This is my third and final blog post after living in Germany for almost a whole year. I waited to write this until I was back in the US, so I can note some of the big differences between Germany and the US. As I reflect on my year spent living in Germany, I am filled with a mix of emotions. Excitement, sadness, and a sense of accomplishment all come to mind. This is my final blog post, and I've decided to wait until I am back in the US to write it, so I can compare and contrast my experiences in both countries. But before I delve into the differences, I want to share with you how my last three months in Germany were.
In those last three months, I had the opportunity to go on a couple of amazing trips, including Berlin and Switzerland. I explored a snowy Munich and witnessed the beauty of its Christmas markets. Berlin had been on my bucket list for almost my entire time in Germany, and I finally had the chance to visit. I went during Halloween and attended "Germany's Biggest Halloween Party". It was a huge event with 10-15 different DJs and thousands of people dressed in spooky costumes. I decided to do a Top Gun theme and grew out a mustache for the occasion.
A month later, my sister came to visit me and we took a trip to Switzerland. We stayed in Zurich and also took a tour to the "Top of Europe" in the Swiss Alps. The train ride to the top took about 30-45 minutes. We also visited the Lindt Home of Chocolate Museum in Zurich, which was a dream come true for me being a chocolate lover. However, it was hard to stay in Switzerland for long due to the high cost of living. Switzerland is one of the most expensive countries in the world, and you can definitely feel it when trying to buy a $15 burger at Burger King
When we returned to Munich, the Christmas markets opened and I had the chance to explore the beautiful markets. A couple of weeks later, we had a snowfall, and being from Alabama, I rarely see snow. I took advantage of this opportunity and walked around the city to see all of the beautiful sights. I went to a really cool palace and took some awesome photos.
After that, I only had about a week left in Germany. I did everything that I knew I would miss, and ate my last Döner. My last day of work was a bit sad, as my boss got me some BMW merch to take home with me. However, I was excited to go home.
Upon arriving home, I quickly noticed some differences. Cars and large parking lots stood out to me, as I noticed them even before landing. Another difference was the customer service, which I found to be much friendlier in the US than in Germany. When I finally got to Birmingham, my family was waiting for me at the airport. But I was more excited to see my dog.
Overall, I have to say that the transition was smoother than I had expected. It was like riding a bike, everything felt natural even though it had been a long time since I lived in the US. I was expecting a bigger reverse culture shock. At the end of the day, the biggest difference between Germany and the US, in my opinion, is population density and language. But even then, most Germans can speak very good English.
I am very happy with my trip, even though it was challenging at times. I learned much more than I thought I would and I am looking forward to returning to Germany at some point in the future.