Celebrating Christmas Abroad

Most people associate the holidays with visiting family and/or going "home." When you live abroad and this isn't always possible, however, you learn to appreciate different Christmas traditions. Most of my students cringed when I told them how I celebrated 25th December in Oz a few years ago. Christmas in the summertime? How outlandish! Looking back, I have nothing but fond memories of how I've spent Christmas over the years.



Christmas in Canada

There's this stereotype that us North Americans all celebrate Christmas on 25th December, and I can't speak on behalf of the Canadians that do, because I grew up having a feast in the evening of the 24th with my big fat Filipino family. Uncle Rod had the honours of handing out all the gifts at midnight, and when my cousins and I were kids he even dressed up as Santa Claus!

For my sister and I, Christmas Day wasn't as big a deal as Christmas Eve. Nevertheless, we loved waking up and running down the stairs to find presents from Santa (aka our parents) under the tree. They also put wee presents in our stockings hanging by the fireplace. When I was much younger I left out cookies and milk for Santa, which he obediently ate haha.

It almost always snowed at Christmastime in my childhood, though nowadays white Christmases in Toronto are hit or miss. The strongest memory I have of Christmas actually doesn't involve presents, but instead, music. My dad used to blast the Jackson 5 Christmas album as early as November, much to my dismay. The only other album I know all the lyrics to is Mariah Carey's 1994 Merry Christmas album.



Christmas in Australia

Truth be told, the main difference between Christmas in Canada and Christmas in Australia is the climate. I was living in Melbourne at the time, and all the shops in the city were decorated with festive lights, adorned in wintery motifs. The city was dotted with artificial Christmas trees, which was appalling because it was 25-30°C at the time! Link to my old blog post [2010] Christmas in Melbourne here.

Sure, Christmas in Oz is a bit tacky, but trust me, everyone back home freezing in -10°C weather is secretly jealous that you get to bbq on the beach in shorts and a t-shirt (a typical Christmas tradition). Surrounded by fellow backpackers, I, too, had a bbq not far from the beach (St. Kilda Beach) back in Christmas 2010. It remains one of the most memorable Christmases I've ever had, not just because it was summertime, but because although it was my first Christmas away from home, I still felt "at home."



Christmas in Germany

Everybody knows that the best thing about Christmas in Germany are the Christmas Markets. Steeped in tradition that goes back hundreds of years, you couldn't even begin to compare these markets with the ones that have been popping up in North America over the past few years. The Toronto Christmas Market, for example, lacks a certain charm, I find. Not hating, just saying.

The tradition of Nikolaus is another thing I love about Christmas in Germany. You're supposed to clean your boot the evening before he comes and leave it just outside your front door. On 6th December, Nikolaus fills your boot with treats such as chocolates, mandarin oranges and walnuts - but only if you've been a good girl or boy. I know this because Nikolaus visited me for the first time back in 2012!

Yet another tradition I've only seen at Christmastime in Germany is this Weihnachtsplätzchen baking bonanza. Many people dedicate an entire weekend to making Christmas cookies that are meant to last their family and friends at least a few months. Sadly, Germans don't make or eat cookies any other time of year really. I guess after stuffing your face silly with these buttery treats all throughout December, you'd definitely be sick of 'em.

NB: In Germany, Christmas Eve is referred to as the "Holy Night," Christmas Day is called the "1st Christmas Day," and Boxing Day is called the "2nd Christmas Day." Also, from 27th December up until New Year's Eve, the malls are packed with shoppers returning gifts, only it isn't called Boxing Week.



Christmas in __________

The idea for this blog post arose from the current dilemma we have of not knowing what to do this Christmas. The bf's parents are currently in Florida and plan to spend Christmas there, my family's in Canada, and without anyone to celebrate the holidays with here in Germany, I think it only makes sense to celebrate it abroad.

Admittedly, I'm excited beyond words! I love the thought of seeing something new and celebrating Christmas in a completely different country! What I've learned is that you truly can feel "at home" wherever you are for Christmas, you just gotta have an open mind. It may take me a lifetime but I hope to add more and more countries to this list and experience what Christmas is like all around the world.

The Top 10 Mistakes Germans Make in English

After 2 1/2 years of teaching English in Germany, I’ve developed a good understanding as to why native German speakers make the mistakes they do when speaking English. Like any language learner naturally does, they tend to think in their native language first. The trick, however, is to do the exact opposite. This is because unfortunately, not all words and expressions can be directly translated from German into English. Tipp: By making a conscious effort to think in the target language prior to speaking it, one-to-one translations can be avoided.

The following is a list I’ve compiled of the top 10 mistakes that Germans make in English due to the characteristics of their native language, be it a grammar, sentence structure or pronunciation matter. By thoroughly understanding the reasons why a German speaker makes the following mistakes, the student may focus on avoiding them and the teacher is able to make well-timed corrections accordingly.

Poor Angie! She didn't actually ask this question but she's the butt of our joke because 1. she's German and 2. everyone knows her.

10. By / until

In German, bis is used to express either by or until. So for example a typical sentence I often hear is, "My boss told me to finish this task until tomorrow." No. BY tomorrow. I tell my students to remember that by means "not later than" and until answers the question "How long...?" It's just one of those concepts one learns best by doing. In the language-learning world, this means speaking (lots of it).

9. Adjectives and Adverbs

Adverbs don't exist in German. Verbs can simply be described with adjectives. If one can fly direkt to Japan and one can sing perfekt, why bother with this -ly business? Even the most advanced English learners struggle with adverbs and I presume because it's so hard to remember to tack on that -ly where appropriate, particularly when dealing with complex words like precipitately or thwartedly.

8. What means ________?

You get this question every few lessons. But beware! Get used to hearing it and sooner or later you'll start saying it yourself. In German, Was heißt ________? is used to ask someone what a word means. German speakers forget, however, that they need the helping verb do in order to form a question in English. What means 'awkward?' ✓What DOES 'awkward' mean?

7. Fahren (to drive)

Germans, as efficient and practical as they are, need only one verb, fahren, to describe a million types of movement. In German, you can drive not only a car but also a boat, a train, a bike, a skateboard, a pair of skiis - you name it. Student: "I'm driving to Dresden next week." Me: "How long does it take to get there from Braunschweig?" Student: "If my train is punctual, 3 hours." *facepalm*

6. Since / for

Here's where it gets sort of tricky. In German, one could say Ich lebe in Kanada seit 8 Jahren. One-to-one translation: I live in Canada since 8 years. Correct translation: I've lived in Canada for 8 years. Now do you get why it's so confusing for German speakers? To make matters worse, one could also say Vor fünf Jahren war ich in Australien. One-to-one translation: For five years was I in Australia. Correct translation: I was in Australia five years ago. Ago = vor and for = seit.

5. Do / make

Hey, all you English teachers out there teaching German speakers! Don't deny it. When you first heard a student say "I'm going to make party this weekend," you chuckled out loud. You had to wipe that smirk off your face when another student said they "made a BBQ" last week, didn't you? As long as you correct them every time they do a mistake, I guess you're forgiven.

4. "in the near from"

This particular mistake had to battle it out with 2nd and 3rd place because it's a phrase I hear not once, not twice, but five times a day. In German, in der nähe von is an expression commonly used to describe how close a place is to another place. That's why German speakers cannot shake the habit of directly translating and saying something like "I live in the near from Berlin." Grr.

3. "We see us..."

Every time the lesson comes to an end and I'm saying bye to my students, someone blurts this out. Someone'll say, "We see us next week!" nanoseconds before I slyly sneak in an "each other" and give them a look that says you should know this by now. In German, wir and uns are allowed in the same sentence. In English, we and us are like oil and water; in the same sentence, they repel each other.

2. Person / people

I feel like English teachers in German elementary schools weren't/aren't doing their jobs properly because this is the one mistake Germans have ingrained in them that for the life of me cannot be undone. 1 = person. 1+ = people. The word persons may occasionally be seen on signs in elevators (e.g. Max 9 Persons) but it is not used in everyday spoken English. Germans likely think that since Personen is plural in German, persons must be the correct translation. But what about the word Leute?

1. Clo-thes

Forget squirrel or Porsche or WiFi. Clothes is the #1 English word that German speakers mispronounce. My theory is this: in German, every letter is pronounced the way it looks. Silent letters don't exist. What you see is what you get. This could be why Germans pronounce clothes as two syllables instead of one. The bf has another theory. He says Germans think that cloth is the singular form of clothes, hence the need to create a second syllable and say clo-thes. Beats me.

Almost German / Not Quite German

In light of Germany winning the World Cup earlier this month, a question came up that I couldn't help but ponder. The big win left me questioning how German I've really become, in addition to now being a lover of football. Living in Germany has undeniably changed certain aspects about myself, some I hadn't even realized until I gave it a good think.

5 Signs That I'm Almost German

1. I’m not particularly proud of admitting this, but, I eat Wurst almost every day. Now I know what you’re thinking and no, I don’t each sausages every day. But Wurst is also the name given to sliced meat and my lunch almost always consists of a sandwich containing Käse, Gurken, Tomaten and Wurst. Hey, at least I’m not a slave to canteen food like all of my students are. The canteen at the company where I work, by the way, serves Currywurst every day.


2. I value ventilation like I’ve never valued it before. When in doubt, open up a window. You’ll automatically feel better. Not only does it remove the lingering smell of cheap cologne worn by businessmen in the office, it also helps to remove the feeling of stuffiness in your flat. I know this because I learned it from the Germans, a people obsessed with ventilation and who throw open their windows (albeit briefly) even in the wintertime!


3. I’ve thrown all notions of prudishness out the window. Let’s face it: North Americans are prude. Period. Especially in the eyes of Germans, who are comfortable with nudity and actually open about sex. I feel like I grew up in a completely opposite society and culture, and almost feel liberated now that I live in Germany. Case in point: in the change rooms at my gym, women of all shapes and sizes change and shower with brazen confidence. They don’t bother trying to cover themselves up with towels or what have you. I’ve even seen women have full-on conversations with each other in the nude!


4. I ride my bike in spring, summer, autumn and oh yes, even in winter. Expertly too. Nobody thinks I’m crazy for biking in rain or snow because everyone does it. The Germans say Es gibt kein schlechtes Wetter, nur falsche Kleidung. In other words, there’s no such thing as bad weather, but rather, inappropriate clothing. While I prefer to wear rain pants, a rain jacket and waterproof shoes, it’s typical to see people donning a poncho or holding an umbrella while riding in the rain.


5. When Skyping or FTing with friends and family back home, I have to resist the urge to start off by saying naaaaaa and inserting German words such as doch or egal throughout the conversation, for they’d likely respond with a clueless ‘huh?’ The thing is, there are so many German words that I wish we could adopt in English. The reason why I admittedly enjoy peppering my English with German words is simply because these words fit so well in context yet do not have direct English translations or, when translated, don't express what I'm trying to say as fittingly.

So there you have it. I'm probably, say, 25% German? Am I therefore a mere 75% Canadian? However which way you want to break it down, there are definitely qualities about me that aren't German-like.

10 Signs That I'm Not Quite German

1. I can’t say I love making small talk but I definitely don’t mind it when the person I’m talking to gives me something to work with. Conversely, Germans hate it. What we believe is essential for networking and for building good relationships, they think is a waste of time. The problem is Germans think that when English speakers make small talk, it’s superficial. It’s hard for them to comprehend that asking someone “How are you?” isn’t necessarily meant to inquire about one’s life in detail. This is because in German, Wie geht’s Dir? is indeed meant to sincerely inquire about one’s (oftentimes personal) life and normally only asked by close friends and family.


2. I don’t care if people choose not to follow rules and regulations and I most definitely will not wag my finger nor scream at a jay-walker. Germany is a land of rule and regulation abiders, which is fine by me. But we do live in a free society, no? If someone chooses to jay-walk, that’s his or her decision and I’m not wasting energy or my emotions on denouncing that person.


3. I’ll never learn to be as direct as Germans are. Countless times I’ve experienced (mostly old) people scream at me for things like biking too close to the sidewalk and I find it utterly tasteless. Germans have no shame giving you a piece of their mind, whether you’re a stranger to them or not. In the business world, assertiveness is also the name of the game. Some of my students feel uncomfortable saying “could, would or should” because they think these words express uncertainty. When translated into German, these words communicate indecisiveness and therefore weakness. While they're polite to use in English, in German they're not explicit enough.


4. Germans are generally wary when it comes to data protection and privacy but unlike them, I don't feel compelled to change my name to Sh Elley on Facebook. I don't blame them, what with the spying going on and all. No one seems worried about their own cell phones being tapped though.


5. Döner will never be my go-to fast food meal. I rarely even eat fast food, let alone döner. Nevertheless, I get why it’s so popular. It’s relatively affordable, a Dönerbude is never more than a hop, skip, and a jump away and it's filling. But it leaves this nauseating smell on your hands that doesn’t go away for days. No, you cannot eat Döner with a knife and fork.


6. I haven’t been to Mallorca, which the Germans themselves have deemed their “17th province.” It’s such a popular holiday destination for Germans, you don’t have to worry about not being able to speak Spanish if you plan to go there - everyone speaks German. Although the thought of visiting Mallorca is tempting since it’s cheap to fly there from virtually any city in Germany, I’d like my next major trip to be a destination far different from Europe. China, perhaps?


7. My 1s don’t look like 7s and I promise you, they never will. Germans were taught how to print certain numbers and letters in school differently from how I remember being taught. If you ever ask a German to write the number 1 on a piece a paper, there’s a 99% chance that instead of it looking like a lower-case l, it’ll consist of two lines, both of which touch the baseline and the cap height. It basically looks like a deformed 7. Ask a German to print out the whole alphabet for you and you’ll see that their letters have loopy qualities, similar to that of cursive.


8. If I were able to have one warm meal per day, I’d prefer it to be dinner. Traditionally, German children got off school early enough in time for a late lunch at home where they’d usually have a warm meal. These days it's common for adults to enjoy a warm lunch as they either eat out with colleagues, or as I mentioned before, they eat in canteens. As a result it was and still is common to have Abendbrot (literally ‘evening bread’) in the evenings. To be fair though, due to changes in lifestyle, instead of just bread with sliced meat and/or cheese, nowadays more and more families are having warm meals for dinner as well.


9. I don’t believe qualifications are the keys to success and that the more education and experience you have, the more successful you will be. This is very typical German thinking. Germans jeer at the idea of ‘rags to riches’ as being only possible in Amerika (aka the US). They’re super structured people so it’s hard for them to wrap their head around getting to the top without taking the qualified route. They don’t like taking risks and that’s why entrepreneurialism isn’t prevalent in cities that aren’t Berlin. In my opinion, the average, middle-sized German city lacks restaurants and shops that are truly daring in concept because no one is brave enough to open one up.


10. Saved for last because it hits home the most, I can never be a true German because I know how to queue. A simple concept but one that has bestowed upon me many aggravating experiences. You may already be aware of such horror stories in German supermarkets where a new cashier opens up and everyone in the original queue tramples over one another to be first in line in the new queue. There exists zero courtesy in these instances. Sheer malarky! I see this all the time and it never ceases to make my blood boil. C'mon, Germans! Look to the Japanese and Canadians as good examples: apparently they're the world's best queuers.

I've proved that although Germany has moulded me in some ways, much to my sister's relief, I am and I'll always be Canadian. I sometimes wonder how I'd have turned out if I hadn't moved here. Would I still be prudish? Would I have learned how to bike in the snow? Would I have even bothered to learn a second language? I don't think so. And that's why I find the idea of living abroad so fascinating. Without even realizing it, you're influenced by the culture you're surrounded by. This is precisely why I think travelling is so important for one's growth, and also why I think being an expat is so verdammte fulfilling.

World Cup 2014: Celebrations in Braunschweig, Germany

Although the city in which we live isn't a Berlin, a Hamburg or a Munich, it was still good fun seeing and being a part of all the craziness that went down last Sunday. To think that simultaneously, every city in Germany was partying as hard as Braunschweig - if not harder - is beyond comprehension. As soon as Die Mannschaft got their hands on the cup, everyone took to the streets and it only started to really pick up as we were leaving, around 2am (CEST).

Honestly speaking, I'll always be Canadian deep down. But this one night was the only time I've ever felt pangs of Germanness. Nobody questioned why I was madly flailing my arms and constantly bellowing "WOOOOOOOOOOO" at all the passersby while circling the city centre in a scooter. On this night, it was perfectly acceptable for me to be one of them.



Donned and waved in every which way last Sunday, the German flag was an essential accessory to have at the celebrations. I lamented the fact that I was ill-prepared and didn't have one dabei, but egal. Ole. Ole. Ole, Ole, Ole! Supa Deutschland! Supa Deutschland! Supa Deutschland, Ole Oleeeeeeee. >>



...and then fireworks happened. I think it's important to note that fireworks are technically illegal to set off in Germany other than on New Year's Eve. But the Polizei happily tolerated it this night. *honks horn*



Since it's been a few days since the big win, I've been asking my students whether they think anything will be different from now on. Most of them have simply laughed at the question. They see no reason why everyone wouldn't go back to the way it was before. They recognize that Germans are a modest people and that being patriotic in one's country is something really only reserved for football tournaments. They admit that nationalism will remain a sensitive topic for them. In the meantime, however, I've still been seeing German flags on cars and hanging from balconies, so perhaps there's hope for it yet.

World Cup 2014: Why I Want Germany to Win

I used to hate soccer. Excuse me, I meant to say football. Nobody says soccer here (soccer/football is fußball in German) so neither will I.

I blame the World Cup for changing my attitude towards the sport I was never good at. It’s simply impossible not to get caught up in all the hoopla here, especially since football is so much more than a sport in Germany. One need only attend a Public Viewing to experience the indescribable energy and passion these football fans have. At the moment, not one of my students hasn’t been keeping up with Germany’s progress in the World Cup. Football is to Germany what hockey is to Canada: respectively, the two are inseparable. Football is very much ingrained in German culture.

I remember when Italy won the World Cup back in 2006. I was living in Woodbridge at the time so you can only imagine how crazy it was. Last weekend I Skyped with an old friend of mine who still lives in the GTA, and his insight on World Cup fever this year back home was on point. He said to me, “Everybody over here is suddenly Brazilian or Argentinien or Dutch right now.” I don’t doubt it. Eight years ago during the World Cup, everyone in Woodbridge was suddenly Italian even though on any other day they would have deemed themselves Canadian or Canadian-Italian at best. Do Canadians do this because we don’t have a national football team that's good enough to compete in the World Cup? Whatever the reason is, I find it amusing.

In Germany, it’s a different story. On an international level, Germany's national football team has always been a strong competitor. Germany also isn’t currently what I’d consider an immigrant country. Deciding what country to root for in the World Cup isn't a difficult decision for Germans to make.

What I believe it comes down to is this: Germans feel comfortable expressing pride in their country particularly every four years. Patriotism is a touchy topic in Germany. This isn't the US; it's awkward and inappropriate for someone to hang a German flag on their porch unless it's World Cup time. As absurd as this may sound to a Canadian, Germans generally have a hard time showing pride in being German.

But I'm hopeful that things will change in this country. It already has. The younger generations these days feel less and less of a connection with the hardships of WWII, and rightly so. In an ideal world, Germans wouldn't be afraid of showing pride in their culture/nationality all year round. For one, everybody knows they have the strongest economy in Europe right now. Furthermore, speaking from experience a decent standard of living can be had here, even for the average citizen like myself. So what's not to be proud of?



Perhaps the reason why I've been bitten by the World Cup bug only now is because I can't resist wanting to be a part of it all. On Sunday night, the World Cup Finale takes place and even if Argentina deserves it just as much as Germany does, I'll be rooting for the latter. It's incredible that through sport, Germans can come together and forget about their past even if it's only for a few weeks. I just wish they were able to do that without relying on football. Call me selfish for wanting Germany to win, but all I'd really like to experience is the epitome of what German unity and national pride looks like.

OMG, I'm in an English-speaking country!

Surprise, I'm home! Just for the hols though and not even for Silvester. Phooey. And what did I do as soon as I landed? I indubitably got myself a Tim Horton's coffee. French Vanilla to be precise. The morning after I landed, I indulged in this luscious bowl of steaming hot oatmeal topped with maple syrup and berries. It's so damn good to be home, man. Don't get it twisted though: I've missed my mom's homemade cookin' more than I've missed Timmie's. #keepinitreal



Whenever I fly back into Toronto, I'm always overcome with a strange yet familiar sensation. I mean I'll always consider Tdot "home" but when you're gone for such long periods of time, you just can't help but look at the city differently whenever you visit again. As much as I love my city, I can't picture myself living here in the next while (if ever). The reason being that there's too much of the world I still need to see! Plain and simple as that.

I don't know if anyone can relate to what I'm about to say... but I'll divulge anyway. I've lived in Germany for almost two years now and I have English-speaking friends in BS but all of that ain't nothin' compared to being surrounded by English 24/7. I'm so used to being surrounded by German, I was thrown off-kilter upon arriving at YYZ. Suddenly, I was forced to switch to English with the snap of a finger. I didn't panic but it felt strange at first.

Above all, I consider it a treat to be able to freely communicate with everyone around me (even if it's only for another 1.5 weeks). Not that my German's bad at all, but of course one communicates best in his or her native tongue. I'll cherish the brief time I'll have in my home and native land because I can speak a level of English I'm not used to speaking. This observation is not meant to offend because it's the truth. In light of all this, I've come to realize that there are so many nuances, idioms, phrasal verbs, etc in the English language. How refreshing it is to be able to hear/use these words and phrases again without getting a befuddled look from someone!!!!!!!!

Monocle | Germany: Boring is Banished

The last (or is it still the current?) edition of Monocle featured a lengthy article on Germany, entitled Boring is Banished. I cannot disagree with them calling the country "home to fresh ideas and new developments," but that definitely wouldn't be the first thing a foreigner arriving in Germany would say. Living as an expat in Germany has had it's challenges, #1 being that they're not an immigrant country (like Canada). As such, I just don't think they're as tolerant towards a wide variety of cultures and nationalities as countries like my home and native land. But as we say o'er here, "Das ist so!"

Nevertheless, the article was still an interesting read. All the cities listed above are indeed known for whatever's written in their corresponding captions (lol, lederhosen in Munich). I agree with Monocle.. "It's time for the world, especially Germans, to embrace a new future." Germany wants so badly to be an international leader (economically and what have you) and the only way I think this can happen is if we put history in the past, set aside notions of staunch tradition and collectively be more open-minded.

Private Health Insurance for Canadian Freelancers in Germany

The aim of this post is help out any other Canadian (or non-EU) Freelancers in Germany who are currently struggling to find private health insurance. Just two months ago, I was in your shoes and I know it ain't a pretty situation. At the time, I needed to find "proper" German health insurance as a requirement to obtain a new Visa in order to stay in the country (the Visa I had was about to expire).

I found a plethora of info on the web about private health insurance in Germany in general, but no one out there could give me a straight answer! All I wanted to know was which private health insurance companies would accept me. The problem was, no one could direct me to one particular company as each company follows a different set of rules (i.e. each company is bureaucratic in its own way).



Truth #1. Relax. At least one German (private or state) health insurance company will accept you.
Truth #2. No, consulting an independent insurance broker is not necessary. Don't waste your money.
Truth #3. There'll be a lot of red tape to deal with. Come to terms with this fact now. Or else.
Truth #4. If you can't speak German fluently, having German friends "speak" for you will be helpful.



Contrary to popular belief, opting for "gesetzlich" (state) health insurance rather than "privat" (private) health insurance is a possibility. Mind you, as a non-EU Freelancer without previous German health insurance, the process doesn't come without a fight. Fearing the impossible, we gave it a shot at two big name state insurance companies, AOK and TK, before inquiring at any private health insurance companies. Personally, I believe being in the state system is economically and financially better in terms of the long run. Another disadvantage about the private system: it's hard to get out!

Here's what happened: AOK flat-out rejected me. TK, on the other hand, for some miracle accepted me!! The whole process with TK was strange, though. The lady who helped us at the TK office here in Braunschweig made it seem like it'd be impossible to accept me. Then, a few weeks later, I received an acceptance letter in the mail! But by that time, we'd already chosen a private insurance company. Besides, TK wanted to charge me something crazy like 300 Euros/month, which is way too much!

At this point, we'd given up on the idea of getting state health insurance and starting looking into private health insurance companies instead. Here's a list of the companies who either straight-up rejected me or couldn't accept me straight away: DEVK, Öffentliche, Fairversicherungsladen-Wiechers GmbH, HUK-Coburg, Concordia and AXA. I'm still boggled as to why none of these companies could accept me right away. All I know is that the system is insanely bureaucratic. Whatever the reasons were, sadly, at the time it made me feel like an unwelcome foreigner in Germany. But we never gave up hope.

The first company that accepted me right away is the company we ended up choosing (like we even had a choice). The name of that company is Gothaer. The package they offered me definitely isn't cheap, but at least it ain't 300 Euros/month!! I highly recommend Gothaer, but at the same time, I cannot guarantee that they will accept you. That's what's so frustrating about the system! There's a helluva lot of red tape in this industry, and it's just a matter of finding your own loophole through it. As well, always ask for the cheapest package! Most companies'll try to sell ya extra stuff ya don't need.

During this whole ordeal, there was always a Plan B. An unnamed insurance broker (whom I found on toytowngermany.com) was ready to sell me health insurance from an international company called ALC. Though this broker was extremely helpful and friendly, I couldn't be swayed for two reasons: #1) As per the requirements of getting my new Visa, it was important to have German health insurance, and ALC isn't based in Germany (even though it offers its services in Germany). #2) The packages he offered me were decently cheap but honestly just shitty! In the event that I ever needed emergency medical treatment, for example, with these packages I'd still have to pay an arm and a leg!! F that!!

I hope all the above information proves useful for you. Here are some links I found sorta helpful during the private health insurance hunt: How to get health insurance in Germany, Germany Guide: Health insurance. I generally didn't trust any of the Toytown threads about health insurance in Germany because everyone there would just tell me to contact a broker. So explore all your options and do your research! It'll all be worthwhile in the end. Good luck!!! *PS. None of the images in this post are mine.
 

Life as a Canadian in Germany

Thinking of moving to Germany? If so, then regardless of what country you're from, I hope you'll find the following points useful to know. As seen through the eyes of a Canadian living in a small German city called Braunschweig (pop. 250 500), here's some insight on everything I've observed thus far.

[image courtesy of http://archives.canadianpressroom.com]

Geography

• Take a train ride anywhere in Germany and catch a glimpse of the German countryside: picturesque, pristine and proper. Not to mention, greeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen.
• The concept of space and land is madd small. Depending on where one lives in Germany, drive a few hours west, east or south and you'll end up in another country (traveling advantage #1).
• The North American concept of a "suburb" simply does not exist here. Drive a half hour outside of any city's "city centre" and you'll end up in a different city, town or village altogether.
• Most towns and cities are laid out in a circular pattern as opposed to a grid pattern. An iconic church and market square is usually located dead smack in the middle of the city centre.

Climate

• The climate in this part of Germany (the north) is very similar to the weather I grew up with in Toronto. Here in BS, however, we get wayyy more cloudy and rainy days all throughout the year. The summers also don't seem to get as hot (e.g. we never had over 30°C days last summer).

Politics

• I won't pretend I know much about German politics, but my experience with government officials so far isn't positive. I believe the system is &*$#ing bureaucratic and excessively complicated.

Economy / Infrastructure

• Germany's economy depends on its automobile industry. On this note, I've come to notice that technical jobs (e.g. engineers) are seen as more respectable than all other types of jobs.
• Hands-on jobs (e.g. chefs) and jobs in the trades (e.g. plumbers) aren't paid well. Pity!
• Hoorah for the bike culture!! Most cities, towns and villages in Germany are bike-friendly. Love love effing love that there are bike lanes everywhere!!! This has honestly changed my (previous commuter) lifestyle by 360° and I couldn't feel/be healther/happier. You ready to ditch your car?

Religion

• Don't declare that you're "Catholic" on your papers here, even if you are. You'll have to pay 8%-9% of your income tax to the church or community to which you belong. That is heaps!!!

Languages

• Most people under the age of 30 can speak basic English. Still, it's nothing like the Netherlands or the Scandinavian countries, where even the elderly folks can speak a basic level of English. 
• There's a high demand for English teachers all over the country because people of all ages desire to either learn or to improve their English (*nudge *nudge to all you native speakers).

Education

• Having "papers" are very important. Employers, for example, are more interested in the certificates or diplomas proving you've completed a course or that you've obtained a degree. 
• Huge difference between the uni students in Germany vs. the uni students in North America: here, tuition costs are affordable. Uni students aren't caught up in a never-ending cycle of debt.

Culture

• Hands-down, Germany is not an immigrant country like Canada, Australia, the US, etc. Contrary to the society I grew up in, it just isn't a "mixed bag" of cultures here. The largest number of immigrants here come from Turkey. I just kind of miss seeing other Filipino people around :(
• Generally speaking, Germany is less open to new ideas and change in comparison to countries like Canada. For example, people seem to prefer stabile jobs over entrepreneurialism. Yuck.
• "New" ideas catch on 10-15 years later (the bubble tea fad just arrived here a few years ago).
• It's true, most Germans (not all!) have a standoffish, direct approach. I'm talking specifically about people you'd meet in public. You might consider it rude - but don't take it personally.

Food

• Good Asian food (e.g. a proper bowl of pho or bibimbap) is damn hard to find, unless you live in a big city. But even then, I have yet to try mind-blowing Asian food in Berlin or Hamburg.
• It seems to me that Germans have a salt tooth. Their Asian food, for example, is super salty!
• Germans aren't big fans of peanut butter. Though they do enjoy their Erdnussflips. Strange, eh?
• All the ice cream people eat here is really Italian-style gelato. And you can get a scoop from any ol' ice cream shop for as little as 0,70€ - much cheaper than a scoop from Laura Secord!
• Sadly, ain't no Tim Horton's-style cheap coffee joints here. A cappuccino goes for at least 2€.
• German fast food = döner or currywurst. McDonald's and Burger Kings are less frequented.
• There's a little bakery on every corner. People love buying fresh bread rolls in the morning.
• Rather than a few humungous superstores in town, there are little supermarkets everywhere.

Fashion

• One word: BLAND. I hate to be blunt but seriously, the styles here are really effing bland.
• People seem scared to rock anything super colourful or out of the ordinary. Scurred folk!!!

Miscellaneous

• Drinking in public is legal. That's right, l-e-g-a-l. Feel free to ride your bike with a beer in hand.
• All abandoned empties will be snatched up! You pay a fund for them when you purchase them, of which you can get back so long as they're returned. So save all your empty bottles and cans! 
• People are more open about sex and sexuality in general. The women in my fitness classes get naked in the change rooms like it's nothing at all. Kids see boobs on TV at early ages.
• Strangers (mostly old folk) on the street can and will scream at you! If you're biking on the wrong side, or do anything at all that they deem to be inappropriate, be prepared to get an earful!
• Tell people you have a driver's license but can't drive a standard car and you will be made fun of.
• Only on New Year's are Germans allowed to go buck wild. It'd call it absolute anarchy for 24 hours straight. People light fireworks and party on the streets the entire night and into the a.m. 

As a Canadian expat in Germany, naturally, the thing I miss the most is multiculturalism. It's much more evident in Berlin, but not so much in our little city. I just miss being able to eat every type of cuisine in the world all in one city (and being able to grab a Jamaican patty at my whim). Having said that, however, I've gained experiences here I'd never have the chance to do anywhere else. Over the past year I've learned to speak German and damn proud of it! In the future, I picture myself forever living in various countries. For me, experiencing different cultures is a lifelong thing. #staypassionate

Was ich aus Toronto vermisse

Meine Name ist Shelley und ich lebe seit neun Monaten in Deutschland. Ich bin Kanadierin, und ich vermisse viele Sachen aus meine Heimatland, besonders Toronto, meine Heimatstadt. Wo soll ich beginnen? Natürlich vermisse ich mein Familie und gute Freunde. Ich vermisse auch das Essen aus Toronto! Mann kann jedes Internationale Essen in Toronto essen! (z.B koreanisch essen, somalisch essen, jamaikanisch essen, u.s.w.) Vertrau mir, die Multikulturalismus Mischung ist unglaublich!

Zuletzt vermisse ich.... Trommelwirbel bitte.... Tim Horton's! Kennt ihr Tim Horton's? Wenn nicht, dann kann ich es euch erklären. Kanadier sagen "Timmies." Es ist ein landesweite Café Kette. An fast jeder Ecke in Kanada, gibt es ein "Timmies," wo mann günstig Kaffee und Frühstück bestellen kann. Mein Lieblingsgetränk ist "French Vanille." Obwohl ich vermisse mein Zuhause, im moment bevorzuge ich in DE zu arbeiten und vor allem zu leben. Wir wollen nächstes Jahr nach Toronto fahren. Bis dann, Leute!

Ich spreche noch nicht fließend Deutsch.

There are a million reasons why one chooses to learn a new language. I myself have chosen to learn German because I live in Germany. In order to fully integrate into society, I find it imperative that I learn the language of the people here. Not to mention, in wanting to be able to meet new people and make new friends, communication is key.

I've chosen to go freestyle with it, opting out of taking a course and rather, learning on my own and at my own pace. So far, despite all the ups and downs, I don't speak fluent German yet... but progression has definitely been made. My goal? To be able to speak basic conversational German within a year. And because I love the challenge of learning a new language so much, here's some insight for ya'll......



5 Tips: How to Learn a New Language

1. Get over your self-consciousness, and get over it quickly.
2. Get the #@&% out there! Talk to people! Make mistakes! Accept feedback! Speak freely!
3. Join language groups/organizations where you can practise speaking in an informal atmosphere.
4. Immerse yourself completely. Watch films (with subtitles). Be observant. And read, damnit, read!
5. There will be plateau stages, but don't worry. The learning process can only go in one direction: uP.

5 Awesome Things about Learning a New Language

1. You exercise a different part of the brain. Who wouldn't want that?!
2. It opens doors and increases opportunities, whether for traveling, working or studying purposes.
3. Anybody can do it! You just gotta be a go-getter. Be passionate. Be persistent.
4. The revelation moments when things start to make sense will make you feel high on life all day.
5. I promise, it'll be unlike anything you've ever done before. And the outcome? Highly rewarding.

Traveling Abroad vs. Living Abroad

Traveling a country as a tourist is completely different from living in a country as an expatriate. Don't get me wrong, I love being a gawker of sights too. But completely immersing oneself in a country's culture by choosing to live there is an experience unparalleled with anything else in the world! I can't even begin to explain how rewarding it is to be able to contribute to a society rather than just pass by it. People always complain about not having enough vacation time from their 9-5s. Here's a nutty idea: instead of traveling (insert your country of choice here) for 2 weeks, stay for a year instead.

I understand that the choice to live abroad isn't realistic for everyone. Just know that YOU are free to live the life that YOU want to live! Life in Germany has challenged me in extraordinary ways thus far. The thick-skulled ones still think I'm here on holidays. In actuality, I've been busting my butt trying to find career-oriented work while simultaneously teaching myself German. But I'm not complaining, not one bit. I've learned life skills that I'd never had learned if I'd stayed in Toronto. Despite the frustrations married to this lifestyle, I feel alive and that's all that matters.