American shares how his concept of freedom changed after moving abroad and it's eye-opening

Many people who have moved abroad often share how it has brought spectacular changes in their lives. Whether it is work, family, travel or even the environment, every country has its added benefit. An American man named Jacob Arthur—who goes by @jacob.arthur on TikTok—is sharing how his life has changed for the better after moving to Berlin, Germany. He focuses on his changing perspective of freedom and a better quality of life.

He made a video stitch with @america_is_the_bad.place answering the question, “How was your concept of freedom changed?” He said, “I have a few thousand points to speak on," while revealing that he does not need to worry about “unexpected medical bills” in Germany. He added, “This insurance card in Germany feels to me like a magic card." He compared this experience to his time in America, where he had to ensure that he carried his credit card with an insurance card. However, with Germany’s insurance, he does not have to pay any medical bills.

Arthur's next point explained the employee benefits he got from his workplace. He declared that these benefits are way better than those existing in the US. German workplaces provide paid vacations to all their employees. “In the US, when I worked as a waiter, I did not get one single day of paid time off, no vacation days, no paid holidays. We had to work on holidays,” he explained. He was just working for the minimum wage in the country which forced him to be on a survival mode. “We were living off of tips,” he pointed out. 

He highlighted how safe everyone is in Germany by saying, “when you hear the sound of fireworks, you can ask your kids to look out the window instead of wondering what it possibly is.” He added, “Freedom from the f**ked up gun culture in the US is a huge win for me." Arthur has tragically lost many loved ones in the mass shootings in the US. He also pointed out that “Virginia Tech,” a college he was going to go to, was deemed the deadliest college due to its shootings. “One of the victims was a holocaust survivor. He heroically held the door closed with his body as students escaped. He was shot. He survived the holocaust but did not survive gun violence in the US,” he concluded.

“In Germany, I’m not afraid of being shot. I have the freedom of not driving a car everywhere,” he added while explaining the brilliant public transport system. He also mentioned how education is cheaper and “freedom propagandas” are not a bother as opposed to his experience in the US. Arthur concluded his entire opinion in a quoted comment saying, “My freedom went from a concept to a reality.” People in the comments section were impressed by the quality of life he is leading in Germany. @emuchanu said, “As an American in Switzerland, I agree. Good points and spot on!” @arcaneprojection wrote, “In the US, my friends expect to pay medical bills. Here in Germany, I groan when I have to pay for medication.”

You can follow Jacob Arthur (@jacob.arthur) on TikTok for more content on travel and lifestyle.

Editor's note: This article was originally published on May 16, 2024. It has since been updated.