| What is expat life in Germany like for Kate, a Kiwi-born Irish citizen? She shares some of her impressions of and experiences in Hamburg, where she's working on her internship and enjoying the shopping and night life. She's having a blast, there's no misunderstanding that! |
 Kate Wilson |
-Where were you born?
New Zealand
-In which country and city are you living now?
Hamburg, Germany
-Are you living alone or with your family?
Alone at the moment (my boyfriend is coming to join me at the end of the month).
-How long have you been living there?
5 months
-What is your age?
22
-When did you come up with the idea of living in Germany?
I studied German, English Literature and Law at university. I always wanted to do an exchange, preferably to Germany so I could use my German. Then I was told about Bucerius Law School in Hamburg. They have an international programme, and my school in New Zealand is a partner university.
I decided to stay on after my exchange semester to experience ‘real’ life in Europe.
-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?
I am an Irish citizen, so no. All you have to do is ‘anmelden’ (register as a citizen of the city), and at that time you get an EU work permit, which allows you to work as if you were a German citizen. As a New Zealand student, it would have been more difficult. Students can work 90 days or 180 half days during their stay. I’m not sure about non-students from outside the EU.
-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?
I had travel insurance which covers me for medical stuff. However, if you get a job, you will be required to get German medical insurance, which is easy to do and usually not overly expensive. Your employer should help you with it anyhow.
-How do you make your living in Germany? Do you have any type of income generated?
I am doing a Praktikum (internship) at bab.la – an online portal for language learning. While I was still studying I googled ‘English Job Hamburg’ or something similar, and happened to find a link which told me they were looking for interns. Because it’s an internship, it’s not particularly lucrative, so my parents are still helping me out until the internship is over.
-Do you speak German and do you think it's important to speak the local language?
I do – not fluently, but definitely enough to get by. Many students in my exchange programme did not speak a word of German and it was unfathomable to me, but they seemed to get by. It’s not essential, but it makes life a lot more pleasant, integration much easier and shopping less frustrating!
-Do you miss home and family sometimes?
Right now, it’s midsummer and about 30 degrees Celsius in New Zealand. So it can be hard waking up to another bleak, grey winter morning in Northern Europe. But it’s always winter somewhere! And the experience I’m having here is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. Of course I miss family and friends, but email and Skype make it easy to stay in contact, and I’ve made lovely new friends here in Germany as well.
-Do you have other plans for the future?
After my internship, I plan to invent a get-rich-quick scheme so I can lavishly travel the world. No, seriously, my (New Zealander) boyfriend and I plan to save some money and do a bit of travel through Europe and possibly North America. Eventually I will have to return to New Zealand to get a ‘real job’, but I’m not in a particular hurry.
-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?
I am renting an apartment. It can be hard to find an apartment, especially a cheap one. A two room apartment can cost anywhere from €300 - €600 or more, it’s very location dependent.
-What is the cost of living in Germany?
Totally depends on how you live! Living simply, shopping at the discounter and not going out can be really cheap, but what fun is that? I find most of my money goes on eating out, drinks, organic food and sometimes clothes and shoes (naughty!)
-What do you think about the Germans?
Germans are an interesting bunch. I think I wasn’t quite prepared for just how different the culture would be. New Zealanders are extremely informal and laid back, and while I hate to confirm stereotypes, Germans are very organised, efficient and punctual. I have met some great Germans, and contrary to popular belief, they do have senses of humour! But overall, Germans lead a more insular and solitary life than I am used to – people tend to keep to themselves and their immediate family/group of friends. This can make it really hard to meet people, especially if you don’t speak the language.
-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Germany?
Positive – it’s not expensive, there is always something to do (concerts, plays, libraries, museums – Germany is actually extremely cultural), there is a cool café culture, and lots of start-ups and web/design companies, so the professional sphere has a really young and dynamic feel.
Negative – cold! (well, it is January). As I said above, it can be hard to meet people. You might get weird looks on the train for speaking English. Bureaucracy, the tax system in particular, can be very confusing and a nightmare to navigate, especially if you don’t speak German and/or are a freelancer.
-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Germany?
Try and sort out a place to live and job prospects before you move here, otherwise things can go toe-up pretty fast. And speak German!
-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Germany?
Bab.la Language Portal - http://bab.la
It’s not just an online dictionary, it’s like a one-stop-shop for language learning (or that’s the aim of the game at least). It’s been live since September 2007, and there is the dictionary, a forum and language quizzes for English, German, Spanish and Chinese (with Turkish coming soon). It’s where I’m doing my internship, and everyone there is passionate about language learning – I learn something new every day!
Miss Verständnis – Germany 101 - http://www.miss-verstaendnis.com
This is the site I am developing and maintaining as part of my work for bab.la – Missverständnis is the German word for ‘misunderstanding’, so the name means “Miss Understanding”. Every week I upload a new video about my adventures in Germany and with German, and write posts about funny experiences I’ve had involving German culture and language – and my own personal language ‘Deutschlisch’.
Young Germany – http://www.young-germany.de
This is a great resource for young expats moving to Germany. News, jobs, blogs, advice, language learning – really an invaluable service! Thanks, guys!
Toytown Germany – http://www.toytowngermany.com
This is the site for expats living in Germany. Although the Hamburg section is not that widely developed, it’s great for Southern Germany and Berlin. The best part is the discussion forums, in which you can find information about employment, housing, meet-ups, where to get your hair cut, which supermarkets are open on Sundays or even find a babysitter!
