Interview with Elisa Stella – the Expert Expat Assistant!
In the Facebook Expat Community I am mostly known as “Elisa Stella – Expert Expat Assistant”: I am an Expat myself, I feel at home in Düsseldorf and actually in any place where I understand the language. I was born in Italy, moved to Asia in 1984 – came back...
We moved to my parents’ country of origin
My name is Irene. I was born in Russia, but my parents and I moved to Ukraine in 1996 as it was my parents’ country of origin. What do you like / dislike about the country and the people? In Ukraine I like friendly people, clear language, astonishingly rich culture,...
Nothing at all to be afraid of
So much has changed that I can’t believe it’s only been a year and a half since my first interview. I’ve got back into teaching, which I never expected I would do, and I have loved it more than I ever did in the U.S.. Due to a few hateful...
From Moldova to Germany….in 1979
I was born in Kishinev (Moldova) but my parents were Germans. My grandmother first applied to come back to Germany before the 70-ies, but we only managed to get all the papers sorted out with the German authorities in 1979. We were first located in a “camp” – terrible experience...
German regulations and rules
There are a lot of regulations in Germany and yes you might get frustrated by some of them…. but you will appreciate them at the end, believe me! I am working in a court doing my Praktikum and I can tell you that the court system is far from perfect ;-)…well...
Germany: The place to be?
According to the report published by InterNations, in the Quality of Life Index, Germany ranks ninth overall, owing to its transport infrastructure, safety, and healthcare. The obvious drawback is the German climate, with over one-third of expats (36%) feeling dissatisfied with the weather, compared to 22% globally. However, the natural environment...
The German quality
After having lived in Frankfurt for more than 10 years, I do strongly believe that most Germans tend to be perfectionists! They like to analyse things from all angles… Thus, German goods and services are excellent, however, a bit expensive and not so modern.
I am flying home
I am originally from Ukraine, but I moved to Berlin when I was a kid together with my parents…. they are Jewish, you see. People here often ask me whether i am nostalgic about Ukraine… perhaps I was only during my first two-three years in Germany, I remember we flew to Kiev...
Do you like our music?
We are Romanian street musicians, travelling around Europe with our music. Do you like it, by the way? We are here in Cologne only until Monday, then heading to the north Germany: Hamburg, Rostock and so on… and then back home for good. It’s been a very busy European summer...
Great German organisation!
My name is Anna (originally from Moscow, Russia) and I am a PhD student in Heidelberg. Before coming to Germany, I had applied to many european universities and only in Germany I got a very good scholarship to acquire a PhD in biology and bioinformatics. I’m enjoying every day of...
Advice on moving to Germany
We asked many multicoolties what advice they would give to newcomers moving to Germany. Here’s what they said… 😉 “First thing first, learn the language! Just learning a little bit makes your life infinitely easier. You’ve got to embrace new changes, traditions, and learn to interact with others. Germany is...
Adventures of a German-Ghanaian in Russia
My name is Richard Adu. My mom is a Ghanaian and my dad a German. I am 25 years old. I am a banker, a model and a hair stylist. I finished my first degree two years ago and now here in Russia I am getting my second degree in...
My italian life
Hello! My name is Amber, I am Dutch, but my boyfriend brought me to Italy. What was it like to learn the Italian language? It is a difficult language, grammar, even the order of words in a sentence. But to live in Italy you need to learn the language, because...
Never give up!
Hello! My name is Mohammed Bashir and I am originally from Sudan, Africa. Now I live in Kirov and study at Vyatka State University. What brought you to Russia? Well, my higher education, of course. Having finished school I started thinking where to go. At first I chose a university...
Oh, Germany! Wohnwagen, Anhänger and Ameisenpulver
My name is Andrea Masini: it sounds very Italian and, indeed, I am Italian! Since September 2012 I have been living in Belgium, where I’m working as a researcher at the University of Antwerp. Right now I’m doing a five-month internship at the European Commission, a dream come true. It...
And subconsciously you start smiling!
I came to the US through an ordinary tourist visa having received it half a year before the flight. I came there in May. The tickets were bought spontaneously as a surprise for me. 😉 Why America? America? Well… because I had already seen everything I was really interested in....
A Franco-German mishmash as a positive side effect
My name is Carmen. I consider myself to be a Francophile German citizen, although apparently I’ve become more and more French. I cross deserted boulevards while traffic lights are red, speak Spanish with a French accent and some years ago my high school teacher even talked me into thinking that...
I did everything to integrate myself…
I have been living in Germany a little bit more than a year and I only now realise how difficult it was to leave everything behind in Russia and start a new life in a completely different culture with new beliefs and habits. I initially did everything to integrate myself…whatever...
I moved for love as many people do
Hey there! My name is Jenna Davis and I’m a Canadian born travel blogger and social media manager currently living in Düsseldorf, Germany. While I’m use to jet setting around the globe writing about responsible travel on www.giveforgranted.com, I was finding it quite difficult to get adjusted to a new...
I like living in Rome but I don’t think I would like it in any other part of Italy!
I am Patrizia from upstate New York now living in Rome. My parents were both from Caserta, Italy and immigrated to the US when I was only an infant. I was an Expat since I was a year old. Why Italy? I guess it was destiny!! My mother always wanted...
French lightness to life!
What do you miss most about Germany living in France? Some small things…mostly food 😉 for example, Toffiffee, Koppers chocolate, sausages … and Easter time! In Germany it is a tradition to making “egg” bouquets with forsythia. In France…those are impossible to find! What surprises you most about the French culture? It’s...
Germany is more than cars, sausages and Angela Merkel
My name is Julia Henriette Bräuer. I’m born and raised in Germany. However, I moved to France right after leaving my parents’ house six years ago and some of my French friends tell me I have become French. For example, my eating habits have changed. I eat much slower now, I’m taking delight...
You can be whoever you want to be
In Berlin you are free, you can be whoever you want to be. There are clearly less barriers and you’re at least given a chance to try out something new. There are not so many prewritten social conventions and many different ways of life are widely accepted. As you have...