|
1NJ1hpkYT2iFetYE46dsP1fCJEUfivPK3e0a015WcdWwYqGyRGdp3BmWc7rEyADG1h8UQot
|
Am I allowed to consider myself a German?
I (17) am in some weird existential crisis right now. I am a Syrian refugee, though I only spent 9 years of my life in Syria. The other 8 were spent in Germany, and well I've adapted well to the most part I'd say.
My family was able to get the German citizenship for all of us within 6 years of being here, so now I have both Syrian and German citizenship. However, I never know what and who to be "proud" of.
For example, there was a tourist I was translating for and he said he likes the food a lot, I had a moment between "I'm glad you like our food" and "I'l glad you like the food". I chose the later but I often have those moments where I really don't want to invite myself to another culture if that makes sense.
I do what a "good immigrant" is supposed by integrating, learning the language and contributing to society somehow, although I'm still doing my Abitur so I wouldn't say that counts, and yet I really don't want to say that I'm German because it will probably weird out German people. At the same time, I can't say I'm Syrian because I barely lived there to get to know my own country.
My question is, what would you as Germans feel if some random foreigner wanted to be included in your culture?
Tldr; Don't know if I should consider myself Syrian or German considering I haven't lived long in either of the countries.
Am I allowed to consider myself a German?
I (17) am in some weird existential crisis right now. I am a Syrian refugee, though I only spent 9 years of my life in Syria. The other 8 were spent in Germany, and well I've adapted well to the most part I'd say.
My family was able to get the German citizenship for all of us within 6 years of being here, so now I have both Syrian and German citizenship. However, I never know what and who to be "proud" of....
Casual racism from kids?
I am from India and I went to Germany. I was sitting in the bus and there was a group of ~10 year old boys. They were screaming at me the whole time and saying “wolle rose kaufen” and they called me Ranjit. I pretended not to hear them but they constantly challenged me to say something. No one in the bus even looked up or said anything. Is this normal?
Casual racism from kids?
I am from India and I went to Germany. I was sitting in the bus and there was a group of ~10 year old boys. They were screaming at me the whole time and saying “wolle rose kaufen” and they called me Ranjit. I pretended not to hear them but they constantly challenged me to say something. No one in the bus even looked up or said anything. Is this normal?
2.5 weeks in Germany as an American
American here (31M, Los Angeles). Just got back from a 2.5-week solo trip to Germany. This was my first visit there, so I wanted to share my experience.
I stayed in the following cities:
* **Frankfurt** \- Amazing skyline, loved viewing it from green spaces throughout the city. The Messeturm, Commerzbank, and St. Bartholomew's Cathedral were my favorite sights.
* **Tübingen** \- Beautiful, brightly-colored medieval buildings. Surprising amount of graffiti, which seemed to clash with the character of the city. But the Neckar Riverfront is lovely to walk along.
* **Munich** \- Gorgeous city. Lively, yet well-kept. I was in a good mood the whole time here. The Residenz Palace and Theatine Church are incredible.
* **Nuremberg** \- Absolutely fascinating place. Well-preserved old town and excellent museums (Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nazi Documentation Center, Nuremberg Trials Memoriam).
* **Dresden** \- The most elegant city. Truly breathtaking architecture (Frauenkirche, Royal Palace, Academy of Fine Arts, etc.). Especially impressive so much of it was rebuilt after WWII destruction.
* **Berlin** \- So unique with so much to enjoy. Reichstag, Fernsehturm, Museum Island (Pergamon and Neues), Charlottenburg, the Wall memorials, East Side Gallery, etc. I can see why Berlin is so beloved.
I also took day trips to the following places:
* **Mainz** \- Very charming and relaxing break from the bigger cities. So many pretty churches, especially the Mainzer Dom, the Christuskirche, and St. Peter's.
* **Hohenzollern Castle** \- Delightful, really cool variety of turrets and towers. Great brown and blue-gray exterior, and more attractive interior than expected.
* **Neuschwanstein Castle** \- A dream. The castle has a great design, and the setting in the Bavarian Alps is spectacular. The interior was surprising, but a fun look into the mind of Ludwig II.
Some general thoughts:
* German people are very friendly, about equal to the French in my experience (I visited France last year). Germans' energy feel more similar to Americans than the French, however.
* English is not as widely spoken as expected. This was generally a non-issue, as most people were helpful and willing to try their best English when I struggled with my German. Younger Germans seem more confident with their English than older Germans do.
* Despite the above, 93% of music played in public was English-language (Lady Gaga, The Offspring, R.E.M., etc.).
* German food is very good, if a bit repetitive (so much pork and potatoes!). The Franconian sausage is my favorite main dish, and the Mandelrolle is my favorite pastry.
* German beer is great too. Augustiner Edelstoff is my favorite. Ayinger Bräuweisse and Augustiner Lagerbier Hell are also good.
* Public transport in every city is fantastic! Rules are a bit inconsistent and confusing though. Example: In Munich, a ticket I bought for the U-Bahn in the city center required validation, but a ticket I bought for the S-Bahn at Leuchtenbergring station was too big for the validation machine. The latter ticket didn't require validation, but I didn't know that until I asked a German for help.
* Deutsche Bahn train system between cities is generally good, but more delays than I expected.
* Despite May temperatures in Germany being roughly the same as France last October, German apartments get much warmer at night.
* If Germany doesn't do air conditioning and you're expected to keep windows open, why no screens to keep out bugs? So many mosquitos, moths, and gnats...
* Smoking shockingly common, especially among young people.
* I respect the frequent bike usage and got used to the bike lanes. But bikes zooming through public squares and such made me jump several times.
* I have never seen more construction in my life.
* As a gay guy, Frankfurt and Berlin have the hottest men. Dresden's pretty good too.
* Germany is a verdant and beautiful country. Loved the mountains and farms of Bavaria, the hills of Saxony, the castles along the Rhine Valley, and the copious amount of parks and green space.
Overall, I had a great trip! Very glad I got to explore Germany and would love to see more of it (Hamburg, Heidelberg, Cologne, etc.). Thank you for making an American feel welcome!
2.5 weeks in Germany as an American
American here (31M, Los Angeles). Just got back from a 2.5-weeksolo trip to Germany. This was my first visit there, so I wanted to share my experience.
Germans are patient and queue in line nicely and respectfully, not trying to cut in.
Until they open ‘Kasse zwei’.
Then it’s like USA Black Friday crazy!
Germans are patient and queue in line nicely and respectfully, not trying to cut in.
Until they open ‘Kasse zwei’.
Then it’s like USA Black Friday crazy!
POV: You live in Germany, land of autos
Only in Germany do you see this many beautiful cars on a train. Earlier while on board, I saw the LONGEST train carrying Mercedes. Just lovely 😍
POV: You live in Germany, land of autos
Only in Germany do you see this many beautiful cars on a train. Earlier while on board, I saw the LONGEST train carrying Mercedes. Just lovely 😍
I almost got scammed
I was buying a drink worth 3€ from a doner stall and gave them a 20€ bill. The man there returned 7€ and insisted that I had given him a 10. After 3 minutes of arguing some police offers walked by and he gave me back the 10€ saying "Sorry, there are a lot of customers and I got confused" but he was laughing to himself while doing it. This is the first time something like this has happened here since he clearly knew what he was doing.
Be careful and count your money folks! You never know when someone might take advantage of your ignorance.
I almost got scammed
I was buying a drink worth 3€ from a doner stall and gave them a 20€ bill. The man there returned 7€ and insisted that I had given him a 10. After 3 minutes of arguing some police offers walked by and he gave me back the 10€ saying "Sorry, there are a lot of customers and I got confused" but he was laughing to himself while doing it. This is the first time something like this has happened here since he clearly knew what he was doing.
Realities about living in Germany as a Latin American:
Realities about living in Germany as a Latin American.
I love Germany and I think many Latin Americans come with a wrong and idealised idea to Germany, the things I explain are not a complain from me but just as a said, telling how it is. (I’m LAmerican):
• Even if there’s always a nice access to the International Community (specially if you study in the University) making German friends is not easy (specially if you don’t speak German), we are talking about a process that can take months - years (most of Latin Americans I know still have no close German friends). Just because you had a nice conversation with someone doesn’t mean they’ll be meeting with you next week instantly and if you try too hard is worst.
• Bureaucracy is how it is and there’s no space for the LA culture of “Smiling and Chatting to get things work faster or easier for me” When they say no, it’s no. + If you don’t talk german (at least C1) get prepared to have the time of your life with bureaucracy, most people won’t be willing to talk to you in English and have no patience to try to.
• It can be hard to get used to the level of honesty Germans talk with and they don’t think it’s rude (not as in Latin America, where most people will think it’s rude to just be honest). Even in the university professors will be straightforward to you, no filters. Get used to it not being a personal attack to you, it’s just being…honest.
• You must be willing to integrate into their culture, not the other way around. + still if it’s nice to be in contact with the Latin community, if you want to integrate and improve your German, speaking only Spanish won’t help.
• Get prepare to learn to spend a lot of time alone, specially on the first months / Year. If you are willing to come to this country, be aware the german lifestyle push you out of the comfort zone. None is going to do it for you, none is going to explain it to you (unless you take the first step of asking).
• Finding an apartment will be hard if you don’t speak German + if you are thinking of moving to a big city like Munich, Köln etc is worst + apartment prices are way higher. I notice a lot of people who are obsessed with the idea of moving to Berlin/München/Frankfurt/ Köln / Hamburg. Germany is WAY more than that! and you could save so much money by living in other cities + smaller cities are more clean, nice, cheap, calm and you’ll have more contact with the German culture etc.
• Please get it, Germans universities don’t work like American universities do! None cares about “rankings” as Americans do, almost all of the universities have the same level + better to be in a smaller, personal atmosphere than in your Berlin university with 600 students in one room.
• Thinking that because your master is in English you won’t need German. Again, from my experience and other people experiences, coming to study/work with a level under B1 is shooting yourself on the leg and making the integration experience harder.
Of course there’s many positive aspects about Germany but this post Is dedicated to the people who have the wrong idea of what to expect when moving here / think they know better than the rest.
Of course there’s always “exceptions” but you won’t be always the main character of the film whose life just goes exceptionally better than the rest.
* to the people who think I’m complaining about Germany, I’m not, I love Germany, I’m just showing the reality to the people who has an idealised idea of Germany and that think they can integrate without putting the OBVIOUS and basic effort that anyone must do when moving to a country with a different culture.
Realities about living in Germany as a Latin American:
Realities about living in Germany as a Latin American.
I love Germany and I think many Latin Americans come with a wrong and idealised idea to Germany, the things I explain are not a complain from me but just as a said, telling how it is. (I’m LAmerican):...
One of The worst experience of my life just happened in Germany....
Yesterday, I went out with some friends. We started at some bars, had some beers and shots(probably too many), we went to a club. Now the night was great. Had a blast, but I am extremely hungover today after arriving home around 5a.m. Then it happened, one of the worst realizations one can make on a Sunday hungover.......I had Kehrwoche. So there I was, on the verge of vomiting with the worst headache imaginable, sweeping and moping my stairwell. But I did it, and learned a valuable lesson... never wait to do Kehrwoche until the last minute.
One of The worst experience of my life just happened in Germany....
Yesterday, I went out with some friends. We started at some bars, had some beers and shots(probably too many), we went to a club. Now the night was great. Had a blast, but I am extremely hungover today after arriving home around 5a.m.Then it happened, one of the worst realizations one can make on a Sunday hungover.......I had Kehrwoche. So there I was, on the verge of vomiting with the worst headache imaginable, sweeping and moping my stairwell. But I did it, and learned a valuable lesson... never wait to do Kehrwoche until...
Good job Germany! First final in 70 years. Here in Finland we are rooting for you! 🇫🇮❤️🇩🇪🏒
How are you all feeling after the win over USA today? Is everybody watching the games? Good luck from Finland, may Germany fight with everything they've got tomorrow.
Good job Germany! First final in 70 years. Here in Finland we are rooting for you! 🇫🇮❤️🇩🇪🏒
How are you all feeling after the win over USA today? Is everybody watching the games? Good luck from Finland, may Germany fight with everything they've got tomorrow.
Used the bread slicing machine at the supermarket for the first time in Germany.
I have been living in Germany for around two plus years and never have used the machine for slicing bread 🍞 due to fear of making a fool of myself in public. But today I don't know what came over me, I was feeling more brave than usual (fyi: no alcohol or substance were involved) and I decided that today is the day. It was surprisingly easy and honestly I didn't know why I didn't try it earlier. I was so happy that i bought another loaf of bread and started slicing. I would have bought a third loaf but I finally controlled myself and moved on with my groceries. I felt like I have unlocked 🔓 a whole new level of German culture. Maybe not a big deal but it felt like a huge achievement for me.
Used the bread slicing machine at the supermarket for the first time in Germany.
I have been living in Germany for around two plus years and never have used the machine for slicing bread 🍞 due to fear of making a fool of myself in public. But today I don't know what came over me, I was feeling more brave than usual (fyi: no alcohol or substance were involved) and I decided that today is the day. It was surprisingly easy and honestly I didn't know why I didn't try it earlier. I was so happy that i bought another loaf of bread and started slicing. I would have bought a third loaf...
Germans, have you ever had a culture shock or surprise when visiting anther state in Germany?
What stands out as different to you when going to anther part of the country?
Germans, have you ever had a culture shock or surprise when visiting anther state in Germany?
What stands out as different to you when going to anther part of the country?
It's been 1.5 years since I submitted my citizenship application and I feel depressed thinking about it.
I have never felt as dissatisfied with German bureaucracy as I do now.
There is zero transparency, zero perspective. No tracking, absolutely no information how long I have to wait. I already wrote 5–6 emails and multiple calls, and the reply is always same: I need to wait, and they don't have a fucking clue when it will be processed.
You can't move to another city/state, cause that means transferring your application to another authority in the new city.
I don't understand why it takes years to process an application which fulfills all the requirements. I feel really depressed thinking about this neglect by the state and how this whole thing is handled.
It's been 1.5 years since I submitted my citizenship application and I feel depressed thinking about it.
I have never felt as dissatisfied with German bureaucracy as I do now.
There is zero transparency, zero perspective. No tracking, absolutely no information how long I have to wait. I already wrote 5–6 emails and multiple calls, and the reply is always same: I need to wait, and they don't have a fucking clue when it will be processed....
Sometimes I forget how good life in Germany is
When I walk around in the streets and see the diversity, people from all over the world going on with their business, A greek cleaning the table of his restaurant, a syrian mother buying groceries with her little halflings in peace and so many more. It just feels normal. Healthcare is mostly good and welfare helps people in need. All have a fair chance to live peacefully together and refugees who suffered so much have a chance to find some solace and peace here and build their lives. Maybe the democratic system is a little rusty, but everyone can speak their minds and find fulfillment and a future.
Sometimes I forget what a nice Country I'm born in. I just wanted to share this with you. Hopefully this doesn't get spiteful comments. It's supposed to be positive.
Sometimes I forget how good life in Germany is
When I walk around in the streets and see the diversity, people from all over the world going on with their business, A greek cleaning the table of his restaurant, a syrian mother buying groceries with her little halflings in peace and so many more. It just feels normal. Healthcare is mostly good and welfare helps people in need. All have a fair chance to live peacefully together and refugees who suffered so much have a chance to find some solace and peace here and build their lives. Maybe the democratic system is a little rusty, but everyone can...
German fraternity, one of the worst experiences ever as a non german.
My german friend has invited me to his fraternity party. I had no clue about it, turns out, it's 4am right now, I need to goddamn sleep and I need to get out of this. There are a bunch of right wing nationalists who have made me and a girl feel like we don't belong here. I am a brown asian person but this has been so far my worst experience in Germany as a german girl literally told me that they are "disgusted by the fact that there's a black man (although I'm freaking brown) and girl in this party"
My german best friend seems like he can pull an all nighter, I freaking can't. Never I've felt so restless in a party before.
Please note, I love my german best friend, neither did he expect this to be so right wing and such a problem.
EDIT - also, earlier I mentioned that "I'm freaking brown" I don't mean it in a way that brown is better than black or anything like that. I just mean to say that If they think that I am from a black race just because I am not white then they are completely stupid.
German fraternity, one of the worst experiences ever as a non german.
My german friend has invited me to his fraternity party. I had no clue about it, turns out, it's 4am right now, I need to goddamn sleep and I need to get out of this. There are a bunch of right wing nationalists who have made me and a girl feel like we don't belong here. I am a brown asian person but this has been so far my worst experience in Germany as a german girl literally told me that they are "disgusted by the fact that there's a black man (although I'm freaking brown) and girl in this party&...
China still conducting police activities in Germany -German ministries
China still conducting police activities in Germany -German ministries
Why is German breads not as popular internationally as white breads like baguette or ciabata?
German bread varieties are arguably the best in the world. From sourdough to pumpernickel, everything is great!
I'm wondering why German culture of especially bakeries and fresh high quality breads have not been successful as others?
You see pizzerias and french/Spanish restaurants around the world and I'd argue that German bread making is right up there but somehow hasn't found adoption. I'm wondering why!
Why is German breads not as popular internationally as white breads like baguette or ciabata?
German bread varieties are arguably the best in the world. From sourdough to pumpernickel, everything is great!
I'm wondering why German culture of especially bakeries and fresh high quality breads have not been successful as others?...
Why do y’all just stop walking?
I’ve noticed, quite frequently, that people in Germany generally do not care about their surroundings and will stop walking randomly wherever, middle of the street, sidewalk, bike/walking path, etc, regardless of who or what may be behind them. For example, in the city I live in people will literally stop to have a conversation with a group of 4-5 people at the top of an escalator effectively blocking people from exiting. I’m just trying to figure out why this happens because, to be fair, it’s annoying as hell.
Why do y’all just stop walking?
I’ve noticed, quite frequently, that people in Germany generally do not care about their surroundings and will stop walking randomly wherever, middle of the street, sidewalk, bike/walking path, etc, regardless of who or what may be behind them. For example, in the city I live in people will literally stop to have a conversation with a group of 4-5 people at the top of an escalator effectively blocking people from exiting. I’m just trying to figure out why this happens because, to be fair, it’s annoying as hell.
I went out with my coworkers, being the only foreigner, and it felt strange...
So, I recently made the decision to actively integrate and be friendly with my coworkers. My German skills are quite good, and I've had a few small talks with them. However, what I've noticed is that Germans generally don't initiate conversations; you have to take the initiative if you want to engage in a conversation. Otherwise, you might find yourself feeling somewhat isolated throughout the events. Is this a common cultural norm in Germany? For minutes I found myself “alone” although I was in the same table with them…
I went out with my coworkers, being the only foreigner, and it felt strange...
So, I recently made the decision to actively integrate and be friendly with my coworkers. My German skills are quite good, and I've had a few small talks with them. However, what I've noticed is that Germans generally don't initiate conversations; you have to take the initiative if you want to engage in a conversation. Otherwise, you might find yourself feeling somewhat isolated throughout the events. Is this a common cultural norm in Germany? For minutes I found myself “alone” although I was in the...
Why does Germany get low or almost no points on Eurovision?
My wife recently got me into Eurovision and according to her Germany always gets very low scores.
What happened? :D
Why does Germany get low or almost no points on Eurovision?
My wife recently got me into Eurovision and according to her Germany always gets very low scores.
What happened? :D
I'm pregnant and suicidal
I have a child, and I'm worried about calling 112 sice they will just call a hospital or ambulance and I'm not insured. If I decide to call them and they do this will I be charged out of pocket?
I'm pregnant and suicidal
I have a child, and I'm worried about calling 112 sice they will just call a hospital or ambulance and I'm not insured. If I decide to call them and they do this will I be charged out of pocket?