Moving from one country where "Jugaad" rules to country that has rules and discipline is a manageable transition. I am just touching over here some topics that is special to the way of life here and which anyway eventually find out. Just tying to make the eventuality earlier.
- Prelude to Move
- Fourth Standard Stress: Public School is free and has high standard, though medium of education will be German (mostly). If you are kids are young (6-9) they can join public school and pick up the language easily. The school system in Germany makes 4th standard performance very very important. (Not going into detail) and most of the lessons being in German, putting directly your kid in 4th standard can definitely impose steep learning curve to the child (though all kids I know have dealt with it successfully)
- Pillow Ghar sai Lelo:Pillow's cotton content is low and hence they are super soft. Filling pillow with cotton will make the pillow hard but purse lil bit lighter. Better to get it transported to India if you can
- Vessel to Ship Most of the Indian stainless steel vessels have round bottom so no point in shipping them ,as he are not suited for electric/Induction stove Indian steel plates, tumblers. Porcelain cups and plates ,glass air tight food vessels, ship them for sure. Definitely buy an additional gasket from India. AND if possible carry your pressure cooker with you, in your check in luggage , for shipping with DHL may delay cooking of dhal in your ho
- While in Stuttgart
- Stuttgart Summary: People are friendly will help you to buy tickets, help you to get directions, speak in English. Though being a green city, lots of smoke from cigarette. that is the first thing you will smell when you come to airport. Major Shops are closed on Sundays, Great Public transport , many many options to optimize your cost. Get a pediatrician ASAP, Get your health insurance ASAPER, Get place of residence ASAPEST (in case some one ahead has not done so) . Learn German and be ready for lots and lots vacation from school. Lots of paperocracy in German, getting an internet after closing on the provider can take 3 weeks . Water is clean to drink from tap, Air is clean to breathe. Winters can be cold and Summer moderate and Spring gorgeous but it is possible to see all three seasons in a a day. Absolute Fearless zebra crossing, its a laksman rekha no Autombile will cross. Lots of dogs but very well behaved, most bark after permission from owner. Most places no free water, toilets. Super safe though rarely you will spot a policeman. Great Bakery, great organic choices. Learn Segregation
- Dueling with DHL : In lieu of German discipline you will assume that the package arriving smoothly infact in the same order they were uploaded on the DHL van in India. Just like in India you can get super fast to the outskirts of Bangalore (say from pune 900 Kms away ) but the last 30 Kms you can spend 3-4 hours same is with package. In 2-3 days it will be Germany port of entry, and after you re-re-provide list of contents, pay clearance charges (minimal, but it does exists, Urban legend talks about some Indians who were able to get away with it, by denying to pay it. Typically a friend of friend would have achieved that) it will arrive at your door steps. Follow up any paper that DHL has send. It will be of course in German, but google translate does a good enough job. Good news DHL service center folks do speak English.
- Paperocracy: German system operates on the basis of your residence address. It is like AAdhar for India, You are no one if you have no address. All correspondence through government is filling a form (or multiple forms) (in German) and getting the responses/reminders in paper. to your address DONOT MISPLACE ANY RESPONSE. Make a folder for different entities like Insurance/Banking/Public Xport. and just keep filing. Understand each of the responses and respond promptly. Many have occurred monetary loses as they have ignored these letters. Beware the junk mail (loads and loads of them) and official letters come in the same postbox. So be very careful while trashing them to paper waste
- Pehle Paedtrician: Fix your Pediatrician ASAP. https://www.arztsuche-bw.de/index.php?suchen=0&expertensuche=1 use for searching a pediatrician (open in chrome so that it auto translates). Same with Doctor too. Find your Doctor S(he) is the first interface you need to visit.
- Soonsan Sunday: Sunday is perfect rest day for all. Most Shops are Closed though Restaurants are open. In case of Emergency milk requirement head to the near by Gas Station (Petrol Bunk looks so outdated terminology). Ofcourse you do have LDL shop at airport, DM Shop in Haupthannhof. 24*7 open
- .Breadth of Choices: German Breads are awesome I always used to wonder , what is so great about "German Bakery" (while living in Pune), and now I mourn for the three years lost in Pune for not even trying it out. Like Tea shops in India and McDonalds/Startbucks in US, they are commonly located., You have brotchen, bread, cakes and much more in different shapes and attractive appearances. There aroma is enticing and can be heavy on your wallet and body if you get too addicted.
- Water Woes: Water woe of different kind. for neither you can drink free water nor can you drain out water freely Water costs , you will not be served free water. For a country where the national dink beer, and where universal clean water supply to each house has been achieved, I find this puzzling. Toilets cost, but that is fine , it is a thankless job some cleaning up. There is also a generic discipline of cleaning up the bowl after you have dis-bowled
- Social Media : Download VVS app for train/bus timings, buyting ticket, https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mdv.VVSMobil. Join "Indians in Stuttgart" https://www.facebook.com/Indians-in-Stuttgart-180601455362696/. Check out the various cost optimization options. For e.g the ABO asks you to pay only for 10 months . There is a daily ticket that you can buy if you are planning multiple travels It goes on.
- PAPAL WE'RE GLECTONIC: An acromym for Paper, Packaging/Plastc Wet,Refuse , Glass, Electronic and others. As in the number of separations you must do to give environment a chance. There is a color code that you will find out for the bins. The Packaging has to be put in a special yellow plastic bag obtained for local municipality and has a schedule of pick up. Watch your neighbor as to when they place this out, and just follow it. Glass bins are kept common per neighbour good. Electronic and other items require special disposal procedure outside the scope of this blog
- FLOH Market: Absolute no shame in reuse. Lots of flea markets Check it out https://meine-flohmarkt-termine.de/flohmarkt/plz/bereich_70.html. You can get vessels, shoes, bags. electronics, Skating shoes, cycle ....anything under the sun. These are sold by house owners and typically have a great quality at a throw away price. Its a great deal to be here.
