WE MOVED TO… GERMANY

Friday 1st December 2006

Natasha Holt

Caroline Brent, 46, from Three Oaks in East Sussex, moved to Wartenberg, near Munich in Germany, last October. She works in HR. Her husband Clive, 48, and sons, Scott, 16, and Max, 13, followed this June…

Why Germany?
I was offered a new job within my company, based in Germany, so we decided to go for it. It was a harder decision for Clive, as he had his own small business in the UK, doing house renovations and repairs. He wound it up so we could move.

Was it hard moving on your own?
At first it was strange and a bit daunting, but it worked out better than we thought. I returned home every weekend. The only real issue was snow in winter. Some days I thought, 'Do people really go to work in these conditions?' But here they're well equipped to deal with it.

How has Clive found it since joining you?
It wasn't all plain sailing, but he's been very positive about it. Clive is in a role reversal position, as I'm the one working, so it's harder for him to be out in the German community, trying to get things done and make new friendships. But he's coaching basketball at the International school, which has helped. So far, so good.

Compare your new home with the old one…
We now live in a village about 20 minutes from Munich. We rent a fairly new five-bedroom house on three floors, including a basement, which costs us £840 a month. It's common in Germany to rent, not buy. Houses here have to withstand Bavarian winters, so they need good insulation and heating. In Sussex we had a five-bedroom old farmhouse, which we rent out—but the rent doesn't cover our mortgage payments.

What's the area like?
The surrounding area is rural, and there are beautiful hills nearby. There are traditional Bavarian villages with beer gardens and ornate churches. There's plenty of wildlife to look at too, especially birds.

How do the schools compare?
Our kids go to an international school, where English is the spoken language. However, it's multicultural, which is good. Max is studying international GCSEs and Scott's taking the international baccalaureate rather than A-levels, which he's enjoying. Children get more freedom in the way they study here, and the boys are both doing really well.

Did you have to adjust to life here?
Yes, shops don't open on Sundays! Also, even things like choosing meat are a challenge. Once I bought what I thought was lamb, and served it with mint sauce—only to find it was pork. Our German is pretty poor but we're learning!