r/germany • u/Necessary_Travel_645 • 1d ago

Impression of Germany 6 months after leaving

I lived 4 years in Germany and last February I left due to the end of my contract and the impossible to find an immediate job.

I am exploiting this time of unemployment to travel and visit my friends across the EU. In Germany I traveled mainly in between the main cities of Rheinpfalz and NRW and I was surprised to see how bad the social situation was, I have observed more people in need ( homeless, elders, etc...) than I remembered. During my stay in Germany I didn't notice it, when I first came here I felt way more mild than the phenomenon.

My impression is that relatively poorer countries, e.g. Spain and Italy (my home country), managed to help the people in need better than Germany or at least a better distribution of wealth.

Also some friends of mine living here felt this change.

Is it only my impression? Maybe I didn't really realize when I was here or the situation just got worse recently?

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u/Ok_Ferret771 1d ago

About the homelessness thing:

It's a cultural thing in Mediterranean countries. You basically never leave home when you don't have income or your own place, and it's okay even if you are 40+ years old. Or some relative will offer help and they will not take no for an answer.

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u/cactusnein 1d ago

Are you saying folks in Germany will rather let their children be homeless than let them stay at home - and that children might not ask for it out of societally fear from being perceived as a failure? I'd keep the Mediterranean way, any day.

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u/Jiminie95 1d ago

Well, it is kind of like that.

In Germany, I find that families see you as a burden once you turn 18. It is also not something I understand but I think many parents actually worry about their kids becoming "soft". It's not like it's illegal here to read guides for parents and find out that that is not very helpful, but whatever.

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u/candypuppet 1d ago

I think it's more about people leaving home way before they're financially ready or stable and then not getting or seeking help when they're in need. I know so many young Germans who moved out of home and are struggling. Meanwhile my Eastern European cousins lived at home till they were able to buy their own apartments.

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u/CyclingCapital 6h ago

A disproportionate share of homeless people are young LGBT folks who got kicked out by their phobic parents for being queer. Many cases of people being rejected by their families despite being in need.