Living in Germany, Still

Boy, there's a lot of complaining back home. All the anger seems to be directed at one man: the U.S. President. It's his fault people can't feed their children; it's his fault they have to pay for medical insurance; it's his fault they have no job; because of him, they can't possess guns (even though that is not the case!); it's his fault that life sucks in general. Everything that is wrong with their lives is attributable to Barack Obama. When and why did the U.S. become a country with so much vitriol? Why do its citizens whine and complain so much? Why aren't things getting fixed? Why is there so much dissatisfaction, which spreads from person to person in epidemic proportions? Obama can be blamed for those problems, as well, I'm sure. It's all his fault. Poor guy -- he's just one man!

In Germany, there are also complaints about the government. There are complaints about everything, just like in the U.S. In fact, I find that certain Germans beschweren und schimpfen more than anyone I've ever met. However, now that I've been here for 18 full months, I can say that living in Germany is really pretty good, and I'd recommend it to anyone. Let me tell you about some benefits.

Vacation Days. In the U.S., the standard is 10 vacation days, or two weeks, per year. I'm a teacher, so I get more free days no matter what, but in Germany, people with "regular" full-time jobs get at least 30 paid vacation days, or six weeks. It's higher in certain other European countries and the longer you are at your job. My 26-year-old friend Alina is the manager of a drugstore -- a normal job, you might say. She just got back from a trip to the beach in Turkey; after that, she was able to travel to Luxembourg for an overnight stay. In the summer, she went to Croatia. It's really beneficial to mind, body and spirit to be able to take several two-week vacations per year. It helps deter burnout. 

Health Insurance/Tax Benefits. First of all, the system here works. Before I came over, I heard rumors that taxes were exorbitant, and I would be going to a socialist country (however terrible or true that is, I can't tell). Just over one-third of my pay, or 37%, goes to taxes and retirement. However, when I go to the doctor or dentist, visits are free, unless I need something extra (like a higher-quality filling than the insurance will pay for). Eye doctor visits are free as well. Medications only require a small copay of 5 or 10 euros. 

Further, sales tax on purchases, including food and clothing, etc. is included or non-existent. Therefore, I know exactly how much I am spending. There are no surprises at the cash register.

Other wonderful benefits come from my tax money, including the maintenance of and free admission into national landmarks, parks, castles and ruins, and very clean streets and efficient transportation and government. 

Over the summer, I was jobless, so I was encouraged to apply for unemployment, which is a given in Germany. I received enough to live on for three months, even though I was only working here for one year before I applied. 

Groceries are cheap! and food is fresher. In most case, it doesn't travel so far to get to stores, and there are what we would call "farmer's" markets almost every weekend in most towns. You can read on labels where your food comes from, and Ursprung: Deutschland means it was grown right here in-country.

A beautiful selection of pumpkins and gourds at the Weinheim Markt

When I first got to Germany, I was poorer than I am now. The economy in the U.S. was pretty terrible. My job there had pooped out, and I couldn't find anything else substantial (thus the move overseas for work). After selling almost everything of value, I still had to borrow money to get to Germany. Then I had to borrow money here for housing. I didn't get my first paycheck until almost two months after I started my first job. Therefore, I had to live on a budget of about 20 to 30 euros a week for food, after all my other expenses were paid.

However, that amount is plenty to buy coffee, milk for your coffee, toilet paper, good bread, and apples, which are mostly grown locally. Milk purportedly comes from the Alps (there are beautiful black and white cows on green pastures in the mountains on the cartons), bread from the bakery around the corner, apples from Süddeutschland, and the toilet paper comes from recycled products (see recycling below). You can go to the butcher and buy sausages and more sausages freshly ground that day and spend only a few euros. Leberwurst -- a mainstay in my diet -- ist cheap and delicious. Bakeries are even billiger. If you don't get food from Germany, it usually comes from sunny countries nearby such as France, Italy, and the Netherlands.

Beef is expensive, as well as corn tortillas, which are difficult to locate. If you want good Mexican food, it's costly if you cook it yourself with "imported" items from the grocery store, such as black beans and taco shells. But alas, I digress. Those are negative aspects about Germany.

Recycling. I always thought that if I went into politics, the first thing I would do is make recycling mandatory. It's so beneficial for the planet, and it creates lots of jobs. In Germany, we recycle paper, containers, food, and plastic bottles. You get 15 or 25 cents for each bottle you return, including glass beer bottles in many cases. There are paper, "Bio," and Restmüll bins out on the street, which are picked up regularly. Even your used paper towels can go into the paper bin, and your orange peels and other organic stuff go into the Bio container. At home, we have less real garbage than recyclable containers-- such as tin cans and milk cartons, and these go into "yellow sacks" and are placed out on the street about once every two weeks in big piles all over Germany. You need a lot of space in your kitchen or storeroom for all the items you recycle, but it's worth it. I feel ashamed when I am too lazy to walk my Apfel core out to the Bio bin, because in our house, we don't have a container for that. 

Banking. To handle bills in Germany, you use your bank account. You pay and get paid electronically. It saves a lot of paper and is very efficient. Since I've been here, I have also acquired a German credit card where my monthly payments are 10% of my total balance. That works for me. They just doubled my credit limit! I don't think I can get into too much trouble financially, because I just don't have the expenses I had back home. So far I don't have an automobile, because I can walk, ride a bike or take a train most anywhere I need to go, so that eliminates hundreds in payments, insurance, and gas. I would like a car, but right now, it doesn't make fiduciary sense. 

Ich vermisse mein Auto, aber...

Public Transportation. For reasons stated above, public transportation is very beneficial. Sure, it's like riding the bus; sometimes people stink, babies cry, and others talk too loud, but for economics and efficiency, it's great. Bring a book and an iPod, and you're all set. I can travel in a streetcar ("tram") to work and back home without much hassle at all -- the biggest worry is getting to my stop on time. If I want to go to Berlin or Hamburg, I can do that, too, on a bigger, faster train with comfier seats. I miss my car and my car stereo, but in Germany, it's hard to find a parking place sometimes, so you have to consider that. And walking can keep you fit, if you don't eat too many sausages and scrumptious Brötchen.

I'm sure there are more benefits to life in Germany, but for now, that's enough. It was a big adjustment living here at first, but now, I kinda like it. 

Come visit anytime!

Dictionary

der Apfel - (the) apple

beschweren - to complain

billig(er) - cheap(er)
die Brötchen - (the) rolls

ist - is

die Leberwurst - (the) liverwurst

der Restmüll - (the) garbage

schimpfen - to "bitch" or swear
Süddeutschland - southern Germany
Ursprung: Deutschland - origin: Germany