Danielhouston:
I use 2 gyms called Mcfit and American fitness. I’ll talk about them individually.

Mcfit is the about the cheapest you can get and also the most famous gym in Germany. They have branches everywhere and you can use your membership card in other European countries where there is a Mcfit. Their gyms don’t have saunas or special amenities and monthly membership is €20. If you want special classes, you will pay more.

This gym is also so messy and be ready to smell dirty armpits and body odor in summer. I will never understand why people don’t shower. The Turkish and Arab guys are the worst. If they’re training around you, be ready to smell nonsense.
If you are good at socializing, you can make a lot of friends in this gym with other members. Some guys are popular at their gyms because they go there every day and know everybody.

This gym is also where you see a lot of weird things like guys masturbating in the shower and occasionally, at midnight, some gay guys having sex in the shower. Yes, I’ve seen a few. The Mcfit gym in Mitte (the center) is the weirdest. Sometimes you find used condom in the shower. Just mind your business and do your own thing. It’s a crazy Berlin culture to see stupid things and get used to them.

I usually don’t shower there. I also noticed that most black guys don’t shower at the gym. They prefer to go home and shower. My personal reason is because some guys get excited to see black guys naked. It makes me uncomfortable when a guy is checking me out.

Lol

Seems there are lots of gays in Berlin.

Not bad. Freedom to express your sexuality is a right, while straight people should mind their business, unless they are molested.

American fitness is an exclusive gym. The monthly membership is usually from 40-80 euros, depending on what your plan is. It is better organized but smaller in size with very few branches. They also have less equipment compared to Mcfit.

They have a sauna and a steam room. It is perfect for winter and to detox your body. The sauna is for both boys and girls and everyone is naked. So yeah, you see everything and mind your business. A girl can be sitting right in front of you naked, and there is nothing you can do about it. If you have an erection, you are on your own.
You will also find couples in their own corner, naked. You sit on your towel and you can cover your private part if you want.

I have never seen a black girl in this gym and I can imagine why. Germans usually say nudity is normal and nobody cares but.... if you’re black, they want to see you naked and pretend they’re not looking. I usually don’t mind. I sit at the sauna totally naked and don’t give a damn. It’s a mixed crowd so I’m fine with it.

I once met an American guy there and we became friends for a short time. He had just moved to Berlin with his girlfriend and wanted to make friends. He told me was a nurse and works at a hospital. I later got to find out he was actually a male stripper and worked at a strip club. What surprised me even more was that, he and his girlfriend are bisexual and have an open relationship where they have sex with other people. I don’t judge but I ran away.

Welcome to Berlin.

welcome back Danielhouston

Danielhouston:


There are beggars in Germany. Some beg on the street and some in the train. Some of them are drug addicts who can’t get it right and some really don’t have. Unlike Nigeria, the beggars here don’t just ask for money, they tell you how much they want. They can ask for €1 or 50 cent.

You’ll see them sitting with 2 cups in front of them. One cup for beer and the other cup for weed. So you know which cup to drop the money. Sometimes you see them eating KFC fried chicken, sometimes people give them food as well. They mostly don’t give a damn. You either give or you keep it moving.

how is the black lives matter movement going over there?

seankafor:
how is the black lives matter movement going over there?

oga abeg dnt use that racism topic to spoil this thread

Why is it so hard for children to be matured for once in their life

Always trying to make mountains out of molehills

Danielhouston:
American fitness is an exclusive gym. The monthly membership is usually from 40-80 euros, depending on what your plan is. It is better organized but smaller in size with very few branches. They also have less equipment compared to Mcfit.

They have a sauna and a steam room. It is perfect for winter and to detox your body. The sauna is for both boys and girls and everyone is naked. So yeah, you see everything and mind your business. A girl can be sitting right in front of you naked, and there is nothing you can do about it. If you have an erection, you are on your own.
You will also find couples in their own corner, naked. You sit on your towel and you can cover your private part if you want.

I have never seen a black girl in this gym and I can imagine why. Germans usually say nudity is normal and nobody cares but.... if you’re black, they want to see you naked and pretend they’re not looking. I usually don’t mind. I sit at the sauna totally naked and don’t give a damn. It’s a mixed crowd so I’m fine with it.

I once met an American guy there and we became friends for a short time. He had just moved to Berlin with his girlfriend and wanted to make friends. He told me was a nurse and works at a hospital. I later got to find out he was actually a male stripper and worked at a strip club. What surprised me even more was that, he and his girlfriend are bisexual and have an open relationship where they have sex with other people. I don’t judge but I ran away.

Welcome to Berlin.

OP welcome back bro,

More CMYK to your pen!

Welcome Back!

Danielhouston:
American fitness is an exclusive gym. The monthly membership is usually from 40-80 euros, depending on what your plan is. It is better organized but smaller in size with very few branches. They also have less equipment compared to Mcfit.

They have a sauna and a steam room. It is perfect for winter and to detox your body. The sauna is for both boys and girls and everyone is naked. So yeah, you see everything and mind your business. A girl can be sitting right in front of you naked, and there is nothing you can do about it. If you have an erection, you are on your own.
You will also find couples in their own corner, naked. You sit on your towel and you can cover your private part if you want.

I have never seen a black girl in this gym and I can imagine why. Germans usually say nudity is normal and nobody cares but.... if you’re black, they want to see you naked and pretend they’re not looking. I usually don’t mind. I sit at the sauna totally naked and don’t give a damn. It’s a mixed crowd so I’m fine with it.
I once met an American guy there and we became friends for a short time. He had just moved to Berlin with his girlfriend and wanted to make friends. He told me was a nurse and works at a hospital. I later got to find out he was actually a male stripper and worked at a strip club. What surprised me even more was that, he and his girlfriend are bisexual and have an open relationship where they have sex with other people. I don’t judge but I ran away.

Welcome to Berlin.

But Someone can Use white towels in the sauna instead of being naked?

Nice one Daniel. You are doing great and we really appreciate ..

Welcome Back, Boss.

superfelix:

But Someone can Use white towels in the sauna instead of being naked?

Yeah you can. I cover up with a towel sometimes

salford1:

Canada just started opening up to immigrants. It wasn't definitely built for the black people just like the USA. The USA is far ahead though. There are countless successful black Americans including several black CEOs of fortune 500 companies.

However, dreams can be achieved here in Canada. We are not yet at the level of the US. It would take some time, but it's a work in progress.

Hello salford1

I'm working on my Canadian work permit, whatever advise you could give me would be appreciated.

seankafor:
how is the black lives matter movement going over there?

We had a few protests here with very huge support. Berlin had the largest BlackLivesMatter crowd in the world after USA. The police were there to protect us as usual and it was quite peaceful, even though there was an incident that involved a black guy and the police. The black guy is now suing.

The day we had a BLM protest, some white supremacists also planned their WhiteLivesMatter protest and only about 6 people showed up. The police protected them as well, as it is their right but those guys looked stupid protesting.

The protests brought a lot of things into light, making the German government to bring up discussions about tackling racism and systemic racism. Berlin just passed an anti-discrimination law that prevents public officials, police, schools from discriminating against anyone based on skin color, religion, sexual orientation, age, background, illness, etc. It gives people the right to sue public officials if they’ve been discriminated against, and be awarded compensation.

The new law also says that you cannot discriminate against anyone because they don’t speak German. Public officials like the Foreigners office, Rathaus, Job center, have always done that. But now, you can sue them if they refuse you service or deny you opportunity because you don’t speak German. Unless it is something that lawfully requires German language.
You can also sue the police if you’ve been racially profiled or discriminated against.

This is a huge breakthrough for us. Especially those of us that have faced discrimination in housing and from government workers.

How to make and save money as a student.

1. ALWAYS calculate your money. Always know how much you have, how much you’re spending and how much you have left. Don’t just spend money anyhow without keeping record. In Germany you make money but you lose it as quickly as you make it. This will help you manage your spending, especially if you have expensive friends.

2. Get a job. I know it sounds like a sermon but you’d be surprised how lazy people become when they arrive Germany. The society has a way of distracting you. All of the beauty, freedom, good life and everything you’re not used to. When you’re new, you want to experience everything at once. At some point you get carried away and become lazy. So yeah, get a job.

3. It is okay to skip school to work. Studying is good and so is finishing your studies on time, but if you’re broke it is hard to concentrate. Sometimes you can do less school activities and work. Big companies like Amazon, Volkswagen, DHL etc, always have openings when they employ students on short term contracts. Usually for 3 months. They also pay you well. You can earn up to €2000 a month.

4. Travel out of your city and work. Yes, students do it. Some students go to Stuttgart to work, some Munich, Frankfurt and other big cities. Don’t sit down in that small city and be washing plate in the kitchen. Holidays are usually a good time to do this, when school is not in session.

5. Change your friends. If your friends are making you spend too much money, stop hanging out with them. Friends come and friends go, you will be alright. Don’t finish your money trying to please people or fit in.

6. Always pay your bills. Don’t overlook or skip any bill. That €20 bill you ignore this month, can become a €5000 debt. For every month you don’t pay a bill, you have to pay more the next month. This can finish your savings if you’re not careful. Pay your bills and pay on time.

7. Don’t start a business until you’re ready. Yes, some students start thinking of how to start a business or buy a property back home. They quickly start sending money to Nigeria. The business crumbles because the people they trusted with it, did not handle it well. Sometimes they get scammed. Also beware of Nigerians in Germany who want to introduce you to a business. Including your pastor. They can scam you.

8. Have a Nigerian bank account and save money there. Before you leave Nigeria, keep your bank account active and make sure you get online banking to monitor your account. Also get a debit card from your bank so you can use it to withdraw money in Germany. When you get your salary, send some money to your Nigerian account.

There was a time when 1 Euro was 200 naira. Then it became 500 naira. People who save money in their Nigerian account gained from it. Don’t touch the money in your Nigerian account. Only use your debit card in case of serious emergency. The money in your Nigerian account will also save you when you visit Nigeria.

9. Like Jay-z would say “If you can’t pay for it twice, you can’t afford it”. Don’t buy expensive things. Germany does not care about your fashion or luxury. Buy most of your clothes in Nigeria and bring them here. Of course there’s better quality in Germany but it’s cheaper in Nigeria. A nice jeans from Nigeria can last up to 3 years.
Also don’t rush to buy a car. You don’t need it. Germany has good transport system and even rich Germans use trains and bikes.

10. Learn some handwork. There are students who can do dreadlocks, play musical instruments, make clothes and other things. Do it beside your regular job and make some money. In my office there’s a girl from Kenya who makes clothes as well. She’s a student. She made some masks for Corona and sold it in the office. My colleagues bought from her and the masks were beautifully made.

11. Your money is your money. You worked hard for it and you can do what you want with it. Don’t let greedy family in Nigeria make you feel guilty or put pressure on you. I know students who send all their money to their parents and sibling. The siblings are also working but they believe money made in Germany is better. Be careful with them.

12. Calculate all your bills first. The best way I saved money was setting aside money for my bills. I always save money for all my bills for the next 6 months. Like rent, food, insurance, gym, WiFi, phone, if I have enough money to pay those for the next 6 months, I know I’m covered. I can save the rest.

You will not always have a job. Just make sure your bills will be paid, so you won’t panic when the time comes. I know some guys who could not afford rent for the next month and they did things out of panic, to get the money. Things like sex with other men. Some of them regretted it after.

13. Don’t cheat the system. Don’t make money on the side and be paying into your German bank account. If money is coming into your account and there’s no record of tax, you can be in trouble. Also don’t do illegal things like selling drugs. It can get you deported.

14. Avoid fines. Buy a ticket for the train and do the right thing. You can risk it if you want but if they catch you, you’ll pay €60 fine when you could have just bought a ticket of €2,80 and saved yourself the trouble.

15. Lastly, spend your money and enjoy yourself. Don’t just save and save without enjoying your hard work. When you die, people who don’t know how you suffered for the money, will be the ones to spend it. Yes, students die too.

Other Nigerian students in Germany pls feel free to add to the post.

Welcome back Dan!! Been looking forwsrd to this day.. So good to have you back!

Danielhouston:
14. Avoid fines. Buy a ticket for the train and do the right thing. You can risk it if you want but if they catch you, you’ll pay €60 fine when you could have just bought a ticket of €2,80 and saved yourself the trouble.

15. Lastly, spend your money and enjoy yourself. Don’t just save and save without enjoying your hard work. When you die, people who don’t know how you suffered for the money, will be the ones to spend it. Yes, students die too.

Other Nigerian students in Germany pls feel free to add to the post.

Back and better.

"Lastly, spend your money and enjoy yourself. Don’t just save and save without enjoying your hard work. When you die, people who don’t know how you suffered for the money, will be the ones to spend it. Yes, students die too."

Nice one Dan.

I am thrilled with the way you articulate your write-up. So descriptive.
I am always looking forward to your updates @DanielHouston

Nice one Daniel ..
so you are trying to say some Nigerians in Germany Go BROKE ! . I thought if you arrive nothing like brokeness again oo . LMAO

Daniel can you recommend a good skill someone can learn in Nigeria before moving to Germany??.

Danny6552:
Daniel can you recommend a good skill someone can learn in Nigeria before moving to Germany??.

I like this question. please your advice is needed on this?

Danny6552:
Daniel can you recommend a good skill someone can learn in Nigeria before moving to Germany??.

One of the best skills you can learn is how to do hair. You will make a lot of money with this. The black barbers here are very terrible. There is also high demand for braids, dreadlocks and anything with female hair. My friends are always begging, looking for people to do their hair and they’re willing to pay anything. Especially the black Americans, they care so much about hair and hair products.

If you can make dreadlocks and twists, you go make money tire. Even me sef dey find someone to do my dreadlocks since 2 months now. The last guy that did my dreads charged me €120 on a friendly level. He charges the white people up to €300 and they pay without complaints.

Another skill is construction work. Anything that has to do with house construction, you will always have work. It is also not as hard as in Nigeria. There are better equipment and machines here to make the work easier. You’d just have to learn how to use them, but that is not a problem. Even if your German is bad, you will still have work in this sector.

Blogging and Vlogging is another great way. If you have something interesting to talk about, people will follow you like MTN (everywhere you go). Just don’t write things that would cause controversy, otherwise you will gather the wrong attention.

Music and Arts. If you’re a musician and you are talented, you can make some money. Just don’t expect to be famous. If you play musical instruments, you get lots of attention. Keyword is: be talented.

Modeling is one of the best ways to make money here. Photographers are always looking for models (male and female) for their projects. They can also get you jobs with big companies. You would also land an advertisement job with companies like H&M, Zara, Primark or Zalando (the company I work for). Just have the looks and body and be open to nude photos.

Videography, Photography and Graphic design are also great skills to have. There are a lot of graphic designers here, so you won’t be anything special. But videographers, especially editors and color graders, are in very high demand. Color graders are mostly wanted and well paid.
Photographers too can do well but there are a lot of photographers here, so you’d have to be outstanding.

If your own is Football, pls don’t waste your time. Just face your studies and graduate. Lots of dreamers here hoping to get into local and international leagues. Especially these Owerri and Anambra boys. That one is a Disney land dream.

If you are an Athlete (except football), and you’re very good, Germans will claim you easily. I know a Nigerian girl that was a good runner. She was granted German citizenship because of it. No questions asked. She also made a lot of money but she squandered it on drugs and lost her endorsements. Now she’s telling old stories.

Also to add, if you’re a Rapper, you are wanted here. Even me sef will buy your album as long as you’re very good. The rappers here annoy me to the core with all that “lekhdwljdjehwbs” nonsense they think is rap.

There’s a huge market and following for rap music and the white boys have taken up these spaces by appropriating black culture. It is very disappointing. There are a few black American rappers here but they don’t take it seriously. They’re more interested in chasing women and doing drugs than building a career.

So yeah, if you are a good rapper and you can rap in English, you will do well here. Just don’t rap to your friends and in your bedroom. Go to the studio, make some recordings, put songs online, perform them live, and treat it like a career.

Danny6552:
Nice one Daniel ..
so you are trying to say some Nigerians in Germany Go BROKE ! . I thought if you arrive nothing like brokeness again oo . LMAO

Hmm... there are many broke Africans here. Some of them even have German passport and have been here for 10 years but still can’t pay their rent. Some even pick empty bottles on the street to exchange for some coins at the supermarket. If you don’t have a job and you don’t save, you will go broke anywhere.

GermanyChaser:
I am thrilled with the way you articulate your write-up. So descriptive.
I am always looking forward to your updates @DanielHouston

Thank you. I am a gossip girl hahaha

Danielhouston:
12.

13. Don’t cheat the system. Don’t make money on the side and be paying into your German bank account. If money is coming into your account and there’s no record of tax, you can be in trouble. Also don’t do illegal things like selling drugs. It can get you deported.

Please what if you're into some online business and the proceeds from it are normally paid directly into your Nigeria bank account. In that way, there shouldn't be need for tax, right?, or I my wrong?

Danny6552:
Daniel can you recommend a good skill someone can learn in Nigeria before moving to Germany??.

Danielhouston plz elaborate on this sir.


Thanks