Berlin Hotels

One of the best things about living in another country as an expatriate is imbibing the new culture and language of the land. As far as I’m concerned, I have not forgotten my American heritage but I have also come to love my new home, Germany.

Germany has many to offer my family and me. For one thing, I was convinced to move here due to work-related reasons. Second, the culture and history of Germany is so rich that I cannot get enough of it. My children have grown so accustomed with their new life that they speak way better German than me and my wife do.

When I first arrived in Germany many years ago, I was alone on a business trip. I had a minor culture shock because colleagues mostly surrounded me and my trip was limited only to the office and airport. My second visit, and third and so forth, were already more relaxed and I was able to visit more places than just the office. Until such time when I received an offer to handle the job here, so I decided to relocate and bring along the whole family. As an expat Germany is now my second home away from home.

For someone considering on bringing their families with them to relocate to Germany, I suggest that you should check the following important things bring before heading to the airport. First, you have to make sure that you brought with you your VISA and WORK PERMIT (or Residence Permit, so should be the case for some). Without these pertinent documents, you would be held at the airport and be sent back home ASAP. These are the MOST IMPORTANT documents for you and should never be lost, given or shared with anyone at all. Next, you should have already contacted your German employer if they are helping you relocate. Ask them what the house is like and where is it located. If ever your employer will not be helping you with your relocation, consider contacting a relocation agency in Germany to help you get accommodation when you are already there. You have to also decide what to do with your present home whether you will be selling it or renting it to someone.

The next items that you have to check are your insurance coverage as well as the banking system. Ask your insurance company if they will still be able to cover you in Germany. Also, you need to convert your money to European and must be able to open a new account in a German bank. Try to contact your bank as well if they have connections in Germany and how to get transfers done in a jiffy. Also, you might need to consider the type of appliances that you have. Germany has 220-volt or 50Hz current and some of your American-made appliances, DVDs, and TV sets might not work properly when in Germany. Make sure that you have German products only as these are better in quality and make. Bring along your computer so you could still make contact with family and friends at home. It’s one of the most important tools that we have nowadays to maintain an open communication with everyone.

Before you leave for Germany, train your family and yourself some basic German words and phrases. Even a simple “Hello. How are you?” (“Hallo. Wie gehts es Ihnen?”) would bring you to places. Remember that not everyone in Germany can speak English. Even if your work requires you to speak in English, it would still be important to be able to know the basics in language to be able to move around your new community comfortably. Plus if the children are to be schooled in Germany, since Germany does not allow home schooling, you have to decide if the kids will be enrolled in an International School, a regular German school or a parochial school.