7 reasons why Germany is a great place to live in

Two weeks ago I wrote 8 reasons why you should go abroad and now I wanted to be more specific about why I have loved living in Germany. If you ever get the chance to have a working experience or even an exchange for some amount time, I strongly suggest it. It has been a great experience so far and although it is not as sunny as living in Puerto Rico (or Boston where we definitely get more sun than in Hanover) …it has many other aspects that I have fallen in love with and these are only SOME of them. And for those who are truly worried about the cold: if a girl from the Caribbean can handle it, so can you. 

1.     Job opportunities

Germany has one of the lowest youth unemployment rates in Europe. A reason behind this fact is that they really promote this idea of being an apprentice. Many professions promote this scheme which many times offers a dual program in which you receive training (and work) alongside education for multiple professions. It allows young people to have the opportunity to work in the field beforehand. And of course, it also makes living expenses affordable...Sounds pretty good to me. 

2.    Germany treats its workers right

This reason goes hand in hand with the first. If you do get an opportunity to work in Germany, you would like to hear this. Germany is really good at respecting its citizens, and if you have the opportunity to work there, you should go for it. Germans work fewer hours than both UK and US citizens, and their unemployment rate is also lower (as previously mentioned). You even get 30 days of vacation time, minimum. If you DO get laid off, you’re entitled to a month’s wages for every year you’ve worked at the company.

3.    Sleepy Sundays

And this is for real.  All the shops are closed (even the supermarket). For us, it is something we are not used to, but I believe it truly allows Sundays to be a day for rest. It becomes part of a culture that allows people to enjoy time with their families or away from work. I have noticed it is not common to be working on the weekends here, contrary to what you see in the United States for example. 

4.    Public transportation system

All trains are on time and there are high speed rail connections between major cities. It allows you to travel long distances if you are on a tight budget. There are high speed ICE trains which are pretty impressive. Also, you can buy discount cards that help you save some money every time your train leaves from any German station. The metro and public transportation systems in every city are also highly efficient and affordable. It makes not having a car way easier!

5.    Innovation

I went to an open house the other night where every institute (Engineering and Natural Sciences) would showcase what they were working on. I was surprised as to how many people attended this event, even little kids. And what surprised me even more was how many activities were available for the kids to participate in this open house as well. It was not only for adults or students who studied these topics, but for everyone else. People of all ages were there and they were genuinely interested in what was going on. They talked about climate change and how all these new technologies were going to help us. There were “games” for the kids which included building a helicopter or making something with a 3D-printer. All this knowledge was available to anyone and it was very interesting to be able to be a part of this. It also made sense as to why Germany dominates the U.S. in innovation. (If you want to read more about it click on the link: Why Germany dominates the US in innovation).  

6.    Housing is SO cheap (compared to Boston and to many other places)

I have lived in many places and Germany has been the cheapest…BY FAR. This definitely makes it one of my favorite places to live.

7.    Germans are amazing people

You have all seen my transition throughout the blog. Coming from a small island in the Caribbean, it was obvious there were going to be some major cultural differences. As months go by I realize how loyal and genuine Germans are. Germans tell it like it is, and frankly, it’s refreshing. They’re also some of the most tolerant, well-traveled, and intelligent individuals you’ll ever find. I have noticed that, considering the country’s troubled history, most people are anxious to move beyond the negative and to show the world what real Germans are made of. And it’s wonderful.

(Source: http://www.thelocal.de/galleries/lifestyle/ten-reasons-to-live-in-germany)