I completely agree with your highs and lows of Germany which is shocking because it seems there is a general consensus on what needs to be done and yet no one is doing it ... and on your search for a cleaning service, whenever you move to Berlin, try my wife's company Kehrwork; I am sure you will appreciate the idea of paying a living wage instead of a minimum wage and provide support with language skills and social services to help employees getting started (in many cases, cleaning is just an easy way to get going when you're an immigrant or have to become economically independent for other reasons). She was often asked what her secret was at finding employees and the answer is sometimes very simple: treat service staff like humans, not machines with a broom and let them do their best work, even if it is "just" cleaning a house ...
I am from France, I am disabled, I live in Germany. I agree with you on all points (absence of digitalisation, bureaucracy, difficulty to find staff, poor customer service, reluctance to changes). Nevertheless, I think the pandemic had some positive effects in Germany because the country was eventually forced to enter the 21st century. Cashless payment for example has really improved since then. The public administration is still a nightmare as you say. As a French expat said, "German digitalisation is a joke". The younger generations (Y and Z) are very opened and aware of the difficulties. The older ones are still very Prussian..
Maybe it's petty but... it feels like a balm to my soul, as a french public servant, to read that our admin system is not the worse. Even more since Germany is so often lauded as supremely efficient and serious and business-friendly. Our system is far from perfect and we strive to improve it but our core values are worth defending I believe. Thank you and welcome back !
I had family in Berlin and I knew about the culture of ecology and body acceptance. I also realized how difficult the administrative duties were, even more so than in France.
However, I wouldn't live in Germany, which I perceive as too far removed from the Mediterranean culture that I'm fond of.
I completely agree with your highs and lows of Germany which is shocking because it seems there is a general consensus on what needs to be done and yet no one is doing it ... and on your search for a cleaning service, whenever you move to Berlin, try my wife's company Kehrwork; I am sure you will appreciate the idea of paying a living wage instead of a minimum wage and provide support with language skills and social services to help employees getting started (in many cases, cleaning is just an easy way to get going when you're an immigrant or have to become economically independent for other reasons). She was often asked what her secret was at finding employees and the answer is sometimes very simple: treat service staff like humans, not machines with a broom and let them do their best work, even if it is "just" cleaning a house ...
Kehrwork sounds like a company worth supporting! I'd definitely try it if I ever live in Berlin :)
I am from France, I am disabled, I live in Germany. I agree with you on all points (absence of digitalisation, bureaucracy, difficulty to find staff, poor customer service, reluctance to changes). Nevertheless, I think the pandemic had some positive effects in Germany because the country was eventually forced to enter the 21st century. Cashless payment for example has really improved since then. The public administration is still a nightmare as you say. As a French expat said, "German digitalisation is a joke". The younger generations (Y and Z) are very opened and aware of the difficulties. The older ones are still very Prussian..
Maybe it's petty but... it feels like a balm to my soul, as a french public servant, to read that our admin system is not the worse. Even more since Germany is so often lauded as supremely efficient and serious and business-friendly. Our system is far from perfect and we strive to improve it but our core values are worth defending I believe. Thank you and welcome back !
👋 from berlin !
And welcome back
Viel Spaß in Berlin!
Welcome black to France 😊
Thanks for these highlights about Germany.
I had family in Berlin and I knew about the culture of ecology and body acceptance. I also realized how difficult the administrative duties were, even more so than in France.
However, I wouldn't live in Germany, which I perceive as too far removed from the Mediterranean culture that I'm fond of.