7 Things We Love About Living in Germany as Americans 🇩🇪❤️
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- Опубліковано 14 жов 2023
- As Americans living in Germany, we've found things we love and hate about living abroad in Germany. This video focuses on the things we LOVE about living in Germany as Americans. Stay tuned for the negatives of living abroad in Germany though...
⏩ CHAPTERS
0:19 Number 1
0:52 Number 2
1:18 Number 3
1:55 Number 3.5
2:28 Number 4
3:48 Number 5
4:53 Number 6
5:44 Number 7
🎵Music: share.epidemicsound.com/2dyu06
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💻 Blog: www.mytravelbf.com
📸 Instagram: / mytravelbf
🤔 WHO IS MY TRAVEL BF?
We are Mike and Becca, two passionate travelers who love traveling deep and experiencing a place through its food, history, and culture.
#germany #livingabroad #expat
I think it’s a bit problematic that people always say, the taxes are 40-45%. It doesn’t match the reality and suggests that everyone has to give half of his money to the government. 45% is just the highest possible tax rate for the rich. The average citizen pays about 20% in taxes.
Thanks! Perhaps we should have been more specific.
@@MYTravelBF Just a helping critique ;) Aside from that little fact though, your video was very nice to watch. That didn’t come out so well in my comment😄
The thing is you give more in the US. The difference is in Germany and other European countries they don’t BS you with death by a 1000 small fees and taxes.
To hear about all your positive impressions with the best views of Hannover in the background was a pleasure. However, I'm eager to see the second part.
Thank you! We've really enjoyed Hannover. As with any place, it's not all positives, so that's where the negatives will come in for part 2!
@@MYTravelBFfor a negative video the appropriate backgrounds shouldn’t be hard to find.
He got to make German friends who have been amazing because he is north Germanic Caucasian. Innit, whitey?
Germany is far from perfect and now this country is going through a difficult time. But Germany is used to mastering even the most serious crises and learning from mistakes.
There is a saying here 'Mund abwischen und es besser machen' (wipe your mouth and do it better).
This is probably the most outstanding characteristic of the Germans.
No country is perfect, which is why everywhere we've lived has pros and cons. Plus, no single country is perfect for everyone. Overall, we really like Germany though!
Von diesem Sprichwort habe ich noch nie was gehört. Bin schon einige Jahre auf der Welt.
@@user-ti2ko7ex3h stammt von Oliver Kahn (2014)
Thanks for ths nice views of my hometown Hannover. In my opinion, one of the most underrated cities in Germany. I noticed some pictures of Bamberg as well, where currently a part of my family lives.
Comparing the taxes in Europe with those in the U.S. is a hard task, i guess - it´s not the same, because they contain insurances, health care and other benefits for europeans. On top of it, the living cost differs by a lot and we use to get additional perks, like "Kindergeld" (€250 per child/month), "Wohngeld" (rent subsidy for low incomes/up to €1300/month) and so on...
However, have a nice day and don´t forget to enjoy your life, EVERYONE! ❤
Thank you! We visit Bamberg in early summer! When comparing US and German taxes, I suppose you have to think of the extra amount you spend on healthcare and other things in the US as a part of the taxes withheld. Unfortunately, a lot of people don't do that though. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Dankeschön🤗
Gern geschehen
The health care system in germany is predominantly paid for by insurance premiums not taxes .
The most central feature is cost control .
The government tells the insurance companies and the doctors and hospitals how much they can charge . also ,insurance is mandatory . the cost of the premiums is based on one's income .
There MAY be some tax subsidies but it is mostly paid for by the above things mentioned .
Yepp, the government sees not a single cent of the insurance premiums paid by any members as it isn't a tax per se. Yes, it IS deducted immediately from your gross wages/salary if you're in the gesetzliche Krankenkasse/ statutory health insurance but that's paid into a central pot from which the statutory insurances receive their payment according to the numbers of their members (it's a lot more complicated than that, but that's what it boils down to). The government has no right to dip into that pot at any point so they can't withdraw funds from it. They are even banned from attempting to draw funds from it.
Even when you do have to pay, the costs are incredibly low comapred to the US, which is amazing!
Thanks for the extra info!
In any case, Germany has a lot of history to offer. The castles and palaces alone, some over 1000 years old, are remarkable.
Now after a year in Germany, you realize that there are positive but also negative things. in general, but the positive now prevails for me seen. Whereas I see in the U.S. at the time a lot of negative, the whole political chaos (I will not go into it) the many homeless who live on the street, that is not in Germany.
There are definitely a lot of negatives in the US, but obviously there are some positives too. We really like living in Germany! Thanks for watching!
Schön, daß ihr euch für die Historie interessiert. 😊
Viele Deutsche kümmern sich da nicht mehr drum.
Ja, die Sicherheit und auch die medzinische Versorgung sind durchaus gut!👍
Wir lieben es, neue Orte und die ganze Geschichte kennenzulernen. Vielen Dank fürs Zuschauen und Kommentieren! Wenn Sie etwas Interessantes in oder um Hannover wissen, das wir sehen sollten, lassen Sie es uns wissen!
What about rampant racism in Germany?
@@val-schaeffer1117 Germany is not alone regarding that issue. Nevertheless we have to take care
@@kayo7082 Write in English. "Alone on issue" what does that even mean? Germany is uniquely racist and exclusionary (certainly more than USA, UK, Canada) by standards of western liberal democracies.
@@kayo7082 Positive experience (or nordic Caucasian) can also reflect racism of general society.
I walked to school alone when I was 7 years old and in 2nd grade.
There are enough old people who pay attention xD.
Grüße aus Thüringen / Erfurt
That's so cool! My parents loved that when they visited because that's how they grew up in the US. Apparently, things have changed over time there. We're hoping to get to Erfurt someday soon!
@@MYTravelBF Unfortunatly, I have never been to the USA. But I will defintely take a trip there at some point. If you are in Erfurt it is also worth visiting Weimar. Its ca. 30-45 minutes away and beautiful too. You can also combine it with a trip to Ettersberg, Buchenwald (KZ) ca. 20min from Weimar.
Why do you think that is? I was trying to explain this to someone. You just CANT let your kids out of your site in the U.S. because it’s so dangerous. Kids getting kidnapped all the time, trafficking, etc. what makes Germany safer for kids in this regard? Surely there are creeps there too?
Oh cool! At 0:28 you’re in Würzburg! ❤
Yes! We visited there last year for the Christmas market.
@@MYTravelBF Great choice! I lived there for 13 years.
Thx a lot for your video, not everything in Germany is good, but overall, its good to live here. And a special note: your video at 4:40 is no porn!😉
We agree! It's a very good place to live overall, but every place has it's pros and cons! Also, thanks for the special note😂
Hi Mike, I can agree to your mentioned things and of course there will things you may hate, better to say you dont like. Well, as you know that we Germans complain a lot anyway but in general comparing with other countries its nice to live here. Those who complain the most have been not that much outside this country, I mean around the world, and are not really able to complain. Of course everything is not going well for the citizens with the actual goverment but msitakes have been done in the past as well and there will be a new chance to correct such things. Hope you still enjoy living here and you also donate something to our society as you have got back already from them. CU
Don't like is probably better than hate. You're correct. Those who complain the most in every country have generally not been outside of the country much based on our experiences. We love living here overall, but every place has it's pros and cons. Thanks for watching!
Lived in Germany for 2 years. Rnjoyed being there.
Cool! Where in Germany did you live?
@@MYTravelBF A small town in Baden-Württemburg, south of Heidelberg, called Rauenberg. I worked for the US government in Heidelberg, which is, of course, a tourist town. Rauenberg itself is unexceptional except it is conveiently located near the intersection of the A5 and A6, and has a McDonald's. What else could an American want?
Hannover ist fun.
Yes! We really like Hannover!
In points of safety: That Fahrradhelm isn't worn richtig.
Yes, I know. I realized that after filming the segment. Normally, it's not like that.
Love Hannover...and...books about penguins aren't banned... lol... there are even live penguins in Hannovers zoo. :-))
We love it here too! What's the thing about penjuin books being banned?😂
Many, many books are bannes in schools in the US.Depends on the district. It got Harry Potter for instance. And a childrens book about two male penguins raising a chick (true story)
Actually there are more guns in Germany than you think. Even the smallest village has its shooting club (including a green uniform because of the tradition of citizen's militia).
So I would say the key for safety in Germany is strict gun control. You need a legally acknowledged reason (e.g. hunting or sports or a security business), absolutely no criminal record, a training and a license before you can legally buy a gun. And any guns have to be locked up in a safe to prevent minors or psychos from getting one.
Perhaps I should have elaborated more and said gun control, like you stated. Thanks for pointing out how Germany has strict gun control!
♥♥🥰😘🥰🥰
Thanks for watching!!
The main reason why you have so few cities with trams in the US is that : the cars producers told the cities better to buy busses than trams ..
in addition they bought the tram companies and scrapped the trams immediately to ensure they are not a competitor to their cars and buses as that is their BUSINESS and brings THEM Profit !!
( you can find videos of same in youtube if interested )
Exactly! It's too bad the US is so car-dependent.
In einem Land in dem "gas" eine Flüssigkeit ist, sind natürlich alle Abzüge "taxes".
Der normale Angestellte zahlt in Deutschland rund 21% Sozialversicherungen - das sind keine Steuern sondern ein VERSICHERUNGSbeitrag für den Notfall.
Arbeitgeber zahlt übrigens weitere 21% für diese Versicherung dazu und dann kann man sich natürlich auch freuen dass man einigermaßen kostenlos kostenlos zum Arzt geht und einen eine Geburt nicht in den Bankrott treibt.
Und dann zahlt ein mittelgut verdienender Mitarbeiter zwischen 20 und 30% Lohnsteuer das ist eine echte Steuer
Danke für die Aufschlüsselung und fürs Zuschauen!
4:43 also, there is no public outcry because of this statue.
😂😂😂 Good point!
Sorry, but this annoys me everytime i hear it. It's annoying when it comes from American rightwingers who sing their false song of low taxes while hiding the fact that "their" taxes do not include expenses they have to pay after cashing in the pay check, e.g. healthcare, while in Germany, this is alreay paid before that. And it's annoying when it comes from somebody who should know better.
No you don't pay 40-45% taxes, and I guarantee you, you never will. You pay income tax to the state, which in your case as a married couple with an average income will be roughly 10-15%. The income tax is progressive from 0% to 45%, depending on the income. And it's not the same rate on all of your income, it's zero on the first ~10k and increases in steps up to 45% on that income above the highest bracket, something about 120k for a married couple if I remember correctly. I'm too lazy to look up the exact figures, but out of my head, that married couple with 120k pays something like 18% income tax because that's the average over their different "slices" of income. Additionally, there are quite a lot of actual legal ways of reducing tax payments, and especially children will have a large impact on what you pay. So, if you ever happen to pay more than that, I would very much question your tax advisor.
A bigger percentage than taxes are social security contributions, being around 19%. They are taken out of your pay check, but that doesn't make them taxes. They include healthcare, unemployment insurance, pension funds, and a few more elusive things like "Berufsgenossenschaft", depending on the type of employment, sometimes on region. If anything, they must be compared to health insurance premiums and pension funds in America. The only difference is that they are mandatory in Germany. That still doesn't make them taxes. They are contributions to social security of which you are a member. If you are not privately insured, you are members of one of the many statuory health insurances, and by the way, you are entitled to vote and be voted on for the the administrative board of those independent, not-government-controlled entities.
Since you are an educator, I would propose to have a close look at your pay-slip for homework. Please prepare a 1000 words essay on the subject of taxes and dues in Germany as compared to the USA and present it to the audience til the end of the year. 😜
Good post.. tax brackets is also what we have in Denmark works the same way.. usa also have tax brackets, so it should not come as a surprise BUT it does bc of all the fear mongering about the EVIL socialist tax stealing countries and even if they know it will ofc be used politicly and now be mentioned,, Germany and Danmark's social security is mostly the same .. as with all the northern european countries.. Americans are simply wired differently in the brain
@@Galantus1964 Yes. But what's always funny to see is that all kinds of different systems work, whether they are completely tax financed like Denmark (afaik) or completely based on private insurance like Switzerland and the Netherlands (both with a very different approach), or with a mixture of mostly statuory (NOT state-controlled) insurance and a little share of private insurance like in Germany. There are so many ways of making universal healthcare work, and the only reason why some people don't have it is because they are constantly being brainwashed and lied to...
We love paying the taxes up front and not having to worry about a HUGE medical bill later on, like in the US. In fact, we paid $25 just to be seen by the doctor and $150 just to be seen in the emergency room at the hospital. The care was great if you could afford it though.
We might have stated the exact tax amount wrong as I didn't know it off the top of my head. However, it is more than we paid in the US, obviously before healthcare. Thanks for watching and commenting!
@@MYTravelBF 👍 you still dont pay a flat 45% in tax, only for a certain amount over x amount, and that is the " issue" you make it sound as if you do , and it is simply wrong , otherwise great vid, looking forward to see what you "HATE" about the country you chose to live in
I would like to add: free tuition at all public universities in Germany.
Note: keep your helmet-strap a bit more closed, at least bc the Police could qualify it as "open" that is the equivalent of not wearing a helmet at all - what could punished.
Thanks for the note! I noticed it was a bit loose when editing. I'm surprised the 75% of people who don't even wear helmets don't get ticketed then...
Sorry but you are wrong. Here in Germany is no requirement for cyclists to wear helmets
Our safety is not only about gun control. It is the result of a social society, in which everybody can live a proper life. It is our task to form a society, where there is no need for (private) guns at all. The monopoly on violence belongs to the organs of the nation ... and even our policemen are far less violent as their collegues in the US. Social peace is not a question of police control, but about establishing social conditions, in which violence is not necessary and useless.
There are certianly other issues that play into the safety in the US. It's not just guns, and yes, Germany does have guns. They just have more controls on them.
Yeah, you pay a lot of taxes, but you'll get so much in return ... as a german, I didn't even know where to start! < so, it's quite a fair deal! :)
We absolutely agree! You get so much back from the taxes you pay, unlike in the US.
Nice to see a "third person's" view, while Germans always complain!
Thank you!
When others say WE are "cold" ... they don't understand that we respect YOUR privacy.
When others think THEY are "warm" ... they don't understand we find them OBNOXIOUS.
It's seems to all be a matter of perspective on first impressions.
About the safety, I would not say its about the lack of guns. My country Czechia (neighbour of Germany) ranks higher on the safety index then Germany, while we have right to defend ourself with a gun in our constitution. And many people have guns here, but there is almost zero gun violence.
It's not 100% about guns, but coming from the US where there is a ton of gun violence, it often simply feels safer as people don't have guns, especially after having to do monthly active shooter drills at work, including some real ones for shooters in the neighborhood.
@mytravelBF- The feeling of safety is generated by the collective consciousness of the population . A non violent or less violent population will not seek weapons due to their reduced subjective fear . The lack of guns in germany reflects this and the laws surrounding guns .
We can't say it is the lack of guns because we don't see these guns as a lack of an inanimate object has no ability to produce a feeling of either positive or negative .
The lack of guns in this case is only the most outward manifestation of a peaceful people .
@@siriosstar4789Germans are one of the most violent ethnic groups on planet earth!!!
You complain about progressive taxes yet 3 of the things you "love" are the result of taxation. Public transport, healthcare and bike lanes are subsidised by government as well as other great things like "free" education. Don't come to Europe and complain about taxes, they are the reason Europe is much, much better than the U.S.
We support the progressive taxes and love everything that comes from the taxes we pay here. It's much better than in the US. We only mentioned the tax rate because people watching from the US would bring that up immediately when referencing healthcare. It's happened far too many times🤦🏼♂️🤦🏽♀️
Sometimes the impression people give in the US is just funny. I loved living in Germany for over 10 years. But your statement about how unsafe American is because of guns is laughable where are you from Chicago? Most Americans only see guns on TV. As for school children walking home from school again that subject to where you choose to live. Another is medical care, like most people you get health insurance. If you have cut rate insurance of course you can get a bill. Stop comparing as you give such a narrow view. Nothing wrong with loving Germany which I do but comparing is subjective to so many factors.
Obviously, everything is subject to where you live when talking about a country, or even a city for that matter, just like Chicago as you mentioned. There's no perfect place in the world as every place has pros and cons, especially when comparing it to other places. Thanks for watching!
The main reason why you have no cycling infrastructure in the US is : it is costing money and does not bring any PROFIT to your car industry !! so simple .. ( and it could make people halthier ) bad for the other BUSINESS ... healthcare !!
The car industry also got rid of most city rail transportation a long time ago too...
Is it safe to immigrate there from USA? I’ve heard there’s another fascist regime rising up there and I’m trying to escape that mess in the U.S….
You should ask these youtubers. When are they going to renounce their american citizenship and apply for a german citizenship.
See we just had a american youtuber that's been living in germany for over five years and doing all the hate videos on america to make money off youtube.
Now, she wants to move back to america and does move back to america. Her name is Hayley. Yes, she maded tons of money selling hate on america on youtube. It's common for these youtubers to do this as a way to make a living doing this. Once people stop clicking on their videos it will stop and their videos will stop being made. Their a whole industry system behind individuals to do this as a way to make money off youtube.
Stop making up this crap.
She goes back because her American "degree" wasn't recognized here and she couldn't finish her education.
There is no "hate industry" against America, it's just that most people who experience life abroad understand what a sh**hole country it is, in many regards.
Oh, and the fact that you have to pay a crapload of money to reject the US nationality...
Unfortunately, getting German citizenship isn't too easy as it currently takes 8 years of living here, but they are discussing reducing it to 5 soon. As for renouncing US citizenship, that would cost $2,350. We try to focus our videos on travels in Germany and what we love about living here, not just what we hate about the US. Sorry if it came off that way in this video. It's just a comparison based on where we've lived in the past. Thanks for watching and commenting!
@@MYTravelBF First , Hayley didn't say her reason for leaving germany had anything to do with staying longer in germany or the cost involved. It was because she said germany was blocking her from a good education or job in germany.
She made tons of money on youtube on fear mongering on america. Sad that now it shows it was all for the clicks and making tons of money off youtube. Now she has to try and keep her followers stupid and overlooking her moving back to america. A country she said she hated. Also her german boyfriend in the past tried to apply for a green card for america. I take it she will do a 90 day marriage visa for him and then he can leave germany for america.
Sad, that a tons of youtubers made a living on fear mongering and misinformation on america.
Maybe you will cover the tons of germans having to go to private food shelters to stay alive in germany or the german economy in a free fall. Some starting to call germany. The sick man of europe. DW german news channels covering it.
As well as the extreme far right groups gaining power in the germany political system.
Also, die Videos von Haley waren/ sind sehr ausgeglichen.
Sie hat mal das Positive, mal das Negative von Deutschland und den USA aufgeführt.
Sie wollte hier in Deutschland eine Weiterbildung/Schule machen, aber trotz langen Bemühens hat es nicht geklappt.
Deswegen macht sie das jetzt in den USA, ist ja wichtig für ihren weiteren Lebensweg.
Ich glaube, sie hätte gerne hier in Deutschland studiert, hat halt leider nicht hingehauen.
@@orangeguy3314 I don't know her personal situation, but every country has pros and cons as you pointed out about Germany. We're not trying to fear monger here, just explain what we love about Germany in this video. We've lived in different places and every one has good and bad things. No one country is the perfect place for everyone. Just like we jobs, the best one for someone is the worst for others.
..du hast 'ne geile Fresse, Mann!
Danke!
holy fuck half your paycheck gone as well as your firearms?! count me out
😂😂😂 This is the classic American reaction. It's a beautiful thing to go to the doctor and not have to pay anything. As for firearms, you can get them in Germany, the laws to buy and keep them are much stricter though.
No, his statement was wrong
You got to make German friends who have been amazing because you are north Germanic Caucasian. Innit, whitey?
Maybe that's a reason, but I think it has more to do with them being connected to an already international community. What has your experience been with Germans?
Yeah no guns , but plenty of knifes!
Is this something people really think? There have been a few responses on our stuff about knives in Europe. It seems to be the classic American gun owners response.
@@MYTravelBF ...while the per-capita "knife-crime" in the US still is higher than in germany.