New in Hamburg (or new to this forum)

Hello Everyone,

I have been a member here since the beginning of August but haven’t yet introduced myself on this thread so I thought I better get down to it. I am a 19 year old Australian from Byron Bay who has come to Hamburg to live with my German girlfriend, we live in Rahlstedt. We met in Australia at the end of 2005 while she was in Byron as an Au Pair, spent 9 great months together an than spent the longest 13 months of our lives apart as she had to return to Germany for her apprenticeship and I had commitments in Aus. I finally arrived here mid July, my first time out of Australia so everything has been pretty amazing and daunting but on the whole quite great. The culture shock does sneak up and bite me on the ass every now and than though, if you no what I mean, so it would be great to meet up with some other native English speakers. I’ll have to get my self along to one of these meetings some time soon. As to a bit about me I am a musician guitarist/singer/songwriter and a graphic designer, just finished year 12 at a Steiner school, I like drinking beer (I think I’ve come to the right place), listening to live music and so on. Its hard to say something about your self in a few words! I am here on a one year working holiday visa that is valid till July 2008, I would like to stay longer as my Girlfriend has commitments here for a few years but the WH visa was the easiest to get here on first. I have read through a lot of the stuff on this topic on this forum and there is some great info out there but boy is it all conflicting. If there is anyone here who is currently in the same situation or has recently been it would be great to hear from you. At the moment I have a lot of time on my hands because my girlfriend is working and studying and I don’t really have any work yet. I don’t speak much German but I have classes 2 days a week at the Volkshochschule in Sternschanze which is a lot of fun, quite a way to travel though.
Well that’s pretty much all from me except to say if anyone knows of any work or got any ideas that would help me out it would be great if you could drop us a line. I am up for anything an have quite a bit of experience in many things despite just being out of school. I look forward to meting some of you in the near future. Can’t meet any time this week an will be on holiday in Denmark for two weeks from this Saturday but after that I will be up for meeting some cool new people.

Cheers an Tschüß

Hello all!

I'm not so new to this forum but definately new to Hamburg! Just moved here about three weeks ago from Paris, where I studied for 5 years. Havent started german language courses yet but it should soon be on the way! Moved to this beautiful city to take some time off after university and live with my boyfriend. Loving the place so far but dont know a lot of people yet so it would be nice to join one of the event meetups!
Hope to see you soon!

Emily

Hello,
I'm not new to Toytown or Hamburg, but I hadn't logged on for an age until fairly recently. So I thought I'd say hello here! I moved to Germany almost 3 years ago and lived in Ingolstadt in Bavaria until last September, when we (me and my husband) moved to Wedel. We don't go into Hamburg all that often as it's a bit of a trek from Wedel, but we make the effort to go to the Grindel Palast every now and again, or to do touristy stuff when we have visitors. I taught English for a while, but it wasn't really financially worthwhile for me (tax, pension, health insurance, aargh!), but am lucky enough to now have a full time software job. I really like living round here, especially being near the Elbe. Wedel even has a (almost) proper supermarket, Famila, although it's too pricey to go there all the time. Anyway, that's all for now, will probably join in discussions again soon!

Hello all,
I've lived in Hamburg since January and have been on Toytown since last December, but I never properly introduced myself, so I thought I would. I'm a 25 year old from Oregon who moved here for love - with my husband Matt who moved here for work (Airbus.) Matt is 34 and from Texas, although we met in Southern California. We live in Eimsbuettel and love it here. The only thing we would change is an easier time getting to the Altona area on the trains!

I am trained as a costume design assistant for theater and television, although I am mostly teaching English to children at the moment. I'm currently working on a show with the English Theater and am hoping to get more involved with the Hamburg theater scene.

Matt and I are available to get together on the weekends, as I'm teaching most weeknights. We like sampling wine and playing board games (Scrabble or Siedler anyone?) We've tried to start a couples game night as well as a girls game night but it's often hard to coordinate with everyone's schedules.

Okay, that's it for now, just saying hello.

Laurel

Hi All!!
While searching HH on the web I found Toytown -- I love it!! My thanks go out to the Creator / Giant Spaghetti Monster.

Anyway, I was only scheduled to be here for 3 weeks, then that got extended to 2 months. And now today my employer renewed my ID badge till Jan 1st -- so I assume I'm not going home for Turkey Day as planned... And I'm living in a hotel all this time because I thought I'd be going home soon??

So I'm here from Chitown (Chicago to you non-Midwesterners). And I'm here alone. Any recommendations?? I'm tired of eating at the Alster Lounge!! (I'm staying in Alsterdorf) And please don't say Schawanski's... What is a must-do / must-see here? and/or a don't?? I'll take any advise you have!

ciao!
-joe

Hey Joe from Chicago!

I too know how you feel. I've been in Hamburg for 2 months now via Seattle. I'm here for a work assignment that originally was to last thru the end of the year and now looks like it will be more like June or July. So I guess it's time for me to find a flat. Hotel living can't last forever!

What part of Chicago are you from? I grew up in Indiana and lower Michigan.

Sounds like the place to meet up with the local English-speaking groups is at Finnegan's Wake. Hopefully one of these days I'll make it over there.

And if anyone is up for a movie, was thinking of seeing "The Heartbreak Kid" At the Grindel theater sometime this weekend. It's the only English-speaking theater I've found so far.

Cheers!
Kaye

Got your map?? Anyone who is really from Michigan always has their map with them right?? LOL (for those not from MI the map is your left hand turned palm down) LOL

Hey, I'm orginally from S.W. MI, small town called Dowagiac - know it? My brother still lives in Edwardsburg (about 5 min north of South Bend); and I've got family sprinkled over norther IN (Portage area). Right now I'm in west burbs of the Chi -- Bolingbrook / Naperville area. What part of MI are you from??

I'm gonna try to head over to The Wake tonight and see what it's about. I might actually hop over to the Turtle again on way home -- I thought it was pretty cool. I've got a cute little German girl helping me find an appt (I've got to be careful here, she also reads Toytown) She has commented about an english theater (movie) but I didn't catch the name. I'll ask.

So it sounds like you got here about the same time I did. Who you working for?
-j

Chitown...

It's a small world! I grew up in South Bend and spent my summers on Eagle Lake in Edwardsburg, MI. (might even know your brother) My parents still have a lake cottage there and my sister lives there year round and teaches at the local high school.

I too will try and make it out tonight. If not, in the near future.

Cheers!
Kaye

Hello all!
I am an American student, 20 years old, studying German language and literature at the Universitaet Hamburg for the year. I've studied German for about two years now and hope to be a German teacher some day. I'm originally from Nebraska but my college in the states is in Minnesota. Stumbled across the site because I am bored, and it's a Friday night. It'd be cool if anyone wants to get a beer sometime. Thanks!

Hi everyone! I'm very new to this forum, I just singned in. I'm a German girl looking for native English speakers. I spent a year in the US as an AuPair and really miss having the English language around me.I haven't been able to speak English in a while and I think this definately has to change! I have friends all over the world who I communicate in English with, but that's only emails and messaging once in a while. Here in Hamburg I found it hard to get in contact with native English speakers. I know they are here, but where...? ;-)
I really enjoy watching movies in English but unfortunately there usually is a lack of people around me who share this passion and going to the movies alone is just not as much fun... So if any of you like to join me I would be very happy. I'm also in for meeting up, having a drink or stuff like that.
Hope to hear from you

The Abaton-Kino ... "There is at least one new film in English language on our screens each night!"

Hej everybody!

My name is Giuseppe and Im from Italy (milan to be precise). Such a stereotypical name for an italian isnt it? Anyway, I just relocated to Hamburg: the company Im working for, which is Pirelli RE ( an Italian real estate company) send me to work here as financial analyst within the new bought german DGAG. I m just a trainee, and I graduated in June in Finance at the university of Lund , in Sweden. Thats to say, I m quite familiar to being foreigner in a new country. Although I m fairly happy with the apartment my company provided me with (I live in St.Georg, anytime I get home I kindly decline several offers from prostitutes), I would have prefered to share a flat, since I dont enjoy so much living alone. I m a little bit disappointed in that my coworkers are much older than me. Also because of my absolute ignorance of the german language, I would like to meet some english speaking people to hang out from time to time. Even though, I would like to learn German as well. Hamburg seems great, although I didnt have time enough to wander around, as currently they make me work really a lot.

Also,I would love to meet during the weekend some german speaker interested in learning italian. Coud be a fair barter.

What else? I studied piano at the conservatory, I enjoy playing and watching football (soccer for the americans) and I want to find out everything about the night life in Hamburg.

Hello!

I'm a Student half English/half French and I just arrived in Hamburg for a few months.
I don't know anybody here yet so I would find it great to meet new people from all nationalities. I love going out for a drink, eating out, cinema, sport, travelling etc...
I am looking forward to hearing from you all!
Joanna

Hey everyone!

I'm new to both this forum and Hamburg... just moved here to teach business english! Randomly found this site and thought it seemed perfect to try and meet people as I literally know no-one here! I'm living in Altona, I studied german at school but its pretty rusty and amazing how little practise i get what with teaching english all day. Would love to meet up with anyone really... you know what they say "beggars can't be choosers"! So yeah... if anyone wants to meet up for coffee or a drink or anything, I'm kinda getting sick of my own company... so get in touch!

Meg

Hi Meg!
Welcome!
Where will you be teaching English?
And where are you from originally?

Cheers,
goodlife

I'm teaching at linguarama... but only free-lancing so need to find another school to work through eventually. As for where I'm from originally... no short answer: I was born in South Africa and most my family live over there, but my family moved to the UK when I was really young. Also my Dad's job had us moving around all the time so I also spent 5 years in America and then a couple of years here in Hamburg and another couple in Budapest, but I was at boarding school in England so only really did holidays in Germany and Hungary. Does that make sense?

It makes perfect sense and sounds very interesting and exciting!
You got around!

I think Berlitz is looking for native speakers at the moment too!

www.berlitz.de

I think everywhere is looking for native speakers at the moment to be honest! But I think berlitz have a very different approach to linguarama which might get confusing... and to be honest I was kinda thinking about giving myself some time to settle in before I found another to school to teach at! Its daunting enough just working for linguarama and being in Hamburg! But thanks for the tip anyway!

Yw, you are right, settle in and get over the "culture shock" LOL

Its not even so much the culture shock... more just getting used to working everyday! And its surprisingly exhausting talking english all day! Not to mention when my radiator falls off the wall and the pipe bursts etc!

Hello Toytown Hamburg!

I currently live in Hamburg-Marienthal near the Wandsbek Quarre Shopping Mall.

Back in June, I left my high-paying job in sunny Southern California to try out living in Hamburg with my German boyfriend, Matthias. We met at work on a project in Anaheim back in February 2006. After doing the long distance thing for a year, we decided if we wanted this to work, one of us was gonna have to move: Matthias wasn't too fond of the Southland, the Greater Los Angeles Area, and I already loved Europe.

We spent the summer picking plums along the riverbanks, cayaking through the canals towards the Alster, cycling to a place where the Heide grow in the dunes, wandering around Vierlände, filling the hallways of his building with the exotic smells of American cooking, and playing Scrabble with Bob and the boys at the Breitengrad.

I spent the summer on a tourist visa, unemployed. While Matthias worked, I spent my time at home converting Martha Stewart recipes into metric measurements and hunting the city for exotic ingredients like tarragon vinegar, pecans, watercress, jalapenos, black-eyed peas and cane syrup. I also blogged for the first time, writing about my experiences in Hamburg (halfjapanese hamburger) and I applied Feng Shui to his apartment. (Yes, I am a woman and therefore I am incessantly compelled to move furniture around. Even if the furniture doesn't belong to me.)

At the end of the summer, with no major fights and most arguments reconciled, we decided this was definitely working out. Matthias became my fiancé and I went back to the States to pack up my stuff in a container.

I am still unemployed, now on a student visa. I'm taking an intensive German class at the Colón Language School which keeps me busy 5 hours a day, 5 days a week. Matthias and I are searching for a larger apartment. Once the search and move are complete, we'll plan for the wedding. Once the wedding is over, I'll start looking for a job and/or write the business plan for the bakery/cafe/restaurant I want to start here in Hamburg.

Oh, I nearly forgot to describe what I used to do in California and what my hobbies are now. I'm a tech geek. I worked as a biometric systems engineer building large fingerprint analysis and facial recognition systems for the police. I love Oracle and writing SQL queries. I own an iPhone. My hobbies include, but are not limited to, dancing Argentine tango, hooping, Bikram yoga, collecting Chinese antiques, playing around with color combinations, photography, skiing, Ikebana floral arrangements, surf boarding, tribal belly dance, feng shui, cooking, blogging, and sometimes playing the violin.

.: Akiko .

Welcome to Hamburg, have you been into Finnegans Wake(Irish Pub) yet?...good place to meet English speaking people...

Haven't been to Finnegan's Wake yet. When is a good day / night to go?

All depends what you like..Monday is Poker night from 18hr, usually Tues-Thurs are football nights, Fri & Sat are live music nights & Sun is Quiz night!!

Hi everyone, I am a 22 year old Australian from Perth, living between Hamburg, Perth and NYC this year, spending Feb17-March12 in Hamburg and then late August- early December as well, and even though I intend to start learning German it would be really nice to meet with some other Australians or Americans (my fiance is American so I will eventually move there full time) or anyone english speaking. I found it difficult to get to know people socially last year when I was living there, otherwise I really love the city very much! Also, for later on in the year, I would like to know where I can watch AFL- I am a West Coast Eagles fan. I wish I would have seen this site last year!

Hello to Everyone in Hamburg
I will move to Hamburg tomorrow since I found the new host family there! (I am Aupir girl)
(Now I live in Kaufering,bayern)
I just know this website from my Aupir friend and found that its very useful for me who can speak very limited German and want to find more friends to hang out with.
I hope I can enjoy my life more and meet up more people than here.
please anyone who live there give me advice where is the first place i should go and explore! Maybe you can be my guide!
See you Soon!

Hamburg

Hi to Sportymiss if you're still there...

I am moving to Hamburg in June and will be looking to do some English teaching. I have already made contact with a couple of schools and need to contact them again when I arrive. I'm 35, similar to you! How's the work going teaching English?

Hey all!!! I am 24 years old doing a PhD here in Hamburg since October
But my first time on this forum!
I would really like to meet more people!
In case there are some get-togethers or something like that i would love to join!

Hello everyone. Im Kyle Hawkins, and I moved to Hamburg last month. I am here through 2013 to help develop and coach the sport of Lacrosse. Ill be working with the German Lacrosse Association and specifically with Hamburg Lacrosse, located within HTHC (Harvestehuder Tennis & Hockey Club) in Winterhude. I am from Missouri. I am gay, and am looking to start completely over here. I just moved into my apartment and finally have internet. Feel free to message me any time. I do speak German, but its not as good as I would like.

Hi All,
My name is Dan and I´m working here in Hamburg as part of an accountancy training scheme. ( I`m more fun than I sound, I promise ). I´ll be here from Februard until the end of May. Already found some of the expat places, Shamrock, Finnegans etc. but wondering what a good night is during the week to meet other expats etc.

Thanks.

Hi all,

my name is kellie and I am moving to hamburg in June. I am from Australia and do triathlons, I hope to do some age group races in Europe when I'm there. Are there any other expat triathletes out there? Would love to know about any groups that train in hamburg.

cheers

kellie

There is an annual marathon run in Hamburg but I believe it is in May...

This website is goooood! I'm Rob, I'm working in Wandsbek as an au pair (yes I am male btw). Been here since November, staying til June. And just beginning to realise I should probably wean myself off facebooking my uni friends and start doing stuff in Hamburg!

I'm free most weekends, and usually weekday evenings, and would love to do something... anything!

Hey fellow Hamburgers .
I have to agree this website is Great . I wish I had heard about it sooner . I am not new to Germany but new to living in Hamburg and being a part of Toytown . Being gay and working in the theatre , I will look forward to hearing and searching for all the new book clubs , book swaps , creative days and cultural days out . Till then I hope all of you find what you searching for .

Hey there everyone. My name's Oliver, Aussie, 27. Well when I originally booked my flight to Hamburg it was for a holiday to revisit a girl whom I had a great few days with back in October, however since I booked things have changed and it now looks as though i'm going to stay here in Germany. This also means I quit my job at Coles Group working in Inventory forecasting, hmmm big move. So i've been here for 2 weeks now and have been around the city a fair bit but now need to start looking for jobs in Berlin, oh and getting a working visa might be a good idea too.

Great website, nice to know I'm not the only one in this position or similar. Other than teaching english and looking after children i'm not sure what jobs there are out there!

Looking forward to attending one of the meetup's, not really sure what to expect.

I am Australian and easy going so if anyone's up for a beer or 20 any night then let me know!

Bis später!

Hi all, I just moved here in Hamburg a month ago for work. Live in Altona area; i am glad to find this english speaking commmunity here I will start my german course end this month because I couldnt bear it any longer to be surrounded by people who do not understand me (and vice versa). Looking fwd to find out more about this group! Cheers, Cath (25yo)

Hey oliver,

my name's kellie, Im from the gold coast, coming to hamburg in June. You'll probably be in Berlin by then but I figure that you are teaching english? Did it take you long to get work? I have lined up interviews with 3 schools when i get over, so I'm hoping that will mean I get something quick! Lets know how you are finding living in hamburg. How did you find somewhere to live?

many questions!!

kellie

hi nanzy, deedzz, kely, rob, oliver (and everyone else), FYI. theres a get together event @ BOND lounge this sat march 8th at 8:30pm. i got the 'hamburg goes international' invitation from a group on facebook. not sure yet if ill make it (hv to go to work this sat) but i hope can check it out. ta!

Is anyone up for doing something this weekend? I'm an au pair and the kids will be away, so will be looking for something to do most days/evenings.

I thought the pub quiz at Finnegans sounded fun - anyone up for that?

the pub quiz on sunday sounds good especially if we can get a wee team together

Hey Kellie, Well what i've done is kinda out of character. You know in the movies how someone quits there job and goes overseas to live with a girl. Well that's basically wat has happened here, that being said I have no job lined up here (although savings to see me through for quite a while so it's not too bad). I've applied to Berlitz, yes i know it's apparently slave labour but as long as i'm working i'll be happy. Regarding accommodation here's a website my girlfriend showed me, it's all german but it's apparently very good http://studenten-wg.spiegel.de/ I'll see if I can find some more for you in the next couple of days.

c4th, i'm really disappointed because I would have loved to go but I have a house party that night. If you're, or anyone, is ever up for seeing a live band (jazz blues whatever) then please let me know. I went to the cotton club last night to see this old swing band, was great fun. I'm a musician so I love that stuff. Haven't been to birdland yet but it's on the cards.

Rob, Hell yeah, I'm in for the quiz, what time was it on? How many people do we have so far?

20.30 - and it seems like 3 at the moment. Teams up to 5

Pub quiz at Finnegan's Wake Irish pub

check the Pub Quiz thread.

Hey oliver,

doing something out of the ordinary is great, life is an adventure and if there's nothing stopping you, go for it. I was in Hamburg in September and met a guy and nearly did the same thing... but he piked when I had to return to Oz. So, I'm still coming back to Hamburg but only for 3 months and not for a guy!! Just taking some long service leave from my job for 3 months. I have already contacted Accelingua and Wall St Institute in Hamburg, if there's an Accelingua in Berlin you should get onto them, apparently they,re really good.

Cheers for the heads up on the accomm, if your girlfriend knows anyone that wants a flatmate from end June to end Sept, let me know... my email is keltri54@gmail.com

have fun

kellie

Hey Kellie, Does Accelingua require a teaching degree or are they just looking for native speakers? I remember seeing their website last week but haven't applied through them as yet. Only Berlitz and Inlingua (my friend works for these guys at the moment, he said they're pretty good). Cool well i'll keep my ear to the ground for you.

Oliver.

Oliver,

I dont think you need a degree for accelingua, I know a guy that secured a job with them and he was in hospitality and he had never done any teaching, except what he'd done in hamburg. I have a teaching degree, but I haven't necessarily taught english before...

cheers

kellie

Hi,

I suppose this place is a as good as any to introduce myself. My name's Antoine I'm 28, half French half English, and I moved to Hamburg from Paris about 8 months ago. I also lived in Frankfurt for a bit so although I speak some German my deepest thoughts and more sophisticated philosophizing still elude my German friends, which of course is a tragedy for everyone involved. I haven't been out with an international or Anglo saxon crowd in ages so I'd be up for a few beers on the weekend. Tomorrow evening is the France England game, a fixture that always threatens to give me a brain aneurysm, so if anyone wants to meet up please drop me a line, ta.

Other likes: Live music, Running (long distances), Liverpool FC.

Cheers

Hi all,

I just found this forum recently and thought I would register. I am an American, 22, who has been living in Germany for the past three and a half years. I came over here to study and am fluent in German and now also have a German boyfriend who I live with. However after my 5th semester I recently switched my major and switched to an online program from an American school so I am back to studying in English (although the language wasn't the reason for the switch). I don't really know any English natives here but I would love to meet some, particularly women, as many of my friends and acquaintances are guy friends of my bf whose main love is to talk about BWL issues, and working in finance and business. Two topics that I find less then interesting

Hi Poppins and Antoine,

There doesn't seem to be anything going on in the Rostock meet-up or events but a train-ride on weekends to Hamburg is fine for me. Anyone else interested in meeting up next Sat April 12th for some coffee or socializing? I am a freelancer and an enthusiastic philosopher! I came here 4 years ago and finished an MA. Am very interested in moving to Hamburg perhaps for a job-change...am 25 years old an avid traveller!
Cheers!!