" Give it a try. What can you lose? If you hate it, you can always move back. Just make sure you have enough in savings to do it with. :) "

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" Hi Michele, Just by the virtue you have gone this far to find this website and are approaching the subject rationally shows that your head is involved and that you are seriously committed to pursuing this move. Yes, your job is quite transferrable and you should have no problems getting a job in Munich - or maybe even Leipzig or Dresden for that matter. If you have ever thought you were not a ''typical American'' and think you can live without your car, a kazillion TV channels and Krispy Kreme doughnuts, then by all means go ahead. As far as the weather, you''re right, it ain''t Florida (but then you vacation in Greece or Spain, right?) and as for the rest of Americanisms, you will find McDonald''s on literally every corner, American-style coffee shops with bagels and all the Levis and Nikes you need. Just be sure to live in a bigger city (ie Munich) because otherwise the local provincials won''t have a clue about America and will drive you crazy with their idiotic sterotypes of the States. If you voted for Bush, you will have to defend that one no matter where you go, though. But in the bigger cities you are likely to find people who understand that not all Americans are bubblegum-chewing, baseball cap-wearing, big car-driving, US centric-thinking like they prefer to portray us as. If your doctor is your love, the rest will fall into place. At least you will be well served when it comes to navigating the health care system. Look for the big American and German companies for their Munich offices online--they will have job postings or at least an HR contact. Also look in the Suddeutsche Zeitung--there are many English-language job postings. You could probably get in on the tech green cards to begin with and move to a proper Aufenthaltserlaubnis (residency permit)later on through work or marriage. I''m also 31 and am moving to Germany with slightly different arrangements and I agree with you: time to stop messing around. If that is your philosophy and this seems like it''s good, then do it. It will suck at first and it will be hard and you will hate Germany at some point, but in the end it will be fine and you will do well and even the sun will shine. Good luck and all the best, Amy "

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" Michele, I''ve copied this entire thread to the Germany Network. I thought it might help you get some additional job advice for from our members in Germany. Best of luck with your decision and potential job hunt! Betsy expatexchange.com "

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" I moved to Germany from San Diego, and yes the weather is a big change. I went from year-round sunshine to sometime-sunshine. I''ve been here 18 months and I am single. My original move to GE was due to being in the military, however, I decided to stay and work as a civilian. There are many American companies with offices in Germany (SAIC, CSC, Darlington, etc) that offer tax-free earnings. I currently live in Weisbaden but will soon move to Mannheim. I''ve never regretted moving here and I have been to most of Europe and in December I went to Egypt. I''m visiting places most of my friends only dream about. Have passport will travel. Yvette-M "

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" I''m on my 1st day of a whole new life in Edinburgh. Of course the people here speak English (?!) but a real love will help you with slang even! At 42, divorcing, I insist you are not over-the-hill even at 36 or 37! If you discover in 5 years he''s got a hobby of other nurses or you just cannot hear another speech in German, you Can move back. Your family will be Envious, not told-you-so. I hear cyber-work makes you more flexible regarding language learning, & that new fluency in a new language makes your IT much, much more flexible & imaginative. Get a great career w/ creative opportunities, NOT just-a-job. German plays & music are astounding everyone nowadays, arguably the best in the world. "

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" Hello Michele: Thank you for the opportunity to add to the great comments your question has prompted. I am a northern Californian woman, considerably older than you are, and lived all my life 1 to 2 hours drive (north, east, and south) of San Francisco. We were almost neighbors; I moved here from Carmichael! I, too, adore warm weather AND I think that any temperature below 60 F is REALLY COLD. Here is my suggestion: Do it! Europe is wonderful. Folsom is nice, so is Davis, so is Lodi (whoops, sorry, not Lodi). Yesterday, I just came back from a short trip to Paris. It is close (8 hours by night train). By the way, it was colder in Paris than where I live in Germany. Warm weather in Turkey and Italy is close also. Living in Germany forever! Nothing is forever! There are many twists and turns in the road of life. . . you never know where you’ll end up. We have German friends who invested in a Florida condominium; went there for vacations and rented it out the rest of the time. Now, they are at retirement age and spend winter in Florida and the spring and summer months in Stuttgart. During my first year here, I bought myself 3 lovely coats and 6 beautiful, warm, wool sweaters. Spring is magnificent here. It SPRINGs up in 30 days! It is really lovely. Yes, it rains all year, but the flowers bloom and bloom here (nothing dries out). There are about 2 or 3 miserable (dark, cold) months in the winter. If you suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), have your doctor prescribe something that will release endorphins and help your mood if you need it. With you contacts, you can probably get this prescription refilled in Germany. You probably already know this: The medical care here is VERY good! Marriage is stressful; learning to live with someone and to accept them as they REALLY are is difficult no matter where you live. You might as well live in a beautiful place. You will love Munich; after Stuttgart, it is my favorite city in Germany. Museums, symphony, folk festivals. You like history? Castles? Munich is on an old ROMAN road! Munich is very close to the Bavarian Alps and Austria (these areas have breathtaking scenery). All over Germany, the scenery is lovely; the big highways are a dream to drive on. German taxes are high, but there is no violent crime in our small town outside of Stuttgart. I take the train, the commuter train and the bus everywhere. If you have children, they will be bilingual. People have been very kind to me. German people are very polite in the charming European way. You probably already know this, but if you work for a German company, you’ll have 6 weeks vacation! If you are a Germany employee of Hewlett-Packard, you’ll get 8 weeks vacation! (Six weeks = German law, plus two weeks because German work week is based on 35 hours and U.S.A. work week is based on 40 hours). My husband and I have lived just south of Stuttgart for two years. We love it and as we had never been to Europe before, we are having a wonderful experience. The best of luck to you, Michele. Please let us know how things turn out. jane "

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" Hi YvetteMichele! What''s this about American companies that offer tax-free income? I''ve never heard of that. I''m moving to Hungary (which is admittedly not Germany) this year, and I''m desperately trying to find an American company to employ me. How did you find out about American companies where you are? Any info will be greatly appreciated! Thanks, Reka "

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" Michelle, I am taking the plunge in July to Berlin. For many years I have wanted to live and work in Germany. I spent three months (Oct., Nov., Dec.) in Berlin last year as a test. I loved every minute of it. Admittedly, it is a big move. From time to time I too find myself wondering if what I am about to do is the ""right thing"". But I''ll never find know unless I try. I figure I have nothing to lose and everything to gain. As Jan commented, and I agree, nothing is forever. You can only live with intent and then be open to what happens next. Best of luck to you Michelle. John "

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" Hi Michele, I definetly think you should try germany out. I''m an american living in Munich and I love it. I came here for a job and coudn''t speak a word of german. So, at times it''s very trying, but I think the culture is great and Munich is the best city in germany you can go to. As for the weather, well, you better be prepared for cold and rainy weather 9 months out of the year, its june now and summer has not arrived. If you decide to do it, make sure you can speak a little german to get ya by. Any other questions, dont hesitate to email me, GOOD LUCK! "

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" Hi Michele, I definetly think you should try germany out. I''m an american living in Munich and I love it. I came here for a job and coudn''t speak a word of german. So, at times it''s very trying, but I think the culture is great and Munich is the best city in germany you can go to. As for the weather, well, you better be prepared for cold and rainy weather 9 months out of the year, its june now and summer has not arrived. If you decide to do it, make sure you can speak a little german to get ya by. Any other questions, dont hesitate to email me, GOOD LUCK! "

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" For love or money ... ! I am comtemplating leaving my job & life in CA to move to Germany -- most likely permanently. Yes, for love. My ''better half'' is a German doctor who just started his residency (Leipzig) and would need to repeat exams & his residency in order to practice in the US. Since I have the mobile job (project management for a tech company), I am job hunting ... primarily in the Munich area as most tech companies are located there. So, my question is ... yes or no? My heart says yes but the realistic side of me says ""beware"". I haven''t spent more then three weeks in Germany ... the only thing I have to say is ... women need sunshine! :-) My family is in FL and I''m in CA. I think the weather in Germany is going to freak me out ... I need a whole new wardrobe. I have two questions I need to answer ... do I love him? YES Can I live in Germany the rest of my life? ... That is the one I''m having trouble with. I''m 31 .. time to stop messing around! If anyone out there has any guidance regarding job hunting tips and/or thoughts on the permanancy of my situation, feel free to respond. Thank you! "

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" Amy, Thank you so much for your wonderful response! I think I''m just going through the ""heart vs. head"" conflicts right now. I think the first step is to find a good job similar to what I do today rather than change life and career at the same time. Thanks so much for your response! Best wishes. Michele "

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" Thank you, Betsey! Actually, I have a 2nd interview tomorrow for a job in Munich with Intel. It''s not necessarily in my career path (eBusiness; would be moving to Product Marketing & Sales) but it IS with Intel. I''ve had one other interview with a tech company in Munich but what was desribed to me via eMail was different from what was described on the phone during the interview. Ah well, the search continues! Thanks so much for your help. I''ll actually be in Germany on holiday 22 May - 3 June and will visit Munich. I''m hoping to learn more while I am there. Take care, Michele "

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I love Germany. I would die to live there. I have visited it and want to go back time and time again. It is unlike any other place in the world. You will love it. Good Luck!

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