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Hi guys, I am an immigrant who has been living in Germany for the past year now. And, as the time roles by, things get easier and become more routine:) I consider myself to have had a relatively easy transition to life in Germany, compared to many other. I could speak or at least understand a little bit of the language before I came. I also had a very large social network here of people that I could depend on in my times of need (yes, there were many. Doing something as simple as calling the bank was something they do not teach you in German class!). Finally I also had a job more or less lined up when I arrived. But nevertheless, I completely underestimated the effort required to relocate here, and more than frequently found myself dealing with situations that were difficult for me. Simply moving away from my family and loved ones, for instance, left me feeling rather alone at times. There are also the social aspects that take some time to get used to. For instance, at work, when is it appropriate to give critical feedback to a co-worker? Or, to turn the situation around, does critical feedback mean you are doing a poor job. These are two situations that are highly dependent on culture. Another example of something most people take for granted is going to the Doctor. How do you speak with someone who does not speak the same language (I did so with a long list of words translated into German)?** The counter on my new life in Germany has just rolled past the one year mark, and I have been thinking about all of the ups and the downs that I have experienced in the past year--experiences directly related to my life as an immigrant living in a foreign country. I am curious if there are any members in the same situation as I am. If so, I am curious to hear some of your experiences as well. Ghostwind ------- **For you German speakers out there, my first Hausarzt just happened to be the only non-English speaking Dr. in my town. Lucky me, eh?
