Where are you from? Please tell us about yourself!
I am from the Kyiv region, Ukraine. I love studying languages, that is basically my hobby. I am fluent in French and intermediate in Spanish. German, however, is much more difficult. The only thing that helps is that I found a lot of words that mean the same in the Ukrainian language. And I was very surprised by that!
Besides languages, I love travelling. The last place I visited was Hawaii. The most exotic one was perhaps Laos. We were once even stuck in the middle of jungles in Laos and spent the whole night there. What an experience! Other countries I have visited are Australia, Cambodia, Thailand, and Malaysia.
Where in Germany did you choose to move to? How do you like it so far?
Nurnberg, Germany, where I had friends, who have lived there for 15 years. I like the city because of its rich history and architecture. It has plenty of cultural and food options. It is cozier than Munich, and I feel safe there, I was never afraid there.
So far I like it but I wouldn't mind moving to another city to enrich my experience and make more friends. Moving is always stressful but it's worth it. It helps you broaden your worldview and become more open-minded, to break free from old habits or limiting beliefs. Having friends in a different city is also very helpful. In Germany, I have friends in acouple of cities, as well as other countries in Europe.
How was the experience of working and making friends here? What have you done in the city so far?
It was pretty difficult but I liked it anyway. The work process was somewhat different from my home country as daily schedule was a bit different. I absolutely liked that there were no overtime hours and I even could go out for 1 hour long lunch. I liked etsy food chain restautants because they serve vegetarian food with lots of vegetable and bean options. Absolutely love it.
I made some friends and feel happy. I also attended some unique festivals and cultural events, hiked in mountains and forests. I like many parks and the Pegnitz River, for example. And I absolutely love beer gardens, we don't have many in Kyiv.
How would you compare Kyiv to Nurnberg?
People are happier, more organized, and stand in long lines in the supermarkets. Transport is very convenient; I like that I don't need a car, this is good for the environment and gives you more flexibility and freedom, as you don't have to worry about parking and gas.
Both Kyiv and Nurnberg are rich in history, but Nuremberg's history is more visibly preserved in its architecture and city layout. Nuremberg has a strong beer and sausage culture, while Kyiv is known for its hearty soups and dumplings, with a rapidly evolving modern food scene. What I absolutely appreciate is that Nuremberg is more bicycle-friendly with better infrastructure for cyclists. This is perfect for the environment.
But how do you find the cost of living there in Nurnberg?
The cost of living is higher than I am used to, but it is totally worth it. The job market is tense but it ispossible to find a job. Overall, the cost of living in Nuremberg is substantially higher than in Ukraine.
However, it's important to note that salaries in Germany are generally much higher than in Ukraine, which helps offset the increased costs. Additionally, Germany typically offers more comprehensive social services and benefits, which can provide additional value not reflected in direct costs.
Have you tried speaking German to the natives? How did it go?
I spoke with German people, but it is hard to understand them. I even asked for help in German when I boarded a train in thewrong direction and understood the instructions! In some cases or scenario, I could use apps to explain some words.
What I noticed and liked is that Germans appreciate the effort - even if your German isn't perfect, they gladly help. They might correct your mistakes, which is usually meant to be helpful rather than critical, but usually, they don't correct. Too bad. That would definitely help to improve my speaking skills.
Has DeutschGym helped you? In what other ways are you trying to immerse yourself in German?
I am new to Deutsch Gym, but I am eager to explore it! So far, I use audio podcasts, books (basic textbooks, I use the living language series) and other resources. I can't thank theYoutube channel " Easy German" enough, they'll interview people on the streets and have German and English subtitles, so you get actual input from natives, with no textbook bullshit, in an accessible way for learners.
Slow spoken news also helped. And how could I forget "Nicos Weg"? It's so entertaining and I always wanted more after finishing each chapter. People also recommend some good series in German like “Dark” but I haven't started it yet. I always think I am not ready yet and need to study more first. For example, with your platform "Deutsch Gym"!
