The Germany Experience

Audrey and Zach met while in the USA. When Zach, a cartographer, moved to Germany on a SOFA status (Status of Forces Agreement), they first attempted a long-distance relationship before Audrey joined him later in Germany. Take a listen to their story, which involves cuckoo clocks, a ride in the back of a German police car, and how to watch a TV show together on different continents.

We also discuss a blog post that Audrey wrote called "Growing a Thicker Skin", and she opens up about fitting into German culture as a bubbly, open person.

The app Audrey and Zach used while living apart: Couple
The therapy service Audrey uses: BetterHelp
Website for organizing meet-ups with people: https://www.meetup.com/
Audrey's blog: https://www.a-broad.com/
Zach's blog: https://zachsyearingermany.wordpress.com/

JOIN THE EXPAT LIFE GERMANY FACEBOOK GROUP
Visit the official Expat Life Germany website.

Instagram: the.germany.experience
Official podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.de
YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperience
Contact me: [email protected]

Podcast Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

Travis J. Dow is a host of the History of Germany podcast (and several other podcasts, too). Originally from Oregon, USA, he spent his formative years in Bavaria, Germany. Later he moved to Prague, Czech Republic for 10 years, before moving back to USA. He's a third culture kid, history nerd, and has an affinity for Germany. I caught up with him in Hamburg to discuss his plan of learning how to make candy in Germany, as well as what it was like growing up as a third culture kid.

Discover all of Travis' podcasts and projects on the Podcastnik website and subscribe to the Podcastnik Productions YouTube channel. Follow Travis on Twitter.

If you want to help Travis with his plan to make candy, donate to his GoFundMe campaign.

Show notes:

• The podcast about Toby's trans-gender journey: What's In Your Pants podcast 
• Past Access, a show about exploring tourist sites in a wheelchair
•  Learning about German history through podcasts:
  • The Eastern Border 
  • The History of WWII 
  • Cam and Ray’s Cold War Podcast
  • Ach! Podcast (in German)
• Podstock is a German podcasting festival

Instagram: the.germany.experience
Official podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.de
YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperience
Contact me: [email protected]

Podcast Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

Nicole from The Expat Cast and I went head-to-head in December 2019 to see who could raise the most donations for our chosen charities.

Together we raised 350 euros...140 euros went to Nicole's charity of choice, Women's Worth Inc., while 210 euros went to my chosen charity, Lebenshilfe in Bad Windsheim. 

I'll let you do the math (*cough* I won!) :)

Thanks to everyone who donated, and thanks to Nicole for being such a great sport. Let's do it again in December 2020!

Instagram: the.germany.experience
Official podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.de
YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperience
Contact me: [email protected]

Podcast Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

For foreigners living in Germany, the holidays are a time that we recreate traditions from our home countries, adopt German traditions, and start new ones. I take a look at how my Christmas experience in Germany has been, and compare it to my summer South African Christmases.

Luminaria: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luminaria

Wherever you might be, and whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, something else, or nothing at all, may your holiday season be peaceful.

Thanks for listening in 2019 and stay tuned for more guests and stories in 2020.

JOIN THE FACEBOOK GROUP

Instagram: the.germany.experience
Official podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.de
YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperience
Contact me: [email protected]

Podcast Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

Donate to my cause in the expat podcasters charity challenge (aka #FEGEPADFO): Donate to Lebenshilfe Bad Windsheim

Germany offers a lot of opportunities, but it's also known as a difficult country to integrate into. What happens when the German dream becomes a nightmare? My guest this week (who asked to remain anonymous) is from India, and he has experienced rude government officials, losing a job because he wasn't a native speaker, difficult neighbors, and even blatant racism. Because of these experiences, his views on Germany are not positive. In our interview, we discuss his experiences and opinions of the country and its people.

Greta Thunberg's "feud" with Deutsche Bahn: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/dec/15/greta-thunberg-in-twitter-spat-with-german-rail-firm

Join the Expat Life Germany mailing list.

Discuss your opinions on this episode in the Expat Life Germany Facebook group!

Visit the official podcast website: Expat Life Germany

Instagram: the.germany.experience
Official podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.de
YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperience
Contact me: [email protected]

Podcast Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

Donate to my cause in the expat podcasters charity challenge (aka #FEGEPADFO): Donate to Lebenshilfe Bad Windsheim

For many people who are planning to come to Germany, the Freelance Visa might be the way to go. It allows you to provide freelance services in Germany, and you don't need an official job offer to get it. But how do you get it? And is it suitable for your goals?

I am joined by the very knowledgeable James Meads of LiveWorkGermany.com, who explains what the German Freelance Visa is, who can get it, how to apply, and what you need to know about it.

Live Work Germany is also offering an online Freelance Visa course. You can also find LiveWorkGermany on Facebook and YouTube.

Join the Expat Life Germany mailing list.

Discuss your opinions on this episode in the Expat Life Germany Facebook group!

Visit the official podcast website: Expat Life Germany

Instagram: the.germany.experience
Official podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.de
YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperience
Contact me: [email protected]

Podcast Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

Jibran runs the Desi in Wonderland YouTube channel. He's originally from Pakistan and has been living in Germany for 5 years, so we decided to discuss how Germany has changed us. In the process, I learned a lot more than I expected about Pakistani culture. Find Jibran on Instagram and Facebook.

Also in this episode: Introducing FEGEPADFO (First Ever German Expat Podcast Advent Donation Face-Off), where I go up against my sworn rival, Nicole from The Expat Cast, in a battle to see who can raise the most money for charity. To see our selected charities and find out more information, go to the FEGEPADFO page.

Discuss your opinions on this episode in the Expat Life Germany Facebook group!

Visit the official podcast website: Expat Life Germany

Instagram: the.germany.experience
Official podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.de
YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperience
Contact me: [email protected]

Podcast Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

Liliana is from Naples, Italy, and has lived in Germany for 7 years. She recently got her citizenship, and discusses how that happened. We also cover her reason for choosing Germany, why she'd struggle to return to Italy, and she compares Hamburg and Berlin with Naples.

Subscribe to Liliana's YouTube channel: Lils Around
Liliana on social media:
Facebook
Instagram

Discuss your opinions on this episode in the Expat Life Germany Facebook group!

Visit the official podcast website: Expat Life Germany

Instagram: the.germany.experience
Official podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.de
YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperience
Contact me: [email protected]

Podcast Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

One of my best friends in Germany, Rafael from Brazil, experienced loss when his father passed away, and talks about how he coped dealing with that being far from his family.

He's also a handball player, and he had the chance to make German friends through his love of the sport.

We also discuss learning languages, Bulgarian wedding dance traditions, and more.

Majestic handball Rafael:
 https://www.instagram.com/p/BSvnfjflJgR0f4nq-mjwHYcNRVdXQFuVk7MqKA0/?igshid=uouuiaedbbd3

World Index tweet: most dangerous countries

Bulgarian wedding dance: https://youtu.be/Bv8BRPO-EyU?t=37

Discuss your opinions on this episode in the Expat Life Germany Facebook group! 

Instagram: the.germany.experience
Official podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.de
YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperience
Contact me: [email protected]

Podcast Intro Music by: Adrian Bran

Are Germans really efficient? Do they like order? Are they as punctual as everyone says they are? Nicole Palazzo, a US expat living in Germany and the host of The Expat Cast, helps me confirm or bust common stereotypes and cliches about Germans.

Discuss your opinions on these stereotypes in the Expat Life Germany Facebook group! And also: let us know of any we missed, or ones that might be common in your area of Germany.

The cult British show that Germans watch every year on New Year's Eve: Dinner for One

Find Nicole:
The Expat Cast podcast
The Expat Cast on Instagram
Mail Nicole: [email protected]

Expat Life Germany:
Facebook page
Facebook group
Website
Instagram
Twitter

Instagram: the.germany.experience
Official podcast website: https://thegermanyexperience.de
YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/thegermanyexperience
Contact me: [email protected]

Podcast Intro Music by: Adrian Bran