AIBU to wonder what life in Germany is like?

[prepared101]

lighthearted and somewhat stereotypical

I'm on holiday at in popular European summer holiday destination. The resort is made up of mostly German and English tourists.

The Germans are almost universally in excellent shape- not thin but lean and 'strong' looking. Their hair is in good condition- mostly natural looking. Their skin is great and their tans are superb.

So. as I sit on my sun lounger with dodgy tan (if you can call it that) lines, a bit of extra podge on my belly and hair that breaks at the sight of chlorine I ask... how do I live like a German?!

There is definitely a better work/life balance in Germany. Less presenteeism -- you work hard when you're at work, then you go home on time and clock off. Much easier to take sick leave and family leave (people get upset if you come to work or school with a cold even!) More likely to take full 3 week holidays. More things closed on Sundays so more workers get at least one weekend day with family.

All of this makes it easier to lead a healthy lifestyle and have less stress. I'm sure plenty of Brits would also lead healthier lives if they had more time to spare, less pressure to work all the time, lived within walking distance of work, etc.

Probably easier to think what Brits are doing wrong than what others are doing right.

Indeed. "Super-fit" was just "normal" a few decades ago.

Less presenteeism -- you work hard when you're at work, then you go home on time and clock off.

I'm sure plenty of Brits would also lead healthier lives if they had more time to spare, less pressure to work all the time, lived within walking distance of work, etc.

I think that’s on us to an extent though. I definitely felt that in Germany there is a culture of ‘getting things done’ at work, and to a high standard.
Back to the UK and I’m dealing with a lot of colleagues who just fanny around, chatting with colleagues, procrastinating, making ten cups of tea, looking at holidays on their work computer... and I see it when I’m out and about in shops too, when people come round to do work on our house etc. What Germans get done in an hour takes us a whole bloody day. There just isn’t the same level of efficiency. I think that’s why their economy can afford to take Sundays off and they have all these extra bank holidays!

There are also more subtle things, like Germans in general are happier to live in rented flats all their lives (better tenants rights and pensions) so live more centrally and can walk and cycle everywhere, there is not the same flight to the suburbs that gives so many Brits longer commutes and needing cars etc.

I used to live in Germany and this is spot on, especially they hypochondria

Takeaway places here (again, very small German town) are Chinese/Vietnamese, kebab/falafel (döner kebab with lots of salad), pizza, homemade soup.

People who buy their lunch for work will often get it from a bakery, usually filled rolls.

When I first came to Germany a very long time ago I learned that friends getting together to cook (and then eat, obv) was a thing. Had never experienced that in the UK.

Much much much less choice of ready meals here. You might have a ready-made component of a meal (schnitzel or whatever) but there's still the expectation that you'll fundamentally put the meal together yourself.

Germans still do eat a lot of red meat, though, and quite a bit of it is highly processed.

i don’t think that was the point of the thread!

Adds cigarettes to shopping list

I know what you mean @BeanieTeen But that greater efficiency seems to rely on an agonising amount of bureaucracy, which I really could never cope with!
I would like a middle ground I think : )

my MIL is german and she thinks nothing of walking 30 minutes to the supermarket with her shopping trolley.

I'm aghast that you think this is unusual, why wouldn't anyone walk such a short distance?

When I first came to Germany a very long time ago I learned that friends getting together to cook (and then eat, obv) was a thing. Had never experienced that in the UK.

And people invite each other round for breakfast. They fill the whole table with rolls, cheeses and meats to put on said rolls, eggs, salad vegetables, fruit and you help yourself and tuck in together. It’s really nice.

As I once discovered at a public swimming pool in Germany.

There was male changing, female changing and family changing- which I naively thought was simply bigger cubicles.

Nah - it was one large changing area where men, women and children all got their kit off.😮

In my experience they are just so much more balanced and moderate in all they do. They drink beer and eat sausages but not to binge level as much as we do, and not to the exclusion of just about all else. More exercise to a decent level (many at a high level) rather than people being very sporty or not at all. They behave more courteously towards one another so I suspect they don't turn up to work stressed to high heaven.

My best friend moved to Germany. She's definitely had to work at loving it. The hardest bit for her is the lack of ready food, I think. I know when she & her DH drive over here they do a big M&S freezer stock up. Neither of them is interested in cooking. That's been the hardest adjustment.

They also live in a small town with few restaurant options and I think only the petrol station doesn't do Sunday closing. She was constantly out in London before. Her local friends are mostly expats and she works for an international start up so the work culture/her bubble is less Germanic. They walk more than they did in the UK - she's always been in better shape than me though, but still drive lots.

When we lived in Germany I noticed that people had self control. Buffet lunches in cafes were popular for example... but it wasn't eating masses of food, it was small portions of salad, main and dessert. You could get wine and beer everywhere, but it was just a small glass or two.

Cycle lanes.

And Sunday closing meant Sundays were for leisure activities!

We’ve just booked Munich for October half term because dd wants to go to university there. The outdoor lifestyle would suit her perfectly.

<taking notes>

Very into checking their poo in their poo display lavatories.

My DGPs were German so a lot of my meals as children were of German origin. I didn't realise until I went on holiday in my 20s to a Spanish hotel that had mostly German guests, so the buffet was tailored to their tastes mainly. I was in my absolute element, declaring to DH that I "haven't had that in years" on more than one occasion.

I very much still prefer a German/continental style breakfast of fruit, bread and cold meats and thoroughly enjoy going to a hotel that caters to the German market!

Unfortunately we usually find it's the older generation of German guests that don't understand the concept of patience and queuing at the aforementioned buffet. A tiny little old German lady nearly knocked me flying as I was waiting patiently for my turn at the ice cream scoop!

The above posts are making living in Germany sound quite idyllic though - I'm quite envious. My GCSE German isn't going to get me too far though and don't get me started on the "second verb to the end of the sentence rule"! I'm definitely not cut out for learning the language unfortunately!

As other have said, a much better cycle network. Lots more "outdoorsy" types of activities and cleaner diet.

My experience of years of life in Germany. Apologies if you don't like it.

There's still a marked difference between West and East Germans. The wealth is still mostly in the West and people are generally healthier in the West.

The division between West and East Berlin can be seen from space to this day.

The German people are not a monolith.

We regularly holiday in central Europe alongside German people. Would agree with much of the above, but I'm very aware that the type of holidays we take (hiking basically) mean a self-selecting collection of people who like exercise! Interesting to hear it's more common in the general population.

Better work/life balance makes a massive difference. I end up driving short distances not because I mind walking at all but because I just don't have time (I couldn't add an hour to a supermarket visit with the return walk for example). Also good preventative healthcare. I currently need to see a GP about a 'non-urgent' thing that is nonetheless having a real impact on my health, and it's a ten week wait for a phone appointment.

I’m determined to visit Munich at some point, I think it would be a good city break.

This. I used to live in Germany.

In addition: Overall quality of life is much better. The sports facilities, healthcare, public transport and roads all in better condition.

Food is very high quality. Much less processed food and more good quality ingredients.