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2025-03-04 0
As a German I really hope Canada and Europe can strengthen their relationships.
2024-10-31 0
I am a German born, Germany raised second gen immigrant. I am almost 30 now. To this day, I do not feel as part of this country. Why? Constant discrimination, being treated extremely poorly, lower chances at anything really, bullied and abused since infancy. I am very highly educated and skilled throughout various domains and tried to achieve the best I can. If I work in Germany, less skilled people will do everything to sabotage me, due to jealousy. People just waste your energy and time constantly for their own insecurities. I have left some years ago and will never come back. Germany will end itself and I am sitting to watch it!
2024-10-18 0
We are a German-American family who moved to Germany from Prague 12 years ago. When we arrived we had zero assets, now we are financially independent and secure for life. My wife is American and finds Germany far superior to the US with regards to safety (gun-control), public transport quality, health-care, paid vacations and social services. I am surprised by the comments here, as I find real estate really cheap in Germany compared to other Western countries and it's a great place to buy real estate to rent out and get the tax advantages. Sure, income tax is high in Germany, but as a family you also get a lot in return for it and there are massive benefits for disabled people and children (Kindergeld), while education is also free and health-care is universal as well. Everybody wanting to move elsewhere has to consider whereever they go they will be taking themselves - and if complaining is a passion, you will be doing that everywhere you go.
2024-10-09 0
It's interesting to see what will happen if I post a neutral comment here. \n\n\nUndoubtedly, Germany is not a paradise on Earth, just like any other place. There are both pros and cons. Sometimes I felt like I was reading comments about a completely different country when people wrote about not being accepted by society and so on, so I decided to respond too.\n\n\nI barely speak German (my second language is English) and I have never felt any racism or disrespect towards me. Whether it was on the street or at work. I more often met friendly people who were interested in learning about my move to Germany and were always admiring and saying words of support. This cannot be faked, these things were real. \n\n\nOf course, you will experience a lot of stress when visiting the foreigners' department, as many things are unfamiliar to you and you don't have enough language skills at first.\n\n\nOf course, I would like to get paid more for my work, or at least pay less taxes. Yes, child money support exists, but it's more of a formality as it barely covers the costs of raising children. This is where I would really like to see improvements.\n\n\n\nPeople, including immigrants, cannot understand that by increasing the demand for housing, they are increasing its cost. You can't blame the country itself for this. The law of supply and demand works here.\n\n\nThose who write about their plans to move to Australia or the USA, don't forget to share your relocation experience after. When you face the same or even bigger relocation problems. \n\n\nYou are right in one thing - there is no paradise on Earth, and you have to work. Hard and always ti achieve your goals.\n\n\nThere is such a thing as a labor market and everything coexists in balance. \n\n The only thing whether it's too hard for you or you will not give up ?.
2024-08-31 1
I have done part of my education in Germany with very nice professors. I improved my German language skills to C1 level and still keep learning it. I have been working in some of the most well-known German companies some of which used to be part of Fortune 500. I am very grateful for the opportunity that I was given both at university and work places and the support I got from some of my good managers at the beginnning of my career. However, I should say on a daily basis you will face racist comments and discrimination. Despite high tax that I am paying and doing my best to be useful for the society, at work place you hear a lot of racist comments. When you go out, you can see you are not welcome in the society, and that is not only my problem. At both university and work, international people are together and Germans are within themselves, and you are not welcome being there. Here in Germany this phenomenon is called Parallelgeselschaften or parallel societies. Yes, you see people from all around the world, but it doesn't mean you are in an international place, all the expats are within themselves. The society is not open to accept them. As a specialist, you can be much happier living in an English-speaking country which is tolerant and allows you to be part of the society. I should say however, I have had also nice German colleagues who were really open-minded and truely have an international mindset and separate themselves from the historic racist mindset. Putting this comment here, I am ready for racist comments coming towards me. Go ahead.
2024-08-27 1
I understand you as a foreigner need to learn the language of the country in which you reside in, but I still find it really strange that A LOT of Immigration Offices are for the most part german-only and some advise you to bring a translator.\n\nI mean if there's anywhere that needs people who can speak english, the immigration office would be the obvious choice.
2024-08-27 1
I came from Ukraine to Germany two years ago, and two months ago, I got a job as a Junior Software Developer. I love this country: the people are friendly, and they all spoke English with me. I also spoke English with social workers, but now I speak German. I like the attitude towards children, the air, the transport system, and I'm definitely satisfied with the healthcare. I really want to stay here permanently.
2024-08-24 0
Thanks for being a voice to us DW. It's importing to do self criticism to improve.\n\nFirst of all, as an expat I also passed the same stages. It's really difficult to understand the bureaucracy.\n\nBureaucracy:\nIt took me 9 months to get a working permit.\nFor a renewal, I had to make an appointment to have an appointment... The last time they offered me an appointment after 1.5 years.\n\nYou don't get a right answer from the people who works there. Your life depends on those people.\n\nAs an expat who lives 3.5 years in Germany, I still don't have an German bank account which is not online. Basically, they don't open the account or giving an appointment to over 1 months or etc. \n\nBut this bureaucracy is for all. Germans also have the same issue.\n\nHousing is also an issue. I tried to apply the same places by my name and a German name. It was possible to get an appointment by a German name :) \nBut I do understand them that they find Germans of course more trustworthy.\n\nCulture:\nI don't think many people are racist here. I even live in Mecklenburg Vorpommern. They were mostly nice to me. However, the city you live change a lot. Hamburg is one of the best city about welcoming expats. People are nice and kind. Never had an issue here.
2024-08-19 0
Im my experience as a German the “unskilled” foreigners usually learn German pretty fast while the “skilled” somehow expect that everything needs to be in English. I get that learning languages can be hard, I speak 3 and am currently learning Portuguese. But it’s just a necessity if you really want to live in a place for a longer time. I haven’t yet visited a country where once you leave the urban areas you get along well with English. I’m often shocked how little German a lot of people speak that have been working here for years. If I go to Brazil for example I don’t expect everything to be in English, I try to make use of my little Portuguese and am grateful for people that do speak english. I think a lot of the issues stem from comparing Germany to UK, US, Canada that are native English countries. Or small countries like the Netherlands that have to use English as a primary language in many businesses because there are just not enough dutch speakers.
2024-08-18 0
As an emigrant in Germany i can tell you we are seen as paketzustellers\nGermany forgets that’s is a superpower and can’t interact with the world only with German\nUse talent even if it doesn’t speak German\nDon’t make us feel more like outsiders than we already feel just because we don’t speak German while you really speak English
2024-08-14 0
I wish you the best of luck and hope you get your visa to make your next move! I am born and raised in Victoria, BC Canada as a Canadian citizen at birth. Since my mother was German when I was born, I just recently found out that I'm also a German citizen from birth through descent through my mother. I've been living here in the US since high school when I moved from Victoria to Tucson, Arizona. I eventually got my US green card (permanent residency. I then moved to Madison, Wisconsin and became a US Citizen. At this point, I am a dual US and Canadian citizen in addition to being German citizen as well. I am applying for my confirmation of German citizenship through the German consulate in Chicago which would then allow me to obtain a German passport for access to live and work freely in EU and Schengen countries. I went to The Netherlands last January and I really feel in love with the Dutch culture and lifestyle. I am planning on spending at least a few years there as soon as I get my German passport. \nMy relatives in Canada keep telling me how lucky I am to be a US Citizen as they all say how terrible the situation has become in Canada. I am surprised since I've always considered Canada to be one of the top places to live in the world. I haven't lived in Canada for a long time and I've been doing relatively good here in the USA. I enjoy the US overall but we definitely have our share of issues here as well.\nAnyhow .... I wish you the best on your next location.
2024-07-27 0
The solution is really, and I mean really simple... Become a PR first, apply from India, go through the selection process. Come to Canada with your PR and then go get your education for much cheaper at a reputable University , not some unaccredited shack that presents itself as a college. They enjoy being Canadian\n\nOne of the students said it best... becoming an International student ONLY means you can study and get an education that you deem better than the one provided to you in your own country. No university having programs open to International students can promise to find you work or make you a resident or citizen of that country. No French, or German, or Dutch University that allows you to study there has any obligations to you working or staying there.
2024-04-16 0
To the white undeveloped third world country racist , Indians who are coming mostly well educated engineers and skilled labor. they did not come as your ancestor who ran for poverty and war from Europe. Indians who migrate are paying 30% tax which is used for all of your health care and other Govt services. there isn't third world in eastern Europe ? why the heck you guys don't call yourself as a German Canadian or a Romanian Canadian, but only say African Canadian and Indian Canadian. is your ancestors are First Nation. no right ? all were immigrants who came here for a better life. so do not say or throw your foolish hypocrisy here. Canada is not just for white europeans . well even in Europe you guys keep the class (caste) system from their language. so Indians are friendly did not invade any native people as your colonization harmed these lands. I am Canadian and cannot bear to see rubbish comments. India has 28 states and you guys are only focusing one specific ethnic people and generalizing whole India is really rubbish.
2023-03-31 0
During the 1930's media in various countries made immigrants and asylum seekers out to be this horrible thing and demonised them. This came after a huge recession in 1923, the Wall Street crash, and the subsequent dramatic rise of far right parties in various countries, specifically Italy, then Germany and Spain. \nFast-forward to modern times. 2008 saw another global recession. Once again politics swung massively to the right with countries like Italy (once again), Hungary, Austria, Poland and Sweden, voting in right wing governments, France ending in a run off that narrowly defeated the far right, Belgium and Spain looking likely to be heading into heavily right wing governments at the next elections, whilst the US and UK governments both saw their politics swinging far further in that direction, especially the UK right now whilst led by an unelected leader who is demonising people in ways that would make Trump look soft. One of themajor rallying calls: immigration. The way media report on this becomes increasingly demeaning and hateful. During the 1930's much of the European media and even as far as the UK was ramping up the scorn against the ever increasing influx of Jewish immigrants coming from Germany. Even into 1944 there was a vast amount of demonisation of them seeking asylum, despite the knowledge by this point that there were horrific conditions in camps where extermination was becoming ever more apparent. The Nazi German government in 1936 passed laws that enabled them to revoke citizenship and stripped away laws on human rights. It would be great to say that these poor souls who were being demonised in their own country were accepted into nations who could see what was going on and who wanted to help, but that just wasn't the way it went. Media played out as it is now, leading to rejection and a greater number of deaths as a result of this. The way the UK government is currently working, it actually sounds like the maxi government of the mid 30's during the time of the Nürnberg laws. \n \nThe world feels far smaller now with double the amount of people and with things like social media playing a huge role in the lives of many. The ease of access to people around the world has made issues seem to stretch to far more countries now, whereas back then it was a time of empires. I get that there will be many here who support Trump, many who support Biden, there will be Brit's who support Sunak and the rather vicious words of Suella Braverman, whilst others will be more on the side of Starmer (I'm well aware of all the other parties but they don't stand to gain as much). There will be French people backing Macron, whilst others back Le Pen. We could go through each country all the way to the battle between Fujimori and Castillo in Perú, and the stories are much the same, but how will history judge us when people look back to this time? Will it be another occasion where we demonised those trying to escape the horror of the place they had the bad luck to be born in whilst we were luckier? \n\nI know there is hardship everywhere. I'm struggling more than most and I know I can't keep living this way. However, I don't want to be a part of history people look back at and say ‘if only they did something to help prevent this.’. I would rather be a part of history people look back upon and say; ‘that was a boring time period where nothing important happened’. It's already too late for that. Instead I try to remember that, though I was born into a family who never really wanted me, I was lucky enough to be born into a country that could support me during the hardest times. When you look at immigrants, remember that every one of us has immigrants in our family tree somewhere.
2023-02-14 0
I’ve watched the video and I’ve read many comments. My message it’s to immigrants, Canadians & everyone. Just be some patient to read for you to think reasonable after this. I’m sure you’ll start to be reasonable regarding Canada. I had a good life good job & a nice home in Ukraine. Due to the barbarian russian invasion my family & I fled the horrific situation in Kharkiv city. I was driving a mini bus of 4 families! Most are children. We’ve arrived to Europe. Crossing many countries (Poland, Czechia & Austria) we’ve arrived to the country leading the EU. In Poland & Czechia, we’re treat very good by the people. In Austria we got hardly a payed hotel where children could get a rest!!! We still didn’t understand why they don’t want to give us rooms despite we’re paying for our staying!!! In Germany, I believe that the government did its best. But the number of comers is huge! Of course many they got disappointed as happened with me! But I still understand and believe that really the government & people did theirs best. So fast I got a job! The social connection helped to introduce me to the company! But i was not hired, I still to express myself & my qualifications. The manager was understanding, so he accepted to communicate in English and to offer me the job in case if I am successful doing the job during the first week at the site. I had to change the machines menu into English. So the manager was very satisfied with my job and I got that job. The rent! You’ll get it only if you receive the blessing of each member of the county and a very strong social connections! The doctors! To make just a blood work for my son it took 45 days of waiting! To get the doctor appointment, you need that a German guy call and get you the appointment! Because when my wife called, the secretary said: we don’t speak English! But when my wife went for her visit she figured out they’re speaking English better than her!!! My son has an issue of hyperactivity, so they refused to accept him at school more than 3 hours a day! And he was excluded from the birthday parties of his colleagues aswell other events! Other Ukrainian children, they were just attending classes! Just a show! No body cares how help their integration! About, the taxes! The half of my income was going to the government! The money back?! Only 200 euros/ month for my kid. And nothing else. Nothing! To get a neurologist appointment for my son it was necessary to wait 3 months! Prices?! Everything expensive! Technology?! Not better than Canada at all. Bureaucracy, Canada is much less. Banking system, Canada much better. Where in Germany?! The best province in Germany “Munich”. Where people stoped long ago dreaming to purchase a home. Guys, Canada doesn’t through broken people as we were in camps! Where nothing is human there! Canada doesn’t enter you in cercle of hell bureaucracy just to get your kid into school! And if he needs a support he get it right away without any background that he’s not our!!! I got a good job in Canada; so fast. Without any social connections because simply I do not have any. I rent an apartment for my family, without to proof to the landlord that I’m the best guy in the world with a witnessed county about that!!! I want you to be sure, that I am not the lonely case. Just ask Ukrainians stied in Europe for a while before they move recently. Just ask them. I am not saying it’s a paradise or cons don’t exist. Just paradise doesn’t exist! And cons are everywhere. Just I want you to be fair about Canada. Please, be reasonable! The cons in Canada are not catastrophic, and it’s not difficult to fix them. It may take some time, but not difficult. Believe me it’s not about only Canada. The whole world is going a step back! I wish that my experience, helps to understand appropriately.
2023-01-17 0
As a german, i can guarantee you, that population density, doesn´t really have that much to do with it.\n\nGermany is half the size of texas and has a fourth of the population of the ENTIRE U.S.\nThere IS more crime in the more populated areas, but it´s not even on the same scale.\n\nProbably most to do with social security, because if you have nothing, and don´t know how to get or don´t have the skills to get something, you gotta steal it. Simple as that.\nI´m not even mad at a lot of US criminals. Gotta live somehow and if noone cares about you, don´t care about noone either.\n\nFuck the gangs tho, that´s different.\n\nAlso:\nCanada and Germany Tap-water PRO´s\nHell yeah?
2020-02-17 0
My mother was German/Irish. My father was french/dutch. I tan quite well, enough time in the sun and I get Puerto Rican dark. I got my dad's curly hair. I spent 10 years on the south coast of of the US so when I moved back to Missouri I was quite dark, not really an issue on the cost as everyone is kinda dark lol Back in Missouri I got followed around stores, had my bags checked coming out of stores, had clears talk to me in slow broken English, and before I could open my mouth was told they didn't speak spanish. I have since lost my tan and all that with it. Stuff like that is a real wake up call.
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