Welcome here in Germany! More and more Americans are falling in love with Germany! It's always not easy,but you should live where you feel most most comfortable! I accompanied you on the videos and you already got an impression that you feel better here! All the best for your future here in my homeland☘️☘️☘️🍺🍺

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

Thanks mate! Happy to be here.

@1foreverr

3 ай бұрын

And more and more germans are moving out. Germany became an expensive shthоlе.

@Steeler-wg5zo

3 ай бұрын

@@1foreverr No idea, man. It's just as expensive elsewhere now, if not more expensive overall.

@WolfF2022

3 ай бұрын

@@Steeler-wg5zo then you haven`t heared from the 2nd highest taxation world wide, and you`re forced to pay health care insurance, which costs a lot and gives you quite less.

As Americans in Germany, we were shocked by the difference in work-life balance as well. The focus on you having a personal life outside of work and not this deeply entrenched 'rise and grind until you retire culture' has made for much healthier lives overall. We wish people in the US coudl see how this improves so many aspects of life, along with the other points you mentioned! We loved the new style video too! We'll be a few years behind you in the citizenship line, just have to improve our German first...

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

Thanks so much! We really experimented with a lot of aspects that led to this new style, and are really happy with how it came out. We totally agree with everything you said about work-life balance. I also wish people in the US could understand, but its really something you have to experience for an extended period of time. It took us even a year or two to truly feel it.

@derka6118

11 күн бұрын

People also take good care of their health here in Germany. Less obesity than the United States

Had a similar situation. A coworker's husband was sick with cancer and the end was coming. Our old boss would have given her all the leave she needed but the company had just been sold to a large company. When she ran out of days off, they came around asking the employees to donate their vacation days. Apparently the huge conglomeration couldn't afford what the family owned business could.

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

A tale that is far far too common :(

Great to have you here in Germany

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

Thanks!

When we were stationed in Germany, my village had a train station that we could then use to connect to trains everywhere.

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

beautiful :)

welcome to germany! glad to have you here!!

@NearFromHome

2 күн бұрын

:D

Love Bad Tölz! ❤ Having lived in Munich for 23 years now, I am so excited to be able to apply for a German passport too, and keep my Aussie one. Just looked up when the naturalization tests are at the MVHS - next available in September so get in soon. It is a 12 -18 month wait for passport applications to be processed!

@NearFromHome

14 күн бұрын

yup! We have our test in July. I need to make the appointment at the Ausländerbehörde tho :I. Good luck!

Das ist wunderbar und willkommen in Deutschland 🇩🇪 Deutschland ist ein wunderschönes Land❤ ich lebe hier über 50 Jahre, und habe auch ein Deutsche Pass und bin dankbar dafür 🙏 Ich wünsche euch alles liebe und gute ❤❤

Great video! I was stationed in Germany for 6 years w/ the U.S. Army in Schweinfurt /Wuerzburg and it was a great experience. If you are looking to better your German, I highly recommend the Goethe Institute. I attended language training with them for 3 months at their Rothenburg ob der Tauber location and it really helped me improve from about an A2 level when I started to B2/C1 at the end.

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

Yes! Ben did A1.1 and A1.2 at Goethe, and loved it. Camille has done all the B levels at Edeltraud in Munich. These intensive courses are really the best way to learn I think. Camille has B1, and that's all that is needed for citizenship. Unfortunately, Ben doesn't have time to take an intensive course.

As an American, you don’t sound American, but British. ?? Love Bad Tölz und München

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

I grew up in England. Though they all think I sound American :) because I moved to the US as a teenager and stayed for over a decade.

@dieZera

3 ай бұрын

@@NearFromHome that explains a lot, because I couldn't quite put my finger on it, sounded like some mixture of accents to me ;).

@philippbock3399

2 күн бұрын

@@NearFromHome When I heared you speaking I thought so, too. Your English is so clear and sounds o British. Many greetings from Philipp

This video is right on time I love this. So inspiring 🙌🏾🇩🇪. I’m proud of you man. So many great places to live there

@NearFromHome

Ай бұрын

Thanks :)

Hi Ben and Camille. That was an awesome video. You were spot on for the differences in work-life balance. I wish you the best in getting your German citizenship.

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

Thanks so much! We just signed up for the naturalisation test an hour ago, so we are one step closer. Hopefully by this time next year we will have german passports.

I'm so delighted for you both! I love the videos you make. They've made many of our trips more informed and fun! Vielen Dank!

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

Thank you so much! :D

Very well thought out video. Thanks for sharing so much.

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

Thanks so much! :)

@Kazaii64

3 ай бұрын

@@NearFromHome and best of luck with your application!

There is no way you could live in Bad Tölz without a car ;D. You can do that in Munich or other big cities but not in the countryside. With some exceptions like Lindau where you get good public transportation.

@NearFromHome

25 күн бұрын

True! But aside from NY you can't even live in US cities without a car.

Thank you very much for sharing your personal story and reasons.

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

Thanks mate :) it was a different kind of video to make, but I enjoyed it and I hope others do too.

I just discovered your channel. Your presentation style and solid informational content are refreshing. You have a new subscriber!

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

Thanks so much!! :)

you're making the right move mate

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

I hope so!

A very well-known German TV series called “Der Bulle von Tölz” also takes place in Bad Tölz. Of course, this is a crime series, like "Die Rosenheimcops", which takes place in Rosenheim (Upper Bavaria). Ottfried Fischer plays the “Bulle von Tölz” who, in addition to solving murder cases, also has to take care of many little things in connection with his mother, the priest and the local construction lion. Every episode has a little bit of humor in it. Highly recommended.👍

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

LOL. I didn't know there is a famous Krimi from Bad Tölz. We have been meaning to watch die Rosenheimcops for German practice and to integrate (lol). We will add it to our list of German practice Serien.

I absolutely love Bad Tölz. I discovered it by accident driving to Austria on my first alpine holiday and we drove through it to escape the traffic. Have been back there many times. As an Aussie, I can totally understand your reasons.

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

It's a really great town, and also under the radar. Thanks for watching!

I’ve lived in Bavaria for over 30 years, German at C2 level & gainful employment for the whole period. I have begun the process for German citizenship so that I can leave the country for more than 180 days without losing my residency. The S2 to Erding is terribly unreliable, so public transport is only mittelmäßig.

@NearFromHome

2 күн бұрын

Awesome! Glad so many people are benefitting from the new law. DB needs to be overhauled. It's been a downhill spiral since privatisation in the 90s :/

Great videos and presentation! I'm roughly the same time here in Munich - 5 years (from USA). Also thinking about going for citizenship. All truth on work-life balance. I've found some of the same places on your list, but definitely not all. I'm always on the lookout for the best cycling routes. Your take on that topic would make for a cool video!

@NearFromHome

Ай бұрын

Thanks so much!

cool outfit bro

@NearFromHome

Ай бұрын

Thank you! That really means a lot :)

Hi near from home team. 😊👍

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

Hi!!

Helpful….how nice if you did a video for retired people and what we need to do. Thanks

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

Maybe one day! I try to stick to what I know though, which is why I framed this video more through a personal story lense than a bureaucratic one. I’m not qualified in the slightest to help people sort through all of the legal forms :)

@hape3862

3 ай бұрын

German here. "What we have to do" for what? German citizenship? Just one thing: get on an airplane. Really, as an American you can stay in the EU for 90 days without a visa. To get a residence permit, you have to prove that you can support yourself and that you have health insurance (either your American or German). No further conditions. Find an apartment and stay as long as you want with the annually renewable residence permit. Or apply for citizenship after three or five years. As a pensioner, however, you will not have access to our social security system, i.e. public health insurance and our pension system will not be available to you. (Don't worry, with private health insurance all doctors and hospitals are open to you, all as in every single one). And with your American pension, you should get much more for your money here than in the USA, as rents and the cost of living are much cheaper here.

Congratulations! We hope to move there too soon! Btw, are you planning to make a video about Frankfurt am Main?

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

One day!!

@agn855

3 ай бұрын

@@NearFromHome - _"Mainhattan"_ …the most American city in Germany, just in case you’re getting homesick

Genius, congrats!

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

Thanks!

Another great video Ben and Camille!!! I have a question that is a bit off topic, but hoping you might be able to help me out. My son and I will be down in the Munich area and are trying to plan a day trip cable car ride up Zugspitze on May 5th. It seems near impossible as tickets aren't available from Ehrwald or Eibsee. There doesn't seem to be maintenance scheduled for that day, but the availability is not there. I have emailed both sites, but have not heard back in the last couple months. Any insight would be helpful and appreciated!!! We will be staying in Munich from the 10th to the 12th also if you would like to catch up for lunch. I've been tuned in to your channel for quite some time now planning my own adventure through Europe and have picked up so many tips. Cheers from Australia!

@hape3862

3 ай бұрын

Hi, I'm German and just looked into reservations for the Zugspitzbahn (cable car/cog railway) - I seems you are too early! As of today, the latest date for reservation is May 1st. So, just wait 4 days and the 5th of May should become available. But don't worry, even without a reservation you should be able to buy a ticket on site.

@heinzschoenherz6236

3 ай бұрын

I am from Munich...Don`t worry - I can`t imagine that you need a reservation for the 5th May...It's not high season yet and no school hollidays

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

you are doing the lords work, because I had no idea. danke!

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

danke!

@MichaelDavis-us4lp

3 ай бұрын

@@heinzschoenherz6236Thank you for your comment and the advice.

Thank you for the amazing videos. We are planning a Fall trip and your videos are so helpful! When you do the short day trips, do you purchase your tickets in advance on the app or do you book from the kiosk at the HBF? Also, you mentioned an Italy series in another video. We would love to see those! Thank you both for all of the hard work and research.

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

Hi! I’m so glad we could be helpful :) for me personally I use the Deutschland 48€ ticket, so I haven’t bought train tickets in months. For tourists, the kiosks are fine, though the DB navigator app is what I would usually use. Our Italy series is on an Italy playlist on our channel page, and don’t forget we offer itinerary consultations if you might find that helpful.

Thanks for your perspective. I can jump in my car to the mall, beach, stores, errands in just a few minutes (not 20). I also work for the school system so I get 3 months vacation + 14 holidays off, vacation leave, sick leave and personal leave with full medical benefits paid by my employer. So it really depends on where you live and who you work for.

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

But at what cost? When most do not live with such freedoms? Everyone has access to what I displayed in my video. Few have access to what you have mentioned. The point of my video is that it does not depend on where you live and who you work for, here in Germany. It only depends on those things where you live because they are not guaranteed. You have a car, you can drive to the beach. You have sick leave, you can take it off. We have a train, we can ride it. We all have sick leave, we can all take it. - this was my difficulty in the United States. I lived a good life, but I wanted to live somewhere where we all live good lives.

Some companies actually do offer benefits like Stock options, Urlaubs- and or Weihnachts-money, deferred compensation, company pensions, gym (membership or own), special rates on phone-/ internet-plans, sabbaticals,company cars, free coffee, free attendence of sports events (like a firmenlauf), reduced pricing at a company cafeteria, shopping benefits (through internet offers like corporate benefits), some do even have their own private kindergarten and offer vacation programs for children of employees. Sometimes you also can get products cheaper that the company produces or even get Deputate (like breweries who give their employees free beer)

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

Not too shabby if you can find that :)

@nicostreeck8394

3 ай бұрын

@@NearFromHome mainly big coroperations offer benefits like that. Car producers, Hightech (like optics producers), corporations in Energy production, banks I am not too sure. Maybe look through the DAX40 company list. Since everyone is looking for new applicants rn you might be in luck finding something with better benefits. A lot of companies in Munich, Frankfurt a.M., Düsseldorf and Berlin are also English speaking and might offer German courses as benefits for their employees.

your a lucky man, I work for the USG and believe me the benefits are at least as good as Deutschland's I lived there for 9 years, the health insurance companies are better in GE.

@NearFromHome

22 сағат бұрын

I am glad you had a good experience. As for myself and all my peers, we have found the benefits in Germany to be much better.

I think it is a great and long overdue step to allow dual citizenship. Go for it!

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

YES! Thanks!

Once again you can see the perversity of the US labor market, when colleagues give up their sick-days just to save their (poor?🤑) employer money. Simply disgusting! 🤮😵‍💫

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

it's awful. So glad I don't live there anymore.

Wondering why have you never been to city of Ulm? It's really close to Munich and i think it's very interesting and beautiful. Would love to see it filmed by you guys ❤

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

We’ve been to Ulm personally! But these videos take a long time to make and at least a week if not more to edit. All for essentially no money, lol. So planning g our backlog of which videos and when is actually rather hard. It’ll happen one day though! Perhaps even this year.

@iarovyid

3 ай бұрын

Sure, I understand. Looking forward to it, though!

I also moved to a rural area in germany in Lower saxony but the public transport is not the best here. Decentralized and too late so im making my driver license here. 20-30 minutes drives in Germany for a bigger City are complete normal btw

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

Yeah, if I lived elsewhere in Germany I’d probably have a car by now, but it all depends.

I have to subscribe to your channel immediately if you are already standing in front of the Plönlein in my hometown Rothenburg ob der Tauber on your channel picture. Freut mich das du deutscher Staatsbürger werden willst.

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

:D We love Rothenburg. That's so crazy that such a beautiful town is your hometown. :O

Bad Tölz ist schon schön!

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

:D

Welcome... Or better said: Servus und Willkommen

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

Danke! :)

Love your video. It is so awesome that you are going to get your German citizenship. I wish you the best of luck. 😊

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

Thanks so much. We are excited!

Great video! I had no idea the residency requirement lowered. I retire at 51 next year from the federal government and we plan to move to Europe for the lower cost of living compared to the US. Fortunately federal government employees get 6 weeks of vacation a year, but my wife had to deal with low yearly sick days and only a week vacation per year. We’ll have to put Germany on our radar now. We loved Munich and going back there this May/June for holiday.

@1foreverr

3 ай бұрын

Lower cost of living. 😂 You are in for a big surprise.

@hape3862

3 ай бұрын

@@1foreverr Bullshit. Du bist bestimmt so ein AfD-Miesepeter.

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

We were paying 300 dollars a month for one used car payment, plus 150 dollars a month for gas. We also ended up spending around 4, 000 dollars in three years on repairs. Compare that to 49 euros per person for unlimited access to public transit. If we need access to reeducation, or theoretically had children attending higher education, it's completely free. Compare that to the 50,000 dollars worth of debt Ben had after dropping out of his first year of Uni in the US. If one of us can't work because of illness or disability, we know we will be ok. Compare that to 66 percent of American adults who file for bankruptcy due to medical debt. Germany isn't perfect, but I know which country I'd rather live in.

Halte die Daumen, dass es mit der Staatsbürgerschaft klappt. 🤞 Keeping my fingers crosssed that everything works out well with acquiring German citiitenship. ( And then there are English-speaking people who claim that German is more complicated than English ! Just compare the length of both sentences.😁)

Every day is cake day!🤣🎂😋

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

:D this is the truth

blinded by the normalcy of being exploited 😕 the german/european concept is: one for all. all for one. or simply: solidarity

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

Community focused vs Individuality focused is a dichotomy I wasn’t aware of, truly, until moving here and seeing the other side.

Have lived here in Germany since 2014 and this year on my 10th anniversary I will finally get my German citizenship and German passport! So happy I didn't do this sooner, because I would have had to give up my American citizenship. Now I have the best of both worlds. Good luck to you on getting your citizenship!

@NearFromHome

Ай бұрын

Yeah, my wife is considering keeping her American citizenship. But for me, being British, I just really didn’t want the permanent tax filing hassle and what not when I know I’ll never be going back. For some it’s worth the hassle, for others it’s not. Just depends on your situation.

@TinyEpics

Ай бұрын

@@NearFromHome Just filed my application for German citizenship with the help of an immigration lawyer today. Curious how long it will be until the German passport is in my hands!

I love the trains in Germany! So handy! Bad Tölz is beautiful but my favourite place is Tegernsee

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

Tegernsee is basically my favourite as well!

Congratulations! I will do the same towards the end of the year. I can't wait. Are you going for Niederlassungserlaubnis first or straight for Einbürgerung? The system is pretty backed up at the moment. Fortunately, since I'll have two German degrees so I don't need to prove German knowledge but I have registered for the Einbürgerungstest for July.

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

Going straight for naturalisation! I already have permanent residency via article 50 of the Brexit agreement. So no worries there. But it disappears if I ever leave for too long, so I’d feel much more comfortable having the real passport :)

@cocobunitacobuni8738

3 ай бұрын

@@NearFromHome good luck with the paperwork! Oh Lingoda is awesome we use it at our University's Language center for staff members of the Uni. I am enrolled also but haven't used any of my credits yet

Former American Citizen over here. Are you a dual US/UK citizen? Your thumbnail mentions that you are renouncing your US citizenship, but you don’t mention this in your video. In contrast, you mention the new legal option in Germany to have dual citizenship. As a former American, I would highlight the heavy burden that Americans living in other countries, both with the obligation to report global earnings and file a tax return. This also creates a huge obstacle to investing money here in Germany, building wealth and planning for retirement. Evan Edinger does a great job discussing the tax regulations for American expatriates in a KZread video that I highly recommend. Also, there is a little known distinction between renunciation and revocation that few people know about, but can have a significant impact on the fees that the American government assesses when giving up citizenship. Mind you that I’m not qualified to give legal advice, and the laws definitely have changed since I became a German citizen nearly 11 years ago, but I’m happy to share my experiences if you would care to get in touch.

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

Yeah, that’s why I steered clear away from the more bureaucratic topics. I’m a travel KZreadr, I like showing hidden gems and the logistics of how to get there. I like helping people have better holidays :) Every so often I like making a more personal video like this, a travel and chat, but even then I can’t help showing you where I went, how I got there, and what to do. I don’t really want to do the sort of “sit down and explain something I read online” topics that then delve into those nitty gritty details. I just don’t feel qualified to give that kind of advice, and it usually goes out of date. Whereas everything here, personal topics and places to go, theoretically can’t go out of date. Myself I’ll be becoming a dual citizen of the UK and Germany. I actually cancelled my application for USA citizenship when I moved to Germany and handed in my residency card to the German embassy to formally sever the tie. I chose to use that as the inspiration for the title because the reasons I want German citizenship are counterposed against the reasons I gave up my USA citizenship opportunity. But didn’t want to bog down the video with all of that :) it was getting kinda long anyway.

"sick days" in a western country are such a horrible thing ... how can afghanistan have better laws for that then the usa ? i sadly got very sick in october, i got covid and i never really recovered, i got 60 days paid off and since i am on "sick days" from the sate for 60% of my wage.

@NearFromHome

7 күн бұрын

Wow very lucky! I am glad to hear that so many other countries have sensical and compassionate laws around sick leave. The US's policies around the issue are awful.

Every now and then there is a „feel good“ story in US media about donated PTO, just like the one you’ve experienced. Always makes me feel so sad. No actually mad! This is humiliating and should not be tolerated.

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

Those feel good stories that are just rebranded dystopias sting every time. Just like when people come together to donate to a sick persons GoFundMe. I mean I’m glad that humans are nice and we all help each other out when we can, but that doesn’t excuse the inhumane situation.

Für ein Amerikaner haben sie einen sehr starken britischen Akzent.Wenn sie Amerikaner sind wird wohl auch einer der hauptsächlichen Gründe sein das US Bürger die im Ausland leben ihr Einkommen nochmals Steuern an die USA versteuern müssen .Also einfach eine Geldfrage.Deshalb geben viele ihre Staatsbürgerschaft zurück.

So in comments replies, I see that you're retaining a UK/DE dual citizenship due to tax reasons. From your experience, would just US/DE dual citizenship have any downsides or gotchas to look out for? I'm from the US and am looking at the DE dual citizenship and see the greatest benefit as having one inside-the-EU and one outside-the-EU citizenship.

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

The only real downside is that you would have to pay double taxes over a certain amount with duel US/DE citizenship. My income is over that threshold, so I renounced my US green card. We are definitely excited to have the whole EU opened up to us!

Willkommen!

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

Dankeschön :) Ich freue mich, hier zu sein

... wow...young Russell Crowe's got the German Passport!😅

@NearFromHome

3 күн бұрын

Are you not entertained? :D

you get a bus once a day here 😅

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

That’s a real shame. I hope someone comes in to make those lines more dependable and run often enough to be useful.

Amerikanische Arbeitsverträge sind komplizierter als deutsche? Das hätte ich nicht erwartet.

A great decision… I once did something similar from the UK to the US… you may remember it 😂

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

lolol vaugly

The less sweet, the better the quality of the cake. If it's too sweet, they try to make up for the lack of flavor.

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

Truth

If Germany now allows dual citizenship, are you renouncing your USA citizenship because the USA requires you to do so?

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

I actually renounced my USA citizenship due to tax reasons. Theoretically I could keep it, but I don’t even plan on going back and would not rather be beholden every year to the IRS :) I will actually be keeping my British citizenship as dual alongside German once I receive it.

@user-zn6ym9gw3j

3 ай бұрын

​@@NearFromHome Now this explains your accent. I was wondering if my hearing was off.😂 Welcome to Germany!

Nice to have you here! ♥ Bad Tölz I've been there because of ice hockey. = D 🏒 Best wishes from Thuringia.

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

Thanks! :)

In the KZread video "WHY I'm Becoming German!", the speaker shares several reasons for applying for German citizenship, including his appreciation for the country's efficient public transit system, love for German white chocolate cream, commitment to walkable communities, and positive work-life balance. Having lived in Munich for five years, he has experienced the ease of traveling throughout Europe and the convenience of living in a pedestrian-friendly environment. The speaker also discusses the recent legal changes that make it easier to acquire German citizenship, such as the permission of dual citizenship and shortened residency requirement. He expresses his regret for not being able to help a sick friend during his government job in the United States due to insufficient sick and vacation days and his desire to prioritize his health and well-being in the future. The speaker expresses his gratitude to the audience for watching and invites them to leave support in the comments and subscribe to his Near from Home community.

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

I mean that’s not a bad summary. Big fan of how the chocolate cream was given equal weight to walkable communities. The AI was clearly paying attention and understood the subtext most humans mistook as a joke :)

I'm sure you've been asked before, but how come you sound british if you are american!? I'm guessing you left england when you were young, grew up in the USA but kept the answer? Ist es richtig oder nicht?

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

Richtig! I lived in the US from age 11-26. My accent is very transatlantic ;)

If God intended every man to drive a car, then we should have been born with a parking space -jerry reed

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

lolol

You sound more British that American.

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

That's because I am!

I would have guessed the real reason is Brexit

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

The reclamation of my rights as a European citizen will be a massive benefit :) but I wanted to keep this video about the lifestyle and what I've come to really appreciate about the country. If you'd asked me a few years ago, I'd say I'd be getting citizenship for the passport and that would be that, however now, my feelings have changed and its more than just a passport to me now.

For an American, your intonation is pretty British

@NearFromHome

Ай бұрын

For a British, my intonation is pretty American ;)

Thank you for opening up and sharing your experiences. The way the sick are treated in America is truly vile. I wish all the amazing things for you in Germany. 🖤❤️💛

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching :) it was a weird video to make

But he said the public transit is what does it for him he loves it but what about when the germans go on strike and you cant get to work jajajajajajajs

@NearFromHome

Ай бұрын

I'd rather have a base system that needs to be reformed than live in a country with no public transit (and no interest in creating it)

@samjohnson2801

Ай бұрын

@@NearFromHome yeah like not working and still getting paid

@NearFromHome

Ай бұрын

@@samjohnson2801 …….so you don’t like unionized strikes?? Not sure I see how that fits with what I was saying though. It’s way easier to pay people better wages than lay track. So I’d yeah I’d rather live in a system that is being improved than in a place with nothing at all.

Why German citizenship? Maybe because the new law now makes it easy to keep your old citizenship and get the new one. Because German citizenship opens the doors to many countries to visit. Because life is good in Germany. Maybe because you don't know whether the next government will change its mind and laws for access in future.

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

Yeah pretty much. I’m also personally unhappy with having been an EU citizen and having my rights removed. So getting a citizenship that will give me back those rights would be pretty excellent. There are a lot of reasons really, but today I must wanted to dive into the “because life is good” - what does that mean to me? That’s what this video hopefully explains.

Well where do I start, ok, you do not have to have citizenship to live in Germany, you could opt for a residency 'Title', with this you are entitled to practically everything that a German is entitled to except vote. You never stated what the citizenship will cost you, I can tell you that British expats here have paid between €250 and €800 depending on how long they have lived here, what courses they had to take, which tests they had to sit and lastly their age. Dual citizenship is also nothing new here in Germany, I served here in the Forces from '73-''77 and then settled here with just a residency permit. I was offered German nationality after 5years, I declined again after 10years, declined again. I married a German and had two kids in '81 &'85. Both had British and German birth certificates. At the age of 14 they could then choose which nationality the would like , they didn't but had theirown British passports then from 14 on ( no longer on mine) Under Dual Nationality Reg's my Daughter also got her German passport, if my son has one I don't know but both also have German passes, But Both still have Dual nationality, for 43 & 39years respectively. I myself have lived here for 47 years now, I did not take either dual nor German citizenship, I am still a British national with the NEW Residecy permit (Aufenthalts Title) which is similar to and can also be used as an ID card within Germany Total cost for me €39, 95c. For travelling outside of Germany I use my British passport and am like all EU members still allowed to be in other EU countries for up to 90 days. Personally I think all this dual or change of nationality was/is just one big moneymaking scam. But hey at 73 what do I know I paid €39,95. No matter what you do, we all need to renew passports every ten years. Good luck anyway, I would tho' if I were you apply for the British one again, allways good to have a plan B 😉

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

I did say I think within the first paragraph of the script “irrevocable right”. I’m on the same Brexit residency title, but if I were to go and live in Britain for a year to perhaps help my family as they age….I would lose my right to come back to Germany. Maybe it isn’t worth it to you but an extra 250€ feels like pocket to change for a lifetime membership back into the EU.

@Wrong-Way-Round

3 ай бұрын

Methinks it'll cost you more, You can let us know 🤔

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

@@Wrong-Way-Round I think focusing so much on the money is a bit strange. At the end of the day it’s just not that much. I’d be 10 times more and still consider it a deal to gain actual nationality.

@Wrong-Way-Round

3 ай бұрын

@@NearFromHome we have 3 to 4 hundred brits around our town alone most of which applied, taking into consideration all the other foreign applicants not only in our town but the whole of Germany 🤔 in Scotland we have a saying "many a micle macs a mucle" many a mickle makes a muckle" meaning it all adds up to a great amount. There were around 7-8 thousand Brits living in Hamburg. So much more €'s being taken back off people on top of which if some are receiving UK pensions here they will be receiving tax bills here for that too. One I know of got a bill for €10k another for €2,5k. I know of one guy that handed his €500 German nationality back after getting a €10k backtax bill. So not such a petty amount for some.

Owning a Passport does not make you German...

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

But your approval does? ;)

Just wondering, you are talking about coming from America, yet you got a heavy English accent. Surely, you must be English. Your misses though sounds American. Anyways, enjoy your lives in this beautiful country called Germany.

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

I’m originally from England, and did grow up there. However I also spent over a decade living in the USA. When moving to Germany I gave up and abandoned not only my USA permanent residency but my citizenship applications as well. Which was the inspiration for the title.

@a.r.stellmacher8709

3 ай бұрын

@@NearFromHome Ah nice, thank you.

American Companies don't fire you for taking a few days off because you are sick. My husband's company offers a 6 month leave before they lay you off. Personally, I always experienced working in Germany as very stressful. I needed more vacation days. In the US working seems to be much more relaxed.

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

Can’t relate. That was not my experience in the slightest. And you can say that American companies don’t fire you for taking time off……but would you say it to my coworker? Probably not.

you need a citizenship to eat cake?

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

If I want to eat it every day for the rest of my life :)

@kellymcbright5456

3 ай бұрын

@@NearFromHome Ok? I am living abroad and do not need a citizenship there. But enjoy it.

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

@@kellymcbright5456 If you plan on leaving one day, or not having the freedom to live somewhere else for a year before coming back then sure. Don’t. But if you do want that freedom then citizenship is the answer. Not sure if we are discussing this in good faith though….because I was clearly making a joke when I said that?

Yea the trains are great if they turn up. The German rail system is in chaos and closed 28000Km of track last year. What a deluded picture you paint.

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

You clearly haven't experienced the soul crushing horrors that come with driving your car from your isolated suburban house for an hour in traffic 7 miles down the highway twice a day. I'd rather have a rail system that needs to be reformed than have no rail system at all. Yes, the German rail system needs to be reformed (un-privatised) but that is a conversation for a different day.

@robertbannocks6750

3 ай бұрын

@@NearFromHome irrelevent. Paint a realsistic picture of the country and its public transport not an idealised and detached from reality one.

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

@@robertbannocks6750 I mean, your lived experience does not invalidate mine. Though you seem convinced mine invalidates yours. Which is weird. I do literally say that I’m speaking from my own experiences here. Go and watch the rest of my channel, well over 100 trips documented and no train problems in sight. I have the receipts for my opinion. - I definitely want it to improve, and don’t agree with the heavy amount of privatisation, but yet here we are.

@robertbannocks6750

3 ай бұрын

@@NearFromHome Its not about getting all philosophical to avoid the point. Whatever your experience is it is well known the German rail system is in a mess with decade of Merkel's stupid policies failing to maintain it and closing lines and track. Just because you have managed to avoid that does not mean that you should be overpromoting one aspect of German life and misrepresenting it to people. This issue to remind you is that the German rail system is in a mess and you have misrepresented that in this video.

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

@@robertbannocks6750 I would say philosophy and perspective matters a great deal. You can complain about Deutsche Bahn until the cows come down from the mountain, as is your right as a German. However, with my perspective being based in the UK and USA with infinitely worse train systems, to me the German train system is a miracle that it works as well as it does. So speaking from my perspective that is what this system looks like. There is no “objective” standard that you yourself are measuring from either, just a vision of a better system that you wish this lived up to. That’s fine. You can say you personally find DB to be disappointing, no one can argue with that. Compared to Japan or Switzerland the German system is very lacklustre. Though for that example you are just picking your measuring stick to be the best systems the world has. I for my perspective am simply picking bad systems as my measuring system. So I can say that to me I’m incredibly happy with my experiences. We are all blinded by our own perspective.

You are funny - traveling in Germany - but the public transportation is constantly on strike. Ich brauche Lingoda nicht, weil ich auch die deutsche Sprache einwandfrei beherrsche. I worked for a private company in the Chicago area and got 4 weeks vacation and unlimited sick-days and I earned 4 times as much as what I earned in Germany. I live much better in America than in Germany.

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

Better to have and be on strike than never built at all :)

@khecke

3 ай бұрын

@@NearFromHome The Germans are so happy that the Bundesbahn and Lufthansa is striking most of the time - and the German population is so happy with their present Government - especially with Olav Scholz. Do you ever watch the German news and understand what is going on with the German economy?

@Harryset1

3 ай бұрын

@@khecke "Jeder ist seines Glückes Schmied". Ganz gleich, wie man den Wahrheitsgehalt dieser Aussage persönlich einschätzt - man kommt an dem markanten Satz nicht vorbei. Do you ever watch US American news and understand what is going on in the USA?

@khecke

3 ай бұрын

@@Harryset1 Yes I watch the news in America and I am not too happy with what is going on in America right now, but I hope it will be better after the election in November.

@Harryset1

3 ай бұрын

@@khecke "Let's hope for the best, prepare for the worst". Aus meinem Blickwinkel betrachtet: It's bad, and it's going to get worse. Ihnen persönlich: Good luck!

You don’t seem to know what is going on in Germany 😂 your video is just exaggerating the positive. It’s a tourist video.

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

lol. Yeah. I have no idea what’s going on here in Germany. You caught me. 😵‍💫

As a German citizen I am absolutely shocked by your decision, especially as I am looking desperately to get out of Europe and move to the US. But, if you are happy then power to you and the best of luck to you and your loved ones. I’d say though think it maybe over a bit more as Germany might not be so attractive anymore in a decade or two from now.

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

I was once a European who dreamed of moving to the USA. I did. Now I’m back :) but it really depends. I mean the USA is very very individualistic in culture and policy. If you’ve got a good job, good money, then America can be an amazing place for you. It was for me, personally, a very nice place to live. However, it comes at a massive cost that is visible from everyone else. Then with the additional restrictions placed on women, etc etc. I felt it better to be here. No where is perfect though. Germany has a lot of problems too, I suppose it’s just about living somewhere that you feel comfortable and with problems that you can handle. So to each their own.

@1foreverr

3 ай бұрын

Exactly my thoughts. A lot of europeans are seeking ways to move out of Europe now.

@a.r.stellmacher8709

3 ай бұрын

@@1foreverr Europe is beautiful. I live oversees (Australia) for a long time now and believe me things have deteriorated everywhere around the world, yes, even here, and badly so. So my advice is stay where you are and see things through from there. The grass looks always greener on the other side till you get there and are hit by reality.. Living oversees is only okay for the filthy rich. They are not affected by any hardships or troubles.

@1foreverr

3 ай бұрын

@@a.r.stellmacher8709 I know that Europe is beautiful, I travel every year. However, living there is becoming unbearable. I have relatives who live in Germany and France. They moved there 25 years ago and loved it. Now they are trying to move to US but can’t find a way yet.

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

@@1foreverr People can and should do as they wish. But man. You can’t even get me to holiday back in the USA, let along consider living there ever again.

Hi, YOU should NEVER wear tinted, dark sunglasses.. speaking to the audience or to another person in front of you. There is NO bright sunshine.. but it shows a lot of BAD bevoir and dis-respect.. This is Germany.. and WE don't like it..!! You are not in Florida, Arizona or New Mexico... and you risk, that people simply turn their back to you... REMEMBER THAT..b

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

lol, okay grandpa

@parryhotter3138

3 ай бұрын

I "like" people who actually talk about themselves, but see themselves as the majority... I have lived in Germany all my life and have never heard that it is unfriendly, or disrespectful to use dark sunglass lenses. Is this comment some running gag I missed? Or does it just come from another boomer who takes himself way too seriously?

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

@@parryhotter3138 Never heard of this before in my life either. But every so often I’ll get an oddly rude comment calling me disrespectful for sunglasses or a hat or something? Who knows :) all I do is spend hours upon hours of my life making not exactly cheap to produce travel content, editing it, and publishing it for free yet some people feel rather entitled to being disrespected by the smallest slights. It’s wild.

@Steeler-wg5zo

3 ай бұрын

@@NearFromHome AfD taking over....? LOL

The most stupid thing you ever could do! I sware, yo'll regret in future!

@NearFromHome

3 ай бұрын

Lol