GW Expat Co-Blogger AlieC

Alie isn’t one of those people who ever envisioned living outside of her home country, especially somewhere she couldn’t speak the language. Then life happened. Originally an accompanying partner (not a trailing spouse) with a detailed 12-month plan to travel, learn a language and check out German culture from the inside. Life decided to extend those plans and she ended up, five years later, with a Dirndl, a love of beer festivals, and living in a wonky half-timbered house in deepest Baden-Württemberg.

Alie writes about Germany, the good, bad and ugly of living somewhere – which both exasperates and delights her on a daily basis. Initially survival was the reason for her constant exploration – “must find coriander” – but the life long learner insider her always kicks in and a new challenge is just around the corner. Currently working on mastering the ukulele under the tutelage of a no-nonsense Swabian, the music is going well but the dialect will definitely take longer to crack.

You can find her via a guilty pleasure, social media, any time she isn’t reading, swearing at her sewing machine or taking photos. The transient nature of expat life has not stopped her putting down roots: she was always a European, but she now considers herself a local in more than one country.

• View all posts by AlieC »
• Follow more of Alie’s expat life on the Web: Starting over in Stuttgart.
• The BOOK: Germany for Beginners: The German Way Expat Guidebook