karin_brenig

  OK - I'm sorry to hear about all the bad things that are happening to you.   But I'm also curious to know, how can somebody working for an "IT Giant" be "made to work" for longer than they want to? Was there a person with a baseball bat standing behind you? Or were you chained to your desk? I've been working in IT since 1978 - and times get hectic for sure - but I have never "been made" to stay longer than I wanted to. I just get up and leave after about 8 or 9  hours - and then I come back after I'm well rested.  

Unless your current rental contract states in writing, that you are entitled to a free "Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung" upon end of contract, you will have to pay for this extra service.   Your landlord is under no obligation to provide this "Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung" - you're lucky they only charge 25,-€ for it. Up to twice as much is common practice, especially if you live in an area where landlords frequently ask to see that paper before renting out to you.  

"five figure" could be anything from 10000 to 99999 - definitely more than 5K (which is only 5000)   on the interesting topic, though, of where to invest, if you travel with a US passport and live anywhere but the USA, here's my personal solution: (Take it with a grain of salt, your mileage may vary) I invest in real estate - and actively manage it myself. My goal is long term rental income (when I retire from my day job), and a solid capital base that I could tap into if I have a real (health) problem some day.

Since your wife is a US citizen, the process will be relatively quick and painless. US is still considered a "priviledged country". Just a few details off of the top of my head - since my husband (US citizen) and I just went through the process recently:   You need what's called "Apostille" for your marriage certificate.   As soon as possible, when you are in Germany, go to Bürgeramt and register your residence (Wohnsitz anmelden).   Your next stop is for health insurance. There you will got to your last gesetzliche Krankenkasse (hope you were a member of one before you moved to the US), register yourself, and then include your wife and child as dependents (in der Familienversicherung).   With proof of insurance, Meldebescheinigung, and marriage certificate plus Apostille, you then go to Ausländeramt (some places you can just show up, some other places you need an appointment) and get Aufenthaltserlaubnis for your wife.   They will tell you that she needs to learn German, of course - and then give you a list of places where she can take a full length "Integrationskurs". All you need is level A1 after 6 months. She can teach herself, or go to VHS or Goethe Institut, to prepare for the test. If she later wants to get a "Niederlassungserlaubnis", that would require a level of B2 or higher - about five years from now.   Good luck!  

well…. back to the original question…. when comparing a job offer in Germany to one in the US you are actually faced with the old "apple or orange" problem. I spent the past ~14 years left of the pond (working pretty much the exact same job as the ~25 years before that), and am now back in Germany - will be starting pretty much the exact same job as before, on October 1st. People on both sides of the Atlantic ask the same question: "where do you prefer working, and why?" That is a very philosophical question! Even looking at the mere numbers, you can't really compare the two countries. It seems that Germany has a slight advantage for people seeking security, stability, dependability, and some long-term life-planning. The US, on the other hand, seems to offer more opportunities for rapid growth, higher earnings, and greater flexibility/mobility. For a single (healthy) middle-aged male, the US may look like the "better fit" - but how long will he stay single, and (healthy) middle-aged? And then, it all boils down to your personal set of values. What is your goal in life, or at your job? Are you working to make as much money as possible quickly, and then retire early to be finally able to go explore the world? Or are you more interested in a culturally rich, safe, and well developed country that can support you (and your personal freedom of choice) for the long term?   If I were in your shoes right now, I'd pick Germany.   BTW - as far as the PTO comparison goes - I realized that workers in the US get just as much time off on those measly 20 days (combined vacation and sick days) as people in Germany do on their 30 days of vacation, plus technically unlimited sick days. US workers take about 15% time off during every single work day.  The pace is so much slower! The productivity is so much lower! Efficient workflow organization seems to be a foreign concept!   OK - lecture over. In the end, you still have to make up your own mind.