expat life
In the Beginning: Bureaucracy and Visas
Getting accepted into a music conservatory in Germany was a huge accomplishment. I had found an apartment, unpacked my suitcase, opened a bank account, bought a bike and a mattress (huge purchases considering my budget), and got my Meldebestätigung, a…
In the Beginning: Why Germany?
So…why did I chose Germany anyway? During my Junior year of college, I participated in a study abroad program in Freiburg, Germany, located in the Black Forest. The city and the location were quite dreamy, to say the least! I…
8 Brutal Daily Reminders That You’re Living in a Country Once Ravaged by World Wars
In a lot of ways, daily life in Germany is comparable to life in the States. Living standards are similar, the basics are readily accessible, status quo exists, and people love to complain about the weather. Then, when you least…
What July 4th Means to Me as an American Not Even Living in America
For the first several years of living abroad, I didn’t really think about the 4th of July much. It comes at a time of year when most are preoccupied with planning for summer and wrapping up tasks before said fun…
8 Tips for Acclimating & Adjusting to a New Culture and Life Abroad
Adjusting to living abroad is a process, not unlike dating, if you think about it! First, you look at your options, then make a decision to try an option out. It is exciting at first, everything is new and you…
Top 10 Normal & Surprising Questions Asked Most to an American Living Abroad & Cultural Assumptions
Since I did not move to Germany as a small child, the second I open my mouth everyone can tell I am not from here. Some people are nice enough to say they find my accent charming (really? An American…
Let’s Decorate the Easter Tree and Blending Cultural Traditions
There’s one German tradition that I actually thought was a joke or just done ironically, and that is this: Hanging eggs on trees, bushes, plants, etc. at Easter time. It still kinda seems a bit silly to me from an…
In the Beginning: Arrival in Hamburg
I will never forget my first evening in Hamburg. I still have this image burned into my brain: I had booked a room at the youth hostel at the harbor for a night or two around my audition day for…
Hope, Home, and the Value of Spring
Spring has officially sprung this week, the forsythia and plum trees are blooming, bulbs are up, birds are chirping…so what?! Spring has become my favorite season here living in northern Europe for many reasons. People (and birds!) finally can be…
How to Own Your Inner Expat
It might be kind of early on in the blog for a post about something philosophical and seemingly political like this, but this blog is about real life and real stuff. Sometimes funny, sometimes serious. So, I have a confession…
