Learning German whilst living in Germany must be easy. Well, no. Not necessarily. Many foreigners working in Germany are here because of their native language; they speak it at home, at work and with friends, sometimes going days without speaking German at all. As...
The GW Expat Blog
Author
AlieC
A culture of correction
Right now I’m preparing for my Einbürgerungstest (Citizenship test). Part of which revolves around the German culture, the psyche and what it means to be German. I've not studied Psychology since school but my latent interest has been well and truly piqued. Whilst the...
“No one goes on holiday to Germany”
Yes that title is a direct quote, and one that came with a great deal of agreement from a room of non German people. I could hardly say I was shocked to hear what I’d thought a few years ago voiced out loud. Though most of the commenters didn’t consider Germany a...
Market day, the alternative shopping experience
Hell might possibly be a German supermarket at 10am on a Saturday. Well that may be unfair, it’s probably true of supermarkets the world over, but the German supermarket experience is one which stands out to most foreigners, and not in a good way. I’m sure you’ve...
Spending a penny, the cost of your shortest visit in Germany
So the title is a little unfair to those readers who aren’t British, if you aren’t already aware the phrase ‘spend a penny’ refers to using the toilet. Harking back to the Victorian era when health, hygiene and sanitation were hot topics, the introduction of public...
Dog essentials in Germany (and other pets too)
Only two things are certain in life: death and taxes. You can thank Benjamin Franklin for that life lesson which is still rings true today. Whilst both are interesting topics that (in my opinion) warrant further discussion I’ll only be talking about the latter today,...
The Bavarian Breakfast
A recent wave of visitors, thanks to snow topped, Glühwein filled Christmas in Germany meant that a few big breakfasts needed to be made. As much as I love the full English or the full German meat, cheese and all the bread there is usually one which is either...
The highlights of winter in Germany
Whilst Christmas itself can get you through December with magic twinkling lights, cookies and copious quantities of warming booze the rest of winter can seem a bit bland, cold and uncomfortable in comparison. Short cold days that seep into long freezing nights,...
How not to get fined in Germany
Short answer – Don’t break the rules. Long answer – Know the rules. When moving to, or travelling in a country different from your own it is important to acquaint yourself with the basics. Ignorance is no excuse and your mistake could end up being very costly. From...
Don’t throw away your cash: How the Pfand system works
When a group of foreigners get together in Germany there are a few topics of conversation that you can practically guarantee will come up. The top ten frustrations and annoyances will almost always include the topic of recycling. The systems can be overwhelming and...
It’s hip to be square, especially if you’re chocolate
Germany has many food icons, what are the first ones that spring into your mind? Sauerkraut? Lebkuchen? Wurst? Maybe if you’ve visited Germany you’d have thought of Currywurst, Spaghettieis or Spezi? Why some products don’t breech international borders and not others...
Eat yourself cool in a hot German summer
Whilst the mercury stays steadfastly in the thirties (centigrade) and the German summer is bursting with events like Breminale, weinwanderungen (wine walks) and freiluftkino (open air cinemas) it is easy to find the heat somewhat oppressive when you're crushed between...
Germany, you still surprise me
As a long term resident in Germany I would love to say that little surprises me anymore about life here. I know how things work. I feel at home in my adopted land. Then I have an extended stay in the UK and BAM suddenly I’m in a bambi like state of ‘what? Was this how...
City life or village life?
I get a lot of emails from potential expats asking where they should live in Germany. Is the city the place to be? or would a village be better? If I have experience in the place that they are asking for I feel able to give them a decent idea of what to expect but...
When it snows in Germany…
…the country does not grind to a halt. Granted, life is a lot colder and a good deal more slippery than usual, but snow is apparently no excuse to shut schools and businesses. Coming from a land where the mere mention of a snowflake's possible arrival is enough to...
Expat friendship and where to find it
In this quiet time after the madness of Fastnacht and before the indulgences of Easter, with the spring flowers popping through the dirt it is an opportune time to think about beginnings. The air will (hopefully) be warming soon and the festival calendar will begin...
Follow that broom
One of my favourite German words is Gemütlichkeit, which has been adopted by the English-speaking world since it can’t be simply translated. Roughly it pertains to the feeling of comfy cosiness when getting together with friends and family, usually with good food and...
Finding a place to call home
Moving from a culture slightly obsessed with getting on the property ladder as soon as is humanly possible, to one where renting is king has been an interesting adjustment. A lot of foreigners feel this way when they first move to Germany, but it really is A different...
Expanding the family
Adding to your family is something that is taken very seriously in Germany. Do you have enough time, space, money and energy? Have you researched classes, schools and medical facilities? Are you ready to share your food, bed and sofa space? Even with the best laid...
The bridge to a longer holiday
At 8am on a Sunday, walking my dog here can feel like a scene from a zombie apocalypse film. Not that the maybe two people I will pass look ghastly and likely to want to eat my brains, just that there is an eerie quiet that descends on the village on Sunday. As...
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