The Hardest Part About Living in Germany?

Elena shares her eye-opening experiences and the biggest culture shocks she faced upon arriving in Germany. From navigating the healthcare system to understanding public transportation, Elena's story provides a unique look at daily life in Germany. Learn about the stereotypes she held about Germans before her move and how her perceptions transformed as she immersed herself in German culture.

[firstsunray]

My aunt from brazil was telling about a conversation she had with a local in Cuba.

She said that the public health system in brazil has many flaws and that we have to wait a loooong long time to get an appointment.

The local guy said: yeees, here is the same !! We need to wait a long time too!!

My aunt: yeah? How long on average?

The guy: very very Like... More than 2 hours!! 😢

My aunt: in Brazil we have to wait on average 2 to 3 months 😅😅

[janvanleeuwen]

I'm a Dutch living and working in Germany for 15 years now. And she's absolutely right. And then there is no cooperation together. In the medical sector, it is the worst. Every doctor thinks he or she knows the best. And they give you pain relief without checking further.

[inotoni]

Yeah, we know these problems in Germany. She's right. It really annoys us Germans too, because in the past both things were much, much better.

[Weezy-zyqy]

💯 true what she said. I needed to get a blood-test done but I had to wait 4 months to get an appointment. All the Praxen(Medical centres) I went to rejected me and said they are overcrowded with patients.

Back in my shitty third world country we could go to a govt. certified laboratory (which are readily available in every city), give them a blood sample, and in a few days we get the results 😅

[anitharaj]

Here in India blood test takes only a few hours... Result will be send by emailed/whatsapp how ever we choose

[Sino]

I wish you the best and hope you can go back in your home country SOON ❤

[cosmiccomrade]

Germany has been devolving for many decades.

[oceansawayband]

Everything that you expect Germans to be like or Germany is completely wrong. They ARENT efficient, they ARENT punctual and they ARENT all engineers lol. Although on the bright side. Generally, Germans are very well informed, have a good understanding of English, are very polite and mind their own business. This I appreciated while living in Munich.

[thekingofmoney]

Germana criticize everybody but can’t take criticism themselves. It’s laughable.

[michaelcliffe]

The tenant of my parents here in Germany, a young ukranian woman, also complained about a german doctor who "only" prescribed ibuprofen for her sore back. She said she would have paid a ukranian doctor to OPERATE on her if she was still in Ukraine😅 Of course the back pain was gone after 2 weeks, obviously without surgery. I think it's a difference in mentality and expectations towards western medicine.

[dominiquecharriere]

Last time I went to see a public doctor in Spain where I live I was in a severe depression + alcoholism due to very heavy stress at work. She told me to go back home, have a hot bath and drink herbal tea. Since then I have been happy to pay for private health insurance. Public medicine in Europe is at its lowest point since before WWI.

[emsscha]

My Culture schock in Germany is how the Government are too generous in using the social system, to the point that those who come to Germany don't like to work because they receive money from the government on a monthly basis.

Sad part w/ this social policy it is not regulated, the others who come to Germany spend time roaming around the city while the Germans are struggling on the way to work at 6AM to pay their bills and try to save the collapsing social economic system.

[alibrabra]

Free health insurance even when you are not working (government pays it) + Germany has the most refugees. Our system was not prepared for this situation.

[redcoat]

I'm a foreigner living in Germany and the Deutsche Bahn is terrible yes (nothing new!), but the German health service is excellent. If the prescribed medication didn't solve the issue, she could easily go back and ask to see a specialist. Maybe show a little more gratitude to your hosts as you are basically a guest

[ddd]

As a Ukrainian myself, I know that Ukrainians often do not understand the medical practices in Western countries. In Western countries, medicine is based on evidence. Doctors usually don't prescribe any treatment that won't help. In Ukraine, people often want medicine for everything, even when it's not necessary for their health. The case in the video is similar. She had some basic back problems that could improve on their own, which is why the doctor gave her some basic pills. She called a Ukrainian doctor, who likely gave her some exercises that probably didn't help much but also didn't cause harm. She did those exercises and believed they helped, rather than just giving it time.

[willileo]

Hello dear, pharmacist here; when you have musculoskeletal problem most of the time you only need analgesics and anti-inflammatory so it’s not a wrong diagnosis after using it for a while you’ll be healed unless you have chronic underlying condition

[ahmadadnanshahid]

The medical system in Spain is free and the medical doctors are also very kind. They provide proper treatment and make the person feel satisfied until he/she recovers.

[flanell]

Private health insurance remains top-class, and German doctors are among the best worldwide. However, public health insurance is deteriorating, and the strain caused by millions of refugees is a contributing factor. A significant portion of these refugees, including those from Ukraine, Syria, and Afghanistan, remain unemployed even after years of living in Germany. Many rely on government support while benefiting from free healthcare, which places additional pressure on the public healthcare system.

blame cannot be placed entirely on the refugees. Germany’s complex bureaucracy can be challenging, and Germany struggles to effectively integrate workers into the labor market.

[HollieBenji]

Deutsche Bahn used to be amazing and ALWAYS on time. Post Covid has resulted in major staff shortages in all aspects of the train system. It’s sad really as it was such an easy and affordable way to explore the country.

[lionbell]

True im born and raised here and doctor in germany are horrible. If you want to know what you have you must go to 4 or 5 doctors to know whats going on with you