Enrich your expat stay in Germany

Living abroad can be a challenge as you cannot express yourself as in your own language. It feels as if you are loosing a part of yourself. You can only show a small part of your personality as we express ourselves through language and body language.

The Honeymoon phase ,in which everything is new and beautiful, is over. There are more and more challenges challenges which need to be dealt with. In a strange and foreign environment. You are not on your own.

This is the time of asking yourself questions: was it the right choice to come to Germany? Why did I not stay at home where everything is familiar to me and where I feel safe.

It is important that we work on your mindset and turn it into a growth mindset. So you can embrace your journey with curiosity and openness. Change your mindset into a Growth Mindset which allows you to see mistakes or obstacles as challenges. It enables you to broaden your horizon and to personally grow through the encounter of new culture. The Gini will support you to develop this enrichening mindset so you can persist in the face of setbacks which happen in everybody's life.

The more open you are, the easier you will find it to life in and ENJOY Germany. It is all about enjoying life and make memories!

Everybody around you seems to be getting on with their expat life – only you are struggling? Another myth: a lot of it is faked happiness.

An expat journey usually follows a certain pattern: you are excited about the new experience in the Honeymoon phase which is followed by the Culture Shock - and everybody faces this phase in various situations. So you are not the only one. However, often people consider it as failures to admit that not everything is a s easy as you may have thought at home. But how can you improve your situation if you do not openly talk about it and seek support? 

Again, we will work on your growth mindset to make it easier for you to be open to the new culture. With more cultural knowledge it will be asier for you to navigate your new and exciting journey in Germany.

Normally, the working partner has an easier time adjusting to Germany, habits and culture because of the working environment. There is a dayly rountine in the family: he/ she goes to work and the kids go to school. And you sit at home.

After the expat-honeymoon period in which everything is exciting and great, you feel left out. You may be waiting for a new job. Or just wondering what to do with your time. You may wonder what to do now.

Use the time in the new country for yourself. Germany has so much to offer to enrich your life. Follow your interests or start new things. You may want to study again, or really embrace learning German or attend cookery classes to learn the German dishes. There are unlimited options to turn this journey into your own and carve it into your own one.

You have been criticized and you are shocked by the German directness? Do not take it personally! This is the communication structure in Germany. German communication is very direct, especially at work. You may encounter your collegues criticizing you openly in a meeting. It is jot a personal attack. It is the German work structure.

You always need to bare this in mind: it is not about you personally.

Another example: it is Friday evening at work and you are waiting for somebody to come to your desk and suggest to go for a drink. ... In the huge majority of cases, nobody will come. Most Germans head home to their families. The mayority of Germans differentiates between collegues and friends. They usually do not mix these 2 circles.

Again, it is nothing against you. It is simply how the German society is structured.

As everything in Germany is based on structures, so are invitations or special occasion like anniversary be it of companies, societies***. Depending on the occasion there are different dress codes from very formal to a casual BBQ. Punctuality is vital: don't arrive to early and don't be late by more than 10 minutes - this applies for formal AND casual invites.

Dining etiquette needs to be considered: when you finish your plate  in China, it means that your host did not order enough. When you do so in Germany, then "the sun will shine the next day". 

You also need to think about the guest present: do not bring carnations as they are typical for funerals. And make sure to have an uneven number of flowers, like 7 roses.

 You are not using your German skills because you do not want to make a mistake. This a based on the old myth in school: a mistake is bad and we feel shame. Many of my language students want to wait untill they are perfect. But obviously this day will never come. Who is perfect?

Jump into the language. It is really like jumping into the water: you think it is too cold. But once you have jumped into the water and you swim and move around... then it feels fine, relaxing and you enjoy it.

Learning a language is the same: jump in. Talk to everybody. No matter which level of German you have. 

Order your favourite coffee in German and enjoy the smile of the barrister. Celebrate this magical moment. 

And ... consider each German person as a "private teacher".

In your country you know all about festivities and traditions. Now you are outside your well-known world and culture. And this is your chance to enrich your life with new aspects. Be curious and embrace the novelties.

Seasonal feats and traditions are various in Germany. And each region even has their own ones. It will be exciting for you to find out what and how we celebrate. Like hiding choclate eggs for kids which the kids need to search for. Build paper laterns and going for a walk for St. Martinsday. Or buying ormaking advent calendars for your kids to shorten the time until xmas as they can open 1 door/ present per day. This tradition goes back to 1838 when the director of a boys' rescue home invented the Adventkranz (advent wreath) with 24 candles: when all candles were lit, then xmas has arrived.

Check out what is offered in your city and region and you will find many local activities, like neighbourhood festivals, musical festivals. 

You are still in your home country and you start planning the move to Germany. You are very much looking forward to your adventure. But you are wondering how you can prepare yourself for this journey?

When you go on holiday, you read a travel guide or check the internet. When you want to prepare for your new life in Germany you need a cultural and language preparation..