Germany is a very beautiful country with a lot to do and see. Granted, there is a difference between vacationing somewhere and moving there. Whether or not you will be happy moving to Germany is dependent on many factors that come into play. The United States is a lot different from Germany in some ways and quite similar in others. The streets, the houses, the city centres, and most of all the language. You’ll know once you wake up each morning that you’re no longer in the United States. This however, isn’t a bad thing at all, it’s just different, which is expected. That’s a part of the thrill that comes with moving to the other side of the world, there’s so much to see, so much you haven’t seen before, so much that’s different and intriguing.
So what are the main things that will ultimately determine if you like Germany or not?
· Language: This is perhaps the biggest challenge a lot of Americans have when moving to Germany. The language isn’t the easiest one to learn, in fact, most people find it rather challenging at first. To solve this problem, go in with an open mind and try. Learning a new language can be fun. In Germany there are quite a large number of language schools where you can enroll to start your German learning quest. You’ll meet nice, welcoming people, make new friends, go on trips, and begin putting sentences together until you’ve finally got it and can have normal conversations with the locals. Because a large number of Germans speak English, the transition into the German Language culture may be a lot simpler for English natives than natives of other languages. What you don’t want to do, is sit home and frown about not knowing the language rather than trying to learn it. The beginning steps may be hard, but it’s definitely worth it in the end.
· Food: Depending on where you are located in Germany, food may be the least of your problems. The possibility is there to get all the delicious treats that you were used to having in the United States as well as to make some new favorite dishes based on German cuisine. Pizza, Mc Donalds, Starbucks, whatever it is that you felt you couldn’t leave behind at home, you should be able to find it here.
· Friends: So you’re planning on moving to Germany and the ideal situation would be to pack up all your friends and family in a carry on or two, but that’s just simply not possible. Come with an open mind and an open heart. Be willing to join groups online, chat with the neighbors and make new friends that you can share experiences with. Websites such as toytowngermany.com have lots of forums where native English speakers arrange regular meet-ups to enjoy a coffee or a night out on the town.
Germany is a great place, and your experience here will depend on your willingness to accept change.
