Settling into my new life in Germany
So what have I been doing since I arrived here three months ago? Well, for the first three weeks I really just allowed myself to get acclimatized to my new surroundings here in Bonn. I rode the strassenbahn around town, complained about the weather, went to a couple of Christmas markets, ate my first wurst and drank warm glühwein. Then I celebrated the holidays, Christmas here, and New Year’s in Paris.
Soon after the festivities ended it was time for me to start my internship which I was thankfully able to secure before arriving in Germany. I am now in the middle of a four month contract with the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service). Interning here has really been a great experience, and opened up my eyes to how Germans do business. I have had the pleasure of working in two different departments doing completely different task and truly enjoy the work.
For the first part of my internship I worked in the marketing department helping with the editing of brochures and other marketing tools for students wishing to study in Germany. And now, for the second part of the internship, I am working on a scholarship program called RISE for North American and British students wanting to study under a PhD student in Germany. The work with RISE is great because I am mostly corresponding with other English speakers, and the fact that my German is less than perfect isn’t a complete nuisance The only bad part about this internship is that the first two months were completely unpaid and the small stipend I am now getting, really isn’t enough to cover any bills, especially rent for an apartment.
I don’t know if I should be embarrassed about my current situation, it honestly is certainly not how I pictured my life when I graduated from university, and set out in the world as an independent adult – but I am really grateful for all the people who have helped me out these last few months. Because I am working as an intern, there is no way I can afford an apartment right now, so I have been living with my boyfriend’s parents. And while this isn’t what most 23 year old university educated, American women expect from their lives, it hasn’t been bad. His family is incredibly sweet to me, the food is amazing, and I have a good deal of privacy and support. Plus I have the opportunity to live in GERMANY!
Other than interning for the DAAD I have been trying to learn German, looking/applying to ‘real’ jobs, going to the wonderful, cheap gym I found, and industriously trying to find some cool friends to hang out with. Now that I have everyone all up to date on what I have been doing these last couple months I will just blog as normal, and I will definitely go into greater detail about some of things I just mentioned in this last paragraph.
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08/25/2009
This is a great article. I’m new to blogging but still learning. Thanks for the great resource.
10/24/2009
Hello! I am a 17 year old High school student. I have liven in California all my life and would LOVE to start my own life in Germany when I am 19. Can you please let me know how you started planing going to Germany. I honstly have no idea where to start. Thank you for you time. My E – mail is BeachbumCA101@aol.com
02/07/2010
Dear,
it was really nice article really
02/27/2010
http://www.sangambayard-c-m.com
03/17/2010
From my experience of living in Germany, the people are very friendly for the most part and many of them do understand or speak English in addition to German. Most German’s and Europeans in general are at least bi-lingual unlike us Americans. I had the honor of living in Germany for almost five years while stationed there in the U.S. Army. I desperately want to get back and experience the Germany that I really couldn’t when I was there due to being married, etc. I had a great time from my travels and experiences there. Germany is a wonderful place. Also, I found a website that will help you get to Germany and have a place to stay, etc. especially if you are on a budget. The website is http://www.couchsurfing.com It has listings of people willing to let you sleep on their couch, etc. all over the world.
04/05/2010
I have visited this site and got lots of information than other sites visited before a month.its very helpful for me.
study abroad
06/10/2010
Couchsurfing is a very good alternative to the more traditional hotel and motel accomodations.
And it is also my experience that the average german is quite good at english.
09/08/2011
An American woman wrote this? Seriously? “And while this isn’t what most 23 year old university educated,”—- University educated? Here in the U.S. we don’t use that term. In fact we don’t ever say “University educated” We say College Educated. It’s basically everywhere else that says “University Educated”… If we want to know what University someone goes to we ask.. what college you go to? And if we go to say.. Florida State University we would reply saying “I go to FSU” or we’d say “I go to Florida State” not really sure why but it seems we avoid saying University and usually prefer the word College. All I can tell ya is that it sounds weird as hell hearing someone profess their an American and yet speak in this manner.. it sounds… foreign to my American ears. Not saying we’re right and all others are wrong.. just saying that I doubt this chicks blogging is American born. She must been born elsewhere and become an American Citizen (and still speaking like a non-native) or lieing about being American.