Americans React to why I'm not moving back to the United States after living in Germany for 4 years

[@JimbalayaJones]

Greetings from 🇩🇪! Short story on the topic "Children walk alone": I don't live in a big city, but somewhat rurally. My son has been going to school alone since he was six years old (1st grade), after a little training. He is a very outgoing boy and often dawdled on the way back. He then looked into the shops and spoke to the employees. One time when he was sick and had to stay home, my phone rang just after 8 a.m. The clerk at one of the stores called me because she was worried because my son hadn't walked past her store in the morning.

[@hansmeiser32]

I live in a bigger city (Bochum) and yes, most kids here walk to school or take public transport. At certain times trams and busses are crowded with kids and teenagers getting to or coming from school. But this "grandmas looking out for kids" doesn't happen here but I don't think it's necessary in the first place. I would never worry about my kid walking to school and I don't even live in the best part of the city.

[@johnkochen7264]

So was zu lesen tut gut.

[@JordanK05]

Ich hatte zwar einen kurzen Weg aber ich bin schon zum Kindergarten alleine gelaufen

[@NoctLightCloud]

Deshalb braucht es soziale Kohäsion. Die hat man beim multikulti oft leider nicht, weil viele aus einer "anderen" Schicht sich nicht scheren um dich und deine. Ich kann ein Lied davon singen, hab in Japan & Korea gelebt

[@mibab1308]

bs! multikulti kann besonders förderlich für ein respektvolles Miteinander sein! Kann davon ein Lied singen.. glaub du hattest einfach schlechte Erfahrung und mit dieser Einstellung - der Differenzierung nach "wir und die Anderen" - kann das auch nicht funktionieren. Fang bei dir an bevor du solch diskriminierende, ausgrenzende Haltung einnimmst, denn eben genau diese mach das gesunde Miteinander unmöglich. @@NoctLightCloud

[@albin2232]

Once you've experienced civilisation, it's hard to imagine living without it.

[@stewedfishproductions7959]

Ironically 'The Land of the Free'... Isn't CLOSE to most of Europe! (I'm in the UK).

[@silviamunoz6863]

​@@stewedfishproductions7959not just Europe. I'm Chilean lliving in Brazil..in both countries we have more freedom than in the USA. I think they don't even know what real freedom is (they have the freedom to be killed, to die for not having resources to pay for medical services, to work as a slave and don't be able to have a good roof on their heads nor healthy food on their tables)

[@MissRed92837]

I’m Swiss, currently living in the US. When I moved to the US, I was not aware of that I will also time travel 50-100 years backwards to the past. I’m moving back to Europe now and can’t wait to live back in a civilized country. 😉

[@gerardflynn7382]

​@@MissRed92837You will be welcomed back to the future 😂 forgive the pun.

[@JohnHazelwood58]

I looked it up for you! Taking a german train from Berlin (Germany) to Prague (Czech Republic) is currently 29,90€ (~ $32) and will take around 5 hours of your time.

[@moewi75]

I checked also randomly for a TGV (french high speed train from Frankfurt to Paris in 4 hrs for ~80€ ... that sounds really good

[@PaulB-17]

And having done it on a visit from Australia a few years back I can say it is a very comfortable and scenic journey. I travelled onward by train to Brno, so worth a visit.

[@AFNacapella]

if you take that train, the 1st class upgrade is worth it and the food is good and affordable while in Czech Rep (if it's a Czech train, not DB). it's route along the river is nice, too

[@reesofraft4166]

And you could stop in Dresden and visit this beautiful city as well.

[@BrokenCurtain]

We also currently have a ticket that lets you use short-range public transportation anywhere in Germany for 49,- Euros per month. So you can hop from bus to train and back again to get anywhere in the country.

[@ChokyoDK]

I feel like her point about nature was also hinting at the fact that it's very close to "real" nature. Not just a park. A real "wild" forest or a few hours drive to huge mountains and waterfalls.

[@KathleenMc73]

Especially as NYC has one of the largest parks ever.

[@lazyshoggy]

Yep, a bit like the travel thing : you don't need to travel hours to the other side of the country to be surrounded by nice nature ; at least I understoot it that way.

[@macdieter23558]

My step son studied here in Luebeck/Germany, ended with a master in IT. The semester fee was a measly 150 Euros, including a semester ticket for public transport!

[@cheebadigga4092]

yep it was 120 for me (excluding public transport), and most of that goes into infrastructure and maintenance (toilet, canteen, etc.)

[@LostAccount404]

I pay 270 since years. 100 are for public tranportation.

[@HelloHello-xm1ek]

I pay in Niedersachsen/Hannover over 300€. Apprx. 350€/semester

[@budapestkeletistationvoices]

​@@HelloHello-xm1ekthese guys pay $ 50000 a semester. There's no public transport so they have to buy their own petrol

[@AliothAncalagon]

I am literally sitting here in Germany getting paid for attending college. Meanwhile people in the US submit to a life in debt for that privilege. Truly puts things into perspective.

[@TheWolvesCurse]

that's what you get if your taxes are used on the own population, and not mainly wasted to murder brown people in the middle east.

[@lana_354]

Yet American ironically think that america or the USA is better for living than Europe I'm neither originally from Europe nor USA, I'm actually an Arab, but I love it here in Germany Life is kinda depressing sometimes bcz Germany have a busy working environment but I still like it, especially since I'm An introvert I just wish I can go on vacations lol I haven't been on a vacation since I was like 5 years old and I'm 19 now so 15 years ago

[@AliothAncalagon]

@@lana_354 Since every German has the right to a little over a month of vacation per year I guess you want to travel somewhere that is above your price range? Personally I was never a huge vacation guy. I guess I am a simple man, but I would rather buy a new machine for my workshop for a thousand bucks that I use for another 10 years than going on a 2 week vacation swimming through foreign water under a foreign sky for the same price. Working environment can be a hassle in Germany, but it is also good German tradition to take your off-time seriously!

[@lana_354]

@@AliothAncalagon Yeah my family weren't really prepared for a vacation mostly It's not really about the money. But we r now finally planning a vacation for next year to Switzerland and I hope this will happen this time bcz I really love Switzerland, eventhough Switzerland is kinda expensive but we will make it work hopefully

[@AliothAncalagon]

​@@lana_354 I wish you the best that it works out!

[@MrEQuecky]

I am German and in regards to family friendliness: yes, Germany is nicer than the US, but if you ever go e.g. the Netherlands, it is even much nicer! They have so many great activities for families with children and the facilities are more family friendly than in Germany

[@bzdtemp]

Denmark here. Not only is school free, but when over 18 you get $850 or so per month while studying.

[@Friedi]

I am 50+ and from Germany and I need to say, it is really nice watching your movies. It gives me really back the feeling that not everything is that worse like a lot of Germans complain every single day. I think that is the biggest problem of Germany: complaining about everything. For instance, when you get beer which has really a good taste most of the Germans would say "well, it is good but it could be better" ;)

[@MichielvanderMeulen]

Germans (and Dutch) tend to be so judgemental, it affects their own life. Better take an example of Spanish or Italian people.

[@perec3674]

I understand your frustration of this perpetual insatisfaction but I think it's the precise reason your country keeps perfecting, upgrading, adapting: a critical, perfectionist mindset.

[@lazyshoggy]

Funny, I usually think the same after such videos, and I'm from France ^^

[@HelloHello-xm1ek]

But that's why almost everything is quality in Germany cuz we complain and want the best! Think about that! We gotta do it. We see how other countries suffer and almost everyone wants to come and live in Germany. 😭 Wird bald richtig krachen hier also.

[@Friedi]

You all are right, but we are to precise. I always think about the joke with the money. An American said: we invented mp3. The German replied “nope, actually we did”. The Amarican said “OK, but we invented the world wide web”. The Swiss replied “Nope, we did”. Then the American said “OK guys, you maybe right but we made the money. We Germans are struggling too much. The German Angst describes perfectly our problem.

[@thomaskuppers3962]

I think the reason why our streets are better here in germany is, our citys are walkable. And we have a lot more people who drive their bikes through the city and the third reason is our cars are smaler (lighter). These points all together make the roads be intact for a longer time...

[@RicWalker]

not only this. the asphaltation is night and day. in germany its engeneered to live long and withstand nature. in sht they pave roads in the US with wouldnt even be legal in germany.

[@MissRed92837]

It’s more that European countries update and maintain their infrastructure, like streets, electricity system, ect. In the US they hardly maintain or update infrastructure. That’s the difference!

[@thoddycgn]

I just checked: If you buy a ticket today from Cologne to Prague in three months, the journey will cost around 30 euros, depending on the connection.

[@maja1157]

most of the time: if you booked in advance ;)

[@budapestkeletistationvoices]

If you buy a ticket from Prague to Munich it will cost you € 29.90 in second class and there are trains every 120 mins.

[@tobiasfritz5781]

The educational system is also open for international students, who don't want to pay an arm and a leg for their degree - with courses held in english. It's a scheme to attract skilled workers that bets on some of them staying and working in Germany.

[@frozencrow8735]

I go to the University of Applied Sciences (business administration) here in Finland. It's free for all Finnish and students who come from inside of the EU or if their country has contract with Finland that let's them to study here for free. But for others who come outside of EU, it costs to study here (I am not sure how much exactly but it's a lot by EU standards)

[@SuperHawk0413]

Ich bin Österreicher und lebe in der Schweiz (3 Stunden von Deutscher Grenze). Was mir auffällt, ist wieviel deutsche Ärzte es hier hat, aber auch deutsche Handwerker und Geschäftsleute die für Britische oder Schweizer Firmen arbeiten (Nachbarn). Mit denen Deutschen mit denen ich gesprochen habe, möchten viele nicht zurück nach DE

[@evelinka262]

For example here in Czech Republic we have open English university programs and it costs like 2,5K euros whole academic year. So just the fee for schooling is much less thank USA so it is still worth and the cost of living isn't that high.. I mean you can easily save 3 thousand euros through year if you are working it is not that bad.

[@lenkacfk7155]

@@SuperHawk0413, ja, unser Krankenhaussystem ist durch die Privatisierung dermaßen kaputt, dass deutsche Ärzte massenweise in die Schweiz und nach Österreich flüchten (wir können froh sein, dass die USA deutsche Abschlüsse in Medizin nicht anerkennen), während wir dann unsere Ärzte international abwerben. In deutschen Krankenhäusern hat der Großteil der Ärzte Migrationshintergrund, und wir können froh und dankbar sein, dass die zu diesen menschenunwürdigen Bedingungen für den Hungerlohn hier arbeiten - und sich dann noch von Patienten anfeinden lassen. 🙈

[@cs-lp5qv]

I wouldn't call it a scheme, why should they pay much more for the same.

[@cdhagen]

I think everyone should have the experience of living abroad for at least a year or two (if you have the opportunity). It really broadens your perspective. Take it from someone marginally older, the 20ies fly by so fast and before you know it, you're in a 9-to-5....

[@MarkusWitthaut]

On child abduction: I think the USA is paranoid in the respect. Fewer than 350 people under the age of 21 have been abducted by strangers in the United States per year, on average, between 2010-2017 (see Kidnapped children make headlines, but abduction is rare in U.S, Reuters). The vast majority of child abduction is done by parents. What is more a problem for children is traffic: Of the 42,939 traffic fatalities (BTW this 15 times higher than the German traffic fatalities Germany even though US population is only 4 times higher than the one in Germany) the in the United States, 1,184 (3%) were children 14 and younger.

[@dereknewbury163]

Life is too short - so many beautiful and interesting places to live. Happiness tends to be an interaction between personality, time and place, one takes oneself everywhere and then adapts. I am something of a climate pessimist and think life will be quite a lot more difficult within ten years or so. Make the most of it guys - sorry my generation has left you such an imperfect world

[@michalandrejmolnar3715]

If Biden Wins climate change will be solved.

[@DerEineDude]

Very cool reaction and your 2 friends seem very nice too :) Greetings!

[@PokhrajRoy.]

5:20 In Japan, the children are freely travelling the streets and taking public transportation to school.

[@jenniferharrison8915]

And also in Australia! 😄👍

[@hamdepaf6686]

I am a german currently living in Japan and in that regard both countries seem very simmilar. But I think that is generally a more natural state of things with the US being the unusual case.

[@sakosako8104]

Um 5.22?

[@voyance4elle]

I have experienced that the safety in Japan is on another level. It's much higher than in Germany, so we aren't even the peak - although it might seem like that compared to the US.

[@MissRed92837]

Same in Switzerland 🇨🇭

[@klaus2t703]

Abeout nature: For sure the US does have beautiful nature. One big difference is, that in Europe/Germany it usually is accessable without trspassing problems. Just leave the house, and walk through the fiedls, wood, mountains, enter lakes. The very most trials are free to walk. For me for example this means: I grab my bicycle, and ride it through the woods and fields. Turn left or right, just like I want to. Every day a new route. And every day you get fresh air, see something new, new flowers, harvesting fields, animals, you hear the birds. It´s a therapy without cost, without effort, free to use, every minute of the day. Btw: Berlin-Prague, standard price about 90€, best price with advanced booking below 15€ - without any discounts. Fast connections take below 6h.

[@arnodobler1096]

Germany has over 300,000 km of hiking trails, and they are on the doorstep, right.

[@klaus2t703]

@@arnodobler1096 I´m not sure where this 300k come from. Maybe these are dedicated hiking paths. But you don´t need a dedicated one, just use a random path next to your house. It´s so convenient.

[@DalaiDrama-hp6oj]

The Right to Roam is a huge difference

In the US, you have a travel problem, the wilds are there, but also they are far away in many cities. NYC? Has many parks, but not actual forests *nearby*.

[@MissRed92837]

Plus in Europe you won’t cross any people who carry guns! In the US many people carry guns with them, normal people, but also crazy mentally ill people. You can’t relax out in nature when in the US.

[@carolineleonard8214]

Well done. I'm an ex USA citizen who lives in Wales. I'm happy to hear that you wish to stay in Europe, it was the best decision i ever made. Financially I'm far better off, violence is far moe extreme in the USA, mass shootings=it's an American artocity and inconceivable in Wales/UK(+most of Europe) where gun control is extremely strict and NO HANGUNS OR AUTOMATIC/ASSAULT GUNS (even then you must be a gun club member or have a professionalpurpose), health systems in Europe are general free at the point of delivery, maternity/paternity leave, paid holidays, kids play and walk to parks/schools etc, greater quality of life and higher standard of living. Comparison is very difficult because costs are different in cities to rural but if you take away the salary figure and look at %age of total income remaining after expenses and what it can buy you. Then in Europe your remaining income buys you more. General infrastructure is also better and maintained. On mass shootings, the USA has approx 640 per annum, Wales had zero for the last 33 years, the UK had 25 over the last 33 years.

[@MissRed92837]

Exactly that! I’m Swiss and moved to the US 6 years ago. I’m now moving back to Europe because of exactly what you mentioned.

[@chn.175]

Just rediscovered you a few days ago and I really enjoy the guy in the right, he is really handsome and has some good takes/is very well spoken really enjoy him

[@Humanaut.]

I'm a German that's lived in florida for four years. Germany just feels safer and a lot of things are more civil. Though with the amount of immigration some of that is changing.

[@MissRed92837]

I’m Swiss and living in Nevada since 6 years. I’m now moving back to Europe because European countries are much more safe and much more civilized compared to the USA.

[@ulli5328]

I went to school from 3 years until 25 and never had to pay a penny. Education is the future of every country and should be free

[@MissRed92837]

In the US the Republicans don’t want the public to be too educated. Because educated people are more difficult to brainwash.

[@Bongus75]

Cool reaction dudes, really enjoyed it

[@Hey.Joe.]

Hi JP, I still like your "new" reacting concept with buddies, where you can share your travel experiences, different or same opinions, 1st thoughts and more. It's more interactive than a guy watching alone some videos. Go on with that and see you next again. 🙂

[@paulbo9033]

Im from the UK which has a lower standard of living than Germany, and i remember the first time i went to NY i was shocked at how bad the roads/streets were, all infrastructure was really poor. I was surprised because it was my first time there and i had heard a lot about the US, the propaganda about "greatest country in the world" and i knew it was very wealthy, so it was a rude awakening when I saw first hand that even developing countries i had been to were way ahead on infrastructure compared to NY.

[@kevinnayda5653]

Have been to Germany and had a great visit of two weeks. Fantastic life style but we missed the range of food esp Asian style because German foods are heavey i think because of the cold climate? We stay with German friends who we travelled all around plus we did day trips by ourselves.

[@alexanderengstrom5997]

In Sweden you get paid to attend gymnasium and university, about 300 USD a month.

[@kevanwillis4571]

For clarification 'gymnasium' is high school.

[@stewedfishproductions7959]

@@kevanwillis4571 I'm English and that confused me, so thanks for the clarification... 👍

[@rebelmoon9059]

I have a forest in my village behind my house takes me a minute to go for a walk with my dogs their I love it❤

[@Timotarius_]

european kids also do groceries sometimes. obviously smaller scale but still.

[@thoddycgn]

I have lived in Germany for fifty years. Now you know someone who lives in Germany. ;-) Greetings from Cologne

[@DrDization]

Check out the forest kindergardens in Denmark xD They will shock you

[@paul1979uk2000]

I can't imagine what it must be like for young kids in the US when it comes to exploring the world, when I was a young kid, I must have gone almost everywhere going out as far as around 10 miles, school used to be around 3 miles and I went on my own on public buses. Never once in my life did I feel I was in danger as a kid, yes a few scares here and there but nothing dangerous, parents never worried about me and the only conditions I had on me is that I get back home by 10pm if it's a school day the next morning and if I am staying out late at say a friends house, I let my parents know and they are fine with it. The exploring part of childhood was a massive part of my life and likely helped to shape who I am today, I couldn't imagine how it would be if I needed parents to take me everywhere, which seems more common in the US now. Mind you, I did have my own free school bus pass, which allowed me to use the bus to go almost anywhere and I did to quite a distant away from where I lived at the time, never had any issues.

[@Loovalee]

Hi JP, nice Video. In th US you have a lot of parks... with a lot of Bears and Pumas. Here in Germany, smal children can roam the woods without fear.

[@Morph-ur3fx]

Thanks guys for the Video and lovely greetings from Southwest Germany.

[@optimusprowse6448]

My wife and I traveld from Berlin to London. We took the train from Berlin (East Germany) to Düsseldorf (West Germany), hopped on a Bus via Eindhoven (Netherlands) to Antwerpen (Belgium) to Calais (France) to board a Ferry to Dover (England). From there, our Bus (who was also on the Ferry) continued to London. 2 Weeks later we traveled the same way back. The total cost was 240€!!! For everything!

[@danielkarlsson258]

I really like the guy on the right. I've seen a few vids with him now. Very wise dude.

[@jetzt_gibts_beef1155]

I missed 1 big point. Health care. Most americans explain on that. ^^ Nice video. E from G(er)

[@humpty_bln]

Love the group sessions

[@dieweltsehenunterwegs]

First of all, I think it's great that you take a closer look at Germany. I was in New York in 1995 and I have to say it was a great time. Even as a white guy in Harlem, I would even go out at night and play basketball. Maybe I was just lucky or naive but the people were very warm to me. Secondly, I have to say that not everything is beautiful in Germany either. Rental costs are currently rising immeasurably. Food costs are rising, and more and more people are working in the low-wage sector. Volker Pispers, who I respect very much, said all this in advance but unfortunately he said goodbye to being a political comedian years ago. The thing is, if you live in Germany and have a good Job and money, then life is very good here. But then life is probably good in every country. For me, the only difference between the USA and Germany is that we have different gun laws and significantly fewer homicides by firearms. So, as the lady says, life is of course freer and more peaceful in some areas. HAve a nice day and best regards from Germany Bro... And Sorry for my bad English

[@germanyhamburger5552]

Yes, Germany is well positioned, I would need 1-2 hours to drive to Denmark, Netherlands or Belgium, 4-5 hours to Norway, Poland, Sweden or Czech Republic and 6-7 hours to France,UK, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Austria. Of course it would be quicker by plane. By plane you can reach any European country and almost all Asian and African countries in 6-8 hours. America,Australia,East Asia and South Africa takes a long time, around 10-12 hours. The flights are quite cheap but many people prefer to get a week package. This includes flights, hotels and often meals. There are often offers in normal stores like Aldi or in mailbox advertising or you can go to a travel agency but it usually costs a lot more.

[@ald00I]

i agree that the US has beautiful nature too, but its so far away! in just one day you can get from the alps to the north sea (though it will be a long day) in germany and in the US its gonna take a lot longer to reach those beautiful nature spots

[@TessaractAlemania-hd7tv]

About travelling cheap in Germany... you pay ONLY 49,-€ a month for travelling from one point to other through the whole country! So it's very easy to come to know ALL beautiful places in Germany in ONE MONTH... It's called the Deutschlandticket. But... you must be resident here. Or someone do you know here buys it for you in his name. This ticket also is guilty in every cities' inner transportation system, but it must be a federal bus or train company.

[@johnkochen7264]

Tuition free universities is an investment in your society. A modern society needs highly educated people to not only keep things running but also to improve people’s lives.

[@seanthiar]

13:50 There is one thing about nature that is an important difference. If you come across a farm in the US it will have in 90% of the cases a sign 'no trespassing (or you get shot)' even it is not a field with crops that could be damaged or animals you could disturb and you would just stay on the path thru the landscape. In Germany this is not trespassing. Only some fences to keep the animals in and you can walk across the private property on the paths the farmer use without problem. Same with forests etc.

[@arnolsi]

She forgot the health system.

[@40hup]

So, I dont't want to pour salt into the nice story about germany (I'm german), but what she is saying is mostly true compared to New York, but maybe not in general - in germany rent prices raised a lot in the last two decades, so people do struggle a bit to keep their standard of living, the outlook is not too bright here - we have problems to keep our economy going with a lot of big spending topics coming up, like boosting the miltary, infrastrucure (not all the roads and bridges are in pristine condition...), schools, integrating large streams of refugees (from ukraine but also africa, middle east, ...), decarbonization / renewable energy, overaging society (cost of pensions), and so on. So yes, compared to anglo countries that emphasize "small" government and little social wellfare and boost private ownership and responsibility, countries like germany and the nordic countries in Europe with higher taxes but good public spending (subsidized healthcare, unemployment benefits, ...) still are good in keeping the population more united - but there are more and more struggles with that also, in a lot of european countries (new right wing parties, new isolationism and tribalism...). So: All in all, what she says is true, but your personal experience in germany might differ a lot, according to who you are, where you are and how much you own or have. If you come just as a tourist none of that might matter - you will have a good time. Living here (like everywhere else) has its own benefits an drawbacks (like the mentioned high taxes).

[@whymeeveryone]

I drove in Chicago and was caught in traffic jam for two hours. when I manage to get to the end there was nothing there.

[@Why-D]

Munich or Frankfurt are expensive towns in Germany, but a lot of towns between 100.000 and 500.000 citizens are quite affordable and smaller cities are even cheaper. It always is upon the area.

[@petrsebik]

15:50 to go from Berlin to Prague its about 22€ if you book weeks in advance. It could be 50-60€ if you buy the ticket at the day of the travel.

[@Taggatips]

Nice guys like you are always warmly welcome over here 😉

[@kortanioslastofhisname]

University fees often also include getting a Semesterticket typically for free travel on all public transport in the state or a few states for the whole semester. EDIT: Travel costs are much lower than mentioned, you can go from Hamburg to Munich for about 50 Euros if you book 2-3 weeks in advance. Düsseldorf - Berlin a week in advance will only set you back 40 Euros. And there is a monthly ticket for all public transport and all except the high-speed trains that is just 49 Euros.

[@tommysellering4224]

Are you talking about the US or Germany? Not that it matters. Anyway in most of Europe public transport is either free or dirt cheap for anyone with a student ID (or retirees).

[@kortanioslastofhisname]

@@tommysellering4224 Germany... a public transport ticket in most of the US would be next to worthless...

[@rascalnz9983]

Openness to experience is a basic personality trait denoting receptivity to new ideas and new experiences. Some have it. Others don't.

[@wildtrak6735]

Here in germany, it is a constitutional right to have access to education no matter your background, finacial status etc. And also, political and social matters aside: the USA are a darn BEAUTIFUL country. The nature is breathtaking and so divers. The little towns and the architecture are really pretty to look at. You should not forget that the States are doing a lot of things right and sometimes i feel like a lot of us europeans tend to look down on you. (Many american tourists kinda force that on us tho😂). Every nation has its good and bad sides. I always loved being there and i keep my eyes on the pretty things there.

[@thorstent2542]

Inside the 300 -600€ per year for the university is mostly a public transport ticket.

[@ForumcoldiArchon]

Yea 180 for half a year, but 130 of it was the Ticket which however only covered weekends and hollydays (24hrs) and normal days from 17-24 (5pm-0am) making it kinda worthless. An upgrade to 24/7 was 120ish though so still within the 600 per year (regional travel only, but the Region is quite a big part of bavaria) In other areas it'd be cheaper for more for sure. West germany is more expensive

[@andyoderso2858]

from munich to italy it costs 20€ (when i lived in munich...2-3 years ago...maybe now its 30-40€) by train

[@mickeymaus1]

For example I as kid also just told my family that I will go to my friend to play after school or at the weekend and they will saw us soonest at the church evening, without cellphone or something. We were just out on our bikes in the woods, at a playground or somewhere else to play. Yes, it’s absolutely normal common sense and further more it’s a requested thing of safety pointed to the government to ensure this to the people.

[@hilmargerold7912]

Berlin HBF - Prag HBF, traveltime ca. 4h34min, cost ~31,90€ per single-ticket, but there are other options like EU railpass when you go on a trip around Europe ...

[@ChokyoDK]

A train from Berlin to Prague is about 30 USD :)

[@stevekinlough588]

You guys do a great job and great video.....

[@naimapeukert8575]

Super 👍 Video Greetings from Germany 🇩🇪

[@whymeeveryone]

my trip to Germany was great and to catch a high speed train was the best thing.

[@maxxie84]

you can find good prices, my train from Prague to Berlin was €20, most TGV (high speed trains) in France you can find for around €20 with low cost companies, and you can travel from Paris to Nice in like 4 hours (8h by car)

[@RamboZabikuch]

In used to hitchhike from Prague to Vienna(Austria). Or from Prague to Stockholm(Sweden) even to the northern point of Europe. Norway, Nordkapp. 😂. But it was in the 90's

[@thomasd5]

I live in the Düsseldorf area and the Regional Express to Venlo Netherlands takes 1 hour including a 10 minutes stop in Mönchengladbach. And a ticket from Berlin to Prague would be 45 Euro with a direct Eurocity train and 60 to 82 Euros if you take national trains and have to change trains.

[@vh5636]

As a German, there is definitely good night life in the cities but in the smaller towns I have to disappoint. Pubs and stuff are definitely open but restaurants, parks and shops are closing quite early. Night life in Korea is way more fun. Too old for this now, but when you're young and single definitely recommend South Korea. I'm more of a pub person though 😅

[@LadyNikitaShark]

One thing i do love in Europe is trains. Some countries are better at it than orhers but its Nice being able to visit other countries on a wimp.

[@Azmedon-AU]

And in Australia it can take a day or more to get to a different state

[@ericihloff7845]

😊enjoy your videos. Meet in person if you visit berlin again with your friends 👍😜

[@blondkatze3547]

That`s the nice thing about Germany, that it is located in the heart of Europe and you can travel cheaply to other European countries by train, bus or plane.

[@AkiWetzels]

Living in Belgium, working in Germany, going for shoping to the Netherlands, visiting friends in all of the three countries. That’s normal for people living in this area. I am using public transport for those trips.

[@PiaMater-m4n]

Hi, I´m german too. First thing first. I do like Americans. But..., please react to this wise man. Best wishes from your "Motherland".

[@Me-tx8yr]

I’m living in Wolfsburg Germany. We have two bridges that have have to be replaced in the next decade are partially closed and all the other roadworks going on around here and especially around Hamburg ( which is a roadwork area for almost 40 years considering my own experience). Hamburgs Autobahn has been a traffic nightmare since my childhood. Don’t expect much of the German Autobahn. There are roadworks all over the country and the unrestricted zones are very few.

[@reesofraft4166]

It really depends where you live/ drive. My experience is different, unless I‘m in the ruhrpott or close to another big city

[@fannyg465]

On the topic of starting a family: I don’t think i would even consider having children in the us by just looking at the hospital fees ppl show online lol . Here in Germany you get to stay three days at the hospital if wished for or needed. And you are beeing provided for by the hospital. No extra costs as everything is taken care of by your health care insurance 😊

[@alansmithee8831]

Hello Joel and pals. I spent time in both countries. I went to New York and you could do this video about there and other parts of US. I stayed in a big German city though and it was unlike US cities in the way you also said.

[@kripolik]

15:50 if you buy train tickets in advance you can go from Berlin to Prague for 30 euros. Before covid it used to be just a little over 20 euros.

[@rahzeslayallkings6260]

It is OK i feel good for her moving from ny to f.e. Bavaria. It is a huuuuuuge difference❤. U should bring your Homeboys over and they'll see and feel

[@janchuchler2996]

just quick update on train prices from Berlin to Prague. I search that right after they mentined it and tickets are about 50 euros here in Prague... 4.5 hours of traveling time

[@vdovii]

So about the nature point, how long do you have to spend in a car to get to a forest? For us, in Europe, even if you live in the middle of the capital, 45 minutes in the car and you're in an actual forest

[@bazzjumpa1984]

paying for a used house/prooerty deoends on the place...it can be VERY different in germany. My place is in thuringia which belongs to eastern germany, and I'm also very living in the countrysides, no very big city around us....a used house can cost you from 80k up to 299k depending the quality (to us germans its important how old the roof tiles are f.e. - cuz a roof is expensive to renew)

[@marcromain64]

Funny coincidence, I visited Thuringia last week (mostly a trip to visit the excavation site of the Nebra sky disc with an overnight stay in Erfurt) and just happen to see some real estate offers at a local Sparkasse. Although being somewhat used to way cheaper house prices in Eastern Germany, I was totally flabbergasted. Offers startet at about €30k for some not-too-worn-down house in rural Thuringia. Surely that's not for everyone, but when you talk about countrywide average house prices, that's also part of what's on the table and at least the same if not better as some cardboard bungalow in rural parts of the US.

[@bazzjumpa1984]

no no...thats eastern part of germany, prices we talk about, but by a 30k house you probably have to refurbish a lot! Most ppl here buy a used house, and it's not common here to leave the furnitures like the kitchen in the house. you buy a house without any thing! and it may be an old building. We talk about up to more than 60 or 70 yrs old and way older! Question: what does flabbergasted mean? Btw. I grew up near the place the Nebra disc but now living near Erfurt. Didn't know any ppl know about that disc! interesting.

[@justapourguy]

There are more roads in the EU than in the US. There is always construction and maintenance happening here as well. It’s worse in the US because you’ve gutted the budget for infrastructure since the 70’s.

[@ChaosTool93]

The difference with the nature point is, that you can see these things, when you take a 10-20 minute train ride from the middle of the city

[@kareno6986]

Here in Scotland it’s quite common for kids to walk to school without their parents. My daughter did her degree and then did her masters and it was all free. I think students from elsewhere would have to pay though. It’s also quite common for us to have weekend breaks in other European countries because they are so easy to get to.

[@cedrictekken6063]

Thanks for the reaction, it somehow made me realize that we already have a high standard of living here. More Germans should watch this video to understand in what a “good” country we live in.

[@elephantcastle5110]

German who used to live in Connecticut here I feel like while the US has great nature, it's often specific areas you have to drive to. It's less integrated into your surroundings, like just being able to go on a small hike from wherever you live.

[@Filipino95]

If you are come back to germany you have to try Döner Kebab !! Its made from Berlin in the 70 or 80 from a Turkish guy think and its top 3 on the famous food in Germany

[@tsuki7838]

About education, for example, if you attend a public university/college, 4 years for Bc and 3 years for Mgr/Ing are paid for by the government. 3 years for Bc are standart time it takes to get the degree, the +1 year if for an extention if your studies require one. Once the time it takes you to get the degree goes over the 4 years, you have to pay money for yeach semester you need to add. (At least in my country)

[@dominiklehn2866]

some of her points were less Germany compared to US and more super urban New York City compared to, presumably, semi-rural town in southern german

[@eddyvandeven5963]

If you want to go to europe for the beer, you should go to belgium, they have really the best beers of europe and you need a month to taste all of them if you where planning to get drunk every day.and you probably will have not tasted all the beers there are in belgium.

[@RealConstructor]

Most of the times the plane is cheaper than the train and less hassle on longer distances. But not always. Traveling from Amsterdam to Bordeaux and back will cost you about €177 adding to that the transfer to and from both airports to the city center, which is about €23 maximum by public transport, so a total of €200 and the flight will take a 1:40 hours without the two hours in advance and the transfer to and from the airport takes about 5hours. It is a direct flight and there are two or three a day. By train it will kost you €132 for two TGV trains, one from Amsterdam to Paris Gare du Nord and one from Paris Gare Montpernasse to Bordeaux St Jean, adding a metro ticket in Paris from Gare du Nord to Gare Montpernasse for about €2. And the other way around of course a total of €136, so definitely cheaper. And it will take a journey time of 6:30hours and a 15 minute metro ride in Paris. So two transfers, train to metro and metro to train. But the good thing is, there are 12 trains a day you can take. If you’re traveling between two cities without a high speed train station it will take far more time and probably more money. But traveling between two cities without an airport or direct flight will also take more time and be more expensive. So research before you travel and weigh your options. The train can be cheaper than a flight, often takes more time, but gives you more different options for departure and goes from city center to city center. And if it is important to you, the train is more environmentally friendly.

[@fini8874]

Haha regarding the travel part: I just had to laugh when you talked about travelling everywhere with the train and how close and easy it is in Germany and I realised that I live in Aachen which is the most western city in Germany and which borders Belgium and the Netherlands and I have never been to Amsterdam (I should mention that I am 25 😅)

[@humpty_bln]

p.s. therer must be a couple video to talk about the Berlin night life in all its diversity. I personally find going out/clubbing in most of Europe is so different from the US (and so much later and longer). Not that 1am lights on like in CA.

[@nellischein4333]

Yes ?? Yes in Spain and sobre Part of Germany it’s Till 7 AM Next day in Berlin Even 24h

[@MusicKiimi]

I started walking home alone in first grade, so like 5/6 years old. I didn't know this then, but my father walked behind me for some weeks, until they were sure I found my way to school (I was pretty easily to distract as a child haha) Most of the time classmates group up and walk home together after school, did that a lot with friends that lived near me. Also it depends on the university, but in my Uni I only pay around 240 Euros every semester, but more than half of that money is for the "Semesterticket", like a ticket for public transport for 6 months which you can use all the time around your city, Students also have to pay less in the cinema, museums, public swimming pools and so on. There is also Bafög in Germany! Where the state is giving you up to 1000 euros a month for studying, you have to pay back half of it and it caps at 10.000 Euros, so no matter how long you're in university or if you do your BA and Master, you can't end up with more to pay back. Paying back starts 5 years after you're done with studying.

[@willybauer5496]

Her NY experience might be very different from all of the US, but concerning giving my kids a free live experience from their early life on, me and my family chose living in Germany/Europe was worth it! I spend almost roundabout 5½ to six years in the US for a phd, but later… because kids were *in the making*, we went back to Germany, because of the way more free way, as kids are brought up over here. And yes, it was a priviliged position we were living in at the time, but we (as a really young couple) got the opportunity to study in the US and do this by stipendia we got through mutual exchange programs at the time. We were in our very late twenties, when we got our kids, and, because of the overall benefits we got here, never regretted it to go back to Europe. Haha… but don't get me on this! We were also considering to just stay, because of the outstanding working and research conditions at american unis. As of public transport. don't forget, that distances in Europe - comparing to the US - are just a joke.

[@malgorzataslesinska9213]

regarding public transport - it is not distance only. I've read recently article, where author explained that at some point US stopped investing in public transport or interstate... that's why their fastest train run a little over 100km/h... and of course the problem is financing this. Look at China (maybe not perfect example in other areas) but they invest a lot of money in fast trains etc... and US is staying behind. and like US they have huge areas to cover. Even behind Eastern Europe countries, where before joining EU, situation was as it was (specially 90')

[@willybauer5496]

@@malgorzataslesinska9213 Public transport in the US - compared to other developed countries - is just in shambles.

[@Ravenwithnoaura]

Im from germany 🇩🇪🇩🇪🇩🇪🇩🇪🇩🇪

[@june4976]

On the standard of living thing: if you compare rural to city, it will be skewed. Of course, in a city, houses will be much more expensive, but in rural areas you might need a car, etc. pp. If you are really interested in that stuff, there is a channel called "Type Ashton" (formerly "Black Forest Family") that has some super cool videos about comparing cost of living for singles and families in the US vs. Germany, with actual numbers. They might be a bit long for you to react to (usually about half an hour), but there you'll find a lot of answers on the questions "What do I have in my pocket after all of the taxes" or "How are grocery prices in the US compared to Germany" and such. They also have built a house here, in the Black Forest, and I think there was a video on the cost of that, too. It's not cheap, but yeah... 200-400k might be the range to buy a family home here, depending on your area of living.

[@danieloskarsson215]

When it comes to nature she has a point. I've lived in the US both east and west coast as well in 6 countries in europe. Majote cities. Its not comparable how easy it is to come out to true nature in europe. Fast. She is not talking about making trips, its about true nature rin your living vicinity. Thw cities in the US is just so very spread out. With so little regard to create pockets of nature.

[@dirklatham1045]

Not parks at all. You can go almost anywhere!

[@cellevangiel5973]

I live near a school and thus see children go to school on their own. But the grownups around keep an eye on this children. If anything would happen they would be taken care off. And the parents know that, the children are guarded.

[@MrsStrawhatberry]

you don't get houses for 200k, not even appartments. The US housing market is extremely cheap compared to Europe in general.

[@pavelmacek282]

Surely you can take the train from Berlin to Prague which is amazing journey and as you said: the earlier you book, the lower the price. But there is also a less picturesque way by bus operated by either FlixBus (usually cheaper) or RegioJet (with mega comfy buses and screens in the seats in front of you like long haul planes have) - both of these are perfect for any last minute bookings like I did recently for the next week with the second named company which has a "helloween special" for one way 11 EUR. travel tip nr 1: for trains always check the price on both German DB and Czech CD as the prices for the same train and time might differ radically, cos they pool on this route but the CZ is usually way cheaper travel tip nr. 2: always check the 1st class as the prices go up like with flight tickets (the fewer, the higher) so happend to me several times 1st was cheaper than 2nd 😉

[@tranquilthoughts7233]

Actually as far as traveling is concerned germany IS smack dab in the middle of euroasia. Mostly because of the alps. If you want to go through eurasia in east to west direction you pretty much have to go through germany because the alternative is to cross the alps. And while that is much less of a hassle today than it was a couple hundred years ago, it's still much easier and faster to just take the detour through germany. By the way, this location as essentially central station for any east-west travel (and therefore trade) is also a large part of why german history is so convoluted.