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@offsetpch

Hi, and welcome.

We encourage members to share their experiences in the open forum, as it helps other members in similar situations. We only tell members to use the PM system when sharing personal information, such as email addresses, telephone numbers, etc.

Hi Sherri,

Baden-Württemberg is a large state and has a wide variety of places, from cosmopolitan metropolis to inward-looking rural communities. You have to be more specific as to what you want!

You asked regarding safety. Well, Europe is not the USA in that respect: The "most dangerous" (crime-wise) places in Baden-Württemberg are still far safer than any city in your country. There are no "No-Go" areas in any German city, even for a single woman at night. I needed to have no safety concerns when my 16-years-old daughter went (by public transport) to an open-air-party yesterday evening and returned after midnight. This is not due to strict policing, but a strong sense of community - and of course our "no weapons" policy.

Regarding raising children, Germany is a great place: There are lots of child-friendly facilities of all kinds - and mostly subsidized. Public schooling is free and of good quality - but of course in German language. (Private and international schools are rare and expensive - on average EUR1000/month per child. Home schooling is illegal.)

Freiburg, the only place you mention, is the most left-leaning and (politically) green city in Germany - perfect if you want to join the lively student scene, less so if you crave a USA-sized car (or a car at all, for that matter).

Living costs are high, as everywhere in the EU: The poverty line is around 1200€/month per person - I recommend you plan on considerably more than that!

Two important concerns  you did not mention:

1. Visa: As a non-EU-citizen, you must get a long term residence permit. Common types are for education, work (in a field where Germany has a shortage of manpower), family ties (married to an EU citizen?). There is none for retirement or "just because I want to live there".
2. Language: While it is possible to survive with English only (as there are enough people who understand it), it is very difficult to build a social circle (except perhaps in an expat "bubble"), find a job and/or feel comfortable here. Generally level B2 or better is recommended before you come - or a year of intensive classes when you are here. How good is your German now?

@offsetpch

Hi and welcome to the site. I don't accept friend requests but you can direct message me over the site. I grew up in Dayton, so also an Ohio background. I've lived in Germany for decades, presently in Stuttgart, BW and now have dual citizenship. Germany is a safe and generally well running country although the bureaucracy can be stifling. And Freiburg is a recommendable lovely, easy going, university town close to both France and Switzerland.

Be aware than an American has no given right to immigrate to Germany. Unless married to an EU citizen or coming on a study visa or research visa, you'll have to line up a job and get the work visa. The vast majority of jobs will require that you have a high level of German, despite the fact most Germans speak a decent level of English. One needs to offer highly desired skills - and good English, while a positive factor, is often expected but in addition rather than as an alternative. The rare job that can be done without good German skills is less common that many think and even if found, one should expect to get along in the language to have fulfilling social and working opportunities. And even if not required, job applicants with good German skills will always have a competative advantage over those that don't.

Another thing is that many Americans seem to think that having German ancestry gives them some kind of special right to immigrate; it doesn't. Born to German parents will give one citizenship. That one's grandfather or great-grandfather was German is usually irrelevant.