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About Me
Welcome to An American Expat in Deutschland, a blog about my thoughts on life, the universe and Germany. I’ve been living in Germany since May 14, 2002, and in Laaber, a small Bavarian village just outside of Regensburg, since December 6, 2006.
Who am I?
I was born in Northridge, California, but grew up in Oak Hill, Virginia, a suburb of Washington, D.C. I was a bonafide nerd while growing up, and a band geek. Just how geeky was I? I was jealous of my friends whose parents let them have a dedicated phone line to run their own bbses, back before the whole world wide web phenom came around. I was also a shot putting she-woman, so I’m sure you can guess, I was quite the hit with the fellows.
I went to college at VCU in Richmond, Virginia, where I got a B.S. and M.S. in Mathematical Sciences. I began a PhD in Statistics at Duke, where I camped out for basketball tickets, complained about parking, got into a lot of arguments about which activities qualify as sports, and met my husband, Rainer. He was doing a post-doc in the stat department. It took a year and a half for us to get together, and in the end, I had to ask him out. A few months after we started dating, Rainer moved back to Germany. We spent nine months dating long-distance before I decided to leave the PhD program early and move to Berlin. I got a job at a German company, took six months of intensive German classes, and worked on planning our wedding. We married on May 24, 2003.
I left my industry job at the end of 2003 in order to work in research. I moved to Rostock, and Rainer and I spent a year and a half in a “weekend marriage,” shuttling back and forth between Rostock and Berlin. This wasn’t to either of our likings, so I moved back in 2005 and we settled down in Potsdam.
After living in Berlin, Rostock, and Potsdam, we’ve now moved to a tiny Bavarian village in the Oberpfalz region. Rainer is a professor at the university. We’ve got a huge Bernese Mountain Dog named Charlie, and on July 23, 2007, we had our first child, Oliver. And for the moment at least, and maybe longer, I’m a SAHM (stay at home mom).
& Christina" />Why start a blog?
I began the blog back in 2004 to keep in touch with friends back in the States. I had maybe three readers until the World Cup came to Germany back in 2006, and suddenly I had strangers reading my blog. I started reading their blogs, and soon I was surrounded by a network of fellow expat blogging friends. My advice for getting readers: read and comment on other blogs in your niche.
What is An American Expat in Deutschland all about?
It’s about whatever I feel like writing about. This often has something to do with living in Germany, since that’s my life now. Also, as a research statistician by training, I am crazy happy about looking stuff up, investigating questions, and writing up my results, so I have quite a few posts that I hope fellow expats will find helpful.
What’s with all the Thai recipes?
Well, I’m half-Thai. And my mom has a Thai restaurant in Manassas, Virginia. Live nearby? It’s called Siam Classic.
Where else can you find me?
I’ve got accounts on MySpace, iLike, and Shelfari.
How can I make sure I don’t miss a single post?
By subscribing to An American Expat in Deutschland (you can also subscribe to the comments).
If you’re new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
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30 Responses to “About Me”
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Hi Christina,
I’m also an American married to a German, I’ve been here over eight years and love it here.
I was looking for fellow expats in the Ulm area and came across your page
I’m looking forward to reading more :) Laura
Nice to e-meet you Laura! I’ve never been to Ulm, but I’ve heard there’s a really beautiful cathedral there. It’s not so far from us, so we’ll have to go see it sometime. :)
Hi Christina/Laura,
My name is Michelle, I’m from Western Australia. I am currently in the process of moving to Stuttgart- Germany. I am very scared of having difficulties with the language and cultual differences. I have no German skills at all at the moment, just started learning. I have been to Stuttgart. I am moving for my boyfriend i meet 3 years ago who we have had a on/off long distance relationship. I have been reading so many negative comments about expats moving and was thrilled to hear a success story! I am a very talkative outgoing person who is in the customer service industy. How hard is it going to be? How hard was it for you?
Great about you page - and your little oliver is soooo adorable! Now you need an update pic with your little bernese in there. And by the way, I just love the region you live in!
Ha!
@michelle: You’ll do fine as long as you don’t expect Germany to be Australia. When I came, I thought Germany would be pretty much like the US, but with everyone speaking German, and I had a BIG culture shock. I think for many, the first year is hard, but the best way thing to do is to focus on learning the language. I think for someone who is very outgoing and talkative, the hardest thing might be that many Germans are suspicious of overly friendly folks. Don’t be offended if they want to take their time getting to know you before being friends. Read expat blogs and join the expat communities, start a blog about your new adventure!
@expatraveler: Thanks for stopping by! And yeah, my Bernese ain’t exactly little! But I will work on getting a photo with the whole family up here.
@cliff: He is actually slightly smaller (well, skinnier) after being at the Tierpension for 3 weeks. The owner told us that he broke into the food shed one day too! What a sneak thief!
Hey there. I moved to Regensburg to be with my boyfriend while he finishes his Masters at the Uni…and have since gotten a job at a Language School near here. I am doing all the new things—cell phone, bank account, apartment, etc…but I can’t seem to find a cheap automatic car ANYWHERE. I really need advice on where I could locate a used car and how I would go about buying it here.
Thought about learning to drive a stick?
It can be done, you know. Ask Tammy.
@claire: I’ll have to back Cliff up on learning to drive stick. That’s the easiest solution, but since I tried and tried, and couldn’t, I don’t blame you if you still want an autmoatic. But I think trying to learn to srive stick is something you should do first. Finding used cars is not so easy as driving over to CarMax. You’ve got to go to each dealership and look what they’ve got. Often they do list what they have on the different car makers websites. Hmmm, this is a good subject for a blog post. I will get to work on that. Oh and welcome to Regensburg. I hope you’ll come to an Expat Dinner!
@cliff: I agree it can be done, but not by all. Practically every boyfriend I ever had tried to teach me and it never worked out. Though I think it was Tammy who said that I need to try with a woman instructor.
Hello Christina!
Thanks for your blog! I’ve dropped by a few times and have gotten such a kick out of your topics and been astounded how much we “ami-expat mom married to a German” have in common… but now that I’ve read that you are a fellow ex-shotputter, well I think I’ve got to commit to stopping by on a regular basis! Thanks again for sharing your triumphs, trials and tribulations!
A fellow ex-shotputter - Cool! I look forward to seeing you around cyberspace. Thanks for commenting!
Hi,
I am a southern American living in Parsberg which is between Nurnberg and Regensburg (two exits from Laaber on the A3). I went to graduate school at NC State. Go Wolfpack! I love it here! It is nice to have a blog to read about people who are having similar experiences. My husband and I have been here for one year and have now driven to 18 countries in Europe since we have been here. Europe is wonderful! If you have any travel questions. I am your gal! I hope to make it to one of your dinners out! Great site!
Thanks Nickayla! I’ve been to Parsberg quite often, I highly recommend Hotel zum Hirschen, but you probably already know how good it is. I hope we’ll get to meet soon at one of the dinners!
We, my husband, our four year old daughter and I, will be moving to Germany this fall. My husband is going to work at Spangdahlem Air Force base but we’re not going to live on base. I am very excited to read more of your blogs and head much advice!
My daughter and I have started studying German. She’s says “Endschuldigen Sie bitte danke” whenever she wants something. It’s a work in progress. :)
hi
I was wondering if the stokke stroller is cheaper in germany than if bought here in the states. I would appreciate any info you can give me.
@lady rebecca: Welcome!
@julie: I did a quick search for the stokke xplory and really had trouble finding anyplace selling it online over here (I did find quite a few bad reviews of it however, including one by Stiftung Warentest, my favorite consumer research mag, which only found it satisfactory)! Anyways, I found a place in Austria listing the Basic Set for €719 and the Complete Set for €859. I’ve only ever seen one Stokke in Germany (in Munich), most people with high end strollers have Quinnys or Bugaboos. On the Stokke website, there are plenty of shops listed in Germany that carry the Xplory though, so it shouldn’t be a problem to get one over here.
Hi!
I was just trying to find out, whether Aldi US has the fish dish my family always had for Good Friday.
And suddenly there was your blog with an Ortsschild of Laaber i.d. Opf on it!!!
I am originally from Parsberg, which is what, 10 miles from Laaber?!!! I now live in Minneapolis, MN proper. Five blocks from the Sculpture Garden/Walker Art Center/former Guthrie Theatre location.
I’m on lunch break now, but some other time I’ll ask you about some folks I know in Laaber
Happy Easter! Rosie
Hello Christina,
I have just discovered your blog via google reader suggestions. I love Germany and in fact am a licensed Dackel Breeder in Germany, even though I reside in New Hampshire. I am happily married to Hubby who lived for many years in Germany flying for the airlines. When we met, my German heritage and his love for Germany made us a match made in Heaven.
We travel back when we can and, in fact got our oldest female dackel from Northern Germany.
Your son is beautiful and I look forward to reading you more.
Welcome Rosie and Maribeth!
Hi Christina,
and then noticed you wrote the expat in G blog. Well since I lived in Stuttgart and Munich for a little while (my Dad was stationed there with the military) I just had to take a look. It brings back GREAT memories and I’d love to go back! Ditto your comment on learning the language if you’re going to live there. I didn’t and missed a wonderful opportunity (but then I was young and stupid :-)
Wanted to say I love your blog. I found it in a very roundabout way from Becky Wiseman’s kinexxions blog (I was there because we apparently share some of the same ancestors) and I randomly clicked your name from a comment (since is was clickable
Hi Kelly,
Glad you found your way here. I think we’ve all missed out on wonderful opportunities due to being young and stupid, I know I have several!
I am also an American, from Boston, married to a German. We have a 6 month old girl and I really appreciate your tips about buying baby things in Germany. Hope to hear from you and thanks for the site tips. Jennifer
Hi Christina: I am soon to be retiring after many years of US govt service. I recently returned from a 3 tour in Germany working as a civilian employee at the US Army hospital in Kaiserslautern. I really enjoyed living in Germany and the EU and would like to do it again, but can’t seem to get past the rules that say I can only live there for 90 days out of every 6 months. What am I missing here? I have a very dear friend who wants me to come and stay, but I would like to be able to stay for longer than the 90 days if possible. I have no intention of looking for work or any of that as I will be financially independent (didn’t say wealthy) and really retired this time around. Any ideas or serious suggestions how I can do this will be greatly appreciated.
@jennifer: Welcome! Thanks for commenting and glad I was able to help you out!
@gary: You just need to prove to the authorities that you can support yourself, and you should be able to extend your visa. I think that you’ll have to go every 90 days though. Try visiting the German consulate to the US site for more info. You can give your local consulate a call too.
Thanx Christina: Even though I spent 3 years in Germany as a US Federal employee, I feel like the veritable “Novice” in this endeavor. Will go to that site and see what I need to do. Again, thanx and Tschuss.
Hi, I am a Brazilian expat living in… S. Dakota— also met my husband in grad school. I also am a mom at home and am writing a history book for kids, would like permission house the picture of the mill behind Frederick the Great ‘s palace.
Thks!
Ana
Ana Braga-Henebrys last blog post..A review of Prince Caspian
Hey Christina!
I am also an Expat…but living in Norway.. I went to University in Germany though & miss it. : ( Super blog! BEAUTIFUL LITTLE BOY!
tressas last blog post..You know you have been in Norway too long
Hi Christina,
congratulations for your very informational blog.
I am actually happy to have “met” you here. It seems you are familiar with a lot of expat related issues.
As a long-term expat:) in Munich, I was/am pretty well connected to the expat community here. I study also, majoring in European Cultural Sciences at the university of Munich participating currently at a research project dealing with migrational issues. My contribution to it will be a research study concerning expatriation.
Therefore I was wondering if you would like to be interviewed for my research study analyzing expat/international communities (ex. lifestyle, socializing, adjustment strategies, parenthood, etc.).
Looking forward hearing from you.
Greets from Munich Elena
Hello Christine,
Just found your page and you seem like the perfect person to ask my question to! I am married to a german and lived 3 years in Munster, we than moved to the states (I think we watched “wir wandern aus” a few too many times) but have since remembered all of the reasons we choose to live in Deutchland and want to go back and start a family.I would like to find a way to work there without having to teach english (my german is very good, so that’s not the problem) . I just want something to keep my mind active and earn a little income so that as time passes and kids get older and leave I still have a purpose and have built a life for myself in Germany apart from being a wife/mother. You seemed to have accomplished this, any tips for me?
Hello Christina,
How fun! Someone found my blog by looking up Aldi things (I’m a new Aldi fan in the U.S and blogged about their chocolate) and on the google search they also came up with your blog, which is perfect, because I’m oddly obsessively interested in somehow moving to northern Germany (I don’t even speak the language…crazy!) so I’ll read your blog and either get inspired to do it somehow or at the very least get to live vicariously through you, which is what blogs are all about.
Looking forward to reading more! Sarah