Mar 19
26 Signs That You’ve Been Americanized
Every now and then I catch myself or my wife with something that we didn’t do back in Germany. Something very American. So I thought it would be funny to list a few things that expats sometimes copy, because they are getting slowly but surely Americanized. I actually just wanted to do a “5 Signs” … read more
Mar 11
Will the Kids Be Alright?
It feels like a once in a lifetime opportunity. Your employer is offering to send you to their U.S. subsidiary, so that you can help develop an important project. It’ll be good for the company and great for your career. And you’ve always dreamed of working in America. But what about your spouse and your … read more
Mar 4
Interview with Chris Guillebeau
I’ve interviewed only expats from countries other than the U.S. so far in my blog. Time to switch it up a little and do an interview with an American for a change. Someone who has lots of experience with other cultures and can compare it to America first hand. I believe there’s no better choice... read more
Feb 26
What You Should Know About Speeding Tickets
Germans like me who are used to the Autobahn probably have the hardest time on America’s interstates with its strict speed limits of anywhere between 60 mph to 85 mph. In fact, 85 mph is only allowed on a 41-mile segment somewhere in Texas. A few other parts of Texas as well as the whole … read more
Feb 18
Imperial vs. Metric System for Expats
The U.S. is one of only 3 countries world wide, that still uses the Imperial system, also known as U.S. Standard. Well, Americans have adapted to the metric system in science, sports (5k anyone?) and medicine, but everything else is still stuck in ancient times. Speed, length, temperature, weight, etc. – everything is different. That... read more
Feb 11
American Culture Tips for New Expats
I love when I get questions from my readers. The most recent question I got is about American cultural behavior and what could seem odd or puzzling about it to a new expat. It’s been over eight years since I had my first encounter with the American culture, but I sure remember every bit of … read more
Feb 5
Having Surgery in an American Hospital
About a week ago I gave birth to this little sucker, that you see in the picture. I didn’t give him a name yet, but my co-worker drew this nice picture of it for my Get Well Card. My appendix decided to give me some trouble, so I had to have surgery in America for … read more
Jan 29
Winter is Coming – May God Have Mercy
North Carolina is currently in a state of emergency. Weather forecasts have already warned the public about one of the scariest natural disasters in the South. The local TV stations keep broadcasting weather updates and educate the viewers how to survive the day when disaster strikes. Schools are closing early and the milk and bread... read more
Jan 27
5 Fun Ski Towns to Visit in the U.S.
Ski season is here, and that means a wide array of both elegant and quirky ski towns to visit throughout the U.S. For skiers who are passionate about great powder and a charming atmosphere, there are many mountains to explore. Here are some favorite American mountain towns that will play the perfect backdrop for an … read more
Jan 20
Is the Expat Life for You?
Many people dream about moving to America, starting a new life in the Land of Opportunity and they begin to search more and more reasons why their own homeland is not good enough anymore. There are many reasons that can make you want to leave. The biggest ones are war and living in a country … read more
Jan 14
USA and England Through the Eyes of a German Expat
For most of my life I lived only 500 miles away from England, but never visited until recently. I guess now, that I live 4,000 miles away, in America, made England a more desirable destination, so my wife and I recently made a 4-day trip to London. The fun thing as expats living in an … read more
Jan 9
13 Traits of the American Convenience Culture
I just returned from a 3 week long vacation to Germany and slowly getting back into the swing of things. While I was gone I participated in a blogger contest, where everyone had to write a “Top List” article. I did not win anything, but since I already spent the time writing it, I should … read more
Dec 30
Q&A: Sales Taxes, Driving Automatic and Speeding Tickets
How much is the sales tax and why does it vary so much? Sales tax varies from state to state and can be under 1%, but also 10% or higher in some areas. It’s been administered on the state level and food is usually a lot lower than other goods. States determine a base rate... read more
Dec 23
Per from Manila, Philippines
I’ve had the opportunity to not only work with Per on the Expat Cuisine eBook, but also got to ask her a bunch of questions about her journey through immigration. Read on for her insights. How long have you been living in the U.S. and what do you do? I’ve been here since July 2013,... read more
Dec 16