I moved from the US to Germany 2 years ago. Here are the 7 biggest culture shocks I’ve experienced.

• The first time I visited Germany was when I moved there with my husband two years ago.
• I couldn’t believe how easily accessible and convenient the public transportation system was.
• I was shocked to find that most stores, including grocery stores, were closed on Sundays.

In July 2022, I fulfilled my lifelong dream of moving to Europe.

When my husband and I got married in January of that year, we didn’t opt for the typical wedding registry. Instead, we sold, donated, or tossed almost everything we owned. Even our cars — which we sold two days before we left the US — had to go.

We headed to Germany, a country we’d never visited before, with just a few suitcases and our two cats. As soon as we arrived, we noticed a lot of cultural differences.