dhtml6:
This is a good one, I came from a background of medicine and now I an a senior developer that wear many hats. So forget about academic background and get down to work.

What makes you a junior, intermediate or senior developer is a combination of the below:
1. How proficient are you in the language? Beginner, in the middle, or a freaking expert
2. How long have you been using the language actively?
3. Where are the projects that you have worked on using those languages (github links, work samples, real life jobs)

As for learning of stacks, let me help you reorder it a bit:
HTML;CSS, Javascript, Bootstrap,
NodeJS / Express
MongoDB
React/Vue

Learn those things one at a time.

Dont forget there are other stacks too like php, python. But leave those out for now, focus on that your list.

Bros I hail, I know you , my fellow Franciscan (SFCSS Liasu rd).

Ayohbk:
Hello everyone ,


Let me tag the few programmers i know on nairaland to this post. computaholicGoc , willy2000 , dolpaz talk2hb1

Dankeschön

More grease to your elbow
Let me drop my own two cents if you want to be a full-stack developer and a senior at it, requires a minimum of 5 years on the job with loads of project/experience under your belt. I don't call my self a full-stack developer, and I don't think I will go down that route, it is torturous. (my opinion).


Meanwhile, in Germany, there is this current craze about container technology. I hope you also have that under your radar. Jobs now require you know microservice architectures. Also, Kubernetes/Docker and other continuous integration deployment tools and frameworks are very useful skills to have.

If you are still in school and not yet thru, I will advise you to pick and horn your skill in one OOP language, JAVA or C++, I will say Java because I find it easier than C++ and with Java, you have lots of Job opportunities. Then understand software engineering process properly, know your design patterns and how to implement any. Next, let your hands get dirty and fill up your GitHub repo with your personal projects, this will go a long way when applying for jobs. Then look for courses on Udemy and learn any cloud technology that interests you, AWS, Azure or GCP and start getting those certifications. At the end of the day, make sure you have a realistic plan. Don't get carried away with javascript and its framework, there is more to life as a programmer, and full-stack is just one.

Good to see they introduced you to Latex . Try and learn Docker too. It will help you in the long run.
My own two cents

Rawhumper:
But i showed you examples na hande is German word for hand,i dont need to argue that while feur thoigh the e is not english is same as fire in English.

Continue lying

Nein is German for no,i dont say i speak German just to let you know that English language originated from Anglo Saxon.

English and German are both parts of the branch of Indo-European languages known as the West Germanic languages. A simple google search would have helped you here, read this link and educate your self. https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-relation-between-English-and-the-Indo-European-language-family/answer/Kelechi-Wachuku?share=1a9f1d23&srid=G1uB

You can take it or leave bro,am not lying.
Las las know that human brains differ,there is someone that can learn it within 3weeks.
Intelligence differs,u have not seen people that grasp incredibly.
quote author=willy2000 post=92383066]

Like I said before, even if you have two of Einstein's brain. You can't speak German fluently as you previously claimed. Stop spreading false information.

NB: Stop using unnecessary space in your post. My reply to you ends here.

Rawhumper:
Lol i cant stop laughing i think its 3months,confirmed but i can understand and speak not fluently in less than 2months.

German language has similiarities with English language examples Fuer german in English Fire.
Hande-Hand in English, nein-No in English,Ish-Is in English etc.

Happy sunday

[quote author=willy2000 post=92379412]

Continue with your lie @bolded.
Even if you have two of Einstein's brain, you can never be fluent in German in just one month. So it is either you are lying or your sister lied to you.

Ogbeni, you are still lying, if you don't know what to say, just ignore my mention. Imagine saying English and German have similarities, Do you even know any German Grammatik? Or you think the little words Dualingo throws at you is all there is to the German Language.

Rawhumper:
It depends on ones IQ level it took my sister a month to be fluent with German

Everything its about ones ability to grasp and assimiliate easily.

Germany is a nice country and Angela Merkel is a mother as well as a wonderful leader.

God bless her so much for all she has been doing for immigrants and building a powerful economy in Europe unlike our yeye leaders,shameless goats that only know to loot money

Continue with your lie @bolded.
Even if you have two of Einstein's brain, you can never be fluent in German in just one month. So it is either you are lying or your sister lied to you.

Danielhouston:


If you have an EU blue card (a type of work permit), you can look for a job anywhere within the EU. I think Denmark and Ireland are exempt. You can definitely look for a job in Germany or anywhere else within EU. You don’t need a visa. It covers the Schengen zone. Some countries may have their own special rules that follow.

This is not totally correct. If you have an EU blue card from another EU country, it has to be at least 18months old before you can apply for a job in Germany, and you need to apply for a German EU blue card before taking any offer in Germany.


source: https://www.bamf.de/EN/Themen/MigrationAufenthalt/ZuwandererDrittstaaten/Migrathek/BlaueKarteEU/blauekarteeu-node.html;jsessionid=D8218331D7B9112C872745FAA89F89BC.internet542

Danielhouston:


Hi Willy2000, good to hear from you again. I want to get something off my chest. I was honestly not happy about the thread you opened after mine went downhill. I appreciate you being inspired by my thread and choosing to open yours but the timing and purpose was off.

Your comment: “I will want to reiterate, this is not a thread about RACISM and DISCRIMINATION in Germany, neither is it a thread for ASYLUM or IMMIGRATION questions”, was a blow to my back. That came off as an indirect mockery of what went down in my thread. Making people believe you can articulate my ideas better and not be like me.

The thread came at the exact time mine went down, knowing it would attract my readers. That is like starting a business with lots of customers and the business crumbles, then one of your colleagues opens his own business immediately with your ideas and products, knowing it will attract your customers, while pointing out to people that he won’t make the mistake you made and he can do it better. There’s a code of conduct to these things.

I know this is an anonymous forum and anybody can post whatever they want. Yes it is not that serious, but it is wrong. You don’t have to see it my way. You can ignore me.
The only reason I’m saying this is because I’ll be resuming my thread again and I always loved your contributions. I would love you to keep contributing and sharing your knowledge. I just want to keep a clear mind.

Thanks and cheers.

@Bolded got me laughing out loud, like seriously !!! I never knew Nairaland paid Original Posters for having the highest amount of readers and followers, abeg ja mi si make me sef cash in .


Nairaland is an anonymous forum, where you can write and discuss whatever you have on your mind, at any time you deem fit. If you check my profile, I created a thread in the Diary section to document my adventure here from day one. I gave it up all because I just felt it wasn't the right time to do such, and I wanted to remain anonymous as possible. This moniker happens to be my second, a lot went down with my first, and I have learned from my mistake.

However, your thread came along, I participated but tried as much as possible to give only Information that happened to me first hand. We all know how information travels. Don't take this as an attack on your person, but the reason I said "I will want to reiterate, this is not a thread about RACISM and DISCRIMINATION in Germany, neither is it a thread for ASYLUM or IMMIGRATION questions" is simple. Both topics are touchy, and we all have different opinions about them. I wanted the thread to be for people to come in share their experience based on their location and let people learn base on what they read.
As I said, don't take it personally, but you saying it is wrong to start a thread after your thread was locked, is so wrong to say. You still don't know how Nairaland really works. Look at the topic and the content, and tell me how it relates to your thread? Because I said your thread motivated me to start this particular thread, doesn't mean I Plagiarised you. You need to go thru similar threads such as the UK, US, Australia ones, before coming to such conclusion you just made. "trying to steal your readers", this is so funny as hell.


Germany is a vast country, and whatever you experience cannot be used as a rule for incoming people. You may share your experience, which most time is biased because it is yours, same way I share mine, which is also biased. No one, I repeat no one has a defined rule or template of how life as an immigrant in Germany will be.

Maybe you need to relax and see Nairaland as a place to unwind, and nothing more.

seunny4lif:
Austrians German is diff from Germany German
Swiss German is diff from Germany German
Same goes to all of them
I have worked with both Swiss-German citizens and Austria citizens.
Those guys German are really too strong.
Just like British English is really easy to understand compared to Irish-English or Canada-English or USA-English and worst of all India-English

Different based on what?
Do they use different Latin alphabets?
Are the grammar rules different?
How do you classify a language as being different?

Danielhouston:
Life while studying:

Germany: better chance of visa, better student benefits, world class Universities, less expensive, better job opportunity after studying, chance to make more money, more discrimination, bureaucracy, more peaceful people, less police harassment, bigger cities, better connected for traveling around, German language is not popular outside Germany.

Netherlands: better student life, happier/more friendly people, more expensive, boring, good for weed smokers, open minded people, more beautiful people, less discrimination, more English speakers, easier to find English speaking student jobs, less bureaucracy, more racial profiling by police, Dutch language can be useful in other Dutch speaking countries.

Life After Studying:

Germany: better chance to get a job, more global, better chance to save money, better pay, robotic work environment, better integration, better chance to become a citizen, average salary €3,700 (before tax), 18 months to find a job, better chance to extend work visa or take up another study.

Netherland: more relaxed working environment, more international working environment, higher chance of working for an international company, higher chance of finding an English speaking job, hard to save money, more black people in good job positions, fewer good job cities, less opportunities, can get a job in another Dutch speaking country if you learn the language, 1 year to find a job, average salary €2,800 (before tax), requires 10 years before applying for citizenship.

Process of obtaining permanent residency is similar in both countries.

At the bolded is not true, If anyone dreams of coming to Europe and want to learn a language to have an economical advantage, GERMAN is the language to learn. Dutch is spoken in Europe only in the Netherlands and Belgium, while German is used in Austria, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium. With German, you can never get lost in the aforementioned countries.

Mind you, if you speak proper German, you can survive and get jobs in all German-speaking countries no matter the accent. You may initially struggle to understand them, but with time your ears will tune in and it will be a thing of the past.
NB: Living in a foreign country does not only entail speaking the language, but you also have to master reading and writing the language. So if you go to Austria, Switzerland, Belgium.......... The written form of the German language is the same.

0DDA0:
@willy2000 thanks for the reply. Also, I read on the Dan's thread that you can't say you freelance or have an online business as a student(Even though it's legit). But you can call it something else.
Is remote student work acceptable? Also, how do they know your income to tax you when you make above €500? For example with a Payoneer card. You're withdrawing straight with an ATM. Nothing is entering your (German) bank account.

I'm asking because for a programmer, or anything freelance-able, freelance really helps, and can help more when you can legit put your location as a non-Nigerian location. It can be more beneficial than menial physical jobs.

Working as a freelancer and earning above a certain threshold is taxable. Note, as long as you receive payments into your German accounts, your dealings are known. However, if your clients decide to pay into your Nigerian account, then lucky you, but just hope they do not declare it on their tax returns. Because your name will definitely appear on the receipt, and if the account officer digs deeper, then you know what will happen.

Asolukah:
@willy2000 bro please I'm not trying to change the essence of this thread I just want you to help me get contact of any air freight cargo company owned by Nigerians in Germany that can help send goods to Nigeria. A kind request

Unfortunately, I don't know any air freight cargo company owned by a Nigerian. You can google it up, and try searching around Hamburg and Bremen.

0DDA0:
How's healthcare like? If one happens to fall ill, as a student and regular immigrant still trying to get work?

Costs, Treatment (behaviour wise), etc. Read on quora it's not easy without insurance, and could take days for an appointment, unless it's a life threatening emergency.

Health insurance is an important requirement for enrollment into any University in Germany. You must have Insurance.
As for appointments, it depends on the kind of doctor you want to visit. If you need a general practitioner, an appointment for such doesn't take too long. However, other kind of Doctors like ENT, and co. You may have to wait for weeks if not months before you can get your first appointment.
But the trick here is, once you have visited a Doctor once, getting follow up appointments is easy, even if you have an emergency, you can call and walk-in the same day to see the doctor, but you will have to be patient.

Deltayankeeboi:


Nice. Germany has a lot of Greenland and vast uninhabited environments.

People live there or those houses have been deserted

People live there, this actually how a typical village settlement looks like.

Deltayankeeboi:
OP, if I may add, you can still drop nice pictures of the evergreen environment in Germany. It will capture more minds to always visit your thread
Mehn, I love seeing the pictures of the evergreen environment abroad. It gives me this feeling of closure and longing to be there.

OP, please pictures, very important. Thank you.

Followed already.

Please dey update us frequently as much as you can.
So we can stay glued to the thread.

That was the reason why I particularly loved Danielhouston's thread, his frequent updates.

The other guy that also created a thread living in Germany, I don't know if it's pride or personal reasons, he is active but chooses not to update anymore.

OP, no go do us like that, I go vex

CC willy2000

@Bolded here some images I took from my last hike

solomonbrown64:
...... Nice tips @willy2000...

.... I do have a lot of questions but I want you to land first because from your posts, sooner than later, you will get to what I want to know.

But, I would like to know how much you can save as a worker for a single man after paying tax.


Thanks.

How much you can save as a single man depends on so many factors, I can not drop figures because what I may end up saving my be too little compared to you.
But if you are frugal and decide to live in a small apartment, you will save some money.

frankmoney:
how much is the required balance for a residence permit

This depends on the official attending to you.
The law state you have to show financial proof of sustenance, which is I think about 850 per month(not sure if this amount is correct). So it is either you have that in your account or you have an equivalent job contract. Like I said earlier, it depends on the official attending to you.

* What culture shock have you experienced?

I will discuss this base on the following factors:
Food: I find German food not so impressive, it is also not spicy and laced with too much salt. The love of bread and pork in Germany is the beginning of life. So if this rocks your boat, then you have no problem.
Unless you have a family or a friend already living in Germany, eating good food will be a challenge. It is always advisable to come along with your best food ingredients just in case you have a bad day; you can lighten it up in the kitchen.

Stir: You will get a lot of this, till today, I still get stirred at, so as African migrant, do not take this personal, they say it is part of German curiosity. However, never allow anyone to touch you without your consent.

Dates:
Going on a date is cheap, you pay for your food and drinks. If you want to do it the Nigerian way, then you've to tell her earlier and insist that you are inviting her and will pay for the date. This will put you in an awkward situation if your partner is German. So don't do it.

Cars:
I found too many small cars on the street of Germany, and they all looked clean and new, and Mercedes Benz S and C class cars are taxis.

Drinking from the kitchen sink is safe, well this is a culture shock( thanks to the corrupt leaders we have in Nigeria). I have never experienced a blackout and took me a while to stop ironing my clothes.
Buying essentials was tough, and you hardly find the appropriate body cream for African skin. I had to ask around for an African shop to get that.

* How to locate Nigerian restaurants and market in your location?

Unfortunately, there are no Nigerian restaurants in my city. The last time I visited a Nigerian restaurant was in Frankfurt and what I got was nothing to write home about.

* How much do you or your family survive on in a month?

I lived alone and was also frugal as a student:
Let's assume I had;
Income 750 ( when I was still a student)
Rent 280 (studentenwerk) They have the cheapest house.
Insurance 80 -180 depending on your age, if you are above 30, then you have to go for the private ones like mawista and co, they seem to be cheaper, but I never used them. So no idea here.
Tv 17,50(if you are living alone, if it's a shared apartment, it's cheaper)
Food 150 I eat in the Mensa sometimes, which contributed to this amount.
phone 20
drinks and fun 50

Total 547,5 - 647,5
Internet ---------- Not included because I lived in an apartment with an Internet connection and I had access to the Internet in school.
Then you have other earnings, maybe a mini-job of 450, you can save from this money and cover other expenses

The above breakdown is an individual rough estimate. The total amount can be higher than what I have here because there are lots of factors one has to consider. A city like München will trash this list since the cost of accommodation is almost or if not even higher than the total amount here.
Finally, as a Student, it is possible to save 150 monthly if you live in a small and relatively cheap city. Note I did not account for what you will earn during the holidays.


* And any other advice.
Focus more on the positives of life and everything negative, pressure, and challenges are all but an opportunity for you to rise.
Have it at the back of your mind, that Germany is a foreign country, I do not speak the language, everything will not be sweet and beautiful as a bed of roses, Work hard and smart, and the sky will be a starting point.

solomonbrown64:
...... Nice tips @willy2000...

.... I do have a lot of questions but I want you to land first because from your posts, sooner than later, you will get to what I want to know.

But, I would like to know how much you can save as a worker for a single man after paying tax.


Thanks.

I will talk about this later this evening.

Kind of strange to see people comparing this thread with the previous one.
I have gone through the travel section and found threads for US, UK Immigrant, but none for German Immigrant. Looking closely, you will see I copied the UK thread format, in other to make it generic. This thread is not about me.
I read the UK version, and wow you get diverse information from people, who are willing to share.

I will finish the remaining points I listed later this evening and answer any questions people may have based on what they want to know, that can not be found on this forum. If you are a prospective student, there is a thread for that, seeking a family reunion, there is a thread for that. There is also a thread for job seekers, applying for a job in Germany from Nigeria.

But if you live in Germany and you are having challenges or there are things that are confusing. That is why I created this thread, the experiences we all have had and are going to have in Germany are different. But it will do a lot well sharing some of these experiences or giving tips on how to circumvent the challenge at hand.

I will also create a thread for IT prospects in the programming section(@dolpaz). Since I have access to loads of learning materials, I am willing to share videos and ebooks with people who are ready to aspire, this I will do once I set up a secure server.

* Driving in Germany? How long can you use your Naija driving license before you get a permit?

You can drive in Germany if you have a valid Nigerian driving license, and have not lived in the country for longer than six months. My best advice is, if you are not on a tourist visa, it is better you exchange your Nigerian licence to a German one before it expires. If your license happens to expire before the change, then you will have to go through the who process from the beginning. The process entails, attending twelve compulsory theory classes, some series of practical driving exercises, I can not remember the exact amount of hrs, but you have to clock a minimum number of practical training hrs before you're fit to take the driving test.

Driving schools are expensive, and you can not cut corners. Before you apply to any school, try and ask around, especially from Africans, I would say Cameroonians if you have any around, they are resourceful in this regard. Find out from them which school is cheaper and friendlier. Some of the driving school cheat their students, how do they do this. They are not truthful and will allow you to register for the driving test, knowing fully well, you won't pass. Once you fail the exam the first time, the pressure gets to you the second, leading to a second failure, after the third failure, you must give a three month gap, mind you, your theory exam is only valid for a year. So you have to be smart by going to the right school, which could make or mar you. Changing of driving school is also complicated because your driving school will register you at the local office for resident registration, if you move to another school, they already know where you are coming from, so they usually ask what the problem was. Trust me those guys know each other, you can not outplay them.


* Tricks and tips to get successfully obtain a license
How can you successfully obtain a German license?
First, you complete a course called; First Aid at The Scene of An Accident "Sofortmaßnahmen am Unfallort." This course is an 8hr course you can do it either on a Saturday or Sunday at any Red Cross or first aid training school, and you have to register for it. If you live in a big city, then you may experience a queue. The purpose of this course is to ensure that everyone who owns a driving license should be able to perform first aid at the scene of an accident. You are obligated to do this, and it's a criminal office if you witness an accident and do not stop to help, should you get caught, then be prepared for trouble.

Second, eye test "Sehtestbescheinigung" official confirmation of an eye test carried out within the past two years by an optician "Optiker".
So, with your first aid certificate and eye test certificate, you go to your school of choice and submit your international passport and residence permit they will make your application to the local office for resident registration "Einwohnermeldeamt" for a driving licence "Antrag auf Erteilung einer Fahrerlaubnis".
Ensure you start with a driving instructor you can relate with and talk to, be very open to him/her. Don't be rude or aggressive, even if the instructor sound bossy, try as much as possible to stay humble, the fastest way of getting your license is making your instructor like you. Most of the time, they already know the driving route and the routines the examiner will ask you to do. So if you are friendly, they will always take you through this route and make you do the routines till you are perfect. They won't tell you why, but on your test day, it will just be like a typical practice day.
For the theory exams, you will get a software package from your driving school that contains about 1500 hundred questions or so. The questions are tricky but easy to pass, practise the whole 1500 till it becomes a part of you like you see the first three words in a sentence, and boom you already know the answer. When you get to this stage, then you are ready for the theory test. You can choose to take the test in English.

* Childcare for children below 5

I do not have personal experience on this topic, but from what I have heard from a colleague and hearsay, Some firms pay money to parents who have young kids, it is called "Kinderbetreuungskostenzuschuss". (you can google translate the word). This is not the same as "Kindergeld" you get from the govt. My firm pays around 500 or thereabout per month with an additional 300 per extra kid. There is no law stating how much an employer should pay, so this range can be lower or higher depending on several factors, like if the company has a creche, then I would expect the amount to be smaller because you do not have to arrange for daycare or a baby sitter.

jesmond3945:
the link I posted is even the part 8 and it encapsulates all one need to know about migrating and settling down in Germany. What made Daniel Houston's thread interesting, is that it was a deviation from the norm, he delved into the black experience in Germany from a real point of view which I personally have encountered. Just watch this thread die a natural death.

Everything doesn't have to fit into your fantasy world, if you actually claim to be in Germany, you should have realised that by now.

* Tips on how to cloth and cope with the cold weather

As a rule of thumb, learn to live accordingly, people do not give a hoot about your designer wears. Just dress moderately, moderation is the keyword here.
Also, don't be surprised to see people rushing to buy clothes during SALES. I do this too.
The trick in buying quality cheap wears is shopping during sales, meaning you purchase winter jackets at the beginning of spring, and you buying summer wears at the beginning of autumn. You have to be on the lookout because most people also follow this constellation. Same goes for shoes, and you will be amazed at how cheap some things could be.

Coping with cold weather is challenging. The winter months are harsh and hard. Using a heater to sleep affects the quality of the air you have in your room, which leads to dry skin and a bloody nose. My tips are, try sleeping with your clothes on, adjust your thermostat to number two and place a bowl of water on your heater, it helps increase the humidity in your room. If you can afford a humidifier get one. You will need to use baby oil or shea butter for your dry skin.

* Where you live and why you like it or don't you like it? Tips on choosing the right neighbourhood. (Internet plans, phone plans)

I live in a small town in Franken, Bavaria. Most people in the other part of Germany do not like Bavarians, because they are proud and pompous. But hey destiny brought me here, and I kind of like it here, although it was quite challenging at the beginning. The people are very conservative, and they do not come to you, you have to go to them. Getting to know them is like asking a primary school pupil to solve an algebra equation. They build this invincible wall, you do not see it if you don't speak the language, and as long as you communicate with them in English, they don't trust you. The language is usually the key to removing the wall, and sometimes the same language can also be your downfall. One thing about the people here is the love for anything American. Well, I won't blame the Americans, we had a military base in my city, this I believe brought this Americana love here. You do often come across people who hate foreigners, my motto is always, as long as you don't cross my personal space, your hate, your problem.

Choosing the right neighbourhood is tricky, being that in Nigeria, your main search criteria is the University and the course you want to study, then which of the Universities granted you admission, before you decide which city to choose. I will, however, say, if you can speak German to B1, do not look at prominent cities, try smaller ones, unless you are more of a city kind of person.

* Public Transportation Vs Driving in Germany.

Public transportation in Germany is excellent, and as a student, you already pay for this when get matriculated, it is part of the fees you pay.
There are disparaging differences in the kind of transport tickets you get as a student in each state. In Bayern, there is nothing like a student ticket that covers the whole state, and your student tickets are only valid in your region. Unlike what is obtained in Hessen, NRW and co.

Driving in Germany is usually expensive if you are a student or don't earn up to a particular threshold. Bills such as CO2 tax, which is paid yearly, parking space in town, car insurance, this is very important, regular car maintenance, tyres all add up. I said tyres because you need eight tyres ( 4 for winter and 4 for summer). You can get all year round tyres, but most people do say they are not the best. The all year round tyres are usually made to be medium-hard, so sometimes they can be too hard for winter or too soft for summer. Considering all this cost, using public transport is cheaper and most times faster.

jesmond3945:
your thread is the same as this
https://www.nairaland.com/5621308/part-8
so nothing new.

Do you know that on this forum you can not have two threads with the same content! I doubt you do.
If this thread is the same with your link, then it is better you head over there and ask your questions.


I created this thread for people to come in and share their experience if they choose not to answer questions, it is left to them, but this attitude of entitlement should not be encouraged.
So if this thread does not fulfil your expectation, you can create one or move on.

jesmond3945:
Op talk about the types of black people in Germany.

You should at least READ my initial post and try to comprehend the essence of this thread.

Xavfra:
By your post, I don't know if you learnt German before going.
Did you ........

I was supposed to go last year or early this year but I needed to learn German and get up to B2 level ( my friend had learnt it as well but he stopped at B1 because that's where the former requirements needed, so he couldn't go as well and the blocked account was increased to 10k)

Yes, I learned German to B1 level before I left Nigeria, this helped me settle in faster because I understood virtually everything. However, I struggled with speaking because the tempo at which native speakers use the language is not taught in Nigeria. You learn that here over time.

Let me continue from where I stopped yesterday.

* If you are a Student.
How do you find German universities?

German Universities are very organised, old and most times are intimidating. Let me say this; only a few Universities have a campus-like setting, where the school and hostels are nearby, the rest Universities have their various faculties scattered around town.
In Germany, you have the traditional Universities, Technical Universities, applied science Universities, school of music, arts, etc. They all award equivalent degrees up to MSc.

From what I have heard about applied science Universities, their modus operandi is kind of rigid, compared to a traditional University. What do I mean? In both Universities, you need to acquire a specific amount of study points(ECTS) before you can graduate. For a University, you have to choose which course/modules you want to take, bearing in mind, these modules will determine/influence your area of specialisation, this does not apply to applied Universities( stories from friends).

How difficult/ easy are your courses?

Personally, the first two semesters are not child's play. If you want to succeed, you have to believe in yourself and your abilities, learn how to pump yourself up when you are down, and above all, you have to be very disciplined. The distraction you will face is more than enough to knock you off course. If you happen to fail any module, do not let it get to you, it happens, and it is not something new, pick yourself up and move on.
Studying in Germany is tough, and I mean it. The grading system does not also help because it is very high. As an African Student, have to prove that you are no pushover, as a result of this, you have to study harder.


What are the avoidable pitfalls for incoming students?
If you fail any course/module try as much as possible to know why you failed. Request for your script(written exam), and if it's oral, ask your examiner what your deficiencies were. Trust me; your problem is half solved if you know the root of it. One thing I always tell Nigerians is to try as much as possible to have German friends in each module they take(you need the language to achieve this successfully). Should your friendship end after the semester, don't take offence, it's the norm.
Studying becomes easy if you do have them as friends, you get to learn how they read and study for exams, how they go thru lecture slides, prep for oral exams. Why do I emphasise on this, most Germans you find in a University went thru the rigour of a Gymnasium, you have to be smart to attend this school. The few ones I have met were brilliant.

How can one balance work and study?
You have to be disciplined, do not overwork yourself. Ask around; if you have financial troubles, you may find someone who will be your saviour and tell you how to apply for a scholarship. Scholarships abound in most schools, but you have to ask and dig before you can access them, sometimes VITAMIN B(man-know-man) helps in making the application process short. Just ask, do not die in silence.

How can one make friends?

Be yourself, learn the language, and don't be uptight.

Fun things as a Student?

I don't know, we all are different, some like travelling, some fancy photography, video games(you have excellent internet to play ps4 till thy kingdom come), partying and clubbing etc. Most importantly try to mingle and enjoy yourself, provided you don't overdo things.

* How can one go about job applications/internships?

Getting an internship offer is not easy. One major factor that may influence your application is your cv. How do you make a killer cv? You have to build your self according to the career path. Start learning and doing things you can add to your cv. Rewrite your cv to the German form. I am not too fond of the German format because you have to attach a professional picture; this sometimes exposes you to the structural racism that already exists. This method is for those who have a fascinating background with lots of experience.
If you have no experience, my advice would be, try as much as possible to mingle with your fellow students, tell them what you are searching for, or join any meetup group in your locality attend conferences.
Socialise, engage in small talks, and at the right time, tell people what your need, you will be surprised how helpful they are.

* Using a credit card( things to avoid)
If you do not have a steady income, do not take a credit card, it is tempting but stay off.

I will begin by saying, please forgive my writing skills. I was never a good writer, which is mainly one of the reasons I often write on forums to improve my writing skills. I was lucky not to have written my master thesis in English lol.


* Your visa application experience in Nigeria
My visa application in Nigeria was quite straight forward. I got admitted, used the admission letter to get an interview date, went for the interview, blocked some money in an account, and boom visa granted.

* Travelling experience/ adjustment status experience.
My flight to Germany was my first time flying, I felt this tingle sensation as the play was taxing for take-off, and mid-air I felt a strange pressure inside my eardrums. The feeling was weird, but hey, I did not vomit.
I landed in Frankfurt, and I stood for like 5mins, I was completely awed.
Frankfurt am Main airport is gorgeous, then came this strange feeling, I was virtually the only black man on the flight and at our baggage collection belt. Then came the steers. How did I adjust, I sha adjusted anyhow. I learned how to stir back and return the cheeky smile I got. This is something you will have to learn.

* How you converted your visa to a residence permit (required documents).
To be on the safer side, make sure you come with enough cash, you can not get access to your block account immediately you land, you need an address to unblock it and to rent an apartment, you need money. And without an address, you can not apply for a residence permit.
To convert your visa, you have to book an appointment with the foreigners' office, and you can ask what documents are required. I have learned that the people there do not like to speak English, so maybe try to get anyone who speaks German, or register for a tandem partner at your school, this is very important

* What are the immigration rules to follow?
Do not work above the stipulated number of hrs given.
Once you get your residence permit, it is stated therein.

* Residence permit renewals.
My city gives yearly residence permits. This means you have to return every year with proof of financial sustenance to get another year if you have a job contract that is equivalent to the required money, you are good; otherwise, you have to show a bank statement with the required balance. This, however, is not the norm, depending on your city; each city has its own interpretation of the law.

This thread was inspired by "Being Black In Berlin/Germany " by Danielhouston. I read and enjoyed the thread while it lasted, this motivated me to start something different.

I discovered that there is an information gap for people who want to understand how life is in Germany, though we have several threads on visa application, survival tips for students. I want this thread to be an avenue for people that have emigrated to Germany(with or without their families) to share their experience to help future applicants about living in Germany.


Kindly share your experience and comments on :

* Your visa application experience in Nigeria

* Travelling experience/ adjustment status experience.

* How you converted your visa to a residence permit (required documents).

* What are the immigration rules to follow?

* Residence permit renewals.

* If you are a Student.
How do you find German universities
How difficult/ easy are your courses
What are the avoidable pitfalls for incoming students
How can one balance work and study
How can one make friends
Fun things as a Student

* How can one go about job applications/internships?

* Using a credit card( things to avoid)

* Tips on how to cloth and cope with the cold weather

* Where you live and why you like it or don't you like it? Tips on choosing the right neighborhood. (Internet plans, phone plans)

* Public Transportation Vs Driving in Germany.

* Driving in Germany? How long can you use your Naija driving license before you get a license?

* Tricks and tips to successfully get a license

* Childcare for children below 5

* What culture shock have you experienced?

* How to locate Nigerian restaurants and market in your location

* How much do you or your family survive on in a month?

* Fun things to do

* And any other advice.........


Please, I created this thread not because I want to share my story, but because I want everybody to share his or her own story. The mistakes some of us made, should not be made by incoming ones. I will want to reiterate, this is not a thread about RACISM and DISCRIMINATION in Germany, neither is it a thread for ASYLUM or IMMIGRATION questions.

In fact, I want this thread to be for those who have started their German dream to share what, where, and how the experience is so far.
I will not debate with anyone and I'll also not answer any questions pertaining to school, work, visas, or therein.
I do not know it all, and whatever I share here is my biased opinion. If you get hurt, I am sorry.

sexylassie2:


where did i claim i was patriotic and btw does patriotism stop a person from being a tourist outside Nigeria.

My point was that i will not like to live outside Nigeria, that does not stop me from travelling outside her shores.

I think you are missing my point.

Yes, it does, tourism is a very vital part of every successful economy, it is a multibillion-dollar sector. If you can not carry your money and go live in a white man's land. Then it is better not to visit at all.

People like you talk trash about living abroad but feel it is wonderful to tour and visit the same trashy place. Why visit a place that you already know is not worth your money.
This is my last reply to your mention.

sexylassie2:


i hope you understood what you wrote down?

so what is the essence of tourism? as always most tourists do go back home to their home country and eventually grow old and die there.

if somebody says they rather die in Nigeria, does that mean the person wont travel to any country outside Nigeria for the purpose of tourism or visit?

If you are truly patriotic as you claim, you will not waste your money traveling abroad for tourism, instead, you will tour Nigeria and boost the economy.
You don't have to travel abroad to be a tourist.

Let's call a spade, a spade.