Germany has gotten slower too (especially the trains) - when I was visiting my sister in Marburg in 1997, she warned me that I have to get the money ready before I pay. I didn't listen to her and ended up digging the money after I know the total sum and I was scolded by the cashier. From then on I calculated the final total before checking out of Aldi (at that time they didn't even have a scanner to scan products).

I live here for 10 years too, after living in Denmark for 8 years or so. I still can't stand the lagom way of life here. I don't think I got proper medical treatment here (after dealing with all kinds of things with 3 kids). However we found out that the set up we have now have the most economical sense even if we have to take medical vacations abroad - tried that in KL last year doing minor dental work and it was great. We will move when Mr. is retired or when the kids go to university (we are not so stuck by paying for international school).

I'm from Hong Kong and pace of life there is twice as fast as Germany. I'm definitely not as fast as the locals anymore but I think I'm still thinking faster than a lot of Germans.