Moving from Chicago to Munich for a family of 4

[Malt-Teaser 3,728]

Hi Miguel,

will you be working for a German company and be paid here in Germany?

 

I ask because you should realise that any relocation package paid after you move here will be taxed along with your normal salary, so expect to lose a big chunk of it, although you can claim some things back in your (German) tax return at the end of the year,

 

If your company there is moving you over, then maybe it will be better to get any relocation money paid to you there and not here?

[thebrucer 544]

That is correct. I mentioned earlier about getting tax equalization as part of your package, so you don't feel that tax bite, but it is reeeally expensive for a company and probably died along with a lot of pre-2008 perks. But it never hurts to ask them ("clarify" your package)...

[miguel lavelle 2]

We've been very lucky and did get the full tax relief. My wife will work for a german company and I US based. Hence we are working with relo to make sure we get set up the right way for tax benefits.

 

Hopefully it was not a silly question....but any recommendations on the whole kitchen purchase?

[Kris17 161]

Hi miguel! You must be excited about your move...I know I would be!

 

As for kitchen...you are going to have ikea-lovers answering and ikea-haters as well. Me? I actually like the ikea kitchens I have seen when I have gone, and I also believe that through ikea you can have someone from ikea to install them.

 

I believe a lot will have to do with the length of time that you plan on staying in Germany...if it is for an indefinite period (more than a couple of years at least) set yourself up with a nice kitchen...if not, either scale down on your dream kitchen or look for a flat that already has a kitchen installed.

 

Best of luck!

Kris

[jeba 4,364]

I am German and moved to an English speaking country when my son was 8 years and had no command of English. I put him into a Montessori school and he loved it. At that age they still pick up the language very quickly and the Montessori system allows them to have more interaction with their peers during classtime than mainstream schools, which makes it easier to pick up languages. Of course, you will have to provide additional language tuition for the 9-year-old, no matter what type of school you opt for.

[Lin0710 0]

My husband, I and 2 kids are planning to Move next Summer, to Munich, and I am really nervous, my children are already BI-LINGUAL, but not in German, they are 3 and 6, what school would be the best, to learn German, and for the transition to be as easy as possible. We do have family that live there, but would love to know what school I should look at first, I did ask family members, but their answers , don't worry! Not comfortable with that answer, please give me some advice, Thanks!

[jeba 4,364]

@Lin710: I'd recommend a Montessori school for the 6 year old at least (wouldn't do harm to the younger one either). Their way of teaching isn't only great in the first place, it also allows much more flexiility and individuality than normal schools. It worked very well for my son when we went to an English speaking country when he was in grade 3 and he had no command of English.

[miguel lavelle 2]

My wife is currently in Munich for this week, looking over the schools. We narrowed to St.Georges and IBSM. Fingers crossed. Also looking for a home this week. Things are moving fast and should be there 2nd week December. The towtown site has been invaluable. I've been looking up soccer clubs for son and I, squash, skiing and boarding (i know, boarding wink). More to come once we complete the school interviews, i can post some feedback here to help anyone else.

[darrelino 1]

It's wonderful that you get to move to Munich. My wife and I would move there in a heartbeat. The lifestyle may be different than the States, but, personally, we feel it is better in Germany. We have a two month trip coming up, Mid December to Mid February. We did three months two years ago. It's a great place. Enjoy kaffee trinken...they have amazing coffee at Cafe Luitpold, Dahlmeyer and Hotel Orlando. Fabulous pastries also. But also check out Maelu and Hansel and Gretel for their offerings. If you arrive with the intent to get into the spirit of Munich, you will have a great time. And Munich is considered the largest Italian city north of the Alps, so you can find excellent authentic italian food. Kunstler Haus has fabulous pizza.

[Louisa Emmett 1]

Hello there! We moved to Munich last December (family of 4). We looked like crazy for housing and schools

and ended up living in Seefeld, which is a lovely and boring village (still on the S-bahn).

The kids love it, but there is not much to do here. Both kids are in the local German school and have learned German.

 

I recommend Pasing or Obermenzing for family housing. We tried and failed to get apartments there. An apartment where the kids can have their own room would be a 4 zimmer. Check out unfurnished flats at Immob. Scout24. Be sure you get an apartment with an EBK (kitchen).

We were able to find a provision free apartment, but these apartments are very hard to find. You usually end up having to pay the real estate agent (Makler) which is a super pain and expensive.

 

Let us know when you get here. We are from Milwaukee and I come into Munich frequently. Munich is expensive, probably like Chicago I imagine.

[thebrucer 544]

 

Kunstler Haus has fabulous pizza.

 

Speaking as a Chicago guy, telling a Chicagoan that Munich has fabulous pizza is is bit like telling someone from Maine that Munich has great lobster. Just sayin'...

Geno's East...mmmmm...

[miguel lavelle 2]

TT, need your help! I have flipped the coin so many times and now down to the wire on a decision. We've selected IBSM for my 9 year old and now have been selected for an offer on two apartments. I work from home, wife in City Central.

 

My dilemma:

 

80797 - Schwabing west: 99 SQM but located nicely in the middle of IBSM and work. Looks like lots of kinderkrippe options for my two year old. Small and cozy. Looks like the right location for commuting. Seems like lots of options close by for groceries and a few restaurants.

 

81247 - Obermenzing: 151 SQM but means a morning and afternoon drive to pick up my 9year old at IBSM. Wife will train to work. Seen from other TT members areas is great for families.

 

Help me flip the coin. I can either go with one of the above, or completely start from square one, move into temp housing and keep looking (smile).

 

HEADS (80797) OR TAILS (81247)

[jeba 4,364]

 

81247 - Obermenzing: 151 SQM but means a morning and afternoon drive to pick up my 9year old at IBSM. Wife will train to work. Seen from other TT members areas is great for families.

 

Have you checked public transport connections to your 9yo's school? It would be perfectly normal in Germany for a 9 year old to go to school on his own, using public transport. In Bavaria the tickets will even be paid for by the state if it's too far to walk.

[PandaMunich 16,866]

).@jeba

IBSM is a private school in Feldmoching, one that isn't even staatlich anerkannt: http://www.newinthecity.de/de/neu-in-muenchen/kinder-schule-muenchen/internationale-schulen-muenchen/2413-adressen-internationaler-schulen-in-muenchen.html

The state would only pay for his ticket if his nearest public school was more than 2km away.

 

@miguel

I would take the Schwabing West apartment, it is in a better location for the school, he can cycle those 5km, if not right away, then in a year or two (map).

[jeba 4,364]

If that's the case then the rules must have changed. When my kids went to a private school 30 km away (while the public school was not even 1 km away) the state paid for transport. And that was a Montessori school which also was only "genehmigt", but not "anerkannt", if I remember correctly. It might be worth checking, if relevant.

[miguel lavelle 2]

@jeba

 

From obermenzing, google transit shows a 40-50min commute to IBSM. Might be a bit complicated for my 9yr old for first few months, exp as he speaks no german and it seem a bit long for commuting.

 

Thanks for the heads up on the state refunding commutes based on distance, i will look into this also.

[jeba 4,364]

 

Thanks for the heads up on the state refunding commutes based on distance, i will look into this also.

 

Usually they will not refund you but rather issue a free ticket for public transport. In our case however, they paid for a private bus collecting all the kids from our corner of the county ("Landkreis") which was organized by the school as public transport would have taken too long. The school should know about the regulations or at least who to ask (it depends on the type of school afaik).

[darrelino 1]

Hello theBrucer!

 

Is there a pizzeria in Munich you would recommend?

 

Being from New York myself, I prefer the thin crust. But when we were in a little village in Italy (Dicomano) we had the best pizza ever. IMHO. It was better than even the top Zagat rated pizzerias in NYC. In Munich, friends of ours invited us to a pizzeria that they claimed "made the best pizza in Munich, perhaps the world." It was good; but not that good. But then we went to Kunstler Haus. I was impressed. I guess the real point is that Munich is a wonderful city where you can enjoy life even if you're a pizza lover living in a German City.

 

Regards

[thebrucer 544]

Actually no, I take the pizza as it comes here and it's generally tasty, certainly not ketchup on a cracker.

But I leave for Chicago next Saturday and they have already arranged for Geno's on Sunday. Good people.

And as we all know, everybody loves Chicago style pizza. :P

[Italianmum 12]

Pizza, I like very much the one at Oliveto. In Italy there are different type of pizzas depending on the region (in Rome and Milan is very thin, whilst in Naples - where the pizza was officially born- is thicker). Also ingredients are important.

Try the Orginale be Oliveto (near Goetheplatz) is with buffallo mozzarella

http://www.restaurant-oliveto.de/

 

a small tip from an Italian

 

PS otherwise try out something different like a tigella (typical of modena area) at ladytigella near isartor...this to show that if you search authentic italian food you have a chance here, but would need to test http://www.ladytigella.com/