Episodes
Planning a summer trip to the mountains (Ceri from the UK)
May 12, 2021
If things in Germany continue easing up, vacation will again be possible this summer. A very popular tourist destination is the mountainous region of Bavaria. Ceri, originally from the UK, runs a mountain tour and trekking company there called Four Elements . She joins me to discuss how to avoid to…
Three key factors for making friends in Germany (Nadja from Germany)
May 5, 2021
Nadja Todt was born and raised in Germany, but spent 11 years abroad. She describes herself as a global citizen, change-maker, international experience expert, community connector and mentor, and a German and English language consultant. Nadja offers a program called "45 Days to Meaningful Friendsh…
Feeling weighed down by the pandemic, and making the trip back home (Beth from the USA)
April 20, 2021
How are foreigners in Germany feeling right now? Do they feel like they want to pack up and return to their home countries? And what is it like to make the trip back home?
BONUS - My experiences searching for jobs and working in Germany (Lisa Janz interviews me)
April 18, 2021
Lisa Janz, who is a job coach for internationals in Germany, recently interviewed me in a live Q&A on her Facebook page . This is the audio of that video. She asked me about my experiences looking for jobs and working in Germany. We also discuss workplace culture shocks, interviews while wearing ri…
What do you want from a job in Germany? (with Lisa Janz from Job Coach Germany)
April 12, 2021
Lisa Janz is a career coach for international professionals in Germany. She joins me to discuss the big question of how to figure out what you want from a job in Germany. New foreigners in Germany often just want to get a foot in the door, and foreigners that have been here longer might feel like i…
RERUN: Being far from family when losing someone, making friends through team sports, and security in Germany (Rafael from Brazil)
April 6, 2021
Originally release on 3rd November, 2019 (episode #21) One of my best friends in Germany, Rafael from Brazil, experienced loss when his father passed away, and talks about how he coped dealing with that being far from his family. He's also a handball player, and he had the chance to make German fri…
Finding an apartment in Germany: tips, advice, etiquette, and other things you need to know (Madalina from Relosophy)
March 29, 2021
Madalina, originally from Romania, is a relocation agent who helps foreigners find accommodation in Munich. And as she says, if you can make it in Munich, you can make it anywhere in Germany. Madalina joins me to discuss getting an apartment in Germany - a process that starts before you even start …
Job search and working in Germany: expectations vs. reality, work contracts, and corporates vs. start-ups (Jana from Meetra)
March 21, 2021
Many foreigners have a picture in their minds of what it will be like finding a job and working in Germany. For example, it seems that the perception is that there are many opportunities in Germany, that salaries are good, and that German companies are efficient. However, this is not necessarily th…
Common things Germans say and do, and what they mean (Nina from Germany)
March 15, 2021
The Germans have certain words, sayings, and gestures that they do very often, often without even thinking about it. And some of these things can be very confusing to people new in Germany. For example: you'll often hear "Oh je" or "So!" in a conversation. Previous guest and resident German Nina j…
Making long-term German friends, reverse parking, and origins of German idioms (Q&A session)
March 8, 2021
I answer your questions about life in Germany, and also some personal questions. Plus, I read some insightful YouTube comments. This was recorded during a Facebook live stream. Watch the full video on my YouTube channel Some of the questions I answer: How can you develop close friendships with Germ…
Sparkling wine receptions, digitization, WG living, and coming to Germany on a scholarship (Alex from the USA)
March 1, 2021
Alex is originally from Nebraska, USA, but is now living in Hamburg. She joins me with a glass of sparkling wine to discuss, among other things, her love for "zu verschenken" culture, how scholarships offer a world of opportunity for coming to and staying in Germany, and how living in a WG has give…
How German changes your identity (Geoff and Alex from Americans in Germany Drinking Whiskey)
Feb. 22, 2021
When you move to Germany, like with other countries, you might find yourself needing to re-invent yourself due to the language and the culture. For example: if you were funny and outgoing in your home country, you might suddenly feel like you're introverted and "boring" in social situations in Germ…
The job application process in Germany: Misconceptions, insights and tips (Ivan from Bulgaria)
Feb. 15, 2021
What are common misconceptions that foreigners have about the job application process in Germany? What makes a good CV? What are assessment centers? We try to answer some of these questions in this episode. To do it, I'm joined by Ivan from Bulgaria (and previous guest on the show), who has extensi…
The gender expatriation gap, trailing spouses, and the expat skill pool in Germany (Amaia from Spain)
Feb. 8, 2021
Amaia, originally from Spain but now living in Düsseldorf, Germany, started the Expats and Spouses Monitor with Dr. Carlos Morales. Their goal: it is a research project that aims to understand the living and working conditions of expatriates and their spouses or partners living in Germany. With thi…
Cost of living in Germany in 2021 (Jen from Simple Germany)
Feb. 1, 2021
What are the standard costs of living you can expect in Germany? Do you really need so much insurance in Germany? And why pay the Rundfunkbeitrag if you don't watch German TV? Jen is from Guatemala and is the co-founder of Simple Germany . She joins me to discuss her story, and the cost of living i…
SEGEPADFO charity challenge wrap-up, and when The Germany Experience will be back
Dec. 28, 2020
The SEGEPADFO charity challenge, where I went up against Nicole of The Expat Cast to see who could raise the most money for a project by Über den Tellerrand, is over. Who won the challenge, and how much we raised, is all in this update episode. Plus: I'll tell you when I'll be back with new episod…
Learning assertiveness from Germans, and growing to love a city (Jenna from Canada)
Dec. 13, 2020
Jenna is from Canada who is living in Düsseldorf. She is the creator of Life in Duesseldorf , has just started the Life in Germany YouTube channel . We discuss why she moved to Germany, her recent bout of COVID-19, and why she loves German barbecue culture. Jenna on Instagram: @lifeindus SEGEPADFO …
Coming to Germany during a pandemic (Cassie from Australia)
Dec. 7, 2020
Cassie from Australia wanted to continue her music studies in Germany, and her plans were already underway when the pandemic struck. It put her plans on hold, but Cassie was still able to push through and move to Weimar. I discuss with her what it was like to move to Germany during a pandemic, and …