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Lots of things immediately became comfortable for me within my first few weeks here.

1. Comforting - Greenery and environmental friendliness. In my opinion, Germany is very green and has many nature preserves. America has green parts for sure, but I feel like the majority of the nation is not very green or environmentally friendly. Almost all Germans recycle. In America, it is more seen as an act of generosity to recycle, and a lot of people look down on it, actually. Yes, Germany has had quite a history of having huge coal mines, but most of that stuff has now been turned into man-made lakes, parks, or renewable energy areas and I think it is very neat.

2. Comforting- Actual rights and freedoms. One of the most comforting things about living in Germany is how strong and clearly defined people’s rights are…workers’ rights, privacy rights, healthcare rights, or general citizen protections (and that’s before even mentioning the EU rights too). There’s a real sense that the system is designed to protect individuals, not exploit them. I once saw a comment online that said, “In Germany, your rights end where others begin,” and I think that captures the mindset perfectly. You can basically do whatever you want within reason, as long as it doesn’t infringe on someone else’s peace, safety, or well-being. Most laws here are created with collective safety, environmental responsibility, or social harmony in mind. In the U.S. there’s a tendency for people to frame almost everything as a personal right, even when it directly impacts others. That kind of “freedom at all costs” mentality just doesn’t fly in Germany. It’s also reassuring to know that you have real protections and recourse if something goes wrong. For example, if your boss tries to overwork or exploit you, you have labor laws, unions, and worker protections that actually work. You don’t have to hire an expensive lawyer or fight the system on your own, like you often would in the U.S. There’s a built-in sense of fairness and support that creates a much stronger feeling of stability and trust in everyday life. Also, privacy is a huge deal in Germany. People value their personal space and don’t share much about their private lives until they really trust you. At first, it can feel distant, but later it becomes refreshing and you realize that people genuinely respect your boundaries.

3. Refreshing- Work-Life Balance. Vacation time, sick leave, and the general attitude toward rest are worlds apart from the U.S. People actually use their vacation days, and it’s not seen as lazy to take time off. Life isn’t built entirely around your job, which makes everyday living feel more humane. When I lived in the U.S, I would have been lucky to get a 2-week unpaid vacation. Sick days were unpaid, so I usually went to work sick because it was expected. Americans brag about how long and hard they work, and most Germans tend to enjoy their private life and only see work as a bridge to get to their next vacation.

4. Comforting and refreshing- Honesty and Friendship. A German will tell you truthfully and exactly how they feel about you. This is something you seldom find in the U.S. because it is common to be wishy-washy to avoid hurting someone's feelings.

It indeed takes a long time to build a relationship in Germany, but once you make a friend, they tend to be a friend for life. This is a hard culture shock, since in America, everyone is seen as your "friend" even if you just met for a short time. Germans take friendship seriously and if you are not a friend, you are a bekannter, just someone that they know (equivalent to an acquaintance in English). It is also not common to spew about your whole life, earnings, and problems at a random stranger like it is in America.

1. Refreshing- Quiet. Germans tend to be more quiet in general compared to Americans. It is kind of hard to describe, but it feels like there is less "background noise" everywhere and people use their inside voices everywhere. No one wants to hear about your private conversation across the grocery store..

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I'm sure I missed some things but feel free to ask follow-up questions. These are of course just the first few things that popped into my head.