Sounds like 1/3 of it being unprepared (and a bit unwilling to change), 1/3 being a small town and 1/3 being just Germany
> Each course in the sanctioned six-course program can cost upwards of $500 apiece and requires almost as much time as a full-time job.
Why are you doing a 'sanctioned' course if you don't intend on staying? Just go with Duolingo? But if it has a high number of hours per week then $500 sounds ok
> In-person shopping takes forever because there aren't big-box stores
> certain products, such as electronics, cost considerably more than in the US.
That's... weird. I never got the 'considerably more' unless you're importing something directly maybe, or maybe it is the kind of Walmart knicknack
> Each course in the sanctioned six-course program can cost upwards of $500 apiece and requires almost as much time as a full-time job.
Why are you doing a 'sanctioned' course if you don't intend on staying? Just go with Duolingo? But if it has a high number of hours per week then $500 sounds ok
> In-person shopping takes forever because there aren't big-box stores
> certain products, such as electronics, cost considerably more than in the US.
That's... weird. I never got the 'considerably more' unless you're importing something directly maybe, or maybe it is the kind of Walmart knicknack