The Vibe in Europe is Different than the US

The culture here is different

When you walk down the street in Europe, there is a dreamy sense of slowness that you will feel. People walk, they take their time, things move at a slower pace.

In the US people are always late, rushed, and in a hurry. You can sense it even when you are driving down the street and feel the other drivers’ road rage.

There is a sense of tension that is palpable in the US as well. I hear it has only gotten worse since I left, and that people are living in fear.

Being here in Europe, that sense of tension and hostility has evaporated. People aren’t so angry here.

In the US, the pace of work and life moves at a breakneck speed. There is a toxic culture of overwork, and an expectation that emails be returned immediately, even late at night and on the weekend.

Here, the pace of work moves slower.

We have seen it with the process of getting my visa, and buying our house. Bank transfers take several days to go through. Paperwork is sent in the mail instead of via docu-sign.

People just naturally accept that life moves more slowly, and they don’t expect instant results.

People are able to go on 2-week vacations, which is unheard of in the US. Here in Germany, people get 4–5 weeks of vacation per year, and there are more paid holidays. Shops are closed on Sundays.

There is more of a work-life balance everywhere. And it shows in people’s attitudes towards their daily life.

In Germany, people are friendlier and more helpful than in the US. Probably because they aren’t stressed to the max and suffering compassion fatigue.

These are the things that I love about Germany so far. (Aside from the parks and the food!) It is a place where you can live a more balanced lifestyle. You don’t have to be constantly moving at a breakneck speed to be successful. You get time to rest and recuperate without being seen as lazy.

Someone asked me if I would ever move back to the US. While nothing is written in stone at this point, I question if I would even consider it now. I have seen how different things can be when you aren’t living in a culture that is built on exploiting people and glorifying chronic stress.

If you want to follow along with our story of the move to Germany, you can check out our YouTube Series too.

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