I got a new cell phone (or Handy in colloquial German) shortly before our trip to the States, but didn't get around to putting on my favorite apps until our return. And many of those have to do with life in Germany. Some of these have to do with the language, a...
The GW Expat Blog
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Tips, advice, suggestions
Questions I Get About Raising Kids in Germany
Even though I am American, I've never raised children in America. I was about 5 years into our German adventure when I had our first Berliner. Now we have two and I am often split between the two countries on my parenting-style; not quite American, not nearly German....
Long-Haul Flights With Kids
I am in the midst of my third trip back to the USA with kids. Along with questions about jet lag and reverse culture shock, one of the questions I always get is about taking kids - particularly a baby - on a long-haul flight. And it is a flight. I live in Berlin with...
The logistics of leaving Germany
The decision to return to England, our home country, after three years in Germany took us a while to make. From the time we made the decision, it took seven months before we landed on home turf with our remaining belongings spread across eight suitcases. Although we...
Learning German, in the classroom and beyond
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...
German Names and Bureaucracy
One of the first questions people ask when you are having a baby is, "What's the name?" Rightfully so, as names play an important part in a person's future and say a lot about your hopes and dreams for your child. Are you raising a Sarah, or a Jasmine? A Hans or a...
Preparing to exit Germany
When I agreed with my partner that I would move to Germany, I specified I didn't want to stay longer than 18 months to two years, and there was no way I was going to live in Bremen for three years. Now I have to eat my words because almost to the exact day three years...
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...
Hidden Sights in Berlin: Schloss Tegel or Humboldt Palace
Alexander and Wilhelm von Humboldt and Their Home in Tegel Berlin is a vast metropolis that no one can ever fully explore, but it can be a lot of fun trying. I have spent a lot of time in the German capital, with many visits over several decades and even living there...
Hospital Food in Germany
Being in the hospital is rarely a cause for celebration, and no one stays for the food. Happily, my recent experience with a German hospital was positive - even if the food was a classic disappointment. 10 days overdue, shortly after the arrival of my dad, our baby...
Shopping for women’s clothes in Germany
In a few weeks, I'll be heading to a friends wedding in the UK, which means I am in search of a new outfit to wear. The prospect of this might be exciting for some people but I am not a fan of clothes shopping. In recent years I have grown tired of wandering around...
“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...
Mobile Apps for Watching German-Language TV and Movies
Why Mobile Video Apps? Whether you're living in German-speaking Europe or somewhere else in the world where it's not that easy to watch German-language television, these apps allow you to watch TV and movies that the locals watch. Even if you're in Germany, there are...
Questions about Having a Baby in Germany
Considering this is my second time having a baby in Germany, I expected to have fewer questions. In some ways, I do feel much more confident than the first time. My German is better, I am familiar with procedure at the Frauenarzt (OBGYN), and labor seems less...
UNESCO sites in Germany
As a relatively small city in Germany, Bremen has quite a significant amount of tourists coming to visit. Last week, as I walked into the Marktplatz (market square) I could tell spring was here as the blue skies and the slightly warmer temperature had once again...
Flying Across the Atlantic for Less
Bargain Flights Between North America and Europe Whether you're an expat in Germany looking for a bargain flight for a visit to North America, or a tourist looking for a good deal on a flight to Europe, there are tricks and tactics you need to know in order to save...
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...
Shopping for Furniture in Germany
It feels like yesterday that I was writing about moving furniture via the U-Bahn. But that was 5 years ago (!) and a lot of growing up has happened, including having a baby. A baby who has wrecked havoc on our furniture. Like the adults we apparently are, we are now...
Planning holidays: Travel insurance and vaccinations in Germany
Currently, I am planning a holiday to Sri Lanka. Why would I leave Germany for a holiday with everything it has to offer? Well, northern Germany doesn't offer much Vitamin D at this time of year. There was a brief rise in temperature in February and it looked like...
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...
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