Moving to Germany

[Artsy]

I'm moving to Germany for a year - a relatively small student city. 

For those that have travelled or moved abroad - what advice do you have to...

Make the most of the experience? 

Things you wish you knew/had considered looking back?

[Vynce]

1 hour ago, Artsy said:

I'm moving to Germany for a year - a relatively small student city. 

For those that have travelled or moved abroad - what advice do you have to...

Make the most of the experience? 

Things you wish you knew/had considered looking back?

From where? and how long?

your questions depend a lot on how different your home culture is to german culture.

Edited August 15 by Vynce

[OBEler]

@Artsy don't throw the plastic bottles away you get money back.

Buy Deutschland Ticket for traveling in whole Germany for free. But some high-speed trains are not included so be careful.

Edited August 16 by OBEler

[Daniel Balan]

The German people are so cool, they work like crazy from Monday to Friday, during the week no one is out, but when Friday night comes, the Germans go out partying hard AF, I love this culture of working hard then also partying hard and socializing hard in the weekend.

Germany is so beautiful. I honestly believe it is the best place to live on earth at the moment. I've worked there in agriculture and construction for a year and I fell in love with the villages.

After finishing work I changed in clean clothes and I started wandering at night nights on end to the point I had a lot of nights with 0 sleep before 5 am when work began on the cabbage fields. I walked on through the villages, the cities, the forests the prairies almost like I was being called by mother nature to wander till the edge of the night. In every forest there were benches to sit on to admire the breathtaking scenery. 

Everything was so picturesque, so pristine, so neat and tidy, so fresh and clean. State-of-the-art country. 

 

Edited August 16 by Daniel Balan

[Daniel Balan]

The German police is so cool, I've been stopped and checked for alcohol and drugs, yet they fined me for 20€ for not having a night time green vest in my car. I told them to forgive me this one time because I didn't know it was mandatory to have one. I told them to be friendly to me because my great grandfather fought alonside their great grand parents in WW2 😅 They were nice and told me that they are forgiving me with the fine for the green vest because it was the first time I was stopped by the police, but they told me to never again joke in Germany about WW2. 

[OBEler]

5 hours ago, Daniel Balan said:

The German police is so cool, I've been stopped and checked for alcohol and drugs, yet they fined me for 20€ for not having a night time green vest in my car. I told them to forgive me this one time because I didn't know it was mandatory to have one. I told them to be friendly to me because my great grandfather fought alonside their great grand parents in WW2 😅 They were nice and told me that they are forgiving me with the fine for the green vest because it was the first time I was stopped by the police, but they told me to never again joke in Germany about WW2. 

How you tell them about you great grandfather, That's not how things get handled in Germany. There is no history bonus. And yes, we make no jokes about WW2 in Germany.

Edited August 16 by OBEler

[RubenThaller2001]

From what I have often been told, it can be said that Germans are often perceived by outsiders as somewhat cold and heartless at first. However, this perception usually changes once you get to know people better. I therefore recommend that you try to get in touch with people as quickly as possible. University towns are usually very well suited for this, because there is a lot to do and experience there. I myself lived in a small university town for some time, and even though as a German I didn't have the same circumstances as you, I think I can confirm that Germany is generally an open and wonderful country.

[Daniel Balan]

8 hours ago, OBEler said:

How you tell them about you great grandfather, That's not how things get handled in Germany. There is no history bonus. And yes, we make no jokes about WW2 in Germany.

I was 19 when I did this. I didn't even knew basic ww2 history back then. All I knew is from my grand parents that my grandmother 's father fought in the Romanian army on the eastern front for Hitler's Germany from late 1943 until Romania switched sides, then against the 3rd Reich until the fall of 1944 near Hungary when he got wounded. He died when I was 5, he missed like 3 fingers and was almost totally deaf due to the war. 

Right now at 25 after thoroughly studying history on my own I'd never make jokes in Germany about WW2 especially with Die Polizei 

[Vynce]

14 hours ago, Daniel Balan said:

I was 19 when I did this. I didn't even knew basic ww2 history back then. All I knew is from my grand parents that my grandmother 's father fought in the Romanian army on the eastern front for Hitler's Germany from late 1943 until Romania switched sides, then against the 3rd Reich until the fall of 1944 near Hungary when he got wounded. He died when I was 5, he missed like 3 fingers and was almost totally deaf due to the war. 

Right now at 25 after thoroughly studying history on my own I'd never make jokes in Germany about WW2 especially with Die Polizei 

I wouldn't say you can't make jokes about WW2 in germany. There are a lot of casual jokes. - Jokes about the Holocaust are definitely a no-go though. I think the police just doesn't want to be seen as easily jokable.

[Aaron p]

They are some of the most ingenuitive and progressive people. I was slightly shocked to hear their progressivism. This is another interesting phenomena I've seen a few times. If a country has a bit of a bad history, when it's eventually corrected they have to grow at a compensational rate and when they eventually get to the same point of development as other places, their rate of acceleration is greater than the countries they're catching up with (I suppose you might say catching up to democracy or peace?) so they develop faster. 

I think this is accurate, it's a bit of a loose observation. But something similar happened in some Asian countries. The white man came in with his cannons and the samurai basically said "nah," and held onto old ways for as long as possible before eventually being mowed down by guns. Now look at them, the stereotype of Asian mathematicians, musicians, strict parents, massive acceleration and growth...more than western people at least. How much of our western goods come from china? A lot. They're growth is good too

More than a few places in Asia look like friggin tron

Edited August 18 by Aaron p

[theleelajoker]

On 8/15/2025 at 10:06 PM, Artsy said:

I'm moving to Germany for a year - a relatively small student city. 

For those that have travelled or moved abroad - what advice do you have to...

Make the most of the experience? 

Things you wish you knew/had considered looking back?

• Germans are a bit more distant compared to many other countries I know (I am German, but lived/traveled abroad a lot). Nice, but not as "warm" or "emotional" as in other countries I have been. 
• It's one country, but there are  (as in most countries) regional differences. Berlin is like an island and feel very different from all other federal states.
• Many people are a lot about rules, and order. Be careful about this but if you stay friendly they loosen up and are open for softening rules. And it's very safe and stable almost everywhere
• German like to tell others what and how to do things, don't take it personal. 
• People can be quite direct; don't take it personal
• Alcohol is big and a social catalyst
• Southern regions have great wine. Go for the vineyards, connect to the owners
• Lot's of medieval architecture (castles) and festivals
• Lot's of festivals in general. In small and medium and big cities
• We don't dance a lot together, it's more techno culture where people dance "next to each other". But you can also find your niche for dancing other stuff
• There is A LOT of underground culture and subculture, at least in medium to large cities. Seriously, after  decades here I am still surprised to hear about clubs, bars, arts, events etc. Stuff where often there is even no website 
• Nature: Amazing and very different. Fields in the north, hills and forest in the middle and south, mountains and forest in the south

 

Edited August 18 by theleelajoker

[Artsy]

On 15/08/2025 at 10:22 PM, Vynce said:

From where? and how long?

your questions depend a lot on how different your home culture is to german culture.

I'm coming from the UK for and staying a year.

[Vynce]

On 18/08/2025 at 8:40 PM, Artsy said:

I'm coming from the UK for and staying a year.

Well, I always found people from UK have a strong sense of everday humor, which you might miss in Germany.  

In general the "free good human stuff" like hugs, kisses, jokes, public songs, love ect. is definitely dilapidated. While the "expensive good human stuff" like education, social security, healthcare ect. is probably among the best worldwide. 

Thats my main distinction of Germany with other, especially non-european nations.

 

[Human Mint]

I plan to live there in the future. Germany is one of the few countries that prioritizes nature in their urban planification. They make sure most residents can access a green area easily. Nowhere in the world you see this, at least not in the same deliberate form. Some cities may have a natural area but probably because they cannot build on top of it for geographical reasons. Every german city has a forest inside, or 'Stadtwald'. Norway does this too, Oslo is directly connected to forest and nature. Is this simple policy that elevates the quality of life by orders of magnitude. The way is done in every other country, a park with a few trees and concrete paths is not enough, because the problem is most of society views natural reserves as luxury and not an essential part for human beings.

What level of german are you currently at?

Edited August 27 by Human Mint

[WonderSeeker]

On 8/15/2025 at 1:06 PM, Artsy said:

I'm moving to Germany for a year - a relatively small student city. 

For those that have travelled or moved abroad - what advice do you have to...

Make the most of the experience? 

Things you wish you knew/had considered looking back?

I have a friend staying in Berlin right now. He told me you can buy LSD from stores there (giant posters in the storefront glass). Not legal, but they sell it anyways haha.

Last time I personally travelled abroad was 3 years ago for a 6-week stay in Mongolia. If you go hard with dating you should be set. Women love curious men who just rolled into town from my experience

I don't know shit about Germany. All I can say is explore as much as possible. Be interesting. Be interested. You will only go as far as your curiosity takes you. So ask lots of questions. Flirt with the environment and it'll flirt back.

Good night and have fun!

Edited August 28 by WonderSeeker

[Jannes]

23 minutes ago, WonderSeeker said:

I have a friend staying in Berlin right now. He told me you can buy LSD from stores there (giant posters in the storefront glass). Not legal, but they sell it anyways haha.

Wow, I didnt know. Only LSD or other psychedelics as well? Did he say the street the store was in?

[Godhead]

4 hours ago, Jannes said:

Did he say the street the store was in?

I think there is one at Boxhagenerstr., but there are plenty of spots across the city, you can just google them. They also sell regularly at flea markets. You’ll even see their ads at bus stops and similar places, so it’s hardly a secret.

HHC Vape sticks are also being sold casually in kiosks around the city, in general there is very little stigma.

[Vynce]

26 minutes ago, Godhead said:

I think there is one at Boxhagenerstr., but there are plenty of spots across the city, you can just google them. They also sell regularly at flea markets. You’ll even see their ads at bus stops and similar places, so it’s hardly a secret.

HHC Vape sticks are also being sold casually in kiosks around the city, in general there is very little stigma.

Or just buy it online, even easier. 

In general there is literally no chemical that can’t be bought online if you got some crypto balance. 

You don’t even need dark web browsers and that stuff. 

[theleelajoker]

5 hours ago, Jannes said:

Wow, I didnt know. Only LSD or other psychedelics as well? Did he say the street the store was in?

Typically those shops sell derivatives. So minimally altered stuff re molecules.  After while, there is a new "research chemical" (L-LSD, D-LSD whatever)  and then it becomes illegal, then there's a new derivative, etc

It's an open secret that you can buy "magic mushrooms chocolate bars" in some small shops. Just got to know people that know people. 

I also have seen shops advertising salvia and LSD on boards outside the street, but I assume it's derivatives as well. Haven't checked as I did not enter the store. 

If you want the "real" stuff, there are telegram channels. Gets you everything you want. You order, tell them a meeting point, they come with car or scooter, and then you exchange. Simple. Have seen it in other countries, too. 

Edited August 28 by theleelajoker

[Schizophonia]

19 minutes ago, theleelajoker said:

Typically those shops sell derivatives. So minimally altered stuff re molecules.  After while, there is a new "research chemical" (L-LSD, D-LSD whatever)  and then it becomes illegal, then there's a new derivative, etc

It's an open secret that you can buy "magic mushrooms chocolate bars" in some small shops. Just got to know people that know people. 

I also have seen shops advertising salvia and LSD on boards outside the street, but I assume it's derivatives as well. Haven't checked as I did not enter the store. 

If you want the "real" stuff, there are telegram channels. Gets you everything you want. You order, tell them a meeting point, they come with car or scooter, and then you exchange. Simple. Have seen it in other countries, too. 

Too bad in france the legislation is like "ALL THE LYSERGAMIDES ARE FORBIDDEN" so rc don't work