9/22/2023 0 Comments Awesome vacation germany![]() ![]() While I appreciate you sharing this (and I can, sort-of, get where you come from), I just wanted to chip-in as a European that has spent the last 20 or so years both in the US and Europe. Related to that is there’s a culture of manners surrounding public cordiality: People accustomed to riding on trains tend to lean over to talk, rather than just shout. Riding a train is like enjoying an amusement park ride even if it’s just to get from point A to B while riding a bus feels like a chore. When everyone is in cars like in the states, this reduces the incentive to provide for public transport particularly rail. What also makes Europe desirable is walkability due to a culture of public transportation. NYC perhaps being the exception but then there’s the expression “A fun city to visit but you don’t want to live there.” The USA was founded upon a celebration of modernity and “progress” and architecture is one aspect of progress that most of us aren’t happy with. ![]() Having a good job in the states is a reason why I remain, but like Chopin, my heart is in Eastern Europe and I intend to retire either in Poland or Ukraine.Ī couple non-controversial things to observe about Matt’s observations is that modern architecture is ugly and there’s just more of it in the states than in Europe. There are typically tradeoffs that apply particularly at a stage in life. Matt’s story reminds me of the old jokes of the ideal country: British government, Polish food, American salaries and the worst country: American government, British food, and Polish salaries. But thats the whole idea of living in another country, having an open mind to experience how the other half lives!! Big fat cars in North America due to an abundance of oil in the ground while Euro cars are much smaller as oil is a very precious and an expensive commodity. Most culture is a product of the surrounding environment. ![]() The times I have been issued an automatic rental car in Europe have been the worst. A lost art in North America, but still a fundamental skill in Europe. One additional rule that I would recommend to any North American who wants to live in Europe is to learn how to handle a stick shift. And for God’s sake, don’t refer to them as Eastern Europeans or mention the Russians!! If in doubt, see rule #1 above. However, I have found the Central Europeans (Poland, Czech Rep) speak English better than the Americans!!! And they’re as curious about you as you are about them. Yet, the only issue I ever had while in Europe was with a loud, drunk, raucous, Brit!! Now I understand why those on the Continent were happy to see the UK out of the EU!!Īs for language, learning a few local words does goes a long way. One rule of thumb I give to my Euro travel partner(s) is : “Don’t be the Ugly American. But unlike many places I go too, enjoy, but happily leave after a couple weeks, Germany is different…Germany is really a place that beckons me toward a more permanent stay.ĭo you have somewhere in the world that you strongly consider spending a lot more time in? I suppose my point here is that I always love my time and Germany. Pay is significantly lower and if you are a nurse or know a nurse you know it is hard work…not something you want to do for menial wages (which is one reason Germany has such a nursing shortage). ![]() She desires more time in Germany too, but nursing in Germany is not respected as in the the USA. Any decision will be a mutual decision based on a number of factors. Heidi is a big part of any choice of where we live. Much of my family, church, and network of closest friendships are all in Southern California.īut I do hope for a day in which we can summer in Germany and spend the rest of the year in Los Angeles (or perhaps somewhere else in the States…we’ll see).Īnd of course it’s not my decision alone. I’m fond of Los Angeles too and as a lifelong Angeleno (with breaks in Washington DC, Philadelphia, and Frankfurt), it will always be attractive. Would I ever want to live in Germany? Oh yes. It is not my intention to paint life in a smaller German city as overly-idyllic, but there is something so nice about being able to walk into town or walk into nature and enjoy the best of both worlds.Ĭentral Europe Time is great for blogging…but not so great for Award Expert, in which most clients are in the United States and which most work and communication takes part in the latter part of the day. There’s even Basel Airport which is just 20 minutes away, so it’s not like I’d have to go far to fly out. For someone who works from home (me), the quality of life in Germany may not be higher than in LA, but would cost a lot less. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |