Why I Decided To Stay In Germany
2024 ж. 23 Мам.
121 159 Рет қаралды
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I love hearing your stories. I arrived in Germany in 1990 with the US army, fell in love with the country and after leaving the army in 1995 I'm still here.
So did my uncle (but it was more the 1980th), came here with the Army (visited the PX with him once), he met my aunt, they fell in love, got married and after that he became a permanent resident. :)
Your welcome, G.I.!❤
" fell in love with the country and after leaving the army in 1995 I'm still here." Just with the country? 😉
Stay there. The USA is so messed up and will get worse
I have been studying here for nearly a year, with a little over a year to go. I do not want to go back to the USA, I have fallen in love with Germany and Europe as a whole.
then stay! You'll need to learn German though
@@michaela6016 Working on it, If I cannot find the work before my US Study Abroad program is up, I will simply try to find a Degree Program here so I can stay longer lol.
I was an exchange student here from '91-'92 and didn't want to leave but I did due to not having time at the end of my stay to find an alternative. I had always wanted to come back but life kept getting in the way. In '15, my ex-gf from '92 contacted me, we started talking again, she came to visit me in the US, and I moved back here two months later. We are now married and it's been amazing ever since. Btw, I think that you just stayed for the butter pretzels.
Butter pretzel are German soul food ❤
Schön dass Du wieder zuhause bist!
@@sisuguillam5109 Danke schön! :)
@@crothefool1651 😃 wünsche Euch schöne Ostern (wenn Ihr feiern solltet)!
@@sisuguillam5109 Danke schön! Eben so! :)
My Mom came to Germany from the US in 1968. The first day in Germany she met my father. They got married and had 4 children. In 1993 they left us children in Germany and moved to the States. 10 years later, my brother moved to the States. Both countries have advantages. I like both, and I am annoyed by both. 😅
I am so happy that you stay and take your time to explore Germany outside your football perspective 😊
I studied in both Göttingen & München back in the 90s, and I would have loved to stay. I loved the language, culture, and people. I love going back, although it’s not very often. Even after all these years, I still think of it as my 2nd home.
Greetings from Göttingen 👋🙂
I've lived in Göttingen for 6 years, 2003-2009. 😊
You are always welcome here brother
@Alexander Ratisbona was meinst Du damit?
Unsere Sprache ist in der Tat, wahnsinnig tiefgängig, wenn man es lyrisch bis ins Exzessive treibt. Aber diese Zeiten sind vorbei und sprachliche Sinntiefe stirbt, in Zeiten der Verrohrung der Sprache, der Vergewaltigung der Sprache, der Quer-Verkulturisierung der Sprache durch sprachliche Fremdeinflüsse...das tut schon weh🙏🏻
Hi, Nick, I was in your shoes (or similar shoes) about 30 years ago when I moved from Northern California to Berlin to work at the headquarters of a german insurance company while getting also paid to play semi-professional for a Berlin Regionalliga tennis team. Was supposed to be a 2 stint and in my 2nd year I met my future wife. 30 years later I am still loving life in Germany with my wife and daughter. I am really impressed with your often funny and entertaining, but also very insightful videos sharing your experiences as well as pointing out various differences between life in the US and here in Germany. Got to tell you that you really nailed so many topics that either amuse me or sometimes frustrate me regarding germans or life in Germany. I also really like how you always point out that it is almost impossible to generalise about typical "german traits", since they vary a lot even regionally. However, some things like the "relaxing" german supermarket grocery shopping experience with the wide aisles, cheerful and relaxed salesperson at checkout....can be found all over this great country. 😂. We do try to visit the States each year, though, and the 30 days paid vacation in Germany makes it possible. That has helped me greatly and my wife and daughter love visiting the US. I look forward to hearing and seeing what lies ahead for you in this new chapter of your life. All the best.
Ja aber auch daran wird die Zukunft nicht spurlos vorbeigehen, also der bezahlten 30-Urlaubstage....all die großen Errungenschaften werden grundlegender Veränderungen unterzogen. Du kannst bereits seit Jahren hervorragend beobachten, wie Gewerkschaften Stück für Stück zersetzt werden und die Mitgliedszahlen schwinden, einfach, weil kleinste Infrastruktur durch Großkonzerne eliminiert und ersetzt wird, die dann vorgeben wo künftig der Hase lang läuft. Aktuell werden unsere wichtigsten Industriezweige, das Herz dieser Nation herausgerissen bzw chirurgisch präzise durch katastrophale Laien-Politiker und EU-Puppenspieler entfernt - und was soll dann kommen? Realistisch bitte?
You need snail mail because an E-Mail is not a „written document“ under German law. This is also true for many European countries.
Also: Imagine many old people. They are only able to receive snail mail. Can't end up in a spam folder. Can't be "accidentally deleted" because if the post can't deliver it you get it back. Then there is the privacy of the envelope.. I agree we should move on to email but that should then be somehow normed, eg. with GPG... Current old email also has its problems to be solved but if everyone would be forced to use a commercial messenger it would be much worse.. I would start a benevolent association (Gemeinnütziger Verein) to make an authentication bureau similar to a Passamt for everyone where every citizen still has control on what data or privilege to grant to whom, independent from the state but under public scrutiny.
Any means capable of leaving a written record was the EU’s wording in a number of Council Decisions and Framework Decisions. Perhaps this never made it to Civil Law.
@@robertbutlin3708 the problem is not on the EU level as some - line Estonia - are the most digital on the planet. Germany never changed the local laws. And then there is Strom data protection. E.g. German schools were not allowed MS Teams during the pandemic as it was not considered sufficiently secure.
@@tobiwan001 I wasn’t suggesting it was. But if there had been a Civil Law Directive from the EU requiring all countries to “make electronic documents legal” then Germany would have had to follow suit by amending local legislation.
While some things need a written document by law (for example if you want to receive unemployment benefit) this is not the major problem. Most things have to go by snail mail because of our "glorious" laws regarding data privacy protection. E-Mail is seen as comparable to a postcard (which everyone can read) so most stuff containing personal data (which is 99% I guess) can not done per E-Mail. Digital stone age but required by law. :(
I live near Grafenwöhr and there are many americans who decided to stay in the area after their service overseas. They are all great people. Always friendly, integrated in our local culture but also in love with their own and always down to joke around.
Viel Freude noch in Deutschland mit genauso viel positive neue Eindrücke. Grüße aus Schleswig Holstein
We are lucky to have you here, any country would be. It is always a win to have grounded and common sensed people around. You are welcome!
The hardest part in living here, is the language and bureaucracy, if you can handle that, life is very easy and relaxing.
Germany is a good place for culture these days. People are supportive of the arts. The pace of life is sane and the quality of life is good. All the best on your projects, Nalf! Keep writing the next chapter-
Best of luck in Germany, greetings from California 🙂
Hi Nick, I can relate to all that you are saying. I came as a british soldier to Germany in 1983 and after 7 years of service, I stayed here. I had quite a lot of chapters here, changing jobs, towns and one or two relationships. Now, I'm at that stage where I don't want to change anything anymore. Returning to the UK would mean going to a foreign country,. Or getting a job in some place new very unlikely at nearly 60 years old. So anyone who wants to do something new, do it now, because there is never a better time.
Uk has changed I am sure. It's not only Brexit, the country struggles on different fronts. Wide open future with a lot of uncertainties. But isn't that the case everywhere. Your comment sounds a bit melancholic, kind of resigned. Yet here or there it'll be what is there to be for you. Panta rhei. .
If you have family in the UK, spend long holidays with them; otherwise it’s better in Germany…… believe me, I did the move the other way round about 40 years ago and I now wish I had stayed back home…… that’s what Brexit did to me!
Many people come to Germany or other country and start the new life from the bottom without any help from others, they have to find the place to live, learn new language, place to work etc. Those are the real struggles..
And he has a german-speaking girlfriend who can help him over the hurdles
Nice video!❤️ But my mentor would always say; Desire + Motivation + Action = Success
I agree, I invested in shiba coin and BTC last year and now I am bullish
@@josephfrys6969 A business partner told me about Warren T Sonia that he made $12000 in a week
@@doragary3717 That's correct, I met her at a conference in Singapore... she's incredibly smart.
I made $3,000 in a week trading with her😃
@Alice mark Since 2018 I reached out to Mrs Sonia ,I’ve been debt free! Bought myself a car,house and an Amazon parrot☺️I love parrots
I am very pleased to hear from you that you feel so comfortable here in Germany.☺🌷
One question: Did you think this through when you choose an attic apartment?? I mean I can hear already the complaints because of the heat in summer.
He's death at the end of summer.
I've allways lived in appartments in the attic. They are just the most cozy and soo nice to decorate. Would not want to change that for a normal flat. I overcome the heat in the summer with a good ventilator.
Alles wird gut. Du hast bis jetzt alles geschafft, du schaffst noch mehr
I have been to Germany a couple of times and not even once to America but, from what I see and learn on the internet, I know for sure that as long as you are well, anywhere in the world is fine, when instead you get sick you wish you were in Europe. I agree with your choice because for me Germany is better.
Glad you stay😊. I wish you the best for your chapter 2 in Germany. I appreciate your videos and your perspective of life here. You are an amazing storyteller and video-photographer. Looking forward to all your new stories. 🤩👍
I absolutely love this page. Wish I would have found it sooner, or KZhead would have suggested it sooner, but luckily I can go back and binge watch the old videos. Excited to be here for the next chapter!
Thank you so much for your interest in our country to stay even longer. This is quite a compliment - because it shows that you seem to have such a lot of desire to understand how life here is and that is wonderful....
Nick I really can relate to your decision. I grew up in Germany, studied in Italy and then moved to Greece. And me and my husband are talking about how we're also open to reinvent our lifes when the kids will have moved away for good (we live on an island, so whatever the kids want to do, they'll probably have to leave if they don't want to work in the tourist industry). Good luck. Just stay open and curious, it really makes life sooo beautiful ❤️
Hallo Helga, Grüße aus Süddeutschland. Bin hier geboren und aufgewachsen und lebe nach wie vor hier. Mein Vater war aus Italien, meine Mutter aus Griechenland. Ja, es ist sehr wichtig, offen und neugierig zu sein. Dann passieren meist schöne Dinge. Bei mir war es u.a. ein längerer Aufenthalt in Irland, als ich im Urlaub spontan entschlossen hatte, ein Jahr zu bleiben 😄. Eine unvergesslich schöne Zeit. 🙋♀️🌻
@@Manu-ih7zf Danke Manu ❤️ Dir auch alles Liebe ☀️
@@helgaioannidis9365 ❤
It's good that you're staying connected to football. Finding a way to stay connected to your foremost passion - even if not in a playing capacity - will anchor you as you deal with the transition.
only the best wishes for your future journey, wherever it may lead you eventually🧡🙏🏻 glad to have you here in germany🇩🇪:)
Best of luck! Just remember, don’t let the bad days make you forget about the good ones. Living in a foreign country can be both very exciting and extremely difficult. The fact that you have friends and your girlfriend around you will make it much easier, and I’m very happy to see that you decided to stay. Also, was that coach Esume?
Habe ich auch gedacht. Bin mir sicher "der" warst.
Nick, since you lived in CT -Unicorn Town is in the Westport Library!
That's great that you are back in Germany. I have learned a lot from you about US American culture and customs. I am glad and I hope that it continues with your channel. Good luck! Greetings from the region "OWL"
Haay Nalf, hows Mickey doing - is he setteling in just fine in Germany or has he dropped the German adventure? - nice to hear yer still think the life in Germany is exiting and thrilling, and its still exiting to see your experience with the life in germany as it goes by. looking forward to the next one.
Germans don't really like to move a lot. Yes, maybe during College/University, they might move but mostly within Germany. Overall people tend to stay where they grew up and that's how you maintain a certain kind of circle of friends and you basically stay close to what you know. To Americans this might sound weird but that is normal to us. I am glad you continue your journey/adventure in Germany and you can stay where you are and still explore the rest of the country. It's not like it takes days to get from the eastern to the western border compared to taking a ride from NYC to LA.
I have followed you for years and I love your stories. If I were younger, I would consider moving there. I am too old now even though I have in demand skills. Also, I am two generations from my closest German ancestors so I do not qualify for dual citizenship😢 my Dad was stationed in Munich before I was born in the Army and he loved Germany 👍🏻
You are never too old. I just started over with 53. On purpose, not because I failed. Don't let that excuse stop you from any adventure.
Awww, c'mon Nick. The main reason has got to be Laura. And if that's the case, I can't blame you. As been said before in the comments, she's a keeper!
You've created quite some suspense for your personal discovery channel. I'm looking forward to what the wilder life in Germany will offer to you.
I am 70 year old American that lived 25 plus years in Germany and Austria . One thing you will learn fast is the life style in Europe is a much better Balance .
So good to see Nick is settling in step by step combining the past and the new ... Good luck to you Nick for your next step in life and many to come!
Proud of you and will follow along. So happy you're staying and get positive experiences in Germany
Best wishes. I think you've got lots of opportunities. Coaching, management, PR for a sports club, making commercials as videographer,... Or try something completely new. You're open and willingly to learn new stuff. I'm sure, you'll make your way.
Wishing you the best of luck. Great to have you here with us in Europe.
Happy you're still here. All the best for that new chapter in your life! 🍀
I wish I had the same optimism when it comes to moving to the States. I feel like it's easier to settle down here than over the ocean. Plus I'm too much used to my "social net" to give that up. All the best! I'm sure you'll make it!
I'd travel around a bit. Europe and also Germany has many interesting places with different vibes and sights to explore, love or hate ;)
Thanks for sharing ❤ I wish you all the best on your new journey here in germany. I hope that your experience will be a good one.
Yo Nick. All the best for this decision. Love your channel and your honesty. 🤘🤘
I do financial consulting for expats here in Germany and I have so many clients who originally only planned to stay a couple of years and then were so in love with the country and the people that they decide to stay long-therm.
Hi nick, it s still nice to have you her and i wish you all the best for your now "private"life in germany. maybe there will be a possibility to realize your dreams in film (or maybe tv!?). Anyway, I wish you the best of luck! Michael/Hanover
I hope you stay,but of course listen to your heart,if your journey takes you to other shores,we will still follow (if you have us riding along). Due to our past i have a hard time enjoying the landmass i was born in. Seeing my own country through your experience here for the past 6years+ have made me appreciate things,and dislike others even more^^, in this country we call germany. Came for some vibes,stayed because of you adding your own vibes. You do you Mr. Alfieri and iam sure you will have a wonderfull part 2 of your journey here in germany...or perhaps somewhere else. All the best from sunny schleswig holstein ^^
I love the fact that you joined the Surge, even if it‘s not on the field. Hope to see you in Gazi Stadion on gameday.
hope you do longer than the next Year Nick...all the Best to you.
Be well. I'm looking forward to the details of your adjustment to a life in a new land.
Good luck m8 and great having you here in 🇩🇪
Alles Gute für deinen neuen Lebensabschnitt! Beste Grüße aus Hamburg!
Wishing you all the best 😎 Glad you decided to stay👍
By the way, big cities usually are very expensive. Berlin is a little bit the exception to the rule. But if you choose it, your experience will be absolutely completely different to the life in Schwäbisch Hall. Munich is very beautiful but one of the most expensive big cities - but it might be closer to our experience that you had up to now as it is also in the South. Cologne is called the most Italian city of Germany and it is close to the Rhine river which plays a big role in German mystery. But the experience might also differ a lot to your life in Schwäbisch Hall. Frankfurt is often called Mainhattan and plays a big role as far as Germanys banking sector is concerned. In the East, Dresden is very beautiful and has been called the Florence of the river Elbe, Leipzig has a lot to do with books and Potsdam is close to Berlin but not really Berlin. The East would be a completely different experience as there are still differences because of the reunification not being that long ago so yu might be able to learn a bit about the younger past of Germany that does not have to do anything with the 3rd Reich and is a little a dive into the unknown for most people. who come from other continents. Hamburg of course has often been called the door to the world because of its big connection to trade overseas but I believe you had quite a bad experience in Hamburg... I am very curious which big city you might take.
Or maybe because of Laura ❤ You love her ❤ Laura is a good dancer she should teach you 💃
I have watched you for several years now, and can inly say one thing ----- I sure do respect you.
You’re a cool dude and I wish you viel Glück for the next chapter, greetings from Thuringia 😄👍🏻
wish you all the best and all the luck for this next chapter in your life! Another wonderful and great person from abroad in Germany! You're a win for our country. Excited to see what's coming. :)
Hey Nick, new subscriber here. I enjoy your perspective on life!
Respect for taking on the new challenge. Your football resilience def. will help you outlast it.
Best of luck in Germany! Wishing you much success.
If I remember correctly, you have an Italien passport, so using EU rules you can stay as long as you want and don't need any other paper work (like visa).
Enjoyed the show. Fun as always. You have communication skills that most germans don't. It may take some convincing to get germans to appreciate your style, but certainly there is one attractive female who gets it. Keep up the good work.
Welcome to Germany and good luck for your plans. Indeed, we can use a dose of this typically exaggerated American optimism and "let's do it" very well in these times where one crisis follows the next. 😉 And you have chosen the most German of all German regions (Stuttgart & Swabia) for this, okay, THIS man really wants to know. Seriously, all good wishes for you (your spouse and you)!
Herzlich Willkommen und Frohe Ostern.
Brave and open to new things. I like this.
Good luck to you sir. You seem like a good guy, who carries his heart in the right place, you'll manage;)
Which side of the pond do I like better? Both! There are things I like here such as languages, culture, & history. There are things I miss back home. I miss wide open spaces in the States & Provinces (yes I’m including Canada too). I would love to drive again along the coast of California or camp in the boundaries waters of Minnesota. I would love to spent part of the year here and the other back in N America.
All the best with Chapter two 👍🏽
Sounds like a plan. I never quite had it like you did during your pro career. I had to dive right into every day Swiss life. But it wasn't difficult, because I was able to earn some money, more the longer I stayed. Meeting your life partner helps also a lot, for that adds to the attractiveness of the new home. But at the end of the day you havee to experience, analyse and decide. There is no right way, only the way that's right for you. OTOH, Schwäbisch Hall is so charming. We met really shortly on the street right before your championship game. It was actually my 2nd time in your lovely town. There are a LOT worse places you could live your life in. Good luck and let us know what's up. Love your insight ad commentaries.
Awesome to see you on the ELF!
i wish u the best. u will rock what ever u decide to go for
I reckon, the real reason is the unlimited supply of "Butterbrezeln". 🙂
And Knoppers...
gute Entscheidung
You’ll be fine man. You have proven you can do tons of stuff beside football. And besides, the girlfriend is enough reason on her own! Good to have you here.
Wish you good luck and fun in your german future.
Wish you all the best here in Germany Nalf!👍
Give it shot. I think you could also try other european countries. Each one is so different. Spain, Italy, Sweden would give you a totally different experience
You seem to be a cool guy - happy you will stay! 👍
Best of luck for your new chapter. I strongly believe that you can't find another modern country in the world where you can do what you want and when you want it without any fear as long as you are willing to do sth./work. Also the "small town" of Schwäbisch Hall is just a beautiful place to live. don't try duisburg or most of NRW tho ;) you would get depressed. kinda like detroit over here :D
My best friend lives in Schwäbisch Hall..its a very nice little town . Very quiet to live but much culture. I very much believe you enjoy it there and it has lower costs to rent as in Stuttgart.
Respect! and "bon chance" with Stuttgart...BTW would I be wrong to guess that technically for the German authoritiers you are not just an US citizen but an (Italian) EU citizen who could live, stay and work in Germany rather easily?
Would make a huge difference for him if that is the case, simplifying a lot of bureaucracy and giving him more rights.
I am the same situation and moving to Germany was really easy honestly. I just needed to do an anmeldebestätigung
His Italian ( so EU citizenship) makes a world of difference in being able to come/stay here. Without that, he would have many more challenges/difficulties.
@@calise8783Why doesn´t he throw away his passport?
Great decision and best of luck. You are real pro.
One thing I hear again and again from people in sports, is how tough the year after retirement tends to be, trying to find a new place and purpose in the world for yourself, after a time where everything in life was centered around training, etc. This transition would be tough enough if it were to take place in your own home environment. You are trying to sort all that out while being in Germany. Again others might move to Germany for a job and thereby have a clear purpose and they just have to work through the logistics of doing all this in a different country. Difficult enough. You are trying to do both at once. I can sense your frustration, but also your determination to keep fighting. I hope you can find a path for yourself, and can manage both the career transition as well as life in Germany. Alles Gute...
Best of luck with your Chapter II in Germany!
This is what life is all about! Home is where your heart is!!!
5:00 Interesting choice of literature. Also, good luck for your continued exploration of Germany. Hope you are also going to check out the rest of Germany some more.
Couldn't you become a professional football trainer for youth? This is such an interesting sport that deserves to have a more prominent role for German kids and teenagers.
So again! Welcome to Germany and best of luck to you.
Happy you still bear with us :)
Thank you for your stories
Welcome! Nice to have you here. ☺️
Wow. You move from the south of germany.. To the south of germany. Man. That's all disneyland. If you want to see the diversity of germany, you have to see the east, the Ruhrgebiet, the northern part and so on. Germany ist so beautiful because it is one country with many mentalitys.. Hope to see you in westfalia one day!! Thank you for your work and all the best for you and your girlfriend!! 👍
imho you are doing the right thing ;) All the best mucker from the UK
Schön, dass du hier bist!🤗
Everybody loves the expat life. You get to leave all the stresses of your life and identity back home. And as an outsider in a new country, there are a lot less burdens to carry, in a way. You can kind of float outside it all it while enjoying your surroundings. It's kind of like a long-term, low-level vacation. But does it come at a cost? I don't know.
Glad to have you here in good old Germany
At 3:37 I thought you'd experienced the first summer day in your apartment 😂😂😂 😁☀️☀️☀️☀️
Freue mich sehr über diese Entscheidung!