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Moving to Germany
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Hi!
Our (American) family is being assigned to live a few years in Germany and are leaving in a couple of weeks. I know there are a few people on here who have lived or do live in Germany or are familiar with the country’s culture/laws/etc. and was wondering if anyone can offer up some opinions on schooling there. I am aware that homeschooling is illegal there, but I have heard that they kind of look the other way if the Americans there do it. (I am not sure about other foreigners, and it could just be location specific–near an American DoD installation.) Anyway, my oldest is only four, so I have a little time to consider my options. I have three options: the DoD school, homeschool, and German public school. Obviously, since I am on this website, we are very much in favor of the homeschool option. (Side note–I am a “traditional” homeschool grad but loving the CM philosophy!) The DoD school is pretty much last for a couple of reasons. I am not sure what to think about the German schools, though. I hear the kindergarten programs are wonderful. I have heard a few negatives, but mostly great things, such as the language skills my kids would aquire by simple immersion. Does anyone have any experience or knowledge of the German schools? My biggest fear is that once my son is in the German school system, he is in the system, and if we hate it, we are stuck. Also, does anyone have any information/experience with how they handle homeschooling foregners/Americans? Any advice, information, or opinions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much!
Nicole
Nicole,
I am German and lived in Germany the first 38 years of my life;). Concerning the laws, it depends what your status will be when you go over there. Are you under military orders or diplomatic status? Then the German school laws don’t apply to you.
German Public Schools also follow a very rigouros curicullum. What I like compared to the American PS is(can only speak of AZ) that we teach a foreign language (English) from 1st Grade and still teach subjects like Art, Music, PE and Handicarfts.We even have “religion” classes, typically divided in protestant and roman-catholic. But don’t let the religion classes fool you, Germans are very agnostic. Yes we have religious items present all over the country, most beautiful churches and dozen of Christian holidays that everyone gets off from work but most of it is just done because it is tradition, not because Germans are religious people. Germany is also VERY liberal, it is just a different culture then the American.This said it can be a great experience for children to experience different cultures but you as a parent need to be aware of it. Our High Schools have “smoker areas” for students who want to smoke during recess. Bench drinking if you are in your mid teens is more or less accepted. Don’t wanna go in detail about our sex eds in school…Our PS starts with 1st Grade, chldren in Germany attend preschool for 3 years.Preschool in Germany is usually not academic. In the last 10-20 years so called “Waldkindergaerten” became very popular. These Preschools usually are one or twice a week in the outdoors (forrest) in any weather. There is a tuition for any kind of preschool, usually much lower then here in the US because they are government subsidized. There is no tuition for PS. We also have private schools but thise are usually limited to Waldorf, Montessori and Catholic Schools.
Let me know if you have any more questions:)
nicole,
as military families overseas, we fall into a (wonderful) loophole, whereby we are not accountable to anyone the way stateside HSers are. i find this to be very liberating and takes the pressure off me, as i am fairly new to this!
big bases like ramstein will have HSing groups on the base (weekly meetings, outings etc).
it is a WONDERFUL opportunity to be overseas! we are in england (studying british history) and my mantra is that homeschooling will never be this much fun again (ie. learn about thomas a beckett, and visit canterbuy cathedral!)
i hope this helps and ENJOY your time abroad (it flies by!)
candace
Love Germany, Love the people, Love the way of life there – the outdoor opportuinitues and the travel and everything about the place. If I could move back tomorrow both my husband and I would do it – we miss it terribly. I am English but had a German mum and I personally spent 15 years living there and working there as an adult. I met my husband there and speak German – and spent every summer there from the age of 1. One thing I can speak to is this, but remember this is my opinion and others may feel differently. My children were too young to have any schooling in Germany – they were in England for that and they were in a DODDs school from K-4th and then I removed them to homeschool them. I have spent every year since then trying to undo the damage that the DODD school did – especially in the math and science department – and it has definitely held the girls back in those areas. The discipline in those schools is dreadful, the teaching not much better at times – I would to this day reffuse to put my girls in a military base school – Germany may be different, but I was not impressed with the DODDs. Many Americans when they go to Germay with the military, tend to become hermits and try and stay American – I would just say, try not to have that mentality, get out and about in the country and learn as much as you can, try and learn the language, (Germans speak excellent English in the main but I always feel that we should make an effort) and learn about the people – if you do that you will have a wonderful time. It is a beautiful place, where the outdoor activities are second to none – the quality of the products absolutely wonderful and all in all it is a great place to raise your children. My husband and I have always said our happiest times were in Germany and it is with great sadness that we may never be able to return as we would have loved to do that. If you are there with the military you can homeschool because of the SOFA agreement between Germany and the US, if you wanted to start the children in German K that could only be advantageous to them as then they will make friends and learn some language skill early and their K program is wonderful I have heard. Candace is right the time will fly by, so make the most of it and don’t sit on the sidelines. Christine, do you ever miss home? Now I am remembering walking from our house to the bakery every morning to get the fresh bread and rolls for breakfast and then cycling to the market on the bike paths and later biking with my husband in the trails around our home. It was an remains the best place I ever lived. Hope that encourages you – Linda
Ahh the fresh bread and rolls are amazing. Germany is beautiful! Love it there. My huband as well as his whole family is German. We spend a lot of vacations there!
I am sure if you get out and meet people and see things you will love it.
ahhh….fresh brochen!! i could never do stale american bread again after being spoiled with fresh bread daily!! now i’m remembering the farmer driving by our house every morning on his tractor with his dog up front and his wife riding in the little bucket in the back!!!!
AMEN to making an attempt to speak the language of your host country (and not being indignant when you can’t use U.S. dollars at a store!!). people really do appreciate ANY attempt at speaking their language–although they always want to “practise” their english on you!
Thank you all! Thanks also for sharing your fond memories of Germany as well. With the stress of the move, your encouragement has made me feel more excited about going. I am attempting to learn the language, although with two little ones, a house to keep, a husband away, and a move, it’s been extremely slow going. But I am glad to hear my efforts will be appreciated! I have always loved the languages, cultures, and stories of other people, but have never had an opportunity to get out there and experience it first hand. My one past attempt to learn a language, a college course in Spanish taught by a professor who’s Spanish was still thick with his Wisconsin accent, was a total flop. I have also heard from a friend who was stationed in Germany for six years that what I thought was just a joke in the movies is true: my esteemed fellow Americans screaming at people in their home countries asking, in English, if they speak English, as if yelling the question will miraculously get the answer they want.
When we get to Germany, we will be living off-base in one of the local villiages and I am hoping to live in a town where I can walk to the essentials. I have been hoping daily fresh bread is true!! I truly dislike the suburban car-life in the states, so I think it will be a nice change. I have also been told my personality should fit in well in Germany, and I’m not sure if that was a compliment or not, but hey, if it works out, so be it. 😛
As for the schooling, thank you for giving me more food for thought on the German school versus homeschool. I think there would be some great pros to each option and we have to consider what will be best for our kids and family. One of the greatest perks to homeschooling anywhere when you are a military family is the ability to take the time off when Dad (or Mom for some) is home from deployment. We definitely want to see Germany and other parts of Europe as a family, and my husband’s deployment schedule will surely be a factor in the schooling decision process. I guess it’s good to know that both options of schooling would probably turn out fine, but then again, sometimes it’s so much easier when the answer is so obvious you don’t have to think about the decision! 🙂
Thanks again!
Nicole
Oh yes there are definitely a lot of things I miss about Germany but I found my home here. I guess it is like with a lot of things, perfect would be the best of both worlds
. I am suffering from seasonal depressions so moving to ever sunny AZ improved my personal quality of life instantly. Nicole, I know you will have a wonderful time in Germany. 🙂 Just the all over present history to explore. Imagine walking through a town that was built in 1200 AD, climbing the watchtowers or walking inside the city walls…you will be able to enter some of the most beautiful castles ever built. Germans are outdoors people so you will find biking and hiking trails everywhere. No fee to use our trails like here with the national parks. If you live close to a town or city center you have small stores in walking distance. Like mentioned above a small bakery or a deli store, typically privately owned with a variety of baked goods and cold cuts you have never seen before. Bread is beaked every day fresh and you can choose of 10-20 kind, depending of the size of the bakery.Be aware our bread is not sweet like all the american store bread. I think good bread is one of the things I miss most here in the US. Every town has at least once a week a farmers market.
Do you already know what area you will move to? I will be happy to provide you with info about things to to in the area;)
Christine
Christine, you have made me homesick with your description of Germany, lol! Everything you say is oh so true, and if you have an open mind and an adventurous spirit you will make memories to last a lifetime. I spent many years in the North of Germany, Gottingen; then lots of years in the Frankfurt area, and finally at Ramstein – all of the experiences were wonderful, and they are the memories I cherish the most. If you love the outdoors you will love it there – I miss the trails, bike paths, mountain hiking in the south – swimming in the Freibad (outdoor pool) – and even just walking to get my fresh fruit/veg and bread each morning. I also miss the Kasesahne – cheesecake – yummy stuff. Enjoy it all. Linda
Oh Linda, don’t mention the cakes we have! Kaesesahne, ok I miss more then just the bread
. Anyway, thought to top all the great things about Germany I shouldn’t forget to mention that you are close to so much history and beauty. It takes you just a day or less in the car and you are in Italy, France, Austria, Belgium and so many more countries…you can catch a 1-2 hour flight to Rome, London, Prague, Athen, Barcelona….*sigh* I really miss our vacations in Italy a lot!
Ooohh…cheesecake! How wonderful! What with all this I hear about good food, it sounds like it’s also good I like to walk and run for exercise!
We are going to the Bitburg area, which I hear is lovely, though some roads might have fun with my tendency towards motion sickness. I’ve heard about Trier, which is not far at all, and that there are some awesome Roman ruins there. I was a history major in college, with a focus on western/European civilization, so to go to Europe is a dream. I am not overly ambitious about seeing EVERYTHING though. I have small children and will be content with seeing and doing whatever we can. Of course, I don’t plan to lock myself up in my house, but I want to leave in a few years with great memories of what we DID do, not dissappointment over what we DIDN’T do.
I have also been working hard to get my children, particularly my oldest, who is only four, excited about the move. He is aware that all his stuff is now on a boat heading over to meet us in Germany once we find a new house to borrow. I have been showing him pictures of castles and mountains, something we do not have here in central Georgia, and he is very excited. So…does anyone know of any good living books for the pre-school and toddler set about castles? We are okay with dragon stories and such too, as long as it’s age appropriate. So far I have found nothing that is even remotely written well that is appropriate for his age.
Thanks so much!
Oh that is a nice area.
Trier is the oldest city in Germany dating back to 20 B.C..Parts like the “porta nigra” are still standing and date back to 200 A.D.. Unfortunately I can’t hep you with the living books out of the top of my head, I’ll let you you if I find something.
. I am suffering from seasonal depressions so moving to ever sunny AZ improved my personal quality of life instantly. 
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