I am SO excited to have visitors in Frankfurt now that we can travel again! After lots of outdoor exploring in over the last two years, I can't wait to share my discoveries with friends who come to visit. Here's a Friday to Sunday plan of what you might want to do when showing friends... Continue Reading →
Working in a foreign language
I find working in a foreign language to be a chicken and egg situation: If your professional German (for example) isn't sufficient, then you won’t get a job where you need to use German, but if you don’t have a job where you need to use German then you won’t be able to improve your... Continue Reading →
Work location flexibility is changing: What does this mean for people abroad?
In 2016 I asked my employer if I could relocate from London to Frankfurt on a temporary basis. My request was declined as it was thought that I should be in the London office. I was grateful that it was at least considered, but I was itching to move abroad, so I relocated to Frankfurt... Continue Reading →
5 things to do along the River Main
If there's one thing you can't miss in Frankfurt, it's the rippling water that skips along the body of the River Main, hence the name Frankfurt am Main. It's the longest river that is located entirely in Germany and is a great place for locals and tourists to enjoy their spare time. If you fancy... Continue Reading →
Avoiding Corona over Christmas when you live abroad
As for many of us, my homes and family are located across borders. Throughout the pandemic, the reality of this has proven difficult. During the recent Christmas period, I shared updates about the travel/Corona rules for the UK and Germany. It was an extremely stressful period, and I promised that I would share more of... Continue Reading →
How I became fluent in German – 5 top tips
Learning German is not easy. I am fully with you if you're struggling to remember the random genders, master the pronunciation of umlauts, and move one part of the word to the end of the sentence - sometimes. A languages degree provided me with a solid foundation, but is by no means the sole reason... Continue Reading →
My top 5 favourites in Frankfurt
If I were moving or had relocated to a new city, I'd love to know what other people think about it. I've been living in Frankfurt for over 5 years now, and whilst I would never say 'never' when it comes to moving, I am more than happy to stay put. So what is it... Continue Reading →
Dialog Museum – Experience life of the blind
The Dialog Museum provides an unforgettable experience - the loss of sight opens your eyes to a world of darkness. The one-hour tour in the pitch black provokes both excitement and fear, as you grow to value the significance of trust in order to navigate yourself around the museum. Of course, you are not completely... Continue Reading →
Goetheturm in Frankfurt’s City Forest
Standing tall and mighty, Goetheturm (Goethe Tower) can't be missed when you enter the City Forest from Frankfurt's southern district, Sachsenhausen. Originally built in 1867, in celebration of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the tower has been rebuilt twice. Those who have been in Frankfurt for a while may remember the tower's most recent reconstruction in... Continue Reading →
Barcelona: A long weekend away
I spent 3.5 days in sunny Barcelona! What better way to share my recommendations than by creating a blog post!? Scroll down for all my faves! Good location to stay? My hotel was a stone’s throw away from Plaça de Catalunya, which was great. It’s bang in the city centre, a 30-minute walk to both... Continue Reading →
5 years in Frankfurt – and thriving
Remember this photo? 25 year-old me, a big hug and an even bigger smile. Heathrow airport, 11th August 2016. Ahh!! Where has the time gone? I moved to Germany to live out my dream, I've just turned 30 and I'm now celebrating 5 years in Frankfurt. It's all going on! My relocation has been one... Continue Reading →
Cycling from Frankfurt to Mainz
I am thoroughly enjoying cycling in and around Frankfurt! After adjusting to the initial discomfort of the saddle and finally having some good weather, I cycled all the way to Mainz. Here are a few tips for if you're thinking of doing the same! How long will it take? According to Google maps, the quickest... Continue Reading →
How to find an apartment in Frankfurt: Your guide based on my experiences
Instead of locations and rent prices, I'm talking SCHUFA, viewings and email templates (in English and German!). The most important aspects that often go forgotten!Since moving to Frankfurt, I've lived in three shared apartments and eventually moved into my own place. I previously held an event on apartment hunting in Frankfurt and have recently helped... Continue Reading →
How living in Germany helped me feel comfortable with setting boundaries
Alisa: An extrovert with many long-standing friendships from different paths of life, including school, travels and work. Strong interpersonal skills, good at keeping in touch with people, and always, always socialising.Yep, that was me before I moved abroad. To be more accurate, you could even add a third 'always' before 'socialising.' I loved being surrounded... Continue Reading →
What language do you speak to each other?
I used to find it quite cool that people could just dip in and out of different languages when speaking. But one language degree and 6 years abroad later, I now realise that this ‘ability’ is actually an incompetence to think in only one language. Joking. But it does sometimes take an extra effort not... Continue Reading →
I was told I wouldn’t make it in German. Now I’m fluent.
It's fair to say that I have fully embraced learning languages. Especially German. It could be an intrinsic passion, it could also be that if I hadn't enjoyed a school trip to Berlin when I was 14, I wouldn't have given languages a second thought. But I loved that trip. So I visited Berlin again.... Continue Reading →