Moving to Germany (Munich or Berlin)

Greetings TT,

Four months ago my girlfriend and I took our first trip to Europe. We spent two weeks traveling around the continent and loved everything we saw, especially Germany. I had been studying German for 9 months at the time so there may have been a little bias there. I am planning to pass the Zertifikat Deutsch in December and my girlfriend is studying German at the local uni. We are hoping to move to Munich or Berlin next year to work and study. I plan to work as a freelancer doing translation work and teaching English, she plans on working as an au pair. For school we will be going to Open University or LMU.

We want to do this right so we are learning the language and making sure we have work lined up before we come. Any tips or thoughts? Thanks for reading.

I am from California as well and looking to move to Munich. I thought it might be nice to share any research or information with one another. I am in a very similar situation as you except I do not have a friend that wants to move with me. I recently traveled to Munich and absolutely loved it. I am interested in eventually getting a MBA in international business and hope to take some classes and work over there. When are you planning on moving over to Germany?

Unfortunately, I dont remember who, but a new TTer just arrived as an au pair, and recommended the firm she used: http://www.aupair-agency.com/

I looked them up, as a possible option for my sisters. They seem well organized and they discuss all the details (including airline tickets from home to the job, which makes me think you get the job first then arrive), etc.

We love living in Munich- a major reason is it's central location in Europe. We haven't lived in Berlin, so I cant compare.

Good luck!

Hi, I will be moving to Germany in January but not in Munich, I will be moving to the Bodensee area. But I had a job offer there and the nice part about that is that they will help you with your residence permit needed to live there. They will write up a contract and submit it so that it is an easy process. Good on you for having 9 months of German, I am only just starting!

By the way, Seattle2...Hi! It's nice to "meet" someone from my neck of the woods. I was born and raised in Port Angeles, lived in Seattle for awhile and am now living in Portland!

Lisatown,
When you come to Germany, I'll gladly buy you a nice big German beer in exchange for a six-pack of Rogue Shakespeare Stout (or Deschuttes Obsidian Stout), a chicken cordon bleu hoagie from Philadelphia's, a large special pizza from Vincente's, a brisket sandwich from Clay's, or a slice of pepperoni from Escape from New York Pizza. Oh and if you could wrap it all in a Powell's Books T-Shirt (mine's getting threadbare), that would really be the capper.

Sometimes I miss Portland