Stories from my life and travels as an American immigrant in Germany!
Studying in Germany: the dream of every American teen and 20-something! …OK, maybe not Germany specifically; any university in Europe will do. After all, it’s free, right? Bernie said so. Well, the good news is, it is cheap. Free, though? Not exactly. Disclaimer: I’m 35 as of writing this post, and therefore An Old™. If you’re still young and full…Continue Reading
Reverse culture shock is the experience of returning to your home country after living abroad for years, and feeling as though you no longer belong. In March, I finally went back to the USA to visit my family and friends. It had been over three years since the last time I’d been in America; so, needless to say, this trip…Continue Reading
There’s a lot to love about living in Germany. Lately, though—and mostly because of the pandemic!—I feel like I’ve been forgetting just how lucky I am to live here. As my husband can attest, I’ve been whining even more than usual about aspects of life here that I find annoying. In my defense…I can’t help it, OK? The last time I…Continue Reading
German comedy has a bad reputation. Even Germans, self-deprecating people that they are, will often say that German comedy just isn’t very good. Is that true, though? First, I have to be honest and add a little disclaimer that I haven’t seen many German comedies. That may be because the first few I watched were awful, which made me reluctant…Continue Reading
Next week marks the 3 year anniversary of my arrival in Germany. They say life goes by quicker as you get older, but for me, it seems like time has slowed down. I feel like I’ve been here for six years, not three. During that time, I’ve written a few posts about the cultural differences I’ve noticed between Germany and…Continue Reading
Germany is widely believed to be one of the few countries with the Coronavirus/COVID-19 crisis under control. In contrast, the world has watched how America has handled the Coronavirus crisis and collectively cringed. Of course, not all American states have responded to the pandemic in the same way. Governor Gretchen Whitmer of my home state of Michigan has shown strong…Continue Reading
Sunday in Germany is quiet. Too quiet, if you ask me. Of course, no one has; and, any time I’ve expressed this opinion on the Internet, every German online will suddenly appear to tell me I’m wrong. And a stupid consumerist American. Sometimes, they even throw in a “go back to America!” for good measure. I’ve learned to tolerate Sundays in…Continue Reading
As the world tackles the Coronavirus crisis, the healthcare systems of many countries are under higher scrutiny than ever before. Fortunately, I can’t tell you what it’s like being treated for COVID-19 in Germany. I can, however, tell you what the healthcare system in Germany is like in general; in particular, in comparison to the USA. Disclaimer: this goes without…Continue Reading
Germans and Americans: surprisingly similar in many ways…and completely different in others. I’ve already covered several of the major cultural differences on this blog; from pay toilets and post-apocalyptic Sundays, to Christmas markets and produce-themed races. Here are a few more in no particular order. You Can’t Do that on (American) Television Germans (and Europeans in general) are much more…Continue Reading
Up until a few days ago, our neighbor, Herr Igel, was coming to visit every evening. He always kept the same routine. At exactly 7:30PM, he would emerge from his overgrown home and waddle across the grass to our garden. From our window, we would spy on him as he sniffed the ground for food, snorting like a pig and…Continue Reading