16 Things I HATE about Living in GERMANY

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As a German I complain about the fact that you complain about the fact that Germans complain.

Being British and having lived and worked in India, Hungary, Italy and Sweden too, I would say Germany is pretty amazing. Hear me out. Yes, it's over-regulated. Yes, it's annoying that despite being a native speaker with over 15 years experience teaching English as a foreign language I couldn't work in the school system if I wanted to, and yes the trains have got worse even in the past 6 years I've lived here. Yes, the kitchen thing is insane - but I guess you don't get stuck with a kitchen you hate? BUT despite the high taxes, I do see where the money goes - the streets (at least around my state) are clean and in good repair (ok roadworks get annoying but are bearable), the police are great - I've had 2 dealings with them and both times they were amazing - polite, friendly and super helpful and efficient. I've lived in 6 different countries and travelled to over 70 and for me, Germany is the place I will have as my base. Is it perfect? No. Is it better than so many other places? Absolutely!

As a Finn living in Germany, I have noticed most of the same things. In Germany, there are a lot of rules for everything and paper and forms are loved here. You have to fill out some wonderful paper for everything. It's nice to be able to go to the toilet without filling out a form. The internet is really a big joke and using information technology in general. In Finland, it is written into law that every person has the right to an internet connection, regardless of where they live or where they move. In Germany, if you want to do business with the authorities, you have to make an appointment and go to the place. In Finland, 99.6% of transactions with the authorities and others can be done via the internet. For example: You can do your grocery shopping online and they will be delivered to your home.

I moved here from Latvia almost a year ago and im so greatful for coming across this video. Immediately liked it just so i can come back here to read all the other people venting and don't feel so alone. I have a couple more little things that i would like to add - always carry cash on you. That's a thing I've never needed to do back in LV. Everything's through card, so i didn't even have a wallet anymore. Here it's a lesson i learned the hard way many times, cuz in alarming amount of places you can't pay with card. - If you want to make some appointments to do paperwork or see a doctor, then you have to take Urlaub. Most things work here 8-17 with Mittagspause at 12. And chances are, so do you. Since moving here I've made more appointments then my whole entire life and basically washed Urlaub down the drain. Im just amazed - how do people get things done here? - high quality meat and produce that is not prepackaged is incredible expensive. That's just a big disappointment comparing with my home country. People coming from other countries might have a different experience so it could be just me. - smoking everywhere. That's something that's really frowned upon in Latvia. Especially in bigger events you have special places to smoke, and you can't do so outside of them. Here it's just sad how many kids have to hang out around their family members all infused in thick cloud of smoke. Summer edition: - what's up with not swimming in lakes or rivers? Im living near the France and Luxembourg and honestly kinda dying of heat rn. I see so many little lakes, bigger lakes, cute lakes, smelly lakes - but in all of them swimming is Verboten. My option is outdoor swimming pools or lakes that have an entrance fee. Ofc then you have the luxury of taking a shower at the lake (which has never in my life occurred to me as necessary), buying overpriced pommes and having a lifeguard that reminds you of all the things that are Verboten there. Also everyone and there mother is at these places so get ready to sunbathe next to each other like sardines. Ok so that's it with my venting, geez it feels better. I think I've never made a comment this long. Anyways, looks like I'm starting to become more at home. Toodles! P.S. Rundfunk :)

As a german i would like you to do a second part about what you hate about germany. Thanks

Living in Germany. My New Zealand passport came up for renewal. I logged in online using my real me profile, allows me to log into any government service website. Paid with my credit card. And my new passport arrived from the London office less than 72 hours. Meanwhile my German wife needed 6 weeks to get an appointment to go to the office for hers. People must miss funerals and the birth of their first born children to attend these meetings in fear of having to go to the back of the que again.

Oh. Mein. God. Replace the word Germany with 'France' and damn that's almost spot on. I didn't realize our countries were so alike (french person here)

I'm german and the issue with moving kitchens annoys me also very much. Moving kitchens is the most stupid idea ever. Why do we that? Thats highly masochistic.

I think Denmark got more bureaucracy and paper work. The problem with Germany is that it's probably done with physical paper and letters.

Indian here. The thing that surprises me the most in this videos is internet unavailability during a journey and expensive trains. Things like politics, corruption and taxes are common almost everywhere in the world.

As an American, at least you have trains and public transport, healthcare, and the availability to go on holiday. Most Americans only get 8 - 12 days off from work a year.

German living overseas here. I am currently in the process of getting married and need an Ehefähigkeitszeugnis. No problem, I just talk to the Standesamt what they need. Was on the phone for 45 minutes, left with a list of like 10+ papers they need. Of course everything translated by a certified translator. Cost until here: about 800 Euro. Sent in all the papers. Didn't hear anything for 3 weeks until I got a bill over about 200 Euro. I was like "already done!? I thought German bureaucracy was super slow!" Kind of felt sorry for being so negative. Until I realized, the person in charge had been on vacation and only now started processing my application.... A few days later, I got another letter about the acknowledgement of my bfs divorce. "There currently is a big workload, so it might take longer. Pls no questions".... 2 months later, still no progress. I planned on getting a new visa over here as a spouse. Guess I will be deported before the ehefähigkeitszeugnis (and apostille hahaha) will arrive........ 😂

I've had Germans telling my whole life that their train system is terrible and it is only having recently returned to Ireland from a holiday in Germany that a lot of them just don't know how bad things can actually be.

Love how Radical Living presents these disadvantages. Thank you for your German directness and honesty. Honestly speaking Germany has these problems but these problems exist in other countries as well and sometimes even worse than in DE. My conclusion would be that the world system we live in has these inherent problems and that politicians are not solving them. So we need solutions to these problems and real change in society.

"Germany is the land of mediocrity". After living there for a few years, that are exactly my thoughts too, you earned my "thumbs up" sir!

Very interesting. German high schools sound like their Italian counterparts. I attended a top Italian private high school but found it incredibly old-fashioned. When I finally went to university it was such a relief. As for the lack of kitchens in rented properties, I, too, find it insane! Who wants to buy or reinstall a kitchen in a rented property unless you are planning to live there for at least 10 years?

I am German from Germany, lived 23 years in the USA, and I am fed up with how shitty things there are! 😅 Now that I am back in Germany, I wholeheartedly agree with you on everything, especially the over regulation and bureaucracy. As for the Taxes .. I am actually happily pay the higher taxes in Germany, as in the USA most taxes seem to pay for the gigantic military, and one does not get much benefit from it at all. If something bad happens to you, like an accident or a temporary disability, you are f**ked. Where the taxes go in Germany, you ask? Bureaucracy, of course, duh! 😂 As for the nearly censorship of the media in Germany... Nuh, I do not think it is THAT bad, and I base that on my experience with Murican Media that is owned and steered by a few owners and corporations, that fiercely push their own political interests and often just outright lie. Great Video, thank you for this collection of the things that one could bother about Germany. It is much easier for me to show this video to someone, than to try and explain it all myself. 😊 Cheers

After a year studying abroad in Japan I'm highly sceptical of the PISA study. I'm not all too familiar how their measure those scores but it sure seems like they would not evaluate critical thinking or thinking outside of the box which has at least for my education in Germany been one of the essentials. Also despite China and Singapore the difference between Germany and the higher ranked countries is only marginal, so even though Germany needs to fix a lot of issues like digitalization, shortage of teachers and updating some of its teaching methods, it is still nowhere near a bad education system imo

1. No public toilets even after paying a big chunk of your salary in taxes. not even in park, people pee behind the trees. 2. All contracts for example gym memberships are minimum 1 year and you have tell them 3 month before if you plan to cancel your membership otherwise it will be renewed for another 1 year 😅 3. Most of the buildings are old with no lift/elevator. 4. Getting German driving license is a pain and expensive, when told my Spanish and Italian friends the cost, they fainted. you end up paying some 1500-2000 Euros even though you know driving but you have to take minimum 10 practical classes and theory exam. 5. Unfriendly people, Germans force immigrants to learn German(which eventually one should if you plan to live here) but expecting you to speak flaunt German(a language which is not Global like English) from 1st day is absurd. Some of my friends were sent back by foreign office employees because they could not speak German in 1st week of arrival, they were asked to hire and bring a translator in next appointment.