A lot depends on the sense of taste
My name is Anatolij Pickmann, I was born in Odessa, Ukraine, and currently live in Berlin. I am a professional freelance illustrator since 2009; usually do various illustrations and drawings for German and international PR companies. I came to Germany when I was 14 years, actually I did not have...
Best quotes on German experience
If you missed some of our great stories, enjoy this funny, great, inspiring and beautiful collection of quotes from the intentional community we have interviewed for you. Here we have chosen only some of our favourite lines that you’ll definitely won’t forget!
Photohead
My name is Sergej, I am 37. I was born in Irkutsk, Russia and currently live in Berlin. I am a professional photographer. I came to Germany in 1998 because my ancestors were Germans. What was the worst experience in Germany so far? I’d say various German “Amte”: public offices, institutions and...
The Klezmer Gentiles
An interview is never one-sided – in fact, it is a constructive conversation. I am as much a part of this piece as the artist who answered my questions. Without the contributions of the other, individual statements would hold little significance. So thanks, Soli, for letting me share our conversation. The...
Elephant skin
I just came across your website and read an article with the title “I can laugh about it“. Please tell the author that I had experienced the same thing in my own hometown back when I was in the elementary school. I did not even know that my grandpa came...
What do non-Europeans think of Europe?
Have you ever wondered what people think of your country and culture? What about your whole continent? 🙂 Here’s what happened when a group of people originating from 7 different European countries tried to figure it out: what does brand “Europe” stand for? Meet “Brand New Europe“: non-Europeans know the answer.
20 abitudini che un italiano perde quando si trasferisce in Germania
L’ espresso: i tedeschi non concepiscono che si debba pagare così tanto per bere così poco. L’ultima volta che ho chiesto un espresso qui, potevo fare colazione pucciandoci un pacco di biscotti (danesi).
20 Italian habits I’ve lost when I moved to Germany
Espresso: Germans do not accept that you have to pay so much in order to drink so little Hi Eve, My name is Giovanni. I currently live in Dusseldorf where I moved 15 years ago from my little village in Tuscany for work. I’ve read your article “25 things you have...
3 ways to gain control of intercultural clashes
Have you ever lived in a country where time and again you rubbed against the local way of living and behaving? Where you thought that you could never really feel at home? And where maybe you even experienced a bit of scorn against this country and its people? This is...
I can laugh about it
I am originally from Malaysia and have been living in Germany since more than 5 years. I can tell you my worst experience here…. it all happened during my first year. I remember I was walking right in the center of Cologne, and suddenly I was surrounded by a group of young...
Apartment hunting: harder than finding a job
If you are an expat and want to feel in Germany like at home, then go outside and meet people. Try to meet local people – not only expats – and assimilate with them and their culture. This will help! However, something that I find really astounding here in Munich, is that finding an...
The best experience was to see Germany during the Football World Cup!
I am Marilya. I come from Belarus and study political science in Slovakia. I came to Germany as an exchange student. Originally I was supposed to study there for one semester but eventually I stayed for sixteen months. During this time I studied at the university of Siegen for one...
It is a complete necessity!
Do you still feel yourself Russian? I get this question a lot… simply because I moved to Germany very young…I actually went to the kindergarten and school in Russia… I identify myself as being Russian in Germany, for example, if there is something about Russia in the news, I am...
20 things you will love in Germany
I know, I know some of you probably had or still have an image of Germany as a grey, rainy and industrialised place, but hey there are lots of great things about living here as well and today we’d like to share 20 things you will definitely love about Germany!!! Of course,...
How integrated I am? In my opinion or others?
Everybody seems to be questioning others’ integration these days, while we all do it on a daily basis. It’s an ever-lasting process. And I believe it’s a natural instinct and a key factor to survive life joyfully. I am Muslim and Jordanian with a Syrian heritage, who studied and worked...
Musician full-time
You know, my composition teacher actually once told me: “Your way of composing music sounds very German…. you are composing some very structured German flamenco.” Cristian Varas Musician full-time Why would anyone decide to quit a good job of an IT professional nowadays? Why would anyone want to quit the...
I am too Nigerian to believe in something like depression
My name is Jennifer and I am originally from Nigeria. I moved to Germany in 2013 to visit my partner, one month later we got married and I haven´t looked back. I speak only English for now, but I attend German classes and would really love to master my language skills....
If we don’t like where we are, we can move, we are not trees
My name is Luca. I was born in San Cataldo, province of Caltanissetta in Sicily. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in General Physics and a Master’s Degree in Geophysics and environmental Physics. My main hobbies are playing bass guitar (I used to play in several local bands back in Italy), listening...
It starts to feel like home
My name is Adelaine, I am originally from Malaysia and I did my Bachelor’s Degree in Electronic and Electrical Engineering, I actually discovered that I wasn’t so passionate about going through tons of technical details but more in the greater picture and mostly in working with people. So when a...
Hamid, Stardom, and the Difference Threshold
It’s November of last year and Kelly and I are visiting relatives of mine in Soest, a small town of under 50,000 in Northwestern Germany. We’re hanging out in the kitchen, chatting over a cup of coffee, when one of my cousin’s friends walks in. He pauses with one arm...
Ilana on the Road
I am a travel blogger and writer, based in Berlin. I am regularly writing for my two travel blogs, Ilana on the Road about my travel adventures and Foreigner in Berlin covering exclusively tips and stories from Berlin. I started to travel at a very young age, and especially since...
Entrepreneurial spirit
We are Tanja and Tanja – very easy to remember. But it is Tanja with a J., not Tanya or Tania. Tanja and I met during a trade show in Hamburg in 2013. We started talking, and it somehow felt as if we had known each other for years. It...