During Dzhangar's first years in Germany, he noticed what many foreigners notice: how difficult it was for his family to meet other like-minded families. And making friends is crucial. It helps to make you feel more at home, and it gives you a support system for when you need help. So Dzhangar quit his job and started working on an app that would help families connect with each other. That app is MatchFamilies. He joins me in this episode to discuss his initial troubles in Germany, what it...

If you've ever wished a German "Happy birthday" before their actual birthday, you will no doubt have quickly learnt that it's just not done. It's just a tradition based on superstition, but many Germans abide by it. So, is it tradition, or actually superstition? Shaun has his opinion, and he talks with Nina, a German, about it. They also cover the "Eisheilige" belief that you shouldn't sow certain plants before middle of May, drinking traditions, and more. We also cover what the daddy long...

Beth comes back on the podcast to discuss how she recently found herself post-pandemic in a world that had shrunk to just her job and her family. While this isn't a bad thing, Beth was lacking a feeling of community. She also discovered that she needs to redefine her identity now that she no longer does the activities that used to define her: volleyball and fencing. Beth also helps me recap the Eurovision Song Contest 2022. Previous episodes with Beth:  The 5 phases of culture shockFeeling...

When Saehee, a Korean American, first moved from the States to Germany, she struggled to adjust for many different reasons.  This led to her feeling depressed and lonely. But that would all change once she started getting back to what she loves. Listen to the story of how Saehee was able to move herself beyond difficult times with the help of therapy, embracing her culture, and focusing on her love for cooking and food. Saehee's websites: Korea Konnect Kosari Kimchi Saehee on Instagram:...

It's conventional knowledge that West Germany was more liberal and progressive than East Germany. Then it stands to reason that West Germany was more accepting of gay rights. But was this really the case? Of course, these things are always very nuanced, and Samuel Clowes Huneke joins me to discuss it in detail. He's written a book called "States of Liberation", and we discuss it in our interview. We also discuss the similarities and differences between East and West Germany in terms of gay...

When Mei Chi arrived in Germany, she faced several challenges caused by the language and cultural barrier. Not understanding German can result in some minor inconveniences that make funny stories later on, but other misunderstandings can be more serious. All this highlighted how important it is to have help at the right time, and Mei Chi started a platform called BookaLocal. In this episode she discusses her own hardships, and also explains the purpose behind BookaLocal. BookaLocal also...

Here's a short update on why there have been no new epsidoes in the last month, and when you can expect the next episodes.

Fadi Gaziri returns to the show to talk about writing a song for the Eurovision song contest. We talk about why we love the Eurovision song contest so much, what makes a good Eurovision song, and how countries select their entries. Listen to the end of the episode to hear Fadi's Eurovision song entry. Fadi also talks about scoring music for German TV shows and working as a musician on cruises to the Arctic and Antarctic. The book Fadi wrote: ZE GERMANS: An expat's guide to living in...

It only took 106 episodes, but Shaun finally has a South African guest on the podcast! Rachel is a lawyer (also a first) who has only been in Germany for a few weeks. She discusses her first impressions of Germany, choosing between a corporate and a startup when she was looking for a job, and why she is leaning towards a more rural life in Germany. She also explains why winter jackets are such foreign things to people from the southern hemisphere and we marvel over her very large tea...

Laura Osburn is a singer/songwriter from Canada who came to Germany in January 2020 to work on her album and play live shows – and both those plans have been derailed by COVID. We talk about her struggles to get a long-term visa for Germany, how she spent the beginning of the pandemic on an organic farm, and the difficulties she's faced with getting her album recorded. Get in touch with Laura on Instagram: @lauraosburnsongstress Listen to her music on Spotify: Laura Osburn on Spotify Her...

Getting invited to a German's home for dinner is difficult enough, but if it happens, you're probably nearing the German's "inner circle". But how do you behave? What is good etiquette? Are there unwritten rules you need to know about? For foreigners, being a dinner guest in a German's home can feel like daunting minefield. But actually, it's really not. Allegedly German Nina joins me for this episode to take us step-by-step through being a dinner guest in a German's home, starting from...

Marina is from Spain and Greta is from Italy, and together they host a podcast called Buongiorno Bitch. They join me to discuss our love for podcasts, and how they can help foreigners. We also talk about how both of them ended up in Germany, and how they made friends in an old-school 2010 way. Follow Buongiorno Bitch on Instagram: @Buongiorno Bitch Some of the podcasts we mentioned in the show: Just Break UpGlücklich VerkopftGreta's favorite Zeit Online podcast: Ist das normal?Spanish...

The 2021 charity challenge between Nicole of The Expat Cast and I is done, and we have a winner! We were able to raise a combined total of 1065€ for Kinderlachen, a charity that helps children in need. Thank you to everyone who donated for your kindness and generosity. To find out who won, take a listen to the wrap-up :) The Germany Experience will now be taking a break over the next few weeks, and will return in the last week of January. Wishing you a "guten Rutsch ins neues Jahr", and a...

Recorded as an Instagram Live on 21 December 2021. Nicole of The Expat Cast joins me to discuss our low and high points of 2021, and to give an update on our annual charity challenge, this year called ThrEGEPADFO. I also read out the low and high points of some listeners and Instagram followers. We're also joined at one point by Lawin, host of the Pop Your Cultural Cherry podcast. GO AND DONATE IN THE GERMANY PODCASTERS' ADVENT CHARITY CHALLENGE: Nicole of The Expat Cast and I are once...

Jeanette from the USA moved to Germany to continue her studies, and ended up in a PhD program in Aachen. She discusses her experiences making friends while studying, learning German, and her life as a PhD student in Germany. The children's book author Jeanette mentioned in her discussion: Janosch +++Send me your highs and lows of 2021! I'd love to read them on the show with a special guest next week! Send to: [email protected], or leave me a voice message on The Germany...

DONATE in the ThrEGEPADFO CHARITY CHALLENGE! It's the 100th episode of The Germany Experience!  To celebrate, I take a look at just a few of the many memorable moments I've had on the show.  Including clips from the following previous episodes:  Church bells and bicycles (Shannon from the USA)Bonus Episode - A German experiences the Ausländerbehörde (Nina from Germany)Leaving Germany after a decade (Natalie from the UK)Feeling weighed down by the pandemic, and making the trip back home...

Not every Germany experience ends with permanent residency or German citizenship. For some, the plan was never to stay for longer than a few years, or things change during the stay, or some other unforeseen occurrence (cough COVID) makes it necessary to leave. This episode focuses on the stories of three previous guests who have since left the country. I talk to them about their time in Germany, why they left, what they miss about Germany, and what their life is like now. My guests are all...

What can you expect in a German job interview? What's expected of you? Lisa Janz, the woman behind Job Coach Germany, joins me to explain what the five phases of a typical job interview are, and gives some insights into what interviewers are looking for. She even has some psychological tricks to boost your chances of making a positive impression. Lisa was formerly in HR , so knows the process from the inside. Nowadays, she focuses on helping people find the job that is right for them in...

You sent in your questions about health insurance in Germany, and this week a representative from Techniker Krankenkasse, Nina, is here to answer them.  You can also get an idea of what to expect from a health insurance fund by hearing how TK does things and what they offer. If you are considering signing up for health insurance with TK, use my link: https://thegermanyexperience.de/tk It is an affiliate link, so if you sign up with it, you'll be helping out the podcast.  The questions...

Elizabeth first spent time in Germany as a student, and she fell in love with the place. But, by the time her year was up, she was ready to return back home to the States. However, when she got home, she immediately started missing Germany. This began a pattern that would persist for years: Elizabeth would move to Germany, but would eventually move back to the USA again. In more recent years, though, she has wanted to make the move more permanent and has been actively searching for jobs in...

How educated are expat spouses? How do they feel about life in Germany? What word would they use to describe Germany? A new study  by Expats & Spouses Monitor answers these questions, and more. Back in February 2021, Amaia, originally from Spain, joined me to talk about the study that the Expats & Spouses Monitor was doing. Essentially, they wanted to look at the situation and feelings of expats and their spouses living in Germany. And now, the results are in. Amaia returns to the...

From new shopping habits through to being scolded by Germans, here are the answers to the questions you asked about life in Germany! The Instagram users who asked me questions: @Lilo_hlt06@[email protected]@Soundinglustig@Iamgermanexpat@Theexpatcast@Beagle_Vanlife@Theadventuresofsteffi@lisa_janz_jobcoachgermany@almondsandsunset JOIN THE THE GERMANY EXPERIENCE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/theGermanyExperience  Visit the official podcast website:...

What's it like working in tech in Germany? What do foreigners need to know about finding a tech job in Germany?  Yotzín, from Mexico, joins me to answer these questions and discuss his experiences working in the tech field in Germany. We cover the Blue Card visa, changing tech jobs, and understanding the job market. Yotzin on Instagram: @yotzincortez My recent guest podcast appearances: The Expat Cast: A South African, a Filipino,& an American Walk into a Bakery... with Shaun &...

After watching the Calvin & Habs duo do a reenactment of a German children's story called "Paulinchen", I decided to buy the collection of stories it appears in. It's called Der Struwwelpeter, named after one of the characters. Written in 1845 by Heinrich Hoffman, the book contains a set of cautionary tales for children. Sometimes horrific, sometimes bizarre, and always entertaining, the book offers a great view into German culture of the time, including parenting insights and the view...

Both Beth and Amy have appeared on The Germany Experience before, and now they come back on together after having forged a friendship here in Germany. But, as often happens with foreigner friendships, Amy moved back home. We discuss making friends in Germany, what it's like losing foreigner friends, reaching a point of acceptance with life in Germany, and their related tattoos. Beth and Amy also help me answer a question from a listener who is constantly excluded from discussions at work...