10 things that I wish I knew about Germany before I moved. A lot of things have surprised me.

[@mummamarsh1180]

Gday Elyce, so great to see you again. Being a new mum in a different country must be very challenging . I mean, being a new mum in your own country is challenging enough, so I can’t imagine what it must be like with a different language and no familiar or family support. Wonderful news about your upcoming wedding. I hope you and your families have a wonderful celebration. I’ll be looking forward to seeing your future videos about what you’ve been up to in Australia. Have a safe and happy time aboard and thank you for sharing your insight about living in Germany. ❤❤

[@elyce_patricia]

Thanks Marsh! It has had its challenges being a new mum in Germany. I was happy to be in Melb and have my family meet Romeo and spend quality time with him. We are back in Germany now and I'm really missing them already but I'm sure I'll find my feet again and get back into a routine. The wedding was a beautiful day. Jay and I couldn't have asked for a better day. It was very intimate and special. I'm looking forward to sharing everything with you soon. We did lots of great experiences in Melb and I look forward to sharing them too. Thank you for your positive encouragement and support. I always enjoy reading your comments. Happy New Year!

[@japanesegirl_1998]

I was really shocked about a bank account too 🙀🏦💶🇩🇪 It makes me feel like I never wanna have a bank account here 😂 Japan is same as Australia 🇯🇵

[@flamedealership]

Wekcome back - to YT and to Germany after your trip to down under. It's good to hear from you again👍💛! So, let's get to work, shall we? MERRY CHRISTMAS!🎄 HAPPY NEW YEAR!🎆 CONGRATULATIONS on your Aussie wedding!💍 A belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Romeo!🎊🎂 I can't wait for the follow-up video. Maybe we get to see a few snapshots from your wedding? Besides that I hope you find the time to put up new videos a bit more frequently. We missed you🥰💛💛! But, no pressure. You've obviously got a lot going on in your life right now and we take what we get...💛

[@elyce_patricia]

Thank you! Happy New Year to you too. New video is coming today. Wedding footage included 🙌🏼. Now to get to work on the next video while Romeo naps lol. Thanks for being so understanding and I will be uploading videos as quickly as I can. Have a great weekend and I hope you like the next video 😊

[@JakobFischer60]

Doing taxes is extremely complicated in Germany and I would strongly recommend to get professional help. Even most Germans get their tax returns done by professional agencies. I myself use a special software (wiso Steuer) but you still need a lot of knowledge.

[@elyce_patricia]

Thanks for watching! We just arrived back in Germany :) Yes, this year we found an accountant to do our taxes. Doing tax in a foreign country can certainly be intimidating. I've tried using the tax app and you can do that all in English.

[@lilly6766]

Congratulations! With the kid, the wedding and have a great trip home.

[@elyce_patricia]

Many thanks Lilly. Thanks for watching my video. We had a lovely wedding day and now we are back in Germany. I hope you have a great weekend.

[@johnjohnson26682]

I just watched your latest video about the "10 things I wish I knew before moving to Germany," and I must say, it's incredibly insightful! As someone who is always interested in learning about different cultures and countries, your experiences and observations about life in Germany were not only interesting but also quite educational. It's amazing how you've navigated the challenges and embraced the new experiences - from the nuances of the banking system to the unique approach to childcare and education. Your ability to share these experiences with such positivity and a sense of adventure is truly inspiring. It’s clear that you’re not just living in Germany; you’re embracing every aspect of it, and that’s commendable. Keep up the fantastic work with your channel, and I'm looking forward to your future videos, especially about your wedding and trip to Australia. Your journey is a wonderful reminder of the beauty of exploring new places and adapting to different ways of life.

[@elyce_patricia]

Wow :) Thank you for watching and the lovely comment! I really appreciate you taking the time to write your feedback about my video. I'm so glad you enjoyed watching. We just arrived back in Germany last night so I'm looking forward to making more videos for you all. The wedding was everything I could have hoped for and more. It was a beautiful day. Thanks for your support and I hope you have a great weekend.

[@mbuck5044]

Welcome back! You were missed. Safe journey to Australia 😊

[@elyce_patricia]

Thanks for watching! It was a long break but its always good to be back. We had the best time in Aus and the wedding was everything I could have hoped for and more. We arrived back in Germany last night so I'm excited to go through our footage and start making new videos. Happy New Year!

[@MikeStevens]

Thanks Elyce! Have fun being back down here in Melbourne. It's been super wet and muggy lately 😔 Frankly I'm looking forward to Berlin weather, haha.

[@elyce_patricia]

Thanks for watching Mike. We had the best time in Melb. The weather was a bit mixed with warm and wet days but still good to see the sunshine. We just got back last night and it was cold getting off the plane. A quick reminder of the german winter weather. I don't mind the cold either but I do prefer summer and the longer days. I hope you have a lovely weekend.

[@arnodobler1096]

My mother cycled 5-7km every day until she was 93. Even in winter, but only if it wasn't slippery or snowing!

[@elyce_patricia]

Oh wow! That is really impressive. There are a lot of elderly people riding in Cologne but 93 is outstanding! Thanks for watching 😊

[@Opa_Andre]

I wish you a Happy New Year, safe journey and a fantastic wedding!

[@elyce_patricia]

Thank you so much! Happy New Year Andre 😊. We arrived back in Germany last night. The wedding was amazing. Such a beautiful day. I'm looking forward to going through my Aus footage and make videos. Have a great weekend.

[@Opa_Andre]

@@elyce_patricia Have a great weekend too. 😊I look forward to seeing proof of your wedding (footage).👰🏻 🤵🏻‍♂ Maybe even your wedding dance...🕺🏻💃🏻

[@jensschroder8214]

This is due to history. After the war many houses were destroyed. This led to those who had money building houses. Rental houses have always been a good long-term investment.

[@jensschroder8214]

Deutsch Lektion: Lehrerin, das "h" verlängert den "e" Laut Beispiel: "Thron" (throne) Im Deutsch gibt es keinen "th" Laut, das "h" fällt stumm weg. Schon vor hundert Jahren wurden viele "th" zu "t", nur der Kaiser wollte seinen Thron behalten. In Namen findet man noch gelegentlich "Thal" , die heutige schreibweise ist "Tal" = valley. (Johanisthaler Münze -> Dahler -> Daller -> Dollar) Aber "Ton" hat zwei Bedeutungen "clay" und "sound". Früher (langes ü, kein h) waren das zwei Worte: Thon und Ton, aber das "h" wurde gestrichen

[@elyce_patricia]

Thanks for watching! Yes, I can imagine that it would be a very attractive investment in Germany. Thanks for your comment and the advice for speaking Deutsch. Have a great weekend!

[@McGhinch]

Bank account: They used to be free. Banks earned money using the money transfers and delayed them one or two days. So they had money to invest. For many years now they are not allowed to do that anymore. Hence, you bank account is costing money instead of earning money. That is the main reason they charge for them. But, a couple of years ago the European Central Bank's interests rates for banks were below 0, that means they had to pay the central bank for depositing money, and now they were desperate...

"not allowed to do that anymore" [citationa needed] Bank transfers are still not immediate but take a day or two.

[@McGhinch]

@ This is a long answer... Yes, it still takes a day or two, but there are regulations. From some time in the 1980s to 2009 in Germany for transactions in Germany the "Wertstellung" must have been on the same day or the next working day. This was due to the fact that banks delayed transactions up to three days, in my experience that dates back to the early 1970s when I opened my first bank account. Back then it was not unusual to receive a statement of account after each workday with a transaction. You see incoming money, go to the bank, withdraw it, and pay overdraw interest. Then they had to also state the "Wertstellung" to let you know when the money is definitely in your account. This had a lot to do with electronic processing being in its early stages. When the banks really did electronic banking with other banks, such delays were intentionally cultivated to earn money for the bank. Later it was decided that transactions -- within Germany -- must be done within a workday maximum. Since 2009 there are some EU regulations. Many websites state the rules. Here is an excerpt of two websites, I took the liberty of not translating them: *_1. Bafin:_* "Der Buchungstag bezeichnet das Datum, an dem ein Zahlungsvorgang - zum Beispiel eine Überweisung - in das System einer Bank eingeht und bearbeitet wird. Das bedeutet aber nicht automatisch, dass das Geld schon verfügbar ist. Dafür ist die Wertstellung entscheidend. Das Wertstellungsdatum ist der Zeitpunkt, den der Zahlungsdienstleister für die Berechnung der Zinsen bei Gutschrift oder Belastung eines Betrags auf einem Zahlungskonto zugrunde legt. Valuta oder Wertstellung bezeichnet also das Datum, an dem eine Kontobewegung wirksam wird. Buchung und Wertstellung erfolgen häufig am gleichen Tag, das muss aber nicht immer der Fall sein." *_2. Gevestor:_* "Seit November 2009 richtet sich die Wertstellung einer Überweisung rechtlich nach der EU-Zahlungsdienstrichtlinie. Diese umfasst unter anderem die Ausführungspflichten für Überweisungen. Diese sind damals im Bürgerlichen Gesetzbuch (BGB) neu gefasst worden und in § 675s BGB geregelt. Demnach gelten folgende Fristen für die Wertstellung von Überweisungen: 1 Tag für Überweisungen in Euro innerhalb des Euro-Wirtschaftsraums 2 Tage für Überweisungen, die mittels eines Überweisungsvordrucks, also beleghaft, in Auftrag gegeben werden 4 Tage für Überweisungen innerhalb des EWR, die nicht in Euro erfolgen Nach Angaben der BaFin (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht) darf von diesen Fristen nicht zum Nachteil der Kunden abgewichen werden (§ 675e Abs.1 BGB)." I hope this helps.

[@elyce_patricia]

Thanks for watching! We just arrived back in Germany :) Thanks for clarifying the cost of banking. Really interesting!

[@manojnatarajan112]

When you say monthly 9 to 10 Euros, it is a bank account maintenance fee or the amount if for the debit card? For example: In France we have the same monthly fee between 8-12 Euros, but you have to pay this only for the debit card service/insurance not as a monthly fee for account maintenance. So some people avoid getting debit card to avoid this fee, instead they use some other cards like 'Wise' or other online only banking debit cards which is cheaper and sometimes free.

[@rairei]

One way to get independent from delayed buses is to cycle LOL ...have a great 2024 🙂. German places are often very good to cycle (short ways).

[@elyce_patricia]

That is very true! I arrived back in Germany last night. I need to pump up the tires and get cycling again 😊. Thanks for watching and have a great weekend.

[@IIIOOOUS]

Do you know what's strange, here in Berlin a lot of plants are already sprouting and some are even blooming. Is that the case with you too? Does that mean we have spring ?

[@elyce_patricia]

Thanks for watching! We just arrived back in Germany last night. I haven't noticed about the plants yet but I am going to keep an eye out for that.

[@IIIOOOUS]

@@elyce_patricia Broom already blossomed, but next week frost so no spring yet.

[@arnodobler1096]

Congratulations on your wedding 💐

[@elyce_patricia]

Thank you so much 😊

[@arnodobler1096]

Happy New Year 🥂

[@elyce_patricia]

Happy new year!