DanieMarie
Canadian expat in Germany
Forum posts
40
Contacts
1
About me
Canadian
Lives in Berlin
Registration: 09 March 2012
Heater On October by Chihaya
I have a question. I share with someone else apartment. And now Cold season not yet snowing. Is it good to leave the heater on? Or better to on it when someone is around? I am having argument on this not tho leave the Heizung on and the smell in the ...
I wouldn't turn it up a lot when no one is home, but you should leave it on a bit. The reason is that it actually is more expensive to heat rooms from scratch each time...it's better to just leave it on low so that you get sort of a base ... Read More
How to be happy as an expat in Germany by Cheryl
Hi everyone, Being happy is surely our common goal, whether we are living in Germany as an expat or somewhere else. We would love to know your tips and tricks to be fully fulfilled and happy as an expat in your host country. New environment ...
I think being happy here involves the same actions as being happy anywhere 鈥� achieve a healthy work-life balance, build up local connections, eat healthy and get enough exercise, and just generally take care of yourself. We are lucky here in ... Read More
Krankenkasse-Which health insurer can you recommend for good service by HawkLane
My employer is demanding that I find a health insurance to join urgently. I contacted DAK and thought that everything was settled, but they have not returned to me. Which health insurer can you recommend for good service and quick response times?
This. I think it comes down to personal preference and what sort of 'extras' they offer you (a lot of them have bonus programmes, offer classes 鈥� in non-pandemic times 鈥� etc). A lot of people like TK. I'm with AOK and feel ... Read More
Investing in Germany by Grussgot
Hi Everyone i have recently started to search for ways of investing, as i think its just better to move around your money than having it sitting in a bank account devaluating. First i started with cryptocurrency and now i wanted to diversy a bit ...
^^ LOL put bluntly, but yeah....this. If you're interested in diversifying your assets and want something that will give you more returns than a savings account (and I agree, the interest rates are just sad) but still has some level of ... Read More
How are you sending money to yourself in Germany from the US? by iksobarg
I started looking at paypal but I did some research and so far transferwise and currencyfair are looking attractive. And after some further research transferwise looks like a winner. But as this was just an hour worth of research I ask: What service ...
I came here back in the day so I'd converted all of my money into traveller's checks, opened a bank account here and deposited them. But I somehow feel this is probably an obsolete way of dealing with things now... I think as others have ... Read More
Following your life partner in Germany by Lo茂c
Hi everyone, If love can move mountains, it also makes people move abroad, in countries such as Germany. Following your life partner in a country with different customs and rules is an act of absolute trust and may require a period of ...
I never personally followed my partner here. I moved here on my own and met him after I'd been here for years. HOWEVER, a few years ago, my husband (then boyfriend) moved away to study in a different city. We were living together at the time and ... Read More
Adopting a pet in Germany by Lo茂c
Hello, Are you a dog or a cat person? A pet can add life to a home and make an ideal travel companion during your expatriation in Germany. However, formalities or regulations might put you off traveling with your pet making adoption a better ...
I have adopted two cats since I've been here (one after the other). The first I sort of inherited from a roommate...her life circumstances had changed and she couldn't take care of him anymore. She moved away and I kept him and took him with ... Read More
Searching for shared flat in Berlin (from june) by Pilarsp
I will come to Berlin next summer to study and practice german. Acommodation in academies are so expensive. So, I麓m searching on my own. I麓m 42 years old. Maybe, I麓ll search for a job and could stay for long time. I prefer flatmates ...
I'm assuming that "accommodation in academies" means accommodation offered by private language schools, which is usually just a step cheaper than a hotel. So no, not the cheapest option. It's not uncommon in Berlin...a lot of people come here to ... Read More
Negotiating salary and benefits in Germany by Bhavna
Hello everyone, Better job prospects in Germany can most certainly be an incentive to leave your country of origin. Securing a contract with the right salary and benefits for you can be crucial to make your move successful. Is salary and ...
As beppi mentioned, you can negotiate somewhat during the hiring and contract negotiation process. Usually, companies want you to state your salary expectations, so it helps to do your research here and to not be afraid to ask for what you're ... Read More
Divorcing in Germany by Diksha
Hello everyone, Reaching the decision to seek divorce can be hard. Filing the papers as an expat in Germany can be as taxing since a good grasp of legislations is needed and the process can prove to be tedious. Where and how do you apply for a ...
So, I've never been divorced and I'm not so familiar with the process, but I can give some advice in terms of support. I've struggled with depression for a good chunk of my life, so I'm pretty familiar with mental health support in ... Read More
Kita & Flat search in Berlin by andres_ar00
Hi Everyone! I moving to Berlin on July with my daughter & wife. I have read it is hard to find a place at a Kita & a Flat. Do you have any recommendation that helped you archive this matter? I麓m going to study an MBA programe at ...
i'm probably late on this, but since I live in Berlin (and have for a long time), I thought I'd weigh in in case you haven't sorted this out or someone else has the same issue. It's a *little* more complicated, unfortunately. ... Read More
Intern salary as a Data scientist by Vandermir
Hello all, I have an internship in a fairly well situated start up in Berlin with investments of around 10 million euros. I did research on the intern salaries and the minimum wage in Germany, and I'm aware that in order to have the minimum ...
This is why one needs to answer what their education and expereince level is. An internship can be a way to get into a field when one is new but makes litte sense for someone who has already been working in a field. Why work for next to nothing to ... Read More
Advice - Making Friends in Germany by Bhejl
I鈥檓 not sure if this is allowed here because I don鈥檛 have a question. I have some advice for expats in Germany who say they can鈥檛 find friends because Germans are cold and distant. I鈥檓 in several online expat communities, and ...
I definitely second this advice! Great post :) Read More
Accommodation in Germany: scams you should look out for by Bhavna
Hi, Committing to renting or buying accommodation when you聮re new to or have not moved to Germany just yet is always a stressful endeavour. Would you like to help us in putting together a handbook of what to look out for when house hunting in ...
^^^ Yep, scams are generally pretty rare. That being said, I've seen -quite- a few listed on websites like Craigslist that were/are popular with internationals but not so popular with Germans. Generally, it's better to look through a German ... Read More
Language barriers in Germany by Priscilla
Hello, Learning a new language is a part of the expat process. Let's find out how crucial it is to know the language in Germany. What is the official language in Germany, and what are the other popular spoken languages? Is it possible to ...
I can also recommend the VHS :) Read More
Dating and finding love as an expat in Germany by Priscilla
Hello, With cultural barriers and different dating norms, finding love as an expat abroad can be exciting and challenging at the same time. Is it easy to meet other fellow single people in Germany? How do you go about meeting people ...
First, the questions: Is it easy to meet other fellow single people in Germany? I think that depends on where you are. I think in the big city (I'm in Berlin) it's easy, but not necessarily easy to find a relationship if that's what ... Read More
Is a 1 to 2 Year Residency for USA Family Possible by RANDH09
Hello, Any advice on how to deal with the following situation would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance鈥� We are US citizens and a family of three (husband, wife and 10 yr old son) who want to spend a year or year and a half (max 2 ...
Yeah, I suppose you're right there. Read More
Never ending bureaucracy in German(y) by KLenss
Although, I am a citizen of a neighbouring EU country (Belgium), I can certainly confirm the never ending paperwork that I had to complete to have a 'normal' live in Germany. I moved to Germany 9 months ago, finally I see the light at the ...
It's no fun, but you get used to it! The paperwork generally slows down to a trickle after a while :) Read More
Is a 1 to 2 Year Residency for USA Family Possible by RANDH09
Hello, Any advice on how to deal with the following situation would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance鈥� We are US citizens and a family of three (husband, wife and 10 yr old son) who want to spend a year or year and a half (max 2 ...
Contact the German embassy or consulate where you are. Sometimes they'll let you extend your regular tourist visa to a year as a cultural experience if you can prove that you can finance your entire time in the country, take out travel insurance ... Read More
Language barriers in Germany by Priscilla
Hello, Learning a new language is a part of the expat process. Let's find out how crucial it is to know the language in Germany. What is the official language in Germany, and what are the other popular spoken languages? Is it possible to ...
I agree with the others here. You can get by without German and if you work in certain fields (marketing, IT, teaching English), you might even be able to work in English. But you'll need to learn German to do most jobs, and even if you do work ... Read More
How to deal with stress when moving to Germany by Priscilla
Moving abroad is no easy feat. Everyone has their own ways of dealing with stress, so we invite you to share some insights regarding this topic. What are the main factors that contribute to stress when moving to Germany (cultural adaptation, ...
Anyhow, it could also be a Berlin thing. I know a lot of Canadians, Brits, Aussies, Americans, French and Spanish people living here and none of them had to get their degrees recognised. But Berlin is a lot less conservative than the rest of the ... Read More
How to deal with stress when moving to Germany by Priscilla
Moving abroad is no easy feat. Everyone has their own ways of dealing with stress, so we invite you to share some insights regarding this topic. What are the main factors that contribute to stress when moving to Germany (cultural adaptation, ...
I wasn't a German citizen when I moved here :) Read More
How to deal with stress when moving to Germany by Priscilla
Moving abroad is no easy feat. Everyone has their own ways of dealing with stress, so we invite you to share some insights regarding this topic. What are the main factors that contribute to stress when moving to Germany (cultural adaptation, ...
When it comes to degrees, I think it depends on what you do. Of course highly specialised degrees in things like medicine and law are tough, but I've never had issues with my British business admin degree (I don't even have it translated or ... Read More
Cooking like a local in Germany by Priscilla
Hello, Enjoying the local food of your expat country is great, but learning to cook the dishes yourself is even better. Please share what it's like cooking like a local in Germany. What are some of the most popular local dishes that are easy ...
Traditional food varies a lot depending on where you are. The poster above me posted about Schw盲bisch food (which is delicious...my family is from that part of the country and I highly recommend it), but that kind of food is as foreign as ... Read More
How to deal with stress when moving to Germany by Priscilla
Moving abroad is no easy feat. Everyone has their own ways of dealing with stress, so we invite you to share some insights regarding this topic. What are the main factors that contribute to stress when moving to Germany (cultural adaptation, ...
What are the main factors that contribute to stress when moving to Germany (cultural adaptation, moving with family, administrative and bureaucratic issues, language differences, etc.)? Definitely bureaucratic issues. I think everyone struggles ... Read More
Bibliophile Trying to Donate English Books in Germany by GuestPoster89
Greetings, I don't know if anybody can help me. I just finally made the full move to Germany and I had my library in storage in the USA. Well, it arrived the other day and I've discovered that I have like five thousand English-language ...
I'm not sure about your city, but in Berlin, pretty much any library in any central district is happy to take them if they're in good condition. Of course, there are a lot of internationals here, so there are plenty of people who want to ... Read More
Free and low-cost leisure activities in Germany by Priscilla
Hello, We invite you to share some information regarding leisure activities that are free or low-cost in Germany. This information will give future expats (or even current expats) an idea regarding some of leisure activities that they might not ...
BERLIN ONLY -For listings for free and cheap things to do, you should definitely check out Zitty and Tip magazines. Their listings aren't quite as full as the days before the internet, but they still have a fair amount of various types of ... Read More
Can I survive in Berlin Germany with 400 euros by Camgotti
I have no bills to pay I have free room and board and transportation ticket per month will I be able to survive with 400 euro
Thanks for clarifying. Anyway, my experience of living on a budget has been much, much different. I have been in Berlin for 12 1/2 years, for most of which I was low income. After my housing, utilities, health insurance, and transport costs, I had ... Read More
Can I survive in Berlin Germany with 400 euros by Camgotti
I have no bills to pay I have free room and board and transportation ticket per month will I be able to survive with 400 euro
Ok, but you can totally go out and dance the night away with just a 2-3 beers. I mean, sometimes living on a budget means sacrifices. I'd rather go out and just have a couple of drinks than say to myself, "Well, I can't afford to get ... Read More
Kindergarden Place in K枚penick
^^ Great answer. Not much more to add, other than the fact that it helps to be diligent. Finding a space is tough. Get on as many wait lists as you can and follow up regularly. Read More
Can I survive in Berlin Germany with 400 euros by Camgotti
I have no bills to pay I have free room and board and transportation ticket per month will I be able to survive with 400 euro
If your room and board, public transport and health insurance is paid for, I'd say you'll be fine with 400 if you're thrifty. You'll have to be thrifty and cook most of your meals yourself, but I'd even say you could go out a ... Read More
The jobs that are the most in-demand for expats in Germany by Priscilla
Hello, We invite you to share some information regarding the job market for expats in Germany. This information will be incredibly helpful to anyone considering moving there, so we're very grateful for your contribution. What are the types of ...
What are the types of jobs that are easily accessible to expats in Germany? Teaching English (or another foreign language) and any job that requires native-speaker levels of another language. These include fields like marketing, customer service, ... Read More
VISA requirements moving from the UK
^^^ This. You can pretty much just show up. I recommend you learn as much German as you can before coming here, though. You don't need it to live here, but you'll find it easier to get a job. Read More
Moving from Chicago to Hamburg
Airline freight, maybe? I got some stuff shipped to Berlin from Vancouver Island through Air Canada a few years back. That's Canada, but I'd imagine that American airlines would offer a similar service. Read More
Teaching piano in Germany by mznmnsr
My name is Mazen Mansour, i am Syrian living in Dubai, teaching piano as freelancer is my job since 1995, i am following ABRSM exam, l am planning to move to Germany within 1 year, may anyone help me to find opportunity as freelancer or employee ...
You can teach piano freelance from your home using your own experience as a basis. There are no regulations on that, and sometimes you can also get a job with a private music school, especially if you have your ABRSM teaching qualification. If you ... Read More
The best apps for expats in Germany by Priscilla
Hello, We invite you to share information regarding some of the apps that have helped to facilitate your move abroad in Germany. This will help expats-to-be who are making the move as well. Which apps did you use while preparing your move to ...
I've been here since 2005, and smartphones and apps weren't a thing when I moved here. I managed just fine without them! That being said, there are a few apps that aren't expat-specific that can make your life easier: Which apps did you ... Read More
Cost of living 2018 in Germany by Priscilla
Hello everyone, As per our annual tradition, we invite you to share your experiences and tell us more about the average prices of products and services in your town/city/area, so that we have updated information regarding cost of living and ...
How much does it cost to rent an apartment or a house in Germany? I own my place, so I'm a bit out of touch with the rental market and just going on what friends say and what gets reported in the press. Really depends on where you are. Even in ... Read More