Leonard's rural living datasheet and QnA thread.
09-15-2018, 04:44 AM
I'm born and raised in a 650 people village in Western Germany and am now living there again after having lived a couple of years in the big city. What I'm now going to say probably also counts for other densely populated developed countries such as Switzerland, the Netherlands or Japan.
First of all, I agree with what OP says about Anonymity, making friends, Tribal feeling etc. However, I think he illustrates living in rural areas like it's backwards, with what I strongly disagree. My German village is essentially the same like Frankfurt, but in small.
Think about it, it is 2018, we have LTE 4G network everywhere, it's fucking Germany. Out of the 650 people in my village exactly 3 have "rural" jobs. One forest ranger and two farmers. All other people have normal jobs that you would also encounter in a big city Bankers, software engineers, police man, entrepreneurs, teachers, supermarket clerks and so on. Many people work at so called "hidden champions". These are medium sized, almost unknown firms, which are best in class in a certain product category. In general, I believe people are better off in the village as they earn the same wage as in the cities, but obviously have lower living costs (especially rent).
In rural areas your last name is very important. It's like a trademark. Maybe you don't know all people, but everyone will at least know somebody of your family with the same last name. If you come from a well respected family, people assume that you also have your shit together. Having a good last name is as valuable as having a PHD. Therefore, be careful not to marry into a fucked up last name.
Society is divided into two groups. The elites and normal people. Of course, in rural areas everybody knows each one, but friendships are usually only made within those groups. This is because of the German school system, in which school children get assigned to different schools based on their capabilities. The elites go to the "Gymnasium", while the rest goes to the "Realschule" or "Hauptschule". Therefore, you only make close friends with the people you go to school to. I went to the Gymnasium and my friends parents are doctors, judges, chief of the police, business owners or military officers. My neighbour's (guy of roughly same age like me, who went to "Hauptschule") parents are postal deliverer and supermarket clerk. I respect the neighbour and we have a good relationship, but he's no way my friend.
A key difference between the big city and rural Germany is demographics. Most young people, especially the smart ones who went to "Gymnasium" move to the big city to study. Almost none move back. Therefore, the age structure is really fucked up. The official average age in my village is 52. People are also more homogenous than in the big city. There are no blacks, asians or other minorities.
Girls wise, I have to inform you that you don't have to come to rural Germany to find a hidden gem. You would be disappointed. Again, think about it, it's 2018, it's Germany, we have fast 4G LTE everywhere and Instagram is also common here. Girls are exactly the same as in the big city with some minor differences. First, they don't sleep around. Second, they dress poorly. In the rural ares you don't date. Instead you have group meetings with your friends, get drunk and then "it happens". Also, in a way, you are always dating as your daily actions aren't private. With your daily actions you build up a reputation (good or bad) and in this way certain girls will be interested in you or not.
A highly positive thing is the freedom you enjoy in the countryside. It's a joy to move around with your car on half empty streets and not being surrounded by other people 24/7. There is also no police at every corner that looks you over the shoulder. Also people have more hobbies here and have generally a more interesting than the average guy in the big city. Wanna play some soccer, beach volleyball or tennis? Everything is free and only 5-10 minutes away from your house. In the big city however, people spent most of their "free time" with commuting to work and being stressed. Then, something like an hour on a tennis court will cost you 40€.
I strongly advise against coming here, if you aren't fluent in German. Although most residents speak English, they don't want to speak it all the time to you. Especially groups will not give any shit and will talk in their native language, which is German. People here aren't racist, but expect that you have your shit together. Somebody who looks like the most fucked up Syrian refugee will not get the warmest welcome. This might be confused as racism, but it's not. If the Syrian guy would move here suited-up with some understandable German, we would all welcome him.