8 Things We Hate About Living in Germany as Americans 🇩🇪😡

You missed street noise?? 😅
We definitely enjoy quietness 🙏☺️

The smoking thing depends on the state! In most it's mostly totally forbidden. You were happy chosing a state were it's apparently still allowed under certain circumstances.

Everybody hates the DB 😅
But it has become worse the last years and fortunately they are awarene of this and doing lots renovations. Hopefully in a decade or so we get more trains on time. (And even more connections!)

Also finding it funny that usually people are amazed by german cars, but then city's are to car friendly?
I think one reason for the success of the automotive industry is exactly this. (Same in USA)
Citys made for cars. All people by cars.
But fortunately there's definitely a shift going on as you mentioned.
But its helerous how many people are still fighting to get their car lanes back (lucky mostly without success)

So yeah, Let's hope the most turn to a better in the future – there's potential. 💪

So long, welcome and enjoy 😉

Train situation would bother you even more If you had grown up with DB being reliable and punctual. This had been so 25 years ago, but it went downhill from there.

Being a german I live for 65 years now in my country. I agree on most what you said but have to put three things in relation. First of all the weather. As somebody else mentioned, it is as it is. And it is good the way it is! In the 80s I have lived for 9 months in Sacramento, California, and during that time I haven't seen a cloud, not to speak of rain or some other weather phenomenon. Now THAT is depressing! Boy have I longed for a rainy day, or foggy day or some snowflakes whirling around. I love "our" seasons here and each one is special and of course also a little bit depending on the region you live in. Sad thing is, due to the climate changes, the destinctiveness of all four seasons has changed. Point No. 2: I have travelled Europe in all directions and you won't find a country except for perhaps Austria, Swizerland, Benelux and Scandinavia, where the car and motorcycle drivers are more disciplined at the zebra stripes as in Germany. Although I have to mention, that what I call the "Balkanisation" of the society for years and years brings with it that lots of people do not stick to the rules always. When I was a child you would not have dared to cross the road with a red light showing. Nowadays you can watch moms with little children at the long arm disrespecting a red light. No further comment! No. 3, smoking. Yes it is disgusting and its extensiveness is to my opinion also an outcome of the "Balkanisation" of the country. When you walk along certain roads in bigger towns you think you walk on a junkyard and you find thousands and thousands of cigarette filters under your feet. On the other hand smoking is strictly forbidden everywhere but in designated areas OUTSIDE. Yes, there are in some regions – not in all though – these little corner pubs where it is free to smoke. But who goes there? I do not know a single person who has ever been there. Yes, in beergardens it is also free. But, we are living in a free society and you cannot forbid everything to the people even if it is unhealthy. In Democracies everybody bears to the largest amount possible the responsibility for him- and herself including the right to decide whether you want to smoke or not. And, lets face it, in regards of a nations health state you would have to forbid not only drugs but also alcohol and where this leads to should you – as an american – know best! Prost! 😉

I think the main reason some places are closing early is because they don't currently have workers to work more than 8 hours. I know restaurants that are fully booked when half the restaurant is full because they don't have enough cooks and servers. The question arises as to whether it is profitable to keep the shop open for one or two customers in the evening. In Spain it is often dead during the day (during the peak heat) while life comes to life in the evening. There are no smoking bars here in Saarland, anyone who wants to smoke has to go outside. And if it happens again (which I don't think it will), I won't enter the restaurant. According to the StVO, every driver must pay attention to pedestrians who want to cross the street when turning, even when leaving a roundabout. So the pedestrian has priority even without a pedestrian crossing. This is also the case in Hanover. However, there are pedestrian crossings at almost every intersection and/or busy street with pedestrian traffic.

Thank you for this video. I think we can only get better if we listen more to complaints. Complaints from newcomers are particularly interesting. We Germans have gotten used to everything and then you don't always see what could be done differently or better.

Hi! I think balconies are very common in Germany. Might be only a regional thing in your case because of the old architecture!

And yes i also hate smoking here but in all restaurants smoking was banned and on the more popular bars it's also quite uncommon to smoke inside. However, you are right it's talk embarrassing

In Germany, it looks like they love to make it difficult.
They want to make it perfect. But it is not perfect.

If you have balconies at the street side, they want a lower speed limit.
About 18 mph or 12 mph speed limit. I got fined by driving 17 mph = "too fast !".

Or they want to get block the street for all vehicles. Except deliveries in the morning.
Because of noise and exhaust poison.. They feel like someone is smoking next to him.

I hate most in germany, the small earnings. And some gets lower, as in the past.
All want to have well trained employees. But not want to pay it fair.

If you have children, you may get more money from the social wellfare, as from your Job.
And the social wellfare is the absolute minimum you need.

My last Job was to serve the computers of 1.000 employees of the company.
With a hig level IT training and education needed.
I got only 1.700 Euros per month – And 1.200 euros net. at my bank acount.

Number 4 : you close at 8 pm or 9 pm to ensure that your employees have at least some private time ! work – life balance … not 2 or 3 jobs for the slaves (/ credit cards…
Number 8 : as Germany is a free country everybody is allowed to decide whether he smokes or drinks … as said : its a free country .. up to you if you decide to ruin your health or not…
it's only YOUR business..

Germany sounds like the better country if it wasn’t for the smoking. That will be a probably especially when my mother comes to visit and we go out. So that gives major points to Spain. I would still prefer Germany if I could find a city that smokes less.