Category Archives: Expat Life Lessons

Since living in Germany, and even before while visiting here, I have noticed that the Deutsch standards for nudity are quite different than in the US. Perhaps it’s also more evident living in former East Germany, as nudity in the GDR was second nature. Freikörperkultur (free body culture) isn’t about cruising the beach or saunaContinueContinue reading “FKK – Freikörperkultur”

This was our first Halloween to be celebrated in Berlin. {Carving pumpkins} Last year, Halloween fell over Fall break, the week we spent in Crete. {We were in Crete during Halloween last year} Where they didn’t celebrate Halloween. Which was super disappointing to the boys, as Halloween is their absolute favorite holiday. Something they haveContinueContinue reading “Halloween 2019”

Dave and I are known to complain about the bureaucracy here in Germany. We joke with friends about needing an official stamp for everything. But you know what? Once you are “in the system”, things seem to flow quite seamlessly. For example, we can ride the subway, commuter train, tram, bus and even water taxisContinueContinue reading “Lost and Found”

On Saturday, 34,000 children throughout Berlin celebrated their Einschulung, or ceremony to commemorate the first day of Grade 1 at school. And Isaac was one of them. https://www.archer-relocation.com/einschulung-in-berlin/ {Isaac waiting for his Einschulung ceremony to begin at school} Einschulung is a big-deal celebration to welcome first graders into school. Before first grade, they are inContinueContinue reading “Einschulung”

We are thrilled to have had several family and friends come to Berlin to visit us recently. We love our new city and often wish we could share it’s unique charm with those we care about most. For me, winter was difficult at times. With the boys in school, Dave at work and the daysContinueContinue reading “Visitors”

Think about the last time you moved to a new house or apartment. You probably needed to pack everything. Arrange movers. Switch your utilities. Change your mailing address. {Boys watching TV while we signed up for Internet service at TMobil} {We moved via suitcases and blue IKEA bags using car shares and Uber} Now imagineContinueContinue reading “Moving”

The boys started running fevers two days ago. While Isaac has recovered, Ben was still running a temperature this morning. Since his appetite was mostly gone as his throat really hurt, I decided to take him to the doctor. Long story short. He was diagnosed with having a virus. The prescribed medicine… The doctor toldContinueContinue reading “Traditional Healing”

When we came to Germany, we rented a fully furnished apartment for up to one year. Which made the move easier. We simply came with our 12 suitcases and settled in like with an extended AirBnB. However, we could not stay past 360 days (some German regulation). Since November, I have spent every day onlineContinueContinue reading “We are moving…”

In January, I took Isaac to the Gesundheithaus, public health center, in Pankow for his first grade health check up. All kids getting ready to start the first grade must go to the doctor in order to test their readiness. {Gesundheithaus in Pankow} We entered the Altbau, old building, which looked like it’d been thereContinueContinue reading “First Grade”