Employees' stories of working abroad celebrate German-American Day

Technical Lead Software OHS, Dematic

I lived in Germany from 2016 to 2022. I studied my Master in Germany. I still enjoy visiting Germany whenever I can. Afterward, I relocated to the United States and have been living there since 2022.

The best thing about Germany, in my opinion, is its rich cultural heritage, automation technology, German cars, beautiful landscapes, German workers rights and efficient public transport system. As for the US, its diversity, entrepreneurial spirit, and the availability of a wide range of career opportunities are some of the standout features.

Of course, there are aspects I miss about working in Germany. Some examples:

• I miss the generous German holidays and the flexibility in scheduling vacations.
• The working culture in Germany, with its emphasis on work-life balance and structured workdays, is something I cherished.
• Exploring cities in Europe and cycling around the picturesque landscapes is an experience I fondly remember.
• The social aspect of work, such as enjoying German beer and going out with my German colleagues, was always enjoyable.
• I often miss the great and widespread public transportation system in Germany when I'm in the United States.

Internal Communications Specialist EMEA at Dematic

For an internship, I have lived 7 months in the US, more specifically, in Summerville, South Carolina.

Well, the best thing about Germany is my family and friends. They are the main reason why I decided to come back after the internship in the US.
It's more challenging to determine what the best thing about the US was. Upon my arrival, the amount of space was one of the first things that impressed me the most about the US. Although I come from a rural area in Germany, it still feels unique to me. Everything is wider and bigger. I was also looking forward to all the food, especially the candy. I have a sweet tooth, and it has been a treat.

I remember after two months in the US, I was at a dealer meeting and my task was to guide a group of dealers to different stations to learn about forklifts. They asked me where they should go next, and I meant to say: over there, just a few meters in this direction. I realized that meters were not the appropriate unit for the US dealers, and I silently pointed in the direction because I was unsure of what to say. Inches, feet, miles? I was totally lost. My weight mentioned on my US driver's license was wrong as well. American units are still a challenge for me.
In the office, I had a few times in a meeting, when I said something and I was met with silence until my boss explained that I am German and very direct. I am still working with many Americans and I am still direct, but now I am apologizing for myself. Like my punctuality, it has become a common joke. I point it out, we laugh about it and life goes on.

Director Special Projects, Dematic

Fresh and local food is a priority everywhere in Europe (compared to the USA) and Germany is no exception. I also loved the multi-cultural accessibility…You are always a five-hour drive from another country or culture, with different history and architecture. In the USA, a five-hour drive is just another state.

All around the world there are differences in politics, architecture, languages, and cultures. But what drives and motivates people is the same everywhere. Everyone wants to be treated with respect, to earn a living to support their family or loved ones and to have a chance to grow their knowledge and experience. These are universal truths and it is essential to recognize this when managing cross-cultural teams. Also, remember that English is not everyone’s first language. So speak slowly and clearly when communicating with other regions whose primary language is not English.

Many times! Wherever I am, I try to speak the local language as best I can. But there is a risk to doing that and completely messing up or insulting the person you are speaking with. The good news is that they immediately recognize you are not a native speaker and usually appreciate the effort to try to speak their language instead of assuming everyone speaks English.

Quality Director ITS Plant Aschaffenburg

Since January of this year.

For me at the moment: Public transport and the walking and cycling routes. I accidentally went over the 6 month window for driving with my US licence before exchanging it for a German one. As a result, I have not been able to get a temporary driver's licence while I wait for my German licence. But the bus takes me from my apartment to the plant, and now that I have a bike, I can ride it along the Main River Path to work. And in November, when the NFL comes to Frankfurt, we will take the train to Frankfurt to enjoy some American football. This year my hometown team is playing.

Just friends and family. It's fun to develop new work relationships and make new friends, but I'll always miss the family and the gang at KION North America. That and maybe a driver's licence, LOL.

Product Manager – KION North America

Over half of my life, I lived in Germany and the other half in the United States. I grew up in Haibach, by Aschaffenburg, and during that time, there was a US military base in Aschaffenburg (tank division, to be precise). My parents rented the upstairs of our home to American families. So, I grew up with Americans. While learning to talk to the American kids, I did not realize I was speaking English until I went to school. I learned English as a second language by default - not British English, mind you, but ‘merican English. That cultural experience and language skills have been with me all my life.

I originally began working at Linde Material Handling in research and development in the Engineering department. When Linde moved the US operation from Cleveland, OH to Summerville, SC, it became quickly apparent that there was a void in communication between German-speaking and English-speaking colleagues. Therefore, since I was able to communicate effectively between the two, I was appointed as the engineering liaison. There was no immediate plan for my length of stay in the States. In the end, I decided to stay in Summerville.
My son Max, went the opposite route as me, working for KION North America for two years and then moved to work at Linde Material Handling in Aschaffenburg, where he is working now.

I would say the best thing about Germany is the proximity of all the places you have to or choose to visit, work, family, friends, and any free time activity. For instance, growing up in Germany, everyday travel is typically within a town or two, usually taking 20-30 minutes to get where you need to be. In the U.S., a normal day’s commute is an hour's drive (one direction) and is not seen as traveling, just a trip from town to town.

If you were to drive four hours in Germany, you could cross a few states or even end up in a different country. In the US, you can easily drive four hours, be within the same state, or maybe pass two cities. Keep in mind the US is not just a country; it is a continent with three time zones. I had to learn privately and professionally the influence distance has in your everyday life.

I consistently miss having easy and quick access to a butcher and a baker. Of course, you can get meat and bread in the US, but you must travel for it. In Germany, I could walk to the neighborhood baker and butcher at the spur of the moment. Where I live now, and in general in the US, any move for anything involves getting into the car.

Analyst Industrial Engineering/Manufacturing Engineering, Linde MH

For three years now.

You can get almost everywhere with public transport (even though the trains are sometimes late ??). The cities and streets are really walkable and clean. And the quality of the food (…and beer) for the price, is unbeatable.

For about 4 months in winter: The sun ??

Senior Manager Media Relations EMEA, Dematic

I grew up in the US and attended universities there earning my Master’s. I moved to Germany accepting an offer to teach at the Karl-Eberhard’s Universität in Tübingen with a “side job” working as a reporter and field producer for ABC World News Tonight following an internship with IBM in Stuttgart and I never looked back from that day onward!

The lifestyle and quality of life offers you a lot actually. It is as though you are living in the middle of many things – travel, politics even when it comes to business and all the skills I have picked up along the way, my work has been enriched by this roller coaster journey. In general, it is also a pretty safe life here with no mass gun shootings on a daily basis to worry about; that has got to count for something! I never feel “unsafe” in any major city walking in any neighborhood here. Never!

How much time do you have? Life in the US often seems to revolve around shopping and consumerism. There is some of that here but Sundays hardly any shops are open if at all and I had trouble with that at first but there are so many other ways to spend your time. The entire culture around cafes is a pretty cool concept. I mean why else would my fellow Americans try and integrate with the establishment of Starbucks? And yet it does not even come close to “proper” café visits on an afternoon or evening over here! Sitting outside, nursing a drink for hours and chatting with friends and soaking up the sun! It took me while to really enjoy this slower pace at restaurants and cafes. In the US, waiters hover and try to set you up and clear you out as fast as possible.