₦airaland Forum

Goztino:
Hadampson, kudos.

Please keep bringing up past relevant posts, it's really helpful.

Please let's desist from posting provocative posts capable of bringing unnecessary derail.

If you people continue this way, here will completely turn to a war zone which is unnecessary.
Any more bad comments here again, I call the Moderator on the person after clicking on the report button.
Let's be civil and mature please

ibrahimovic303:
Lol i try zoom to observe this crazy lad

Megadixh:
Greetings @all,
The aforementioned countries have been my greatest desire to relocate to for the search of greener pastures. I have a skill that can be applied anywhere in the world and also in demand. Can the above amount get me to any of these countries legally?
Anticipating helpful replies.

Smoothing Tipps

MY PERSPECTIVE about life in Berlin Germany

1) Try to learn German in Nigeria its way cheaper... At least do your A1 and A2 in Nigeria if you can. For A1 alone, i paid 490 Euro here in Berlin. So you can imagine compared to the price of Goethe institute in Nigeria.

2) When budgeting for accommodation please budget for deposit ( kinda like security deposit). It's usually 2 to 3 months rent at most. You get it back when you leave the accommodation in a good condition after your contract expires.

3) Start your accommodation search as soon as you possible once you have done your interview
. Don't hope on studentwerk the waiting list is 3 semesters. Use your contacts join groups on Facebook e.g Berlin housing, flats in Berlin etc but remember there are loads of scammers and time wasters on the prowl.

4) Accommodation in Berlin is expensive but you can get cheaper accommodation in the outskirt of Berlin. If you don't mind travelling for over an hour to get to school you should consider it. Also keep in mind during winter and strike times you might have transportation challenges.

5) Anmeldung is important but getting an accommodation that offers Anmeldung is more important. This helps you avoid necessary stress of repeating the process when changing accommodation.

6) Read the fine lines before signing any contract e.g internet , phone, gym, insurance and so on. Contracts are binding here and hard to get out of once they are signed. Try starting with flexible short term contracts.

7) Eating out is great but cooking saves you money so bring you properly packaged Nigerian foodstuff when you are coming to Germany. Make sure you pay your ARD fees ( broadcasting licence) you can run but you can't hide from them forever especially since they know where you are, thanks to Anmeldung.

8.)It is compulsory and just one payment per apartment so always discuss this with your potential housemates

9) Recycling is compulsory and not hard though Berlin is dirty sha but cleaner than Naija by far.

10) A lot of generous people in Berlin giving stuff for free please join Free your stuff Berlin on Facebook. Please take only what you need try minimalist living, no space for clutter here.

11) Free food is great and cheap food is also great download 2good2go app tells you where you can find restaurants and bakeries leftover food for very low prices around you. Here there is no make we freeze and warm am for customer tomorrow. Food is served fresh and daily in most places.

12) Berlin is very diverse you would meet all kinds and types of people. Be friendly, be polite and most of all MIND YOUR BUSINESS.[/b]Try not to stare, Berlin is very LGBTQ friendly so don't be shocked. They are humans like you and might be one of the kindest people you will ever meet.

13) To survive in Berlin you need money, so hustling is very welcomed . Please drop your cloak of proudness in Nigeria because here there is dignity in Labour. [b]Without German, your job options are a bit limited to mostly unskilled labour e.g cleaning, delivery, serving etc. Though people have gotten very good jobs without German so keep applying and don't limit yourself.

14) There is a drug culture in Berlin which
unfortunately alot of our black brodas are the people selling em on the streets and it's quite open. If it's your thing well suit ya self. If it ain't when they approach you smile nicely and say No and find your way.

15) There are stupid people everywhere even in Nigeria so try not to get defensive when someone hurls racial insults at you. No need in putting yourself in harms way because you are trying to defend your blackness. A smile and a God bless you or thank you or good old ignoring
them does the trick. Try not to grovel in the mud with the pig.

16) Police is your best friend anything happens pls report to the police. Documentation always wins in the end. You get robbed or you lost something important report to the police.

17) In Germany you do effective work , meaning 8 hrs work is 8 hrs of work. No pressing phone or chatting with colleagues during working hours save it for your break time.

18) PUNCTUALITY please always be punctual 15 mins early always works. Pls pls no African time.

19) Socialising is a bit tricky here but it's easier if you join social groups there are a lot on Facebook. Also Berlin has a lot of activities you
can join groups for Salsa, bouldering, painting, cooking, fitness etc So much to do here. Best way to make friends is to socialise via activity groups.

20) Germans are very straightforward and conservative so you know our tendency of having no boundaries doesn't fly with em. So be subtle in your socialisation before they call
police on you or report you to HR.

21) Make use of your student discounts find out
places that offer student discounts and use them to save money.

22) Keep your music low and conversations down. Sunday's are noise free days someplace you ain't allowed to vaccum or mow your lawns on Sunday.

23) African restaurant and shops are available just google you would find some there is a big Afro shop run by Indians called Punjabi store in Osloer str you would get some Nigerian stuff there, even catfish.

24) School work and exams are usually packed so study hard to make good grades. Most times they don't like story story just go straight to the point where you answer questions.

25) Be nice to each other especially your fellow
Nigerians and share information when you have it. Quit your hoarding info habit, don't bring it here. Asian people dominate in most places because they have a good information network and share with each other.

fieryy:
Meine*

Da. ich. ein. netter. Mensch. bin und. du. sehr. daran. interessiert. bist., die. Sprache. zu. lernen, mache. ich. natürlich. gern. eine. Ausnahme.

Wie. wär's. mit. 9€. pro. Stunde.? 19 ct. weniger. als. der. Mindestlohn?

Spaß

I'm not sure if I can be the teacher you need. I find it very difficult explaining the rules behind certain things, since the language came naturally to me. Being a kid when we came, I just picked it up like kids pick up the language spoken around them.

I can try to explain.....I'm just saying don't expect much

MidEastPrince:
Please what’s your email sir? I’ll like to contact you as regards German language lessons.

Thanks.

fieryy:
It's actually "kämpft" lol. I used "ae" so I wouldn't get banned

Und. es. kommt. auf. den. Gefallen. an.
Ich. kann. nichts. versprechen

ladymarshall:
Sure

ladymarshall:
Sure

MidEastPrince:
Hadampson, I have to really commend you. God bless you tremendously.

Thank you.

ladymarshall:
Wow! Thanks for sharing. @Johnnybravo kindly raise that CSE asap. With the stress you went through for POF, I wouldn't want simple ECA to be an obstacle for you. Prevention is better than cure.

fieryy:
Man. bekommt. selten. was. man. will (oder. das. was. man. sich. erwuenscht.)
und. wenn. man. nicht. dafür. kaempft.,
hat. man. noch. weniger. Chancen

badmus306:
How old are you

fieryy:
Hadampson,

Wenn. man. was. im. Leben. will.,

Aber. nicht. dafuer. kaempft.,

Hat. man. noch. weniger. Chancen.

Just a tip because every time I read it, it sounds off. I've been wanting to correct it, but I've been scared of being banned plus I can't really tell you why it's wrong. It just is. I'm not the best teacher, lol

REASON WHY YOU SHOULD LEARN GERMAN TO ATLEAST A1/A2 by crowns2

From the airport you need to get to where you will be staying. You go to information desk to ask how to get to your destination. The people you may meet there hardly understand your question. You get on the train, tram or bus the announcements at the station, digital screen for bus stops are in German. There was a time i was alone on the track because everyone left the place and i didn't know the trip had being cancelled and the announcement over the air was in German. Some Naija people I know have been left alone in train because everyone disembarked and they didn't understand the announcement. The train hasn't come at the time it should, you need to ask people around is it still gonna come? Sorry no one understands what you are saying.

You need to unblock your account. The bankers don't understand you. They will help you scout for an English speaker. The poor English speaker tries his best to understand you. He is limited in explaining to you. He pauses many times to try to think how he will convey his message to you. He will say i erm erm..sorry I don't know the English word for it. Then comes your letters. 100% all written in German. This are important letters. With some times urgent information. Someone got a letter from the doctor to take some drugs and to go for a life saving procedure. Everything in the letter was in German. Google translator very limited. Ended up in Emmergency room. Doctors says in his poor and limited English why didn't you do what we wrote? Patient says NO I couldn't understand it. The nurse and hospital were supposed to explain but couldn't because they don't know how to pass the message to you. They can't speak English.

You want to ask a passerby, please how do I get to so and so place? Do I turn left or am I to go right. People keep passing no understands you. Germans are unbelievably nice they always ALWAYS want to help or assist you. But you limit them because they don't understand what you are saying. Believe me the last place you should get lost is in Germany before you will find your way eh! God help you.

The emphasis has always being on learning the language to get Jobs. I am not talking about that. I am talking daily everyday life. At my Auslander office NO ONE speaks English to you. You must go with a translator or speak the Language. You know they are the key to your stay here.

You need to call some offices to get vital info or to make an appointment, the reciever cannot understand you. You then decide to visit the office, the receptionist doesnt understand you. They help you look for a colleague of theirs who could understand. Then you ask please can you speak English, the person says a little bit. Explanation begins, you get limited in explaining, the person gets limited in understanding because they cannot understand you fully.

When I first came here I used to shop, get to the cashier, they tell me the amount and I drop all the money in the wallet on the table They select their own and give me the rest. Thank God they are honest. Sometimes I think ah! this must be food, you buy it and its NOT

The person next to you wants to discuss with you, and they are smiling at you to gist with you but you cant understand and sadly you tell them: Ich spreche kein Deutch Bitte

This is the little I can explain but please please and please again do not come here without learning the Language please.

You may ask me why I didn't. 3 reasons: I was occupied with work but I should have taken a Leave to learn for atleast a month. secondly I never envisaged it was gonna be spoken by everyone everywhere here and all the time, every blessed day. Thirdly I have a compulsory course in my school for Deutsch Language from A1 to the end for a full year. Then I thought no need . I am learning but it takes time. You cant start speaking immediately. Many schools do ont have this offer. And then you have to pay for it. I tell you it is expensive. The 36k charged in Goethe is worth it.

And please don't come here to tell me its because of where you live because I have been in 3 of the 16 states of Germany and its the same experience.

Lastly avoid with all your might Nigerian non students especially assylum seekers. They are like the devil to steal and to destroy

Eke40seven tips for job hunting

Look for a church/mosque with sufficient Nigerian population and find people in your ethnicity?

Check or google this word "arbeitsagentur.de"? you should be able to find jobs requiring only English Language in your own city and many of them will even stipulate the pay.

Also, look for other Africans and communicated with them.

Check the nearest job agency in your local government? I think the employment bureau.

Also endeavour to prepare your CV using the EU format, I repeat, EU format!


Viel Glück

P.S. Look for jobs that does not require a direct service to people face to face...e.g cleaning, car wash, etc rather than looking for jobs like bar attendance etc - for those who have no idea about German language... Shalom

dolpaz useful update



If you are from an IT field, visit this site: http://t3n.de/jobs/

you'll find a whole lot of IT jobs there..Viel Glück

damsamty16 contribution

Guten morgen people! am sorry i have been away for awhile..the education here has been really stressful and hectic for me it's not beeen easy atall..just trying to integrate with the german system because i have missed 7weeks lectures and lectures on 2 of my courses will end nextweek so i have to drop them.now am concentrating on 4courses and damn they have really gone far and i have alots to cover plus research works and presentation..not easy atall. Another thing am regreting right now is not learning the language before leaving naija..chai it's frustrating because 90% of this people speak german and if not because of BISSIEJOE AND KAYUSEBOSS maybe i would have packed my things and go back to naija out of frustration(just maybe)..big thanks to BISSIEJOE AND KAYUSEBOSS damn God is really using them for me. (PLEASE LEARN THIS LANGUAGE BEFORE COMING HERE). Also the hunt for accommodation is not been easy atall and very expensive(from 300-500euros monthly) so try your best to secure a place before coming here if you dont wanna spend close to 100euros daily on hotel except you have someone to accommodate you for awhile.[/b]

nevilbot opinion on student health insurance specifically for any student that will be above 30 years on ur arrival in germany......Even if u are one seconds above 30 years on ur arrival, u fall into this category

It is a known fact that students over 30 yrs cant take the public health insurance any longer so the option left is the private for which we all run to mawista bcus it has one of the cheapest premium monthly. If you are the type of student that rarely goes to a hospital and u do not av medical issues that warrants u to see doctors frequently, yes mawista is good for u. just pay ur premiums and enjoy ur life. but if you are the type that av reasons to visit hospitals frequently, or u will need a surgery or u want to feel safe about ursef, plz and plz, do not (and i repeat) do not use mawista.

My reason being that mawista will never pay 100% of ur hospital bills wen it really matters. They might pay for the small small hospital checkups but when it comes to real bills like surgery and long term hospitalization, they will pay some % based on ur contract yle u bear the rest. i know students presently who are in debts running into 3000euros cus mawista did not pay their total fees wen they had real medical issues.

The best health insurance company to sign up with if u are above 30 is the one that came out of an agreement btw the deutsche studentenwerk (German national student union) and hanse merkur. it is meant purely for international students above 30 yrs. just sign up for their optimum tariff plan wia u pay a monthly premium of 78 euros and u are 100% covered should you need any form of hospitalization or treatment.


This is the link to their page.

https://portal.versicherungsdienste.de/dsw-studenten-kv/index.en.html

They even pay your burial/repatriation of remains cost should u die in germany up to 10,000 euros (this will not be anyone's portion though). information they say is power, plz assist ursef and do not fall into unnecessary debt, u are still thinking on how to manage block act. Mawista is not the best public health insurance u can get as a student

nevilbot opinion on these claims below

1) Germans are cold ?

Yes they can be especially if you stay in a village

2) They hate late coming

They hate it with a passion. I once lost my job for a day cus i was 5 mins late (the rule was arrive 30mins before u are scheduled to resume, i arrived 25mins before i was supposed to resume)

3) Germans are racist

I disagree, except my mad neighbour who is always high on cannabis, all germans i have related with have been wonderful. I even had a trip to a village in the east of germany near chemnitz some months back. The people in this village had never seen a black man in real life before and they were totally shocked that not one but 3 black people was in their village. They had to come ask my host questions the next day if things were ok but they also left a comment, that unlike wat they have been exposed to on tv, we were all smiling, so they must be really nice.

4) They are introverts

In winter yes but in summer no

5) They don't have time for chitchat

Depends on the situation

6) They love beer

If you give them urine in a beer bottle, they would have drank it first before realising its not beer

Important tips to surviving in Germany by nevilbot

1) Do not keep your problems to yoursef. Talk to people. whatever the enormity of your problem, talk to people and you will be surprised at how helpful germans or nigerians in germany can be

2. Learn the language (im still feeling the negative impact of not speaking german till today)

3. Be friendly

4. Do not skip on paying any of your bills. Once you default, you pay extra, germans do not joke with money and bills.

5. Do not have sex with a lady that has taken alcohol even if its one cup and even if the sex is consensual. Wait for her to be sober especially if its the one night stand kinda lady that you met in a bar. When she wakes up, calm and sober, she might scream rape and its ur word against hers. prison straight

nevilbot academic advise to prospective Nigerian student coming over to study in Germany

You have to be passionate about the course you came here for to succeed in it. If you just see this msc or bsc trip as an avenue to escape from the mess in nigeria, you won't succeed academically in Germany and please when you are coming over, even if u are the best graduate in ur school with a gp of 5.0, just drop your ego and format your brain at the airport in lagos. Come here like you do not know anything because actually we know nothing in Nigeria (no insult intended)

Academic challenges nevilbot faced while studying in Germany and how he tackled them

I initially had issues understanding their manner of asking questions cus they do this funny one sentence/one word answers that im not used to especially coming from a la cram la pour background. I'm not ashamed to say i failed my first exam here and had to rewrite it. but studying harder and taking time to understand their system helped. Also i spent more time reading textbooks instead of the lecture slides thinking that was the best way to go(actually fininshed a 1000page textbook cover to cover) but i still failed even though the lectures were from the textbook. So, the moral lesson here is listen to ur profs during lectures, most times they already tell u wat they will ask in exams without u knowing it

benycent Tipps

PLEASE specially for team winter.. go register for language class be it Goethe or private lessons, online lesson or self teaching is not enough to learn Deutsch.

Let me share a joke: A friend of mine(Nigerian) bought a soap at Penny, he's been using the soap for a long time not until we were in the same room at a conference I saw the soap in th bathroom...I first thought it was the hotel that provides the soap but I was wondering why should hotel provide two hand soaps, I then asked him who has the second soap it was for him, he was even praising the manufacturer that I could see his skin had changed, immediately I told him he had been using "handseife" not "Dusche" in a nut shell it is important to learn the language.

I would like to advise those who just entered Deutschland and for those coming in for summer semester.....I know most of your expectations were or yet to be met (the sucking of block account,the jobs......) but I have a good news for you it would still come I can assure that let your feet stand very well and understand the system ( be careful with the heater in your room for now and signing of contracts) do not listen to those bros who will be boosting of 20 years in Deutschland, you are not the same, they came in through Asylum they do not have idea of German education system....lastly you might face racism or stereotyping in school, class or shops, please do not jump into conclusion that "germans are racist" racism and stereotyping is everywhere even in Nigeria, for example people tell you he's an igbo, he's yoruba, hausas are illiterate.....and so on, treat racism and stereotyping as individual case...

Obiwannn contribution


I'd sound it loudly and clearly here: there are a lot of opportunities abound when you sabi the language. Germany has even more opportunities than Canada and other English speaking countries, and it's the perfect time to be here as the country has started getting more receptive towards black folks..

Don't forget. Learn oh Learn German. They told me, but I say no level we go learn when we reach there. I don reach here and I no fit still learn. Nobody placed a big emphasis on the importance of German whilst I was still in Nigeria reading this thread, and the few who did, their voices were drowned.. In the end, my first few months ended in frustration.. Heck I have lost some excellent opportunities due to my inability to comprehend fluent German.

Anyhow, if you want to get a job here after school, unless it's IT or some special engineering fields, then fluent German knowledge is almost non negotiable... Also whilst you apply for schools from Nigeria, apply for fields that you know you would not have to be in tough competition with Germans to secure job placements after studies.

Obiwannn Tipps

Live and Direct from Hamburg..
First impressions
I see 2 craze men for street.
So Germany sef get craze?

Secondly, Hamburgarians are really very nice at least the first ones I've encountered

Thirdly, buy a good bag if you intend to carry plenty luggage, make e no go spoil like my own and disgrace you for road

Fourthly, na so so rules rules rules I just de sign for here oh...hmmm

Fifthly, I don't think I buy that crap the German newspapers et al are selling about old peeps being many and those who are willing to work being few; I see many young young people for here... Anyways as time goes on, I go find out..

Sixthly, omoh the cold for here na die oh.. I no come sabi operate the heater for my room. Make I no turn to ice fish this night oooooh

Seventhly, please buy an EU socket when coming, I no buy and now I wan cry as my electronics go soon die

Eightly, GErmans for here like cigar die ... I no blame them sha..na to komot the cold..make I no go b like them oh

Ninthly, finding your way to your room by yourself from airport na die...I lost for road taya...if you get money, take cab or study and save the route on a map like google maps or Nokia maps before coming

Tenthly and most importantly, omoh...German language knowledge is underrated oh.. See me na Garri and smoked fish I wan chop this night because I no no how to take go store go ask for even common bread..Una 2016, abeg learn the language oh..

Omoh this Hamburg air wey I de breathe make sense oh...but I don dey miss Nigeria already..Abeg una wey de come hamburg make una do come oh.....biko

XpensiveT LANDING POST

My trip to Deutschland !!

I left house for airport some minutes past 5pm nd got to d around 6:30pm. I didn't have any problem with the immigrations and all. I sort them with 3k naira nd they did not even search my luggage at all. They only asked if I have any liquid inside them nd i said no. Na so dem free me. #Chaii..if to say i knw i for don carry palm oil.

Turkish airline staff checked my passport nd asked for my boarding pass bcoz i already checked in online. He weighed my 2 bags at once nd both weighed 50kg. He told me to removed 4 kg nd add it to my hand luggage not knowing my hand luggage sef is 10kg. I removed a jacket and somethings sha both my 2 bags still weighed 48kg. D guy jes free me. It wasn't easy to turn my back at my family oo, i got to d departure's gate nd ran back to them like 4 times.

I got to another immigration check point where they asked for my passport nd all documents to proof that am a student. They stamped my passport nd asked if i have anything for them. Jes gave d woman 1k nd i commot. I got to my departure gate at around 9pm nd we were scheduled to board by 9:10pm and take off by 10:10pm but d flight didn't take off until 11:30pm. I vex small but wetin man go do.

My connecting flight frm Istanbul to Berlin sef don take off before i land for Istanbul. E pain me gann. All those Turkish staff jes dey play me up nd down. I didn't even knw what to do. I jes vex go para for one departure gate, na so d man tell me say dem don book me on a 12noon flight already. The guy printed another boarding pass for me sha. I con start to dey look for free wifi. I waka tire oo but i got one later sha. If u are flying Turkish airline nd ur stopover is 2hrs or more, jes try to locate STARBUCKS CAFE. I think d name of d wifi is WiSpotter.

Ooh boi, i felt like make i buy somethings at d airport. My eyes jes dey see lots of beautiful things but i jes bone them. I was hungry, i jes go meet d guy wey print another boarding pass for me say i dey hungry.. God bless that guy, d guy gimme meal ticket oo. I sharply go eat one correct meal for Food Court. Turkish airline try small oo i eat tire on board. Come see free beer grin cheesy .

All thanks to God, i arrived Berlin safely around 2pm. I didn't have any issue at Berlin airport. My Oga's frnd was there to pick me. We board a bus frm d airport to a train station. I must say this, Naija no fit, Naija no fit catch up with dis countries oo. Chaii, we dey suffer mehn.

One funny thing..as i dey inside d train, na so one oyinbo girl's phone ring oo, d ringtone na Wasiu Ayinde song.. I jes reason am say na one Yoruba boi go dey run her package.

Getting set to tour Berlin this even #Tschüs #TeamWinter2015 #Freiburger