Choose the right city for you!

Germany is a diverse country, so make sure you know what you want and where you can get it.

It is a fabulous place but I have met people who loved the idea of Bavarian hills and went to Frankfurt or who wanted excitement and went to Nuremberg.

So, my tip is think about what you want and where you can get it!

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I have been in Munich since September and it has been rough. Expenses are quite high, apartments are hard to find. You need to be prepared to put down a very high deposit for the apartment akin to 3-5 times the monthly rental cost. Rental cost at the moment is about 10 euros/square meter. The government will require you to have an apartment large enough for all of your family, and if not, they will tell you to get a bigger one. If you live outside of the city center and commute, remember to add the cost of the monthly train ticket per person in your family. I don't have a car, I bicycle every day. I know peope who do 10+ miles each way, but I do 4 each way. The drivers are respectful, there are bikeways everywhere, on almost each street, and definitely on every major street. Shopping is tough, especially if you are single and working. My working hours are 9-6, but all stores close at 8pm (labor laws), and are only open Saturday, not Sunday. Banks close for lunch, as do many shops, but not grocers. Taxes, including the mandatory health insurance, the govt takes 52% if you are single. So that seemingly sufficient pay check winds up very small when you see any of the cash. People in Bavaria are REALLY tough to get to know. So far, I have no friends here. I have colleagues, but no friends. Virtually no one will talk on the street spontaneously. I've been testing this by saying Hello to people at certain street corners and locations each morning, and they look at you, but rarely respond. On the other hand, people in shops, and on trains are more open. English speakers are a mixed bag. It is tough being here as a non-German speaker. Munich is certainly NOT an international city. The only signs/voices in English are on certain trains when approaching the main strain station "hauptbahnhof". Other than that, it is all in German. I struggled to use the library, even to find language learning materials to learn German, and had hard time finding English help. I found Spanish before English, and luckily I speak Spanish. I have not been here as a tourist, so I cannot speak from that perspective. Bring your own shopping bag when you go shopping, or you will buy one on the way out.

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Great tips! Anyone else have any advice to add? If you got a call from an old friend or colleague who was moving to Germany, what advice would you give them?

Betsy

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Hi! I understand you are a little bit confused by the new environment you are having at the moment, I guess it is really hard to adapt to a new way of life, especially to new people. I have an acquaintance, and it's also quite hard for him to find friends, not only colleagues or just acquaintances. I'd recommend to you to look for some information in internet about the city u r living in - there are several sites in the internet devoted only to Munich and life there for expats. For example, u can check TalkMunich.com - there is a cool forum there with many topics discussed!
Good luck, and have a nice day.
Yulia

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I think one of the best things about Germany is how centrally located it is in Europe, and how fantastic the transit is. In the US, you can drive clear across the continent and never encounter any drastic change in culture, but in Germany you can hop a train and be in Poland in time for dinner, or take a day trip to France. Take advantage of it! See Prague, spend a weekend in London.

There are lots of options for travel:
-Ryan Air (www.ryanair.com) provides cheap (really cheap - as low as 1€) flights all over Europe, but watch out for luggage fees and out of the way airports.
-Deutsche Bahn (www.bahn.de, also available in English) is the national rail system, and the trains are comfy, punctual, and convenient. It can be pricey, so consider getting a Bahncard, they offer 25 and 50% discounts on all tickets, definitely worth it if you plan on riding the rails a lot. Discount tickets (like the Europa-Spezial) can save you a lot too, but you usually have to buy in advance.
-Eurolines (www.eurolines.com) is an international bus network that offers great deals for certain fares, and is usually cheaper than the train, but not as comfortable. They don't offer much in the way of travel inside the country, but if you head outside Germany they are definitely worth a look.
-Mitfahrgelegenheit (www.mitfahrgelegenheit.de) is an online carpooling community, and one of the absolute best ways to travel on a budget. The average price is 5€/100km, meaning you can get from Frankfurt to Berlin for about 30€ (A regular train ticket will run you 100€). You can find rides pretty much anywhere it is reasonable to drive to (even Moscow!). It's a very strange concept for Americans, but has a great safety record and may even give you a chance to make a new friend. Prepare to be flexible about travel dates and times to find the best rides, especially if you are travelling far.

Most importantly, get out of your city and see what there is to see. Germany itself has great diversity and landmarks to explore, but it also shares its border with 9 other countries, each of which has a unique set of cultures and adventures.

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