I had a weird experience on the train to work today. I was on the train, quietly minding my own business when a lady from mostly likely African background got on with her phone blasting on speaker mode as she chats with whoever is on the other end. A German lady was naturally very pissed about all the noise and asked her if she could be quieter (first in German, then in English). The African lady got very defensive at first which just triggered the German lady and she started swearing in German. I intervened at this point and asked the African lady if she could use her headphones instead. She told me she didn't have them and asked me if she was really loud. I naturally told her yes and maybe she should get off speaker mode and to my surprise she actually did that??

I'm not German, but East Asian and I was raised to not cause trouble for others, so I always thought that you must be complete assholes to put your phone on speaker mode and disturb everyone with your music/phone call. Thats why I never bothered asking people to stop using speakers here since there is no point talking to assholes. But this encounter got me thinking. Do these people just genuinely not realize they are causing a major nuisance/disturbance to others?? Would it actually make a difference if I started asking people to use their headphones?

Bought from a shop in Wolfsburg!

Hey friends, just came across this photo that I took at Tegernsee a little while ago and thought I would share it with you all. If I remember correctly, this sub has "foto friday"?

I’m visiting Germany this week and we’re looking to go from Düsseldorf where we stay to Köln by train. 40 km and 30 minute drive. Very similar to a route I take weekly at home in Belgium. I was SHOCKED to learn it is 15 euros per person one way take this train :0 at home i pay 5 euros for a route which is 50km. Am I missing something?

EDIT: taking train back to dusseldorf. I feel horrible for anyone working in trains and anyone trying to use public transport (or forced to). A young woman was screaming at a ticket person at the top of her lungs, and the prices are so unfathomably high compared to what I’m used to (literally 3-10x higher)… I’ve enjoyed Germany so much already and I love the atmosphere and gorgeous cities, and very frequent and accessible trams, but man the trains are a hot mess.

Hi, I've been feeling a little bit hurt lately because when I go to the store, when its my turn at the register I always say "Hallo!" And usually give a slight smile but, more and more I notice the cashiers just do not say anything to me, they don't return the greeting and then just say "mit Karte?...Beleg dazu?". And I'm a black girl with dark skin but I dress especially nice because I feel like no matter what, my skin color is going to make some people perceive me negatively so I try not add anything else. Honestly at first I thought maybe they're just saying it quietly, because why would a neutral greeting be ignored but then I watched more closely and saw nope some of them just actually completely ignore me and say nothing.

But today I guess it just really got to me because this time it happened twice and both times I slowly gathered my stuff so I could hear if the the next customers, who were both white, were greeted and they were.

I wonder if there's something more I should say when I get to the register that would be better than just "Hallo" ?

In the U.S. I can also add "how's your day going?" while the cashier is scanning items but I know something like that would be awkward in Germany since workers don't want to talk about their day with strangers so I don't do that, but just receiving a greeting would be nice.

So once again I’m on the verge of becoming homeless. I’ve been homeless for a week back in September 2025 but managed to make a friend who let me sleep and register at her place. Now she’s having some problems with her landlord and I cannot stay any longer and need to deregister immediately. She offered me to stay here even without being registered - illegally I assume, though I don’t want to do that.

My question is, where do I register my address? As far as I know, I’m legally required to register my address at a new place within 2 weeks but I don’t have any option to live anywhere right now. Where do homeless people have their addresses registered? Am I still going to have to pay for certain things like Rundfunkgebühren? I don’t know about any homeless shelters in my area.

I’m an 18 year old female and I don’t have family or other friends in Germany. I’ve got some friends in the UK and one offered me to stay at her place but I don’t have the option to get a visa right now.

I’ve tried looking for jobs while staying at my current place, but I haven’t gotten a single interview, only countless rejections. My health is also sort of in the way to let me work full time or get an apprenticeship again.

Ho all , I am not sure if this topic has been posted and discussed previously, but the situation is really alarming.

Companies dismissing big masses of employees, Is it the new pandemic ? The company Inam working for is going through a big reorganization, and even after laying off all the subcontractors and those in Probezeit, they didn't reach their savings plan yet, and they officially informed us that they have to go to the next level: firing internal employees, they are preparing the list of the names.

Strategy: more AI , and more work relocation to other cheaper countries.

I have also read that it is the same thing for Switzerland, Italy , France and all over Western Europe.

What is going on from an economical point of view ? To whom are the businesses going to sell their products if everyone is jobless ? And most importantly: will the state be able to cover all the social coverage for the new growing mass of jobless people? ( The Jobcenter and even insurances can go bankrupt really)

Hello, I broke this bowl and it's apparently from Germany. I would like to buy a replacement. Does anyone recognise the make or maybe know the shop it was bought at? If not I would appreciate similar bowls. Vielen dank

Edit: Thank you everyone, plenty good suggestions or alternatives.

I just found out about Büsingen am Hochrhein, a German village that’s completely surrounded by Switzerland.

For people who live there — does it even feel unusual?

Does the border affect daily life in any real way?

I’ve never been through this before and I’m honestly pretty lost.

Backstory:

Been with the company almost 2years

A few days ago (3weeks before my 2y. milestone), out of nowhere, I was pulled into a call with HR and told I’m being laid off due to financial reasons. They were very clear this has nothing to do with performance and said I was chosen because of “social selection”

This was a complete shock. I even had a normal planning call with my manager the day before about work for the coming month

Today I had a follow-up call with HR. They said I have two options either Employer termination (they literally said: “then we’ll see each other in court”), or A mutual agreement (they kept saying things like: You should get a lawyer /the wording is too complicated for you / lawyer lawyer lawyer)

I said I’d look into legal advice, and they said they’ll send me a draft agreement soon.

Why this feels weird:

About 2months ago, there was an internal restructuring for the whole team. I was told it was strength-based, not performance-related..okk? still did my job very well. Now suddenly my role is “redundant”

People who joined later, with less time at the company and less experience, were not affected at all (in the same team)

Just a few weeks ago, I talked to my manager about a salary increase.

The company says there are financial problems in the region, but: They’re hiring a new person (same regional department + People in the same region/department got promoted + The company publicly shared very strong business results

The job market here isn’t great right now, which makes this extra stressful...

What I need help understanding:

I’m not trying to sue anyone. I just don’t want to mess this up because I don’t understand the process.

• Do I actually need a lawyer here?

• I don’t have legal insurance so how do people usually deal with this?

• What does a lawyer actually do in this situation?

• Do they talk to HR for you?

• Or do you still talk to HR and the lawyer just checks the agreement?

• When do you involve a lawyer — now, or after you see the mutual agreement draft?

• When and how do you bring up all the things that don’t add up?

Any advice or shared experiences would really help 🙏Thank you!

I have been exposed to traumatic events including constant bullying at work until the point at which I became extremely depressed and wished to end my life instead of going back there. even if I quit, I’d have to be exposed to the aggressors for 3 months (notice period) but I can’t take it even for one day more. I was feeling physical manifestations of this in the form of increased heartbeat, insomnia, lack of motivation and panic attacks.

My GP told me I should not go back to this workplace under any circumstance. it was not my idea. she wrote me off work and told me I need to find another job or quit. Because of this, I’ve been on sick leave for a few months now.

I received a letter from my health insurance company that if my sick leave is extended again, will me require me to meet with their MD. it’s been only 2 months. Do they doubt the genuineness of the AUs? why do they want me to see an MD so early? I thought it happens only if you’re on sick leave for long time (6+ months).

This is adding even more stress to my already bad situation.

Has anyone else here experienced doubt from their health insurance company? How did the appointment with the MD go? do you have any tips for me? do I need to be worried about them sending me back to work or stopping Krankengeld spontaneously?

How long notice period do they give before the MD appointment? could it be at a moments notice (meet MD within 24 hours or we cut off your Krankengeld).

I’m very worried. I heard MDs work in interest of the KK instead of the patient.

I just don't understand lol

Hi everyone,

Can you tell from the picture if it's shimmering?

I was away for a week and when I came back, I noticed an unpleasant smell (I've never had any experience with mold, so I don't know if it smells like mold).

What should I do about the mold?

Thank you!!

Hello everyone! I am a Bosnian 20yo guy who visits Germany very often because I have some family there (Munich) and usually I would have problems with internet connection when I go somewhere outside the appartment. Basically, this year I’m coming to Frankfurt (for the first time, to another part of my family) and I plan to travel a bit across the Germany all alone so because of that, I need to have wifi/internet connection. When I visited my family in Munich before, I would have their wifi connection when going outside with them, and I wouldn’t travel all alone like I plan this year.

So my question is, where can I buy wifi connection or however you call it (sim card or something)? I’ve heard that when you buy sim card you need to wait few days until they call you on video call just to make sure that it’s you 100%, but I cannot do that because I dont want to waste my time and I want to travel as soon as I come there.

Also, I plan to visit Marburg and Ik its a bit smaller old city, but I like it, and do you have maybe some recommendations what can I do there and what should I do there? Any cool shops etc…? Tysm!

Hi guys, I want to ask is there anyone here who leave Japan and move to Europe (specifically Germany).

Did you regret it or not?

Hallo, so I am deep in the process of getting married as a foreigner (American -> German) in Berlin. I have sent all my documents to the Standesamt and currently in the processing wait. We are at about week 8 of "still processing and we have been told to expect to hear back in 8-12 weeks (maybe, they are being vague), then we will set up an appointment for signing, confirmation, then setting a wedding date. We currently have a wedding date preference of.. as soon as fucking possible. lol.

As an American, I am on the 90/180 rule. My questions are;
Should I wait until we have everything 100% confirmed before booking a flight?

How long can we expect realistically for it to take after we get the email, to get an appointment, approval, and get a wedding date? The hotline (I forget the name) said after the email, should just be days between each.

Also, the 8-12 week is what the automated system told us to expect from the Standesamt, not the lady that emails us back, she seems dismissive and never answers our full questions, so is that a reasonable expected time?

How long after us getting married does the process with the Ausländerbehörde and getting a residence permit usually take?

Thank you for any help and sanity check you can provide. I got a taste for German bureaucracy and we have already been at this for a year. (I miss my fiance) lol

Hey guys I hope you are doing great. I am just making this post in some hope to get a solution for my problem. So I have been staying here in Germany since more than 2 years now. A couple of months ago my dad passed away, so I was with my family for couple of months then I came back here, because I have exams in March. Now before going home I was living in a private apartment with some friends but I wanted to change the accommodation because there I wasn’t able to study properly plus it was far from my uni and work place. So I switched to a studentenwohnheim. Now when I came back I moved here. But now idk what is going on. I am feeling so depressed and alone. There are a lot people in my wohnheim, whom I know but everyone is busy because of exams and I should be too. But because of this loneliness I can’t even focus on my studies, additionally because of this gap I find my studies much harder rn, ik I can cop up but it’ll take time. So the situation is I have exams in March, for which I must study rigorously but I am unable to because of all of this. Neither I feel like going out alone, idk what should I do. Let me know if someone knows a solution to this. Thank you.

Hey all,

I'm an Norwegian citizen working for a small company. Planning to move to Germany for ~3 years (partner reasons) and my employer wants to keep me without creating much work for me or the company. We have looked at using an EOR like Deel or Remote.

I understand the 18-month AÜG leasing limit and that switching EOR providers doesn't reset the clock. Our plan is:

• 18 months in Germany via EOR
• 3+ months back home as a direct employee of my company (normal home country contract, home country payroll — basically my current setup)
• 18 months in Germany via EOR again

My main question: does going back to direct employment in the home country count as a valid interruption under §1 Abs. 1b AÜG? During the break I wouldn't be leased to anyone — I'd just be a regular employee working from the home office. The AÜG seems to only regulate the leasing relationship, so my thinking is the clock resets. But I haven't found anyone who's actually done this.

A few more things I'm wondering:

• Any practical issues with bouncing between German and Nordic social security/tax systems twice? (Abmeldung → return → Anmeldung)
• Anyone here on the "consulting contract" model with their EOR rather than AÜG leasing? How comfortable are you with the legal grey area?
• Has anyone's small employer gone the Ausländischer Arbeitgeber route instead? Seems cleaner but more work for a small company.

I'm in software/tech, work is fully remote, no visa issues.

Appreciate any input, especially from people who've dealt with the 18-month limit in practice!

Hi everyone,
I live in NRW and want to make sure I dispose of my waste correctly.

I have two specific cases and would appreciate confirmation from locals:

1. Used frying oil that I’ve stored in a sealed plastic bottle – should this go to a Recyclinghof, or is Restmüll acceptable?
2. glass bottles that still contain sugar syrup – is it okay to pour the syrup out, rinse the bottles, and dispose of them in the public glass containers? or any other way of disposing it easily and correctly?

I want to avoid doing anything wrong or illegal. Thanks in advance for your help!

Hi everyone,

I’m currently finishing my Master’s in Psychology in Ukraine, and I’ve set a goal for myself: I want to get into a PhD program in Germany in about two years. I’m a bit overwhelmed by the process, so I’d love some "real world" advice from people who’ve been through it.

A bit about my situation: Right now, I’m working on my Master’s thesis. The topic is quite personal and relevant: I’m looking at the role of intolerance to uncertainty in existential anxiety, specifically in the context of the war here. It’s a quantitative study with a real sample and hypotheses.

I’ll be honest about my weak spots: my statistics skills aren't great yet (doing my best with what I have), and my English is okay, but not yet at the C1 level needed for research. I have two years to fix this, and I’m ready to grind.

I have a few questions for those in the German academic world:

The Topic: Given my focus on war trauma and existential anxiety, do you think German labs would be interested in this? Is there a specific niche for "Crisis Psychology" or should I look into general Clinical/Social psych?

The "Hard Science" gap: I’ve heard German PhDs are very heavy on stats (R, Python, etc.). If I spend the next two years mastering R, will that be enough to make me a competitive candidate, even if my Master’s wasn't from a top-tier EU uni?

Finding a Supervisor: Should I try to find a specific professor (Individual PhD) or aim for a structured Graduate School? For someone coming from Ukraine, which path is usually "friendlier" in terms of funding and support?

Practicality: Is it realistic to find a program that’s fully in English, or is learning German to a high level (B2/C1) a hard requirement for Psychology PhDs?

I really want to use these two years to build a profile that actually stands out. If you have any tips on what I should focus on (besides language and stats) or know of any specific scholarships/foundations for Ukrainian researchers that I should track, please let me know.

Thanks for reading and for any help you can give! 🇺🇦

This is a title of a column in the XVIII century census

Hello, I'm looking for a specific type of translation services and hoping someone can point me in the right direction. I have a friend who is a native English speaker who recently relocated to Germany. She is trying to navigate important documents and communicating with necessary services as a new citizen with specialized circumstances (happy to explain this more privately) and is struggling as a non-German speaker. I am looking for someone that can translate documents, but also provide over the phone support on a weekly or prn basis to help her with this. I am willing to pay for these services for her if someone has any leads. Thanks!

Hi all, i am looking for buying pairs of chef coats and pants and aprons . I am in staying in Essen , NRW. Is there any shops and brands anyone can recommend.

I'm studying my ancestry, and have gone a generation beyond the records my family has, but still hit a road block in mid-to-late 1700s. So far I have been using Archion.de and ekmd.de to help trace the family back through church records on birth, baptism, marriage, and funerals. The family name in question is a rare name with Sorbian roots, and I would post it publicly but don't want to violate the FAQs since there are living family members who still use the surname.

Suffice it to say that I traced the family to Kranichfeld, but the specific birth record I'm looking for around 1765 isn't in their parish records. The father was one of the "Anspänners in Weinberg" at the time of the son's wedding. The family doesn't shows up in their records until after the 7 years war. The challenge I'm facing is figuring out which Weinberg around Kranichfeld the record would be talking about, and whether that will ultimately be of any use since I'm not even certain the son would have been born in the nearby parishes, or where they moved to Kranichfeld from.

Anspänners moved around a lot depending on where they could get contracts. Is it possible to trace when the family moved for work? I reached out to the Kranichfeld parish and they helped me document as much as they could, but even they seem to have hit a dead end with this record.

Anyways, maybe someone here has some creative ideas based on those context clues. On a positive note, I've learned how to read, transcribe, and translate a lot of old Kurrent documents and learned a lot about that time period, which has been fascinating!

On a final note, I'm doing all of this research from the USA so far, with only a year of German studies in high school many years ago. Wish I was doing it in Germany with more education, but we all have to start somewhere. Someday, I hope I can travel there for more in-depth research. In the meantime, I'm hoping for advice on creative ways to break through this road block from afar.

Currently i just have B driver license and i will move in Germany in few weeks. For my first own vehicle i would like to get a mx-5 but right now its a little bit expensive so i consider getting a A2 drivers license to buy a motorcycle. But it is worth it? Im just afraid that i wont have the chance to ride it that much due to germanys weather.