Anyone in Munich?

[cheechymunchy]

Hi,

DH moved over on Monday to start his new job. He's been shown a house in Eichenhau (sp?) in the SW of Munich as we need to find a hosue to rent. Anyone know what kind of area this is like...honestly, as we're taking our 2.3 toddler over.

[rabbleraiser]

Hi,

This is a bump for you really.

I've been to the area a few times; it's conservative, clean, child-friendly and uber-civilized. Sorry I can't be Eichenau-specific, but it's a pleasant part of the world with some spectacular scenery very close by. The children are all rosy cheeked and well fed/dressed, and I'm confident that there are thousands (if not millions) of worse places for you to go.

[cheechymunchy]

Phew! Dh is going to go hosuehunting for other areas in the suburbs for a house with a garden. Let's hope we hit lucky!

[rabbleraiser]

I'm sure you'll hit lucky.

How long are you going for, or do you know that yet?

[cheechymunchy]

Hi, I'm actually on the phone to DH right now with the German dictionary, trying to decipher the washing machine insructions for him! We're going to be out there for 3 years probably. Have a DS 2.3, I'm 32 and so is DH. Looking forward to the challenge but gettign occasional irrational moments of panic over nappies, stairs in houses and other stupid stuff. Ridiculous really as we lived (before DS was around ) in SOuth Korea for 6 months and that was in the middle of a paddy field in an apartment block of all Koreans. We were the only English speakers!!!

[rabbleraiser]

Ah, but when you have a child, everything changes, doesn't it? My ds is 2.6, by the way.

Well, Germany, particularly Bavaria, is extremely child friendly. I was born there in 1965. My father was a meteorologist seconded to the army in Gutersloh (which is not near Bavaria), and although I don't have distinct memories, my mother always said that it was a very conducive place for bringing up children.

Since then, I've been to Bavaria many times. You won't have any problems buying things. Their toys are exquisite and they're generally more child-friendly than the UK. That said, I guess you must be wondering whether there will be any other English children around?

[Nightynight]

hi cheechy,
I dont know Eichenhau, which S line is it on?
Please do not consider a house that is not on the railway/BOB/S Bahn/U Bahn/Tram!
Seriously, you will not want to take the car out in a skating rink, which is how it will be in winter.

Registration for nurseries is this week, they had the meeting today in our town to decide which nursery gets which child.

Its really important to go round all the kindergartens in the area if you want a KG place for your child starting in September, as soon as you know your address. It can be difficult to get a place.

[Nightynight]

trust your instincts re the area. There are no really bad areas - just choose one with good transport, shopping, parks etc.

[cheechymunchy]

Hiya,
Not too bothered about KG place for DS. I'll put my name down when I find a house and get there ASAP, but am quite looking forward to spending quality time with DS before he's carted off to proper school. I want to also be able to take him to toddler groups in the city. Our priority is a house near all the best links to the city centre.
I'm getting so nervous about all this. Every time I google munich info there seems to be more forms to fill, payments to be made and added extras.

OK, I'm scared. I wouldn't admit it to DH as it's his job that's moving us out there.I'd hate hism to feel even more pressure than he's already under. I don't particularly want to be in the UK at the moment, but...I dunno. Scared.

[Nightynight]

Califrau, we should have got one of those, I think, but the snooty woman turned us down, despite me being a single parent, f/t working with 4 children.

cheechy, it IS a bit of a nightmare relocating from the UK to here, I wont deny it, but dont worry, there are a lot of english speakers in Munich who have already been through this. There are a lot of answers on toytowngermany, or ask questions on mumsnet and we'll do our best to help!

KG is in the mornings, usually 8.30 - 12.30. Remember, the children don't start school here until they are 7, so KG provides important early years education.
Eg, if you go back to the UK when your dd is 6, she will be in a class with children who've already done a year at school, and can read and write.
I don't think reading and writing is taught in the state KGs. I have just entered dd (age 3) into a Montessori one (private, the cost is about the same as for the state KGs), and Im hoping they will teach her reading and writing, as we plan to move to France soon, and that will put her on a par with what the French children are learning in the maternelle.

Bavaria is different from the UK. In many ways its better, but there are some things you just have to accept, or leave (Im leaving, becuase the school has put 2 of my children in the class below, by force - long story, but children feel humiliated and stupid, and I cant accept this. So we're off asap).
On the other hand, so many aspects of life are so much better than in the UK, that many Brits just never want to go home.

[macmama73]

Hi,

I have been living in Germany (nr Düsseldorf, not at all near Munich) for almost 15 years and have come to love it here.
We have two kids (5 and almost 3) and I would recommend getting your name down for a kindergarden asap. It is, as nighty said, v. important here and sometimes difficult to get into the one you want. You might find it difficult to find mother-toddler group for a 3 year old, as all the kids are in kindergarten.
My dd is not starting school till next year and she wont be taught reading and writing till then, so I plan to start teaching her to read and write in english before then.
Munich is expensive to rent a house but it is a lovely area of Germany.
Let me know if you need any help translating, at least you know he is doing his own washing!

[LucyK1978]

Nightynight is right about life here in Germany being differnet to UK. We live just north of Munich (S1 s-bahn line) and love it! The quality of living feels so much higher. People put real emphasis on quality family time and children are welcome everywhere.

The fact that EVERYTHING is shut on a Sunday used to annoy the hell out of me, but it makes you do 'nice' stuff becuase there are no shops open so you can't go shopping, can't do DIY becuase you're not allowed to make noise or do work on a Sunday (including put your washing out!) so instead people go for bike rides (cycle paths here are fab!), or they go for a walk in the mountians or go to the bakery for breakfast (they're open!) and evrything is done as a family.

There are lots of things we miss about the UK (food, family etc) but there are more things we'd miss about Germany if we had to leave.

[cheechymunchy]

Hi everyone,
Just reading through all your posts before I moved here (almost a month ago now!). We settled for Eichenau and all is going well. DH really wants DS (2.6 now) to go to Kindergarten ASAP. I'm really confused, and to be honest, all his workmates don't have children so don't help much with advice.
What's the procedure for getting DS's name into a KG? Do I apply in writing, turn up, call 'em up? I know it's really late now, but there might just be a chance of a place in town for him.
Any advice would be gratefully received - I'm stumbling a bit here on some aspects of life in Germany!

[debinaustria]

HI

I'm not in Germany but Austria. With the Kindergarten here, they take them from age 3 but they can go and visit before then. When we moved here, ds1 was 6 and ds2 was 3 so they both started together, we came over to sign for the house in the September , put their names down for KG, moved in October and they started KG 3 days later.

Here there are some Mums who prefer to keep their children at home as long as possible so they just send them for the last year - when they are 5. I wanted them to pick up the language as quickly as possible so Tristan started at 3 and this September starts his 3rd year there as one of the big boys now - don't know where the time goes!! Stefan will be in the 2nd class of school.

How are you finding German life? Do you speak German?

Deb

[admylin]

When I wanted to send my 2 to kindergarden (in Southern Germany)I went round all the kindergardens in our area and asked if they had places, usually they took our name and address and I had to fill in an application form then I was offered places about 2 weeks later in 3 of the kindergardens I'd been to vivit and I chose the one that seemed the nicest. I looked at state, church and private ones.
Then on the first day I took ds and stayed with him for one morning, told them he didn't speak a word of German and they said the next day to just leave him and they just took it from there. Sort of threw him in at the deep end really but the teacher did translate basic stuff for him at first and he was OK after about 6months seemed to understand it all and join in with the songs and stuff.

[admylin]

Another tip, when you are at a local park or playarea, try and ask some of the mums if they seem to have kids the same age as yours, where they go to kindergarden and if they like it. I usually found they would willingly talk to me but only if I tried to start up a conversation.

[cheechymunchy]

Thanks Deb and Admylin. I think I'm going to call up the KGs this week and see what's available (if). I've heard such dreadful stories of putting babies' names down before birth and at 3 they still have no place.

What a day...first day potty training DS. He did really well, but the house is a tip now and i can't summon up the effort to clear up!

I can't yet speak much German, other than the basics to get around the town. I am learning with DH, and will be having a tutor in October. Also, one of the main reasons for Ds going to KG is we want him to learn the language. He went to nursery for 1 1/2 years back in the UK so is used to it, plus he's pretty chilled about most things. I'm sure he'll be fine.

Thanks once again

[SSSandy2]

Hi cheechy, dunno if Munich is vastly different to Berlin. Here you go to your local Jugendamt which may be located in the Rathaus. Check your yellow pages or call the Rathaus if you are up to it.

Then you need to ask when you get there for the Amt fuer Tagesbetreuung. Take a book, you may have a wait.

They will give you a list of all the kindergartens in your district, including bilingual and church ones. Check which ones are within reasonable travelling distance for you.

As a SAHM you will only be entitled to morning care which is probably enough for ds and you anyway. You have to apply and get a notification sent to you saying how much you pay and how many hours you are entitled to - which you present at the kindergarten when you start. It's income based but not excessive even at the high end.

If he is only entitled to mornings, it could be difficult to get the kindergarten you want, since in order to keep on all their staff they need enough dc there till 3 or later. So you do need to apply to say 3.

Go in and just speak in person to whoever is in charge. You'll have to fill out a form and they'll put you on a waiting list.

If you're dead keen on a particular one, it is ok to keep calling or dropping in, otherwise I'd just wait and they'll contact you at some stage.

I wouldn't rush it. They're ok but they're not great in my opinion. Not comparable to a UK nursery or pre-school really. Take your time and look around.

Have you met other English speaking parents yet?

[SSSandy2]

By the way, if that all sounds a bit complicated, it was very straight forward to get organised. Honestly it is.

[debinaustria]

You've probably already seen this, but I thought it might be useful

www.toytowngermany.com/forum/index.php?showforum=1