My name is Marija Mihailovic, I am Master of Science Architecture (I work as Architect for 12 years). I come from Serbia, but I lived 13 years in Moscow, so on question where i coming from, i can give you an answer – from everywhere 🙂 Hobbies – cooking, meeting new people, traveling, making home decoration!

Why Germany?

It is interesting question, we did not choose Germany, work in Germany chose us 🙂

How do you like your life in Germany?

To be honest, my life in Germany is very boring 🙁 in comparison to other cities where I had lived, Cologne is a city that is after 20:00 does not have any life. If you don’t work, you can not find any content type of hobby, where you go to meet some people and spend 2-3 hours, like photography, crochet etc. For example, in Moscow you can walk around the city, you will always meet  some people on the streets, have a coffee with a stranger, you have a ballet, hundreds of museums, every week something new is happening, city is always alive!

Has your life style changed since you moved to Germany? If yes, how?

Yes, it has changed, we began to spend more time at home and we don’t like it 🙁

What is the the first thing you do when you go back to your home country?

See your friends, go outside, have a good time and eat a decent cake 🙂

Does Germany seem multicultural to you?

No, I think Germany is not a multicultural country. I think that Germany can be compared with the countries, which have similar lifestyles (like Denmark, Belgium, Finland, Norway), but not with Moscow and Serbia 🙂

Do you feel yourself integrated? What does it mean anyway …

O yes, famous German word – integration. I have my own theory about integration, which of course does not match the German interpretation. What, how and why, me, person who lives for 15 years in one of the biggest and richest cities in the world, is a Master of Science Architecture (I have studied in one of the most prestigious colleges of architecture in the world), I have to attend integration courses in Germany? Seriously?! And some guys from Canada, America, Australia have no problems with the integration in German (no integration courses for them)….most of these people will never learn the German language…

What is very important to understand for people in Germany is that someone guy conducting the integration course is going to tell you something important, but the people themselves in Germany must be open to accept the foreigners, and if i don’t speak Deutch good enough, you need to help me or to try to explain to me in English! Don’t look at me like I am an idiot if I don’t speak German!

Can a multicultural society exist?

Yes, and the right example for this is Canada. It was built on this principle.

Have you ever experienced any cases of discrimination/racism here or in other countries where you have lived?

Yes, discrimination and in Germany, especially during doctors’ appointments!

Advice to a new expat in Germany?

The sausages are excellent and try the waffles as well 🙂


By Eve

Multicoolty founder.
Always a learner, hungry runner, dog lover for life, world traveler, serial fish eater and espresso drinker, Juventus fan and a true multicoolty at heart!