Even as the joint family set up in India is slowly disintegrating with people opting for nuclear families, students from Germany who recently visited Coimbatore praised the system, saying that it is helpful and fun.

Ten students from the Zollberg Realschule, located in the city of Esslingen in Germany, visited Coimbatore recently on a Student Exchange Programme with the G.D. Matriculation School. To make their trips interesting, the students were made to stay at the homes of the GD school students.

Staying in Indian houses for the first time was an altogether different experience for the Germans. Apart from the spicy food and the different culture, what captivated the students more was the family set up in the country. The students admitted that this kind of a set up would be more helpful to kids as they grow up.

Dennis, a student from Stuttgart in Southwest Germany, said that the system is helpful as it help is always available for those who need it. “When someone is sick and needs to be cared for, it is difficult to find help from the family members themselves in Germany because most of the children live away from their parents after they grow up. But it is totally different here. People are always there for you when you need someone,” he observed.

Manuel, another student from Lorenz Auer-Hackenberg said that the presence of the family members including grandparents is a gift of the joint families. “It is not easy for us to meet our grandparents in Germany. But, in India, they are close by you can see them whenever you want and talk with them. It is really a gift from God,” he added.

Amanda, another student from a Neuhausen, observed that living in a joint family also instills many social values in the children. “We can also learn many things from the elders in the family in handling practical issues,” she said.

The students said that they were very much excited with the people of Coimbatore as they are ready to help. They also visited tourist destinations in the textile city and the rest of Tamil Nadu.