11 crucial aspects about living abroad in Germany

If you decide to leave your own country and move abroad, for example to Germany, there are multiple and usually serious reasons for doing so. Be it career opportunities, a thirst for adventure or for love. In any case, you will find yourself confronted with a wealth of new tasks and experiences in the early days. It is impossible to prepare for everything; many things have to be solved on the spot. Nevertheless, it is advisable to think about a few crucial aspects in advance so that you don't have to start from scratch later on in the situation to find a solution.

The challenges of living in a foreign country ...

... whether due to language barriers, bureaucratic hurdles or different working cultures - can cause considerable stress. Uncertainties about your own future, career opportunities and personal development can also be stressful. Below I have compiled a checklist of 11 crucial aspects of daily life as an expatriate in any country abroad, e.g. Germany, that are worth thinking about and, if possible, researching beforehand:

1. Cultural adaptation and integration abroad

Cultural adaptation involves understanding and respecting the culture of the country you are moving to. This includes not only customs in dealing with each other, but also local customs (such as carnival) and traditions and the laws resulting from these.

This also includes learning the language, as it is the key to interpersonal interaction and understanding the culture of the new country. It also facilitates integration and networking with locals. Failure to do so usually leads to friction and, in the long term, to a feeling of not being welcome. It can feel like navigating in between different worlds.

2. Working life in germany

The key point of any move to another country is probably the question of a source of income. If you are not lucky enough to be financially independent or self-employed, you will need a job.

The first question that arises here is the recognition of educational and professional qualifications. This question is the same in every country. In Germany, there is a state recognition office that provides a good guide to the procedure (see link).

Once the value of the qualifications has been clarified, the next question is the situation and conditions on the labour market. Is my profession needed? What are the requirements? What are the typical working conditions? Do I need special qualifications? Germany is a country of "written certificates". Than means that you need an official proof of your abilities. It doesn't work here to simply start working and thereby provide practical proof that you are good at your job.

When these two hurdles have been overcome, the next one is just around the corner: What is the local working culture like in the new country or in the new company? How do people treat each other? What are the typical work processes and what expectations does my counterpart have? What is the hierarchy like and what communication styles are there? The latter varies greatly depending on the country. For example, collectivist social systems (such as Japan and China) are very different in the way they convey information to the other person than in an individualistic country such as Germany with its direct communication.

3. Social networks

Social networks are important in every respect - whether as a source of information, assistance in the new country or for getting to know other expats and/or locals. This is where groups of like-minded people come in handy. In Germany, there are many (sports) clubs (Verein - recognizable as "e.V.") where people who share a passion for a particular hobby come together and meet regularly at a reasonable price. This can often be group sports, but also any other hobby. The advantage is that you are part of a group and that clubs are not expensive. Nowadays, almost every city in the world has a community site where like-minded people can meet.

4. Find new housing in your new country

This is also an issue worth considering, depending on the reason for the move. Is the accommodation provided by the company? Do you have a say? Who bears the costs? Do I want to live with my partner? What costs will I incur? What are the requirements for a rental agreement - this varies greatly depending on the destination country. In some countries - e.g. the USA - the kitchen is almost always already installed in the apartment. In Germany, you move with your kitchen and cupboard. This means that you arrive in an empty room and have to buy everything (!) yourself, including the sink and fridge. The same applies to other standards in the apartment - there are almost no built-in cupboards in Germany, which means you have to buy these yourself.

Also, be aware that energy (water, heating, electricity) in Germany is more expensive than in many other countries in Europe. Therefore, people are used to switch off everything they don't immediately need. You're not in the room? -Switch the light off! You need just one cup of tea? Don't boil 2 litres! This is not just about the environment, it is about your wallet and it has become a cultural habit over time as we are brought up with these.

Living with flatmates may feel a little strange at a certain age, but due to high rental costs in large cities, it is easier to do and culturally completely acceptable for adults.

5. Finances

The question of finances is only partly related to the question of the source of income. Depending on how long you plan to stay in the “new” country, it is worth thinking about whether you should open a new bank account or keep your existing account in your home country and transfer money back and forth.

It is also important to understand the tax regulations in the country of the source of income and seek advice if necessary.

6. Transportation

This is also an important topic. Where will I live? Is the place where I live well connected to my workplace? Or am I in a country where you are dependent on a car (for example, usually in Canada or the USA, also rural Germany) or does the country have good local public transport (instead of many examples, Japan is a pioneer for almost perfect local public transport). Will my driving license be recognized? Or do I have to take an adaptation test? Knowledge of local traffic rules and conditions is also essential.

7. Health care in the host country

These are also questions that you should research well in advance, and not just when you are unwell. The first thing to mention here is the procedure for reporting sick to work. If you make a mistake here, your employment contract can quickly be jeopardized.

Access to the healthcare system is also important - does it apply if I have an employment contract? What about self-employment? And what costs for co-payments should I expect? Each country has its own rules here and you should know them before you move.

International insurance that covers illness abroad may be the best option initially. This depends on whether you are automatically covered by health insurance if you have a job (this is the case in Germany), or whether you are moving without a job or are working remotely online. If you lose your job it doesn't necessarily mean that you lose your access to healthcare, but there are some aspects to have in mind.

8. integrating your Family & Co

This aspect includes all things that concern the accompanying partner and are intended to facilitate their integration. I have linked a separate article on this below.

With regard to children, there is the question of compulsory schooling, and schools and kindergartens must also be sought. Please note that in some countries it is compulsory to send your child to the school closest to your place of residence. So if you want a particular school, it often makes sense to choose your place of residence accordingly.

9. Everyday life

This includes everyday situations such as going shopping, asking what food is available or how easy it is to get food from your home country.

Everyday life also includes time off work and the associated ideas for discovering the closer or more distant surroundings on vacation or at the weekend. Traveling in a new country makes it easier to understand cultural characteristics.

10. Legal aspects- get your papers ready

In addition to visa requirements, work permits, local laws and regulations (which can sometimes differ greatly from your own home country) and, of course, the basics of employment law are also important. Also, the recognition of certificates and diplomas is essential in Germany.

11. Emotional aspects

It will come, sooner for some, later for others - we are talking about the phenomenon of culture shock. Especially in countries that seem very similar or the same at first glance, or where even the language is the same, culture shock often comes suddenly and unexpectedly (see linked articles on culture shock and reintegration shock). Expatriates often have to leave their familiar surroundings, family and friends behind. Homesickness can be a common challenge, especially in the first few months in the new country. The loss of familiar social networks can create a sense of isolation, and it is important to have a good understanding of this and ways to deal with homesickness and the search for a sense of belonging.

Conclusion:

Living abroad can be an immense opportunity for personal growth and self-discovery. Many expats report increased self-confidence, resilience and a broader perspective on life. The challenges can lead to leaving your comfort zone and learning new skills.

All of the aforementioned aspects are achievable, but can be very overwhelming precisely because they become relevant at the same time. In order to work through these many “construction sites” and also for mental stabilization, it can be useful to be coached by an experienced person who will accompany and guide you through this first tough phase.

I regularly publish articles on the topics of ‘living abroad’, ‘living in Germany’ and ‘expatriates’. If you would like to be coached on your individual path to make this phase in your life easier, please do not hesitate to contact me.

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