life in germany, what its like living in abroad for a year

What Logical Things You Need to Know About Living in Germany for a Year

Living in Germany for a year is an incredible experience. It’s a chance to see how the other half lives, to experience life in a completely different culture, and to learn more about yourself. But it isn’t always easy. This guide will help you with what living in Germany means and give you a few tips so you can adjust more easily.

The experience of living abroad is unique to everyone and it’s hard to find a reason not to take the opportunity. It’s an unforgettable adventure where you’ll see places you’ve never seen before, meet new people and learn a new language. Germany has many benefits for international students, which make it one of the most popular countries for students to broaden their horizons.

How to Move Your Life to Germany

The first thing you need to do is figure out if you’re ready to make the move. This is a big decision, so it’s important that you have a clear idea of what life will be like in Germany before packing up and moving from your current country.

If it turns out that you are ready for the adventure, then there are some things that should be taken into consideration and preparations that need to be made. For example, if you are planning to study in Germany for Bachelors, Masters of PhD, or you’re moving with a family, it’s important to research schools in the area and decide on what type of house or apartment would best suit your needs.

Nevertheless, everything comes after finding a job in Germany which I have covered in my other post with all the options where you can get the job! For your information, I live in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Dont get it confused with the other Frankfurt which is near Berlin.

Expat life in Germany, Frankfurt am Main, Living in Germany
River Main, Frankfurt am Main

What It’s Like Living in Germany for a year as an Expat

Moving abroad to another country, not only just Germany, can be daunting, but there are many things that can make the transition easier.

The culture of a country is one of the first things that will take getting used to when moving to Germany. It is important for ex-pats to do their research on German culture before they move over so they know what to expect.

Expats should also be prepared for the language barrier when moving to Germany. Most people in Germany speak English (If you live in a big city) and will go out of their way to help you. However, German is really very important, and learning German might be difficult at first.

I ran into trouble finding the appointment for a doctor when I got COVID because most of the praxis receptionists were talking in German and I was unable to get an appointment.

I also have this bad habit of converting Euro to INR before buying anything, and that’s how I find the Salons in Germany very expensive. Likewise, getting a household for my home is very expensive when I compare it with India. When I started living in as an expat alone, it was difficult to manage cleaning, household and work altogether, so I bought a robot vacuum cleaner in Germany which is very affordable.

The Struggles of Living in Germany as an Expat

The Germans are not the most welcoming people when it comes to foreign guests, so we’ve compiled a few of the struggles ex-pats have to go through when living in Germany.

– The German language is very difficult for people who don’t speak it. Germans are only taught English in schools until they reach Grade 12.

– Germans take pride in their culture and expect foreigners to adopt their customs. This includes making exceptions for themselves and being late when no one else is allowed to be late, consuming alcohol even during working hours, or eating meat throughout the day.

It’s Not Always Easy Being an Expat in Germany

Expats in Germany have to deal with a lot of difficult situations, but they also get to experience the most different and unique things. I personally have lived a life very different from India and here’s why I wanted to share my experience on Living in Germany for a year.

When people think about Germany, they often think that everyone who lives there is really nice. That’s not always the case though. Some Germans are really direct and blunt and that can be a shock when it comes from someone who you thought was nice.

There are also cultural differences that can be challenging for ex-pats to adjust to such as how people view time, punctuality, or how personal space is viewed.

The Upside of Living Abroad – You Get a New Perspective on Things

Living abroad is a great opportunity and there are many benefits to it. You get to explore different cultures, travel, learn about new perspectives, and make new friends.

The most apparent benefit of living abroad is that you get to explore different cultures. Culture shock can be very exciting because you get the chance to see how other people live their lives differently from you. You will also have the opportunity to learn about different perspectives and find out what life is like in a foreign country.

Alternatively, if you are just looking for some vicarious experience then living abroad gives you the chance to learn what it’s like for those who can’t afford or don’t want to move permanently by living in a tourist hotspot for a few weeks or months at a time. This way, while not actually getting the full foreign experience

The Challenges of Acculturating into German Culture Every Day

The German language is one of the most difficult languages to learn and master. The complexity of the grammar and the many exceptions doesn’t help, but it also takes a long time before you are able to use idioms and sayings correctly. Germans have many specific cultural quirks that outsiders may not pick up on right away.

Learning a new language can be challenging, but it’s worth it in order to gain a different perspective on the world. In addition, if you want your business or products to succeed in Germany, learning at least some German is essential for success!

Conclusion: The Pros and Cons of Living in Germany

Germany is a great place to live with its scenic natural beauty and rich culture. It is also a good place to work and to raise a family. However, it has some disadvantages as well. So, here’s a list of logical things that I have felt in the past year after living in Germany as in Indian ex-pat.

Pros of Living in Germany:

-Beautiful natural scenery and rich culture

-Great place to live, work, or raise children

-More chance to travel and explore Europe

Cons of Living in Germany:

-Low pay rates in some of the region but if you are coming from India it does not matter at all.

-High cost of living (Accommodation, Househelp, Food)

-Unpredictable weather patterns

– You cannot plan to stay here for long without learning German

Now, after going through my experience, I hope you might have gotten a gist of life abroad in Germany. If you are interested to know my first impression of Germany, here is the video that I uploaded on my YouTube channel. It’s one of my best performing videos on living in Germany and life in Germany. Let me know how are you planning to come to Germany? Is it on a student visa or work visa?


Please let me know if you have any requests by Contacting me on Contact Page. That was all about my thoughts about living in Germany for a year as an Expat.

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What Logical Things You Need to Know About Living in Germany for a Year
Living in Germany

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