1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:04,400 Hello, good morning, good afternoon, good evening. 2 00:00:04,400 --> 00:00:10,440 Whenever you are listening or watching this, we are back with Marco once again. 3 00:00:10,440 --> 00:00:16,000 Marco, would you like to say your welcome slash hello slash yay, I'm back? 4 00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:18,240 Well, you just did it on behalf of me. 5 00:00:18,240 --> 00:00:19,240 So hello. 6 00:00:19,240 --> 00:00:23,320 Yes, we are very happy to have Marco back with us very soon. 7 00:00:23,320 --> 00:00:30,880 I thought that this week would be interesting if we really dove deeper into girl. 8 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:33,840 Oh, we're doing it again. 9 00:00:33,840 --> 00:00:34,840 It's happening again. 10 00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:40,800 I thought it would be really interesting to dive deeper into what life in Germany slash 11 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:48,860 life in America is like for a European who has moved here to America, as well as in comparison, 12 00:00:48,860 --> 00:00:55,360 my personal short lived experience living in Europe as an American and what it feels 13 00:00:55,360 --> 00:00:58,560 like to live in America now that I'm back. 14 00:00:58,560 --> 00:01:03,480 I just thought that this comparison dynamic would be quite fascinating. 15 00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:10,060 So if you are European and you are thinking of moving to the US or if you are American 16 00:01:10,060 --> 00:01:15,680 and you're considering moving to Europe because Europe seems so dreamy and idealistic and 17 00:01:15,680 --> 00:01:21,460 blah, blah, blah, like I thought when I was traveling in the past, then I think this episode 18 00:01:21,460 --> 00:01:27,360 is for you and we both believe that you will enjoy. 19 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:31,680 Let's go ahead and kick off this episode with some juicy questions. 20 00:01:31,680 --> 00:01:39,040 Yeah, the juiciest, most fun questions imaginable. 21 00:01:39,040 --> 00:01:40,040 Actually no, not really. 22 00:01:40,040 --> 00:01:43,600 You're selling it way too, way too much. 23 00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:44,600 That's what you would say. 24 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:51,080 I do hope you enjoy this episode and you take some new information or entertainment or both 25 00:01:51,080 --> 00:01:52,480 away. 26 00:01:52,480 --> 00:01:54,000 So here we go. 27 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:58,660 How has living in America changed your view of Germany and Europe? 28 00:01:58,660 --> 00:02:05,160 And this is the burning million dollar question that I really, really, really think would 29 00:02:05,160 --> 00:02:10,200 interest not only me, but anybody listening to us right now. 30 00:02:10,200 --> 00:02:11,720 That's a very good question. 31 00:02:11,720 --> 00:02:15,960 Everything here has changed, has definitely changed my view on Germany on a number of 32 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:16,960 subjects. 33 00:02:16,960 --> 00:02:22,520 For one thing, this kind of unconditional social welfare is maybe not unique to Germany, 34 00:02:22,520 --> 00:02:28,280 but there are very few places that have such an unconditional system and it's just very 35 00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:33,040 inefficient and it doesn't incentivize hard work. 36 00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:38,600 The really good people that are hardworking and that have ideas that maybe want to be 37 00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:43,400 an entrepreneur or whatever, they will find themselves compared to America in a worse 38 00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:44,400 environment. 39 00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:48,640 Here in America, hard work pays off more than it does in Germany. 40 00:02:48,640 --> 00:02:50,080 That's just a sad truth. 41 00:02:50,080 --> 00:02:58,800 Also on a political spectrum, Germany is much more cognizant and afraid of its past than 42 00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:00,360 other countries are. 43 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:01,800 Is that good or bad? 44 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:04,000 Well, kind of in between. 45 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:09,200 I think it's over the top in Germany where everything, and it goes in both political 46 00:03:09,200 --> 00:03:12,000 directions, both right wing and left wing in Germany. 47 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:20,080 If anybody voices an idea or an opinion on something, then either people say, oh, this 48 00:03:20,080 --> 00:03:27,800 is kind of like back in the thirties, we're steering towards a nationalist dictatorship 49 00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:32,800 or in the other direction, oh, we're on the way to communism again or socialism in that 50 00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:33,800 sense. 51 00:03:33,800 --> 00:03:36,000 I don't see that here in the States. 52 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:41,160 America also has a very interesting history, but if somebody has an opinion on something, 53 00:03:41,160 --> 00:03:46,000 nobody's going to go, oh my God, we're going to have another Confederacy. 54 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:48,600 We're going to reinstate slavery or something like that. 55 00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:51,280 That's, I don't know, maybe it's a personal perception. 56 00:03:51,280 --> 00:03:58,640 I'm not disregarding slavery in any way, shape or form, but the whole Nazi regime was definitely 57 00:03:58,640 --> 00:04:02,720 much more recent in comparison to slavery. 58 00:04:02,720 --> 00:04:08,480 I will say this despite Germany's past. 59 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:14,920 Outside Germany, people look much more positive at Germany than Germany looks at itself in 60 00:04:14,920 --> 00:04:22,160 the sense that Germany is very well respected for its economy and for its products and its 61 00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:24,520 innovations. 62 00:04:24,520 --> 00:04:30,440 In Germany, national pride is not a thing in Germany and it's kind of sad. 63 00:04:30,440 --> 00:04:38,880 Here, America, where not everything that America has done in the past was golden, there have 64 00:04:38,880 --> 00:04:44,800 been questionable political decisions and questionable involvements in certain wars 65 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:46,640 and Americans don't care. 66 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:53,320 They still love America and they feel like, yes, we're the greatest nation on earth. 67 00:04:53,320 --> 00:04:57,680 Germany with some things could do the same, could say, yeah, okay, yeah, we have a hard 68 00:04:57,680 --> 00:05:04,520 past and things were horrible, but what we have done, especially post-war, what we have 69 00:05:04,520 --> 00:05:09,840 accomplished is something to be proud of, also to show some national pride in. 70 00:05:09,840 --> 00:05:11,320 And that's just not the case. 71 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:17,360 And I don't know why, because if I talk to other non-Germans, they don't understand why 72 00:05:17,360 --> 00:05:18,360 that is. 73 00:05:18,360 --> 00:05:22,480 They do understand, yes, there has been this dictatorship past, but that's no reason to 74 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:28,920 not be a little bit more positive, a little bit more proud to the Germany that exists 75 00:05:28,920 --> 00:05:29,920 today. 76 00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:31,200 Of the Germany that exists today. 77 00:05:31,200 --> 00:05:32,480 Of the Germany that exists today. 78 00:05:32,480 --> 00:05:38,320 So since you've lived here in the US, you basically have developed this view of Germany 79 00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:42,920 as, oh, we are not patriotic enough because the US is... 80 00:05:42,920 --> 00:05:44,520 Not patriotic at all. 81 00:05:44,520 --> 00:05:45,680 Not enough, not at all. 82 00:05:45,680 --> 00:05:46,680 At all. 83 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:47,680 Not at all. 84 00:05:47,680 --> 00:05:51,800 Unless there's like a Euro cup or soccer world cup going on, then it's okay to show like 85 00:05:51,800 --> 00:05:53,360 a national flag. 86 00:05:53,360 --> 00:05:59,520 If you do that outside of an event like that, people are going to think like, oh, he's an 87 00:05:59,520 --> 00:06:02,240 extremist, he's right wing and whatever. 88 00:06:02,240 --> 00:06:05,920 Here on every block, there's at least one American flag. 89 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:08,120 Yeah, that is true. 90 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:13,120 And you sing the national anthem at any kind of event, even national event without some 91 00:06:13,120 --> 00:06:14,120 international exposure. 92 00:06:14,120 --> 00:06:18,600 I would get it if it were an international competition of some sort, but even within 93 00:06:18,600 --> 00:06:25,880 the US, there is... every chance is just used to show American pride, to sing the national 94 00:06:25,880 --> 00:06:27,600 anthem, to honor the military. 95 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:32,560 That's another point, by the way, the military in Germany is not honored in any way. 96 00:06:32,560 --> 00:06:35,880 Again, not saying America is extremely good about it. 97 00:06:35,880 --> 00:06:39,280 I think it's also a little bit too much, but in Germany, it's way too little. 98 00:06:39,280 --> 00:06:44,240 So yeah, so my view on Germany has changed from an outside perspective. 99 00:06:44,240 --> 00:06:48,200 Germany should be more confident about itself, much more than it is. 100 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:52,840 What about other things that have changed your view of Germany? 101 00:06:52,840 --> 00:06:58,880 In the workplace, I feel that in America, if you're good at something, you're going 102 00:06:58,880 --> 00:07:01,960 to get promoted faster than you would in Germany. 103 00:07:01,960 --> 00:07:03,400 And why is that? 104 00:07:03,400 --> 00:07:04,400 I don't know. 105 00:07:04,400 --> 00:07:10,320 It's... there is this positivity and also, you know, this opportunity thing where people 106 00:07:10,320 --> 00:07:15,520 feel like, oh yeah, that guy or girl has something special and really has some talent. 107 00:07:15,520 --> 00:07:21,080 And yeah, it's just being promoted much faster and more generously. 108 00:07:21,080 --> 00:07:24,520 Here you can also like the way people switch jobs here. 109 00:07:24,520 --> 00:07:31,400 People are much more free when it comes to trying to get more fulfillment in their lives. 110 00:07:31,400 --> 00:07:33,380 They can just try, you know, it's just trial and error. 111 00:07:33,380 --> 00:07:36,240 People just do this today and then something else tomorrow. 112 00:07:36,240 --> 00:07:38,560 Also entrepreneurship. 113 00:07:38,560 --> 00:07:40,600 America is a country of entrepreneurship. 114 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:45,880 In America, if you have an idea, whatever it is, some business idea, and you go and 115 00:07:45,880 --> 00:07:50,320 try and you fail, let's say you have a small company and you go bust. 116 00:07:50,320 --> 00:07:51,320 That is okay here. 117 00:07:51,320 --> 00:07:56,160 I mean, yes, it sucks and it's kind of sad, you know, but you just pick yourself up, dust 118 00:07:56,160 --> 00:07:57,760 yourself off and try again. 119 00:07:57,760 --> 00:08:02,800 And most people that have made it here or many of the big CEOs and whatever, they needed 120 00:08:02,800 --> 00:08:06,600 three, four, five, six attempts to become successful. 121 00:08:06,600 --> 00:08:12,520 In Germany, if you start a company and you fail, that is, you know, people will look 122 00:08:12,520 --> 00:08:15,120 at you like you're a failure. 123 00:08:15,120 --> 00:08:21,680 So yeah, a company, you know, being the head of a company that failed or also being in 124 00:08:21,680 --> 00:08:25,200 debt like the whole relationship with money. 125 00:08:25,200 --> 00:08:31,200 If you're in debt in Germany, that is, I mean, people basically can't sleep unless, I mean, 126 00:08:31,200 --> 00:08:34,160 of course, unless you buy a house and most people will be in debt. 127 00:08:34,160 --> 00:08:36,620 And I'm not saying again, I have to put this in perspective. 128 00:08:36,620 --> 00:08:40,520 I'm not saying I fully endorse what's happening here because that's the other extreme. 129 00:08:40,520 --> 00:08:45,840 That's also there's a lot of credit card debt here, ludicrous, ludicrous in its own respect. 130 00:08:45,840 --> 00:08:52,820 But in Germany, it's people are so, so conservative about money that being, you know, being in 131 00:08:52,820 --> 00:08:55,620 debt is the absolute worst thing. 132 00:08:55,620 --> 00:08:57,760 Failing a company is the absolute worst thing. 133 00:08:57,760 --> 00:09:01,840 Whereas here, people live their lives and people live in the moment and they spend. 134 00:09:01,840 --> 00:09:08,640 It's also easier and totally normal to show off some, you know, wealth, even if it doesn't 135 00:09:08,640 --> 00:09:12,520 matter if that wealth is real or if it's based on credit card debt. 136 00:09:12,520 --> 00:09:17,940 But you know, you can, here in America, you can go out and buy a fancy house or buy a 137 00:09:17,940 --> 00:09:21,000 fancy car or buy fan, whatever fancy stuff. 138 00:09:21,000 --> 00:09:26,840 And on average, other people will look at you with admiration and will be like, oh, 139 00:09:26,840 --> 00:09:29,440 you know, good for, you know, good for her, good for him. 140 00:09:29,440 --> 00:09:33,800 Whereas in Germany, it's a bit of a culture of envy where it's like, oh, how did, how 141 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:34,800 could he afford that? 142 00:09:34,800 --> 00:09:36,860 He must have robbed a bank. 143 00:09:36,860 --> 00:09:41,520 So there is much more jealousy, much more envy in Germany, I must say. 144 00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:46,160 Whereas here it's like anybody who has made it and who has become successful because of 145 00:09:46,160 --> 00:09:50,880 the whole American dream thing is looked at with admiration. 146 00:09:50,880 --> 00:09:52,120 And in Germany, that's not the case. 147 00:09:52,120 --> 00:09:57,100 People, there are many wealthy people in Germany that basically try to try to keep a low profile 148 00:09:57,100 --> 00:10:02,840 and be under the radar and not show off things because they don't want to be looked at as 149 00:10:02,840 --> 00:10:08,240 showoffs and or maybe people think, oh, they, you know, they must, they must have some illegal 150 00:10:08,240 --> 00:10:09,240 business going on. 151 00:10:09,240 --> 00:10:10,920 Otherwise they couldn't afford this. 152 00:10:10,920 --> 00:10:14,040 That's a very negative thing about Germany, I will say. 153 00:10:14,040 --> 00:10:16,200 In America, America, it doesn't matter. 154 00:10:16,200 --> 00:10:18,240 Hey, he bought a hundred thousand dollar car. 155 00:10:18,240 --> 00:10:20,280 He can't afford it, but hey, good for him. 156 00:10:20,280 --> 00:10:21,280 Yeah. 157 00:10:21,280 --> 00:10:23,120 You know, Germany doesn't do that. 158 00:10:23,120 --> 00:10:25,600 So and I like that here that people are more positive. 159 00:10:25,600 --> 00:10:28,800 People mind their own business and I don't know about minding their own business. 160 00:10:28,800 --> 00:10:30,200 People are pretty nosy here. 161 00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:35,760 Yeah, they're nosy, but me, but yes and no, it's a, it's a different kind of nosy. 162 00:10:35,760 --> 00:10:36,760 Maybe it's less judgmental. 163 00:10:36,760 --> 00:10:40,260 I mean, people are judgmental here too, but I think it's different. 164 00:10:40,260 --> 00:10:45,240 It's interesting that you mentioned this perspective of Americans being less judgmental because 165 00:10:45,240 --> 00:10:51,360 when I was in Europe, I felt the opposite, but maybe it's just my personal experience. 166 00:10:51,360 --> 00:10:55,160 For me, when I met Europeans, they appeared to be more open-minded. 167 00:10:55,160 --> 00:10:59,520 They appeared to be more interested in the world. 168 00:10:59,520 --> 00:11:05,340 They appear to be more interested in other things aside from just the one country they 169 00:11:05,340 --> 00:11:07,920 live in, aside from America. 170 00:11:07,920 --> 00:11:13,020 America is more, America is definitely more career centered and more revolving around 171 00:11:13,020 --> 00:11:15,160 money and material stuff. 172 00:11:15,160 --> 00:11:19,920 That is why when I was traveling and I was living in Europe, that was actually why I 173 00:11:19,920 --> 00:11:21,760 really liked and admired Europe. 174 00:11:21,760 --> 00:11:24,400 I liked that it was not all about money. 175 00:11:24,400 --> 00:11:28,360 I liked that you could have a life and recognition outside of a career. 176 00:11:28,360 --> 00:11:30,400 That was not what you were only made of. 177 00:11:30,400 --> 00:11:32,520 So it does go both ways. 178 00:11:32,520 --> 00:11:33,520 It does go both ways. 179 00:11:33,520 --> 00:11:34,520 And that's true. 180 00:11:34,520 --> 00:11:38,640 I mean, in certain areas, there's more cultural depths in Europe. 181 00:11:38,640 --> 00:11:42,080 There's a whole lot more cultural depth in the United States. 182 00:11:42,080 --> 00:11:46,040 I mean, I guess what we're kind of touching on is too, we're the same age. 183 00:11:46,040 --> 00:11:48,800 I grew up in Germany and you grew up here. 184 00:11:48,800 --> 00:11:53,060 And I think it's a very natural thing to cherry pick the positives and negatives. 185 00:11:53,060 --> 00:11:57,280 And you always see the better on the other side. 186 00:11:57,280 --> 00:12:02,920 And that goes both ways because you're always looking at something that you didn't have 187 00:12:02,920 --> 00:12:04,200 or don't have. 188 00:12:04,200 --> 00:12:07,200 Both places come with pros and cons. 189 00:12:07,200 --> 00:12:11,960 Also Europe, you know, saying Europe is a little bit tricky too, because Europe is incredibly 190 00:12:11,960 --> 00:12:12,960 diverse. 191 00:12:12,960 --> 00:12:13,960 There's so many countries. 192 00:12:13,960 --> 00:12:14,960 That's true. 193 00:12:14,960 --> 00:12:19,800 Kind of what you mentioned earlier too, about people being more superficial here, but being 194 00:12:19,800 --> 00:12:24,900 friendlier on a surface level or at least having a pleasant conversation. 195 00:12:24,900 --> 00:12:27,760 That is something that I honestly do like too. 196 00:12:27,760 --> 00:12:33,540 I mean, yes, I wish sometimes people were less superficial, but at the same time, your 197 00:12:33,540 --> 00:12:38,980 interaction with people is still very pleasant and your day can just feel a little bit brighter 198 00:12:38,980 --> 00:12:41,320 if you have a pleasant conversation. 199 00:12:41,320 --> 00:12:46,000 Whereas in Europe, because of language barriers for me, especially, and going to different 200 00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:50,480 countries, people are not really happy behind a counter or they do not want to see you. 201 00:12:50,480 --> 00:12:54,440 They maybe say hello and that's it. 202 00:12:54,440 --> 00:12:56,400 There's like no interest whatsoever. 203 00:12:56,400 --> 00:12:57,400 It is very dry. 204 00:12:57,400 --> 00:12:58,400 It's business. 205 00:12:58,400 --> 00:13:01,000 It has to be fast, you know, get out basically. 206 00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:02,960 What about with traveling though? 207 00:13:02,960 --> 00:13:09,440 So one thing I really loved about living in Europe was I could travel so easily from country 208 00:13:09,440 --> 00:13:15,120 to country through buses, trains, Ryanair flights, really cheap flights. 209 00:13:15,120 --> 00:13:17,360 And here you can't really do that. 210 00:13:17,360 --> 00:13:21,120 That was something in the past that I really, really appreciated and really liked. 211 00:13:21,120 --> 00:13:25,960 And that was part of the reason why I wanted to live in Europe in the past was because 212 00:13:25,960 --> 00:13:33,160 it was so easy or considerably so easy to travel and to go to different places for the 213 00:13:33,160 --> 00:13:34,160 weekend. 214 00:13:34,160 --> 00:13:38,760 Whereas here you need to fly across the country to go anywhere and we don't really have an 215 00:13:38,760 --> 00:13:40,360 extensive train system. 216 00:13:40,360 --> 00:13:41,360 We don't have buses. 217 00:13:41,360 --> 00:13:45,760 I mean, we have buses, but not an extensive bus network. 218 00:13:45,760 --> 00:13:50,280 So I think, yeah, like you said, I mean, we do cherry pick what we like the most, but 219 00:13:50,280 --> 00:13:53,600 that is a huge thing actually in lifestyle. 220 00:13:53,600 --> 00:13:58,400 Yes, it has a historic reason why that is the case in America. 221 00:13:58,400 --> 00:14:02,240 For one thing, America or the U.S. we could extend this even to Canada. 222 00:14:02,240 --> 00:14:03,840 Let's say North America. 223 00:14:03,840 --> 00:14:11,240 North America is just this big continent and Europe is very, I mean, it's, it's, it's 224 00:14:11,240 --> 00:14:14,000 it's many different countries. 225 00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:15,000 There are more people. 226 00:14:15,000 --> 00:14:16,320 There's less space here. 227 00:14:16,320 --> 00:14:17,320 You have Europe. 228 00:14:17,320 --> 00:14:18,320 Yeah. 229 00:14:18,320 --> 00:14:21,320 In Europe, there's less space compared to how many people live there. 230 00:14:21,320 --> 00:14:23,920 It's crowded for like a better term. 231 00:14:23,920 --> 00:14:30,280 And in America, individual mobility, i.e. the car, people just get in their car and 232 00:14:30,280 --> 00:14:31,440 drive. 233 00:14:31,440 --> 00:14:38,360 That was brought forward by Henry Ford, who made the car accessible to the masses because 234 00:14:38,360 --> 00:14:40,480 that became such a success. 235 00:14:40,480 --> 00:14:42,080 Railroad was neglected. 236 00:14:42,080 --> 00:14:44,840 And that's why America is set up the way it's set up. 237 00:14:44,840 --> 00:14:49,920 Now there is a lot of catching up to do and they try to get more trains and more public 238 00:14:49,920 --> 00:14:51,800 transit in place. 239 00:14:51,800 --> 00:14:53,720 But yeah, it's, it's, it's hard. 240 00:14:53,720 --> 00:14:59,120 Another thing that I will harp on in terms of America and something that I do appreciate 241 00:14:59,120 --> 00:15:01,880 more that I live back here. 242 00:15:01,880 --> 00:15:08,920 And of course, since you've been here, I really like the idea of being able to own a standalone 243 00:15:08,920 --> 00:15:10,480 house. 244 00:15:10,480 --> 00:15:11,480 Because I feel like... 245 00:15:11,480 --> 00:15:12,480 In the United States. 246 00:15:12,480 --> 00:15:14,160 I say, yes, in the United States. 247 00:15:14,160 --> 00:15:20,600 Because in Europe, that is, that is one thing now that I look back on from my earlier twenties. 248 00:15:20,600 --> 00:15:24,000 And that's something that I really didn't take into account. 249 00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:27,920 Yes, you can have a standalone house in many parts of Europe. 250 00:15:27,920 --> 00:15:34,180 And especially if you go further into the countryside, I guess, but it's much less commonplace. 251 00:15:34,180 --> 00:15:35,560 You just don't see it as much. 252 00:15:35,560 --> 00:15:37,500 That is just not part of the culture. 253 00:15:37,500 --> 00:15:39,160 It's much more communal. 254 00:15:39,160 --> 00:15:40,800 People live in apartment buildings. 255 00:15:40,800 --> 00:15:43,040 Marco grew up in an apartment building. 256 00:15:43,040 --> 00:15:44,040 Yeah. 257 00:15:44,040 --> 00:15:47,560 Home ownership is a much bigger thing in the U.S. hands down. 258 00:15:47,560 --> 00:15:49,720 And that is very exciting. 259 00:15:49,720 --> 00:15:56,640 Just to be able to have a standalone house with a garden and a yard and space of your 260 00:15:56,640 --> 00:15:57,720 own. 261 00:15:57,720 --> 00:16:01,920 You can be as loud as you want in your house and nobody's really going to hear you. 262 00:16:01,920 --> 00:16:04,960 That's I mean, that is just advantageous. 263 00:16:04,960 --> 00:16:10,400 So I do love that about living here in the U.S. again, because when I was in Europe and 264 00:16:10,400 --> 00:16:16,200 I was living out of Airbnbs, I was often too loud when I would teach English and my voice 265 00:16:16,200 --> 00:16:17,200 carries very far. 266 00:16:17,200 --> 00:16:19,620 Yes, you can say that again. 267 00:16:19,620 --> 00:16:21,360 It carries very far. 268 00:16:21,360 --> 00:16:25,800 And I would always have to worry about disturbing neighbors. 269 00:16:25,800 --> 00:16:28,960 Whereas here in a standalone house, you could probably scream. 270 00:16:28,960 --> 00:16:30,800 No one would hear you. 271 00:16:30,800 --> 00:16:35,600 Like in Germany in apartment buildings, you know, you can't during like lunchtime between 272 00:16:35,600 --> 00:16:37,960 like 12 and I don't know, one or whatever. 273 00:16:37,960 --> 00:16:39,840 So you can't make any noise. 274 00:16:39,840 --> 00:16:40,840 You can't. 275 00:16:40,840 --> 00:16:41,840 This is Germany? 276 00:16:41,840 --> 00:16:42,840 Germany. 277 00:16:42,840 --> 00:16:43,840 Yeah, you can't. 278 00:16:43,840 --> 00:16:44,840 What? 279 00:16:44,840 --> 00:16:45,840 Yeah, yeah. 280 00:16:45,840 --> 00:16:46,840 You can't. 281 00:16:46,840 --> 00:16:47,840 You can't vacuum. 282 00:16:47,840 --> 00:16:49,360 Or even also on Sundays, you're not supposed to make a lot of noise because that's like 283 00:16:49,360 --> 00:16:50,360 the quiet day. 284 00:16:50,360 --> 00:16:52,400 I was not aware of that. 285 00:16:52,400 --> 00:16:56,000 Let's say, you know, you want to hang a picture and you have to drill a hole in the wall or 286 00:16:56,000 --> 00:16:57,000 something like that. 287 00:16:57,000 --> 00:17:01,200 You can't do that during certain times because you're upsetting the neighbors and it's not 288 00:17:01,200 --> 00:17:02,200 very considerate. 289 00:17:02,200 --> 00:17:03,200 It's not considerate. 290 00:17:03,200 --> 00:17:05,560 And here you can't just do whatever it is you want. 291 00:17:05,560 --> 00:17:06,560 It's your property. 292 00:17:06,560 --> 00:17:10,600 If you want to paint your house pink, you can paint your house pink. 293 00:17:10,600 --> 00:17:14,720 Depends if you live in like, what is it, like a HOA? 294 00:17:14,720 --> 00:17:18,520 Homeowners Association, which has community guidelines you need to follow. 295 00:17:18,520 --> 00:17:20,400 There are certain like uniformities and stuff. 296 00:17:20,400 --> 00:17:24,760 But if you want to, let's say there's a little tree in your yard and you want to cut it down 297 00:17:24,760 --> 00:17:26,840 with a chainsaw, then you do that. 298 00:17:26,840 --> 00:17:27,840 Yeah. 299 00:17:27,840 --> 00:17:28,840 You know, no permission needed. 300 00:17:28,840 --> 00:17:35,320 And that I like too, that you can just, that you're in that regard more free than in other 301 00:17:35,320 --> 00:17:37,000 parts of the world. 302 00:17:37,000 --> 00:17:41,040 Another thing I want to touch on is, you know, with all the things that we mentioned about 303 00:17:41,040 --> 00:17:46,000 how America is more, you know, where people are more responsible for themselves and more 304 00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:50,080 where you could think, oh, okay, America, Americans are more self-centered. 305 00:17:50,080 --> 00:17:55,120 I don't think that's the case because I tell you why, because in, you know, in Germany, 306 00:17:55,120 --> 00:17:57,600 you would say, oh, you know, everything is kind of publicly funded. 307 00:17:57,600 --> 00:18:02,840 People pay money into a big bucket for the greater good and everyone benefits, which 308 00:18:02,840 --> 00:18:06,600 is true where here people are just looking at themselves. 309 00:18:06,600 --> 00:18:08,560 They don't care about other people. 310 00:18:08,560 --> 00:18:09,940 That is not true. 311 00:18:09,940 --> 00:18:16,480 So what I have noticed here is, especially people that become successful financially, 312 00:18:16,480 --> 00:18:22,680 there is an expectation here for those people who have made it to give back to the community. 313 00:18:22,680 --> 00:18:23,680 Yes. 314 00:18:23,680 --> 00:18:24,680 Charity. 315 00:18:24,680 --> 00:18:25,680 That's such a big thing. 316 00:18:25,680 --> 00:18:30,920 And people are, and even people that are not millionaires, even people that are doing okay, 317 00:18:30,920 --> 00:18:36,720 still are much more willing and ready to make generous donations to whatever. 318 00:18:36,720 --> 00:18:40,120 People here are still, are still very philanthropic. 319 00:18:40,120 --> 00:18:41,200 Yeah. 320 00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:46,240 Very generous, very generous and really care about people and try to support people and 321 00:18:46,240 --> 00:18:48,460 say, Hey, you know, someone has talent. 322 00:18:48,460 --> 00:18:51,280 Somebody wants to start a company, needs some support. 323 00:18:51,280 --> 00:18:56,520 Hey, why don't I, why don't I get involved in his business and put some money down? 324 00:18:56,520 --> 00:18:59,020 I get some shareholdership of the company. 325 00:18:59,020 --> 00:19:04,280 So that is where people look after each other and, and, you know, trying to work on kind 326 00:19:04,280 --> 00:19:05,280 of win-win situations. 327 00:19:05,280 --> 00:19:11,440 And so, yeah, Americans are very caring, very caring, very generous. 328 00:19:11,440 --> 00:19:14,600 And did you think that before you lived here? 329 00:19:14,600 --> 00:19:20,400 No, before I came here and in the last couple of years, maybe 10 years through the internet, 330 00:19:20,400 --> 00:19:24,600 I, you know, I learned about this crowdfunding thing when somebody on the internet said, 331 00:19:24,600 --> 00:19:27,480 Hey, you know, I have this, go fund me, go fund, whatever it is. 332 00:19:27,480 --> 00:19:28,480 Yeah. 333 00:19:28,480 --> 00:19:32,760 The crowdfunding where people are just random, random people on the internet donate money 334 00:19:32,760 --> 00:19:34,520 through like PayPal and whatever. 335 00:19:34,520 --> 00:19:35,520 Yeah. 336 00:19:35,520 --> 00:19:36,520 For something. 337 00:19:36,520 --> 00:19:42,880 And from a German perspective, I could not, I could not fathom how tens of thousands of 338 00:19:42,880 --> 00:19:47,520 dollars could be collected in a pretty short period of time. 339 00:19:47,520 --> 00:19:48,760 Like are people insane? 340 00:19:48,760 --> 00:19:53,600 Are people like some random guy on the internet, you know, put something out there? 341 00:19:53,600 --> 00:19:57,160 Yeah, you know, I'm doing this and that I need some support and people just open their 342 00:19:57,160 --> 00:19:58,920 wallet and give money. 343 00:19:58,920 --> 00:19:59,920 Wow. 344 00:19:59,920 --> 00:20:01,960 And now that is true. 345 00:20:01,960 --> 00:20:05,200 I understand why that is and where that comes from. 346 00:20:05,200 --> 00:20:06,360 That perspective has changed. 347 00:20:06,360 --> 00:20:07,360 Yes. 348 00:20:07,360 --> 00:20:13,760 I mean, even in school, we are taught from a young age to volunteer, to give back to 349 00:20:13,760 --> 00:20:14,920 the community. 350 00:20:14,920 --> 00:20:17,000 That is something that is instilled. 351 00:20:17,000 --> 00:20:21,780 Part of the culture and that is something that I do really like about being here. 352 00:20:21,780 --> 00:20:27,440 Are there things about Germany or about Europe that you think are better or that you really 353 00:20:27,440 --> 00:20:28,440 miss? 354 00:20:28,440 --> 00:20:34,840 Are these big enough things to where you would want to live in Germany again? 355 00:20:34,840 --> 00:20:35,840 Not big enough things. 356 00:20:35,840 --> 00:20:38,720 There are things that I do appreciate in Germany or Europe in general. 357 00:20:38,720 --> 00:20:44,200 I do think the food or the quality of food is better and more healthy. 358 00:20:44,200 --> 00:20:45,200 I agree. 359 00:20:45,200 --> 00:20:47,640 I think in Germany and Europe and other parts of Europe. 360 00:20:47,640 --> 00:20:48,640 Yeah, I do. 361 00:20:48,640 --> 00:20:50,520 I do like driving in Germany. 362 00:20:50,520 --> 00:20:54,560 Those are the things I think because people are better trained there. 363 00:20:54,560 --> 00:20:57,120 I would say it's maybe a little bit safer to drive. 364 00:20:57,120 --> 00:21:00,840 That is a complaint that Marco makes on a regular basis. 365 00:21:00,840 --> 00:21:02,440 I'm very adamant about it. 366 00:21:02,440 --> 00:21:03,680 Twenty dollar driver's license. 367 00:21:03,680 --> 00:21:04,680 Yes, I know. 368 00:21:04,680 --> 00:21:05,680 I get carried away. 369 00:21:05,680 --> 00:21:06,940 I get carried away. 370 00:21:06,940 --> 00:21:07,940 But it's true. 371 00:21:07,940 --> 00:21:10,040 Now people are not good drivers here. 372 00:21:10,040 --> 00:21:11,880 People are on average are not good drivers. 373 00:21:11,880 --> 00:21:12,880 They don't signal. 374 00:21:12,880 --> 00:21:13,880 But anyway. 375 00:21:13,880 --> 00:21:15,080 But that's, you know, those are small things. 376 00:21:15,080 --> 00:21:20,640 I do like, OK, I do like the PTO kind of policy in Germany that you that you have more work 377 00:21:20,640 --> 00:21:24,160 life balance is a bigger priority in Germany. 378 00:21:24,160 --> 00:21:25,160 I do like that. 379 00:21:25,160 --> 00:21:30,040 The question is, OK, how much longer can Germany afford to keep that up with the global competition, 380 00:21:30,040 --> 00:21:32,920 you know, with the Chinas of the world and the Indians of the world? 381 00:21:32,920 --> 00:21:36,760 Well, let's let's see how that will evolve over the next 20, 30 years. 382 00:21:36,760 --> 00:21:38,600 So yeah, there are small things that I like. 383 00:21:38,600 --> 00:21:44,360 And of course, you know, you go back and especially having grown up there, I still have a very 384 00:21:44,360 --> 00:21:48,080 good network of people, friends and family that that are still there. 385 00:21:48,080 --> 00:21:50,960 So you have a very solid group of people. 386 00:21:50,960 --> 00:21:57,840 So with that, with that, if I had if I chose to go back to Germany or in that case, we 387 00:21:57,840 --> 00:21:59,560 would choose to go to Germany. 388 00:21:59,560 --> 00:22:01,740 You know, we would be OK. 389 00:22:01,740 --> 00:22:06,680 It's not like it's not like it would be the end of the world and it would be no, not. 390 00:22:06,680 --> 00:22:08,200 I don't want to paint that picture. 391 00:22:08,200 --> 00:22:14,200 It's still a very livable country that's worthwhile to to live in and to be in. 392 00:22:14,200 --> 00:22:21,040 If there is any American listening to this and you have thought of moving to Europe and 393 00:22:21,040 --> 00:22:28,080 or you are going to move to Europe, Marco, do you have any specific words of wisdom or 394 00:22:28,080 --> 00:22:33,520 advice that you would give to any American or any person outside of Europe who is moving 395 00:22:33,520 --> 00:22:40,200 to Europe and some pointers of what they should be aware of when it comes to living in Europe? 396 00:22:40,200 --> 00:22:48,400 Well, I guess I guess for one thing, getting there and kind of building your environment 397 00:22:48,400 --> 00:22:51,480 and building your setup, it's very bureaucratic. 398 00:22:51,480 --> 00:22:56,920 So to get permits and to apply for certain things, it's a very bureaucratic system, 399 00:22:56,920 --> 00:22:57,920 specifically Germany. 400 00:22:57,920 --> 00:23:03,320 But I think the whole European Union has become very bureaucratic for an American, especially 401 00:23:03,320 --> 00:23:05,680 when you going to continental Europe. 402 00:23:05,680 --> 00:23:11,840 So excluding the UK and Ireland, depending on where you go, people might not or might 403 00:23:11,840 --> 00:23:14,400 speak very little English. 404 00:23:14,400 --> 00:23:20,800 So to really delving into the culture, you really have to make an effort to learn a foreign 405 00:23:20,800 --> 00:23:21,800 language. 406 00:23:21,800 --> 00:23:24,280 You cannot go, especially when you want to live there. 407 00:23:24,280 --> 00:23:26,280 I mean, on vacation, that's all fine. 408 00:23:26,280 --> 00:23:31,240 But if you want to if you want to live there, doesn't matter if you're going to to Spain 409 00:23:31,240 --> 00:23:37,200 or to Germany or to, I don't know, Greece or something, make an effort to assimilate 410 00:23:37,200 --> 00:23:39,480 and try to learn the language. 411 00:23:39,480 --> 00:23:44,360 Maybe another thing you will run into differences just like I have when I came here, little 412 00:23:44,360 --> 00:23:49,000 things that don't have to be good or bad, but just differences where you shouldn't harp 413 00:23:49,000 --> 00:23:52,500 on where you just where you just should accept that they are different. 414 00:23:52,500 --> 00:23:55,360 Because here I also like the first couple of months I was like, you know, that's so 415 00:23:55,360 --> 00:23:56,360 weird. 416 00:23:56,360 --> 00:23:57,360 Why do they do this? 417 00:23:57,360 --> 00:23:58,360 Why do they do that? 418 00:23:58,360 --> 00:23:59,360 Can you think of examples? 419 00:23:59,360 --> 00:24:03,120 I mean, I think the banking system here with the checks and stuff that is that we still 420 00:24:03,120 --> 00:24:04,120 have paper checks. 421 00:24:04,120 --> 00:24:07,840 Yeah, the way Germany does it. 422 00:24:07,840 --> 00:24:10,400 Banking system here is kind of odd. 423 00:24:10,400 --> 00:24:14,320 But then in Germany, you know, you would come you would you would go over there and you 424 00:24:14,320 --> 00:24:19,160 would find out that on a Sunday you cannot go shopping and you would think why? 425 00:24:19,160 --> 00:24:20,160 Why is that? 426 00:24:20,160 --> 00:24:21,880 So you have why? 427 00:24:21,880 --> 00:24:26,080 So when you when you leave the US and come to Europe or probably any other country for 428 00:24:26,080 --> 00:24:31,080 that matter, even I think I guess if you went to Asia or Africa or whatever, you would also 429 00:24:31,080 --> 00:24:36,420 want to make differences, accept and embrace it and not question it and not challenge it 430 00:24:36,420 --> 00:24:39,160 and not like, oh, you know, back in America, we do this. 431 00:24:39,160 --> 00:24:40,840 Yeah, that's back in America. 432 00:24:40,840 --> 00:24:42,200 That is not where you are. 433 00:24:42,200 --> 00:24:45,440 That's not gonna, you know, make your life any better. 434 00:24:45,440 --> 00:24:48,760 Because just because you say, you know, back home, we do this differently. 435 00:24:48,760 --> 00:24:50,680 Nobody is going to care. 436 00:24:50,680 --> 00:24:51,680 That's true. 437 00:24:51,680 --> 00:24:52,680 Yeah. 438 00:24:52,680 --> 00:24:54,160 Now I will say sometimes I am guilty of that too. 439 00:24:54,160 --> 00:24:55,200 Sometimes I can't help it. 440 00:24:55,200 --> 00:24:59,360 Sometimes I'm also like, you know, back in Germany, we're all guilty of that. 441 00:24:59,360 --> 00:25:02,440 But you cannot have that get the best of you. 442 00:25:02,440 --> 00:25:08,560 So you have to be open minded and accept and respect certain cultural traits and oddities. 443 00:25:08,560 --> 00:25:09,560 But try it. 444 00:25:09,560 --> 00:25:12,360 Yeah, that's that's very good advice. 445 00:25:12,360 --> 00:25:18,360 It's very enriching for one's personality to see, you know, on a for a longer period 446 00:25:18,360 --> 00:25:21,080 of time, a different environment, a different culture. 447 00:25:21,080 --> 00:25:27,160 And it makes you learn also question things that are going on back home or also appreciate 448 00:25:27,160 --> 00:25:29,160 things going on. 449 00:25:29,160 --> 00:25:32,720 Things that you never thought about, things that you took for granted. 450 00:25:32,720 --> 00:25:36,960 So I do think for anybody, honestly, I would encourage anybody. 451 00:25:36,960 --> 00:25:40,920 And I think in the US for Americans, I think it's that the easiest way to accomplish that 452 00:25:40,920 --> 00:25:46,120 is maybe to move to Europe for a semester during college, for example. 453 00:25:46,120 --> 00:25:51,920 If you can pull it off financially and whatever, whatever requirements there are, absolutely 454 00:25:51,920 --> 00:25:52,920 do it. 455 00:25:52,920 --> 00:25:57,460 I really think that that's very insightful and very applicable advice. 456 00:25:57,460 --> 00:26:03,360 Like Marco was just saying with the oddities that are different from your home country. 457 00:26:03,360 --> 00:26:09,080 So for me, being American, one time I was in Serbia and Eastern Europe, for example, 458 00:26:09,080 --> 00:26:11,400 and everything in my Airbnb broke. 459 00:26:11,400 --> 00:26:15,240 I have a reel on this if you have seen it. 460 00:26:15,240 --> 00:26:16,240 Everything broke. 461 00:26:16,240 --> 00:26:19,320 The electricity was out for nearly two days. 462 00:26:19,320 --> 00:26:20,960 I didn't have running water. 463 00:26:20,960 --> 00:26:22,940 I couldn't communicate with anybody. 464 00:26:22,940 --> 00:26:24,200 The neighbors didn't like me. 465 00:26:24,200 --> 00:26:26,560 I was too loud because the walls were too thin. 466 00:26:26,560 --> 00:26:29,160 I mean, so many things went wrong. 467 00:26:29,160 --> 00:26:33,260 And that was one of those times when I was really appreciative of America. 468 00:26:33,260 --> 00:26:40,240 So if things break, just be ready to deal with dilemmas and challenges because you will 469 00:26:40,240 --> 00:26:41,240 have them. 470 00:26:41,240 --> 00:26:42,800 You're not you're not hating Serbia. 471 00:26:42,800 --> 00:26:43,800 Just to get that clear. 472 00:26:43,800 --> 00:26:48,320 So I'm just saying specifically, I have not been. 473 00:26:48,320 --> 00:26:52,280 I have not been to Serbia, but I'm pretty sure it's better than its reputation. 474 00:26:52,280 --> 00:26:53,440 It really is. 475 00:26:53,440 --> 00:27:00,160 So with all of that being said, you still would choose living here over Germany. 476 00:27:00,160 --> 00:27:03,960 It's not America is not perfect, but you know, there are still are many reasons to come here. 477 00:27:03,960 --> 00:27:08,400 I think for me, I believe that I would be happy in either place. 478 00:27:08,400 --> 00:27:11,280 I would definitely not say no to living in Europe. 479 00:27:11,280 --> 00:27:16,880 Yes, I'm more aware of what the ramifications are to live in Europe. 480 00:27:16,880 --> 00:27:20,600 But I feel overall, I'm still torn. 481 00:27:20,600 --> 00:27:24,400 I think overall for quality of life, the US does win. 482 00:27:24,400 --> 00:27:28,360 I do think that and that's a hard thing for me to say. 483 00:27:28,360 --> 00:27:33,360 I think that you it really depends on your environment. 484 00:27:33,360 --> 00:27:39,120 Like happiness always comes down to the environment, the people that you have around you, just 485 00:27:39,120 --> 00:27:42,080 the financial or the economic situation that you're in. 486 00:27:42,080 --> 00:27:43,560 It can go both ways. 487 00:27:43,560 --> 00:27:49,720 You can you can be poor, you can be rich, you can be lonely, you can be miserable, you 488 00:27:49,720 --> 00:27:52,120 can be that in any place. 489 00:27:52,120 --> 00:27:56,960 I would also think like I think we could be perfectly happy living in Europe, too. 490 00:27:56,960 --> 00:27:58,080 There are just differences. 491 00:27:58,080 --> 00:27:59,480 It's always a trade off. 492 00:27:59,480 --> 00:28:03,400 If you look at things, you know, item per item kind of, it's always a trade off. 493 00:28:03,400 --> 00:28:06,240 So that is the episode. 494 00:28:06,240 --> 00:28:09,960 Do you have anything you'd like to say to close off? 495 00:28:09,960 --> 00:28:12,160 Well, I've said enough already. 496 00:28:12,160 --> 00:28:14,800 I have a knife you have. 497 00:28:14,800 --> 00:28:19,660 Yeah, just everyone, you know, pursue your happiness no matter what place. 498 00:28:19,660 --> 00:28:21,140 Just live your life as best you can. 499 00:28:21,140 --> 00:28:24,260 We really thank you so much for sticking with us. 500 00:28:24,260 --> 00:28:28,480 If you're still listening or watching at this point in time, if you have fallen asleep, 501 00:28:28,480 --> 00:28:29,480 good night. 502 00:28:29,480 --> 00:28:32,360 Oh, I hope you have not fallen asleep. 503 00:28:32,360 --> 00:28:37,040 If you have any specific requests or if you'd like to mention any specific feedback, you 504 00:28:37,040 --> 00:28:38,820 know how to reach me at this point. 505 00:28:38,820 --> 00:28:43,280 If you've been listening for a while, send me a message on Instagram at Once Upon a Trip 506 00:28:43,280 --> 00:28:48,060 dot PC or on my main account at Mary Grace Crawford. 507 00:28:48,060 --> 00:28:51,360 We will both be back with you very soon. 508 00:28:51,360 --> 00:28:56,260 Marco is going to Germany for two weeks, so it'll be at least two weeks without Marco. 509 00:28:56,260 --> 00:28:57,260 But that's OK. 510 00:28:57,260 --> 00:28:59,760 When he gets back, we will get right back on it. 511 00:28:59,760 --> 00:29:00,760 He's dispensable. 512 00:29:00,760 --> 00:29:02,760 You're not dispensable. 513 00:29:02,760 --> 00:29:05,440 No, no, you're really not. 514 00:29:05,440 --> 00:29:06,440 You're not either. 515 00:29:06,440 --> 00:29:07,440 Yeah. 516 00:29:07,440 --> 00:29:08,440 Oh my God. 517 00:29:08,440 --> 00:29:09,740 I will see you next Tuesday. 518 00:29:09,740 --> 00:29:14,400 We hope that you have a wonderful week ahead and see you soon. 519 00:29:14,400 --> 00:29:15,400 Bye bye. 520 00:29:15,400 --> 00:29:16,400 See you. 521 00:29:16,400 --> 00:29:24,960 Está dessa nueva göster