Cheers to German Bureaucracy

Lately, I've hardly had the opportunity to write here or engage in other creative and enjoyable tasks. Even though life in Provence always appears light and sunny on Instagram and the like, and I also contribute to this image with my photos, I can assure you that everyday tasks can be overwhelming here too. That's exactly what I'm experiencing right now. It's not just my actual job, the numerous trips to Marseille, or the challenges of family life, which are already exhausting on their own, but also my Rosé project, which you might have heard about if you follow me on Instagram.

This is what it's all about: 'Le Rosé' of the 'Provence Connection.' For once, I allowed myself a bit of fun and designed a magazine cover.

What originally started as a small hobby and fun has turned into a bureaucratic nightmare. Do you remember the scene from Asterix and Obelix in Rome where they have to get Permit A38 in the Prefecture? The administration there is called the "House that Drives You Mad" because they are sent back and forth through the complex from one official to another, each claiming to be "not responsible." A huge chaos ensues, and in the end, everyone goes mad.

Right now, I feel like I'm exactly in that infamous house. I have to deal with the French customs and tax authorities, and the effort involved is unimaginable for someone from Germany. You might think that our bureaucracy is complicated and cumbersome, but believe me, compared to France, Germany is a model of efficiency. Here in the south, there are thousands of incomprehensible forms that even the officials don’t understand, and no one knows who is responsible. It’s a massive chaos where many people have different opinions on matters that should actually be clear-cut and speak ill of their colleagues. You experience constant ups and downs, many absurdities, and often go in circles on the phone until you somehow reach your goal – usually thanks to someone making an "exception". Even if no one really knows what the exception is being made from.

At customs, however, I encountered the proverbial final boss and found no solution for weeks, even when I decided one day to keep calling until I got an answer. After more than six hours of continuous calls, I still hadn't made any progress! What began as a small, enjoyable project has turned into a real burden over the past few weeks, especially since my Rosé is already bottled, my savings have been invested, and the border crossing has become a major issue.

Now it seems that, thanks to the support of the German authorities, I have finally found a strategy. It was an immense relief to communicate with the German tax office: Everyone knew exactly what they were talking about, there were clear responsibilities and structured forms. Additionally, I was fortunate to find someone who prioritized my dossier due to its urgency.

In conclusion: I love France very much, but at the moment, I miss Germany greatly. ❤️