I’ve spent years telling you how great life in Frankfurt is. So when I read that my beloved home abroad was ranked second worst city to live for expats in a survey – better than Johannesburg but not as bad as Paris – I was shocked to say the least. Especially as the number of... Continue Reading →
Why three weeks at home is the sweet spot
I’ve tried it all: short trips, long trips, try-to-do-nothing trips, do-absolutely-everything trips, 48-hour trips, squeeze-it-in-with-a-business-trip trips. Whew! Visiting home comes in all shapes and sizes, and I can confirm that waking up to a “your flight is ready for check-in” email when you've barely got home from the airport is the-absolute-worst trip. So how do... Continue Reading →
FAQs about Alisa Jordan
It's only natural that you want to know more about the person behind the blog posts - I'm exactly the same! After years of sharing my experience of living in Frankfurt and being in touch with so many of you, I've put together your FAQs, so that the answers are all in once place 😊... Continue Reading →
Lockdown winter blues
I've realised I am not the only one feeling a bit 'meh' throughout this winter lockdown. The reduced hours of sunlight and cold weather is always a struggle, but that in combination with a lockdown and social distancing has started to get the better of me. What I am struggling with the most is this... Continue Reading →
Three years of living in Germany!
Before moving, I told myself that I'd live in Germany for a minimum of three years. I gathered that three years would give me enough time to really improve my language skills, become familiar with Frankfurt and build strong relationships with those around me. What I didn't consider, is that after three years of giving... Continue Reading →
Being a woman of colour in Frankfurt
After being asked about what it's like to be a woman of colour in Frankfurt, specifically a black woman, and if I have experienced any racism, I've decided to share my experiences with you. I always start by saying that I don't work in a strictly German environment, in fact, due to the nature of... Continue Reading →
Frankfurt: a convenient city
If there's one thing I love about living in Frankfurt, it's the convenience that this city offers. There's more to Frankfurt than what initially meets the eye - here's how Frankfurt has boosted my quality of life: Commuting in Frankfurt I didn't realise how draining the London commute actually was until I didn't have to... Continue Reading →
Apartments don’t come with kitchens in Germany
"What!? How can an apartment not come with a kitchen?" Is the exact reaction I had when I first found out that German apartments do not necessarily come with a kitchen. I mean, really, how is that even possible? It's like the bathroom coming without anywhere to wash, or like a friend of mine said,... Continue Reading →
Celebrating your birthday away from home
I love celebrating my birthday and even when I try to make it as small as possible, it always turns into a big celebration! I see my birthday not only as an opportunity to celebrate another year, but to bring friends together and enjoy the time with those closest to me. I've been living abroad... Continue Reading →
When life abroad becomes home and home becomes life abroad
Spending some time back home after living abroad for nearly two years (and hardly visiting London) has made me realise that life abroad doesn't always feel foreign. At some point the tables start to turn... It wasn't Christmas, it wasn't my birthday, it was just the first 'normal' week I'd spent working in London since... Continue Reading →
Noticing a change in your native language when you move abroad
Friend in Frankfurt: Once you've been here for a while, you'll realise that your English begins to change. Me: No chance! I couldn't have been more wrong. 21 months later and I often catch myself saying odd things in English that I never would have crossed my mind before I moved abroad. Of course, the... Continue Reading →