Stories from my life and travels as an American expat in Germany. Awkwardness guaranteed!
Frankenmuth, Michigan is a small town settled in 1845 by German immigrants from Bavaria. They had come on a mission to convert the local native population to Christianity, and had sworn to remain loyal to the Kingdom of Bavaria. To this day, Frankenmuth continues to pays homage to their roots, even though the Kingdom of Bavaria is long-gone. This tiny…Continue Reading
If you’re in Germany in December, visiting a Christmas Market (Weihnachtsmarkt) should be one of your top priorities. It doesn’t matter if you’re a tourist, an expat who has already been here for a few years, or a native German. You need to go! Why? Well, they’re easily the best parts of German culture; that’s why. For those who don’t know,…Continue Reading
Personal space is very important to your average American. Maybe it’s because we’re used to having (or coveting, in the case of many city dwellers) a lot of space. Either way, we don’t like to be near strangers; hell, many of us don’t even hug close friends or family. We say hello from a respectable arms’ length away and wave.…Continue Reading
Tierpark Hagenbeck is a zoo in Hamburg, Germany. It’s notable for being the first zoo to use moats, rather than barred cages, for their animal enclosures. It’s also known for being the filming location of my favorite German TV show, Leopard, Seebär und Co. I’ve been wanting to visit for a very long time. In fact, I’ve had tickets since…Continue Reading
Amsterdam: a city best-known for legal prostitution and pot. As a potential visitor, you might find yourself wondering: IS there much to do if I’m not part of a British stag party? As it turns out, yes! There’s so more to this legendary city than just the red light district. There are great restaurants, amazing breweries, beautiful parks, unique shops, and…Continue Reading
At first glance, supermarkets in Germany seem quite similar to their American counterparts. Grocery stores like Real and Rewe look just like any Kroger or Meijer back in my home state of Michigan. Aldi looks a lot like, well…Aldi. Sure, sometimes the layout may be a bit different, but it’s basically the same, right? In many ways, yes. There are…Continue Reading
Hamburg was the third city I visited during my first trip to Germany, way back in December 2015. Out of the three cities we visited, it was my favorite. Fast-forward nearly 3 years later, and we finally made time for a second visit. Planning one of your own? Here are some of my favorite things do in Hamburg. Canal or…Continue Reading
Playgrounds in Germany range from the average to the impressive. There are a lot of them, too; in my little city of Wolfsburg alone, with a population just over 120k, you’re within a 5 minute walk of a playground from basically any starting point. Depending on where you live, that might not sound so impressive; for me, though, it’s definitely…Continue Reading
Learning German can be quite difficult. It can also be really boring if you spend the entire time with your nose in a textbook. One of the best tools for learning a new language, besides speaking it regularly, is consuming media in your target language. When you’re just starting to learn, merely hearing how the words sound is helpful, even…Continue Reading
The Hannover Zoo is the fifth-oldest zoo in Germany and contains around 237 different species. My husband and I, along with two good friends, recently had the chance to visit. There are several different themed areas, including the African savanna, the jungles of Asia, the Australian outback, and the Yukon. They also have an area called Gorilla Mountain, which houses…Continue Reading