07 July 2015

 

I almost can't believe we've made the decision to go and are able to follow it through!

Returning to Germany has been a dream I have held dearly for a quarter of a century.  Yes, 25 years!

We've got our passports; are watching Skyscanner daily; have made a short list of what we absolutely have to get done before we go; and have been earnestly finding out about what to do, what to see, and how it might all work.

It's times like this you're grateful for checklists.

 

We thought we'd ease the children into the possibility of culture shock by landing in an English-speaking country first - which may as well be England as flights are economical.

Then it's off to Tuebingen (Germany) and beyond.

Using the bi-lateral visa waiver agreements that New Zealand has with specific European/Schengen countries, we can stay for up to 3 months per 180 days.  I wish we could secure a Residency Permit for Germany that allowed us more time and greater flexibility there but you need to have an offer of work, a study placement or a spouse/immediate family member there to re-unite with to even have a chance.  Some countries accept a prescribed amount of funds as another method of longer-term entry, but that's not the case with Germany unfortunately.

 

My focus is on making Tuebingen home so that is where I am currently trying to find accommodation and have been looking into family-friendly activities too. 

Housing if we are fortunate to find the right place will still be 3 - 4 times what we were paying on our mortgage and about double what we might be able to rent our home out if furnished.  At the upper end of the market housing in Tuebingen is around 8 times dearer.  That's hugely disproportionate before we even start to look at food, transport and activities.

 

Anyway I thought I'd jot down a few ideas about how you might decide on a place to call home:

  • Do you want to go somewhere similar or different?
  • Are you happy about coping in a place where the language / currency / customs / weather are a change from what you are used to or not?
  • Do you want access to specific activities / events / resources?
  • Do you have special criteria based on your health, vocation or family status? ie must be easily walkable, or have stable wi-fi
  • Are there images you've seen or recommendations people have given you that pique your interest?

 

While for some there may be a 'right' or a 'wrong' answer, I would venture to suggest that any place will be a valuable experience!

 

Once you have a few guidelines for what you want to find you'll want to explore and eventually narrow down your options.  So:

  • Take a cursory look at the country's national tourism website and media.
  • Find the regional and local tourist information bureaux websites.  Scrolling back through any social media site they have will show you what activities and events happen at the time of year you want to be there.  Scout out the calendar of upcoming events too.
  • Look at photos on Flickr or via a browser image search - this is a good way to gauge the weather.
  • Find the local government website where an introduction to new residents to the area might be written detailing it's services; and most often there are useful street maps to download. 
  • Search ex-patriot forums & websites of people who live there for inside tips, opinions & raw observations. Remember though that you will need to filter everything through your own unique situation.
  • Think about the things that you (and your family) like to do in your own area, and find out if they are available in your prospective home too.  A local inner city business marketing agency website is a help to finding specific products and services 
25 December 2013

A special night out stopping by the Christmas lights

 

Here are the sentiments of the season from each of the places currently on our wish list (as best as we could find).

 

Andorra (Catalan)
Bon Nadal!
 
Belgium (Dutch, French & German)
See Netherlands, France & Germany
 
Bulgaria (Bulgarian)
Tchestito Rojdestvo Hristovo
Честита Коледа (Čestita Koleda)
Весела Коледа (Vesela Koleda)
 
Denmark (Danish)
Glædelig jul!
 
England (English)
Merry Christmas
 
France (French)
Joyeux Noel
 
Germany (German)
Fröhliche Weihnachten!
 
Greece (Greek)
Kala Christouyenna
 
Iceland (Icelandic)
Gledileg Jol
 
Ireland (Irish)
Nollaig Shona Dhuit
 
Italy (Italian)
Buon Natale or Buone Feste Natalizie
 
Morroco (Arabic, Tamazight)
Milad Majid
أجمل التهاني بمناسبة الميلاد و حلول السنة الجديدة
(ajmil at-tihānī bimunāsabah al-mīlād wa ḥilūl as-sanah al-jadīdah)
 
Netherlands (Dutch)
Vrolijk Kerstfeest
Prettige kerstdagen
Zalig kerstfeest
 
Phillipines (Filipino)
Maligayang pasko!
 
Portugal (Portuguese)
Feliz Natal
 
Sweden (Swedish)
God Jul
 
Singapore (English, Malay, Tamil, Mandarin)
See England
Selamat Hari Natal (Malay)
கிறிஸ்துமஸ் மற்றும் இனிய புத்தாண்டு வாழ்த்துக்கள் (Tamil)
(Christmas matrum puthaandu vaazthukkal)
聖誕快樂 新年快樂 [圣诞快乐 新年快乐] (Mandarin)
(shèngdàn kuàilè xīnnián kuàilè)
 
Spain (Spanish)
¡Feliz Navidad!
 
Switzerland (French, Italian, German, Romansh; Swiss German)
See France, Italy, Germany
Legreivlas fiastas da Nadal! (Romansh)
Schöni Fäschttäg / Schöni Wienachte (Swiss German)
 
Thailand (Thai)
Sawat Dee Wan Kritsamas
sà-wàt-dee bpee mài (Sawadee Pee Mai)
 
Turkey (Turkish)
Noeliniz Ve
iyi Noeller
 
USA (American English)
Happy Holidays | Merry Christmas
 
Venezuela (Spanish)
Feliz Navidad