One of my very favorite things that I’ve gotten to do on my blog so far, is interviews with other expats around the world. Today is another one of those lucky days where we get to hear from another experienced expat.

This time it is “B.”. From the very funny (and one of my favorite) blogs: Eurotrippen. And as always, her blunt and straightforward descriptions of her life made me laugh out loud again when I was reading this interview….just don’t skip question number seven :) If you want another laugh, just check out this post on her blog called “I need molasses, stat!“.

“Former supermodel turned brain surgeon leaves behind successful career in America to try her hand at hausfraudom in the lovely Saxon city of Dresden, Germany. Some days are good, some are bad… all are opportunities to learn & grow. With my sunny disposition and can-do attitude, what could possibly go wrong?”
B.

Enjoy the interview!

1.Where are you from originally, where are you now and what brought you there?

We left Colorado Springs, CO for Germany. In the 10 years prior to that we’d lived in Austin, Tx… Rochester, NY… Boston, Ma… Phoenix, AZ… and Portland, OR. Relocating is nothing new to us.

We moved to Dresden, Germany because we wanted to experience life in Europe. My husband, a semiconductor engineer, is fortunate enough to have the ability to work pretty much worldwide.

2.What do you like/dislike about your new home overseas?

Likes:
1. Sense of history

Dresden is over 800 years old, America’s just over 230. Dresden has castles and dungeons and cobblestone streets that make cute little pop-pop sounds as you drive over them. Dresden’s also withstood one of the worst bombings ever handed out by Allied forces, and spent 45 years behind the iron curtain. Talk about history. I’d take all of this over a high-rise and 24-hour Wal-Mart any day of the week.

2. The work/life balance

In America we had 2 weeks in which to cram a year’s worth of vacation. In Dresden we started out with 6 weeks, plus any hours worked beyond the standard workweek of 38 must (per the German government) be used as time off taken at a later date. I can’t imagine going back to 10 days of vacation per year…

3. Proximity factor

Dresden’s a hop, skip & jump away from swoon-worthy locales like Paris, France - Venice, Italy - Athens, Greece - London/Scotland/Ireland - and so many more. In America these were places we only dreamed of visiting. Living in Europe makes that dream an easy reality.

Dislikes:

1. Language barrier

Don’t get me wrong, this one is entirely my fault. That said, learning a new language is HARD! I know expats who’ve been in Germany for years and they still struggle with the language gap. The reality of expat life is this: you will find, more often than not, that you are completely clueless. This is something to really examine if you’re a control freak pondering an international move.

2. Limited store hours

I remember bitching in Colorado Springs because Target closed at 11:00 p.m. Now I rush to complete my grocery shopping by 8:00 p.m. Sunday shopping? Forget it. Late hours on Friday & Saturday to compensate? Ha! Half the stores close at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, making shopping a nightmare of epic proportions each weekend.

3. Smoking

Ugh, it’s everywhere. Restaurants, clubs, parks, zoos, hell… church for all I know. And with cigarette dispensers on every corner, any child with a couple of 2 euro coins can develop a habit.

3.Do you have any advice for Americans who want to get a job or visa in Europe? What was your experience with getting a visa/job? Was it difficult?

I’m of no help here as my husband’s company took care of everything for us. I will say that locating the ideal overseas job & procuring all the necessary paperwork took roughly 8 months. Things move slowly in Europe, factor that in when applying for anything.

4.What was the most challenging part of being an American living in a foreign country when you first started out as an expat? Do you have any advice for those facing similar challenges?

We moved here right after my daughter’s 13th birthday, so on top of all the normal expat angst I also got a heaping dose of teen rebellion & misery. My little darling was aghast that there were no Abercrombie & Fitch outlets nearby, and “god, mom” the boys here didn’t understand a word she was saying.

Any mother will tell you she lives & dies by the happiness (or lack thereof) of her offspring. My 6 year-old was a trooper, but my newly minted teen was miserable.

My advice to others in the same boat? Give it time. Acknowledge that’s it tough, you can see where they’re coming from, and resist the urge to be a Pollyanna. Oh, and don’t make promises you’re not sure you can keep. I made that mistake more than once…

5.If you were to do it all again (moving to and living in another country), what would you do different?

I’d probably be pickier about things. We were a relo specialist’s dream… we didn’t complain, ask many questions, or voice objections. As a result of our laid-back attitude we now live in a flat that’s too small and too high up (without a lift), we’re locked into a lousy 2-year cable & phone contract, and we bank with a crummy company.

Don’t always assume your relo specialist knows best… at the end of the day you’re just another job for them. They go home and you’re stuck with the substandard results.

6.Do you want to move back to the states? If not, what is it about the expat life that makes it all worth it to you?

I’m sold on European life. Not necessarily always a life in Germany, but I’d happily live out the rest of my days on European soil. Why? Read my list of likes… and it barely scratches the surface. That said, I’m proud to be an American (thanks Lee Greenwood) and still exercise my civic right to vote and bitch about being taxed in two countries.

7.What are some of the good, the bad, the ugly…and the funny things you have experienced as an American living overseas?

Well, there was my period of extreme confusion when it came to the stringent German recycling laws. I got so freaked that I’d put something in the wrong can and all our neighbors would hate me, that I started flushing everything. And I mean everything. Did you know plastic can flush? Little chunks of old sleeping bags? Wooden shelves broken into manageable pieces? It can. All of it.

8.Any practical tips for the new expats out there (like me)?

Ask questions… lots of ‘em! Never assume a question is too stupid OR too complicated to share with other expats. I’m constantly amazed by how helpful and knowledgeable the people who read & comment in my blog are. What they’re doing (cyberly) hanging out with a dummy like me is one of life’s great mysteries, but I’m endlessly grateful.

9.Where do you think youll go next?

France would be cool. Or The Netherlands… or Belgium. Maybe Switzerland? In the UK/Ireland we wouldn’t have to contend with a language barrier. But then again, we fall more in love with Austria each time we visit…

The sky’s the limit.

Read more from B. and her life in Germany on her blog Eurotrippin.

Want to hear more advice and stories from expats? Take a look at these great interviews…

• Ms. Adventures In Italy
• My Own Moon (Sweden)
• La delirante (Malta)