Why Germany?
Ever wonder why should you consider coming here to Germany for work and life and everything after?
Near the iconic church "Kölner Dom" in Cologne central square.
Travel
C'mon really? We knew it would be here on the list, but nr. 1?
"Zugspitze" highest mountain in GermanyYep, that's true. You could say i knew it in my heart that travel would be a part of the deal, when i was making the decision to come to germany. But those long talks with my sister, stretching late into the night, me trying to convince her of the reasons behind my choice, her trying to convince me to stay in India, with promises of eternal damnation, cleaning floors, and washing my laundry, should i dare to move away from home. But I knew, that travel would play a supreme role in my journey.
And so it began. However i didn't actually get to travel for some months initially. Patiently abating my time, going dedicatedly to my hospitations everyday at 7am, there was little chance for error. I had invested much of my time, energy and money getting to Germany. I just had to concentrate and get a job first.
And i soon did. That's when i bought my first Eurail pass in five years (the previous chance i got coming to europe was in 2013, Austria, for one month, but that's a story for another post). So yeah, the Eurail pass allowed me for a sum of €130, to take any train, in any direction, at any time, for howsoever long a journey, inside Germany and Austria, for a total period of 4 days! Whoa.!! That's the definition of freedom, if you ask me. Our holidays as a family were not exorbitant, but built for efficiency. A travel company would decide out complete itinerary from start to finish. Which hotels to stay in, which monuments to see, which restaurants to eat in.. Urghh.. To me, it made much more sense to take it easy, immerse yourself in the place you go, live and eat like a local. So this Eurail pass definitely reminded me of my childhood holiday and i was adamant to make a dent in my memory by travelling where and when i wanted to. I was only limited by my imagination. Little did i know, fate had other plans.
Winter
This is my favourite season of all the four
Rovaniemi, Finland - Hometown of Santaclaus Yea, winter in Germany can be particularly harsh and wet. I mean rainy mornings when you leave home for work in fresh clothes, walking to the bus stop, has to make any sane person miserable. But then there are mornings when you walk out of home and the whole neighbourhood is covered in fresh, soft, crunchy and pristine snow. Yes SNOW! For a person born and brought up in Delhi, the only time i saw snow was in TV or movies like DDLJ, with Kajol dancing in the snowy alps with a red sleeveless dress.
To experience snow the right way, you need to have a few things ready.
1. a heavy waterproof or water-resistant jacket with insulation and a hood.
2. leather shoes, preferably heavy and from a reputable brand like timberlands, with a rugged sole, which can withstand the cold onslaught that is a winter storm.
3. thick wooly socks to keep the toes toasty warm.
In my experience, i had only the shoes when i went through my first winter. An boy was it fun! I mean i had waited my whole life to experience snow. But to truly experience it, you have to be ready to let your inner child free.. I mean look up, open mouth, tongue out, and let the snowflakes fall. Bliss.
Cycle
Do you know how much fun it is to ride on a bike lane made just to keep you safe?
Bianchi - my first bicycle with drop handlebarsThink asphalt roads, no potholes, proper marking on the roads, and people actually following rules. That is how i would tell you the cycle lanes are in Germany. Not only is it sometimes the fastest way to move in a city, get to point A to B during rush hour, but is also economical and healthy for you. Imagine saving hundreds of euros on fuel and car insurance costs, plus having well defined glutes and quads. It is a win-win no matter how you look at it.
I got my dream bicycle in Hamburg. I mean, the racer kind, where you bow down and hold the curved cycle handlebars. Ohh it was slim, and fast. And it took me everyday to and fro from work. And i zipped through the city, exploring markets and the harbour, going on dates in different corners of the city without worrying about the late night bus lines. No distance was too far, no corner left untouched.
I also made friends with my next door neighbour. He used to flip bicycles for money. That means, he bought old bicycles from the sunday market (like a flea market but for bicycles), repaired them, cleaned them, and sold them at a profit. Fortunately for me, he also knew how to change tyre tubes, which became necessary for me on three separate occasions, and i could get a quick change only paying for the tubes themselves. Believe me, here in Germany, either befriend someone who can, or learn how to do things yourselves. They would charge €23 to change a tyre tube inside a repair shop!
Obviously, there's more!
Intentionally mentioned the one's which you probably would've missed
Every person coming to Germany would know about their Beers, there world famous football clubs, their expensive BMW's and Mercedes Benz cars. The doctor in you has researched enough hospital websites and blogs to know the standard of healthcare is pretty high even in the developed world. Then there's the strongest economy in Europe, blah blah!
Okay, so i have shared with you the three reasons i can recommend the move to Germany. Incase you are still on the fence, consider subscribing to my newsletter down below and i will make sure to send more convincing reasons directly into your inbox. Alles Gute!
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