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(This is the podcast previously known as Expat Life Germany.In the first few years in Germany, things weren't always easy for Sindy from Hong Kong. As is the experience of many foreigners living abroad, she faced painful and difficult moments. And it was exactly these moments that drove her to not only adapt and learn the language, but also to thrive. Sindy's Blog: My Life In GermanyFind her on: FacebookTwitterInstagramJOIN THE THE GERMANY EXPERIENCE FACEBOOK GROUPVisit the official The Germany Experience website.
Audrey and Zach met while in the USA. When Zach, a cartographer, moved to Germany on a SOFA status (Status of Forces Agreement), they first attempted a long-distance relationship before Audrey joined him later in Germany. Take a listen to their story, which involves cuckoo clocks, a ride in the back of a German police car, and how to watch a TV show together on different continents.We also discuss a blog post that Audrey wrote called "Growing a Thicker Skin", and she opens up about fitting into German culture as a bubbly, open person. The app Audrey and Zach used while living apart: CoupleThe therapy service Audrey uses: BetterHelpWebsite for organizing meet-ups with people: https://www.meetup.com/Audrey's blog: https://www.a-broad.com/Zach's blog: https://zachsyearingermany.wordpress.com/JOIN THE EXPAT LIFE GERMANY FACEBOOK GROUPVisit the official Expat Life Germany website.
Donate to my cause in the expat podcasters charity challenge (aka #FEGEPADFO): Donate to Lebenshilfe Bad WindsheimGermany offers a lot of opportunities, but it's also known as a difficult country to integrate into. What happens when the German dream becomes a nightmare? My guest this week (who asked to remain anonymous) is from India, and he has experienced rude government officials, losing a job because he wasn't a native speaker, difficult neighbors, and even blatant racism. Because of these experiences, his views on Germany are not positive. In our interview, we discuss his experiences and opinions of the country and its people.Greta Thunberg's "feud" with Deutsche Bahn: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/dec/15/greta-thunberg-in-twitter-spat-with-german-rail-firmJoin the Expat Life Germany mailing list.Discuss your opinions on this episode in the Expat Life Germany Facebook group!Visit the official podcast website: Expat Life Germany
Jibran runs the Desi in Wonderland YouTube channel. He's originally from Pakistan and has been living in Germany for 5 years, so we decided to discuss how Germany has changed us. In the process, I learned a lot more than I expected about Pakistani culture. Find Jibran on Instagram and Facebook.Also in this episode: Introducing FEGEPADFO (First Ever German Expat Podcast Advent Donation Face-Off), where I go up against my sworn rival, Nicole from The Expat Cast, in a battle to see who can raise the most money for charity. To see our selected charities and find out more information, go to the FEGEPADFO page. Discuss your opinions on this episode in the Expat Life Germany Facebook group!Visit the official podcast website: Expat Life Germany
Liliana is from Naples, Italy, and has lived in Germany for 7 years. She recently got her citizenship, and discusses how that happened. We also cover her reason for choosing Germany, why she'd struggle to return to Italy, and she compares Hamburg and Berlin with Naples. Subscribe to Liliana's YouTube channel: Lils AroundLiliana on social media: FacebookInstagramDiscuss your opinions on this episode in the Expat Life Germany Facebook group! Visit the official podcast website: Expat Life Germany
We continue our interview with self-proclaimed "Global Happiness Coach" Talu (True Awareness Coaching) shares her fascinating life story. In this episode Talu discusses:+ Moving to America and starting a family+ Soul searching about her shifting roles+ Moving to China as a family of 4+ New Career opportunities+ Moving to Hamburg, Germany and finding her true purposeAs one who has lived and traveled abroad, learned many languages, and adjusted to over 6 international moves, Talu is uniquely situated to offer coaching to global citizens everywhere.Connect with TaluInstagramFacebookLinkedInWebsite
Are Germans really efficient? Do they like order? Are they as punctual as everyone says they are? Nicole Palazzo, a US expat living in Germany and the host of The Expat Cast, helps me confirm or bust common stereotypes and cliches about Germans.Discuss your opinions on these stereotypes in the Expat Life Germany Facebook group! And also: let us know of any we missed, or ones that might be common in your area of Germany.The cult British show that Germans watch every year on New Year's Eve: Dinner for OneFind Nicole:The Expat Cast podcastThe Expat Cast on InstagramMail Nicole: theexpatcast@gmail.comExpat Life Germany:Facebook page Facebook groupWebsiteInstagramTwitter
Discuss this episode in the Expat Life Germany Facebook group! Vlad from Romania was tired of the political situation in Romania, and made the choice to move to Germany. But, unlike many Romanians who emigrate to western Europe, integration is easier for him since he's highly educated and already knows German. But is integration always a choice? We talk about why Romanians have a bad reputation in Germany and how Germany offers a better life for many eastern Europeans.We also look into the latest Internations Expat Insider Report and find that Germany is not in the Top 10 of the top expat destinations in 2019. Listen to my guest appearance on the Geopats podcast with Steph Fuccio: Geopats #66Visit expatlifegermany.de for more episodes and blog posts.
In the last episode, Anna Noakes Schulze dropped so many insights about expat life that I had to edit some of it out. Since it'd be a shame for it to go to waste, I decided to put it in a bonus episode. Here is more Anna, and we go into detail about social media, how to help others by first taking care of yourself, and why she is not afraid to make connections with people who might be moving on in the future. Visit Anna's website: https://www.sunflowerux.com/Ask Anna questions in the Expat Life Germany Facebook group.
For all the links mentioned in the episode (there are a few!), go to the Finding and Getting a Job in Germany blog post.I go through some of the ins and outs of getting a job in Germany. To help me, I got Cheryl Howard of cherylhoward.com to discuss her experiences as a job seeker in Berlin (she's interviewed for dozens of jobs). Then Abi from IamExpat.de joins me to discuss what goes in a German Curriculum Vitae, as well as some general tips for writing the document. I also give you some advice from my own experiences looking for jobs in Germany. And I go through some questions and advice from listeners of the show. Follow me on Instagram and Twitter, and join the Facebook Group to discuss the episode. Visit expatlifegermany.de for other episodes. Music used in this episode: Until the End by Ryan Anderson, Laid Back Fuzz by Podington Bear, Daybreak by Chad Crouch, and the theme song is “Devil In My Head” by 10 Cent Janes.
I first interviewed Sarah back in July for a bonus episode, because she'd almost been caught by a scam. We had such a great discussion that I wanted to have her back on the show, and here she is. Although Sarah is new in Berlin, she is by no means new to the expat way of life: she has lived in Syria, Canada, Dubai, Malaysia, Japan, and now, Germany. She discusses how her international background has made adapting to new cultures easier, and how she views her identity. She also gives her initial feelings on Berlin, Germany, Germans, and contrasts life here to life in Japan. Follow Sarah on Instagram: @slikko For the blog post about the episode: https://expatlifegermany.de/12
Tim Bourguignon is a French citizen who moved to Germany to be with his wife. He describes himself as coming in four flavors: Agile Coach, Chief Learning Officer, Mentoring Advocate, and Public Speaker. He also hosts a podcast called Software Developer’s Journey. After bad experiences learning German in school, Tim picked up German again years later when he actually moved to the country. In our interview, we discuss how his learning was aided by his colleagues, the Volkshochschule (adult education centers in Germany), and...the Wise Guys. We also cover how he handles three languages at home, some advice for making friends (care of the Holstee manifesto), and keeping in touch with friends and family back home.Tim's Website: https://www.timbourguignon.fr/Tim's Podcast (Software Developer's Journey): http://podcast.devjourney.info/
When learning a new language, it takes a long time before you're able to express yourself and articulate your thoughts, and so it's easy to feel like you're coming across as dumb. This is just one of the topics that Natalie, a stay-at-home mum from Australia, discusses about her time in Germany.She also discusses her approach to her toddler's language learning, who is a child with an Australian mother and an Italian/German father, and who is growing up in German culture. Plus, Natalie has always needed to be creative, and that's something she needs to align with being a parent and living as an expat in a country where it might not be that easy to move into a creative career. Visit the official podcast page: expatlifegermany.deAnd listen to the show next week when the winners of the "From the Bürgeramt to the Bedroom" book will be announced!
Arvi is from India and moved to Germany 5 years ago to complete his studies as an engineer. He did this, but instead of returning home, he moved to Berlin and founded a startup with two other entrepreneurs. His company, MyHelpBuddy, puts expats who need a service or who have a problem in contact with "buddies", who are expats or locals who are able to help. Arvi discusses the platform and also how to start a company in Germany. He explains the support available—even for foreigners—from institutions such as startup incubators. In his case, Startup Incubator Berlin (from the Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Recht, or Berlin School of Economics and Law) helped him and his co-founders get the company off the ground. Try out the platform: MyHelpBuddy.comArvi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aravinth-palaniswamy/Arvi is also the founder of INK Network of Knowledge: https://ink-connect.com/Join the discussion in the podcast's Facebook group!And you can still win a copy of From the Bürgeramt to the Bedroom by signing up for the podcast newsletter. Do it before July 17th! Vist the episode blog post on Expat Life Germany, and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.
Lori from USA has been teaching English in Germany for almost 40 years, so it’s not surprising that she has a thing or two to say about learning new languages. In fact, her language pedigree goes back to even before she moved to Germany, when she was a German high school teacher in the States. In this interview, Lori’s wisdom and wit shine through as she discusses how she got started teaching in Germany at a Volkshochschule, how speaking a language doesn’t necessarily mean you understand the culture, the importance of good pronunciation when learning a second language, and raising children in a bilingual household. I’d love to have Lori back on a future episode, so if you have questions related to language or culture, we can try benefit from Lori’s wisdom! Send them here: expatlifegermany@gmail.com Want to discuss this episode? Join the Facebook group and give us your opinion: Expat Life Germany Facebook GroupIf you’d like to be on the show yourself: https://expatlifegermany.de/be-on-the-show
In episode 5, I discussed potential scams aimed at expats. Well, Sarah is a new expat in Berlin who very nearly got caught by an apartment scam. In this bonus episode, she describes her story and explains just how one of these scams is run by the scammers.
Every month end, I'll take a look at some of the most interesting topics of the previous month. This time, Abi from IamExpat.de joins me with her pick of stories from June 2019. Also, Shaun runs through the top scams that expats need to be weary of, namely apartment scams, job scams, and financial scams. He also suggests two golden rules to help prevent getting scammed. For the full show notes and other links: Episode 5: Don't Get Scammed + IamExpat.de Round-Up with AbiYou also still have until July 17th to win one of two copies of From the Bürgeramt to the Bedroom: just sign up for my newsletter to get entered into the draw!
Click here for the full show notesBuy the book on Amazon: From the Bürgeramt to the BedroomFrom the Bürgeramt to the Bedroom is a book aimed at new expats in Germany. It provides advice for common situations that expats will find themselves in, like going to the Bürgeramt, finding an apartment, or recycling garbage. It also features a useful vocabulary list for each situation. Shaun interviews the writers learns why they wrote the book, the process of getting it published, why one of the writers was once the most hated person in Latvia, and how Germans really feel about their pillows. Visit their website, or follow them on Twitter and on Facebook.To win one of two copies of the book, sign up to the Expat Life Germany newsletter.Here's the blog that got Linda O'Grady in trouble: Moving to RigaAnd the video that redeemed her: You Want Me To Do What?
Get the show notes on Expat Life Germany: Episode 3 Show NotesNoor has been in Germany on a student visa for around two and a half years. In this episode, he discusses his difficulties converting to a Blue Card, how it’s easier to make friends with younger Germans, experiencing snow for the first time in his underpants, and he tells the story of a chance meeting with some ultra-right wingers. He also talks about how you need to get the “Gungs” before you can adjust to life in Germany…
Dwight Steven-Boniecki is an Australian transmission controller, writer, and film maker living in Cologne, Germany. He explains how he ended up in Germany and he shares his advice for expats (it has to do with dealing with the German authorities). He also has a tip for job seekers in Germany: request a straight vodka from the interviewers at the end. Plus: the world premier of a song Dwight co-wrote, called “Who Threw That Rock”, which may or may not be the greatest song ever written.Shaun also rounds up some other topics that might be of interest to expats: there are proposals to increase the already-too-expensive Rundfunktbeitrag, the FIFA Women’s World Cup starts soon, and E-Scooters may now utilize bicycle paths and streets. For detailed show notes, go to https://expatlifegermany.de/2Join the discussion on the podcast Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/699697987116101/?source_id=318414185502643
In the first episode of the Expat Life Germany podcast, Shaun Behrens introduces himself and tells his own expat story. He also discusses the recent EU elections and Germany's strange aversion to credit cards (which might now be changing). See the show notes for more information: https://expatlifegermany.de/1