the experience yourself.
Thank you for helping Ukranian refugees. It's great to find out that you are doing this
das ist mehr als vorbildlich!!!! ich schließe mich ALAN Smith an
You have recognized this very well. One of the few unregulated situations in Germany is when another checkout opens in a grocery store. There, everyone wants to be the first.
Really good idea to not wait for retirement to experience the things you want! My inlaws had so many plans and things they wanted to do once they were both retired. Well, he's already been unable to work due to an accident for quite a while and officially retired now for two years. She retired febuary of last year. And well, he has really early onset dementia and basically all those dreams and plans they had talked about have gone down the drain. So, long story short, always better, if you can, to experience and live life to the fullest here and now. You never know what the future holds...
That is so sad, and exactly what we wanted to prevent. If I can accomplish a dream now, I want to do it now. You never know what the future holds!
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife exactly!
You guys are just a rolemodel for how to integrated successfully. You are Proud to be who you are nur you also Accept the German ways. Taking a family from Ukraine in to your home and share it with this family is just heartwarminng and truly humanitarian. This family will never forget who Lent a helping hand in times of need. And in love the fact that nearly the complete world increases what Putin has to pay for starting this war. I truly love and Respekt your family for just being you and authentic. Thank you very much.
😍😍
I'm listening to your videos again (nebenbei). - 12:55 "Except in a grocery store... when a second line opens up":
In the supermarket, I always keep my eyes open when the queue is getting long. (Aldi has done a lot to be customer-friendly in recent years.) A newly opened checkout is a good opportunity to stay fit and practice your responsiveness. Nevertheless, I would always let an older person go first.
That you welcomes a family fleeing from war, makes me love you even more! Thank you for stepping up for people in need! #goodkarma
💖💖 It’s been such a wonderful experience. We are enjoying it so much.
To live in other countries is very valuable!
❤❤❤❤❤
Just want to say, love your videos! The thing about standing in line made me smile. Yes, there is definitely some national psychology lurking under the surface here.
I am German, but I spent a year studying in the UK, and that's where I learned what queueing can be: An art form, a meditation, a way of life, a philosophy. People queue even before the thing they queue for is even here (like the bus). It almost looks like queueing is a passtime. As if, when you want to spend quality time with the family, you go queueing. The queue is the natural state of existence of a Brit. If you drop a bunch of British people from a plane with parachutes in the middle of the desert, they will form a queue once they've hit the ground. It feIt relaxing, but also slightly unnerving when my brain kept telling me that I didn't actually have to queue. Like this one time: I needed cash, and there was a long line at the ATM outside the bank. I figured there might be another ATM inside the bank, so I went inside and there was absolutely nobody there. I got my cash and left the Brits to their queueing. Even before I got back home to Germany, at the check-in line for my flight to Berlin, I felt the difference. The thinly veiled aggression in a line full of Germans. You see, we absolutely, positively HATE standing in line. When we go somewhere to get served we expect to get served RIGHT AWAY. It's a matter of pride and self-esteem. You want to get the special deal on your flatscreen and the super sale for your groceries, not because you can't afford full price, but because you want to beat all the others. You don't want to be a loser. Why do we stand in line so orderly then? Because there is another part of us: We don't want to be the guy who loses it, who can't follow rules or behave properly. You want to be on the RIGHT side of the rules, and damn you if you don't come out of a situation being RIGHT. Blood feuds begin when someone doesn't properly separate their own shopping from yours on the conveyor belt using a WARENTRENNER. So there is the inner rule-following Vulcan who - barely - oppresses the savage Klingon inside you who just wants to bat'leth all those p'takhs around you. So you stand in line, but not just any line, oh no. You watch the lines and you choose carefully, ever so carefully which one is the best line. Being able to gauge which line will move fastest validates you as a person. If you end up in the slowest line, you walk home in shame. I can't shake it, even when I have time on my hands, there is compulsion to check if the line next to me might move faster. Recently they introduced single lines in some places, where they call the next person to a free desk. It's kind of undignified. A lion wants to hunt, you don't spoon-feed him mashed carrots. So you stand in line at the store, and there are some free cash registers, and you feel it. Deep down inside you know it's coming. People are restless. Someone calls out "Can you please open another line?". One of the cashiers grabs a telephone. At this moment there is absolute silence. Everyone quietly calculates various trajectories to the free check-outs, accounting for evasive moves, kinetc action and the speed and strength of your opponents. Then you hear steps. An extra cashier is walking up from the back of the store. Where are they going? Which line will it be? Once he or she has entered a particular aisle, the crowd begins to stir. The Vulcan and The Klingon are now struggling. "Go You Fool!" shouts the Klingon. "The definition of the situation has not changed yet", reasons the Vulcan. But once the cashier says "You can come over to register 3 now", the gloves are OFF, baby! All rules are suspended and the inner Vulcan is OFF YOUR BACK! That applies until a new order is established. You see, the relative peace of the queue is tenuous as it is, the fragile balance of aggression and collective controlling authority. But the instinct of envy and aggression is always there and it is very much accepted as a driving force in our lives. The last famine is only two, maybe three generations away. Where the British have the stiff upper lipp, we have the shared conviction that, when push comes to shove, you better push and shove. So the mother of fights ensues as people rush forward to be at the tip of a new line, a new frontier, a second chance, leaving behind the shackles of your old life, the shame of standing at the back of the line. Winners will become losers and losers will be winners in the new order that rapidly unfolds at cash register 3. When you made it, you will go home a new man.
That, in essence, is why we don't move over to the new line in an orderly fashion.
Wow! That sounds like a great scene from a movie! I enjoyed very much your explanation 😅
It's amazing to see how much you and your family are enjoying to live here in Germany. Particularly in view of the fact that you've chosen a quite difficult time for such a move, and also that doing so with four kids (and a cat!) is certainly an extra adventureous challenge. From the depth of my heart welcome and best wishes for you.
Thank you so much! It has been quite a challenge but that’s when we grow the most.
Vielen lieben Dank für die Unterstützung und Gastfreundschaft, Hilfe, Empathie und Menschlichkeit für die ukrainische Familie die ihr jetzt beherbergt. Besser kann man sich nicht in das wirkliche und hoffentlich bleibende friedliche europäische Wesen einfügen. Willkommen, willkommen, willkommen!
you guys are just so wholesome ... so glad to have people like you choosing to live in Germany
Good to hear, that you found a good place for your family for living.
Ihr habt alles richtig gemacht!
Und erst jetzt habe ich verstanden, dass ihr richtige Einwanderer seid und hier dauerhaft bleiben wollt! Dann bin ich gespannt, wie lange es dauern wird, bis wir euch hier als deutsche Neubürger begrüßen können. Willkommen!
I think, we germans like it, when very nice people from all around the world come to live with us. That ist much better, than we where famous for around 80 years ago. And I love, that you showed solidarity with ukraine by hosting a family from there. Thank you!
Cues in grocery stores: Some stores have a first come first serve policy with one line and who's in front gets the privilege of being served next. When there are multiple lines and mulitiple cashiers you choose the line. And in this line it is "first come, first served". When a new cashier starts, it is just shuffling a deck of cards. Those who are most agile will see the new cashier be opened and go there.
Contrary to the perception, they don't get in front of you, They go to be first in a new (!) line.
The lack of paid parental leave in the US blew my mind when I learned about it and even more so how many women on a forum thread were almost boasting how quickly they were back to work after giving birth and that they wouldn’t even want six weeks off if they had that option. 🤯 Like with so many things today they had their heels dug in deep and so it basically was because they neither needed nor wanted that time off it shouldn’t even be an option to anyone. So sad. The US is basically alone along with Papua Guinea to not have paid parental leave made mandatory by law!!! In the entire world!!! There are one or two other small countries where it seems a bit unclear, but yeah, basically just the US and Papua Guinea. You”d think that made people go ‘🤔’ but apparently not.
Right? It's so wrong, so inhumane. So backwards! And it's a huge blow to American women.
About the second cashier opening:
Well, the line at the first cashier is its own entity. Once a second cashier opens up, that line does not translate over, so first come, first serve. Hence all the rushing to establish a new line with a maybe better position at the other register :D
I just stay in the same line, let the others rush around and I can simply move forward more quickly because those in front of me moved over. But I do laugh at how hectic the natives get.
Yes! Me, too. I just stay in the line. I don’t like fighting for a spot in line, too stressful! Haha
Usually you can notice early on that a second cashier will open. So you can move over there before the cashier is even there.
I love this video...and I love your hair!! Any plans on showing us your current beautiful curly hair routine? I stuggle with mine and always admire seeing yours!!🤩🤩😍
Sure! I can do another video on that and show the German products I’ve been using.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife 🙂
OMG, after watching this I feel sooo ungrateful how I always complain about life in Germany. It is nice to see it from your side. (Well…I mostly complain about the weather 😅)
😅 most peoooe everywhere complain about the weather I guess, well, maybe except for those who live in Hawaii or Bali. 😆🌴🌞
VERY interesting video, hearing your thoughts (and research) on all these different aspects. And I do agree with you.
I had the privilege of being able to live in the US and Italy for some years, and I would not want to miss that, but in the end, I am quite happy to live in Germany. Though I am intrigued by Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Netherlands (I really prefer countries with a colder climate, I am not a summer person), but I still need to learn the languages :-)
Ooo me too! All of those countries intrigue Kevin and I as well. They are so progressive and such safe places to live, always ranking in the top 10 for happiness and education.
You are all very welcome to the Netherlands.
@@Dutch1961 Dank je wel! 😊
I grew up not far from the border and spent many, many weekends in the Netherlands. Cities and of course beach as well. I always loved it. I like the people!
Basic rules sor queueing in Germany: "Neue Kasse, neues Spiel" und "weggegangen, Platz gefangen"
"New register, new game" and "Left the lot, catch the spot".
😂😂😂
Thank you so much for this video ! I was born, raised and educated in Germany. When I was young { a long time ago } I married an American Military Man. The Air Force transferred us to different Countries, that was very exciting. We eventually ended up in the US ! Culture Shock ! Many years ago the US was a good place to live, but not anymore ! It's the Wild West now ! How did it all go so wrong ? I deeply regret the choice I made to leave Germany and live in the US. I have always liked the American people and always will, but something has gone badly wrong with this country. At this point in my life I am unable to return to Germany to live ! I wish with all my heart that I could. You have made the right decision to move your family to Germany, you obviously did a lot of Research . Your statements are absolutely correct about life in Europe ! Your children will greatly benefit by life in Germany ! I congratulate You for making this Decision !
Liebe Familie,
ich möchte mich bei Euch für Eure Beiträge herzlichst bedanken. Ihr seid ein Vorbild für uns alle. Das Leben ist kein Zustand, sondern Bewegung und Entwicklung. Gestalten wir unsere Zukunft für uns und vor allem für unsere Kinder, so dass diese Zukunft lebenswert ist. Ihr seid aktiv und gestaltet mit, und dafür danke ich Euch.
Liebe Grüße,
Josh (Solingen, Germany)
I've been watching your videos since you arrived in Germany. Sometimes I feel ashamed because I am happy and proud of our little country. I guess it's just a cultural thing that we Germans feel uncomfortable having just a little pride for what we have achieved as a society.
You are such a great and loving family and I hope you continue to have a great time here. You are an enrichment. So are all the people who come here, no matter where they are from. In my opinion, diversity only makes a society and therefore a country stronger.
I am looking forward to the next years with you and maybe watching the kids grow.
I love your comment, thanks for writing these things! We appreciate you watching and appreciate your support!
Hi!! You and Kevin said something that sparked my light bulb. He said something about the German / Alps that , well he just had that excitement that I felt when I started to learn how to speak German. I also get so excited to speak and watch videos about the Munich area. It makes me feel so elated to see all your videos. It`s even hard to explain the feeling , it`s almost like if you lived somewhere in a past life. Feeling so much love for a country but probably never being able to go to it (I have panic attacks). Thank you again for your channel, I`ts wonderful and so informative.
Yes! We totally understand that! I think we do feel like we’ve lived here in a past life!
Yes, Sunday = calm day! Love it! My wife always says Germany in general is totally decompressing the moment you get off the plane arriving or coming back to it. On Sunday I took a long walk with my sister in the fields and forest .... and it is exactly that, calm, decompressing ... recharging.
Yes!! I love it.
Greetings, I lived & worked in Salzburg for 4 yrs. & Munich for 10 yrs. All great comments! However, an issue is that kids are out of school early (around 1pm) without lunch. Also, kids have a lot more homework. This puts pressure mostly on mom’s to stay at home, or get a part time job. You can sign up for a “Kita” (after school care), but open spots are few & babysitters expensive. In this sense, the US system is better. Also, very early, around 5th grade, it is decided by the school (based on grades & teachers opinions), if your child “qualifies” to go to high school (& eventually university), or trade school. This also puts immense pressure on parents & kids (at a very early age). The teaching mindset is also different, focus is often about toughening you up (instead of enabling you). All not for the faint of heart, for some kids this can be defeating.
How do you feel about doing a vlog about a typical day in your life in Germany (either from your own perspective or in general about your family)? I would be very interested in that. Pretty sure I'd watch it over and over again to get the warm and happy energy you and your lifestyle spread. Love what you do, keep it up :)
I appreciate your voices, your diction, your kindness, your professional attitude: a win for Germany
the are certaily are a win for germany, as many germans turn they're back on germany and leaving the country .
I lived in Germany for 3 yrs 82-85 and would give up being an American to become a German
I am a german, living in Munich - thanks for the video - it made me feel very grateful for the things you mentioned, sometimes one takes it for granted...
I really love your perspective of our country 🤗
I lived in the states for a year after school and experiences like that are invaluable!
If you are ever in the Stuttgart area and need a Tourguide or just some information I’ll be glad to help 😊
Thank you - it would be fun to have a tour guide in Stuttgart!
My German husband and I (American) love your videos. We live in the states but also love the mountains, culture, lifestyle of Germany. If circumstances were different I would absolutely adore living in Germany for the reasons you mention. Sara, when you mention women's rights, that resonates with me. Here women's rights are being restricted and sharply curtailed, sad to say. There are many new laws that have passed in certain states and more are proposed that aim to disenfranchise women and minorities.
Yes! Women’s rights are not progressing forward at the moment in the legal system. 😤
Please dear don't believe this ,I'm a German by Birth , now a US citizen , never I like to return ,only if you wealthy like this couple
@@ramonawestberry4751 we are not the channel for you - stop spamming our comments.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife keine Angst,mit euch verschwende ich nicht meine Zeit mehr !
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife Sie können es aber nicht sein lassen mir zu Antworten ,ich bin Deutsch Amerikaner,lebte meine ersten 32 Jahre in Deutschland ,wo bin ich Negativ? Weil ich meine Heimat Die USA liebe ,ich brauche nicht vorsichtig sein ,Drohen sie mir nicht ! OK!
My Opa left Bayern to seek a better life here in America, I think I may need to return to Germany to do the same. Vielen Dank.
Yeah the tables have turned….
@@inka87871 It's a good deal if you can get it. I just wish I knew more about "tech" than posting on YT. LOL!
What a well thought out informative video. As a Canadian we have some of those European advantages but I too love the attributes you have highlighted. So looking forward to visiting Germany this August for 3 weeks to experience a little of what you are enjoying.
Scandinavia is great especially Norway, there can you have the benefits of sea and mountains in one place,like Oslo or Bergen 😀👍
Yes! Such a beautiful country!
Thanks for making a video like this! More videos like this really feel like they can be used to wake people up about how just accepting things the way they are in the US is not okay.
Hi Danny 🙋♂
Very interesting video. We want to leave Germany and are actually looking for a place to go right now. The plan was going to Lithuania, as it's my native land and that's where my family lives but the war messed it all up...
Maybe wait a year and then look weather it makes sense to go back to Lithuania.
Welcome and thanks for showing your reasons and giving perspective. Healthcare, maternal leave, 25 days of paid vacation, social security, over 75 years of peace, tuition free universities are taken as granted.
Yes! I do think from the comments we receive that there are many Germans that don’t know how good it is here.
I‘m so proud of „my Germany“. We have our public insurances (including health) since Bismarck in 1881. We‘ll always have our public insurances. My cousin (born in Germany, his mother is German, his father was a soldier stationed in Germany. After my cousins birth his Dad has to leave Germany with his family to be stationed in the U.S.) wants to move with his wife to Germany. His Mum was murdered when he was 5. He wants to know more about his roots and his Mum‘s family (also my family). His wife has to finish university before moving to Germany and I show these 2 sweethearts you video. You talk about all their questions. You give them the answers as a „new German“ and I answer the questions as a native German. So they know how safe it is and how the government takes care of you. While I‘m writing or talking with my cousin and his wife, it’s so crystal clear for me how glad I am growing up and live in such a wonderful country.
If i see and here what you are saying about beeing a part of Germany or Europe. I want to say: its nice that you are here. Welcome to our society.
Ihr habt eine ukrainische Flüchtlingsfamilie aufgenommen? YOU'RE AWESOME! 💗🥰
I'm a German (Franconian) expat living in the US (for over 30 years). Been enjoying your channel since before you moved to Germany. Thanks for sharing your personal experiences and reassuring the world with humility that it's okay and even fun to have learning curves. The perfectionistic pursuits of having to be "great/best" at everything is not only tiring but a main contributor to global divisiveness. Thus, as much as I appreciate (as a Franconian/Bavarian/German) how you showcase Germany with such love and appreciation, I thank you even more for modeling openness, humility, and reaching out. ❤️
As my Irish husband and I are contemplating repatriating to Germany (possibly via digital nomadism or remote work -likely reimbursed from US employer/customers or a hybrid of German and US income), I wonder how you deal with filing taxes? Do you pay Germany or the US or both? Would really appreciate any experiences you've had... Sounds so confusing and nightmarish to me...And thanks again for your contributions! 🙏 (P.s., how blessed are you with this gorgeous hair of yours! 🤩)
As a Canadian, I like the bit about Kevin driving your son to “ice hockey “ (just hockey in Canada). I love hockey - game is just starting actually! So I gotta go!
P.S. you’re a lovely family ❤️.
here in Germany, we play Hockey ( on grass ) and Ice Hockey ( on ice )..... so we are efficient people, we call it by its names....
@@Arltratlo , well, we do have field hockey too. But you don’t hear much about it. “Ice” hockey is our great passion!
I’m so glad that you are happy living in Germany. I hope that here in the US we can create a better quality of life in the future. Things like, vacation, holiday, & maternity leave/paternity time are so important we must change this. And of course, healthcare & free university needs to be more common. Although in Atlanta, for academic good students Georgia University is free. There simply needs to be more. Best of luck to All of us.
they are back in usa
As I mentioned in a comment of an early video of yours: You guys are enriching our country so much and we need you and likeminded people as you so desperately, that I can barely express howmuch this is the case. Really, you guys should get paid by the german diplomatic service for your videos (= ads for Germany) a lot of money... or better by the BDI (= Bundesverband der deutschen Industrie = Federation of German Industries = is the leading organization of German industry and industry-related service providers) because they are a lot richer.
And you should also get an offer as a junior professor at a FH (Fachhochschule = college) for social work, teaching: workethics, family ethics, environmental ethics and so on.
You are such a good example in all these fields, without the load of a strong believe system or (heaven forbid) a dominant church in the background, that we can not afford to loose your talent to youtube alone (at least not as long as they pay you so little, while your channel is still small). So until you are not having a million followers and are getting a ton of money, please show your work to the BDI and to the diplomatic Service (= Auswärtiges Amt = german State Department) and to the nearby FHs and apply for sponsorship and a Job. You are great ambassadors for Germany, great teachers, great role models.
And to my 10 year old niece I always say: watch out for boys like you sons ... but she is not yet interested in boys! ... and we live in Berlin, therefore your boys are safe. All the best to you and your family for thze future.
Great video! I can relate to basically every point you made...we also moved from the US to Munich with small children and work in the tech industry here. We really love it here and plan to stay forever, and we really believe our children will live a much better, safer, and more cultured life than they would have in Oregon.
One point I was surprised not to hear was childcare - most Germans are shocked when I mention that full time daycare was approx. $1500/kid/month in Portland and in Munich it is essentially free (just a small fee for the "club" and food). Our money just goes so much further here, it really has been the best decision of our lives.
Anyways...great video and viel Glück!
Yes! Our money really goes farther here as so many expenses are covered. Even with the lower salaries and higher taxes, our money still goes farther here!
Your reasons for moving to Germany are bang on - you read my mind. On the infrastructure side Germany (as well as France) looks at long term benefits - not the short term bang for the buck. So roads, bridges, and rail lines are not only built to last a long time (German engineering/quality!), but are kept up and well-maintained. So it's one thing to build it, and another to keep it well-maintained for the long term ($$$$ for upkeep). Long term rate of return.
you are right
but in France a lot of Roads are privat and expensive
Thank you very much for this video. As I can see, you were also in Cochem/Mosel. That’s where I live. I have been to Biloxi MS, Bowman and Comer GA, Charleston SC many times. I also did a long internship in Mississippi. Ultimately, in 1990, the question arose whether I wanted to work as a doctor in the USA or in Germany. I chose Germany because of the healthcare system. Even for a doctor, it’s a luxury to be able to treat everyone without first checking their credit card before starting work. I really like the Southern states, the hospitality, the Southern food, etc. But here in Germany, it’s really nicer.
As a German I totally get your love for the calm on Sunday, you said it exactly right, there is a calmness around you on Sundays in Germany that lets you take a breather. I love them too! (In Germany we actually call it "Ruhetag" = calm day)
Yes! There’s something about the fact that everything is closed and you feel the energy of calm in the air. It makes it much more relaxing.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife Yes, the noise level goes down as well and I can feel my mind relaxing.
Wie schön ❤️ wir leben auch seit 7 Jahre in Deutschland. Wir kommen aus Ungarn 🇭🇺
I'm happy that you both love living in Germany. I live out side of Munich 45 minutes from Austria. Germany does offer a lot for people who work outside of the food industry however, just to let you know that people working in the food and beverage industry work really hard and most of them don't have that time off as office workers. If you own a small business here, it is hard and very expensive because of the strict laws. Many times our employees would take advantage of the paid sick leave. That is why many people and small companies are moving to Poland or Hungary because it is more business friendly. Munich is one of the top cities in Germany to live in but you have to be able to afford it. Living here for over 28 years, I have seen also the ugly side. I love listening to your stories because I was also just as excited as you guys when I first came here and yes seeing all the other different countries was a great experience for me but, there is nothing more better than family back home.
Great to have your perspective on here, too. Thanks for sharing!
I live in Pennsylvania. I love all your reasons why you choose to live in Germany. I am fighting for those items you mentioned so we can have them here. It’s sad that you had to leave for something better.
I think it’s wonderful that you’re staying there to make things better. 💕
What I find a pity though with education and jobs in Germany is the sort of inflexibility to rely more on skills/cross-skills. A lot is based on an official 2 year or 3year training which is requested for pretty much every little thing and they are often not really ready to give a chance to people based on whether they could fit in well into a team or whether they have already skills that can be useful for or fit the job profile. I think skills and personality should be considered more. A proper Report of Ausbildungszeugnis often doesn't state whether you are completely clumsy with two left hands, whether you would be a good fit for the company or whether you are able to learn anything while doing the job. Here in Ireland I work in insurance, never been formally trained for it, learned all on the job and it works grand. 6 years on that job now, plus I had been given the chance to do so. I doubt I'd get a job like that in Germany if I went back home...
Many in the insurance industry in Germany have not done any training for this and are career changers. For many jobs there is no obligation for training - it is not that rigid here either. Of course, not everyone can become an electrician - that's good.
BMW in the USA has now adopted the German dual training system in their plants because they simply could not find suitable skilled workers.
Amazing video, great points that I think I’ll agree on as well, if we can seize the day to make it happen also!
Oh, I love this video! So positive! I totally agree about the education system. The education is generally much better than in Britain, I find. And I pay for my Master’s degree €175 every 6 months. I’m a mature student, but it’s the same for everyone. That’s Semestergebühren and includes public transport within the town. Germany invests in its future, that’s how it is viewed. And the apprenticeship system is phenomenal, absolutely! And all that tuition money saved can go towards fabulous experiences.
WOW, 175 euros every 6 months for a Master's?! I mean, Americans would be so shocked by this. It's so much more fair here. So many jobs are requiring people to have a degree to apply (even though it's not really needed) but the poor really cannot afford college, so it's becoming harder and harder for them to get jobs. It's not equitable and it's making the divide between rich and poor much wider.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife yes, €175 per semester. That’s it. You might need to buy some books, and of course, accommodation and food. And you can sometimes stretch out how long the degree takes, to have a semester working somewhere, for example. It’s the same for a bachelors. Depending on which degree your kids are interested in, they may need to have passed their latin exam, so a heads-up to do it in school, and get it out of the way. Oh, and they may need to speak English 😁
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife last year i talked to a danish student. they get paid like 820 euro free per month for six years to go to university... take this Germany lol
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife Die "Semestergebühren" können in den verschiedenen Bundesländern unterschiedlich sein. Beispielsweise die Gebühren im Saarland (ein "armes" Land):
Zusammensetzung der Beiträge
Beitrag zum Studentenwerk 98,70 €
Beitrag zur Unfall-, Haftpflicht- und Diebstahlversicherung 1,30 €
allgemeiner Studierendenschaftsbeitrag 13,00 €
Verwaltungskostenbeitrag 50,00 €
Semesterticket 127,00 €
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Summe 290,00 €
Nur der Verwaltungskostenbeitrag ist für die Universität. Das Semesterticket ist für den öffentlichen Nahverkehr und ermöglicht das kostenlose Fahren in allen Zügen und Bussen im Saarland.
I grew up as a German expat kid in Asia and I’ve traveled all over the world. There are so many great places and countries. But there’s nothing like home. I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else than Germany for the exact same 15 reasons.
Thank you for spicing up my Sunday morning.
Kindergeld only depends on the number of children you have, not the place you live in. You get more for the 4th child than the1st.
You are lucky to have state insurance, where you don't have to pay extra for dependents, that makes things so much easier.
And I would still like to find out how come Kevin spent 5 years in Sweden.
I admire you for taking in the Ukrainian family. Two cultures getting to know a third one together. You are truly international 😀
Actually, it does also depend on where you live. When we were looking to live closer to Munich, the Kindergeld was 250€ per child. Out here in the countryside where it’s cheaper, the Kindergeld is about €215 for each child.
Oh yes, so Kevin did a study abroad program in Sweden and then graduated and got a job there! And yes it’s so interesting for us to be foreigners, helping other foreigners. I feel like I’m German because I’m showing them German foods, speaking German for them in the stores, things like that! So bizarre!
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife Well, for them you probably feel German as well. You immersed into our local culture and adapted quite a lot. Listening to you now is like listening to a long time neighbor telling from his youth but generally having the same value system as you do.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife Interesting. Probably the City of Munich pays a supplement, because the Kindergeld, nationwide, is the same.
@@MyMerryMessyGermanLife Kindergeld gibt es für eigene, Stief-, Adoptiv- und Pflegekinder. Es beträgt seit dem 1.1.2021 je 219 € monatlich für die ersten 2 Kinder, 225 € für das 3. Kind und je 250 € ab dem 4. Kind.
What timing! We just uploaded our video on 5 reasons we moved here! As another American family with kids, I have to agree with most of your reasons for coming here. While not everything is perfect, we have loved our life here as well.
Oh very cool! Great minds think alike.