{"id":2139,"date":"2025-09-24T09:46:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-24T09:46:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/edu-link.de\/?p=2139"},"modified":"2025-08-11T19:54:54","modified_gmt":"2025-08-11T19:54:54","slug":"living-in-germany-as-a-foreigner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/edu-link.de\/de\/living-in-germany-as-a-foreigner\/","title":{"rendered":"Living in Germany as a foreigner \u2014 where everything is different, and that&#8217;s the point"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100%\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns has-large-font-size is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-43a23c0f wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:0;padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:0;padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);flex-basis:95%\">\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-white-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color has-small-font-size wp-elements-fd1a3712c29291fe5d8325f49bc9d887\" style=\"border-radius:40px;background-color:#2e5077\">Adjusting to life in Germany: My path from overwhelmed to empowered<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:14px\">Leaving your home country to study abroad is more than a bold decision. It\u2019s a moment that splits your life into <em>before<\/em> and <em>after<\/em>.<br>Before my life in Germany, I was comfortable. After living in Germany as a foreigner, I was independent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:14px\">If you\u2019re from a culture that\u2019s far from Germany\u2019s \u2014 like I am, growing up in Turkey \u2014 the adjustment can be intense. But that\u2019s exactly what makes it powerful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:14px\">In this post, I\u2019ll share what really happens when you enter a new culture, feel lost, adapt, and eventually thrive. If you\u2019re wondering whether Germany is the right place for you \u2014 I\u2019m here to tell you: it is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/edu-link.de\/de\/living-in-germany-as-a-foreigner\/#Culture_shock_in_Germany_Its_real_%E2%80%94_but_so_is_the_transformation\" >Culture shock in Germany: It&#8217;s real \u2014 but so is the transformation<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/edu-link.de\/de\/living-in-germany-as-a-foreigner\/#From_close-knit_families_to_German_independence\" >From close-knit families to German independence<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/edu-link.de\/de\/living-in-germany-as-a-foreigner\/#Integration_isnt_instant_in_Germany_%E2%80%94_but_it_is_possible\" >Integration isn\u2019t instant in Germany \u2014 but it is possible<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/edu-link.de\/de\/living-in-germany-as-a-foreigner\/#Munich_Multicultural_vibrant_and_full_of_opportunities\" >Munich: Multicultural, vibrant, and full of opportunities<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/edu-link.de\/de\/living-in-germany-as-a-foreigner\/#What_surprised_me_about_German_life_and_what_made_me_grow\" >What surprised me about German life and what made me grow<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/edu-link.de\/de\/living-in-germany-as-a-foreigner\/#Advice_to_future_international_students_Be_bold_be_open\" >Advice to future international students: Be bold, be open<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/edu-link.de\/de\/living-in-germany-as-a-foreigner\/#Final_thought_Choose_growth_over_comfort\" >Final thought: Choose growth over comfort<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-white-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color has-small-font-size wp-elements-2855e8dc4b00b6e90cbef7031fa1d103\" style=\"border-radius:40px;background-color:#2e5077\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Culture_shock_in_Germany_Its_real_%E2%80%94_but_so_is_the_transformation\"><\/span>Culture shock in Germany: It&#8217;s real \u2014 but so is the transformation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:14px\">The first few weeks in Germany were a blur. New language. New habits. New food. New rules.<br>At first, I felt like an outsider watching a movie at double speed. But slowly, I realized something important: <strong>the more different a place is from what you\u2019re used to, the more you learn \u2014 about the world and about yourself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:14px\">Germany challenged me. It also gave me tools for life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-white-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color has-small-font-size wp-elements-676a1bb1cad6e71e75571437a7d5f5d4\" style=\"border-radius:40px;background-color:#2e5077\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"From_close-knit_families_to_German_independence\"><\/span>From close-knit families to German independence<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:14px\">In Turkey, family life is central. Most students live at home well into adulthood.<br>In Germany, teenagers work part-time, manage their money, and travel without parents \u2014 sometimes before 18.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:14px\">At first, I felt unprepared. I didn\u2019t know how to budget, manage appointments, or cook for myself.<br>My German friends had learned these things early \u2014 and they helped me without judgment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:14px\"><strong>Looking back:<br><\/strong>Germany taught me to be self-sufficient. And once you learn to stand on your own, no challenge feels too big.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-white-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color has-small-font-size wp-elements-97e17ab17d92cf081c49769f4f163871\" style=\"border-radius:40px;background-color:#2e5077\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Integration_isnt_instant_in_Germany_%E2%80%94_but_it_is_possible\"><\/span>Integration isn\u2019t instant in Germany \u2014 but it <em>is <\/em>possible<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:14px\">Some people say it\u2019s hard to make friends in Germany. I disagree.<br>Yes, Germans don\u2019t do small talk the same way. But once they welcome you, they\u2019re <strong>loyal, honest, and open<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:14px\">How I made friends:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list has-small-font-size\">\n<li style=\"font-size:14px\">Attended international student events<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"font-size:14px\">Joined clubs and university activities<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"font-size:14px\">Took part in tandem language programs (such as <a href=\"https:\/\/tandem.net\/de\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tandem<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sprachheld.de\/tandempartner-finden\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sprachhelden<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"font-size:14px\">Asked questions instead of pretending to know everything<br><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-contrast-color has-text-color\" style=\"font-size:14px\"><em><strong>Tip:<br> Germans love when you try\u2014even if your German isn\u2019t perfect. Just show curiosity and respect.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-white-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color has-small-font-size wp-elements-ff9401ecb8431d0c3a7ae984f107b959\" style=\"border-radius:40px;background-color:#2e5077\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Munich_Multicultural_vibrant_and_full_of_opportunities\"><\/span>Munich: Multicultural, vibrant, and full of opportunities<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:14px\">I chose Munich because it felt international \u2014 and it delivered.<br>It\u2019s one of the best cities in Germany for international students, with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.universityguru.com\/universities-munich\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">world-class universities<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.muenchen.de\/en\/home\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">museums<\/a>, tech companies, and diverse neighborhoods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:14px\">What I loved:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list has-small-font-size\">\n<li style=\"font-size:14px\">Finding a Turkish bakery next to a German bookstore<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"font-size:14px\">Going to concerts, job fairs, and student markets<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"font-size:14px\">Feeling safe walking home after class or exploring the city on weekends<br><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-contrast-color has-text-color\" style=\"font-size:14px\"><strong><em>Bonus:<br> You\u2019ll find halal food, international grocery stores, student discounts, and language caf\u00e9s everywhere. You don\u2019t have to give up your culture to learn a new one.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-white-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color has-small-font-size wp-elements-5b30efaee36e9fffd5417e5c0929cf3b\" style=\"border-radius:40px;background-color:#2e5077\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_surprised_me_about_German_life_and_what_made_me_grow\"><\/span>What surprised me about German life and what made me grow<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:14px\"><strong>Things that shocked me at first:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list has-small-font-size\">\n<li style=\"font-size:14px\">The paperwork! Bureaucracy is real.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"font-size:14px\">Everyone follows rules \u2014 and expects you to, too.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"font-size:14px\">Germans are incredibly punctual. Five minutes late is considered late.<br><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:14px\"><strong>What I now appreciate most:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list has-small-font-size\">\n<li style=\"font-size:14px\">How deeply people value privacy and fairness<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"font-size:14px\">How straightforward communication actually builds stronger relationships<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"font-size:14px\">How much freedom students have to live their own lives<br><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:14px\"><strong>And if you\u2019re planning to work part-time or after graduation<\/strong>, Germany\u2019s structure and support systems will help you thrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:14px\"><br>\ud83d\udc49 Learn more about working while studying in our guide: <a href=\"https:\/\/edu-link.de\/de\/student-job-in-germany-for-international-students\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Finding a student job in Germany: A guide for international students to build their future<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-white-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color has-small-font-size wp-elements-bd883fb7512448cdc92b8e220f3f0e6c\" style=\"border-radius:40px;background-color:#2e5077\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Advice_to_future_international_students_Be_bold_be_open\"><\/span>Advice to future international students: Be bold, be open<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:14px\">If you\u2019re coming from a culture that feels \u201cfar\u201d from German norms \u2014 don\u2019t let that stop you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:14px\">Here\u2019s what I want you to know:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list has-small-font-size\">\n<li style=\"font-size:14px\">You\u2019ll feel uncomfortable at times \u2014 that\u2019s normal<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"font-size:14px\">You\u2019ll miss home \u2014 but that makes your bonds stronger<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"font-size:14px\">You\u2019ll feel proud of who you\u2019re becoming<br><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:14px\"><strong>If you\u2019re open to new things, Germany will open itself to you.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-white-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color has-small-font-size wp-elements-a4521a19cf3c1a980ff791454411c3ec\" style=\"border-radius:40px;background-color:#2e5077\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Final_thought_Choose_growth_over_comfort\"><\/span>Final thought: Choose growth over comfort<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:14px\">Germany isn\u2019t easy. But it\u2019s worth it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:14px\">It didn\u2019t just give me a degree. It gave me a new way of seeing the world \u2014 and my place in it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:14px\">So if you\u2019re asking, <em>should I study in Germany?<br><\/em>My answer is simple:<br><strong>Yes. Come to Germany. You\u2019ll leave stronger than you arrived.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p> Discover what it\u2019s like to live and study in Germany as an international student. From independence to integration, here\u2019s how cultural contrast can help you grow.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":2149,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"single-post-right-sidebar","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[97,262,98,93],"tags":[77,81,80,76,83,75,43,82,62,78,79],"class_list":["post-2139","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-living-abroad-housing-culture","category-english-articles","category-student-stories-and-experiences","category-study-in-germany-austria-switzerland","tag-cultural-differences-germany","tag-german-culture-for-internationals","tag-integration-germany","tag-international-student-experience-germany","tag-international-students-germany-tips","tag-life-in-germany-for-students","tag-moving-to-germany","tag-student-lifestyle-germany","tag-study-in-germany","tag-studying-abroad-tips","tag-turkish-students-germany"],"featured_image_url":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/edu-link.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/pexels-photo-6147276-6147276-150x150.jpg","medium":"https:\/\/edu-link.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/pexels-photo-6147276-6147276-300x157.jpg","medium_large":"https:\/\/edu-link.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/pexels-photo-6147276-6147276-768x401.jpg","large":"https:\/\/edu-link.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/pexels-photo-6147276-6147276-1024x535.jpg","1536x1536":"https:\/\/edu-link.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/pexels-photo-6147276-6147276.jpg","2048x2048":"https:\/\/edu-link.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/pexels-photo-6147276-6147276.jpg","trp-custom-language-flag":"https:\/\/edu-link.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/pexels-photo-6147276-6147276-18x9.jpg"},"post_author":"Elif Demir","assigned_categories":"Living Abroad: Housing, Culture &amp; Daily Life, Articles in English, Student Voices &amp; Experiences, Study in Germany, Austria &amp; Switzerland","uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/edu-link.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/pexels-photo-6147276-6147276.jpg",1200,627,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/edu-link.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/pexels-photo-6147276-6147276-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/edu-link.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/pexels-photo-6147276-6147276-300x157.jpg",300,157,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/edu-link.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/pexels-photo-6147276-6147276-768x401.jpg",768,401,true],"large":["https:\/\/edu-link.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/pexels-photo-6147276-6147276-1024x535.jpg",1024,535,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/edu-link.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/pexels-photo-6147276-6147276.jpg",1200,627,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/edu-link.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/pexels-photo-6147276-6147276.jpg",1200,627,false],"trp-custom-language-flag":["https:\/\/edu-link.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/pexels-photo-6147276-6147276-18x9.jpg",18,9,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Elif Demir","author_link":"https:\/\/edu-link.de\/de\/author\/student-experience-writer\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Discover what it\u2019s like to live and study in Germany as an international student. From independence to integration, here\u2019s how cultural contrast can help you grow.","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/edu-link.de\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2139","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/edu-link.de\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/edu-link.de\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edu-link.de\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edu-link.de\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2139"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/edu-link.de\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2139\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edu-link.de\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2149"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/edu-link.de\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2139"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edu-link.de\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2139"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/edu-link.de\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2139"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}