-Where were you born?

In San Antonio, Texas, USA

-In which country and city are you living now?

Hannover, Germany

-Are you living alone or with your family?

I live alone.

-How long have you been living in Germany?

About 16 years now

-What is your age?

I am 44.

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Germany?

I had grown disenchanted with Texas and its conservative, xenophobic nature after my undergraduate experience at Texas Tech, located in the heart of the bible belt, in Lubbock, Texas. My junior and senior year, I had met a lot of Europeans through activities that were a part of my German minor - met lots of Germans in particular that were exchange students at Tech. I had been abroad when I was in the 8th grade through an exchange program that took me to Japan. I absolutely loved it and got the idea to go to Europe the first time through an 8-week intensive German course that took place in Vienna. After I had returned from Vienna later that summer, I was hooked and knew that I absolutely had to go for a longer stay. The following year, I went to the University of Giessen (near Frankfurt) through the ISEP exchange program for an entire year, became a regular student there after the exchange year, and got my Masters in Financial Economics some years later from the Univesity of Giessen.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a work permit?

No, but that was only because I am an American. About a couple of months after I had graduated from U. Giessen, I took a job offer from a Bank in Hannover. Before I could begin work there, I had to get the paperwork done to leave Giessen and move to Hannover, just like anyone else. I had already moved to Hannover physically, but had not taken care of the paperwork at the government offices. So on the first day at work, I received notice from the employment office in Hannover that I first had to go down to Giessen and let them know that I was moving to Hannover, and carry out the necessary paperwork. So I did just that - caught an early train down to Giessen, went to the immigration office, and started the paperwork. When I walked into the woman's office, I gave her the letter of employment from my employer in Hannover, and explained to her that I "just" needed to have my visa changed from a student visa to a work visa. She looked at me like I was crazy and said,

Herr Tanner, jetzt ist Schluss mit lustig fuer Sie- Sie kehren schoen zurueck in Ihre Heimat!

To translate, that meant something to the effect of "work permit my ass! you're done with your studies, now you're going back to Africa where you belong!" Yes, she thought I was an African, didn't even look at my passport, or anything. She saw a black person standing before her, and that was all.  There was no way I was going to let that job opportunity slip through my hands, so I kept badgering her, trying to explain not so much that I wasn't an African, but, instead, that I had a note from my employer that stated that I was an official employee there, and that I had important things to do. So after about 5 minutes of arguing with her, she hastily took my passport and asked me to wait while she went to talk to her supervisor about the matter. Not 2 minutes later, she came back a COMPLETELY different person, smiled at me, and said,

HERR TANNER- wie koennte ich so dumm sein??? Ich bitte um Verzeihung, habe nicht gesehen dass Sie Amerikaner sind- NATUERLICH ist das fuer Sie ueberhaupt kein Problem, Sie bekommen Ihre Arbeitserlaubnis sofort!

 Tranlslated, that meant something to the effect of, "Mr. Tanner- I am so sorry, I didn't realize you're an American- OF COURSE you can have the work permit- no problem at all for you!"

 So it was no problem after all, once she realized I was an American. I got the work permit, spent the rest of the day visiting some old friends from the Uni in Giessen, and got back on a late train to Hannover that evening so that I'd be there bright and early for work the next day. I thought the way it was handled was awfully racist towards Africans (and probably towards others who come from certain countries), but I was glad to have received the proper working papers. After working for the bank for 5 straight years, I received a permanent green card that doesn't expire. Next step is citizenship, which I've held off on for now because my parents still live in Texas.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?

No, the medical insurance is included in the taxes I pay, so it's no big deal, though I am now privately insured.

-How do you make your living in Germany?

I work in risk control in a federal bank. The interviews in Germany in the financial sector are pretty tough - this job I found listed in the Handelsblatt, which is the German version of the Wall Street Journal (or the rough equivalent thereof). I went through an initial interview process, then was invited to a 3 day assessment center, and was hired immediately after the assessment center, originally as a trainee in the investment banking program.

-Do you speak German and do you think it's important to speak the local language? Please add your thoughts on local customs and whether it's important for expats to respect/observe local customs.

YES. I attained native speaker fluency after just a couple of months in Germany, but it was easy for me because I like languages, and for some reason they totally fascinate me. As a result, I made a tremendous effort to learn it extremely well, written, spoken, accents, everything. I can't stress enough to you how important this is in your host country, wherever it may be in Europe - ESPECIALLY if you are a person of color or an obvious member of a minority group.

Whenever I've had interviews, the people interviewing me are in a state of shock because of my German language skills, and the first thing they say is something about the language skills - they always, always want to know if I grew up in Germany and went to school there, or if one or both of my parents are German. when I tell them that I came to Germany at the age of 24, they nearly faint. When the interview starts off in this manner, that's already more than half the battle won! This also takes the edge off considerally when people are sceptical or hesitant to talk with me at work, or elsewhere - as soon as they hear my German, there is no more doubt, and they feel very relaxed and comfortable, and speak with me as they would anyone else. Then also will NEVER try to give you the run around if they know that you have complete mastery of the language.

So LEARN THE LANGUAGE OF YOUR HOST COUNTRY - it will truly sweeten your experience, and you'll find that people (particularly northern Europeans who are a bit standoffish and reserved) will really warm up to you very quickly!

-Do you miss home and family sometimes? 

Yes, I miss my family - my mother refuses to fly because of some bad experiences she had years ago on a couple of flights, so it's up to me to fly to Texas to see them. They are the only thing keeping me from giving up my American passport and taking the German citizenship (Germany does not allow dual German-American citizenship in my case).

-Do you have other plans for the future? 

I would like to live and work in Norway and see what that's like - I am also itching to learn another language, preferably Norwegian or Swedish, as they're probably fairly similar to Germany and won't give me so much trouble in my old age! Ultimately though, Germany is home, and going there back in '92 was the absolute best thing I ever could've done in my life.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it? 

I'm still renting, will now start looking at buying a home.

-What is the cost of living in Germany?

Not too bad, though a bit more expensive than in the U.S. Wages are good here though, and that helps tremendously. It is a very good, high quality life.

-What do you think about the Germans?

A very good mixture, just like anywhere else. Very nice when you get to know them, and friends for life. As an American, I've been treated extremely well, and the racism here is virtually non-existent for me, compared to what I've experienced growing up in Texas and going to college in west Texas. U.S. military personnel may have a different opinion on that, but you have to mix with the people, learn about them, learn their ways and their language - if you do this, it will be an incredible experience. Again, I think that has a lot to do with my language skills, but most people are very kind to foreigners, even if you're standing there thinking you're being yelled at.

Germans tend to be very serious to an onlooker from the outside, and if you don't know the language, you may get the impression that they're angry with you or are yelling at you for this or that, when in fact that is simply a characteristic of their language - German sounds quite harsh to the untrained ear! Again, you MUST learn the language of your host country if you want to reap full benefit from the experience - the language contains all kinds of signals, cultural, and behavioral traits you'll never come to understand if you don't master it. It's very important, no matter how poor your language skills are, no matter how well the natives in your host country speak English - YOU NEED TO LEARN THEIR LANGUAGE AND LEARN IT WELL.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Germany?

 Positive: It's very safe for the most part, they take very good care of their people, and public transportation is absolutely phenomenal. Education is also free (that's why I decided to finish my masters there), and because the cleft between rich and poor isn't as nearly pronounced as it is in the U.S., there is a lot less crime.

Negative: They are often too well organized!

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Germany?

I don't know of anything online, really - you're welcome to send me an email, I'd be glad to help or answer any questions you may have. Feel free to write me at aleksander.rosdniw(at)yahoo.com

-Where were you born?

Melbourne, Australia

-In which country and city are you living now?

Berlin, Germany

-Are you living alone or with your family?

I live with two flatmates, but all of my family are in Australia.

-How long have you been living in Germany?

Almost three years

-What is your age?

28

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Germany?

When I was about 19 years old. I was studying German at university in Australia, I'd already been to Germany on exchange three years earlier, and I knew that the only way to get my German up to the level I wanted to reach was to move here. I lived here for a year as a trial on an exchange program, and decided that it was such a good idea, I wanted to move to Berlin. Two years later, I got on a one-way flight back to Germany.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a work permit?

I started out on a visa linked to the year-long teaching assistant program I was participating in. When that expired, I got a Working Holiday Visa. By the time that ran out, the company I was working for at the time sponsored me to get a work permit and temporary residency.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?

No. Medical insurance was included in the contract I was employed under for the first year, since it was a special exchange program. I had to get my own medical insurance to get the Working Holiday Visa, but when I joined the company I'm with now, they took over my medical insurance.

-How do you make your living in Germany? Do you have any type of income generated? 

I teach English here, but unlike the average English-speaking backpacker, this is my career choice. I'm a qualified secondary school teacher of German and English at home; I have a degree in teaching, as opposed to just a CELTA or TESOL certificate. This makes a big difference if you're looking for work as a teacher: CELTA or TESOL is usually the bare minimum that good language schools will require of their teachers. Some require you to be a native speaker of English - usually doesn't matter where you're from, but some schools have a definite preference for British or American teachers over others. My university teaching qualification and teaching experience was a huge advantage.

In terms of finding a job, my experience is a little different to most. The first year I was in Berlin I was teaching at a local high school as a language assistant as part of a German/Australian educational exchange program. I applied for the program and was accepted before I left Australia - the work permit and the residency were organised through the program. Six months before my contract and visa ended, I started applying for other jobs as I was determined to stay. I was offered a retail manager's job in another city in Germany just before my visa expired, which I accepted just so I could stay. Two weeks into the job, a large English school I had sent my CV to in January invited me back to Berlin for an interview. A month later, I moved back to Berlin and started work there.

-Do you speak German and do you think it's important to speak the local language? 

I speak fluent German, in addition to various other languages at conversational level. I started learning German at age 10 as the result of a change of school, and continued with it through high school and university. It was one of my two university majors, and I am now qualified to teach German in Australian high schools, in addition to having experience in translating. It's not essential to speak German to the level that I speak it to live here - I certainly know a few English-speaking expats here who have been living here for multiple years who speak little beyond a handful of basic words - but it certainly makes life easier. German immigration and various other authorities do not speak English - even if the individual case workers do have some English knowledge, they will never use it with you to help you, which means you are forced to either learn German fast, or to cajole your German-speaking friends to accompany you to every appointment you have with local authorities - these can be frequent and very stressful, especially at the start of the process.

Aside from just making life here easier, it makes life so much more interesting. Honestly, if you want to be taken seriously as an expat rather than just a monolingual English-speaking tourist, put some effort into learning German. Compared to other languages, its similarities to English make learning it relatively easy, especially if you're learning while living here, and it will make your experience living in Germany so much more exciting and interesting if you can communicate with the locals in their language.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes? Describe your favorite recreational activities there or those that are available.

Sometimes. Since my home city of Melbourne is over 14,000km from Berlin, I don't get to travel home all that often - once every 18 months is about as often as I can afford, in terms of time off work and also financing a plane ticket. Fortunately I can rely on two amazing pieces of technology to keep in touch with family and friends back home - email, and Skype. Being so far away from my family and from my friends in Melbourne would be so much more difficult without those two, and being able to see people in real-time with webcam is incredible. But I also have an amazing group of friends here - they truly are my surrogate family. A lot of them are expats - mostly Americans, which makes me a bit of a novelty as the only one of the bunch not from the northern hemisphere - but there are also Germans among the group.

In terms of recreational activities, I've discovered some new activities in Berlin which I never would have thought of at home. Berlin is an incredible city in itself - the historical sites and cultural activities are truly fantastic, and there is always something to do here. Speaking German also gets me access to the local event websites - cultural festivals, concerts, random events and museum and historical and art exhibitions, for example. Berlin is far from the ideal city for astronomy, which was one of my favourite hobbies in Australia. The skies are too light at night, there are less bright stars up here, and public transport into the outer suburbs with darker skies at night is neither frequent nor especially safe, all of which is the reason I don't have a telescope here. I've traded that for other activities though, particularly photography and urban exploring. Travel is also a major part of my life here: since I've been living in Berlin, I've used it as a base to backpack through Eastern Europe, the Baltics, the Balkans, northern Africa, Turkey, the UK and even venture across the pond to the USA. That was one of my goals while living over here - to visit as many countries and regions in the area as possible while I have the chance - and I think I've done a pretty good job of it: sixteen new countries so far, but there's plenty of Europe still left to discover.

-Do you have other plans for the future? 

I definitely want to keep travelling. I don't know how long I'm going to stay in Berlin for, so I want to see as much of Europe as I can while I have a base here. Finland, Lithuania, Ukraina, Belarus, Russia and a few more Scandanavian countries are definitely on the list, as are return trips to Albania, Macedonia and Kosovo. I also plan on returning to studying, and my Masters is my next target.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?

I share a flat with two guys, a German and an Irishman, in a relatively central area of southern Berlin. Unlike in Australia, people living in share flats seldom know each other before moving in. Usually it starts out that way, but people move out and others move in over time, and most share flats are occupied by people who didn't know each other before they moved in. It works well though, and I got extremely lucky with my flatmates. The area where I live is experiencing a stark increase in rent prices at the moment, but my flat has been in the same hands under the same contract for over a decade, and has managed to avoid the increases, so I'm not sure what the prices are for my area. My guess for a 3 bedroom apartment in my area would be anywhere between 800-1200EUR, depending on the location and style of the flat (old-style or renovated).

-What is the cost of living in Germany?

Compared to Australia and the other European capital cities, it's cheap to live here. As with every city, you can adjust your standard of living depending on where you live, shop and spend your time, but in general, Berlin is cheap to live. It's possible to get by on 800EUR a month (rent and utilities included) if you watch your spending.

-What do you think about the locals?  
Depends on which locals you're talking about. My German friends and most younger Germans are friendly, welcoming, interested in your reasons for coming to Germany, and eager to include you in their world. They usually embrace international visitors, are open to different cultures and really love to party and have a good time. This only happens though if you find a way into their group. Many Germans retain the same group of friends from high school all the way through their twenties into their thirties, and it can be difficult for outsiders to find a way in. This is where share flats are great - it's an instant inroad to a friendship circle which would otherwise remain off-liimits. Work colleages can also have the same function.

There is still the lingering xenophobic stereotype as a residual of the history here, and there are definitely far-right groups and areas which are best avoided, especially if you are not caucasian, but since these areas do not tend to be in central Berlin or in areas which your daily life takes you to or through, it's not a problem.

In terms of the locals you deal with in the service industry, whether it be retail, hospitality, day-to-day administration with large companies and on public transport, German service is, as a rule, terrible. You will get the occasional positive experience, especially if you become a regular at a particular store and deal with the staff there on a regular basis, but generally, the golden rule of "The customer is always right" simply does not apply in Germany. It seems that they can quite simply treat customers however the hell they want: the view is that the customer wants something from the business, and the business simply deigns to deal with them. My favourite example is the customer service hotline here. In Australia or anywhere else for that matter, customer service hotlines are almost always toll free - at most, the cost of a local call.

In Germany, not only do you pay by the minute, but you pay about 15c a minute. On top of that, service calls to German companies on average take half an hour. Each. If Telstra (the national phone company in Australia) for example tried to charge its customers to call them for service enquiries, I could well imagine there would be a national outcry, if not a mass exodus. Here, it's something you have to deal with if you want a problem fixed.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Germany?

The positives: the weather in summer, the public transport system, the travel opportunities and the location in central Europe, the history and culture, the summer festivals, the night life.

The negatives: the service industry, the occasional outright rudeness of Germany, the winter weather (especially if you're accustomed to warmer climates, or the southern hemisphere in general!), but all these are trumped by the absolute insanity of German bureaucracy.

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Germany?

Learn the language (or at least attempt it). Do your homework. Be prepared for an onslaught of bureaucracy, and be sure that you have the time and the patience to deal with it. Be open-minded. Give all of these a good go, and you'll love living here.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Germany?

My Berlin blog - http://kangaroosindeutschland.blogspot.com

Gratis in Berlin - free activities on offer in Berlin. http://www.gratis-in-berlin.de

Best free travel guide for Berlin - even three years after moving here, I can still find new and interesting things to do here in this guide. Great alternative if you want to avoid Lonely Planet. http://www.inyourpocket.com/germany/berlin

-Where were you born?  

I was born in Central New York, USA, just outside of Syracuse, a town called Baldwinsville.

-In which country and city are you living now?

Currently, I live in Hamburg Germany.

-Are you living alone or with your family? 

I live with my wife and two boys.

-How long have you been living in Germany? 

I moved to Germany in December 2000....wow, that makes 9 years and two months i have lived here!

-What is your age? 

I am 41 years old.

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Germany? 

Mainly, when I finished graduate school, I knew I wanted to live in Europe for a couple of years, and Germany just seemed to fit the best for me (i.e., culture, lifestyle, people).

-Was it hard to get a visa or a work permit?  

Not really, Germany has a special relationship with America.  Also, I think that if you want to live and work here, and participate in the economy and pay taxes, I think they are open for that.  It may be more difficult if someone wants to come and live here off of the social system (at least that is what I have been told).

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?  

Medical insurance in this country is paid out of your taxes, so no, it was not difficult for me.

-How do you make your living in Germany? Do you have any type of income generated?   

I am a Doctor of Chiropractic.  I started here with a clinic owned by a French Chiropractor (Dr. Jean-Paul Pianta).  Since that time I have been in private practice in Hamburg.

-Do you speak German and do you think it's important to speak the local language?  

Hamburg is really an international city.  I did not speak the language, and still 9 years later I am still working on it!  Most people here do speak English, although I think it is important to learn the language.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes? Describe your favorite recreational activities there or those that are available.

I make sure that my family gets together regularly, either here in Germany or in the States.  For a while what I was missing the most, was getting together with my friends to watch a football game.  I now have an NFL package over the internet so that I can watch all of the games.  Sometimes I have friends over to join me.

-Do you have other plans for the future?  

I travel to various countries at least 6 times per year, as I love to travel.  Living in Europe is great because it is really not so far to travel to any country that you really enjoy!

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?  

I rented for some years, now I own a home (or at least I will in 20 years or so!!).  A nice home in Hamburg runs about a million US dollars.

-What is the cost of living in Germany? 

The cost of living is very high in Hamburg, as it is Europe's richest city.

-What do you think about the locals?  

I like the locals as much as any other place (there are nice people and idiots living everywhere).  One thing I would say (that Germans won't), if you don't look like them, this is more than likely not a great place to live.  Africans, Middle Easterners, and Asians...people are not mean to them, they are ignored though.  I know this from conversations I have had with people from all countries that live here.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Germany? 

The positive aspects of living in Germany, particularly in the north of the country is the quality of life (i.e., environment, food, entertainment, driving, and the overall culture).  I would say the most negative aspects of living here are purely social.  Germans don't really talk so much to people that they don't know.  Being a very confident outspoken person, this is not a problem for me to begin conversations with people, but for people who are not that outgoing, they may find it a little lonely living here.

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Germany? 

I would just recommend that anyone who is interested in living here, first begin deciding where to live, then make decisions based on that.  I know many expats who came to Germany, and decided on a location before they had "shopped where they want to live".  For me this is a recipe for a disaster.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Germany? 

I don't have any tips for these types of things right now, as this is the first time I have ever visited a blog!

-Where were you born?

I was born in the "World" (Spokane Washington), as some American expatriates call the United States.

In which country and city are you living now?

I live in Holzheim/Pohlheim (Hessen) Germany. Which is approx. 45 km north of Frankfurt am Main.

-Are you living alone or with your family?

I and my wife (German) of 38 years; the 3 children and 3 grandchildren have long moved out and make a living on their own.
 
-How long have you been living in Germany?

I arrived in Germany the early morning of the 28th of November 1971 as a young soldier of the US Army. I returned in 1974 to the States, and returned to Germany in 1978 to stay. Been here since.

-What is your age?

I am now 58 years of age.

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Germany?

We decided to return to Germany after our first child was born in Cheyenne, Wyoming (1974) and two years later our first daughter was born in Denver, Colorado (1976). We returned (and our second daughter was born in 1978) blue-eyed and wet behind the ears, but madly in love and willing to do just about anything legal to make it work. There were other thoughts in the background, the educational system, the health system, the social security system just to mention a few. Job security, and a working public transportation system were also mediating factors.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a work permit?

My wife being a "local national" and we being wed made everything work like a piece of cake. The Residence Permit (Aufenhaltserlaubnis) was issued first for 5 years, then extended 5 years twice and finally it was issued (Unbefristet) which means it won't expire. The work permit was applied for and issued. It is also (Unbefristet).

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?

In the "world" it was difficult, but once back in Germany I was first covered by my wife and then I was covered as I was employed.

-How do you make your living in Germany? Do you have any type of income generated? 

I started off with employment here in Germany as a fork-lift driver, warehouse worker, unskilled laborer in other words. Germany is a country that has highly skilled employees for the most part. I asked one day at the employment office (Arbeitsamt) for possible vocational training schools in any field. I had to take aptitude tests and I was then sent to a vocational school to learn electronics. It was a two-year full-time school and I really had problems with German, but some of the other students carried me through and helped me pass the school and the licensing tests (without them it would have been a no go). 

I was suddenly a "skilled laborer" (Nachrichtengrätemechaniker & Informationselektroniker) 2 fachbriefe (licenses), and all sorts of job opportunities opened up. I chose a Europe-wide Canon dealership working on photo copiers, faxes and the likes. I switched to computers and slowly worked my way into server management, took tests and got licensed in Windows Servers 2003. The German Stock Market (deutsche Börse AG) took me in for 9 years and I really enjoyed the work and picked up a lot of experience, but as one gets older in Germany some of the German employment  problems pop up. What to do with all the old folks is one such problem.

To shorten the story I do make good money and what else can one say? This I can now add, work for Datagroup Köln / Mainz for the Lufthansa Technik AG at the Frankfurt Airport as an Systems Engineer / in Project Management, with the nice titles of MCITP Enterprise Administrator Windows Server 2008R2 and MCITP Enterprise Administrator for Windows Exchange Server 2010, and MCITP Enterprise Administrator for the SharePoint Server 2010 also have a few other certifications, but enough bragging for now.

Not willing to forget my better half, Esther my wife, is a secretary at the University of Giessen (Justus Liebig University) and earns good money also.

-Do you speak German and do you think it's important to speak the local language? Please add your thoughts on whether it's important to observe the local customs.

I am fluent in reading, writing and speaking German. It is very important to lean the local language, and customs. As one important Philosopher stated (don't know who it was) "when in Rome, do as the Romans do". The Germans are always polite, but very nerving, as they pick up a "foreigner" very quickly out of a crowd and use a very nasty word to label you with (Auslander). Every time and everywhere one is labeled right off the bat, when you hear the question, "where are you from", they have you pegged already. It is not meant nastily, but it is all the same, as they seem to want to show you that you do not belong.

The Germans can be rude, not in speaking but action. They don't respect a "sphere" or zone around one, the distance one is used to in the "World" as to how close one gets to a person. They will almost run you over and very few say excuse me. They are not ill mannered, it is just so. Germans do certain things just because it is so, it has always been so and will be in the future.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?

Home is were one lays his or her hat (Joe Cocker). I am at home, my three children and three grandchild, all are here in Germany, why stand up in the boat?

-Do you have other plans for the future? 

We have all sorts of plans, put why worry about tomorrow when today has it's own problems.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it? 

We bought many many moons ago, the house (fachwerk) half timber, was built between 1618 and 1648 which was during the 30 years war, we have a Roman wall built in the 12th century right across the street from us. The house and hof cost around 65,000 DM at the time (1976), we have a closed hof, cow stalls, horse stalls, pig stalls, chicken pen and a "mist pit" (manure pit) plus the 3 story barn.

It is quiet here and we have no prying eyes because the hof is closed. During a complete kitchen renovation we discovered a well and it is 1 meter in diameter and 6 meters deep, it was built by the Romans and they used no cement, just perfectly cut basalt stone stacked ever so neatly. Yes we get excellent quality water and we also use the water for the toilets and wash machine, it does save money.

-What is the cost of living in Germany?

Germany is not any more expensive than the "World", if one has a job and knows how to handle a pocket book, then one should not have all that much of a problem making ends meet, plus a little more. Germans are great savers, and watch what they purchase, they don't go into debt all to easily.

-What do you think about the Germans?

The locals, are the locals, rude, impolite, but very lovable. One does not "greet one another" on the street or in any place else for that matter, no good day, or how's it going, or excuse me after one gets rumpled. They just never learned it.

Germans are very closed up to outsiders, but very honest. I have been invited by Americans in the States to drop by the next time one came through, I have twice, just to be sure about this, but the people just didn't remember me or my wife and we were turned away. The difference is this, a German will not make such a statement unless they mean it. When you take them up on it the doors are opened wide and they are really happy that you did not forget them! So, as an American or any other national, do what one says one will do, honour that which one lays out, or again, as one important Philosopher stated (don't know who it was) "do unto others as you would have them do unto you"!

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Germany?

The positive aspect of living in Germany as another national is that one is an ambassador from the country one comes from, they watch and listen, so be polite, quiet, and gentle and you should have no problems with the wild ones (Germans).

The negative aspects have really disappeared over the last 10 years or so, I can now poison myself at Burger King, KFC, McDonald's, and Subway's plus I can purchase some "American" foods, original also, although expensive sometimes, and steaks, Porterhouse, T-Bone, and Rib Eyes have really gotten better over the years.

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Germany?

If you are new to the country, get out and rub elbows with the natives, learn food and culture, and please be ready for the culture shock of your life, but it will go away and after the dust settles, enjoy the Gastwirtschaft of the German Nation, they have much to be proud of, help them and enjoy!

Pick up a good book called "Culture Shock!: Germany (Culture Shock! A Survival Guide to Customs & Etiquette)." It is written by an Englishman (Richard Lord) and is really interesting to read as one gets to know how the Germans tick on certain aspects of life, and with a good portion of English humor while you read this book. Google or Bing it, get it and learn and enjoy!

Hate to make a plug for them but here goes: Ryanair offers cheap flights in Europe. Choose from over 145 European destinations, once one arrives in another foreign country there are all sorts of possibilities to find a place to rest ones head and to eat!

As an American I do take a little pride in being willing to just dive into the cold water by Binging it or Googling it, finding places to stay with the natives (bed & breakfast) and off we go for a couple short days somewhere over the rainbow! Hate to say this also: But "Just do it"!

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Germany? 

-Where were you born?

I was born in a very tiny town in rural Iowa, in the United States midwest.

-In which country and city are you living now?

I now live in Heidelberg, a small city on the River Neckar in southwest Germany.

-Are you living alone or with your family?

I'm here with my husband of five years, who is also an American.

-How long have you been living in Germany?

We left Boston for Heidelberg a little over two years ago.

-What is your age?

We're both now 30.

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Germany? 

My husband was looking for a post-doctoral position as he was finishing up his PhD in Boston.  He considered several researchers who were working in his field of interest, and one of them just happened to be in Germany. We were both open to the idea of leaving the US, and Germany had a bit of extra appeal as we both have considerable German ancestry.  After interviews at several places, it came down to staying in Boston or going to Germany.  Really, it wasn't a very hard decision!

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?

We couldn't get the visa in advance; we had to do it after arriving in Germany.  Since my husband had already been offered his job, it wasn't a big problem, despite the efforts of the cranky people at the Ausländerbehörde to make it a pain. We didn't bring all the documentation they wanted the first time, so we had to come again - and when we did, with all appropriate documentation, they didn't even look at it!!

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?

Medical insurance is required before one can get a visa.  Since the United States doesn't insure its citizens we had to find something here. The organization which provided my husband's research fellowship for his post-doc gave us a list of suggested private insurance providers and we chose one from the list.  Later I found part-time employment, and we got statutory health insurance through my employer.

-How do you make your living in Germany? Do you have any type of income generated? 

My husband found his job through networking in his scientific community.  I found mine in the same manner.  Both jobs were lined up before we arrived in Germany. Without these personal connections I think it would have been much more difficult, as we did not speak fluent German before we arrived (I'm still not fluent and not sure if my husband would call himself so, but he is closer) and American citizens are behind Germans and EU citizens in line for any position.

-Do you speak German  and do you think it's important to speak the local language? 

I speak enough German to get around and my husband speaks more than I do.  Neither of us had studied any German before we decided to move here. Although one can get by in almost every aspect of life in Germany knowing just English, it's of course crucial to try to learn and use as much German as possible.  Without it, one can feel very alienated.  Those who try to speak German are also treated much better than those who can't or don't.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?

Of course I miss my family, although I hadn't lived that close to them for several years before coming here, so the situation actually hasn't gotten that much worse.  I did not have a very established adult home before coming to Germany, though, having spent a few years in a couple of cities.

Germany's full of great recreational opportunities, my favorite being travel!  The public transit system here covers almost everything and makes it easy to go somewhere new any time we get the itch to do so.  The whole country is covered with paths, in the forests and fields, which are great for walking or biking for just a short distance or from town to town across the country.

-Do you have other plans for the future?

We'll be here for at least another year, and after that, it's hard to say what will happen next!  Chances are good that we'll eventually end up back in the US because of the better science funding available there, but that's something that could change, and we are open to trying a new country or staying in Germany.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?

We are renting an apartment with two rooms (living room/tiny bedroom, then of course kitchen & bathroom) for 730 EUR per month, which includes a parking space (we rent that out to someone else) and the Nebenkosten.  This is a 50 EUR per month payment that goes to cover water and heat.  If we use more water and heat than that, at the end of the year we pay whatever is left - and vice versa if we haven't used that much.  Our Nebenkosten can for some reason (to do with the size of the apartment) not be raised over 50 EUR/month, which is unfortunate, as last year we underpaid by 800 EUR, despite the water company showing our usage as completely normal for two adults.  Not fun to make that payment when the bill came!

-What is the cost of living in Germany?

Germany is one of the cheaper places to live in Western Europe. However, Heidelberg is one of the most expensive places in Germany.  It's cheaper than our former home of Boston, certainly.  We've been able to live on 1.25, and now 1, incomes, whereas in Boston we felt like we were scraping by on 2 incomes!

-What do you think about the Germans?

On the whole, the Germans are polite, interesting, thoughtful people and I really like them.  Their attitudes toward foreigners ranges, particularly depending on the amount of effort the foreigner is making to integrate and learn the language.  There are some major cultural differences. Germans are much less open and much slower to make friends than Americans. They are not keen to make friends at work, which is a prime source of social activity for many Americans. 

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Germany?

The quality of life in Germany is fantastic.  People get about three times more vacation starting than Americans, so it's very relaxed. The consumer culture is here, but very mellow compared to the US.  Stores close early and don't open at all on Sundays.  Health care is so easy to deal with - we can go to any doctor we want, and often you can even just drop in without calling first.  No HMOs!  Germany is a great starting point for travel all over Europe, allowing me to visit more countries so far than I ever dreamed I'd get to in my lifetime!  As I mentioned before the public transit, although expensive, has great coverage all over Germany and makes having a car totally optional.  I love the urban planning in Germany, which allows countryside to exist right outside the city - no cities growing together and ugly suburban expanses closing the gaps between one town and the next, so a lot of the natural beauty of the land is preserved, and it's easy to just get out of town and be somewhere quiet!

On the bad side, the work environments are not as interactive and open as in the US.  The relationships are more formal and departments hierarchical.  The educational system is the same way; I am a student here and thought I was getting a great deal to be able to get a master's here paying so little compared to what I'd have paid in the US.  This is definitely a case where you get what you pay for.  The universities are not well-organized and teaching is not great and the professors are not very accessible and often very condescending and uninterested in the students.  People are also very averse to change.  I thought everyone in the US at my workplace was overdosing on change - they didn't care what the change was, just that it was one, and it often wasn't for the better.  Germany has the opposite problem - they are quick to identify the problems, but not quick to propose or enact any solutions.  Also, I wish it were easier for people to loosen up and have fun and good conversations with people they just met or work with. 

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Germany?

Be ready to accept the differences - they are not that big and not that obvious at first, and have a tendency to sneak up on you and have a bigger impact than you think they will!  Learn the language and give it a shot - they'll appreciate it more often than not, even if you end up having to switch to English.  And take advantage of the opportunities to travel around Germany and Europe while you are here!  It is important to go somewhere even more foreign now and again, so that when you come back to Germany, you feel like you are coming home.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Germany?

My blog is at http://cndrnh.blogspot.com - it starts with posts that now seem so innocent to me, wondering about the way the windows work, the weird design of the toilet, the milk that comes in a box on the shelf instead of in the refrigerated section - and ends up in lots of posts about our travels and nitty gritty daily life stuff that becomes more front-and-center after two years here.

-Where were you born?

Chicago, USA

-In which country and city are you living now

Füssen, Germany 

-Are you living alone or with your family?

Alone

-How long have you been living in Germany?

10 months

-What is your age?

34 

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Germany?

I went on a road trip across southern Germany last summer and I fell in love with this country.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?

I am a distance-learning student so it was a bit tricky. I had to prove that I could support myself, that I had health insurance and that I'm taking 16 hours of German classes per week.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?

Not at all. I talked to Mike at Spectrum Insurance.

-How do you make your living in Germany? Do you have any type of income generated?

I sell American records here on eBay. It's what I used to do in Chicago, too, however they sell much better here. I also clean apartments a few times a month. I was fortunate that I befriended the woman who owns the vacation apartment I stayed in when I first moved here. 

-Do you speak German  and do you think it's important to speak the local language?

I think it's important to learn the language if you move to another country, of course. I'm struggling with German, but everyone is so nice and helpful about it. Also, most people speak English here. There is definitely a dialect here in the Allgäu in southern Bavaria. 

-Do you miss home and family sometimes? Describe your favorite recreational activities there or those that are available.

Yes, absolutely. In fact, being around friends and family are what I miss most of all. 

There are plenty of things to do here if you like nature and history. The area has multiple lakes and is situated at the foot of the alps. There are countless hiking and biking trails, not to mention photo ops. King Ludwig II's most celebrated castle, Neuschwanstein, is also nearby as is the Austrian border (only 4 km away).

-Do you have other plans for the future?

I plan to travel to several countries while I am fortunate enough to live in the heart of Europe. First up is Slovenia and Croatia this Christmas. My preferred method of travel is auto. I love road trips! I try to take scenic routes as often as possible.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?

I am renting a large studio-like apartment for 300 Euro warm. I say "studio-like" because technically I have a seperate kitchen and my bedroom area is set off to the side. It's very comfortable. Can't forget to mention the large balcony with views of the Altstadt (old town) and the alps!

-What is the cost of living in Germany?

Relatively high with 19% sales tax (VAT). However, housing in this area is cheaper than in larger cities in Germany, that is certain.  

-What do you think about the Germans?

People are generally very friendly here. When I moved in, several people in the building gave me various household items like curtains and tables, but I've heard from other Germans that that is unusual. Generally speaking, there are a lot of tourists in this area, so I think the locals are used to foreigners.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Germany?

Being brief...

Positives:  Food is delicious, air and water is clean. Rich history.

Negatives: German is difficult to learn. Taxes are high. Food is delicious.*

*If you like sausages, expect to gain weight.

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Germany?

Yes, visit the ToyTown Germany forums. Invaluable information for newcomers. Answers to nearly any question you may have can be found here:

http://www.toytowngermany.com 

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Germany?

My travel blog including many, many photos of the surrounding area:

http://bettyontheroad.blogspot.com

Again, ToyTown Germay:

http://www.toytowngermany.com 

Another extremely helpful resource. How To Germany:

http://www.howtogermany.com

-Where were you born?

Surrey, UK

-In which country and city are you living now?

Germany, Bavaria, on the border with Czech Republic

-Are you living alone or with your family?

With my husband

-How long have you been living in Germany?

Just over 3 years

-What is your age?

57

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Germany?

We bought the original house as a stopping off point for business trips to Eastern Europe for our publishing business. We had no intention of spending a lot of time here. We thought we would do a bit of holiday letting to help cover the overheads. We chose a location which was convenient for getting to Eastern Europe and with very affordable property prices. We also chose somewhere with winter sports as well as summer attractions so as to maximise holiday letting potential. I think it was on our second trip to the house for renovation work, within a few months of buying it, that we decided that we wanted to stop going back to the UK for long periods and spend more time in Bavaria. We loved the natural beauty of the area, the fact that we can get to so many places easily, and especially the friendliness of the people in the village.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?

Neither were necessary - EU.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?

Yes, but we are still employed in the UK and I reach retirement age in a couple of years.

-How do you make your living in Germany? Do you have any type of income generated?

Our publishing business can be run from anywhere with a phone line/internet access. And the holiday lettings have been hugely successful.

-Do you speak German and do you think it's important to speak the local language?

I speak the language but my husband does not, although he is learning. I did not want to buy property in a country where I could not understand the documents. I think learning the language is vital for really getting involved in the local life.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?

No, although now that we have grandson Sam in the UK that is more difficult to answer but we look at what we can offer him in terms of experience of a foreign country and the chance to learn to ski and learn a foreign language. Generally, most family members enjoy having free holidays in a lovely area!

-Do you have other plans for the future?

We want to organise our time better so that we have more time for travel. We are already getting better at that!

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?

We bought our first house, with 2 three-bedroom apartments, an attic which converted into a 2-bedroom apartment, an extensive cellar, mostly at ground level and an extension which was the breakfast room when the house was a B&B and is now our sitting room, for €100,000. Our 2nd house cost €53,000 at auction, with 2 three-bedroom apartments, cellar, and attic which could also be converted - but that needed extensive renovation. We are now buying a 3rd house, with 4 one-bedroom apartments for €145,000 and have also bought our 4th and final house, with additional space for guest facilities and a large 1st floor apartment for our own use.

-What is the cost of living in Germany?

Going up because of inflation. Also no longer as cheap in relation to the UK because of the exchange rate movement. We always reckoned it was about 30% cheaper in Germany than the UK. Not sure now.

-What do you think about the Germans?

The people in this area are lovely. They have accepted us from day 1. But going to village events and getting involved in village life is part of that. We organised the village Christmas Market last year which was very successful. I was asked by the mayor to stand for the village council this year - I didn't get elected but I was amazed at how well I did compared with a lot of locals.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Germany?

Less crime, better public services and welcoming people are all positive.

The only negative is possibly that we will always be foreigners here.

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Germany?

Learn the language.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Germany?

Because this area is so unknown outside, we carry a great of information on our own website: www.bavarian-forest-holidays.com. We also have a blog at http://haussterr.wordpress.com - again this is more a way of spreading information about the area than a personal record of our life here.

-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!