American expat Rik resides with his boyfriend in Berlin, Germany, where he works as a translator. Living there since the early 1990s, he has fit in quite nicely, and here he tells us how he did it. In addition to discussing his early experiences, Rik also shares some of his thoughts on topics like recreational activities, the Teutonic attitude, and the benefits of learning the language.	Rik Mayda

February 19 2007

-Where were you born?
Los Angeles, California, USA

-In which country and city are you living now?
Berlin, Germany

-Are you living alone or with your family?
With my German boyfriend

-How long have you been living in Germany?
15 years

-What is your age?
40

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Germany?
I had traveled to Europe throughout my early years and always it much more charming and human than the States. I had the chance to study at the University of Vienna for a year and that was my springboard for moving to Europe.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?
Back in the early 90s, when I moved here, it went relatively easily. I’ve heard it’s a bit more difficult these days. I had to be registered at the Police for eight consecutive years and then I was awarded permanent residency and a permanent work permit. I had a very supportive boss who wrote lots of letters to the Employment Authorities and that helped a lot.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?
After I got a fixed contract job, medical insurance is automatically included and deducted from your pay.

-How do you make your living in Germany? Do you have any type of income generated?
I’m a project manager at a language school, and I translate technical texts from German into English.

I found a job very soon. At the beginning, I taught English and simply walked into every language school in Berlin and asked for an interview. Most of the translation jobs come from word of mouth.

-Do you speak German and do you think it's important to speak the local language?
As much as Berlin has an international, big city reputation, any longer stay in this town makes learning German essential. Germans are very proud of their language and expect a certain degree of fluency from any long-term immigrant.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?
Of course, I miss my family. I go back to California every two years, and they come and visit me in between. I don’t miss many things from the States and am very glad that I wasn’t in the States since 9/11 and all the frenzy that it wrought.

Since I’ve been in Berlin, I’ve rediscovered bike riding and newly discovered rowing. Berlin is surrounded by many small lakes. But I do miss playing tennis; in Germany it’s quite an elitist sport, making it very expensive.

-Do you have other plans for the future?
Stay in Berlin till I’m old and then move to the south of France.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?
As 80% of Berlin, I also rent my apartment. It’s centrally located, with 4 rooms and 120 square meters. Berlin rents are notoriously cheap. My place is in the 700 euro range.

-What is the cost of living in Germany?
Cheap.

-What do you think about the Germans?
Berlin has by far the most international crowd in Germany and most people living here are used to foreigners and like them. The “real Berliners” are actually kind of grumpy, harsh people, but never dangerous. But not very helpful.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Germany?
Positive: little crime, respect for human rights, gay-friendly, little homelessness, good pay, cultured people, great infrastructure

Negative: crap weather, people have a negative attitude, so-so food, crap service

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Germany?
It takes a while to win the Germans over. You have to be good at what you do or they will call you on it. They have no problem pointing out anything wrong and telling you about it. You’ve got to have a thick skin. But, when convinced, they will show great respect and loyalty. Germans come across to Americans as a bit harsh, but don’t take it personally.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Germany?
Mayda3000: my video blog
EnergyLab: a great blog about happenings in Berlin
The Berlin Paper: just found this one, great up-to-date site in English about Berlin events, news
Expatica: super collection of article and stories for expatriates, also available for France, Spain and other countries