Stories from my life and travels as an American immigrant in Germany!
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
Biden won. Trump has been defeated. We love to see it, folks. I’m so relieved. At the same time, though, I don’t think America is completely out of the woods just yet. Trump has stacked the courts in his favor. He has sycophants at his side who may yet help him cheat the American people out of their president-elect. Republicans…Continue Reading
If you’re a single German moving to the USA, you might be wondering what the dating “scene” will be like in America. This article covers the differences (and similarities) between the US and Germany when it comes to dating. I’ll also share the best places to meet your potential American boyfriend or girlfriend. Where to Meet Mr. or Ms. Right…Continue Reading
Making friends as an adult is hard, but it’s not impossible. Are you a German expat planning a move to America? It may not seem like it right now, but you’re actually in a very good position to make new friends. Yes, even if you’re introverted or shy. Yes, even if you’re “bad at small talk.” The trick is that…Continue Reading
Frankenmuth, Michigan is a small town settled in 1845 by German immigrants from the Kingdom of Bavaria. To this day, Frankenmuth continues to pay homage to their roots, even though the Kingdom of Bavaria is long gone. This tiny town of 5,000 sees over 3 million visitors per year, and is the most popular vacation destination in Michigan. I loved…Continue Reading
Feeling homesick: it’s like the flu, but worse. After a month-long hiatus, I’m ready to continue sharing stories and anecdotes about my life here in Germany. I’ve had plenty to write about over the past month but, if I’m being honest, it was hard to find the motivation. As the saying goes, “if you don’t have anything nice to say,…Continue Reading
If you’re preparing yourself for a move to Germany, or even just a visit, you may have come across complaints about customer service. Or, more accurately, the lack of customer service. I certainly did, which led me to dig a little deeper into the subject before our 2015 visit. Sure enough, googling “customer service in Germany” gets you a lot of results saying…Continue Reading
My husband and I are planning to do a bike tour of Bavaria this Summer. It’s not my first choice for a vacation, but it’s a good compromise since I want to see Bavaria and he wants to cycle. So, I’ve been “training” for at least a half hour every day, with the intention of working up to longer rides.…Continue Reading
This post was originally supposed to be a counterpoint to last week’s Top 10 Things Germany Does Better than the USA. Was. After my husband asked me, “what will you put on there?” I realized I only had a list of four; a real problem when you need six more items to make a top 10 list.
AKA: The Top 10 Things Germany Does Better Than the USA