Danielhouston:
Let’s talk about Ticket Inspector, we call them “controllers”. They are the people that check your ticket in the train and catch those traveling without a valid ticket.

They’re mostly Turkish and Arab. It’s like a game and everybody hates them. They’re part of the Berlin culture, so much that Berliners have devised ways to fish them out and avoid them. They change tactics every time. They mostly wear black jackets. Just look out for that mean looking Turkish/Arab dude with a black jacket and swollen pocket (that’s where they hide their scanner).

They are usually 2 people in one section of the train and come in from opposite doors. The moment the train door closes and you hear “Farschein bitte”, everybody’s heart starts to beat. They’re also very wicked and rude. But Berliners challenge them all the time. If you don’t have a ticket or have an invalid ticket, they escort you out of the train, take your information and fine you.

Fine for riding without a ticket is €60. If they catch you up to 3 times in a year, they can take you to court (or so they say, but it’s bullsh..) You’ll see the foreigners speaking English and pretending not to understand what they’re saying. Some will tell lies that they’re tourists and don’t know the law.
You can lie your way through if you’re good. Sometimes you argue until they get tired and leave you. Sometimes some people zoom off in full speed as soon as they step out of the train. They won’t chase you.

Berliners also help each other. Someone with a ticket can carry one person with their ticket from 8:00 pm everyday and all day in the weekend. So when a ticket inspector is in the train, if your neighbor sees you don’t have a ticket, they can cover for you with their ticket.

Some people with ticket also devised a means to help others. They delay the inspectors by pretending to search for their ticket. They waste time until the train gets to the next stop and people can escape. It’s a funny situation but also wild. I love Berlin.

Dem no dey collect bribe

Danielhouston:
What is a day in life like, for someone who is working in Berlin.

You wake up at 6:00 am, shower or not, drink coffee, get ready for work. You take the train or ride your bike. If you take the train, you might or might not run into a ticket inspector. Sitting in the train, you smell people’s body odor and everyone’s face is looking like someone slapped them.

You get to work, greet your colleagues, settle in and start working. You have a 1 hour break or 30 minutes break twice. You work from 9-5, depending on your company. After work you’re ready to go.

You sit in the train on your way home, this time people are smiling and more chilled, someone comes into the train to beg for money with a dog by his side. A few minutes later, there’s an Arab woman coming in the train with her harmonica to play “when the saints are marching in”, she plays it 100 times everyday for the entire year. You want her to shut up.

After a few minutes, there’s musician coming in the train with his guitar to sing and ask for money. At the next stop, there’s a crazy person walking in the train with funny fashion and heavy boots. Then there are the ones with their eye lashes almost sweeping the windows. You look at them and laugh inside.
Later, someone comes into the train and starts making noise because they’re drunk or took too much drugs. You ignore them or put on your ear phones and listen to music.

You step out the train, there’s a musician playing outside the train station and people are chilling, listening. You stop by the supermarket to buy some groceries then you go home to eat and relax. Later you go out to meet your friends for drinks and chill. You stay out until 10pm and go home to sleep. Next day, repeat.

bro u always talk about taking the train. Its like you guys value public transport and cars aren't hyped there they way the are hyped here unless its exotic cars like lambos and Ferrari

Savagethe21st:
bro u always talk about taking the train. Its like you guys value public transport and cars aren't hyped there they way the are hyped here unless its exotic cars like lambos and Ferrari

Public transport IS valued because it is usually fast, affordable, clean, punctual and for everybody regardless of social status.

'Hype', 'swag' or glamourisation of expensive cars and consumerist lifestyles will not impress people here. Germans will mock and pity you. They have other things to do with their money than inducing jealousy in those less fortunate.

Unless you travel to USA or Dubai, it is best if you leave such values in Nigeria.

TrajansKong:


Public transport IS valued because it is usually fast, affordable, clean, punctual and for everybody regardless of social status.

'Hype', 'swag' or glamourisation of expensive cars and consumerist lifestyles will not impress people here. Germans will mock and pity you. They have other things to do with their money than inducing jealousy in those less fortunate.

Unless you travel to USA or Dubai, it is best if you leave such values in Nigeria.

Great response. You nailed it. Nobody cares if you drive a Ferrari here or a Limo, you’re just posing for your friends. Even people walking or riding a bike have more rights than your Ferrari. You must wait for them to cross. Germans don’t even care if you wear designers, not to talk of what you drive. If you wan do big boy, go America

Kenn55:


Dem no dey collect bribe

Which bribe? You can’t bribe anybody in Germany. You must follow the rules no matter who you are. But there’s favoritism and “who you know”. Otherwise you can only beg your way through or do the right thing.

Danielhouston:


Which bribe? You can’t bribe anybody in Germany. You must follow the rules no matter who you are. But there’s favoritism and “who you know”. Otherwise you can only beg your way through or do the right thing.

please, can you explain more on this? Also, is there who you know in other aspect, like job seeking, especially government jobs

Danielhouston:


Great response. You nailed it. Nobody cares if you drive a Ferrari here or a Limo, you’re just posing for your friends. Even people walking or riding a bike have more rights than your Ferrari. You must wait for them to cross. Germans don’t even care if you wear designers, not to talk of what you drive. If you wan do big boy, go America

hello brother, you're doing a great. Please I wanna make inquiries about Bremen, what's it like over there as an intl student. God bless you bro

Danielhouston:


Great response. You nailed it. Nobody cares if you drive a Ferrari here or a Limo, you’re just posing for your friends. Even people walking or riding a bike have more rights than your Ferrari. You must wait for them to cross. Germans don’t even care if you wear designers, not to talk of what you drive. If you wan do big boy, go America

wow daniel I'm surprised nothing materialistic can impress them. What about their architecture and housing,do the build fences like we do, lol. Also i always hear about Oktoberfest what is it about.

Danielhouston:
What is a day in life like, for someone who is working in Berlin.

You wake up at 6:00 am, shower or not, drink coffee, get ready for work... you step out of the train, there’s a musician playing outside the train station and people are chilling, listening. You stop by the supermarket to buy some groceries then you go home to eat and relax. Later you go out to meet your friends for drinks and chill. You stay out until 10pm and go home to sleep. Next day, repeat.

I'm loving this. Your description of Germany is life like.I can picture everything you wrote like it's a block buster movie from Hollywood.

LogTM:


I'm loving this. Your description of Germany is life can like.I can picture everything you wrote like it's a block buster movie from Hollywood.

Same here!

Many Thanks, Danielhouston

Danielhouston:


Which bribe? You can’t bribe anybody in Germany. You must follow the rules no matter who you are. But there’s favoritism and “who you know”. Otherwise you can only beg your way through or do the right thing.

Do you have any idea what the lower saxony / Clausthal area of Germany is like?

olalekan9320:
please, can you explain more on this? Also, is there who you know in other aspect, like job seeking, especially government jobs

There’s “who you know” in every aspect. They pretend like it doesn’t exist but it does. Even when you don’t feel like going to work, your friendly doctor can give you a sick leave and lie for you. If you know people in certain occupations they can help you get things done by calling their friends on your behalf. Even in cases of visa. They won’t get it done expressly but they’ll make it easier for you. All by the law.

The thing in Germany is, professionals know other professionals. A doctor might have a lawyer friend that deals with immigration, the lawyer might know someone in foreigners office, a catholic priest will know someone in Asylum office, just like that. You’d be surprised what one professional friend can do for you. All coded.

ural2015:
hello brother, you're doing a great. Please I wanna make inquiries about Bremen, what's it like over there as an intl student. God bless you bro

I was in Bremen once for a weekend, hated it. Nothing wrong with the city, it’s just too many students. The entire city feels like walking in a University campus. Also surrounded by water and beautiful parks. It is big and beautiful. It seemed great for student life. I even saw a student refugee from Syria that was living in a nice flat. Not just my cup of tea

Amethyst101:
Good job @Danielhouston. You and @Munichlover are doing great to enlighten those who have plans to one day move to Germany.

I have been a silent observer of most German threads here, since I stumbled on a thread some weeks ago, and I must say it's been very eye-opening so far. My knowledge of the country has been improved and I'm also considering moving there for my master's when I'm done with my degree here.

I have read a few things here about Potsdam and it's proximity to Berlin, but I would like to know more. Thank you.

If you're living in Germany and you can also help me out, I would appreciate it.

Germany is beautiful but I have no ideas on any of those cities

Savagethe21st:
wow daniel I'm surprised nothing materialistic can impress them. What about their architecture and housing,do the build fences like we do, lol. Also i always hear about Oktoberfest what is it about.

They don’t have fences. You can have little wooden fences with a garden like you see in movies. All the houses look the same, no fancy architecture like in Nigeria where people compete with house design.
In Germany everybody’s house looks the same from outside. No design, nothing. There are old houses and there are new ones. Germans prefer the old houses with wooden floors that make noise. I prefer the new houses with cement and all.

Don’t get it twisted though, Germans are about interior. A house can look tiny and old outside but if you go inside, you’ll be surprised how beautiful and expensive it looks. There’s a regulation that guides how houses are built.
If you’re too rich and want a Hollywood house like you see on TV, you have to go to an outskirt somewhere and build your own. Only companies and tourist locations can design their exterior.

Thank you for this thread op, God bless. Learnt one or two.

Danielhouston:


They don’t have fences. You can have little wooden fences with a garden like you see in movies. All the houses look the same, no fancy architecture like in Nigeria where people compete with house design.
In Germany everybody’s house looks the same from outside. No design, nothing. There are old houses and there are new ones. Germans prefer the old houses with wooden floors that make noise. I prefer the new houses with cement and all.

Don’t get it twisted though, Germans are about interior. A house can look tiny and old outside but if you go inside, you’ll be surprised how beautiful and expensive it looks. There’s a regulation that guides how houses are built.
If you’re too rich and want a Hollywood house like you see on TV, you have to go to an outskirt somewhere and build your own. Only companies and tourist locations can design their exterior.

bro unlike munichlover, uar yet to narrate ur journey from naija to germany ...needs some motivation sir

Savagethe21st:
wow daniel I'm surprised nothing materialistic can impress them. What about their architecture and housing,do the build fences like we do, lol. Also i always hear about Oktoberfest what is it about.

Oktoberfest is an annual ceremony that happens mainly in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. Cities like Munich, Stuttgart, Nuremberg, na dem carry am for head. They wear their traditional German costume and celebrate. It’s basically a beer festival. So lots of beer drinking and sausages and other German food. It’s quite huge. People visit from around the world to experience it.
The first time I went there, I just wanted someone to get me out of there. It was too German for me.

Danielhouston:


They don’t have fences. You can have little wooden fences with a garden like you see in movies. All the houses look the same, no fancy architecture like in Nigeria where people compete with house design.
In Germany everybody’s house looks the same from outside. No design, nothing. There are old houses and there are new ones. Germans prefer the old houses with wooden floors that make noise. I prefer the new houses with cement and all.

Don’t get it twisted though, Germans are about interior. A house can look tiny and old outside but if you go inside, you’ll be surprised how beautiful and expensive it looks. There’s a regulation that guides how houses are built.
If you’re too rich and want a Hollywood house like you see on TV, you have to go to an outskirt somewhere and build your own. Only companies and tourist locations can design their exterior.

cool. Also Daniel is there any way Germans see Nigerians as? Because i heard in the U.S Nigerians have the stereotype of being internet fraudsters. Also producing good doctors

LogTM:


I'm loving this. Your description of Germany is life can like.I can picture everything you wrote like it's a block buster movie from Hollywood.

Hahaha it is really like that, except that it’s real life and you’re the actor. So if you die, you die for real. If you survive, you survive. If they knock you down, you get up and try again. But I tell you, there are days you’ll wake up and just smile and thank God you’re here. Peace of mind, even from walking around, your spirit will be calm like a river. Beauty everywhere.

For 4 years I did not sweat, even in the gym. It’s just in the last 2 years I started sweating because the summer got hotter. You know what it means to live in a place for 7 years and light never went off, not even for 1 second. Internet to do whatever you want and watch anything you want without buying recharge card.
Your attitude will also change, you’ll become calmer and less troublesome. Even noise making will start to disgust you. You can lay on the ground and your cloth won’t get dirty. No mosquito.

Danielhouston:


Oktoberfest is an annual ceremony that happens mainly in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. Cities like Munich, Stuttgart, Nuremberg, na dem carry am for head. They wear their traditional German costume and celebrate. It’s basically a beer festival. So lots of beer drinking and sausages and other German food. It’s quite huge. People visit from around the world to experience it.
The first time I went there, I just wanted someone to get me out of there. It was too German for me.

since you have stayed that long,have u gotten citizenship?

evergreen9:


Do you have any idea what the lower saxony / Clausthal area of Germany is like?

Nothing happens there. Hanover and Gottingen are the cities we hear about because of the students. Wolfsburg is one hour from Berlin and the Germans there are timid. When you meet them it’s like they just jumped out of 1979 and don’t know where they’re going. But it’s a beautiful city. Oh and it’s rich.

Gottingen is boring as hell and small. Students who live there usually go and hang out in Kassel, which is also boring. They don’t even have in-city trains or trams in Gottingen. Only buses. That’s to tell you how small it is. Hanover is bigger but nothing happens there as well. But they’re all beautiful cities. Students in Gottingen have complained about racism. About 3 years ago a Cameroon boy got beat up in the bus by 2 German guys and it made the news. But I closed the chapter of racism on this thread.

Did you have a girlfriend?

Savagethe21st:

cool. Also Daniel is there any way Germans see Nigerians as? Because i heard in the U.S Nigerians have the stereotype of being internet fraudsters. Also producing good doctors

Germans see Nigerians as Africa and Africa as poor people who need help. Fraudster is not what comes to their minds. They see Ghanaians as fraudsters because many of them have been scammed by Ghanaians in the name of cyber love and marriage.
Many of them don’t even know anything about Nigeria. Nothing at all. They just know on the map that it’s in Africa and Africa is poor. When you tell them you’re from Nigeria, they first pronounce it in German and say “oh Africa....”

But you see these white girls that parade Afro clubs looking for black boys to tidy them, those ones know what’s up. They even know Nigerian food. One German girl came to my house once. I was about to eat. She saw my food and said “ah Egusi, I like egusi and pounded yam...” She told me her ex was Nigerian.
I pursue the girl from my house. Oya madam, carry your jacket and go.

@25tolife

I’m here to share my black experience in Germany, not to tell you my autobiography. I share information that is relevant to anyone who wants to move to Germany. Leave the personal questions pls.

Be like this Germany go make sense o, spend 2 weeks there, enjoy and go back home.

Danielhouston:
@25tolife

I’m here to share my black experience in Germany, not to tell you my autobiography. I share information that is relevant to anyone who wants to move to Germany. Leave the personal questions pls.

no offence bro...why i asked is that most pple do share 4 motivation or so.....no offence bro I did not ask 4 ur biography istead 'journey of naija to germany' lets just 4get abt it anyway.thanks sir

Danielhouston:


Germans see Nigerians as Africa and Africa as poor people who need help. Fraudster is not what comes to their minds. They see Ghanaians as fraudsters because many of them have been scammed by Ghanaians in the name of cyber love and marriage.
Many of them don’t even know anything about Nigeria. Nothing at all. They just know on the map that it’s in Africa and Africa is poor. When you tell them you’re from Nigeria, they first pronounce it in German and say “oh Africa....”

But you see these white girls that parade Afro clubs looking for black boys to tidy them, those ones know what’s up. They even know Nigerian food. One German girl came to my house once. I was about to eat. She saw my food and said “ah Egusi, I like egusi and pounded yam...” She told me her ex was Nigerian.
I pursue the girl from my house. Oya madam, carry your jacket and go.

hahaha they no get woman wey naija boy no fit date. Funny how they still see us as poor. The media always portray our children barely clothed and without footwear not knowing some ppl for this naija dey live for heaven. That's by the way, i heard education is FREE in Germany is that true? Because I'm into IT(400l in FUTO) and hope to do masters there since i dunno anybody that knows anybody(the kind of connection u talked about) that can gimme a job there.

25tolife:
bro unlike munichlover, uar yet to narrate ur journey from naija to germany ...needs some motivation sir

I will not give all the information because this is a public forum and I want to remain anonymous. But before I left Nigeria, I saved my NYSC money every month and managed. I told my friends I wanted to travel, they laughed at me. But I was determined. I got international passport and just kept it, even though I had no means. Getting that Nigerian passport was my motivation every day.

I used my NYSC money to apply to schools. I applied to 27 schools, got rejected by all of them. My money finished. My friends said I was crazy but I didn’t give up. I used the last money I had to apply to another University but I didn’t give it any hope. I didn’t hear from them.

My spirit just told me to send the school an email about my application. I did and they replied. They said they offered me admission and sent me a letter since 3 months ago. And the school was about to resume. Turns out my letter was in Nipost. Stupid people threw it one corner.
I went to Nipost and begged them to look for it, gave the man money. He eventually found it after 2 weeks. Then it was late. I didn’t have money to travel anyway.

I emailed the school and they agreed to move my admission to the next semester. I was happy. Then I started hustling for money and selling property and praying. One rich Igbo man I used to greet and wash his car sometimes, one day he shook my hand and gave me money. I opened it and it was $600. I thought I was dreaming or he made mistake. But it was true. I knew it was God at work.

I eventually got enough money, went for interview, I didn’t know anything or anybody in Germany. Did all my research online every night. I was buying recharge card just solely for research. I did interview and kept hoping.
I was in Ikeja under bridge eating egg roll and drinking coke, when I got the message from German embassy to come with travel insurance. I knew it was visa. All the while, I didn’t tell anybody. I kept it all to myself.

I went on Facebook and joined apartment groups for people in Germany and found a room with some German guys before I left Nigeria. I went shopping, got my ticket. First time traveling abroad, I was sweating like Jackie. I changed my money at the airport. Before I boarded the plane, I went to toilet to sh*t out everything about Nigeria.

I arrived Dubai and took another flight to Frankfurt. Germany was so cold. I didn’t even know what train looked like or how to read signs. But thanks to my Android phone, google maps and translate showed me everything. I asked some people about the train and went to my city.

I used google maps to locate the flat and rang the bell. Met the German guys and they showed me my room. They said I’ll stay for 3 days then they’ll decide if they like me as a flat mate or not. They later liked me and I lived with them. They helped me with everything about registration, bank account, insurance, transport, they taught me everything. They even drove me to buy things for my room. I met their friends as well.
They took me to the stadium for the first time in my life, being in a stadium watching a match live.

I eventually went to my school and my life started from there. I made lots of mistakes and got lost many times in Germany. I suffered o. People used me and threw me out of their house. Even Nigerians. Even the Nigerian church I was attending, they helped me but they almost destroyed me.
Na here we dey today and the rest is history.

Thanks sir, thats exactly what i asked u just motivated me this evening .stay blessed .

i just hope you are still in touch with those your friends?

25tolife:
Thanks sir, thats exactly what i asked u just motivated me this evening .stay blessed .

i just hope you are still in touch with those your friends?

Thank you. Pls just refer to me as Daniel. No need to add “sir” or any other honorable titles. The German in me makes it uncomfortable when people do that. I’m not bigger or better than anyone. Yeah I’m still in touch with ALL my friends and we help each other. But now it’s harder to travel and EURO has increased.

Savagethe21st:


hahaha they no get woman wey naija boy no fit date. Funny how they still see us as poor. The media always portray our children barely clothed and without footwear not knowing some ppl for this naija dey live for heaven. That's by the way, i heard education is FREE in Germany is that true? Because I'm into IT(400l in FUTO) and hope to do masters there since i dunno anybody that knows anybody(the kind of connection u talked about) that can gimme a job there.

Yes it is free, but you pay a semester fee of about 200-300 euros every semester, depending on the city. There’s a thread about all of that.