2. Living in Germany as an Expat

This video talks about living in Germany as an expat from my Point of view. Remember everyones Journey is different:)
Feel free to ask questions/

[@HayleyAlexis]

Omg... This is so true about the German men! They are so reserved. I was not used to this when I first got here. I thought something was wrong with me. Everything you say is spot on! ha

[@lifeinmy40s80]

+Hayley Babyxo So glad people can relate. You definitely feel strange until you get use to them.

[@AntoinetteEmily]

Loved this video! I am an exact living in Germany too so could relate to so much of this.

[@HansKoschei]

A beautiful woman living in a beautiful country.... I'm a new subscriber hoping to see new videos, especially about life in Germany... I can only visit every few years so I love seeing other people's perspective on my home country. All the best!!

[@87PageS]

Loved hearing about your experiences, I wish I had lived there longer (and surrounded by less Army) so I could truly immerse myself in the culture. Great video.

[@lifeinmy40s80]

87PageS I am definitely happy I got to experience the true Germany. I know you would have loved it.

[@laurensteele6157]

Love learning about your experiences in Germany and excited to keep following you! My husband and I just moved from the USA to London as expats so you might be interested in following our journey as well! :)

[@TravelingDiva-vp1gt]

You're brave and it sounds like a great experience. I am 33 years old and I've been thinking about moving out of the Country for a while.

[@Germanator]

Nice video. Great that you enjoy Germany. After a few beers I would approach you^^

[@hansmeyer7225]

not sure if it's a compliment or not ^^

[@voguehaven5154]

Beer gives courage to approach beautiful women like her. And also the heart to handle the rejection of a beautiful woman.

[@paulsmith1981]

Do you mean like 20.

[@flaviagro8240]

I enjoyed your video thumbs up great video cool

[@lifeinmy40s80]

Thank you for watching!!!

[@lynettec9807]

Glad to find you!

[@lifeinmy40s80]

Heyyyyy!

[@FlabbyDouglas]

Great video!

[@deelong3687]

Hi I hope you’re well. Your videos were great.

[@racingtheweb]

beautiful eyes

[@lifeinmy40s80]

+racingtheweb Thank you!

[@simonmichaelglover6546]

Extremely helpful!!!!

[@lifeinmy40s80]

Thank You

[@LifestylewithGifty]

wow girl i'm very happy i come across your channel, very loving personality, come and visit me in switzerland!!!!

[@AiOYOiA]

You are a very reflecting person. And beautiful too... :-)

[@lifeinmy40s80]

Thank you!

[@scott83]

Helpful Vlog...Thanks!

[@lifeinmy40s80]

+Brandon Jones Thanks for watching.

[@Larrypint]

Echt ne schöne Frau. Cool that you like it here. Greetz from Berlin

[@lifeinmy40s80]

+Larrypint Danke:)

[@JesseWifeBot]

Thanks for the information!

[@lifeinmy40s80]

No problem!

[@josefgunter4238]

Concerning the traditional gender roles, I (german male) have made quite the opposite experience. While women who are now in their forties and fifties were basically obligated to have a job and be strong and independent, the younger generation really values having a choice most. I know a lot of young women (and some young men), who have at least favoured staying at home in the future for some time in their lives. They're often so proud in having a say in what to do with their own lives, that they don't really want anyone to tell them how to live it - be it a misogynist or be it a feminist. Some women really want to have a child and be there for it the first years (as more and more men do). Well and some (both, male and female) just like the idea of not having to work. This depends of course massively on the social group you're in. In general, households with lower education tend to prefer traditional roles, despite not always being able to go with them (for financial reasons mostly), whereas very educated ones take pride in going for modern ideas, despite not always living them themselves. It's a lot like other topics. That we don't talk that much about it as a public anymore, doesn't mean that we don't still care about it. It's more that it has become more of an issue of the individuum - not general debate.

[@lifeinmy40s80]

Thank you Josef. I have definitely notice a lot of changes as friends circle changed and I moved around. Thank you for sharing this to give some of us more incite.

[@sbuckle1171]

I love that you said "When in Rome, do as the Romans." There are a lot of immigrant groups in Germany who don't respect this idea. I believe in a happy balance between preserving cultural traditions (and language skills) in your country of origin but for God's sake respect the culture you have come into.

[@lifeinmy40s80]

Amen, I was out of German for a few years and felt like I lost command of German. Not the basic stuff but more conversational. I am going to get myself enrolled in an online class because I definitely do not want to be looked as another sterotype.

[@mewtje3095]

Hello! :) I'm a german who has been traveling a lot, and I can tell you: Being reserved is a big yay in Germany, and a big Nay in many other countries, so we also have problems with adapting ): It's a big cultural difference many people are not aware of it yet. I hope you enjoy your stay here!

[@lifeinmy40s80]

+Mew Tje I learned to adapt to the German way of things because I am very adaptable. I have noticed the big difference when it comes to adapting from the Germans I have dated though. Kaffee und Kuchen was a big thing for my exes parents and it drove me crazy because I was like why can we not just say no we are not coming over this time. Eventually I had to put my foot down and say you go but I am not. It was not because i didn't like them but ,because my Sunday afternoon were not going to turn into this same old routine .

[@mewtje3095]

Well your ex seems to be pretty... traditional, to say in the least xD. Kafffee und Kuchen, we did that on Feiertagen when there was nothing else to do anyway. I normally spend my sunday afternoon catching up on school and/ or university stuff. Depends a lot on the family I guess. I can fully understand you, though, Kaffee und Kuchen is nice once in a while but can bore the living crap out of you.

[@ashliirvin965]

New subbie! Thinking about dating a guy from Germany and this is very helpful! Would love to see the long distance video! Thanks for sharing!✌

[@inder19852000]

Germans are very reserved. Its very hard to make good friendship with them

[@kuscheldrache]

Nah we just take our time to get to know somebody ,however if we have established a friendship it usualy lasts for years etc.

[@inder19852000]

kuscheldrache True, if a foreigner is shy too, he is totally lost. How much time you need is a question. I have been living since 13 years. I went to the university in Germany. There, it was always a german and foreigner group, which hardly intermingled. In work place, its easier to get to know eachother as everyone needs the other. I hardly find Germans curious to know other cultures or to eat their food etc etc or to invite foreigners to their homes or festivals

[@kuscheldrache]

That really depends how much effort is made, many foreigners prefer to stick to their own hence the seperation into the groups you've mentioned. As far as getting to know other cultures or food goes I'd generaly disagree and would say it depends on the cutlure and food. Most people I know have a diet which consists of many different dishes from many different countries. As for festivals it depends which festivals you're talking about it doesn't help that with the exception of New Years most holidays are family oriented holidays.

[@inder19852000]

kuscheldrache Foreign students are guest in your country. According to most cultures, normally host people take iniative to invite guest into their homes or festivals. I had a feeling that Germans dont like cooking that much. Foreign students may not feel that confident in a new country with a new language. You will only understand if you have lived abroad for sometime. In Germany, it was mostly like, if you want you can come, otherwise we dont bother. Is it because of superiority complex that rich Germans are letting students from third world for studies or may be Germans lack the courtesy and social skills? I find it sometimes difficult to convey to Germans on face, as I dont want to hurt them. Many foreigners feel the same, they are afraid to discuss with Germans. With the influx of refugees, if there are less intermingling it will lead to more and more ghettos.

[@kuscheldrache]

tony thomas Yes foreign students are guests indeed that's why any university I know, surely the one I attended, has extensive programms to help them integrate, make contacts etc. Mine had a mentor program which paired a foreign student with a german one who showed the foreigner the ropes, the city, where to hang out how to do stuff etc. It's not as if foreign students are left hanging in Germany you have to make an effort not to get help, at least that's my experience from Uni. However besides Oktober Fest and Carnival,which is also only celebrated in certain areas of the country, there are no huge festivals, there might be the local beer/wine whatever festival . We don't celebrate Halloween so no party invites there and Christmas is a family affair in most households so not even good friends get invited for that most of the time. For the record if you want you can come is an invitation the same way we issue invites to our fellow germans by the way. However yes we are a very reserved country but not just foreigners,in my area you can into a bar and if there are 10 people who don't know each other I can guarantee you they'll sit at 10 different tables and the only thing you'll hear are the orders for drinks. If you have an issue make yourself known otherwise nobody will know and do something about it. If you're invited to get together, have a drink or go see a movie that's us being good hosts. I've was abroad for a while and had to adjust my expecations *shrug* that's the way it is it has nothing to do with any sort of superiority complex or some bollocks like that. My best mates whom I've known for over 30 years still don't call my parents by their first name for example again we are very reserved people.

[@OmeeceCulmer]

Which part of Germany do you live darling, i will be visiting Germany in a few weeks, I'm from the Bahamas and also thinking about moving there some day soon depending on how my trip goes.

[@lifeinmy40s80]

Hi Omeece! I lived in Wiesbaden, Germany but I am actually now living in Atlanta, GA. I am hoping to relocate back to Germany in about 2 years.

[@thatdutchguy2882]

The dating and reserved stance is common in all Germanic cultures so what you experience in Germany (including other cultural stuff) you'll find in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Kingdom of Belgium, the Grant-Duchy of Luxembourg and the Austrian Republic too,...it's 99% the same.

[@babybabekiss]

Great video! Why did you want to come to Germany specifically?

[@lifeinmy40s80]

+Elisa エリザ I thought Germany had a stable economy and it was close enough to all the countries I wanted to travel to.

[@angelabrown-bessau4127]

Great video, very informative! I'm in the K-town area. We should hang out! :)

[@lifeinmy40s80]

I'm actually in California now ;)

[@simonmichaelglover6546]

Hello. Are you currently in Germany? What is the job market there for expat with experience in force protection?

[@lifeinmy40s80]

I am not currently in Germany but as far as force protection and the military bases, I believe Ponds has the contracts. I would contact them if you are interested in a position.

[@vazarraabe9068]

I also love that being in the middle. Makes it easier to fly ofter to Africa... ;-) I came on my on and did not cop out to the military. THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THOSE THAT HAVE MILITARY MIND SET AND THOSE WHO ARE GLOBAL TRAVELLERS. Not to mention being other than white.

[@lifeinmy40s80]

+Vazar Raabe I lived in Kuwait for 9 months boy is it hot there-LOL I love traveling on my own because you lose a lot if you limit yourself.

[@kalssendo4101]

do you have a video about that? wow

[@nyarainatashamunyukwi455]

which part do you live in germany i recently moved to germany im in frankfurt:)

[@lifeinmy40s80]

+Nyarai Natasha Munyukwi I use to live in Wiesbaden but, I no longer live there.

[@voguehaven5154]

do you experience racism living there? and how is dating life with german men?

[@mbentonm]

Nyarai Natasha Munyukwi

[@Pixelynx]

I think the question about whether there are black people in another country isn't so weird. It's weird to ask about a country like Germany, being one of the superpowers and all, and just one of the places that many people visit commonly. But I spent about 4 months in Slovenia, and out of those four months I saw one -- ONE -- other black person. And that was when I was on a campus, so they were likely a transfer student. LoL

[@trinicarib4021]

is there a way I can ask you via email about some concerns Im having please?

[@trinicarib4021]

Thank you will contact you soon have a blessed and enjoyable Sunday/week.

[@thefirefox-bx3mx]

Do you have any experience with AfroGermans

[@RachelSemeson]

I'm trying to live in Germany. Gosh I hope I find a woman as beautiful as you there.

[@Sakaran2010]

Being English and living in Karlsruhe for the last 23 years I agree you need to at least try to speak the language...it just opens so many more doors that otherwise would be shut. Just a warning to new comers to the German language the vocabulary is relatively small compared to English but the Grammatic is a killer.

[@TheViburn]

lol. You call the german vocabulry (with about 5.3 MILLION words) small? That's five times the english language has (slightly above one million words in total). In average conversation there are about 700 to 850 words (AKA small talk) used in german, in written conversation around 4k, but that's still more than the english language uses.

[@pleissbach]

@@TheViburn Well, its a bit late... biut I thought the same. How can someone say the german vocabulary is small compared to english?! Its not without reasons the language of the philosophers and writers.

[@steelerslunatic3196]

How fluent in Deutsche were you when you moved to Germany?

[@lifeinmy40s80]

+Lavoris Henry I was not. I initially started with some cd's and about.com German groups.

[@steelerslunatic3196]

Thanks

[@wa9neu]

+Life in my 30's You... are a very beautiful woman !!!

[@theblackschwab3561]

The Dating Market is different overseas. Men are the prizes over there. They are the ones that are in higher demand. As a woman, you have to really work to get them to notice you. The Dating Market is the complete reverse in the US. Men have to do all the work to get the attention and approval of women. American women don't know how good they have it over here.

[@lifeinmy40s80]

I think it definitely is a geographical thing for sure. Where I live now in Germany I would struggle trying to find a man. I just like to remind people there is a difference between being fetishized and desired as a mate.

[@AcaJudiJudiJudiJudi]

i speak Spanish as a second language. i know a little Arabic, Polish, german, and Russian. languages come easy. google: Murders in Chicago.google: Judi Grace StoryCorps. thank you.

[@Baebae933]

Are you still in germany?

[@lifeinmy40s80]

Shamay Setal actually just got back in Country. Living in Bavaria ( Southern Germany) now.

[@Baebae933]

@@lifeinmy40s80 oh lol that's far from where I live 🙁

[@jameskajak3304]

@@Baebae933 where do you live Shaman?

[@Baebae933]

@@jameskajak3304 Close to ramstein.

[@jameskajak3304]

That is alittle out of the way from Essen...but would haved loved to meet you.

[@SedleighAdams]

Be an "au pair"?? Crumbs! Compare this with the African attitude, they re-locate to Germany through education and graduate programs - starting with learning the local language. (Similar stories in China, Japan, Korea etc). If black Americans as a community were more accustomed to travelling, there would be a completely different black consciousness in the USA.

[@lifeinmy40s80]

I totally respect your point but everyone has their own path. There are many Africans in many countries that are thriving. There are also many who are not. I've seen it in the U.K. America, Spain, Italy and such places. I wish there would not be a constant divide when it comes of Black people. It honestly is sad the elitism we have in our own race.

[@poobado]

She is black but I think she has a Eurocentric mindset....hey...it's her life.

[@lifeinmy40s80]

I am a black American with Caribbean roots. I lived in Europe for 15 years so it may seem as though I have a Eurocentric mindset but I really, I embrace all cultures. Honestly I really wish people would not judge base off of a video.

[@poobado]

Life in my 30's .....having travelled to a few different continents I have observed by Black and Brown people of the world tend to view the world with a Eurocentric lens....this can also be found in Africa(how ironic is that?) I didn't mean it as an insult but more as an observation . Perhaps it is a result of mental colonization. I think that Black and Brown people of the world tend to have a "love" of all cultures, but the European is less inclined (outside of fetishization) the proudly state claim to living profound those cultures outside of his own...

[@MrOu83]

ty cromwell - What exactly is a European mindset??

[@poobado]

MrOu83 ....good morning. When a person has a "European mindset it is a mindset that values, praises, extols..puts on a pedestal all things European, Caucasian and white... But please let me give factual information because I don't want my comments to be seen as race baiting.... If one was to research the Clarke doll test of 1942 conducted on black, Asian and Latin children(at separate times) the results were profound. A quick explanation is young 5 and 6 year old black children were shown two dolls. One doll being black and the other being white. They were asked various questions as to which doll is prettier..smarter..etc. The vast majority of black children answered that the white doll was in fact smarter...prettier...kinder etc. That is an example of the European mindset. It is a believe that most of the worlds people of color have in which subconsciously all things European are more sophisticated etc.....I have many many historical Examples of you would like More. Hopefully this answered your question.

[@MrOu83]

ty cromwell - Thanks for your reply. I am very familiar with the Clark Doll test. This type of test has been replicated, yielding the same results. I did my own personal test with my goddaughter, who is black like me, on Christmas Day. She actually thought the black doll was the pretty doll. What's sad is that she even had a white doll to begin with. I shared my concern about this with her parents. I'm not going to say much about whether I believe she (expat) has an identity problem, or has an inferiority complex because of her race (you kind of insinuated that in your posts).

[@lifeasasoftwareengineering2361]

T3ayiii

[@AcaJudiJudiJudiJudi]

great information. google: Murders in Chicago.google: Judi Grace StoryCorps. thank you.

[@seite13]

Aber nicht dein Deutsch verlernen, gell?^^

[@lifeinmy40s80]

Es ist schwer for mich veil ich spreche English die ganzen tag;)

[@michelroerig7825]

Why should I buy women a drink ??? Women always want to be independent. So pay for your own drink.

[@msfashionmyworld]

Michel Roerig You should definitely not buy a woman a drink if you feel that way.