Germany At a Glance (life, cost, people, black)

[Eugene80]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011...any?intcmp=239

A good and concise introduction to Germany and the German people, from The Guardian newspaper.

[irman]

Hmmm ... Not a half badly done review, but I am not sure about the amount the German Government takes for the Church.

I think the amount may be right, although when we lived there for quite a while in the eighties,
it was only 2% of our taxes you had to pay. NOT a certain percentage of your gross !!!

[Stefan_from_Germany]

Pretty good article for the most part. The church tax number are too high and contrary to the information in the article it is quick and easy to "quit church" and be done with church taxes.

I al also not sure about the picture the article paints about german women and their dominance in the bedroom. I have found some women confident in bed but not overly so.

It should also be noted that the younger generation has started losing some of the typical german ttraits as more and more people travel and learn more about other cultures through media such as the internet etc.

Overall, I would say this is a good thing as long as we maintain what is good and learn from others were appropriate.

[ScoPro]

Well Stefan, maybe it's a good thing that my grandfather - 7 generations ago - emigrated from Heidelberg to America in 1753.

[MelanieGermany]

Church tax in germany is 9% from the Income Tax. But if you are not a church member... you don`t have to pay.

[irman]

Originally Posted by MelanieGermany

Church tax in germany is 9% from the Income Tax. But if you are not a church member... you don`t have to pay.

Maybe it was NOT 2%. We are not Catholic, so we never paid.
But I was right in thinking it was a percentage of the amount of tax you owe !

I still miss living and working there !
Why has the USA never learned to create decent cold cuts ???
Looking at a counter, that goes on forever of just different cold cuts, and all at the same price !!!
Oh boy, where is the closest C&C ????
And ... a driver's license that does NOT expire !!!
Oh well ....

[Douglas Dakota]

And ... a driver's license that does NOT expire !!!

True, but it is very hard and expensive to get.
On an average, it currently costs about $1600 including about 22 practical lessons with your instructor, theoretical classes and all the paperwork and exam. And if you fail the first time, you have to pay additional $300...

[TStift]

Originally Posted by Douglas Dakota

True, but it is very hard and expensive to get.
On an average, it currently costs about $1600 including about 22 practical lessons with your instructor, theoretical classes and all the paperwork and exam. And if you fail the first time, you have to pay additional $300...

?????
Price > 2.500 € (today = 3.500,- $) for a driver's license "B"

This License not allowed drive : Motorcycle, Truck and cars with Trailers.

Paperwork extremely complex and costly.

Class "A" (Motorcycle) cost again so much, and ist limited the first two Years for Persons under 25 Years.

Truck License is priceless. Divided in four Classes, only for Persons over 21 Years. Bus drive not included. Cost extra.


@ irman
Find still good? I not !

[irman]

Originally Posted by TStift

Find still good? I not !

We did it the foreign business way.

First keep in mind we lived there for eight years plus, *working*.
Then there is a clause, at least then (early 80's), that you can get a German Driver's license, about three days before the time when you have lived AND worked there for one whole year. You go too early, it does not work. You go too late, it does not work.
How did we know ? The wife of one of the employees at the Verkehrsamt was my secretary ...

So my wife and I went to the Verkehrsamt, proved that we drove a car for that many days (365 minus 3), and we both received our licenses then. I assume not a well known *way around* ????
I agree, to get a license the *normal* way, is really pricey !! At that cost ... , it should be a life time privilege, no ??

We found a similar clause (not driver's license related) in Switzerland.
If you bring in a car licensed in the USA, you can drive that car for two years maximum without having to license it in Switzerland.
The USA sticker DOES have to be current.
You do not have to have a Swiss Driver's license for that same period. So we did that because our assignment was for two years.
In order to NOT have to do the mods, to make the car comply to Swiss laws, we opted for that, rather than slapping CD plates on it.
The *mods* were: No brake light in the rear window. No miles on the speedometer.
Remove the brake light was easy, just tape up the red lens with black tape.
Disconnecting the bulb was not allowed, because you could still *see* the red lens !!
Changing the speedometer was not economical ...

[Trimac20]

I've met many young Germans and not one was religious, I was under the impression that they were pretty much like the rest of Europe in that regard.

Was surprised that abortion was illegal in Germany, can anyone confirm?