Moving to Munich and nervous!

[cheechymunchy]

Hi everyone. New to Mumsnet and am thrilled at all your support for each other.Me (32), DH (31) and DS (2) are leaving the UK for about 3 years. Don't speak any German yet and am frankly scared about the move. I've seen lots of negative vibes about living in Germany, but I'd love to get some positive feedback on what I can get excited about. Have never relocated before with DS. Lived in S. Korea for 6 months in 1997 so nothing can be as hard as that! xxx

Welcome cheechymunchy, can't give specific advice as I'm in Austria but I'm sure you'll have a great time. We moved when DS was 5 months, he is now 4.5 and fluent in German (which is alot more than can be said for DH & myself)thanks to Kindergarten. There are a few MNs living in Germany, I'm sure they will surface here soon

I'm in Germany, although not Munich. I've been here 3 years so far. I wouldn't say there's anything to get excited about living here but there are good things. I feel safe here, my kids (4 and 2) are both at Kindergarten and have a brilliant time. I find it, on the whole, child friendly; there are plenty of activities and loads of playgrounds. The standard of living is generally good, although I've noticed it get more expensive since I've been here. I haven't been to Munich but I understand it's a pretty cool city (certainly more so than where I am ). I'm running out of things to say.... I think generally, I find life more wholesome here (compared to Hackney, where I lived before) and with a young family, that's a good thing. Good luck with the move. If I think of anything else positive to say I'll be back

The BREAD is good and there's a great variety. The problem with this though is you stand in a bakery not speaking a word of German and shyly mumble that you want that loaf there at the back on the third row. Do they understand you?

One thing I had to learn fast was even if you feel insecure speaking German, speak it LOUDLY. You really really get on people's nerves if you speak quietly.

I'm sure if your dh has a job here, the people at his work will be helpful with all the paperwork and so on. Getting that done can be awkward, organising accommodation, going to the foreign police, arranging the insurance. I think that's the worst of it and once it's all organised, you'll find daily life runs quite smoothly.

Since you are going to Munich, you'd best master the greeting "Gruss Gott" because I think you'll be frowned at if you come out with "Guten Morgen".

Please practice screaming out "Gruss Gott, ein halbes Roggenbrot bitte" and you'll be fine. If not, you can always turn to drink, plenty of good beer here.

I love Munich! We have lots of friends there and visit often. I recomend lunch at Cafe Roma on Maximillian Strasse

Er, ahem, I think I'm guilty of negative vibes but in my defence that's mostly cos of recent school stuff and if you read the school/education threads here, you'll see that's a perennial world-wide cause of complaints at some time for a lot of people

What I like here:

-safety, the children go to school by themselves, well, with neighbours, in little groups. Other expats and friends/family at home agree that they wouldn't let dc go e.g. to the pool alone, down to the shops, to friends etc. as much as we do here. Obviously that varies according to location.

• bread, yes! Love the rolls and fresh bread from the bakery, also that it's more common to do bits of daily shopping at veg shop, bakery etc. rather than giant supermarket shops. Bretzels are terrific.

Have just realised that both of above have changed since I've been here. More children are ferried about and more discount supermarkets are pushing out small shops. In some ways Germany picks up English habits about 5 years later...

-Streets are clean (some Germans are obsessive cleaners) but it does make for a more pleasant environment.

• more child-friendly - we took all ours out even as babies, can't remember a single negative reaction.

-beer is great, beer gardens greater Also cheap and free of toxic chemicals so should you overindulge you don't feel poisoned.

-ditto wine, very underrated. Here they drink spritzers in pint glasses and there are loads of good to excellent wines, also Sekt, sparkling wine.

Agree about Munich. Dh (German) says the "People's Republic of Bavaria" really is like a separate country. I found it very friendly and in Munich you will find loads of English stuff to help you. Apparently bilingual Eng-Ger kindergartens are booming in larger German cities.

Weather: warmer in summer, colder in winter so you get proper seasons for sunning and sledding People are much less hung up about nudity. Normal to see children getting changed on the grass by the pool and adults swimming and sunbathing naked in/by lakes. Ditto saunas.

Funnily enough I did think about starting a "What you like about the country you now live in" thread as I've been a bit glum with all the school stuff here and it's good to remind yourself about the good stuff

Hi from Berlin. I also feel guilty for moaning about Germany. It isn't that bad but when you get homesick and fed up a rant always does you good!
It is safe and clean here and if you can get to know any germans they are also really nice and although hard to make friends with, once you do they are sincere good friends.
Good thing about your stay in Munich is, it's not for ever so you can just relax and enjoy it in the knowledge that you are not here for ever. You will have a bilingual child too by the time you leave, you'll just have to try and keep it up when you are back in the UK.
Munich is expensive , the most expensive city in the whole of Germany but I still think the cost of living in the UK is higher. Hope you have a nice time.

You can get excited about learning German I really like the language. I found Germans are very relaxed about how foreigners butcher their language and have no problem at all with you slithering over endings (which means you avoid declination problems) and stunting their vowels. They seem to understand you anyway. There is also a kind of baby talk which some people use with foreigners if they think you are really struggling, they'll keep it really simple and not conjugate the verbs. It's well meant.

Think you'll have no problem meeting easy-going people that you hit it off with, especially with dc.

For learning German I can recommend the CD set by Michel Thomas (published by Hodder & Stoughton), have a look at the reviews on Amazon.

Sounds fantastic, everyone! DH and I read through your comments last night and were greatly relieved to find it's not too scary in Munich/Germany. Have been reading up and realise there's a few important things to sort once we arrive, but after that I just need to figure out how to get hold of the same/similar products I use in the UK. My DS has very sensitive skin and suffered very badly from ezcema in his first year. I guess I'll be bending your ears to find out where i can get certain things. it seems so weird to be moving from the UK - where do I get all the foods I know DS loves to eat etc. Was at toddler group today and noen of my usual mates arrived, so gave me a taster of what it's going to be like walking into a new group again! Thanks once again, everyone. x