Before I met my German husband, the only thing I knew about Germany was Oktoberfest and World War II. As we got to know each other, I learned a bit more–Germany has the best economy in Europe, it has a woman chancellor, women can take two years of maternity leave, checks do not exist, education is free for everyone, and there are no speed limits in some sections of the Autobahn. But even knowing these and other things didn’t prepare me for actually living here.

I moved to Germany in late 2012 and I’m still learning about German life. Most of my knowledge is incomplete since I don’t have a job and my husband handles the financials. My experience is also limited to the small town I live in and my husband’s family, but I think it’s pretty accurate overall based on articles and books I’ve read from other foreigners living here. So I wanted to write a series to educate people into what it’s like to live in Germany and the challenges foreigners face when moving here. I’ve also shared some quirks and idiosyncrasies of Germans and fun things to do.