A question for Germans and people who have been living in Germany?

Question

This is a question for German natives and/or people who have lived in Germany for a period of time. Do you enjoy living in Germany and are you happy there? If you have been to America: Do you like Germany better than the U.S.? Do you like the people in Germany in general better than people in America? Do you enjoy German culture and society better than American culture and society and why or why not?

Answer 1

Germany defenatly rocks much more then US, I've lived either places for quite a while, Germany it's just so much better. I've really enjoid US too, it was coo' maby becaouse I originate from Russia

Answer 2

I'm a native German, who emigrated to Britain half a year ago, and although I love it here too, I do appreciate some things in Germany when I go back occasionally. Like the refreshing brashness and cheek of the media, including both private channels and shows and political magazines on the regular ones. Everything the goverment or other governtments do is questioned, which is a good thing in my view. Political satire is set great store by and it's very lively on TV as well as in the club scene. There's a general atmosphere of freedom and openmindedness and you can say things about politicians you would probably be arrested for if you said them in the USA in public. After the horrible experience of the n**i period, German schools teach the children to be critical and not to obey blindly, so usually, kids grow up with a very broad and critical view of the political world. I wouldn't want to live in the USA, because in my view, freedom of speech is only a ruse there and the citizens are very unfree.

One thing I dislike in Germany though are the horrible manners of people, who are much less polite than in other countries. If you go in a shop 10 minutes before they close, you might hear a grunting sound rather than a friendly welcome and a whispering in the background complaining about those awful customers. ;-)

But if you get to know them better, after 10 or 20 years, most Germans turn out quite friendly, sometimes.

Answer 3

Hi, I'm German, living in the U.S. and I like living here much better than in Germany for exactly the same reasons Americans like living in Germany better. I know that sounds weird but I repeatedly asked Americans what they like better about Germany than America and they gave me the same answers I was just about to give them on the same question. I think it always depends where you are at in Germany and what your situation is (looking for work or so) if you have no money and no chance to get a job living is bad in both countries. If you are OK and open minded living is great in both countries.

Answer 4

I am an American and have lived in Germany for the past 14 months. I am ready to go home.  I don't like Germany better.  And I don't particularly like the people better either.  The culture is interesting and so are the sights.  The food is very good.

Answer 5

Hi, I'm an American living in Germany and I love it. I would have to say I like living in Germany better than living in the US. The Germans are on average very nice people. The culture is very family oriented and they seem to like to spend a lot of time outdoors. At least where I live (In the Palatinate). I wouldn't say they are better here, it's just a different culture. They do though seem nicer, and more open. At first they may look stern, but once you start talking to them, you find this doesn't mean anything. They have a lot of holidays (33 I think) and don't seem to work as much as an average American.

If you like to travel Germany is in a great spot in between France, the Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, and the Czech Republic.

The things I don't like about living here is that it rains a lot! It can get kind of depressing after a while, but usually by then the sun peeps out. Also everything is closed on Sundays and they don't have near as many places to shop. It's a little expensive too.

If you like the outdoors, socializing and travel it's a wonderful place to live. I hope this helps you;)

Answer 6

Hi there, I am a German native who curretnly lives in Germany, but has lived in the US twice, each time for almost a year.

I can't say which country is "better" or where I like living more. When I am in Germany, I miss certain things about the US, like the friendliness by the salespeople in the stores though everytime I go back, it takes me a while to get used to it again, because sometimes it's just a little too much), the cheap clothes and so on. Certain foods.

When I'm in the US, I miss certain things about Germany. The bread, for one thing. The cheap supermarket stores. Movable showerheads. Certain foods. The tampons (not a joke here!).

I do miss walking through old towns and seeing castles and castle ruins, because almost every city around where I come from has got something like that.

I often describe the way I feel to my friends as "turning over a switch in my head". If I stumble out of a plane looking for caffeine and the person goes: "What can I do for you (& darling, honey or whatever)" the first thing I think is: "God, I must look terrible if she is so kind to me!" And than I remember I just arrived in the US.

However, if the person behind the counter goes: "Yes?!" or simply looks at me, I'm like: "Alright, you're back home in Germany."

As for happines: I was/am happy in both countries generally. I do like Germany a little better than the US, because it's where I grew up and all my friends and family are here. Culture-wise I think you can't compare the two. Sure, they are both western cultures, but it's jsut difficult to compare countries that are so different in so many tiny things. I could never name them all. Society: Well, society is something you can pick, and I enjoyed the society I had in the US, and I enjoy the society I have here. Don't get me wrong, I have been talked down to in the US because I was German/European by some people, but I have also been talked down to by "friends" in Germany for having already lived in the US once and wanting to go back there (that was before my second stay there). It all came down to people equaling country to government and politics, and that's not the way to go. I don't like Bush ,I don't support what he is doing, and I don't think he is right, but that does not change that the people in the US are nice, open, interested, sometimes a little naive (those were very young, though) and generally fun to be with. People in Germany are not that openly open. You do need to gt to know them a little before you can talk to them about their political views and stuff, but they are also fun, interested, outgoing.

Like I said, for me, it's like a switch in the head that has to get turned over.

But I like living in "both" worlds.

Answer 7

one thing is very different: swearing

in germany you can use every dirty word in public even there are children arround you. try that in the us.

Answer 8

I'm an American student currently studying in Germany, and some of what I say is just going to reaffirm what everyone else has said. The culture here (in southern Germany) is absolutely amazing. The pace of life is a bit slower, and you get the sense that everyone is savoring life a bit more. The beer is FANTASTIC, even if you're not normally a beer drinker, and the wine is surprisely amazing (I always think more or Italy and France and California when I think great wine). The backerys, cafes, etc. all very awesome. As a student, it's quite different. Inside of having classes 2 to 4 times a week, classes meet once a week for 2 hours, and there is significantly less daily work. The grading scale is also very different.

The public transporation is also a welcome plus, and this coming from someone who loves to drive. Unfortunately Deutsche Bahn (the German rail system) is one of the more expensive in europe, but it's definitely well organized and convienent, nine times out of ten. There is also great local transit, although I find that most places are well within walking distance.

I find the people a bit more distant at first. Small talk isn't really as big here as it is back home - in fact it's often regarded as shallow. However, once you make a German friend, generally you'll be friends for life - friendships here are taken very seriously/deeply.

Germans are VERY environmentally aware. Recycling is SO MUCH BETTER than it is back home. You seperate all of your trash into 4 to five different bins, and get taxed if you do it wrong.

Germany is an absolutely beautiful country. There are so many beautiful sights, although quite a lot has had to be rebuilt. The history here is just so rich, and you rarely get bored, as there's always some place to go and see.

There are definitely cons though, and this coming from the American perspective. Nothing besides bars/restaurants is open past 10, or on Sundays. And if you are a serious student, while the experience of Germany is in general fanstastic, the university system is going to drive you up the wall. Nothing is online or consolidated, how to register for classes varies from class to class, and could involve anything from waiting in a line for 5 hours to emailing a teacher or finding a random room and signing up there. The library, at least at my school, is arranged by pulication date instead of subject, you aren't allowed to check out the majority of your books, and yes, it too is closed on sunday. Teachers are a lot more distant than ones back home, and not nearly so helpful in office hours.

Speaking of office hours, that's one thing you have to contend with quite a lot. No 24 hour customer service. Generally there will be five offices you need to get to in regards to banking, registering with the city, etc, and they will only be open an hour an a half a week, and generally it will all be during the same hour. Banking in particular is horrible. Just - so much less organized than the USA. In fact, I would say that, other than public transport, everything here is SIGNIFICANTLY less organized.

I personally find it easier to socialize and what not back home, though I do believe a lot of that has to do with my difficulties with the foreign language. On a whole, I love the culture and lifestyle and would love to move back for a few years, though I think I would ultimately prefer to settle back in the United States. I've fallen in love with my little city and will hate having to leave it in a few months, but as all of my family and most of my friends are in the USA, it makes more sense for me to be there, plus I plan to continue a career in academia, and it would make far more sense for me to do that back home.

Answer 9

I have been living in Germany for three years now but I have lived here previously.

I love living in Germany and I'm very happy here. I prefer Germany to America - although I have never lived there only visited. I would visit America again but never live there.

I think that German people are friendly and fun and a nice group of people but I wouldn't say Americans are any less so.

I think that the German culture is great - the majority do not fall into the boring lederhosen sausage eating stereotype that they are given - they are great fun, definately know how to party and are generally nice and polite.

In my eyes the society of America is varied to where abouts you go to. I love San Fran as the people were polite, clean and friendly. LA scared me and I wouldn't walk the streets on my own at night - likewise Las Vegas was very surreal and I wouldn't go on my own there.

Overall I prefer Germany for my reasons stated above. I also prefer it to the United Kingdom (where I am from).

Hope this helps you - I tried to be as informative as I could without boring you senseless!!

Answer 10

Tofi, I have no idea how you got the impression that swearing in public is okay in Germany. I have never ever heard so much "dirty talk" (f....)  in public/on TV as in the US. Unfortunately, young Germans consider it cool and are picking it up from the US more and more!

The German culture is very different from the American one even they are both Western cultures. There are advantages/disadvantages in both countries.