What Germany Taught Me in 9 Months / Refugees in Germany / Life as a Refugee in Germany
Hello, friends!
Nine months ago we came to Germany. You know, that's such a long time that sometimes I can't even believe it's true.
Nine months of living in a different country. Nine months of searching for solutions to various problems, nine months of wondering what's next.
Nine months away from home. Is it easy? you ask. No, I'll answer, it's not easy.
But that's not what my video is about today. Today I want to tell you what Germany has taught me in these nine months.
What's happening to me now that I never had before.
So, I'd like to start by saying that I check my mail every single day, not email, but regular mail, because today I can say with certainty that Germany is a country of papers, and we receive letters almost every day.
The second thing Germany has taught me is how to sort waste. Now I have several trash cans, and I'm very careful to separate paper waste without cellophane or foil. I have a separate bag in the kitchen for plastic bottles and a separate bag for glass jars.
Thirdly, I've gotten used to taking a term, meaning signing up somewhere and then waiting for that term. Then, I show up at the designated time and resolve my issues.
Fourthly, Germany taught me to bring my own bag to the store. I brought this rule with me a year ago from Slovakia, but in Ukraine I often forgot to take a bag, whereas here, after nine months, I've gotten used to always having a shopping bag in my backpack.
Fifthly, I've gotten used to the fact that stores are closed on Sundays. I'm already planning my shopping for two days on Saturday.
Sixthly, Germany taught me to recycle bottles. Yes, now, just like when I was a kid, I go to the store with bottles and return them to a special machine.
Seventh, I learned to read product labels on my phone. Now, whenever I want to read something on a pill or food package, I point my phone with a translator at the package and read the translated text.
Eighth, I started riding a bike again. The last time I rode a bike was about 25 years ago. But since we live in a small village and have to get to the store somehow, I started riding a bike.
Ninth, what Germany taught me is to always and everywhere say "thank you," i.e., "Danke schon" or "Vielen Dank." You know, it's customary to be polite here. Say thank you to the bus driver, say goodbye and wish the cashier a good day at the store. Everyone does it here; everyone smiles and tries to be polite.
And I'd also add that I've started greeting everyone. This applies more to small towns. Of course, in a city with a population of 500,000, no one greets anyone. But in small villages, practically everyone knows each other, so it's customary to greet.
Tenth, I've now learned to use Google Translator with ease, because I can't do without it. I've also learned to navigate on Google Maps. If I'm driving, I set a driving route, if I'm walking, I set a walking route, and thus, getting anywhere has become completely unproblematic for me. The main thing is to have internet access.
And another thing I had to do in Germany was learn German.
And, friends, in nine months, Germany has taught me to do everything silently. Silently buy things and groceries, silently ask for information, showing my phone screen with a translator, silently ride the bus, silently go to the hospital, and so on. Do everything silently))
Well, that's how my life is going now, friends. Be sure to tell me in the comments what's changed in your life. What you learned in Germany.
And if you're watching from another country, be sure to tell me what you learned there too. It's very interesting to see how Ukrainians live in different parts of the world now. I'd love to read your comments.
I wish you all the best! And see you in the next videos, bye, bye!
#lifeingermany #refugeelife