Hello and welcome 👋
If you’re reading this, chances are you’re either living in Germany, planning to move here, or seriously considering it. Either way — I’m very glad you’re here.

I’ve been living in Germany for 11 years now, and this blog has been in my head for a long time. So why start now?

Because I know how confusing, overwhelming, and lonely this journey can feel — and I also know how much easier it becomes when someone explains things clearly, honestly, and without unnecessary bureaucracy.

How My Germany Journey Started

I didn’t move to Germany because it was easy or comfortable.
I moved here with a scholarship, full of excitement, fear, and very little understanding of how life here actually worked.

Like many expats, I arrived thinking that studying hard and “doing things right” would be enough. What I didn’t know back then was how complex daily life in Germany can be when you’re new:

• Paperwork everywhere
• Rules that no one explains
• Offices that assume you already know the system
• And a language barrier that affects everything

I learned most things the hard way — by making mistakes, asking the wrong questions, missing deadlines, and slowly figuring things out over the years.

Life Today: Not Perfect, But Real

Fast forward to today.

I’m a professional working full time in Germany.
I also run a business together with my husband.
And we are parents to two small children.

Life is busy. Very busy.

Between work, family, bureaucracy, school emails, health insurance letters, and running a business, Germany still manages to surprise me from time to time. Even after more than a decade here.

But this is exactly why I decided to start this blog now — not when everything is “perfect”, but when life is real.

Why This Blog Exists

This blog is for people like you:

• Expats who are new to Germany
• People planning to move here
• Professionals, students, freelancers, parents
• English and Spanish speakers trying to understand how things really work

I want to help you:

• Avoid common mistakes
• Understand the system faster
• Feel less lost and less alone
• Make informed decisions about life in Germany

This is not a blog full of perfect success stories or unrealistic promises.

It’s a practical guide based on:

• Real experience
• Real challenges
• Real life in Germany

What You’ll Find Here

On this blog, I’ll write about:

• Moving to Germany step by step
• Visas and bureaucracy explained in simple language
• Finding housing
• Working and doing business in Germany
• Health insurance, banks, schools, and daily life
• Raising kids here
• Cultural differences nobody warns you about

Everything explained the way I wish someone had explained it to me when I arrived.

Why You Can Trust This Blog

I’m not writing from theory or second-hand information.

I’m writing as someone who:

• Has lived in Germany for over a decade
• Has studied here
• Works here full time
• Runs a business here
• Raises children here
• Deals with German bureaucracy regularly (yes, still!)

I’ve been on both sides: the confused newcomer and the experienced expat.

A Final Word

If this blog helps even one person feel more confident about their life in Germany, then it’s worth it.

If you’re new here — welcome.
If you’re struggling — you’re not alone.
If you’re planning your move — preparation makes all the difference.

Thank you for being here at the very beginning. This is just the start.

💛 Maria