Reporting on 1AUG

[bjs.prs]

Hi Ladies and Gentleman -

Well it's official. All the paperwork is complete. I am bringing the family to the KMC area. Checked out this forum several months ago and it seems like the activity here has picked up quite a bit.

I appreciate all the info and hope to be a contributing member with time. Thanks for answering all my questions as well as the ones I didn't even know I had.

Brad

[twinmama]

Welcome! I hope your move is uneventful and quick!

[DakotaCowgirl]

Be safe and have fun! It is an adventure!

[kermit]

Good Ruck...
You'll need it for this place.

[JOFTAA]

Good Ruck...
You'll need it for this place.

Once settled in, it's great here. The problem is with getting settled in.

Be patient. Patience, patience, patience!

[Shannalee]

Patience is right! And I'm not even there yet! I'll need a wig before I arrive. This is an adventure. Deep breaths. then laugh out loud. It helps. Okay, hysterical laughing maybe doesn't help - oh, wait - yes it does!

[JOFTAA]

Patience is right! And I'm not even there yet! I'll need a wig before I arrive. This is an adventure. Deep breaths. then laugh out loud. It helps. Okay, hysterical laughing maybe doesn't help - oh, wait - yes it does!

Believe me when I tell you that we've all been there. Organizational skills is not the strong suit on our government.

[kermit]

Right, and patience is not a virtue that is practice too often here.
Too many times I hear the military base community in the states is much kindier, gentlier than this place.

There's got to be some good answers why that is.

[JOFTAA]

Right, and patience is not a virtue that is practice too often here.
Too many times I hear the military base community in the states is much kindier, gentlier than this place.

There's got to be some good answers why that is.

I think that a lot of it is that in The U.S. it's about Americans taking care of Americans. Here is is about a mix of Americans and Germans taking care of Americans.

Germans have a much different way of doing things. Germans are not exactly known for their good customer service.

Don't get me wrong. I love being in Germany. I have plenty of friends who are German. But, the fact remains that Germans just don't have a lot of good skills when it comes to customer service.

[kermit]

Germans have a much different way of doing things. Germans are not exactly known for their good customer service.

While you may partially right there is one thing you and I and many others here in Deutschland forget. We are guest, we are visitors. Many of the guests and visitors did not know how to behave themselves. In mannerism and taking care of property and the biggest one of all... responsibility.

Plus i don't think that american customer service is anything but pathetic both here and in the US.

But I live with it as its because we don't have much choice or say so in the matter.

[jasmine06]

We are guest, we are visitors

This is true, but I wonder how many businesses would go out of business, if American's stopped supporting them. I think customer service should be so much better than it is. I've found that the germans just give us the run around...talk to so and so, nope, gotta call so and so....Well, I know its frustrating for me, its even more frustrating when people are just coming over here.

[kermit]

how many businesses would go out of business, if American's stopped supporting them.

Part of the business of doing business is the it is a saturated market in this area for many things such as real estate, furniture, restaurants. Whose fault is that? Is that your's... mine.... your neighbor?
You find a good business or company that you feel you can trust and you stick with them. But this takes time and patience.

[JOFTAA]

Everyone makes valid points.

As someone who owned a retail computer business for over 20 years, I can tell you that one of the things that I insisted on was excellent customer service.

In today's market, businesses have an attitude that they are doing the customer a favor. This is exactly the opposite of what is true.

The customer service in The U.S. is not always good, either. This is true. Regardless of this, it has been my experience so far that Germans have a far lower customer service ability. The work ethic is pretty bad, and the Germans who work for the U.S. military as local hires have an attitude of entitlement. Not all of them, but a very good portion of them.

[kermit]

local hires have an attitude of entitlement.

Attitudes, Umm, I think that is something with Americans here who think they have more than entitlement, but rather ownership of resturants or bistro's just because they have 6 people at a table.
I can't tell you how many times, whether it's on base or off. And its not just me as an american but other americans see and hear it and are quite embarrased and sick of it.

So the next time you're around town canvassing the restarants, turn your listening ears. It's not hard to miss.

[JOFTAA]

I'm not arguing the point, kermit. You're correct. I see it quite a bit. I also see it from Germans.

Just because we are "guests" in their country does not mean they should provide crappy service because they can.

As for owning a table at a restaurant or bistro, the fact is, I have had service that was so damned slow that I would have liked nothing better than to be able to leave. I have felt like a hostage in some restaurants because the service is so slow that I cannot leave without being arrested for non-payment.

[Auntielynnie]

Brad -

We have been here 10 days.

Please ask your sponsor to give you a list of places you have to go, then visit them in a LOGICAL order, and have your sponsor take you there. Be prepared for long lines and a bit of a wait.

Make sure you have all your paperwork for all family members in one brief case and arranged so you can find it in a second. Make sure you have everything you need otherwise, it will hold things up.

(Nobody told us we need a certified copy of our marriage license).

All the different offices are governed to the most part by German labor laws. There are all kinds of different operating hours. Different offices require different things.

If I were to make an observation, it is that everything is scattered. Meaning housing is in one area, furniture in another, commmisary/BX in another, VAT office, ID cards, SOFA stamps, driver's licenses ... the list goes on. It takes a little brain work to figure out where to go for what.

You will need a phone. Get a pre-paid Vodafone for the first couple of months until you find your feet.

If you will be living on the economy, you better get aggressive. Decide what you want and if you get an appointment to see it, act immediately. The house will be gone the next day. You will need to get your finances in order. They want 1 months rent + security + fees if you use a realtor.

STUDY, STUDY, STUDY for your driver's license. I would recommend the videos first -- they put the theoretical into context.

Bring your patience, rain gear, long pants, closed shoes and a sweatshirt, and an appetite. Had a great schnitzel last night at the Collage in Ramstein.

Wilkommen nach Deutschland!