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Living in Germany (1 Viewer)

Keller Bier Urtyp 1878 :wub:

https://www.google.com/search?q=german+beer+1878&rlz=1CDGOYI_enUS625US625&oq=german+beer+1&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0l3.7025j0j9&hl=en-US&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#imgrc=12FI06xpyFj6gM:

Going to a graduation party for a good buddy who's a c17 loadmaster Tomm... he has cases and cases of this stuff that they've flown back with....legit one of my favorite beers ever.  This thread has inspired me to get banged up on German beer at his house Tomm. :banned:

 
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I think the Belgians might make better beer, but the German's are passionate about their suds.  I didn't drink beer much my first two tours there, but I got into it the third time through.  I like Paulianer quite a bit, they have some stuff that makes it over here. 

Them drinking beer at room temperature is no bueno though. 

 
Doctor Detroit said:
I think the Belgians might make better beer, but the German's are passionate about their suds.  I didn't drink beer much my first two tours there, but I got into it the third time through.  I like Paulianer quite a bit, they have some stuff that makes it over here. 

Them drinking beer at room temperature is no bueno though. 
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Savages!  No wonder the savage refugees are flooding in.

 
I'm spending 11 days in Germany in the fall. 5 nights in Munich (Oktoberfest), 2 each in Fussen, Stuttgart and Frankfurt. Going with my wife and a friend and spending a week in England before Germany.

Any recommendations specific to these places? (@Doctor Detroit  :bye: ) We're doing a day trip to Salzburg from Munich and spending two days at Oktoberfest (week days for less crowds).

Fussen is about the Alps/nice city/castles in the area.

Stuttgart is for the Canstatter Volksfest (a second smaller beer fest/fair) probably Ritter Sport chocolate factory. May go to northern part of the Black Forest (Bad Wildbad?) the second day.

Frankfurt is a base for a day cruise down the Rhine and then our flight back to Toronto.

My wife isn't a beer drinker so trying to mix nice scenic/walking type days (Salzburg, Fussen/Alps, Black Forest, Day cruise) in with all the days me and my buddy are getting ####canned.

 
Northern Voice said:
I'm spending 11 days in Germany in the fall. 5 nights in Munich (Oktoberfest), 2 each in Fussen, Stuttgart and Frankfurt. Going with my wife and a friend and spending a week in England before Germany.

Any recommendations specific to these places? (@Doctor Detroit  :bye: ) We're doing a day trip to Salzburg from Munich and spending two days at Oktoberfest (week days for less crowds).

Fussen is about the Alps/nice city/castles in the area.

Stuttgart is for the Canstatter Volksfest (a second smaller beer fest/fair) probably Ritter Sport chocolate factory. May go to northern part of the Black Forest (Bad Wildbad?) the second day.

Frankfurt is a base for a day cruise down the Rhine and then our flight back to Toronto.

My wife isn't a beer drinker so trying to mix nice scenic/walking type days (Salzburg, Fussen/Alps, Black Forest, Day cruise) in with all the days me and my buddy are getting ####canned.
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Try a half day at Partnachklamm.  Probably quicker to get to from Fussen than munich.  Neuschwanstein is a no brainer but you will be castled out after a couple.

 
It's good to know you can still count on the FFA to have a few folks who have never actually been somewhere or done something to come in and give their expert opinion that flies in the face of a chorus of endorsements by actual subject matter experts. 

 
Went to Oktoberfest in 1990. I was living in Belgium for 6 months. A guy I worked with from the states and I planned to go..his brother who I never met flies in to visit. The kid is 22, just out of college and thinks he is the shizzle and ready to score some German tail.

So we go with a group and of course everybody is hammered and my friends brother is toasted and he latched on to these two big breasted whores and they are all over him and I can tell are playing him like an accordion for free drinks and whatever...we are with another group and he says.."I am going to leave with them..they have an apartment a mile away and I will be back in an hour grinning like a Cheshire cat giving us the thumbs up."  Well he was wasted and never returned.  So he passes out there from drunkeness.. We did not have cell phones back then so we have no way to get ahold of him or find him. We did not check into our hotel before going so he has no idea where we are staying.

When he wakes up in some flop house the girls are gone as well as  his wallet, money, credit cards, watch, passport, gold chain everything gone..he does not speak the language and just stumbles out into the street trying to find a cop. We go back to our hotel and in the morning start calling the police stations asking if they found a drunken American and giving them his name..they finally locate him at a station.  We did not know he if he got arrested or what..It was like a real life "hangover"  We go to pick him up and he looks like a homeless beaten man sitting there with his head down. Now he has no ID, no money, no nothing.

First of all we were glad he was OK..then we start laughing our asses off as he is almost crying.  That story comes up every time we get together drinking...I love Germany!!

 
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Northern Voice said:
I'm spending 11 days in Germany in the fall. 5 nights in Munich (Oktoberfest), 2 each in Fussen, Stuttgart and Frankfurt. Going with my wife and a friend and spending a week in England before Germany.

Any recommendations specific to these places?
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Yea, don't go. Apparently you will most likely die.

 
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rascal said:
I have an opportunity to go work in Germany (Wiesbaden or Ramstein) or UK for 3 years.  Wife and I have been in UK numerous times, and they speak English, so that isn't up for debate.  But we are unsure about Germany (neither of us speak German).  We have three kids (8, 2, 2).  It would be financially advantageous to go, but life isn't all about money.

Has anyone lived in Germany, or those areas, and can they provide their thoughts?  TIA!!!!
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Haven't read the responses, but go for it!  Everyone speaks English anyway, your kids will learn German, you'll have a home base from which to take train trips all over Europe... sounds like a great opportunity.

 
Wife is starting to get cold feet.  She would rather wait till the twins were 3, and she doesn't like the idea of having no family/friends there.

 
Okay... so I've never been to Europe and we're going late summer on a Viking River Cruise.  Should be epic.

Tell me what you can if you been to these cities below... Any must sees?  One excursion is included in every stop...
1) Prague (three days)
2) Budapest, Hungary (two days)
3) Vienna, Austria (two days)
4) Melk, Austria
5) Passau, Germany
6) Regensburg, Germany
7) Nuremburg, Germany
8) Bamberg, Germany
9) Wurzburg, Germany
10) Wertheim, Germany
11) Koblenz, Germany
12) Cologne, Germany
13) Kinderdijk, Netherlands
14) Amsterdam, Netherlands  (We will be doing Anne Frank Museum in the AM and catching 3pm flight back this day)

 
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I guess I'm one of the lone contrarians who wouldn't want to do this z. Nothing to do with fear of Isis or stuff loot that - I'm just happy here & don't have the desire to move. I fully get the other side of the argument, just not for me.

Had a recruiter pitching my hard for a job in Russia, first thought was how many hot chicks have to be out there, wife turned the Russo conversation down in 7 second flat, I wouldn't have don't it anyways.

good luck 

 
rascal said:
Wife is starting to get cold feet.  She would rather wait till the twins were 3, and she doesn't like the idea of having no family/friends there.
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The twins being three really doesn't make a diference.  If you can do the school thing, you'll meet new parents of those kids and make new friends.  Also, you can probably find a baby sitter amongst the older kids.  And the twins might like German day care.  If nothing else, I can guarantee it's clean.  And there are parks everywhere.  Germans love them.

Will your employer be providing support in finding a house and whatever?  That makes all the difference.  How long would you be going?  It's not as if the friends you have now dissolve in one or two years.

 
fantasycurse42 said:
Had a recruiter pitching my hard for a job in Russia, first thought was how many hot chicks have to be out there, wife turned the Russo conversation down in 7 second flat, I wouldn't have don't it anyways.

good luck 
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Russia isn't Germany ??? :confused:  

I had a recruiter offer me a job in the Dominican, my wife thought about how many hot chicks were there, so I'm never moving to the United States.

 
Doctor Detroit said:
I miss Doner Kebabs so bad.  You'd think they could replicate that here, but they can't. 

Best drunk food ever, and it's damn good for lunch too!  Germans do pork the best too, but I'm not a huge pork fan so I never really appreciated it. 
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Doner Kebabs are so legit.  I've been craving them for almost 20 years now and can't find anything comparable.  

 
rascal said:
Wife is starting to get cold feet.  She would rather wait till the twins were 3, and she doesn't like the idea of having no family/friends there.
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I've lived, traveled, studied and worked abroad quite a bit, and can't recommend it strongly enough - one year in NZealand, 2 different years in Germany, 6mos in Holland and a year in Texas (technically part of the US, but essentially a separate country). All my living abroad experiences were as a single guy, under 35.  I don't know about the military situation, but I know there is a common issue with wives/families in the corporate ex-pat world. You're going off to work every day, sometimes working late, and you have an immediate circle of contacts, friends and things keeping you busy and energized. She's at home with the kids in a strange world where things like going shopping for groceries, clothes or getting a haircut are a challenge. There's nothing on television for her and everything is a challenge, especially at first. The support network of friends and family is gone, replaced by people she may not really relate to or like. If her personality doesn't lend itself to that type of challenge, it can get ugly very quickly.

 
Dickies said:
Doner Kebabs are so legit.  I've been craving them for almost 20 years now and can't find anything comparable.  
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As you probably know, doner kebab is a Turkish sandwich. Germany of course has a huge Turkish immigrant population going back over 30 years. I think Berlin at one point had the second highest Turkish population in the world, second only to Istanbul. I had many Turkish friends while I lived there, and none of them ever knifed me. Great cooks. Didn't treat their women the way we're used to, which at times was awkward. Don't ever challenge a Turk to a game of chess - you will lose.

Have you tried "shawarma"?  Its an arab sandwich widely available here at the gyro places, essentially identical to a doner depending on the place.

 
Mrs. Rannous said:
The twins being three really doesn't make a diference.  If you can do the school thing, you'll meet new parents of those kids and make new friends.  Also, you can probably find a baby sitter amongst the older kids.  And the twins might like German day care.  If nothing else, I can guarantee it's clean.  And there are parks everywhere.  Germans love them.

Will your employer be providing support in finding a house and whatever?  That makes all the difference.  How long would you be going?  It's not as if the friends you have now dissolve in one or two years.
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Yeah, I would get a nice housing allowance.  3-5 years is the duration.

 
CletiusMaximus said:
 I don't know about the military situation, but I know there is a common issue with wives/families in the corporate ex-pat world. You're going off to work every day, sometimes working late, and you have an immediate circle of contacts, friends and things keeping you busy and energized. She's at home with the kids in a strange world where things like going shopping for groceries, clothes or getting a haircut are a challenge. There's nothing on television for her and everything is a challenge, especially at first. The support network of friends and family is gone, replaced by people she may not really relate to or like. If her personality doesn't lend itself to that type of challenge, it can get ugly very quickly.
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That is exactly it.

 
rascal said:
That is exactly it.
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This is why I would want to go. It is too easy here. At least with a slight language challenge it could be interesting. 3-5 years no question I would already be packing. You will regret it if you don't go. I spent a couple summers in Russia a long long time ago and I'm so glad I did. With Facebook now it will be like her friends are right next door. 

 
rascal said:
To a higher degree it is.  As pointed out the initial introduction is going to be a lot harder in Germany than say England due to the language barrier.  
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I lived in Vienna for three years. Never learned German, although I worked where English was the working language. Outside of work, I was friends with expats of all types and several Austrians. Everybody spoke English. I would not avoid going just because you don't speak German. I highly doubt this would be an issue.

Biggest ex-factor is your wife's disposition. If it ain't gonna work for her, it'll go south fast. But you wouldn't be the first and you won't be the last couple who go and learn after a year that it's not for you. If you have an attainable Plan B to return after a year if it doesn't work out, you should give it a shot. The upside is enormous, particularly if you're paid well enough to live nicely and travel. It'll be life-changing.

 
shadyridr said:
rascal said:
To a higher degree it is.  As pointed out the initial introduction is going to be a lot harder in Germany than say England due to the language barrier.  
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Most people here are saying that's not a barrier
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It's really not.  A few basic German words and phrases for politeness and emergencies, and you're good.  Even more people speak English in Europe than when I lived there.

If she isn't ready to live in Germany, she isn't ready to live in England, either.  The issues are identical.

 
Clown Car said:
This is why I would want to go. It is too easy here. At least with a slight language challenge it could be interesting. 3-5 years no question I would already be packing. You will regret it if you don't go. I spent a couple summers in Russia a long long time ago and I'm so glad I did. With Facebook now it will be like her friends are right next door. 
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Odds you look back at life and think "damn I wish we didn't go spend a couple years in Germany" : 4% 

Odds you look back at life and think "damn I wish we went to spend a couple years in Germany" : 100%

 
It's starting to feel like those wanting him to go to Germany are motivated by things other than what is best for his family.  Just saying.

 
Higgs said:
It's starting to feel like those wanting him to go to Germany are motivated by things other than what is best for his family.  Just saying.
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We are just happy and excited for him. Jealous maybe. We don't want him to miss out on a major awesome life experience out of fear or apprehension. That's no way to live. 

 
rascal said:
To a higher degree it is.  As pointed out the initial introduction is going to be a lot harder in Germany than say England due to the language barrier.  
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As someone who has spent the last four years in Japan with my husband and two kids....I can tell you that the language barrier is not nearly as big of hinderance as you are making it out to be.  Most non-US citizens that are anywhere near a military base speak passable English.  The further away from base I would go I realized I would have to use google translate ( which works great) and/or take a couple of Japanese friends with me.  

Good luck... we will be heading back out in a few years...✈️

 
rascal said:
To a higher degree it is.  As pointed out the initial introduction is going to be a lot harder in Germany than say England due to the language barrier.  
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My brother in law just got back from 4 years in China.  The whole world speaks English, there are usually expat communities, there are international schools for kids... the biggest problem they had was that they spent 4 years in China and feel embarrassed that none of them learned Chinese all that well because it was so easy to use English everywhere.  And that was in China - in trips to Hamburg, I've never had any problems communicating despite speaking no German.

 
Have you spoken to any of your colleagues regarding child care / babysitting? As I recall there were options for these things, many subsidized by the government.

Willl your wife be able to work? Does she work now?

When I lived in Europe, I didn't hasn't kids, but I distinctly remember kids being a) better behaved in public, and b) in more varied settings than in the US.

 
What about getting the opinion of your wife's family that you are near now? They may be really excited to have a close family member living in Europe.  

 
Sandeman said:
I lived in Vienna for three years. Never learned German, although I worked where English was the working language. Outside of work, I was friends with expats of all types and several Austrians. Everybody spoke English. I would not avoid going just because you don't speak German. I highly doubt this would be an issue.

Biggest ex-factor is your wife's disposition. If it ain't gonna work for her, it'll go south fast. But you wouldn't be the first and you won't be the last couple who go and learn after a year that it's not for you. If you have an attainable Plan B to return after a year if it doesn't work out, you should give it a shot. The upside is enormous, particularly if you're paid well enough to live nicely and travel. It'll be life-changing.
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All the cool vacations you can more affordably take from a home base in Germany would be awesome.

 
Higgs said:
It's starting to feel like those wanting him to go to Germany are motivated by things other than what is best for his family.  Just saying.
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Please by all means share your keen insights into what's motivating those wanting him to go please.

Do we get some kind of transfer fee or something?  Maybe we're trying to offset all the "bad" immigration with some "good" immigration?

And hell, anytime I can make @Doctor Detroit look bad I will.  Hate that unthoughtful mother####er. 

 
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Would it be possible to take a week vacation out there before deciding? I'm sure the company would want you choosing with the right info in hand than getting there and quitting before the 3 or 5 years was up as well.

 
Getzlaf15 said:
Okay... so I've never been to Europe and we're going late summer on a Viking River Cruise.  Should be epic.

Tell me what you can if you been to these cities below... Any must sees?  One excursion is included in every stop...
1) Prague (three days)
2) Budapest, Hungary (two days)
3) Vienna, Austria (two days)
4) Melk, Austria
5) Passau, Germany
 
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Some tips just on the Viking Cruise. If you like to drink, paying for the premium drink package was worth it. The average age of people on the cruise will be about 75. The staff on the boat are amazing- such nice hosts. The extra money for the room with a balcony is not worth it since you will often be double parked and the view will be the side of another boat. They offer tours of various speeds, I wouldn't do any of them. With the internet, it's pretty easy to find everything you want by foot. Just make sure you get your phone plan set up for Europe.

Prague: The old town square, Charles Bridge, the clock, St. Vitus, Prague Castle, Old Jewish cemetery and the Lennon wall are all real obvious things but they are obvious for a reason. Got to check them all out.  Drinking beer and eating sausages at a pub should happen daily. So Old Town Square and the clock get crazy busy so this part is very important. Go to the U Prince Hotel right when the restaurant is opening and get a table on the terrace. Enjoy drinks and food with the best view in the city. My favorite restaurant in Prague doesn't serve traditional Czech food, it's a place called Sansho (had some awesome soft shell crab sliders, beef tartare, sashimi,etc). Every morning, get pastries in all these cities. Their pastry game is real. 

Budapest: Great Market Hall is interesting, but overrated IMO. I would just wander around Budapest. It might be the most beautiful city in the world. Just go wherever and enjoy it. The castles, museums, monuments, etc. are all wonderful. 

Vienna: Naschmarkt is a must. It's an amazing outdoor food market with tons of out door bars and restaurants. I would for sure spend an afternoon shopping and eating there. St. Stephens is a must. I thought it was worth it to pay and get to see all the cool stuff- especially the insanely creepy tour of the catacombs. Schonbrunn Palace is the big attraction, but it's not actually in the city. It was a summer palace. It's really cool, but I would just assume stay in the heart of Vienna and checkout Hofburg Palace, maybe catch Spanish riding school horses. Stadpark and Burrgarten are nice places to walk and enjoy good weather. There are a lot of great coffee houses, but I preferred Cafe Central. You should probably also get a sachertorte from Hotel Sacher. The most popular way to get your coffee is melange. 

Melk: The abbey is beautiful, loved it. There is also a small town near their called Durnstein. It's so cute- reminded me a bit of the small Tuscan villages. 

Passau: Drink beer in biergarten. Even better, take the hike up to Veste Oberhaus (old fortress that was the defensive strongpoint). Once up top, you will have views of the Danube and 3 countries. Besides the hike and the cool old castle, there is a biergarten on the top so you can have some beer and enjoy insane views. 

Let me know if you have other questions. You are going to have a great time, that part of the world is fantastic. 

 
Ilov80s said:
Some tips just on the Viking Cruise. If you like to drink, paying for the premium drink package was worth it. The average age of people on the cruise will be about 75. The staff on the boat are amazing- such nice hosts. The extra money for the room with a balcony is not worth it since you will often be double parked and the view will be the side of another boat. They offer tours of various speeds, I wouldn't do any of them. With the internet, it's pretty easy to find everything you want by foot. Just make sure you get your phone plan set up for Europe.

Prague: The old town square, Charles Bridge, the clock, St. Vitus, Prague Castle, Old Jewish cemetery and the Lennon wall are all real obvious things but they are obvious for a reason. Got to check them all out.  Drinking beer and eating sausages at a pub should happen daily. So Old Town Square and the clock get crazy busy so this part is very important. Go to the U Prince Hotel right when the restaurant is opening and get a table on the terrace. Enjoy drinks and food with the best view in the city. My favorite restaurant in Prague doesn't serve traditional Czech food, it's a place called Sansho (had some awesome soft shell crab sliders, beef tartare, sashimi,etc). Every morning, get pastries in all these cities. Their pastry game is real. 

Budapest: Great Market Hall is interesting, but overrated IMO. I would just wander around Budapest. It might be the most beautiful city in the world. Just go wherever and enjoy it. The castles, museums, monuments, etc. are all wonderful. 

Vienna: Naschmarkt is a must. It's an amazing outdoor food market with tons of out door bars and restaurants. I would for sure spend an afternoon shopping and eating there. St. Stephens is a must. I thought it was worth it to pay and get to see all the cool stuff- especially the insanely creepy tour of the catacombs. Schonbrunn Palace is the big attraction, but it's not actually in the city. It was a summer palace. It's really cool, but I would just assume stay in the heart of Vienna and checkout Hofburg Palace, maybe catch Spanish riding school horses. Stadpark and Burrgarten are nice places to walk and enjoy good weather. There are a lot of great coffee houses, but I preferred Cafe Central. You should probably also get a sachertorte from Hotel Sacher. The most popular way to get your coffee is melange. 

Melk: The abbey is beautiful, loved it. There is also a small town near their called Durnstein. It's so cute- reminded me a bit of the small Tuscan villages. 

Passau: Drink beer in biergarten. Even better, take the hike up to Veste Oberhaus (old fortress that was the defensive strongpoint). Once up top, you will have views of the Danube and 3 countries. Besides the hike and the cool old castle, there is a biergarten on the top so you can have some beer and enjoy insane views. 

Let me know if you have other questions. You are going to have a great time, that part of the world is fantastic. 
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Thanks for the awesome feedback.  We already booked with the balcony.  

 
Ilov80s said:
 They offer tours of various speeds, I wouldn't do any of them. With the internet, it's pretty easy to find everything you want by foot. Just make sure you get your phone plan set up for Europe.
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So they have included an excursion in the price for every stop.  They also have other excursions listed you can pay for.  Are you saying to do none of them?   Most of the ones included are walking tours.  Should we just bag those and do our own thing.   We knew Seizure Citizens make up most of the cruise, but we are taking our 20-year ofd son with us and he's amped to go.

 
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