Now that I have lived in Germany for nearly two years, I thought it was over due to share my thoughts on how things are going for me and my family.
I'd like to start with on a positive note and share a list of pros and advantages of living in downtown Wiesbaden.
1. English Speaking Nation – This has been the biggest advantage of living in a foreign country where everything can seem new and strange. I reach out for the familiar that can make it feel more like home. Most everyone that I have encountered is able to speak enough English to carry on a full conversation without using google translate. It makes everyday life much easier to navigate when the native population is able to speak a language I can easily understand.
2. Extensive Public Transportation – I personally, haven't had the privilege of using the trains or buses. I have used a taxi a couple times, but it can be quite pricey. Unlike Korea, where I took the taxis more often due to it's affordability, I would stay clear away from taxis here. For a low fee of 49 Euro a month, you are able to hop on a bus and the “slow” trains for an unlimited aunt time that month. My supervisor has not owned a car for his five year stay here and has relied on public transportation for his during of his stay in Germany. You can purchase this pass here:
3. Christmas/Fresh markets and fairs – A visit or stay in Germany without a visit to the wonderful Christmas markets would be a shame! Downtown transforms into a winter wonderland every winter with an ice skating rink, food stalls, and merchandise from all over the world emerge to cheer up the dreary cold winters. Fresh markets, available all year round and fairs for each special occasion can also be found in every city. This year's schedule can be posted here:
4. Taxes along with Prices – This may be a little detail that I find convenient, but I like that every individual purchase already had the taxes included in the advertised price. Taxes do run high (19%) which is not great, but having the face value listed makes it easier to swallow, so to speak. As a US Sofa holder, I am able to take advantage of having large purchases tax free with the correct documentation presented at checkout. This also applies for online purchases. Here is a site that details shopping in Germany and other European countries.
5. Similarities to US – I have lived in five different countries, fully immersed in each cultural nuances of each people. By far, Germany has been the closest to living in the US. The grocery stores (no strange seafood with tentacles in the fridge section) and restaurants are much more similar to the ones in the US. This may be comforting for someone who hasn't experience in living overseas.
6. Long Summer Days – This can be a great plus for someone who loves the sunshine and their days to last longer. The fact that the sun doesn't start setting until 10 pm, makes the days longer and motivation to accomplish more in the daylight is readily available.
7. Walk ability – Living downtown, most stores and service shops is within walking distance. I get plenty of exercise without much effort. It's nice to be able to talk a walk and enjoy the beautiful architecture and multiple parks to bask in nature in it's green spaces.
8. Delivery Practices – This may be a small detail, but the fact that all deliveries are handed to a human or ensured in an enclosed, secured space is a big one! No more worries with porch pirates snagging your Amazon packages. Your packages are given to your neighbors for safe keeping until you are able to pick it up. I live in an apartment building and usually find my packages in the lobby, safe from the public.
9. Neighborhood Conveniences – I noticed that each neighborhood is set up with a grocery store, gas station, bakeries, apotheke and other shops nearby. All within walking distance, one doesn't have to live downtown to have this convenience.
10. Sundays as rest days – To round off the list, initially I found Sundays an inconvenience. All stores and shops are shut down every Sunday. The only thing open is usually the service industry and other organization that could help the public relax. Restaurants, museums, movie theaters, and other entertainment venues are usually open. I think this is more of an advantage to a culture that allows most of their people to relax an entire day every week.
Now on to the cons that I find while living in Germany.
1. Non-existent Customer Service – This was quite evident very quickly. In order to settle in our new home country, shopping for necessities is done sooner than later. I noticed that it is culturally acceptable for store employees to be aloof and not very helpful. They definitely do not go out of their way to offer assistance.
2. Cold Public Persona – The fact that it is considered rude to ask a stranger “How are you doing?” is an indication of a culture who is not as welcoming as I would like. Walking around our neighborhood, most avert your gaze and do not speak a word to acknowledge my existence. This is quite a huge difference from every place I have lived. Even living in the deep south of the US, everyone is very friendly.
3. Dreary Winters – While the summers are sunny and daylight is amply, the winters are the complete opposite. Ying and yang, I suppose are at work here. My first winter hit me pretty hard with the lack of sunshine and needed to take extra Vitamin D and used sun lamps at my desk at work for the dark early days were a necessity. The sun was so rare, that it was common that the drive to and from work are both in the dark.
4. Payment for Toilets – When going out, one must ensure that coins are on hand in case nature calls and you find yourself hunting for a bathroom. For a small fee, you are able to do just that. This pays for the janitorial crew to keep the facilities sparkling clean. Some are automated and has a coin operated door. These can be found in parks and public spaces. Here is an article that details this
practice.
5. Quiet hours – This is a country wide rule that must be observed. This starts at 10 pm to 6 am on the weekdays. All day Sunday and on Holidays. Make sure you have your calendar to include German holidays so you can be informed on what days are holidays. Be aware that there a lot of holidays!
6. Nosy Neighbors – I guess this can be applied to any country, depending on the neighborhood you live in, but I warned about this when I arrive. My colleague can attest to this when a friend of his, parked in front of their house softly hit the car in front of them. They were going to leave a note, but was in a hurry. Since they live there, they assumed it was safe to do so upon their return. A witness called the police and they were charged with a “hit and run”. His wife's license was suspended for a year. Sometimes they feel the need to police you themselves. Letting you know what is not acceptable, even if it is not illegal. Make sure you observe those quiet hour. I find myself with letters stuffed in my mailbox from multiple neighbors complaining about the noise levels in the apartment building.
7. Bland Food – I experience this when we visited London years ago. Germany has the same issues with bland food. The only food that has flavor are not native to this country. Asian and Mexican restaurants showcase more flavors. My family is food-centric and this has been a struggle for us. We find ourselves cooking more often and rarely go out or have delivery food.
8. Shutdown Sundays – I felt the need to put this on both list. I find it an inconvenience for me, but this is an advantage for everyone else who like having their Sundays off. I find the stores are crowded on Saturdays and try to go out earlier once the stores are open in order to avert the crowds.
9. Lack of Parking – This is only important for car owners. Since we prefer to travel privately, seeking public parking can be a challenge. Having to pay for parking for most large malls makes it pricey. It is rare to have free parking lot for shops.
10. Antiquated Practices – Paper is king here. Everything is done with hard copies. Prescriptions are dispensed only on paper and sometimes two trips are necessary to the apothekere since you must drop off the pres cription and the medicine may not be readily available. Gas pump are not outfitted with credit card readers. It is necessary to walk in and pay at the register. Car washes requires a visit at the register first to purchase a token or card then to the car wash to input the token. Most processes seemed to be designed to complicate the steps to accomplish the task. Be aware that most stores do not allow you to exit without a purchase. Larger electronic stores will allow you to leave, but the gates must be opened to let you out. I guess this is a loss prevention practice. Some shops do not accept cards, so ensure you have cash on hand. Parking lots are routed to have only one entrance and one exit with paths predefined with arrows. While underground parking is usually set up like this, all open parking lots are also set up with this one-way design. Discontinue services must be done in writing and sometimes a 90 day notice is necessary.
I think it's interesting that I found equal amounts of pros and cons while living here. I try to keep an open mind and write about our new home country at least after a year of residence. To be fair, living in a foreign country will never be easy. It's unfamiliar and takes me and my family out of our comfort zone. It does broaden our horizon and being exposed to multiple countries and it's culture is an education in itself. It has kept our minds open and more accepting of other people and their practices. Being a foreigner upon my arrival in the US from the Philippines has taught me at a young age that people comes in all forms of shapes and sizes. Culturally, it has varied our beliefs and way of life. Japan still stays very dear to our heart and will always be our second home.
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