Why Expats rate Germany so poorly (prepare yourselves)

[@britingermany]

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[@Habakuk_]

I would describe an expat as someone who would live in Berlin today, New York tomorrow and Singapore the day after. For me, a migrant is someone who moves permanently to the country of their choice.

[@jcvastgoed1490]

Hey there , Johnny English. You keep saying expats. Expats. You do understand what I’m going todo now right ? The word start with an I and ends in migrant. There’s no expats . There’s just ILLIGAL immigrants in Germany . Most of them British . LOL you need an explanation for why you need to be named for what you are. It doesn’t matter what immigrant or expat means. What matter is how you English treat everybody else and then expect different treatment for when you come over to us . You’re bonkers, mate. British exceptionalism at work.

[@mrinalinisrivastava6871]

I arrived in Germany in 1964 and attended university in Bavaria for five years. I was a young female Indian student, very shy and nervous. I had worked extremely hard studying German before I left India but arriving in Bavaria with my careful Hochdeutsch the first few weeks were extremely difficult due to people speaking Bayerisch which seemed impenetrable. On my second day at college I was in tears in the ladies’ room. A German student came in and noticing that I was upset asked me what the matter was. She spoke Hochdeutsch and when I explained that I didn’t seem to understand anyone, she burst out laughing and said: ‘Neither can I’. She came from the North of Germany.! To cut a long story short, her family became like a surrogate family, they met my own parents and very soon Bayerisch started to make sense to both of us. During these five years I made friends whom I still regard as my closest. In those years I continued wearing my sari, stayed vegetarian and a practicing Hindu. I found that so many people were fascinated by India and wanted to know about it. I tried to be a good embassador for my own culture. I made real efforts to get my German to as good a level as I could and learnt to love classical music and opera. Language is the key as it opens all manner of doors, reading and learning as much as one can about the host country, its history and literature will not only make you into a more rounded individual but a happier one.

[@_Sujit_Mohanty]

Thanks for sharing this story! It's so motivating and powerful. I am a Master's student who moved to Bavaria from India this month to study software engineering

[@rw7668]

I studied at the university in Tübingen and on the second day, a German student spoke to me in the local dialect (as I was to learn, it was unsurprisingly about money that he felt I needed to contribute as part of living in the dormitory as the locals are renown for being very money-oriented). I said to him that I only spoke Hochdeutsch whereupon he answered that if I was to live in Baden-Würthemberg, I needed to learn the local dialect (Germans typically go to universities near where they are from versus elsewhere in Germany - there are of course notable exceptions, for example, for certain universities with very specific areas of expertise). Being a New Yorker, I didn’t cry in the room, but walked away. The Germans can be a stern and unfeeling lot. There is absolutely nothing to be gained by pressing your point - you do however need to stick up for yourself when the issue is importantly to you). At university, you are supposed to speak in Hochdeutsch, but many are too stubborn, unwilling, and/or incapable of doing so.

[@Shankar-Bhaskar]

In 1964 you learned german in India?? Back then I reckon most Indians couldn't learn English let alone German.

[@Korschtal]

@@rw7668 I live near Tübingan and work in the city, and it can be a little strange. Even worse, the Swabian dialect is extremely localised: Tübingen Swabian is different to the Swabian spoken in the hills to the south, and to the Swabian spoken in Stuttgart to the North. And Yes Swabians are... Different. AS my Swabian Cabinet making master said, "We Swabians are weird" That said, Once you get past the reserve, they're some of the kindest and funniest people you'll meet.

[@mrinalinisrivastava6871]

@@Shankar-Bhaskar Extraordinary question! As I said I first studied German in India then continued in Germany. I also studied French and English as part of my course (political economy). I graduated with a very good degree and enjoyed my five years in the country. It seems to me that you are full of misinformation and you should find things out for yourself from RELIABLE sources.

[@torstenberlin4088]

Bureaucracy, housing shortage, underdeveloped digitalisation etc. - certain lacks diminish the happiness of German natives as well, me included. Nevertheless - congratulations on another substantial and interesting Sunday video, Benjamin, and, of course, I wish you a pleasant and carefree Herbstanfang😊

[@britingermany]

Thanks a lot Torsten. I love Herbst. 🍁

[@torstenberlin4088]

Prima, Benjamin, dann sind wir hier schon zwei!🍂♥😉

[@oceanwave4502]

Risk aversion is also a feature of Germana's society. Not good for startup culture as well as innovation.

[@michaelburggraf2822]

​@@torstenberlin4088... drei, grüßle

[@markbodewig8748]

to be fair the housing shortage is everywhere in the western world. an inevitable result of neoliberalism

[@Korschtal]

I'm an immigrant from the UK, Germany has given me and my children opportunities we'd never have had in the UK. The day after Brexit our German neighbours came and asked if we'd be okay and offering help. Now we are citizens and very happy here.

[@danieldominiak647]

I lived in the UK and now I'm living in Germany. England is better

[@Shankar-Bhaskar]

​@@danieldominiak647in which way is it better?

[@Korschtal]

@@danieldominiak647 You know the wall is gone, right? You don't have to stay in Germany unless you choose to.

[@John-qd5of]

Well, I am glad that somebody was able to avoid the problems caused by Brexit.

[@John-qd5of]

​@Korschtal Apparently there are still small differences between the former GDR and the rest of Germany. But surely roads exist to take people away.

[@stuartthorpe]

Thank you for this thoughtful and balanced presentation. I moved from England to Germany twenty years ago for love. My girlfriend was German, and I was tired of living in England. I spoke no German, had outdated and negative thoughts about Germans in general, so it was a really pleasant surprise to find that they were really decent people. Through my lover, I was introduced to her friends and soon had a network of German friends. Okay, they were educated people who spoke English, and that is important to bear in mind. To keep this short: I like the Germans. Their 'directness' was a bit of a shock to begin with, but then I was equally shocked by the dissembling, 'dishonesty' of the English culture as I saw it, having lived and worked in other countries before. In other words, I had a yardstick. If you don't care for 'direct' then avoid Israel! And by the way, forget this myth that the Germans have no sense of humour. They think the madness of Monty Python is hilarious.

[@TR4R]

Interesting. Germans have a reputation for taking law and order seriously and being obsessed with norms, so perhaps they're very decent in that sense, but their world wide acknowledged directness is felt as hostile by many people. I dream of living there too.

[@holgerschurig4430]

"forget this myth that the Germans have no sense of humour" ... I usually think that only people think this that haven't been exposed much to foreign types of humors AND foreign culture. For example, I have a bit of info on british humour. It often is what we call in german "Schwarzer Humor" (certainly "black humor" would be a wrong translation). What I mean: british culture isn't direct, but british humoris often VERY direct. Sometimes even cruelly direct. Or anarchic. No shame about things that are normally consider taboo or not "posh". But why can I write about british humor ... and almost nothing about of french humour? Because I have some grasp of the english language that allows me to understand SOME of it's humour. Humour often has to do with subtle semantic meanings. But I don't speak french ... how would I understand their humour? And here is IMHO the root why a lot of english speakig people think there is no german humour: few english speaking people know german good enought to get it. Sometimes I think that english language people are a bit lazy learning foreign languages to a useable degree. I know of a guy that came to Germany with the US army. He married a german wife. He lives here for 20+ years. By now, he's no longer a soldier. And his german is still abysmal ... this is anecdotal, of course. But I found several of these cases. I know more people from e.g. Poland that had a good grasp of german after just 2 years than from USA or UK. So, when you have to place a verdict of the humour of some country, ask yourself: are you exposed enought to it's culture, especially it's language to be able to judge? Do you know e.g. nonsense-humour like Otto Waalkes, or political humour like "Scheibenwischer" ... or semantic humour / dry like "Loriot" ... or day-relevant humour like "extra 3" to name something that isn't 20+ years old? If you have no clue about this ... or the language ... then you cannot really judge.

[@dielizzy-ts2rv]

Ohh a man of culture 😌. Loriot - that is very high standard humor and not easy to grasp. I personally had issues with english humor and basically the same problem - I lacked vocabulary and skill to really grasp the good english humor and not think you all find Mr Bean very funny (blame my english teacher for that 😅). Dark is also the shade of my humor. I think the typical dryness and subtle irony is more common in german humor, while I can't really pinpoint british humor. I rather find it amusing that we germans are said to go down into the cellar laughing - this is not that farfetched, we store our beer there and it's usually the dad's and bro's place, so good jokes are forged there 😉 @@holgerschurig4430

[@stuartthorpe]

@@holgerschurig4430 "Humour often has to do with subtle semantic meanings." A very good observation. If you don't speak a language well, then humour is one of the first things you can misunderstand. And I think you are spot on about British humour. We are very controlled and frequently 'passive-aggressive' in our day to day interactions with others. We don't like to give offence, but humour? Sometimes brutally direct and unapologetic. But even then, often subtle if you don't read body language or fully understand idiomatic or implied meanings. Innuendo is a very British thing. Yes, I watched "Scheibenwischer" and "Lorio" amongst other shows when I lived in Germany, and think that after two years, maybe, my German was good enough to get most of it. I lived there for ten years, and how right you are about lazy English-speaking foreigners. There still is, with a certain type of person, an inbuilt arrogance that all the world speaks English, so why should I bother to try and speak another language? I think, and hope, that this kind of attitude is changing, but the term 'ex-pat' still often means the kind of individual you describe. Best regards Stuart

[@andyyygane4713]

I went to work in Germany aged 19 in 1985. I felt more like a Gastarbeiter than an expat! I had no choice but to learn German and integrate. Although a little difficult at first, it soon turned into a rather enjoyable experience.

[@Sasha-xv6do]

So what? That's how it should be. Sadly those times are over and we are turning back into a caveman society in the next few years.

[@ianpulham3624]

Whereever you emigrate to, surrounding yourself with a circle of folk from "back home" is a massive hindrance to integration. One reason is that every second you spend using your native tongue is missed opportunity to improve your skills in your new language. I spent four years learning German before I moved to Germany so when I arrived the basics were firmly in place and I was able to hit the ground running. Upon arrival, I spent a year working in various factories before I got a job with prospects, but I used this time well.... improving my German language skills...

[@britingermany]

@@ianpulham3624 perfect. Sounds similar to me although I did actually speak any German on arrival. I learned it mostly through working in a German environment

[@chrissobotta1711]

The foreign “experts” mentioned in the video mostly live in their foreign bubble. These foreign “experts” often work in the computer sector. You can often find videos of these foreign experts on KZbin. They live almost exclusively in large cities such as Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg or southern Germany. Northern Germany, eastern Germany or rural areas hardly play a role. Although this is where the German culture is strongest. Even after decades, they usually only speak poor German, which they don't have to in their bubble. In these cities, you can get very far with English and without German. This foreign bubble has little or no contact with 90% of typical Germans. There are no craftsmen, workers or hairdressers there. Most of them live their lives without the Germans. A bit of German folklore or what they see as typically German is enough for them. Die im Video genannten ausländischen "Experten" leben meistens in ihrer ausländischen Blase. Diese ausländischen "Experten" arbeiten oft im Computerbereich. Bei You-Tube finden sich oft Videos dieser ausländischen Experten. Sie leben fast nur in Großstädten wie Berlin, München, Frankfurt, Hamburg oder Süddeutschland. Nordeutschland, Ostdeutschland oder ländliche Gegenden spielen kaum ein Rolle. Obwohl gerade hier die detusche Kultur am stärksten ist. Sie sprechen auch nach Jahrzehnten meist nur schlecht deutsch, wa Sie auch in ihrer Blase nicht müssen. In diesen Städten kommt man mit Englisch und ohne Deutsch sehr weit. Mit 90% der typischen Deutschen hat diese ausländische Blase wenig bis gar keinen Kontakt. nicht zu tun. Es finden dort keine Handwerker, Werkarbeiter oder Friseure. Sie leben ihr Leben meist an den Deutschen vorbei. Ihnen reicht ein bischen deutschle Folklore oder was Sie als typisch deutsch ansehen.

[@AJ-yo5ew]

As a New Zealander, I feel much less a foreigner here in Germany than I did in the UK

[@Korschtal]

To be fair, as a Brit I feel less of a foreigner in Germany than I did in the UK.

[@reucat24]

wow, even with the language barrier, was it the British aloof personality?

[@markymarco2570]

​@@reucat24they talking about the black people there

[@barbaralanders6049]

Strangely, as a German, New Zealand feels 'home' too, whenever I travel there. 😊

[@tic-tacdrin-drinn1505]

@@reucat24 Maybe the culture barriers in the UK are to blame for this...

[@cgarcia7614]

I just recently moved out of Germany to Spain. On paper I was very good integrated, came very young, could speak the language, went to college there, had a few friends and quite a good job. However I never felt integrated, I "functioned" just like anybody else but somehow I was always an outsider. For me deal breakers were 1. The weather 2. Glass ceiling for foreigners, its impossible to make career in Germany, you will always be 2nd to your german peers plus the whole society mentality made me mad. People used to tell me that I needed more time to integrate completely but after 10+ years I was quite sure its not the place where I wanted to be. I took advantage of working for a multinational and moved to Spain, as any country it will have its difficulties but at least people smile and the sun shines. That for me is already a leap jump in quality of life.

[@karinnea8561]

I feel this thing with the jobs too. It feels that they only want us in certain places, but definitely not everywhere.

[@bayern1806]

It's because you ARE 2nd to your German peers. Now you moved to a less competitive society/country to be able to compete, that's ok, but don't blame the Germans for your failure.

[@cgarcia7614]

@@bayern1806 lol wdf are you anyways? thanks for proving my point mate ;) go hurry! have your Sonntagsbraten

[@jewishzionist3322]

​@@bayern1806grand son of Adolf spotted?

[@jewishzionist3322]

​@@cgarcia7614you did good, my Grandfather was a German Jew, he would Always tell me the following.... Germany has cold weather and cold hearted people.

[@alexanderantoninsommerkamp4714]

German here, I lived in the Netherlands for 10 years. Even though our countries and cultures are quite similar, I found it very difficult to properly integrate. It was a lot of work to really become a part of Dutch society, have Dutch friends etc. I had not only to master the language but also to adopt the mentality in order to understand and mirror subtle aspects of communication like humor and idioms. I actively avoided bubbles of other Germans and joined sport clubs without foreign members, which was quite uncomfortable at first. But only after I had done that it felt like the doors were finally really opening. So I believe that when you come from a totally different culture, different language family and even look different, it must require a lot of hard work to really feel integrated properly. And if you are not willing to go this hard way, it will not happen.

[@Altonahh10]

Als ich in die Schweiz ging, musste ich mich anpassen, anders wäre ich gescheitert. Ich habe auch jedem gesagt, bitte nicht Hochdeutsch zu sprechen, anfangs viele Fehler im Miteinander gemacht, weil ich viele Regeln nicht kannte, aber zunehmend verstanden, wie das Land tickt. Dass es niemals eine große Liebe würde, war mir schnell klar, aber wenn man weiß, wie und warum Menschen sind wie sie sind, fällt es einem leichter, zu akzeptieren, dass nicht alles so läuft, wie man es gerne hätte, denn dafür kann man dann eigentlich auch zuhause bleiben.

[@MorningNapalm]

I 100% agree, properly integrating is the key. Do not live in a diaspora bubble.

[@lovepeace3069]

integration and germans is not possible no matter in which direction .... germans need their own culture where ever they go ... they just complain that everything is better in germany .... you just have an non adaptable coconut mind ...

[@MorningNapalm]

@@lovepeace3069 You must not have met very many Germans. What country are you from?

[@CS-ox9hn]

Wie sind sie denn weshalb?

[@arbusto]

Looking at Germany's position in the ranking, one would think it's a miserable place to be, yet the text says "64% of expats are happpy with their life in Germany, compared to 72% globally". So the glass is two thirds full and one third empty. There's room for improvement, but it's ok for a significant majority.

[@britingermany]

Yes that’s true. It is at the bottom of the scale comparatively speaking but as you say 64% are happy.

[@TR4R]

I guess Germany is not the right place for very friendly people or party goers who need to be surrounded by joyful crowds all the time... for that you have Latin America! 🤣🤪

[@oceanwave4502]

I think the coming deindustrialization and the rise of Far Right in Germany are definitely frustrating any newcomers as well as current immigrants.

[@HelenaMikas]

@@oceanwave4502 The far right are everywhere like fleas .It began after Brexit .Just a thought.Why are the current immigrants frustratingly newcomers ? Gracious you have many terms newcomers / current immigrants .Can you define please .?

[@MikeCukton]

I would say the biggest pain is the muslim men. arrogant and not socially fit for a western society. I don't like afd, but if boone else does something then at least they will.

[@robjobism]

Indian here. Have lived in Singapore for many years, where I felt clearly a part of the immigrants community and not expats - a term that is clearly reserved for only white people living there. In Germany, I feel that the difference between these two terms doesn't exist so much. However, here the problem is that even well meaning Germans see most immigrants of color as poor and uncivilized migrants who must be re-educated to live in the western society.

[@britingermany]

Hi thanks for commenting. Interesting distinction. I’m wondering if you noticed a difference between say British Indians or African Americans. Does the attitude change once they hear your accent or get to know you?

[@diepiriye]

@@britingermany Yes, I am an African-American currently living in the UK and moving to Germany soon. I had the same question, as I lived in India, too, and clearly, white folks were Expats there, whereas Black people were treated with disdain even though most were Expats by the definitions you serve here (moved to India for a specific work/study purpose and no intention to immigrate). I've had Germans tell me I am NOT a real American, which makes me wonder what they think of all the Germans in my hometown, Louisville, KY, where there is an entire Germantown. Race matters and it's sad when folks pretend it doesn't because it makes them uncomfortable

[@sebastiansarre2436]

@@britingermanycan Singaporeans not tell the difference between Indians and black people?

[@dasnolonger]

Expats are generally wealthy and are privileged & entitled. Bangla labourers in the UAE are temporary workers but not seen as expats, unlike Brit or Danish - for eg - accountants or web developers working temporarily in the UAE.

[@oleksiysaiko5859]

Probably because most of such people in Germany, behave like that and has nothing to do with European culture.

[@Kkubey]

Those three main topics of friends, housing and infrastructure are also things Germans hate about the country. It's not affecting those who come from a stable and relatively wealthy family who stay in the very place they grew up in as much, but otherwise it's a growing concern. The other thing is language - while on paper, you'd expect people to all be fluent in English and be fine with spending their private life in English, a lot of people feel exhausted by speaking English. So if you don't speak German fluently, you will likely either be among people with a similar background or lonely, not only because of the different background but also because you are seen as exhausting in the back of their heads. I have seen expats, also German expats, who felt insulted by "having to learn a language just not to be discriminated against", but you can't expect people in their homes to abandon their culture just because you show up. Which basically brings us back to colonial times. There is also a cultural aspect I don't fully understand, sometimes you try to converse with people and there is this wall of having nothing to talk about. My local friends share a similar background with me as well. People who moved into the city from other cities across the country in their teens and were a bit of an outcast.

[@britingermany]

I think you have a point there. It’s not always explicit discrimination. It’s just the feeling of not fitting in

[@PeacockTheBard]

@@britingermany I guess the big point is in "sometimes you try to converse with people and there is this wall of having nothing to talk about.", especially in Germany, because we don't really know smalltalk, so in many countries, if cou have nothing to talk about, you can have a quite long talk.. not in Germany. And - in Germany many people can speak english - but they do not know, because they feel unsure with their school english. (on the other hand, I guess, there are many germans who would really enjoy practice their english talking with a native speaker. Perhaps this also is an Idea - to get in contact with Germans - just offer an "english conversation club" ;))

[@SustainableSierra]

I’d say an immigrant is someone who lives abroad with the intention of obtaining citizenship and/or permanent residency. An expat is someone who moves abroad with the intention of either returning to their passport country or moving elsewhere abroad in the future.

[@britingermany]

Yes I would agree with that definition. Although I think there is an Importent element of work. Expats don’t go to foreign countries without having a job set up whereas immigrants might do so.

[@jugendamthamburg-ggkonform381]

@@britingermany I'm old and from the US and there the term meant specifically only to those who were sent by their foreign employer to the US. I live in Hamburg, Germany and I see the term used on Facebook now for pretty much any foreigner living in Germany who feels one social status point higher than those who entered into the EU without identity papers.

[@al-khwarizmi769]

By any definition I should be an expat. I'm black and Muslim in Germany. I'm simply an Immigrant.

[@timhill9189]

@@britingermany possibly expat retirees...

[@GrillerGT]

Spaniard living in Germany due to work reasons, as I've been doing on different countries of the EU for the past 14 years... so, I consider myself 'expat' (although at times I feel more like a mercenary, following the money xD )

[@Immudzen]

I came to Germany as a Master's student from the USA and then got a PhD. Honestly, making friends outside of work has not seemed to be that hard. I found a group of people playing dungeons and dragons and through them met other people and started going to the pub for things like pub quizzes and met more people etc. I do live in NRW and I have been told that is the most open and friendly area of Germany so there could be that. I have since found a job in Germany and I started working on learning German. I have met some people that have had a very hard time integrating but they sure do make things hard for themselves. They only hang out with other people from their country or similar countries and they refuse to eat anything except the kind of food they ate in their own country. They complain about how expensive food is because they import so much stuff and they refuse to even try other options. Even when I have asked them to go to a pub quiz or a city event the answer is always no.

[@aljaska8212]

Yeah, as a Berliner I see this a lot with english native speakers here. You can get away with not learning German here easily, so they dont have the motivation to do so and only hang out with other expats. It creates a strange divide between them and the general population I think.

[@JerusnamWien85]

@@aljaska8212yup, I stayed with an Anglo couple in Neukölln for two weeks once and it seemed that their only friends were other English speakers. No Germans or Arabs/Turks.

[@alia9087]

I am in NRW also but in the East of the state and it is not so friendly. I was in the west side and the difference is like chalk and cheese. Here, you have to learn the language, no real choice

[@H-bv1xt]

I had no idea you are half Swiss. Why did you choose to move Germany instead of Switzerland?

[@Immudzen]

@@alia9087 I am near Aachen and Koln and so far pretty much everyone I have encountered has been pretty nice. I don't think I have felt that a German has insulted me. I know they have a reputation for just saying what they mean but I have just not had an issue with that.

[@Zimtbiss1]

Hi from Germany! I work in a martial arts center in Berlin. We have people from all over the world among our customers. Of course the language barrier makes everything difficult for them as long as they don't make an effort to learn German. I can imagine that this is the ground on which humiliating experiences grow, too. And depending on where people come from and how long they are planning to stay my expectations of them learning our language varies. One day, a young man of Russian-Korean origin and with US-citizenship came to us. He spoke English very well, so language wasn't that big of a problem. Most Germans speak English. But one evening, when he sat with his group, chatting after training, he told them - all Germans - that he thankfully resided in a shared apartment with other expats from Asian and African countries, which he was very happy about because he wouldn't want to live with Germans. He actually grimaced in disgust, when he said that. You could hear a pin drop. After that, I wondered why any German should make concessions to welcome and integrate him. That was such a stupid and rude thing to say.

[@Gert-DK]

I'm actually a bit annoyed with those who say they can't find friends. Here in Denmark, it is actually us (the Danes) who are to blame. Because we all speak English, it's more or less our fault that they don't learn the language, and thereby find it easier to make friends and understand the culture. Then there are those who do not do anything to learn the language. They say: "The language is so difficult!", but these are the same people, who do not attend to the three years of free Danish education. Yes, the best way is to join a club/verein/forening. In this country we have clubs/vereins/foreninger for everything, and it's cheap. You have to be active, to improve your life.

[@britingermany]

Yes. Your last sentence is 100% accurate. You have to be active

[@motocyklist.gdansk]

Lige som du sagde: med at tale dansk har jeg ihvert fald ALDRIG haft problemer med at finde venner i Danmark! De har tvaertimod aabnet for mig dörene og har bedt mig ind i huset. Det ville jeg aldrig glemme!

[@masonhancock5350]

Germany doesn’t offer 3 years of free education.

[@Gert-DK]

@@motocyklist.gdansk Det er godt at høre.

[@stuartwalker8755]

Lots of people have learned German and joined Vereine and done all the things you’re supposed to do. And then they find they have nothing to show for it at the end. Assuming anyone who is dissatisfied with the prevailing social culture of Germany simply didn’t try hard enough is reductive and insulting imo.

[@JoshPadua-s7y]

Hey there! I’m Brazilian, and I use both terms interchangeably. I started as an expat, studying abroad. But then, the lockdown hit, and I ended up staying longer. I got a job and thought about staying, but I never really felt like it was my culture. This was in Ireland and the UK, and I always considered myself an expat/student. Then, I moved to Morocco for work, and it was easy to say I was an expat once the project was done. After that, I moved to Spain. Again, I considered myself an expat because I met a lot of people in the same situation. But I always had my mind set on returning to Brazil. Now, I’m married and living in Germany. I don’t think of myself as an expat anymore because I moved here to live with my husband. Although I’d be happy to live there with my husband, my life is here now. I sold my car in Brazil and brought my emotional belongings. I bought a flat in Germany. I could leave Germany to somewhere else depending on what happens here with the politics, but I don’t have any trouble here. Honestly, it’s the best place I’ve ever lived. Once you know what to expect, there’s not much of a big deal. Making friends is hard, but they last. The family I have here is loyal and hassle-free. From all this living abroad experience, I’ve learned that it’s always going to be challenging. The culture of the place you live defines the points of conflict with your own culture. But there are great people everywhere, and everyone who isn’t great to you opens space for new great people to come

[@romagreen5980]

Great comment, I think the same. It really depends on how people integrate their own mindset.

[@brucemc1581]

I was born in the USA. When I was a child, my parents moved all around the world. My father was an engineer. We lived in many countries. However, we did not integrate. We had our own private schools, country clubs, communities, etc... None of that community, from many foreign countries, intended to stay. Most wanted to eventually move back to thier native countries when done. I would say that we were Expats. As I grew into my career, i, too, started working in many different countries. Mostly just for a few months at a time without returning home in between. I was a migrant. I ended up getting a local contract in Germany and I have been here for the last 19 years. I have no plans to return to the US. My life is here. I am an immigrant. So.. is you temporarily luve abroad in an enclave... you are an expat. If you move around... you are a migrant... If you settled in another country, you are an immigrant. If you have retired to a sunny country in an enclave but plan to die back in your birth country.. you are a migrant expat. 😂

[@lysandergorisch1969]

"I was born in the USA. " i am so sorry you had to go through that.

[@Ana-Maria-Sierra]

This is the best overview and discussion of the term expat I’ve listened to. Thank you! Also, I appreciate your advice at the end. I recently viewed a video about a family from California who had moved 2 years earlier to Northern Spain. Unlike many Americans, they had begun studying Spanish as soon as they made the decision to move and once arrived they joined numerous groups and associations. They immersed themselves into football culture and took all sorts of lessons to make friends and learn vocabulary. It was absolutely delightful to hear about all of their experiences.

[@martinhommel9967]

I know a Chinese Expat and his opinion is that the Ruhr is a good place for expats in Germany based on his experience of living in Munich and Muehlhein /Ruhr. He speaks perfect German and good English. In his opinion people in the Ruhr are more open because of the long history of immigration

[@patrickscroggin1438]

I moved to Essen in 1997 and after a couple years, changed my plans to stay only 5 years and stayed. The Ruhr region is a hidden gem.

[@rainerm.8168]

So true. After the coal mining stopped there the whole area changed. But the very to-the-ground mentality stayed the same. My favorite mindset in Germany.

[@YvonneHoerde]

@@patrickscroggin1438 But be careful! People from the Ruhr are opened to migration, yes, but they have a fame to be quite direct with the way they speak.

[@MarkusWitthaut]

German guy here from that region. It is simple a matter of numbers. In the Ruhr around 35% of the population have a so called migration background. Meaning that they or their parents migrated to Germany. Furthermore, we have many Grandchildren (and even great grandchildren) from the first wave of immigration in the 60ies and 70ies.

[@henrimatisse4768]

most native germans would not want to live in the ruhrgebiet. crime is very high there and too many migrants. most of these migrants do not speak proper german and live in their own bubbles. - native people in the ruhrgebiet are very friendly, probably the most friendly in germany, but they are very obedient and they do as the state tells them and they do not challenge authorities. it is not very individualist there.

[@shaifi007]

I am living in Germany since 2013. Everyday I regret for staying longer here. Few problems that makes me sick and angry. Firstly medical system, no doctors be gynae, pediatrician, orthopaedic etc accepts new patient so in case you change your neighbourhood or City for jobs you are doomed. Going to Klinikum without appointment means 5-6 hours of waiting time. Ausländerbehörde is another nightmare, nothing happens online, no appointments so need to go for queuing up there at 5.00AM. Unending bureaucratic paperwork in German. And rentals consume about 40-50% rent

[@jasminealixandranorth]

Medical system is a disaster here too in the swiss alps....

[@1972Ray]

@@jasminealixandranorth So, is my understanding correct in that the government is an inefficient deliverer of healthcare.

[@mschr2880]

@@jasminealixandranorth Even more in the Arctic.

[@JulaSela]

@@jasminealixandranorth complete and utter disaster in Slovakia....

[@vobpeaceloveandbeauty]

Na, dann: Auf Nimmerwiedersehen!

[@raulantonioolivamunoz985]

An expat does not only live outside of the original country but does not plan to locate permanently somewhere else. If you want to establish yourself in Germany or elsewhere then you are a general emigrant/immigrant, not just an expat.

[@CosmikOnline]

As someone who holds Germany fairly high on the list of "where could we go if democracy falls in the US" (because 1. I took three years of German in High School, and ten years ago picked it up again on DuoLingo, and 2. we have now been there three times and have a small set of friends scattered throughout the country, and a larger set in Europe in general), I found this video fascinating. I always joke that when people asked me "What do you want to be when you grow up?" I'd reply "expatriated". All I knew was that meant I was living abroad and probably cultured, well-bred, well-educated, and moderately well off. The semantic conversation about "expat vs. immigrant" is especially interesting in modern times (the post Covid BLM era especially) and I wonder - do I want to be an immigrant to escape the fall of democracy (should that occur) or just an expat (American living abroad.) Thank you for giving me much to think about. :)

[@britingermany]

Thanks for your comment. Sounds like your well set up should you want to make the move

[@NoOne24]

Funny, I was about to move to the states but returned to Germany because of working conditions, health insurance, infrastructure, crime etc. I am very dissatisfied with Germany and things are getting worse. But moving here from the US, you will feel as if you entered paradise.

[@1972Ray]

What on Earth makes you think democracy will fail in the US? Please don't say Trump, because that's not it.

[@CosmikOnline]

@@1972Ray Keywords: "Should that occur". I have my reasons. They're called "I know history." Go enjoy your 25¢ cheaper eggs while the nation burns.

[@user-nn2jo7so1o]

I see a lot of comments on KZbin comments, X, etc. about American liberals moving to Japan because they don't like Trump. Many monsters try to attack this little island. It sends chills down my spine when I see it. Liberals are really hated in our country.

[@marinhobrandao]

Brazilian living in Berlin for 12+ years here. I learned to call myself (and my wife and kids as well) expats as just a synonym for immigrants. I work in IT sector and migrated as you described: for a senio position with all setup by a big company. Due to that, I clearly know we are privileged people, with a wage within 10% highest paid, and a list of perks, helping to cause gentrification and so on. On the other side, we remain having our minimalist lives, so we still take public transportation and dress second hand or as regular Joe, no expensive life style, but rather keeping our savings on real estate or investment so that one day we can FIRE. Also, we tried to integrate early on, tried to learn German and mingle well where we are inserted. Learning the language for me has never been easy, and I'm still a B1 or B2 (depending on the context), even though my kids speak like natives. Otherwise we are well integrated, even though, as you said, Germans aren't easy to crack their bubbles. We mostly have friends who are immigrants as well, many of them from our same country. Overall our experience has been good (except for my level of German), and let alone some few crazy people we met on the way, Germans are overall nice people that receive us well. At this point after 12 years, I see myself as local, I misse home Berlin when I'm abroad, and I have more reasons to remain living in Germany and defending it as my place than anywhere else. Even though I'd like to move somewhere South to that we get a bit more of Sun.

[@britingermany]

Sounds like you've made it your home 🏠

[@markdollery2325]

Interesting video! Ive lived in Germany for 34 years...I think I no longer coumt as expat, although I still have my UK Passport, and will never leave Niedersachsen.I managed to integrate very quickly, living and working only with Germans, German speakers. Here in the North, there is a hard outer crust in their personality, but once youve breached that, life can be quite nice.

[@lastlines09]

I am from lower Saxony and yes, we do not trust easily and we certainly have our ways; but when you do make it into the inner circle, you'll be there for life.

[@markdollery2325]

@@lastlines09 I live in Bad Gandersheim...'Vorharz'...yes, the people here do have their 'ways'! 😀

[@lastlines09]

@@markdollery2325 for me, it is a bit further north, between Bremen and Bremerhaven. Got a few drops of North sea in the blood 🦭

[@proro90]

If you moved there to stay long term, you were and are not an expat. You are an immigrant

[@DaughterOfGod247]

That’s my goal. Honestly I’m an introvert and I don’t desire to only mingle with those from my home country as I left the US in 2018. Have been in Australia for most that time and spent time with Germany. When I was Germany back in 2022, I found my first job with little to no German language skills. I left due to other reason I don’t want to disclose…past relationship here in Australia. Since then my goal was to always go back to Germany feeling more homesick to return than I ever have regarding the US. I’ve threw myself into learning the language and worked hard to save. I make my move in November 25, 2024. I’m happy and scared at the same time I’m doing this alone. I hope to make Germany my permanent home. I will take further Sprachkursen once I’m there though I speak it with an almost native leave, meaning I practiced the alphabet and then learn to speak the words properly, when I read German I can understand most of it except for the words I haven’t learned yet. I’m at high A2.2 low B1.1 which took me 1.5yr. My goal is to be fluent or close to it in another year or 2. I plan to make this my home no other place on this planet has my heart like Germany and Germans. I love you guys culture and I feel that this where I was always meant to be. I had a dream at 14 where I was sitting in a Einkaufszentrum and stepped outside to snow. The words were weird and I didn’t know where in the world this was, but I felt happy there. When income to Germany in 2022 I stepped out of this same mall, and my heart fluttered after I saw Theissen sign that I saw in my dream as a 14yr old girl. I’m a small town girl from Louisiana town of less than 200 people.

[@JaceVibe]

In my mind the term "expat" doesn't bring up an image of someone who is sent to a foreign country by his company. I came to associate "expats" primarily with freelancers and remote workers who move between countries to enjoy different landscapes and cultures. They are, in a way, privileged because their job allows travel and they already have the money to start off and to use as backup. They don't move out of necessity, but for their own enjoyment, or, one might say, "fulfilment".

[@winc06]

What an interesting discussion. Never thought my interest would be held so long for a definition of expat. Well done. I am an older guy in the US and my observation here is that young people socialize more and acquire new friends and partners easily compare to people later in life who have a dwindling circle of friends and seldom acquire new ones. Germany is one of the oldest median age countries, not far behind Japan for which there have been many articles written about its aging population and worries about the consequences for its economy. Expats are not happy there either. I think the age of the expat and the age of the population of the chosen country are very big factors in the experience.

[@britingermany]

Thanks your your kind words and great point. The survey was not broken down by age. It would be really interesting to get a more detailed version maybe broken down by age or gender. I'm sure it does play a role

[@Altonahh10]

The German government does not differentiate between refugees and migrants. It lumps the two together and makes it difficult for those who want to work here and are appropriately educated to quickly gain a foothold. The refugee issue has unfortunately led to a sharp decline in the situation and acceptance in recent years and people are increasingly worried about internal security and the economy, which has slipped into negative territory thanks to the involvement of the Greens in the current government. Germany's prospects are not good and there is little courage to correct this. I would therefore advise going to other countries if I were thinking about reorienting myself.

[@DadgeCity]

According to your description of expats after 3:00 the closest equivalent word in German is Gastarbeiter!

[@nb6723]

Perhaps I missed it, but I would have mentioned the importance of "Konsens" in professional/social situations, which might seem strange in light of the "bluntness" you touched on. Conformity is extremely important in Germany, people think more as a group than in other cultures, which a lot of expats often find difficult to adapt to.

[@britingermany]

Yes that is a good point. Individuality can be seen as disrespectful by those who favour conformity

[@jansoltes971]

There are people who never moved out of their home town and didn't even travel much outside of it, and yet they lived in several countries! If you were born in Uzhorod (a city in the west of Ukraine) in 1914, it would have been the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Four years later, you'd've been in Czechoslovakia, in 1939 in Hungary, in 1945 in the USSR, and finally in 1991 in Ukraine. 5 countries altogether in the same city, maybe even the same house!

[@britingermany]

Yeah that’s pretty crazy. Makes you question national identity for sure

[@jrgptr935]

Wie im Westen Deutschlands... Nachsatz: Ich meine natürlich das heutige Bundesland Saarland, das nicht erst seit Napoleons Zeiten da allerhand mitgemacht hat, allein die Generation meiner Großeltern hat mit mindestens fünfmaligem Staatsbürgerschaftswechsel gelebt, und ob der Beitritt als Land zu Deutschland das letzte Abenteuer dieser Art gewesen ist, steht noch in den Sternen. Just like in the west of Germany... Postscript: I am of course referring to today's federal state of Saarland, which has been through all sorts of things, and not just since Napoleon's time. My grandparents' generation alone lived with at least five changes of citizenship, and whether joining Germany as a Bundesland was the last adventure of this kind is still written in the stars.

[@jansoltes971]

@@jrgptr935 Thanks for letting us know - I didn´t know Saarland has experienced this ping-pong game. Anyway, did your grandparents feel any afinity to France later on in life when they finally lived as German citizens? As for fate written in stars, in this day and age it´s not about France and Germany anymore. That story is over. The new conflict lies elsewhere.

[@holger_p]

But that's normal German history. Sometimes with move. The question is, did your ethnic group ever change, you staid, czech or slowenian, or german, or hungarian all your life I guess. In Germany about 30% of entire population got relocated in 1945, if you remember. My grandma is born in austrian hungary (50km south of Dresden), this was czech republic from 1919, annexed by the Nazis 1937, relocated 1945 (10km north actually), DDR from 1949 and change of state in 1989 again. Normal german biografie, with a 10km move.

[@blackbird7679]

@@jrgptr935 I am from the Saarland and would have preferred joining France. I was a child when the Saarland "moved back" to Germany and one of the things I did not like was that instead of the colourful French Franc we now had to use the boring looking Deutschmark. Totally irrelevant, but that was a child's emotion. My parents, especially my father, were very francophile.

[@caraira1909]

As someone who has been living in Germany for the last 25 years all I can say is that if you chose willingy to go to live to other country is that you should stop complaning and put some real effort into becoming part of the place you chose as your home ( for just a period of time or forever, it doesn't matter) . I am not saying you aren't allowed to complain, but honestly, it gets old hearing those people who by the way, weren't forced to come to Germany, complaning about, well, everything. No one comes from perfect coutries, where everything is outstanding great. Why were you expecting from Germany and the Germans to be perfect? I why don't you even try to learn the language and adapt to the culture? It amazes me all the time how people going to other countries are expecting that natives of those places adapt to their way of thinking and cater to their wishes

[@georgeargon5113]

People "expect" Germans to be (near) perfect because they (arrogantly) profess themselves to be more precise, punctual, and, in the process, pedantic than the rest of the world. When they fall below expectations, people, naturally, complain, which I learned is also a favorite German pastime.

[@CS-ox9hn]

As a general rule you're correct but don't go overboard. France and Spain are very good examples that Germans tend to form communities the very moment they have the numbers to do.

[@caraira1909]

@CS-ox9hn , which proves my point. Germans refusing to adapt are the reason why they aren't well seen in Spain, specially in places like Mallorca. That some Germans refuse to adapt isn't an excuse for doing the same as foregner in Germany.

[@mitchellbernard5626]

I've never lived in Germany but I lived many years in Japan and the parallels are striking despite greater effective distance than Germany for most so-called 'expats'. I think that you are overly respectful to the requirements and complaints of these expats in the way you frame their views as a "problem" for the host country to solve. And while I may be less inclined than you to worry about the inconveniences and gripes of largely privileged workers who want all the benefits and none of the responsibilities of getting to be in Germany, my advice to get get to the best possible experience is similar to yours: instead of complaining commit to learning the language well, instead of spending all your time in foreign enclaves, integrate in your community in some way by joining some group and try taking responsibility, even in a small way, for the place you find yourself rather than simply engaging in consumption or expecting to receive something from the host society.

[@potocatepetl]

Germany is a big country and experiences wildly differ from region to region. When I came to Germany (beginning of 2000s), I lived in Chemnitz (yes, I know...now). It was horrible. I went back home after one year even though I was offered a three year contract at the place I used to work. I couldn't take the hate, close-mindedness and racism anymore. Foreigners were treated like second class citizens, no matter where they came from, how competent they were or how hard they worked. We were expected to be thankful we were given the "opportunity" to live and work (for much less money than Germans)... in CHEMNITZ of all places! And no, it didn't matter where we came from, we were all foreigners. At the time, I didn't know what a difference the region makes. A few months later I got an offer for a job in Berlin. I accepted it thinking I will only be there for 3 years. That was over 20 years ago. I am still here, hoping to move to Hamburg sometimes in the near future. I fell in love with the North.

[@henrimatisse4768]

i would recommend you the rhineland. very friendly and talkative people. chemnitz is as bad as it gets in germany.

[@thorstenguenther]

"Fun" fact: they cannot hire most Germans to work in cities like Chemnitz, Bautzen etc., most applicants just laugh in the face of the poor HR manager who mentions this as the location of the offered job. So they have to recruit from abroad, but foreign professionals, as described, have it hard there - resulting in a vicious circle for employers.

[@CS-ox9hn]

I've heard it many times. Is it really that horrible?

[@potocatepetl]

@@CS-ox9hn what I wrote here about Chemnitz was just 5% of my experience... Yes, it was horrible, I would never want to find myself in that city again. Not to mention that parts of the city are practically abandoned because not a lot of people still want to live there. No wonder...

[@leticiatoraci9855]

I'm a Brazilian living in Germany and I consider myself more an immigrant than an expat because I came here to stay longer, not only temporarily due to a job. One of the hardest thing in Germany for me is to find and keep friends. Usually other Brazilians do have a difficult time living here too, or so I have often heard from others.

[@britingermany]

Thanks for commenting. I have a few Brazilian friends in Frankfurt and there is actually a massive Brazilian community here.

[@Anri6547]

It’s hard even for natives… look for clubs is my Tipp to u ;)

[@theCat-mh2xf]

​@@Anri6547And once the ice is broken, the friendship to a German quickly gains depth:)

[@TR4R]

Hello there! I'm from Costa Rica and I have a sincere and serious question: did you have any problem with the convalidation or recognition of your title or college degree? Unfortunately for me, I perform a regulated profession and that process is far more complicated than I thought. Basically, I have to go there and start from zero making some courses. Thanks forward!

[@PeacockTheBard]

Perhaps one idea - if you wan`t to be active meeting people, you can use one thing you can offer, by beeing from a foring country: beeing a native speaker in a foring language! So - meeting people can be quite easy - offering a "conversation club with native speakers FOR FREE" (for free is something very convincing ;) perhaps people would pay for it, but then the relationship may more into "professional" ) and perhaps you can cooperate with schools, "Volkshochschulen" and universities, that offer courses in your native language. (and usually have a lack of native speakers) This can be also a great chance to talk about cultural differences - and learn more about the own cultural speacialties, and the different view on what`s "normal".. (Me, as a German, enjoys for example such video channels, because they reflect things, that are normal to me, but perhaps strange to other people.. for example how creepy we germans can be seen when they stand silent as a bus stop, staring at you.. )

[@alicemilne1444]

I've lived in Germany for over 45 years. I came straight from university with the intention of getting work experience abroad and then going back to the UK, then ended up staying. I never considered myself an expat, though, even in the early years and I actively avoided the expat community because I wanted to integrate as fast as possible. I did have one huge advantage, though. I already spoke German fluently from having done exchanges and holiday jobs in Germany and studying it to university level. And the German company I worked for helped with all the formalities right at the beginning. These were less stringent for members of the EEC (even before EU freedom of movement) than for people from other countries.

[@YvonneHoerde]

It is much easier to become part of the German society when you speak the language. It also helps when you join some German sports clubs. (Sportvereine). Sports clubs are a huge thing in Germany.

[@Jefff72]

As an American living in Germany for 20 years, the thing that's hard for me is German conformity and closed social circles. I have German friends due to my wife but I feel like being with them is like being in a clique. I like the freedom of interacting with whomever I want.

[@ruangrit]

I applied for a job in Austria and worked there 4.5 years. Whenever a person asked if I am an expat, I answered, I am not as I have a local contract same as other Austrian.

[@Rosanna-gj1tx]

This is the same definition that I know. Expats have contracts in their home countries!

[@simonh6371]

Host mit denen deitsch gesprochen oder englisch?

[@ivkremer]

I'm just curious. What are other countries to compare? Was Somalia and Turkmenistan in the comparison list? Or maybe Russia and Ukraine? Or it was only The Netherlands, Sweden and Germany?..

[@britingermany]

I think if you really were curious you would already know the answer. The report is just a click away…go and take a look

[@henningbartels6245]

​@@britingermanyI'm not sure. The source seems to have member access only.

[@ivkremer]

​@@britingermanyWatched it. So it's just about mentally sick people. I know the same within the Russian community. They call themselves "relocants" 😁 it's a new word which appeared shortly after the big war started.

[@Hongaars1969]

Good morning Benjamin. Thanks for yet another deep and insightful thought provoking topic. Since birth I’ve lived in seven countries (if you include the two very different versions of South Africa). The country I was born in long ago ceased to exist and seven countries arose out of the ashes. The city I grew up in has been renamed. Possibly like yourself, I don’t know how best to define myself (expat/ migrant/ immigrant) - I therefore use my nationality as my primary identifier and then add my residency status. PS. Love the wave at the end. Enjoy the rest of your Sunday. Hopefully it’s also dry and sunny by you today Zoltán

[@britingermany]

Thank you Zoltan. You must have a wealth of experiences to share. Sounds very tumultuous

[@McGhinch]

I am not sure about this, but I have been an expat in Switzerland and encountered a slight hostility against Germans. This has historical reasons and can be overcome by the right behaviour. I found very friendly Swiss people, but also heard people talk behind my back in a general unfriendly fashion. I joined a _Verein,_ and founded another one in a different city that still exists almost 30 years later. What I learned is that, if you put a cucumber in brine, the cucumber is probably getting brined, whereas the brine does not really is getting cucumbered. So if you're an expat "get brined" and don't expect the locals to "get cucumbered". By the way, expat is just a term without negative nor positive connotation. I had private reasons to leave Switzerland that had nothing to do with Switzerland. If I would have stayed there I probably would have become an immigrant but would never renege my German (Bavarian) heritage.

[@britingermany]

Yes I’ve heard of the Swiss hostility towards Germans. I haven’t looked into it so can’t really comment but it’s something that I hear of often

[@rainerm.8168]

​@britingermany Generally the Swiss are more polite and friendly in communication. The German 'directness' is not appreciated. And Germans don't speak Schwytzerdütsch while the Swiss speak Hochdeutsch as kind of a foreign language. So sometimes communication isn't on par.

[@McGhinch]

@@rainerm.8168 Yes, these contribute. As I wrote, I'm Bavarian. We have also a lot of similar sentiments regarding the people of the north. They just seem to know everything better -- and verbalize it. I tend to investigate first, whether it is only a different approach or there are superior reasons.

[@jasminealixandranorth]

@@britingermany - Swiss are xenophobic, nasty, cold fish. Not just to Germans....

[@houserhythm]

As a non-native English speaker, in my mind an expat is someone whose job carries them to another country (whether it becomes permanent or not), while an immigrant is someone looking for a job in the destination country, for various reasons, but usually in search of a better life.

[@britingermany]

Yes I would agree with that. Certainly a big part of it. Having done both it’s very much preferable to move for a job than just to move and hope to get one once you’re there.

[@fintonmainz7845]

As a native English speaker but not a Brit: I would strongly advise you to avoid using the word "expat". The term is associated with an ignorant, entitled, arrogant clique. The definitions "expat" versus "immigrant" promoted on this channel are plain wrong.

[@britingermany]

@@fintonmainz7845 would you care to tell me how these definitions are wrong and do you have any alternatives?

[@fintonmainz7845]

@@britingermany an expat is an immigrant with an undeserved sense of entitlement.

[@houserhythm]

@@fintonmainz7845 I never actually had any reason to use the word, just saying what my perception is from hearing/reading it online. But I never knew, until now, that it might be perceived as offensive.

[@niederrheiner8468]

The term "Expat" comes from colonial times and also has an air of speriority over the locals. I notice that powerfull countries seem to be on the bottom of the rating and in the top 10 there are mostly less important countries. Maybe if someone calls himself an "Expat" he prefers less powerfull countries to keep his feeling of superiority?

[@britingermany]

I suppose it’s possible. However I think people are more concerned with things like cost of living and quality of life. Coat of living in “powerful countries” as you call them is very high.

[@geekmom2741]

I don't feel it is meant as superiority. If someone calls themselves an expat, it simply means ex patriot or former patriot of the country of birth/ citizenship. Think of it as in-between citizenship. They may be looking for a place to settle down but do not plan on going back. They haven't begun the immigration process or are a long way off.

[@niederrheiner8468]

@geekmom2741 If you live longterm in another country, you are not inbetween. Then you have immigrated

[@geekmom2741]

@@niederrheiner8468 regardless of citizenship?

[@niederrheiner8468]

@geekmom2741 I mean, the so called "illegal immigrants" also habe not the citizenship of the Country they live in...

[@lele199926725]

Just to put things into perspective: Norway, a country often perceived as perfect in many aspects, ranks even lower than Germany in this survey

[@arnoldmuller1703]

Which makes sense in the light of what was explained are the goals and motivations of these so called "expats".

[@jjinwien9054]

I always enjoy your Sunday "supplements". You obviously spend a lot of time thinking about your situation and tha of others, thus presenting valuable insights.

[@britingermany]

🤣🤣Sunday supplements. I like that. Thanks a lot

[@vmoses1979]

Interesting. But you went on an extensive take on the term expat rather than the narrower focus of the title. From my perspective it's not strictly racial but it is a term employed by westerners(who are still mostly of white European origin) living in and working in developing countries even where they go there for purely financial reasons or lifestyle reasons like any other immigrant. Unless you are sent by your company on a short 5-7 year rotation overseas - to me you are an immigrant. The funniest thing is when American retirees permanently living in Thailand because they can't afford to live in the States claiming they are expats when they literally are economic refugees.

[@britingermany]

Yes I did so intentionally because I knew that people would rant about it if I didn't address it. It's frustrating but You can't use the word expat online without being called accused of...well a lot of things....

[@TorianTammas]

Why should you be entitled to be anything but what the people call you in the country you are a guest in? You sell your work get paid and go home or you immigrate.

[@lordyellowman]

Expat is also particularly very popular term in Britain. It’s ok if you think it doesn’t have a racial component but it most definitely is a term used to distinguish a specific group of usually white very very commonly British people from the other functionally identical group of immigrants. So it is peculiar that the need arises for the “expats” to label themselves as such. Although I would be remiss if i don’t also point out that immigrants from Arabian, African, and some other countries have a worse track record in terms of their impact on the new country. So can I blame them for trying to thwart an association to such groups… maybe, maybe not

[@cenk.toplar]

It DEPENDS ! If you are one of a native English-Speaker countries vs you are from India or Pakistan. You will not experience the same. That is the reality.

[@colinsneller6274]

I've been living in Germany for about 35 years and I have to say the germans have changed a lot in that time. When I first came the germans were definitely very rude especially as far as service was concerned like in shops and restaurants and government offices. Serving was seen as something inferior so the people who did it passed on their resentment to the customers. In countries like France and Italy waiter is a respected profession because they have so much respect for food. In Germany waiting was done by people like students as a part-time job. I remember in the nineties there was even an article in Time magazine about Germany being a service desert which was widely read here. After that things changed and the department store chain Karstadt put an extra clause in their work contracts that employees had to be polite to the customers. Government offices are now called Customer Centres and supermarket cashiers always say hello. If people say germans today are unfriendly they don't know what they're talking about. Young germans today I find very open and friendly which is really refreshing.

[@mknights33]

You've been indoctrinated if you think Germans as a group are friendly haha I've got such great German friends from my time living there, but nearly every day i left the house it felt like at least one German in public, someone serving me or the beauracracy generally would try ruin my day.....there's just a heaviness and bitterness that hangs around even the nicest cities in Germany, it sticks to you

[@mjg239]

I completely disagree with this. I have been living in Germany for the last 16 years. The worst experiences I've ever had with "customer service" have been in Germany-- from restaurants, supermarkets to fast food, even in medical offices (doctors, dentists, receptionists at medical facilities, nurses... !) I won't even begin to mention government offices... whether you speak German or not or are German, it doesn't matter.

[@mknights33]

@@mjg239 haha the whole experience with the medical system was a nightmare, even with private insurance I avoided it like the plague

[@fintonmainz7845]

I lived in Germany in the mid 80s early 90s and now visit regularly. I fully agree with your perception. The "post boomer" generation is much less brash.

[@OluapOirevlis]

they still rude.

[@ArmandoBellagio]

Very good analysis, both psychoanalytically and socioeconomically.

[@britingermany]

Thank you 😀

[@cloudyskies5497]

My partner & I moved to another country for a postdoc that was only supposed to last a year. We stayed a total of five years because I fell in love with the place. I studied the language voraciously, aggressively made local and international friends, and inhaled the local culture: museums, festivals, customs, concerts. My local friends joked that they adopted me and that I was one of them now, even though my visa situation didn't reflect that. I think what I experienced was a transition from the expat to immigrant mindset. I'd found my home. Now I consider myself a future emigrant/immigrant because when we moved back to our home country my partner was excited and I was shattered. We likely will part or go long distance because I am making preparations and trying to find work so I can go back.

[@robwhitton4830]

I think British people who live overseas like to call themselves Expats, whereas people from overseas who live in Britain are called immigrants. It's a way for British people to avoid labelling themselves with the toxic term. Expats like to see themselves as better than immigrants, don't claim benefits and are a benefit not a drain on the host country.

[@nothinglefttomakereal]

Exactly

[@schurlbirkenbach1995]

Expats don't live in the country, they live in an international bubble in a country and they believe that they are citizens of the world. The big majority is working for a big company, for diverse foreign offices, for NGO's etc. In fact they are the colonials of our days.

[@stuartwalker8755]

@@nothinglefttomakerealliterally anyone can be an expat tbh

[@maramao6202]

Yes...

[@Korschtal]

I migrated to Germany from the UK to work and get a better life. I deliberately refer to myself as an immigrant, partly to annoy these people.

[@marystellarg4121]

I lived in Germany for 6 yrs, went for the PhD and considered staying afterwards and I was quite integrated, with all my colleagues being German and most of my friends were also German, I think I was quite lucky because I arrived with contacts in city from a German I had known in England. Being of Spanish heritage I am very direct and appreciate the directness in most cases but some Germans are just rude using the excuse of directness and honesty for being rude when it is completely unnecessary. I definitely remember this one occasion in my final year there where a bike repair man was just rude, what he said he could have said without being rude. I think the hardest thing with socialising is the lack of spontaneity amongst most Germans. There are some Germans that can be spontaneous but most are too rigid in their social scheduling.

[@Abigail-nc6in]

I agree 100% with the being rude and the excuse of "directness" behind it.

[@alexanderjaques]

Benjamin, I genuinely love your videos. Having lived in China as you have, I (sometimes) fear that you are guilty of what one of my bosses was on his first trip to visit me in Shanghai. As we were sitting, me with my beer, he with his unordered hot banana milkshake at the "Happy Bread Baker's Pharmacy" that had never sold pills or croissants we saw an 80 year old grandfather on a trike carting several metric tons of polystyrene along the street with his pig tailed grand daughter doing her maths homework on top of his load.....I explained to my employer that this was just his side gig in fact he was my local cicada salesman - just before we were joined by my then girlfriend (now wife) who fondly regaled us with her stories of how she used to take her pet dragonflies out for 'walks' on a string leash......anyway - my boss went a bit mad and never came back to PRC. He was over thinking it all. Not a criticism......but many Germans feel the need to try and wrestle the human experience into their world view.....no?

[@britingermany]

🤣🤣sorry I didn’t understand that. You mean people are shuts different or what?

[@alexanderjaques]

@@britingermany Sometimes a wry shrug is as good a solution as deep contemplation. My favourite of your videos are when you come to that conclusion, particularly when infused with your sense of humour. Living in Saudi and going for regular walks in the desert where my only companions are camels those moments serve me well.

[@britingermany]

@@alexanderjaques long live the camels 😀

[@cacophony69]

It is true that there is a general rudeness in the country, that german bureaucracy is insanely slow and nerve-wracking and that the internet connections are still too slow and unreliable. On the other hand, the argument about payment options couldn't be more wrong. Cashless payment has become so widespread that even the public transport network in Hamburg, for example, has scrapped the cash payment on busses. In the last couple of years, I almost ceased to use cash in daily life (except for my turkish haidresser). Language barrier ? For English speakers ? In a country where almost everybody has a least some basic knowledge of English. There are enough people in Germany who get employed without speaking German. Why would somebody move to any given country for a longer period without prior learning of the respective language. Sounds kinda silly to me. I have been learning Japanese since last christmas and I'm still at it not in order to be able to live there but solely for the purpose of visiting !!! Japanese uses two syllabic scripts and a bunch of chinese characters. German doesn't, it's related to English, German orthography is rather straightforward and a breeze in comparison to English, so don't tell me that it's too difficult to be mastered by a speaker of English. All in all, there are some social and cultural issues and deficiencies that result in the deserved low ranking. However, expats in general should step up their game and work on their mindset instead of expecting foreign countries to be like a modern shopping mall or an airport lounge.

[@user-Wojciech]

Expat - expatriate - is the superior term Brits use to describe themselves or people from the Anglosphere when they emigrate to another country, meanwhile calling everyone else immigrants. Aka British exceptionalism. Immigrant is a dirty word in the British dictionary. It's interesting that it's OK for expats (Brits) not want to integrate into the local culture when they emigrate, but they are angry when other nations do it in Britain, further confirming the colonial and exceptionalist mindset. The highlight of this double-standard and exceptionalism was when the permanent British migrants into Spain voted for Brexit, because they were against immigration (into the UK). Edit: I'm no (modern) Guardian reader at all, and I'm against political correctness, but I largely agree with their article, except I'd swap "white people" for "Brits". Yes, I understand the use of the word when moving abroad for a work assignment, but Brits use "expat" for anyone from the Anglosphere moving abroad for any reason for any period of time, e.g. a British builder moving to Spain permanently and looking for work locally is still called an expat, whereas a Polish corporate worker on a 3 year assignment in the UK will be called an immigrant. No hard feelings, I like Brits, and Britain used to rule the world, so that's the reason behind it, it's one of the British quirks, you're only human.

[@britingermany]

You don’t think it has anything to do with work?

[@user-Wojciech]

​​@@britingermanymost migrants move for economical reasons, people move abroad for work. Plenty of EU immigrants into the UK had previously moved here only temporarily to earn, save and move back home. Also, British pensioners in Spain are called expats, even though they had permanently moved abroad, not for work.

[@balcerzaq]

@@britingermany Can you explain?

[@user-Wojciech]

@@britingermany I've checked the definitions expat vs immigrant and generally - the main difference between an expat and an immigrant is, like you said, an expat usually lives in a new country temporarily, while an immigrant intends to stay permanently, but I don't think this is how Brits use these terms - Brits are always "expats" even after 20 years abroad in the same country, or they go from an "expat" to a "resident", but they're never an "immigrant".

[@jannetteberends8730]

This is probably one of the sources of the irritation people feel with the word expat. The retired English people, living in the south of Europe, voting for Brexit because of the immigrants. Well, they found out the hard way.

[@linajurgensen4698]

If Germany was a zodiac sign it would probably be a Capricorn. You need to know how to integrate into the country to have a happy and fulfilled life here and many foreigners do. I hope I as a German can improve the situation and make Germany a more welcoming country for people that want to integrate and live here.

[@erichamilton3373]

You've done a good job demystifying the term "expat"--which has become so loaded.

[@britingermany]

Thank you. I did my best

[@stephenhowes8937]

This is rather interesting because I have many German friends on Facebook and most of them never respond to my greeting comments.

[@maxsch.7743]

You really think people on Facebook are friends?

[@kobac8207]

Nuanced points made. I like that. I think there's the 'current political climate' dimension with sentiment, in the whole Europe essentially, shifting to the right. These terms have different interpretation depending on the economical and political conditions. On a side note, while I live in Germany for 7 years now, I still think someone needs to make a video about the false “polite vs honest” dichotomy.

[@britingermany]

Thank you. Yes polite vs. Honest is something that continues to come up

[@anutillman]

Looking forward to "polite vs honest" video! 👍

[@soshsiB]

Hi, as a German living as expatriate in many countries in last 20years. A major thing for foreigners to integrate or feel integrated in German society is our different lifestyle. The most easy and enjoyable way to get connected and to find friends in German is…. Join a “Verein” (German word for club). We say, where more than 3 Germans meet, they found a club (Gründen einen Verein). So joining a club of sport, music, choral, card play, bowling….. we have a club for everything. My experience is that people will always welcome you and help you in case of need. Therefore, expatriate or immigrant, be open and join people with have a similar interests (a club). And I am sure, you’ll have a great experience living in Germany. Wish you all the best. Cheers

[@gabolifavmc]

Recently I met an American in Milan, he called himself an expat despite living in Italy for 25 years. I said he's an immigrant, he got very defensive saying he falls into the expat category. It's laughable.

[@ravanpee1325]

They just have the term "expat" because they can't cope that they are "immigrants" :D :D :D

[@hikingviking859]

LOL, 👍🏼

[@righteousmammon9011]

He probably doesn’t work at all in Italy and retired there. It’s a little bit different. No need to be defensive about it. My wife is German and I’m American and we go back and forth. We have a house in Florida and we live in a house we purchased in Germany for a few months a year. So am I an immigrant or an expat or neither? It’s complicated

[@gabolifavmc]

@@righteousmammon9011 He lives permanently in Italy for 25 years. As an Italian, I wouldn't see you as an immigrant or an expat. Other Italians might have a bad view of Americans that buy houses in Europe and make the cost of living more expensive for us. That's the case in Spain, Italy, southern France, etc.

[@righteousmammon9011]

@@gabolifavmc but they’re fine with Italians or French or Germans or Spanish buying houses in the US? Many of you are over here too…. Especially in Florida. It’s a double standard.

[@Robertchu]

I used to live abroad for many years, primarily in Spain and some other countries, too. I had a lot of friends and we went out a lot. In my thirties, I moved back to Germany. I moved to a city I didn’t know before, so no friends there. It’s true that it’s very difficult making new friends in this situation. Most of my friends in Germany are those from my hometown or studies. However, I think it’s also me who has a problem making new friends. I spend a lot of time at work and in my thirties many things changed for me. Going out isn’t important anymore and I love spending time with my girlfriend. I like some peace and quiet when I don’t have to work. My girlfriend, on the other hand, is from abroad and she made a lot of friends here in Germany since we moved here and is really happy with her career. So her experience in Germany is actually the opposite compared to mine. However, she is based in West-Germany and I work in the east. Therefore, it also depends on where you end up. Some places in West-Germany are better for expats than others. East-Germany is very different, but I also know that some major cities in the west that aren’t really great. Fining a place really sucks, so life becomes a struggle. My girlfriend lives in a city with 300+ k inhabitants and a long history of immigration. While there have been problems with bureaucracy and all that, she says that people are usually very nice (landlords, neighbours, colleagues, etc.) and living there is relatively affordable compared to places like Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne, Munich, Stuttgart or Frankfurt. Well, and if you don’t like the weather or the food, better don’t move to Germany (if you don’t have to 😅)

[@YvonneHoerde]

Thanks for your vid. I guess that especially English speaking countries will be in the highest rank for expats, simply due to the fact that their main language is English. Germany naturally and traditionally does not speak English as a first language. More and more, internationally, German is less and less used. It used to be strong at least in science but English has also taken over here. And I am not really sure that Germany is per se really a country for migration, even though it has opened up a lot. We have a very special relationship with our past, we have a very special view on nationality and a very special underlying topic of values that are all not that easy to grasp for people who do not really want to go deep but just take "a sip" of German culture. Germany also hardly ever had colonies and therefore not many experiences with expats - it also has never really been a colony. And many Germans are not even conscious about the fact that they HAVE a special culture.

[@Altonahh10]

Nun ja, wir haben sehr unterschiedliche Regionen und ich kann mich, als jemand, der im Ruhrgebiet aufgewachsen bin, überhaupt nicht mit einem Schwaben oder Sachsen vergleichen. Da liegen Welten zwischen. Deshalb glaube ich auch ist die Frage, wohin man geht, wenn man nach Deutschland zieht, sehr entscheidend für das, was man dann erlebt. Als weltoffener Mensch wird es in ländlichen Regionen, vor allem in den neuen Ländern, schwierig werden, sich wohl zu fühlen.

[@YvonneHoerde]

@@Altonahh10 Prinzipiell ist das Ruhrgebiet recht weltoffen, aber es ist nicht gerade eine der reichsten Regionen Deutschlands. Das Ende des Bergbaus setzt der Gegend immer noch zu. Den meisten Städten merkt man das auch leider an. Die Leute im Ruhrgebiet, ja, die sind toll! Offen und freundlich, ein wenig "hemdsärmelig", das ist genauso, wie ich es mag. Ein toller Menschenschlag. Anschluss zu finden, ist da nicht so schwer wie in anderen Gegenden.

[@CS-ox9hn]

In the sciences? A hundred years ago maybe.

[@lynnsintention5722]

I think Expat used to mean what you said but now there are so many people choosing to live in a country other than their home land that I don't think it is exclusive to those who are "placed" their because of work, perhaps unwillingly

[@stuartwalker8755]

To be honest I feel like the expat/immigrant question is ultimately a meaningless distinction and a distraction in the context of discussions around immigration and integration in Germany. Undoubtedly there are double standards with the use of the word and its exact definition is up for debate. I myself have worked on a temporary contract in Germany since I arrived. I plan to leave for a number of reasons. I always have described myself as an immigrant because I just don’t care about distinguishing myself in that way. The reason I find the term a distraction in the context of Germany is that whilst the term has problematic connotations in the context of coloniser/colony dynamics, they don’t apply here. Immigrants to Germany cannot possibly be construed as colonisers and Germany has never been colonised in its history. Indeed Germany has been a coloniser for the last 800 or so years up until recently, first with the Ostsiedlung, then with the colonies in Africa and Asia, and finally with the Nazi German wars of genocide. Getting upset with with immigrants calling themselves expats in Germany is just ridiculous and in my experience serves mostly to distract from real criticism of German integration policy and attitudes . If someone dares to call themselves an expat whilst giving real and common criticism of Germany they are immediately written off. It’s additionally an outlet for that great German pastime of shitting on the US in particular and Anglo-Saxon culture in general (whilst still worshipping it because contemporary German cultural output is largely shite). It’s further a means of turning immigrants/expats/whatever against each other when really we should be sticking together in a culture and society that is at least moderately hostile to us. Well in my experience people who call themselves immigrants rather than expats don’t in any way fare any better than so called “expats”. If anything the immigrants are more likely to be non white and more likely therefore to experience racism from Germans. These people who learn the language still won’t be integrated into society nor have any German friends and will still experience casual discrimination in the work place and housing market, as well as in the street. So to me this discussion is complete nonsense. There is a huge problem with integration in Germany and most of the blame lies with the prevailing German culture which is ultimately rather chauvinistic in its outlook. So let’s focus on that, not go down the blind alley of convincing ourselves the US and UK are worse (they obviously are better at integration-ask yourself when will Germany have a Turkish chancellor??) because of some stupid terminology they use sometimes that has nothing to do with Germany, and not waste time on this stupid terminology debate that only serves to help those who refuse to accept that Germany must change.

[@britingermany]

It is not meaningless when people demand that you stop using a term because they find it offensive...

[@stuartwalker8755]

@@britingermany I said it is a meaningless conversation in the context of Germany and German integration. It's a side show to deflect criticism and used as a stick to beat a certain type of immigrant and an outlet for German anti-Americanism. The term isn't great but when literal neo-Nazis are on the rise in Germany (a country that in any case has a huge racism problem), that some immigrants call themselves expats is just not a huge issue. I explained that all quite clearly in my comment. Thanks.

[@dezafinado]

​@@stuartwalker8755Anti-Americanism? Why? Americans too loud at Oktoberfest? Too many US fighter jets crisscrossing their sky and protecting their airspace against their wishes?

[@JoseLeonMusica]

Great definition of the term 'ex pat'. it's the most useful, well researched and correct I've ever come across and I've now adopted it as my own response to it's misuse in future. I previously had a sense of it's deeper and objectionable connotations without knowing fully the history + origins of it's use. Thank you 👍

[@evelinereherreher7049]

In 1981 I came across German and British expats in Lagos/Nigeria. Their behaviour towards their Nigerians counterparts was highly questionable, if not despicable. It reeked of colonialism and I was very upset. These days a lot of retired Germans emigrate to Bulgaria because life over there is cheaper. A lot of them are disgusted with German politics, complaining/whining etc.. They might think of themselves as expats because they live within their closely knit community. We re living in a decade of upheaval/war/extremism and Europe has to struggle. I’m glad you explained in detail what it takes to live in Germany. I’d like to quote H. Heine: Denk ich an Deutschland in der Nacht, dann bin ich um den Schlaf gebracht. The state elections in Thuringia, Saxony and Brandenburg clearly show us what is at stake. I still hope that my compatriots will not forget that ‘love thy neighbour’ regardless of his/her nationality is the basic concept of peaceful coexistence.

[@jansoltes971]

Don't you find the crime statistics more concerning? 7000 women since 2015? Knife attack every single day? Do you ignore that?

[@diepiriye]

I think it's pretty clear that Germany is a nation that appreciates justifying its racism and the superiority of the German lifestyle.

[@Jonathan.Ivo.Loewer]

​@@jansoltes971 Don't you find it more concerning that Germany has 7,8 deaths in traffic per day? Or that Germany has 8,8 heat deaths per day? Or, since you mention crimes against women, don't you find it more concerning that every two days a woman in Germany gets murdered by her ex? Don't you find the climate crisis most concerning of all, a catastrophe that can be compared to nothing in human history, not even to the bronze age collapse, threatening our very civilization and even now already killing countless people (Ahrtal still ring a bell?)? If you don't find any of those or also the countless, countless other issues in Germany more concerning - then why is the occasional criminal refugee the one issue you are so concerned about? One could almost assume racism when you choose to take this one statistic so much more seriously than so many other more concerning ones.

[@davinnicode]

This is the most typical German view.

[@jansoltes971]

@@Jonathan.Ivo.Loewer Wow. Who told you I'm not concerned about all you mentioned? BUT what you call "occasional crime" appears in a completely different light when you realize that "your guests" are extremely overrepresented in the above mentioned statistics. When it comes to thing against women, it's 40-70x more. And it's not only those 7000 women who are traumatised for the rest of their lives, let me tell you that! It's also their children and other relatives! Germany is not a safe country anymore. You know what, I've recently watched a vid by two guys, both born in German to foreign parents. They OPENLY said, your guest used to respect you when they were kids back in the 90's, but now all that respect is GONE. Why do you think this is so? My theory is, they don't want to end up like you - godless, childless and depressed with all that Weltschmerz. And how do you want to solve all those problems you've listed when your guests' children don't strive for higher education? And when every year tens of thousands young, well-educated Germans turn back on their country? Huh? Civilization collapse? There will be no such thing. Do you realize that it's only you Germans and other Western Europeans who bought into this new religion (because you tossed away Christianity)? Seriously, ppl need something like that, it's our human psyche. You declared Christianity obsolete, now you have your Green Deal. You found your new religion. Of course, human influence is undeniable but there are plausible theories that it's a natural cycle, too! Do you realize that the 13th and 14th centuries were even warmer than what we are experiencing now? How do you explain that? You Germans are going from one extreme to the other. It's not just me pointing this out. Do you realize that even nations as distant as the Japanese are watching in disbelief the current situation in Germany? They don't get it why you tolerate it. Seriously, your safety is worse and worse, your industries are fleeing, your young talents are fleeing. Also, do you realize that young educated foreigners don't know about what you call "occasional crime"? They know very well and it is yet another reason why they don't choose Germany as a place to start carreer or a family.

[@PiaStevenson-z3m]

I moved to Vienna in 86. It might not be in Germany, but the language spoken is similar. I used the Expat Community as a springboard into Austrian society. I went on to study industrial engineering. It opened the door for me, although some Austrians informed me that I wasn't Austrian. The standard of life in Vienna is very high though and remains one of the favorite cities for Expats.

[@Sammyjane72x]

I choose not to use the word expat personally. While i woudn't go down the road of calling someone racist who prefers to use it, i try and avoid when and where possible. I do think there are some countries that are culturally harder to socially intergrate into. Even someone who takes the time to have a serious attempt of getting acquianted woth the local language and culture, sometimes the locals just dont reciprocate very well. On the other end of the spectrum there are people like the stereotype of 'Brits in Spain' where a certain number do not even try to learn the langauge and mostly stick to British circles. While im not saying all Brits in Spain do this, stereotypes do have elements of truth to them, otherwise they would not be stereotypes. That said I think someone who has taken the time and made the effort can give up and revert to living in a 'bubble' of people of thier own nationality because the locals do not reciprocate the favour

[@cozmicpretzscher]

I've lived in Germany for 19 years, first 16 years was in Berlin. I have always seen myself as an immigrant. While living in Berlin I avoided "expat groups". I wanted to meet Germans and people from other parts of the world, which there are many in Berlin. I have only two or three English freinds that live in Germany. I now live in a small East German village and I'm the only English person there, hardly anyone speaks English, I kinda like that. What I first arrived in Germany I found the bureaucracy very difficult, back then they would not speak English to me, my Anmeldung, was totally done in German, I had a freind help, even so his German was not too good. Then I needed a bank account, my first visit they said I couldn't have one because I could understand what I was signing, came back the next day with a German friend. Now my bank has employees that wear badges with, I speak English on then, the machine can be changed to English. So I think it's better for immigrants now than 19 years ago.

[@Altonahh10]

Do you have an account with a physical bank? Who still does that in the age of the Internet?

[@henrimatisse4768]

why do you expect germans to speak english to you in germany ? i live in britain and if i go to a bank here and expect them to speak german they are having a laugh.

[@cozmicpretzscher]

@@henrimatisse4768 I never expected them to speak English

[@CS-ox9hn]

Who doesn't speak English nowadays?

[@radiojet1429]

Thanks - great video.

[@ubermut1379]

As a German, I can actually confirm. I feel ashamed by the way we deal with internationals, expats and immigrants. I am a student at a German university and even the people who supposedly are the most open minded (by their own admission), leftists, are very uncomfortable dealing with people who don’t speak German. One of my friends is organising queer bar evenings and told me that he is the only one of the team who speaks to internationals, while the rest doesn’t want to, supposedly because they feel insecure about their English skills. And when I personally visit some of the events that are meant for local Germans and international students to mingle, I am often one of the few native speakers (>5) who joins more than 20 internationals. WHO ACTUALLY WANT TO MEET GERMANS AND LEARN GERMAN!! But they don’t meet enough of us and end up in highly international friend groups with few Germans among them. It’s very sad. We need to make more of an effort to welcome others and move beyond our own complex of not speaking English or other languages perfectly! Not to mention the racism that many openly display. But many are also uncomfortable with people of different cultures in general. And the only way they could move beyond that is by dealing with these other cultures. Which most don’t. A tip for internationals: find one of those rare German extroverts and go from there. Also: unusual (not weird in a creepy way) people are also often a good entry. They have often dealt with people who didn’t welcome them because they are different, so they had to find other unusual people to built their social circle. People who are different understand the experience of being different and are often more open minded. Also, as many here already recommended: join a club or „Verein“. Get a hobby. You’ll meet many people there on a regular basis and you have a shared interest to talk about - that’s how friendships blossom! Good luck to all of you and again - SORRY. We truly need to do better!

[@jrgptr935]

Das mit den Vereinen ist so eine Sache ... sie erscheinen mir immer lediglich wie Anhängsel politischer Parteien - Mitglieder der CDU sind im Kneippverein, Mitglieder der SPD sind bei den Hasenzüchtern, aber niemals bei den Kneippianern, und wenn einer in beiden Vereinen ist, hat er auch beide Parteibücher und ist wahrscheinlich Unternehmer... That's one thing about Vereine ... They always seem to me to be merely appendages of political parties - members of the CDU are in the Kneippverein, members of the SPD are in the rabbit breeders, but never in the Kneippians, and if someone is in both associations, he also has both party books and is probably an entrepreneur...

[@timhill9189]

English skills are a lot more patchy in Germany than many think. Blame dubbing/voiceovers. Yes you should learn German, but what does that mean on an 18-month expat project? Getting by or extensive social life only with local you may have little time for anyway?

[@YvonneHoerde]

@@timhill9189 One other problem is that Germans do need a lot of time to warm up with you and are not that much into chit-chat. Many expats who have been sent by an enterprise stay for a year or even shorter and that makes it difficult to really get closed friends in the. German style. Germans will be much more hesitant to call you a friend, you will probably stay an acquaintance, they use the word friends different to US-citizens, for example... +

[@MsMinoula]

I get your point. "Unusual" in the sense you are putting it is a good match for those making the unusual choice of studying/living abroad. I was always a weirdo and always surrounded by foreign-born people. Making international friends is a low risk step outside ones' comfort zone (compared to moving abroad) and very rewarding. I've been on all sides of it (like, in a training of mixed nationalities I would mostly catch up with 'my own' during breaks for comfort, but I never missed the parties).

[@ubermut1379]

@@timhill9189 yes our English could be better sometimes - but I wouldn’t say that we are the worst by any means. In most German states, you have to take English classes until graduation. I am studying at a university, so everyone had their English tested and taught extensively but they still refuse to speak to internationals sometimes. Not wanting to lose face is no excuse when it comes to welcoming people. As if most of the international students we have speak English perfectly - but they still get by. We are way better than our parents generation in English but we still chicken out when it comes to actual practice? Not speaking English (when you actually can!) is literally putting your own needs above everyone else’s. And as if many of the internationals we meet aren’t motivated to practice their German as well and get to know a bit more about German culture? Why should we deny them that experience? IMO we lose a lot more face by not being friendly and communicative to newcomers and therefore not hospitable. It’s the effort that counts, not perfection!

[@rckoala8838]

Having worked at universities all my adult life I've known many long-term residents from other countries and have given the term "expatriate" much thought. Broadly, one pictures an "expatriate" as someone like Somerset Maugham, sipping a gin on the veranda, or an American retiree in Mexico or a Brit in Spain. But what of James Baldwin or Josephine Baker in Paris? The cellist Pablo Casals, who would have returned to Spain as soon as Franco died? Or tax exiles? Turkish guest workers? The critical point seems to be the element of choice, and whether one is "in the world [country] but not of it".

[@uschi1814]

In a new Country you need to learn new Things. Nothing will be easy . I am german and made myself a learn something new every Year. With a smile and a laugh you can do everthing. 😊

[@britingermany]

For sure

[@peterboil4064]

Do you like Ducks? And (try) speaking German in a friendly environment? Join my German duck watching club for people who want to integrate and make German friends! 🦆

[@karstenbalamagi8463]

yeah they are talking german in Germany thats really crazy :D even english or us-americans should be able to figure this out...

[@SethinBerlin]

Hi Benjamin. Thanks for this video. As an American living in Berlin, I certainly understand the struggle with assimilating into the culture. I do take issue with the use of the term "expat". I do believe it has racial and classist implications. It sounds like you described the issues that people have with the the term, and them said, "well but so what, I don't think its those things so it isn't." I don't want to put words in your mouth at all, but I do find that to be kind of tone deaf. And before i am accused of being "woke" or any other nonsense, I'm not saying someone is bad or should be "cancelled" or whatever for using it. I'm just saying that just because YOU don't believe a word is racist or classist, doesn't mean others agree. What's the difference if someone who goes to a country to perform a job is a strawberry picker or a banker? They are both migrant workers. Just because one does manual labor and one does white collar labor doesn't make one an expat and one a migrant. They are both migrants, but for some reason the term migrant worker is derogatory. Perhaps to remove the stigma of that word, we stop differentiating between classes of migrant workers. Sorry for the ramble. Just my two pfennigs :)

[@CS-ox9hn]

You like to hear yourself talking, don't you?

[@SethinBerlin]

@ you like to be rude to strangers on the internet don’t you?

[@19800910]

Been living in Germany for 46 years now and the last 2 years I am retired, I do collect both German and U.S. American retirement pay. I have enjoyed a better life in Germany then in the USA. One point that others have made in the commants is the differants between the Germans now compared to them in the 1970's. That is so true!

[@OlderGamersPerspective]

I have never thought of myself as an Expat. Mostly because I find the term to be vaguely racist and reminds me of the Norman Tebbit Cricket test, which mentioned that various communities who lived in the UK, but were not born there, should support England at cricket matches, not, for example, Pakistan. Presumably Norman had never been to an Irish pub in Germany or Spain, when the football was on, and found hordes of English people still supporting England, even though they no longer lived in that country. He was wrong. People should be allowed to show support for whomever they please, even if it doesn't please the Lady he worked for. Personally, I watch the football very rarely, and always support England. It's where I was born, I am attached to that country even if I disagree with a lot of what goes on there (I won't mention Brexit). But yeah, Expat, it does give of 'entitled' vibes, whether or not that's true, I don't know. I don't know all Expats. It is I guess a matter of self-perception; I don't see myself as an expat, I am an emigrant who has decided for various reasons to live in Germany. That's where my self-perception exists. Each to his own, but Expat doesn't feel like the person I am. Germany can be a tough place to make friends. The Sie/Du thing can make stuff complex, but once you do get to know Germans, it's easy to see that they have, perhaps, more similarity to English people than most other nations. Their sense of humour can be a little on the dark side, but I like that, and their belief that if something is on a piece of paper, then it must eventually come to pass, is fairly self destructive. Otherwise, I find the Germans to be very much like the English, except without the negative mental hang-ups on public nudity, which is just the English being Squeamish. Germany also has some odd, irritating quirks, shops not opening until 10 (what the hell is that about) and pubs not opening until 7 (after work pint? Not happening), and there is this worrying political leaning towards the right wing. But, in general, day to day, I find Germany no less an irritating place to live than England. At least they seem to largely be free of this awful class warfare, where anyone who went to Public school is deemed important, and anyone who didn't just doesn't count for much. The times I have spoken to a posh person, and the second they hear my working class accent, you can see them start to mentally disengage. I have even witnessed posh English people refuse to acknowledge the presence of a working class person standing right in front of them, simply because they can get away with such vile behaviour. In that light, Germany arrogance is somewhat more palatable. Anyway, cool video. Nice production values and great audio. Mostly I use your videos as a sort of audio-pod-cast to listen to while doing other stuff, so keep up the good work.

[@Ms777Lena]

I don't know any German that has any meaningful friendship. There are longlasting friendships, rarely, but like, people met 10 times in 20 years. Waste of time to me.

[@philip.morris]

Ich liebe Deutschland, es ist wunderbar.

[@MorningNapalm]

I arrived in Germany in 2001, originally intending to stay 3-5 years, and just learn something, see the world a bit, and move on. However, I ended up meeting a woman, having a child, and eventually when Brexit happened, taking on dual British-German citizenship. I have not lived in Britain since I was 4, and Germany is my 4th country of residence, and also my 4th citizenship (I lost Danish and Canadian along the way). I don't find Germany unfriendly, just very neutral. You kinda get out of it what you put into it. I immediately started learning German when I came, and this was very much appreciated by the Germans, as I expect it would be in most countries. I can imagine that you might feel less welcome if you moved to a small town in deepest Germany (I live in Berlin), but that is more an outsider-thing that a foreigner thing. Small towns are just generally less open than bigger cities. I have felt welcome most places I have been in Germany. Personality is the biggest factor in my experience, not being a native German or not.

[@henningbartels6245]

the video mentions a cultural misunderstanding by putting an alleged "anglosphere or Asian politeness" versus a alleged "German rudeness" without hitting an essential point: politeness is a way to show respect in social interaction. How to show respect might vary from country to country. German bluntness and direct way might be regarded as being respectful in Germany as well, since it values honesty higher.

[@juicyfruit4378]

Or it simply could be a rude culture which has been allowed to permeate because of history. I have lived as a foreigner in Germany for 30 years and I speak the language fluently and write it as well. Germany is racial, it's citizens are rude and ignorant in World Cultures to which they do not care to even learn about. The "Brit in Germany" guy looks German, speaks it and is employed in the Banking System which is predominantly what race/ethnicity? I highly doubt he has encountered 1/4th of the German institutionalized racism and bigotry that others have that don't look German for starters. I work in Human Resources and cannot begin to tell you how bigoted/racist the German system is in HR. Did you know that legally, resumes should not contain pictures here in Germany? YET most conglomorates still want resumes with a picture of the candidate. German Law doesn't even attempt to stop this practice which is always used to identify race, ethnicity in order to see if the person "fits" in and we both know what I mean. We just recently hired an engineer who had a bachelors degree when the position called for a masters. 5 candidates with masters and far more qualified, were passed by because they didn't "look" the part; also, the person hired, was the son of a former employee who previously worked there 20 years ago. In Edeka last month, I bought a product called "Shoko Kusse" or roughly translated "Chocolate Kiss." My friend who accompanied me put the box in the cart and said I love N****r Kisses too! I told him if he EVER used that word again, he'd end up in a bad place very fast -- he honestly couldn't understand why his usage of that word angered me yet had no problem saying it less than 4 feet away from an African American shopping with his wife. Thank God teh American didn't understand that term in German. Sadly, however, I've heard this term being used to describe African, Black American candidates on NUMEROUS occasions and twice by the Police when describing a person invovled in a car accident and another for an ticket problem at the train station. And no, in both cases, the Germans were young around age 25-35 - they know better. As far as German directness? They are only direct (Rude) when it pertains to correcting others and certainly not themselves. Try to be "direct" with them and see how that goes. They'll dodge responsibility and never acknowledge to making the mistake - it's always someone elses fault or they weren't "aware" of what they were saying - right. I had a German friend tell me in front of many, that "Blue wasn't my color," regarding the sweater I had worn. Not only was it rude, but I didn't recall asking her for her opinion. Also, if she wanted to tell me this, than tell me in private - that is called good manners - anything else is being RUDE. I retorted by telling her in front of all, that she needed to lose weight and look into getting a mole above the right side of her lip removed - I was only being direct right? Let's just say from that point on, she never tried that with me again. There is a big difference being direct and being direct to be rude and Germans have mastered this concpet along with the Dutch - they know what they're doing and it's mainly to place a "pecking order" in order to ascertain their importance over you - or that your opinion doesn't matter as much versus theirs. I will be returning to the UK once my time is done here. The UK is a big mess, BUT we are not rude nor do we consciously force our opinions on others as being "direct." We have racial problems in the UK too, but it's not based out of stubborness or condoned in an underhanded institutionalized way as it is in Germany - pretend not to be, but condone it nevertheless. I miss going to the pub and talk with people or share discussions at work - not here in Germany, you are a robot and will adhere to outdated, outlandish concepts that the majority of the business world has long left behind - this country acts as if it has never heared of email to get things done and at the same time wonders why their bureaucracy is amongs the worst in Europe. Germany may have a better economy than the UK, but at least in the UK, we are human and take in those human factors when dealing with people - Germany doesn't see human but rather a number which should not ask questions or attempt to review a process and wonders why their workforce has the highest depression rate in western Europe, highest number of sick leave, highest number of exhaustion and job unsatisfaction of upward mobility due to ageism, high nepotism and infrastructures not keeping up with current global employment trends.

[@MSportsEngineering]

No, it's just being rude. A person can be fully direct and not be blunt, dismissive, and harsh; yet, Germans choose all those things.

[@juicyfruit4378]

@@MSportsEngineering EXACTLY! I found this out to be the same in the Netherlands as well when I worked in Amsterdam - once you dish it back to them, they immediately receede and claim to not "understand" YOUR direct and blunt return comment, yet they have no problem dishing direct and blunt comments when it isn't on them. I have had approximately 7 incidents over the years here and I assure you, once you put them in their place or flip the situation by being blunt and "honestly" direct with them, they get the picture quickly - this is why they know exactly what they are doing. Like you said, it's ok to be direct and honest, but it must be done with maturity, decor, the appropriate time and place and given privacy as well.

[@henningbartels6245]

@@juicyfruit4378 7 incidences over years doesn't sound a lot, considering you have conversation on daily basis. If I have been living in an English speaking country for years I would have met 7 rude persons, too.

[@juicyfruit4378]

@@henningbartels6245 I've been here for 35 years, what about you. I never stated that I had only 7 incidences - can you read? Secondly, I have lived here for 35 YEARS and working daily, which places me directly in DAILY conversations meeting with hundreds of people both friendly and RUDE. You trying to justify Germans being direct versus rude isn't going to fly with me nor based on a weak "incident count" you attempted to use. Germans will bully you at the workcenter if you let them and they use their language to intimidate others ESPECIALLY foreigners or those that don't "look" German. I have a friend who is a Bariatric Surgeon from Singapore - Amazing how she's always mistaken by the Germans to be the secretary in HER office while her secretary ( German male) is taken for the doctor - maybe, she's a little too "Schwarz oder Braun?" what do you think? While you're reading this, please ask yourself why the Germans are: a. Known to have ZERO sense of humor b. Lack the emotions to carry on any relationship and lack compassion only to marry for money, material items, land and finances. I don't recall seeing many romantic comedies getting movie awards originating from Germany, do you? c. Why are Germans known to be so punctual, anal-retentivie and robotic in their behavior d. Why are Germans labeled so efficient that they don't even have the time to enjoy what they work for e. Why is the German Workforce one of the HIGHEST in Europe suffering from "ALLTAG" Syndrome, depression, high sick leave rates and burnout??? Watch it here because I AM an HR Chief in my current capacity at a major German Global Firm. And, for the record, I've met many nice and rude Germans; the rude ones got put in their place quite quickly by me and I don't regret it because one thing is for sure, I am respected at my workcenter. I have chosen to have a cadre of international friends versus mainly German ones as despite my fluency in German and writing and years of being here, I will always be seen as "der Ausländer aus England"

[@markcello9879]

sorry for the random comment, but I couldnt help it to mention that I recognized the bergstrasse in your images, and Bensheim to be more specific, isnt that it ? :) ... back to the topic I guess I consider myself both expat and/or immigrant , and I would agree to a certain classist/racist tone in the distinction of the two terms, although not a universal one.

[@meu22422]

Changing the definition is never a solution. Germany has serious problems that they want to solve without accepting change. Best personification of Germany would be a well maintained steam engine.

[@britingermany]

You mean just in general or specifically regarding immigration?

[@meu22422]

@@britingermany a person's mental state who says yes when asked if they are expat, and also in general, like categories against which they score a country

[@britingermany]

@@meu22422 I don’t understand what you mean…you shouldn’t categorise countries?

[@arnodobler1096]

Yes, 84 million people are all the same!!! You don't know what you're talking about!

[@vladtheinhaler3793]

Excellent observation, except I would call it a well-maintained diesel engine (since the steam engine is a British invention). By and large, the country still runs reasonably well, even though many aspects, including attitudes on immigration and outsiders in general, are outmoded.

[@bendjohans3863]

great video like always greetings from aschaffenburg ;D

[@britingermany]

Thank you. Greetings back 🙏

[@uschi1814]

Greetings from Laufach, near Aschaffenburg 😂

[@bendjohans3863]

chuckles...waves over the 2 hills ;D

[@hape3862]

For my part, as a German, I prefer immigrants (legal or “illegal” doesn't matter to me) to expats. I don't like people who don't get involved in the culture and language of the other country and only temporarily seek their own advantage by studying here for free or benefiting from the job opportunities and perks - basically just sticking their toe in the water and then turning up their nose because it's supposedly too cold. You can't rely on butterflies that just flutter from one flower to the next - why should you as a local get involved with them at all, because after a while they move on because there is more nectar to be had elsewhere.

[@britingermany]

That’s fair enough…your mentality is probably one of the reasons why people struggle here as friendliness of the local population was rated as very low…but I can understand your point of view

[@arnodobler1096]

Hi Hape. I only call someone a friend if I know I can call them at 4 a.m. and they drive 200 km, which is very few.

[@hape3862]

@@arnodobler1096 In meinem Fall gar keine mehr. Haben sich alle verabschiedet, als ich wegen chronischer Krankheit Hartz IV beantragen musste. Good riddance.

[@barbsmart7373]

Your view is quite shocking for me to read, to be honest. I had never thought of what you have described. It really makes sense to me now, though, how human beings can be left isolated and lonely in Germany for very many years after moving there. I have read very, very many comments and listened to many stories about this type of horrible, deliberate exclusion and judgemental treatment. It is a very disturbing thought for me. I guess people are not always befriended in my country as well. I think that when people look different here, quite a few people wouldn't take the time to befriend them. Life is very busy. But usually the newcomers have a big community around them already and they appear comfortable in their own group. It never occurred to me that a person would consciously make such a distinction and not be friendly because they might not stay in the country for a long time. Don't you think it is great that you have an opportunity to meet an interesting person and have a bit to do with them when they are new to your area or community? Don't you think it is such a wonderful opportunity to be kind to someone, offer some friendship and learn a little bit about them? I have a feeling a lot of German people think like you do. I noticed that Polish people I have met are also not friendly to strangers. (The German people I have seen and know about who visit my country are usually exceptionally exploitative, so it can go both ways). It leaves an unforgettably chilling feeling for me because of the coldness and total disconnect lead by one side. I have thought a lot about various appalling experiences people have had when they moved to Germany, and the many comments made by German people regarding other human beings. I cannot begin to imagine the cruelty and selfishness of a significant proportion of the population. I see it as selfish and inhumane that people categorize people into groups according to whether the people are worthy of any of their time and humanity or not. (This is what I frequently hear). It wouldn't cause widespread disconnection if only some people think like you do. But there seems to be a lot... I couldn't bear it if the people of my country were predominantly selfcentred and judgementaljnstead of friendly and laidback. If I got that way myself, I know I would be such a mean horrible person...judging people and deciding whether or not to like them, be kind or helpful to them, just because of what their future plans are. Their plans are not very important, are they? I have been nice to people but in some situations wish I had taken a greater interest. My 8 year old neighbour died suddenly a few weeks ago and I wish I had talked to him more when I saw him riding his bike on our street. A bigger regret is that I didn't get the phone number of a Russian lady I met at a park. I knew she was lonely but didn't think to give her my phone number, maybe because the park was in a different area or a bit preoccupied at the time. I have thought about the people I have not kept up with and strongly regretted my inaction. All the Russian people I have met in my country are extremely lovely people but don't know a lot of people. I can't imagine being so restrained and limited with good vibes and kindness. Cripes! I realise this is just a culture shock for me and there is a whole different perspective up your way that I have not really seen in my life. Also I realise there are reasons why Germans like being like that, even though it is so hard for someone with my culture and lineage to stomach. Thankyou for explaining a way way of thinking in Germany, at least it kind of makes more "sense" to me.

[@bugra320]

I'm quite shocked that you prefer immigrants(legal or illegal). Don't you see the immigrants are mostly the less educated and culturally unfit to Germany. Your argument is that the expats are temporary in the country and you're distuebed by them. It's the immigrants that change your demographic and cultural customs

[@germanyhamburger5552]

I love Germany but I hate the bureaucracy here and the federal offices and immigration authorities are constantly overwhelmed by it💀. Why is it so hard to change this, politicians of this country, please explain. I understand people that they don't want to deal with all the paperwork and the german mentality if you are a very positive character. Germans often tend to look for the negative things, even if there shouldn't be any, but they should be the best critics in the world. Just saying: "Bei dem Schloss würde ich nicht die Stromrechnung zahlen wollen oder die Fenster putzen,,. Instead of just enjoying the view like everyone else.

[@parabenstv]

People always want to label 🏷 everything 🙄 But reality is much more diverse, definitions and meanings change like life does. 😉 I call myself a "German expat in Brazil" because it is the briefest way to do in English. Until today I wasn't aware of the debate. I guess you analyzed it very good. I moved to Brazil in order to stay for ever. Thus I'm more an immigrant than an expat 😅 OK. My personality and my situation remain the same 😅

[@britingermany]

Yes. Don’t worry and just keep enjoying your life. I only really was made aware of this debate since starting this channel

[@parabenstv]

@@britingermany 👍😅😊

[@zebulon9307]

The Polish plumber who moves to Britain is a work immigrant while the British pensioner who lives in his cottage in Spain is an expat. The difference is, the plumber works for small money, the pensioner has lots of it. The pensioner (until Brexit) had a right to live wherever he wanted to whereas the plumber has to hunt for Visas and stay permits (which can be withdrawn). In cities with many big international companies, expats are severe competitors on the housing market. They reduce the number of affordable housing stock and raise the rents to astronomical heights (ie. in Munich). International companies have unlimited money to spend. Expats, like tourists, typically discuss the quality of hotels and luxury restaurants that the locals couldn´t afford to visit.

[@Travelingonline3]

Thank you for this illuminating video. If somebody moves from A to B he will be a foreigner, alien and immigrant at B and in principal always remain so. He will be a national or local of A and likely always consider himself so. But people of A might not like him for leaving and so he becomes an emigrant. When he notices that he doesn't belong to either place how does he refer to himself? The term expat seems perfect. As to the unfriendliness of Germans, they treat themselves the same. Northern Germans bemoan the fact that they always remain mere "Zugezogene" when they move to the countryside in Bavaria or Baden-Würtemberg.

[@britingermany]

Yes I’ve heard that too. You will only truly belong if you were born in the place.

[@alia9087]

@@britingermany It was like that in Hereford in the UK also though. So many had never left the town and viewed anyone new as foreigners

[@britingermany]

@@alia9087 I think it is a similar story all over the world

[@Ming_the_Impaler]

I disagree I am an American living and working in Baden Württemberg, we have been accepted into life and the community here. Yes my kids are fluent in German and I struggle but manage in German. We all are part of everyday life because we try our hardest to be part of the community. Handball tonight YES! Fest Sunday YES. Don’t hide behind a wall and a community will welcome you.

[@YvonneHoerde]

@@britingermanyThe sister of my uncle in law married an Englishman and moved to England and lived there until she died. Her German even got an English accent a bit. But to the English, she always was "the German girl from over the road"....

[@ssergium.4520]

From what I’ve noticed over the years, people mostly hate Germany for: 1. Discrimination / racism, which is understandable. Nothing to add here 2. Lack of friends. People come to study here from their home countries where they had all kind of friends and people to hang out with. They need new friends here AND there’s also the language barrier. 3. If people come here to study, they may have never been living an “adult” life which now they’re forced to do. They have to figure it all out on their own, mostly in a foreign language that loves getting more complicated the more official it gets, so that can be frustrating. 4. Poor technological advances. Sending letters? Fax? DSL internet? 5. Germans may sound rude or direct, especially to native English speakers. An English native speaker would speak more flowerly, not directly just answer questions by simply saying “yes” or “no”. My American boyfriend and I notice how directly we just say things in German and how translating those sentences somewhat literally into English might sound rude, for example saying “ok bye!” sounds rude but “ok tschüss!!!” does not. 6. Language barrier. Germans actually are more fluent and comfortable in… German. I only know like two Germans who are fluent in English, can be funny in English and know how to apply different registers like an English native speaker would. If you don’t speak German then you’re limited to know a German person just as much as their English lets them and as much as the German person is willing to speak English. 7. Wanna-be entrepreneurs who want to blame their lack of success on workers’ rights and taxes. 8. Annoying unnecessarily complicated and rigid bureaucracy.

[@alia9087]

"more flowery" - yes, my ex bf who was German would go nuts and just ask why I could not just say what I meant

[@fredrika27]

Regarding friends and learning German, when I went to university, RARELY did Germans speak to me unless I was in an English literature or German for foreigners course. In my sociology and pedagogue courses, NONE of the Germans would partner with me. When it happened, it was because the tutor put us together. When I wrote my papers in German, my German professor would NEVER correct them, offer feedback nor return them. If I were in a work group at uni or even in my job, my course mates and colleagues took exceptional glee in correcting my German to the point of being rude and insulting. One student in our course was taken aback by a German stating before the lecture hall of his peers that his paper despite having some good points was poorly written and did not reflect that of a university student. The author who lost face in front of his peers hit his German critic square in the face. Mayhem ensued and the students not the tutor pulled the two apart. After the German picked himself off the ground with a bloodied face, the police were called. What was interesting was none of the students left the course. When the police arrived, he asked for witnesses and I along with several others stepped forward. We all agreed that the student hit his German colleague. Then I told the police that in no uncertain terms would foreigners accept Germans insulting them in public spaces because according to Section 185 of the Criminal Code (Strafgesetzbuch, StGB) an insult that is malicious gossip or defamation of character can be prosecuted. Because the the student who assaulted his fellow course mate was being heard first, his position would be entered first on the record, meaning he could formulate his reasons for using force. The police were not happy that I knew the German law, but so are we sociologists. Plus, every person is given a BGB and StGB that outline German law in immigration course. In conclusion, both parties decided to apologize and not press charges. However, in class discussion, our professor actually declined to discuss the matter further. We took offense, especially the foreigners in the class. One student stood up and told the teacher bluntly that foreign students were never "enough" in Germany regardless of how talented we were. That a German felt it within their right to insult his fellow student's who wasn't a native speaker paper was elitism at its highest. And that German professors were the laziest when it came to helping improve their students' paper writing and German skills, believing that it wasn't the professor's position to help the student rather than the student. The hypocrisy of the situation was pointed out and this situation hasn't changed in the over 20 years that I have worked at Germany universities. If you can believe it, writing labs have only opened up in the last decade at German university because the professors complained students' writing had declined. This is a HUGE issue: the expectation from Germans that long term immigrants speak the language at native levels all the while thinking critiquing someone helps them improve. Another issue of these surveys is that they show mostly white males in top teared jobs who are leading very privileged lives. There experience is yarns apart from those who study and those who live here as immigrants. If a person comes from Turkey, the Middle East, and Africa along with single working mothers and their children, these groups are discriminated against in housing, education, and employment opportunities. These surveys overlook the point race and class are highly correlated with educational, social mobility, and employment outcomes in Germany, where white Germans are favored above all others and obtaining a German passport does not improve one's employability nor housing chances if one is a person of color. The exception is Asians--the middleman minority which are ALWAYS preferred because or racism and the stereotype that they are more intelligent over an equally qualified Turk or African across the board in housing and employment. People need to tell the truth about the networking chances among expats if one is a woman, person of color or single parent. If immigrants come to Germany without a work contract, life is extremely difficult. Likewise, many expats, especially males, will not tell women and minorities of available jobs within their companies nor introduce them to work colleagues or HR personnel. We are seen as competition and not "belonging" to the very male hierarchy. Hence why it is very seldom that women and POC hang out at expats functions because aside for a one night stand, there is seldom anything on offer. People are better off going on LinkedIn or Indeed for job offers. Least we forget: if a person comes over with a contract to work in Germany, his or her credentials will be accepted at that company. If a person wants to change companies, immigrants are often met with the reality that their diplomas and certificates will not be accepted in Germany, making them unemployable. The exceptions are Ivy League diplomas, MBAs, IT, construction and medical personnel i.e. doctors, nurses, careers, dental technicians. This fact is the number one reason for the unhappiness with Germany who openly advertises for qualified workers, but with limited intentions of actually hiring those that they get. No amount of healthcare, Kindergeld, social net, and free education can replace being gainfully employed. Instead, the belief that many immigrants are living off the dole is prevasive and that these immigrants should go home. This is what people need to be talking about instead of doing another survey on how unhappy Germany is. There is a need for "Aufklärung" of why immigrants aren't happy and how Germans can make them feel more at home instead of accusing immigrants of living on the dole.

[@ssergium.4520]

@@alia9087 haha since I am introverted and used to the German way of life, I am not used to flowery language, either. On my first trip to the U.S. I would be the most thankful by just saying “Oh, thank you! Bye!” and answering questions with short “yes” or “no” or calling food that I really liked “nice”. Lol. “Oh this is nice, thank you”. My boyfriend told me that to an American that does not really sound like I am very excited about that food, so now I know to be “more enthusiastic” about things and use more words. After a while I got used to greeting people with “hi, how are you?”, replying “Oh, I’m great / fantastic, how are you?”, thanking people by saying “Oh thank you so much. I really appreciate it” or calling food amazing or delicious if I really liked it lol. I told my boyfriend after two weeks in the U.S. that if we stayed there any longer I would end up saying things like “y’all go ahead and have yourselves a blessed day now, okay???” 🤣

[@ssergium.4520]

@@fredrika27 Oh, you are right. Bureaucracy is another reason why people hate Germany, understandably. Everything else I said seems to be falling under the “discrimination / racism” category.

[@fredrika27]

@ssergium.4520 The bureaucracy is absolutely horrible and doesn't bend. Example: becoming qualified as a teacher. It's nex to impossible, and if you do land a job as a substitute, you're mistreated!

[@andrii-vladpopa3468]

Hallo! I admit I never tried to find accommodation in Germany on my own, when I came to Germany as an Erasmus student (and could not go on after one year with a Master`s degree etc. because my performance was average and average is no cigar here), the University of Bielefeld offered me and all other Erasmus students accommodation in one-room apartments, one for every one of us as we all participated in an introductory course (very interesting and well taught) on German culture and civilisation. My father also had professional connections as a professor in Erlangen and Heidelberg and, when we went to Germany on holiday, about every 2 or 3 years, I would stay at the uni hostel with my parents, for about 15-18 days, against a daily accommodation fee. Going on your own to find accommodation may be tough as you would surely need certain documents, the landlord or housekeeper may want to know who you are, who is going to live in his/her house etc. In Romania I would worry about that up to the point of waking up at night and not being able to sleep. As for the German style, I admit people may be more reserved at first, but there is a fairness (typical of Western countries, not only Germany) I haven`t seen in Turkey for example or in Romania. Germans are not necessarily warm before they know you well but they never invite other people before you when waiting in a line just because they are acquaintances, they are Russian/Polish woman tourists who are much more important for them cause they bring the most money than some other chumps that can take second place anytime (as it is the case in Turkey and Balcanic countries). Making friends in Germany - hmm... I haven`t made many German friends, but maybe it was rather my fault. This could also apply yo other countries, maybe I am not a social butterfly, maybe I am too stiff and I am also not a woman, Germans have men, unless some gay men got their eyes on me, why would Germans necessarily want to befriend me, I do not come from a similar culture (unfortunetaly...) and I am also not so serene as the Spanish people, for example. To that, there are many Arabic people and also quite a few people from Pakistan, the Phillipines and Vietnam in Romania, too ( Gosh, the poor fellows must be desperate to come and work here on building sites and in service provision, I can only imagine how working conditions may be in their home countries...). I can bet they have zero Romanian friends and that even their Romanian colleagues do not give a damn about their life, free time, worries and other problems. Nice country, nice people? Just apparently, mate. More talkative (and often less coherent), more physical in terms of gestures, less focused in time and space, which make up the "vibrant" dodging and pushing here, maybe. But not more willing to spend time with foreigners. In Germany, my German teacher was the first one who noticed my pupils were very dilated and assume I was not feeling well. A cold followed suit, but in Romania no one, except for very close friends and family ever asked me if I am well even if I did not seem well.

[@CS-ox9hn]

What a word salad.

[@abrahamlevi3556]

Germans simply don't like ambiguity and won't put up with that passive aggressive thing typical of the Anglosphere, as simple as that.

[@stuartwalker8755]

Germans make passive aggression a national sport tbh

[@geertstroy]

Absolute genuine reply... which gets no replies because anglos are unwieldy introverted in an unattractive bubble.

[@Altonahh10]

Anglos love small talk and conversation with other people, whether friends or strangers. Germans are more skeptical, depending on which region they come from, even towards other Germans. If I want to do business with a Swabian, he suspects something bad because I don't speak his dialect. Sometimes you have to stop always looking for the negative things.

[@elisabethstabel2082]

Im German and germans are insanly passive aggressive compare ti other nations, because they lack honesty and confidence

[@mcarlsson74]

The English are probably the least-passive aggressive people in the whole of northern Europe. You're getting all your memes from 1970s TV comedy bro.

[@perjessen5209]

Absolutely brilliant discussion of the term "expat", thank you. I have lived in a number of different countries, including Germany and Britain - I've never been an expat.

[@CS-ox9hn]

If you have never lived in Germany don't lecture people who have.

[@perjessen5209]

@@CS-ox9hn Maybe you ought brush up on your English language reading skills.

[@DaughterOfGod247]

I’m about to move to Germany November 25. I’m scared but I’ve been planning for to come back to Germany since I left the first time in November 2022. I loved it there! I felt right at home. As an Latina American I’ve been trying to find a place where I feel I can stay forever and lay some roots down. The being said I’ve lived in Australia for nearly 4yrs now and I hate it here. I can feel the the people complaining about Germany would love it here in Australia especially if they’re of European descent. It’s a very brutal and abrasive culture here in Australia where, in my opinion the culture is very outgoing and borderline psychopathic. As an introvert that loves colder temperatures and the look of the old world I love love love Germany and I love Germans. I believe that I was German in my past life because I mesh well with them. I’m totally prepared for the integration and studied the language for over a year now and can easily read, write, and understand it at a high A2 level. I’ve saved for a year now, have a career in medical science, and the first thing I’m going to do once in the country is enroll in German Sprachekursen. Ich liebe Deutschland!!! Und ich hoffe du liebst mich❤🇩🇪

[@TorianTammas]

I hope you feel very welcome as Germans are nice and very direct people. Not to mention that various regions in Germany feel different as the people differ. Even native Germans notice these differences

[@jagdavey7483]

Why is Germany rated so low, because living in Germsny is so frigging boring. You get bored shitless on Sundays because you can’t go shopping, can’t even wash your car on a Sunday. Can’t make any noise in your apartment & gardening, cutting the grass on Sundays & any day between 1am & 3am is illegal!! Try doing that & the police come round & lock you up!! Plus German paperwork for any of normal life needs sucks!!! Most Germans live in apartments without gardens & health care isn’t free like it is in the U.K., German healthcare insurance costing at least 14% of your salary!! Lots of other things which make Germany not the paradise you paint it to be considering it’s the EU‘s number one economy!!!

[@nicoluna639]

I've never heard anyone getting locked up because of a noise complaint. Even if someone actually called the police on you, they will just tell you to keep it down and leave. Most neighbours will just silently fume inside when you're too loud. Someone who is mowing the lawn at night between 1 and 3 am. is probably considered insane in most countries, though. And maybe they should be locked up. I always find lots to do on a Sunday , I don't need to go shopping every day.

[@patrikfloding7985]

The term "expat" is misused and not really that relevant any more. How are pensioners moving to Spain for a better climate "expats", for example?

[@britingermany]

Yes I agree on that front. I would not call them expats.

[@AlexRiedel]

@@britingermany I would actually single them out as the quintessential example of an 'expat'. They are not 'climate refugees'. :D

[@juanshot]

White = expat Others = immigrant