{"id":2933,"date":"2026-04-08T00:44:04","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T00:44:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/germany\/2933\/"},"modified":"2026-04-08T00:44:04","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T00:44:04","slug":"american-woman-living-in-germany-shares-why-working-in-a-foreign-country-broke-her","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/germany\/2933\/","title":{"rendered":"American Woman Living In Germany Shares Why Working In A Foreign Country Broke Her"},"content":{"rendered":"

An American woman named Lanna<\/a> got a part-time job in Germany, where she is currently living, and she was shocked by the benefits that came with it.<\/p>\n

In the U.S., part-time workers traditionally get few to no benefits from the company they work for<\/a>, so she assumed things would be the same in another country. Instead, the perks that came with Lanna\u2019s new job forced her to confront what she had been \u201csocialized\u201d to believe as an American.<\/p>\n

Lanna was surprised by how different the hiring process felt in Germany.<\/p>\n

Each country has its own cultural differences, but the process was such a night-and-day difference from what she was used to that she didn\u2019t quite know what to make of it. Lanna shared that she got a part-time job as a barista \u201cto make some extra cash on the side\u201d and will work 20 hours a week.<\/p>\n

@keylimelanna<\/a><\/p>\n

Idk how so many Americans are so accepting of the utter dumpster fire we are served by our system. Frozen water is a militaristic group of state thugs kidnapping people straight up and yall are fine w it as long as you have a life more comfy than others around you (still not even adequate bc you don\u2019t know what a statistically good quality of life even is u just think yours is good bc it\u2019s all you\u2019ve ever lived GL w those yearly 5k deductibles so you can afford an exorbitantly expensive prescription that costs 10\u20ac overseas without insurance bc you think s*cial!sm bad)<\/p>\n

\u266c original sound – Lanna<\/a><\/p>\n

When she applied for the job, she thought she would be expected to complete a traditional job interview, but the boss told her she would actually have a \u201ctryout day.\u201d This was framed as a chance for her to see if she enjoyed the work instead of a way to evaluate her skills.<\/p>\n

Admittedly, applying for barista jobs is probably not as intense as something highly specialized like a software analyst. However, the U.S. job market has become so competitive that even people with impressive resumes are used to being turned down for entry-level positions<\/a>. It\u2019s no wonder that Lanna\u2019s experience was a breath of fresh air.<\/p>\n

RELATED: Man From Mexico Claims Americans Are More ‘Broke’ Than They Even Realize<\/a><\/p>\n

She also discovered that she gets great benefits even though she\u2019s just a part-time employee.<\/p>\n

The very first question Lanna was asked when signing on for the barista job was something that usually isn\u2019t even an option for several months in the U.S.: \u201cWhen do you want to take your vacation days this year?\u201d<\/p>\n

\"part-time Andrea Piacquadio | Pexels<\/p>\n

She was pretty flabbergasted when they told her that she would get six weeks of vacation time, which is unheard of in the U.S. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported<\/a> that most full-time American employees are offered 11 vacation days after being on the job for a year.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut the thing that broke me today,\u201d she said, \u201cwas an email from my boss telling me that not only is it possible for me to go on the public healthcare system, but it\u2019s literally required for me to.\u201d For 80 euros a month, Lanna will be able to \u201csee pretty much any doctor that I want to, as long as they have an available appointment, for free or pretty much free.\u201d<\/p>\n

RELATED: London Expat Calls America The \u2018Greediest\u2019 Country He\u2019s Ever Lived In After Having To Pay For 5 Odd Things<\/a><\/p>\n

This is absolutely unheard of in America, and it raises some questions about what the government prioritizes.<\/p>\n

According to Lanna, the only requirement to qualify for the public health insurance program in Germany is earning at least 600 euros each month. \u201cI\u2019m used to a part-time job giving you nothing,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019m used to public healthcare not even really existing.\u201d<\/p>\n

The closest thing to government-sponsored health coverage in the U.S. is Medicaid, which is reserved for low-income citizens. To qualify, you must meet your state\u2019s requirement<\/a> for earning a certain percentage of the federal poverty level, which is currently set at $15,650.<\/p>\n

\"man Mikhail Nilov | Pexels<\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t qualify for Medicaid and you don\u2019t have a health insurance plan through your employer, your only other option in the U.S. is to pay for a plan through the Affordable Care Act, which averages about $540 per month<\/a>. And, of course, having an insurance plan doesn\u2019t mean it will cover all of your medical costs, so you\u2019re usually left with some additional bills you have to pay.<\/p>\n

People have vastly different opinions on whether or not healthcare is something that the government should pay for, especially in a country where that\u2019s not the norm. Still, Lanna couldn\u2019t help but feel \u201cso angry and full of grief that our government and our society and media and whoever else has convinced us that the way we live is normal.\u201d<\/p>\n

RELATED: 50-Year-Old Unemployed Woman Who Has Sent In 4,000 Job Applications May Have To Move In With Her Mom After ‘Relentless’ Rejections<\/a><\/p>\n

Mary-Faith Martinez is a writer with a bachelor\u2019s degree in English and Journalism who covers news, psychology, lifestyle, and human interest topics.<\/p>\n