[superplussed]

4 years ago. It has been a pretty smooth ride, from originally getting a freelancer's Visa (pretty easily), to getting a Blue Card (even more easily).

The biggest surprise to me as an American was that I had this perception that health care is free over here, and it's not. You are mandated to pay your health insurance, which isn't as cheap as you might imagine, but it is of course pretty comprehensive with no co-pays for every service that I've ever had.

Btw, the health care system is a dream of efficiency compared to the US.