I’m planning on moving to Berlin this year from Chicago. I visited Berlin in 2012 and fell in love with it… also made some friends.
I was wondering if anyone had any advice for someone moving from the states to Germany. I’m not quite sure what logistical roadblocks I might encounter. I’m a web developer by trade and have some freelance opportunities through friends in Berlin when I arrive there.
My jamming partner and fellow elektronaut friend “suicidelane” is a German native now living in the states. Send him a message. He could probably shed some advice for ya.
you will feel great in Berlin!!
there are bunch of Americans here too
get a house in Neukoelln or Kreuzberg - Friedrichsein is also cool
i dont find it very difficult to find a house - you can check temporary house (zwischenmiete) till you find something you really like
with webdesign you can also live quite fine in Berlin
and electronic music scene is of course amazing!!
enjoy your moving
niko
Happy to hear that you´re going for it. I moved to Berlin about 7 years ago as an escape from in Copenhagen(native Danish) and looking for adventure. I don´t know your reasons to move but for me it was a really good move and it has changed my life in so many ways.
Tip on Berlin:
It´s not a must to learn German but since you got that covered I´ll throw you some kudos. Native English speaking people tent to never learn another language cause most people love trying out their English skills or due to the fact that it can be pretty frustrating communicating with people when you don´t master the language.
But I think it´s very important to learn German to understand the native Berliners and in general what´s going on in country where you´re living.
It used to be cheap to live here but the last years rent has been going up but the pay check stays the same. I make a lot of me money out of Berlin cause in the other German states people tent to pay a little better (I work as a session drummer) I don´t have any work experience in other kind of jobs but I do know guys who work for minimum pay like 4 € an hour. Another thing to consider is helth insurance…
I really love the city, it has everything within reach(I go on my bike everywhere), clubbing-international mixture of people-extreme history-chilled parklife-street partys-family playgrounds-poor but sexy(as the mayor said) and sadly no beach.
Feel free to contact if you have any questions and need to meet up when you´re here.
It is important, because you have to deal with the german “Einwohnermeldeamt” if you want to rent an appartment. On the other hand, if you move to a foreign country…show at least some respect, and learn their language.
It is important, because you have to deal with the german “Einwohnermeldeamt” if you want to rent an appartment. On the other hand, if you move to a foreign country…show at least some respect, and learn their language.[/quote]
I totally agree… Lots of countries in europe where they speak english and a whole array of other languages.
even goverment papers get translated in lots of languages, because of all the immigrants and whatnot.
but the local / original people get more and more offended by newcomers that dont even show the respect to learn local cultural customs/way of life/ language… Simply said: if you wanna live in germany… be a german drink beer, eat sausage and speak german… do you wanna live in the netherlands, wear clogs, smoke weed, visit prostitutes, and speak dutch… etc etc…etc…
if you want to be an american … i really have to hold back on my sarcasm and joy for critiqueing (<-- i know) society at large and other nations as a whole
It is important, because you have to deal with the german “Einwohnermeldeamt” if you want to rent an appartment. On the other hand, if you move to a foreign country…show at least some respect, and learn their language.[/quote]
I totally agree… Lots of countries in europe where they speak english and a whole array of other languages.
even goverment papers get translated in lots of languages, because of all the immigrants and whatnot.
but the local / original people get more and more offended by newcomers that dont even show the respect to learn local cultural customs/way of life/ language… Simply said: if you wanna live in germany… be a german drink beer, eat sausage and speak german… do you wanna live in the netherlands, wear clogs, smoke weed, visit prostitutes, and speak dutch… etc etc…etc…
[/quote]
i think thats more the case with catalan people than beople in berlin!!
It is important, because you have to deal with the german “Einwohnermeldeamt” if you want to rent an appartment. On the other hand, if you move to a foreign country…show at least some respect, and learn their language.[/quote]
I totally agree… Lots of countries in europe where they speak english and a whole array of other languages.
even goverment papers get translated in lots of languages, because of all the immigrants and whatnot.
but the local / original people get more and more offended by newcomers that dont even show the respect to learn local cultural customs/way of life/ language… Simply said: if you wanna live in germany… be a german drink beer, eat sausage and speak german… do you wanna live in the netherlands, wear clogs, smoke weed, visit prostitutes, and speak dutch… etc etc…etc…
[/quote]
i think thats more the case with catalan people than beople in berlin!![/quote]
Some countries/places are less fussy, but as a rule… you can definatly say: that its a very good idea to learn about the culture / language / customs about a country before hand… then to just move their… keep your own identity and ideas, and just expect everybody to “except you as the next cool thing” …
I lived in many countries around the world… everywhere I lived, I heard complaints about people moving in and not trying to fit in… and how happy they where that I tried my best to speak the language, learn the culture, and play along with local customs…
So yeah, I believe this should be the norm… and a very good advice for somebody who wants to emmigrate to another country.
I can even see it in the little village I live in now: everybody treats me as a local… but the neighboor who moved in from a city 30miles from here, was teased out of the community because he acted to “non-local” with his big city ideas and what not…
Anyways… I dont want to end up sounding like a biggit/racist/nasty person… cause I am not… and I am sure you are not the jerk I picture you to be claiming “you dont need the local language/customs/culture” … there is room enough in the world for everybody…
live and let live…
getting the required permits/visas to actually stay for a lengthy period of time and eventually permanently is not easy in most EU countries. I don’t remember the specifics for Germany, though. Pretty sure that it’s easier if you get a work-related visa/permit first, iirc. (ie aren’t a bum).
Many other Countries are much easier to do all this than my experience as an American doing grad school at Univ. of Toronto. I love Canada…quite a lot! However, it’s often much easier for someone from elsewhere doing same and coming to USA than reverse.
For instance, for Toronto, Canada I was required on top of proper doc’s from USA but in order to have my Grad School Work-Study Stipend job, I actually had to have a “sponsor”, and on top of all else it was required for me to maintain $10,000. in Bank of Hong Kong, for mere reason of above mentioned HEALTH INSURANCE. Money I could never touch, in escrow, if you will, AS a form of insurance should I NEED healthcare above and beyond what small U. of Toronto Student Medical Svcs. offered.
However Germany handles such specifics would be at least worth checking out to see what you need for proper work permit because most countries have varying policies on this. Your “Obama Care” will not follow you as USA citizen anywhere unless you were USA Military, or embassy State Dept. employees.
Fortunately, all websites here and abroad will give you all that information. Above all, just make sure you have your proper papers and constantly up to date and have a lot of fun.
I may be doing same with Reykjavik, Iceland in near future. Lived there for a year and half once and mind expanding experience. Reykjavik reminded me of a modern-future metropolis from movie “Blade Runner”…without the Replicant problems, of course! LOL
i personally don’t know how things go about the visa but,as suggested,you could probably start with something like a working visa. you shouldn’t have problems in terms of finding a job, the market is pretty good in your field. you might end up working in a company which doesn’t need you to know german but…i would definitively put it in the list of things to do…you"'ll be living in a german speaking country,so it’ll be needed sooner or later
Haha yeah pretty much, altough you will get seriously laughed at wearing clogs in a city here in holland :)[/quote]
I bet they will… I dont think every german eats sausage and drinks beer…
a little bit of humor to keep things light and breezy …
something that made living around the world more fun… a genuine attempt to play along and be interested in things
and a permanent smile that came with a joke or two…
And luckaly I come from a country where you dont need allot of forms to go around… I hate forms…
so i got not good advice about that one… (except that the australians where very helpful in helping me fill out the 3 forms i needed to be happy there, once i was there)…