"Rules also make normal days easier. Something simple like waiting at a red light even when there are no cars takes away the work of deciding whether to cross. "

Ah, he really became german. (It seems I ain't anymore by that standard - when there are no cars, of course I go.)

> In January 2024, after it came out that far right politicians had talked about deporting people who already hold a German passport

That is - as determined by a German court - something between fake news and severely distorted representation of what happened.

There are many things going in the wrong direction in this country but most things are that are not in the sphere of politics are fine. The problem is mostly in my opinion that political decisions are made by career politicians. We could really use some fresh air in our political system with more participation by the actual society (e.g. make it easier to get a political mandate without deep affiliation in a political party) and less about internal party politics.

I am german. That was such a nice story to read :)

It made me feel more warm about my own country - Especially that everyone was and is so nice to you!

That's how everyone should get invited here.

Not with suspicion but with open arms.

What an energizing read!

Great post and congrats on your Einbürgerung =)

The German history is a very complex one. Some habits in society and in families are going back still to the 30 year war, which was an extremely cruel one. Germany inhibited psychological pain over centuries from wars, battles, restrictions and cruel upbringing practices. Keep in mind, Germany didn't exists as a country before 1871 (!). It were "smaller" states like, Schleswig, Pommern, Preussen, Bayern, Franken and many more, all loosely scattered around, having big nations like France, the Nordics, Russia, etc. as neighbors, that regularly invaded some of the German states. That seeded a constant type of fear historically and resulted in a psychological overreaction over the recent centuries, certainly starting with the "Kaiserreich" from 1871 on, which encouraged strong but willing people that obey. The first World War is a complex and cruel situation in its own, but with roots in the European situation of this time, leading to the second World War where Germany played a very cruel role, but psychological determinable. In the 50s, 60s, the "Wirstschaftwunder" draws a typical compensation pattern of a wounded narcissistic personality from a psychological perspective. Parents buried a lot of pain from the past wars inside them, inheriting this pain to it's children, by being distached or "cold". Until today !, younger Germans suffer from this inherited "pain", they cannot explain, because not many looking at Germany's history and can connected all the pieces together. On the other hand it is fantastic what German overcame and became now. Overall Germans did a good job in the recent history, but I think they still can do better and should be more friendly to themselves. Accepting that the cruel German history starts waaay earlier then WW2.

It warmed my heart, so healthy and beautiful things in this writing. Thank you.

And also nice to coincide with you on here, your career always bring hope to us, DEU CS grads and students.

I am glad I hear the warm and polite Willkommen hasn't changed. Thirty years ago a 20 something me visited Bonn for Erasmus and the following for medical Residency. Same excellent impressions, same humanely feelings, same satisfying conclusions. Although I returned back to my country, I always question myself if I should stay and regret. But you can never know how an hypothetical life path could unfold, because, well, YOLO.

My wife and I lived in Hamburg for a few years. Nice place and I often miss our lives there. However, I know many other foreigners do not share this experience - even I had to get used to people being hostile to someone stumbling through German. Ultimately we found happiness was being back home (SA) where things were a bit harder, but "nicer".