Aside from some cultural challenges, moving from Bangladesh to the German capital city of Berlin was no great difficulty for Rezwan and his family. Read on for tips on moving to Germany and to know more about the beautiful sights, the relatively lower cost of living in Berlin, and significant changes in the local population’s attitude brought about by the 2006 World Cup – all through Rezwan’s eyes.

Rezwanul Islam

July 13 2006

-Where were you born?
I was born in Bangladesh.

-Are you living alone or with your family?

I am living with my wife and 19-month-old daughter.

-In which country and city are you living now?
Berlin, Germany

-How long have you been living there?
Four months

-What is your age?
35

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Germany?
Actually my wife, who is a diplomat, got transferred to Germany, which triggered a lot of changes. I had decided to quit a well-established career just to be with my wife and daughter. Germany is too far from my country to be able to think about us staying apart and arrange regular visits. Well, my wife did suggest that she could let go of this posting and we could stay in Bangladesh. But I insisted we continue because her suggestion would be more detrimental to her career than this move to Germany would be to mine. I had been wanting to switch jobs anyway. Moreover, I have a soft corner for Germany as long ago I had lived there with my parents for about a year.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?
As a spouse of a diplomat, acquiring a visa was not a problem. But getting a work permit in Germany is next to impossible for persons from the non-EU member countries. The law says granting a work permit to a non-EU citizen must not place Germans, EU or EEA citizens (25 countries) at a disadvantage on the jobs market. This essentially means a permit will only be granted if no comparable EU or EEA employee is available. So when it comes to non-specialized jobs, getting a work permit for a non-EU country expat is a tough ask for employers. And you are probably aware of the job market situation in Germany, especially in Berlin.

There are also some limitations for the spouse of a diplomat. They usually are not allowed to serve in local government jobs and jobs that have a conflict of interest. Moreover, the difference in the educational system and the language barrier make searching for a suitable job very difficult.

-How do you make your living in Germany? Do you have any type of income generated?
So far I am living on my savings. My wife’s earnings are enough to barely maintain the living expense. It has been only four months since I came here. I am hoping that I will be able to come with something in the future. We are only here for a specific period.

-Do you speak German and do you think it's important to speak the local language?
The first step for me was to get enrolled in a refresher language course. I had learnt German up to intermediate level in Bangladesh. But that was about ten years ago and it was all rusty when I came. Since the first day of living in Berlin, we’ve felt that this city speaks no other language but German. The interesting part is that many Germans know English and sometimes a couple of other languages. But they usually like to see the foreigners speak their language; they like to join in any conversation in German. In many shops (especially the grocery shops) you will find few products having English descriptions. My broadband provider’s call center does not speak English and I had trouble setting my connection. So it is very important for expats to have at least a little basic German knowledge before coming to the country.

I would like to add here that the recent World Cup hosted by Germany triggered changes in German behavior, probably because of the many awareness campaigns held. During the event, I was surprised to have been spoken to in English (being a foreigner) in the streets without any request from me. I hope this attitude remains after the World Cup.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?
Yes, I miss home and the parents, but I have regular contact with home. I usually engage myself in lots of activities so that I hardly have time to dwell on that.

I like wandering in the streets and watching people, or just exploring the city using the well-connected public transport system. It is like an adventure sometimes, to get lost and find your way back home.

-Do you have other plans for the future?
Right now I am busy preparing myself for a language test that will help me enroll in a German University. The cost of study here is nominal as it is still state sponsored. So, I would like to take the opportunity to study further.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?
The house is a rented one, for which my wife’s employer pays.

-What is the cost of living in Germany?
Berlin may not have many jobs to offer to expats, but the cost of living is lower than in many European countries, even than in other big cities in Germany. So even with a low-paying job, you can easily get by. And if you have money you can also lead a glamorous life, as all elements of haute couture are here.

-What do you think about the Germans?
The locals are usually nice. There are many foreigners in Berlin but most are from East European countries. Asians are rare to find and they usually catch the attention of people. I have not yet faced any rudeness, but colored expats beware: you would be reminded of your every mistake. The Germans are a very proud people and they expect that foreigners to be well integrated into their customs too. Wearing a Salwar-kameez or a hijab can raise a few eyebrows. But one need not worry as they usually do not say anything to a foreigner directly. However, there are reports of racially-motivated attacks in some of the former East German cities.

One of the most notable local customs here is that you have to give priority to pedestrians and cyclists while driving. Another thing is that Germans like to ignore the speed limit in the highway and go as fast as they can. It is confusing to be yelled or be honked at for blocking other motorists, while you are maintaining the prescribed speed.

It is necessary for expats to observe local customs to blend with the locals quickly. But I think one should also maintain one’s uniqueness or identity and expats really don’t have to follow each and every detail of the local customs.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Germany?
The positive thing about Germany is that it is a very beautiful country. Especially in Berlin, there are many greeneries, lakes, wide streets and one-unit houses. The historical city boasts of having traditional architecture, structures reminiscent of the Communist era -- the ever-expanding modern architecture makes it one of the revered tourist attractions in the land. The museums here are marvelous and well maintained. The city is not crowded and the public infrastructure is world class. Public transport is comfortable, elaborate, thorough, and easy to use. The cost of living is moderate.

The negative aspects of living here is that finding a good job is very difficult. The social security system is adequate, which prompts some people not to go in the direction of doing hard work to earn money for living expenses. Multicultural events are a rarity. The process of integration of immigrants in society could be better. Some Germans are allergic to foreigners; this attitude needs to change.

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Germany?
Learning the local language can give you a great advantage. Prior knowledge on local customs can be valuable. Trust me, it is a nice place to live for expats who are coming here with a valid work permit.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Germany?
The best sites to get to know more about living in Germany are as follows:

* German Survival Bible (http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/0,1518,411291,00.html)
A collection of short and humorous essays by expats on living in Germany (The Spiegel Online initiative)

* Expatica Germany (http://www.expatica.com/source/site_content_subchannel.asp?subchannel_id=26)
A Magazine for expats on various issues

* Berlin Information (http://www.berlinfo.com/index.htm)
An international guide to Berlin

* The 3rd world view (http://rezwanul.blogspot.com)
My weblog, in which I rant about living in Germany and other news.

* Metroblogging Berlin (http://berlin.metblogs.com/)
Blog about the city of Berlin