Expat Life
I moved to Germany in August 2001. We initially thought it would be a 2-3 year thing. We’d live here for a while, get great work experience when the economy in the US was starting to get shaky and return home to take on bigger and better things. Two years quickly has turned into 9 and we still don’t know when we’ll be heading back to the States. But I can say that a piece of us will always be in America.
My husband is German and was born just a few miles from where we live now (he and our daughter were born in the same hospital, actually). But he also lived in Japan for a while and spent the majority of his youth in New York. We met in college at the University of Miami and fell in love. When he was offered a job here it was a no-brainer for me. I knew that if I didn’t go with him, I would probably never see him again. So despite it being one of the hardest decisions of my life, we made the move across the ocean.
Life in Germany is not quite like the US. Certain areas are nicer and the people are friendlier. Unfortunately, Frankfurt isn’t one of those areas. And the weather is just horrible during the winter. But it still has some good qualities as well and living in Europe has been a wonderful experience.
Now we’re in the process of raising our daughter to be bilingual (maybe even trilingual if we can get some friends to help with teaching her French) and hope that she will also get a chance to live abroad at some point. Since she has dual citizenship, it’s a whole lot easier for her to move around than for others.
Have questions about life in Germany or expat life? Leave me a comment or email me at tiffany AT noordinaryhomestead DOT com
More expats in Germany who blog
- 50% of my DNA
- 500 Reasons I Love Germany
- Alabama (Germany) Hoff House
- Ami in Munich
- AmiExpat
- An American in Wiesbaden
- Baroque Babies
- Cheeseburgers and Sauerkraut
- Click Clack Gorilla
- Expat in Germany
- Expats Again
- Fairytale Hausfrau
- From the Big Apple to Big Bear
- Germany Doesn’t Suck
- Heidelbergerin
- HeisseScheisse
- Jentry in Germany
- Lady Expat
- Letters from Frau Dietz
- Letters Home
- Lucid in Deutschland
- Making This Home
- Mom in High Heels
- Neither Here Nor There
- Papa Scott
- Planet Germany
- Regens Blog
- Resident on Earth
- Schnitzelbahn
- Snooker in Berlin
- Solo & Co.
- Studio Mailbox
- TexaGermaNadian
- This non-American Life
Websites with local information for expats
- Expat Women
- InterNations
- The Local — German news in English
- ToyTown Germany
Tiffany is an American who has been living in Germany with her husband since 2001. The two are self-proclaimed "Self-Reliant Yuppies" who are in their early-30's and bought an 1830's farmhouse several years ago, which they have been turning into a more sustainable and green dream house. Two cats, a Newfie and their 2 year old daughter enjoy the adventure with them. Tiffany enjoys cooking, rock climbing, lux-camping trying to turn her black thumbs green and taking road trips. Visit the 
So glad you registered on expat blog – really interesting blog. Life sounds grand. We have managed to raise 2 bi-lingual daughters… not easy, but I love that they can switch so easily.
Cheers
L
I’ve always wanted to live abroad but our current situation bars us from doing that (my stepson is here). But some day we’d love to live in Europe for a bit.
I’m a retired USAF pilot living near Ramstein Air Base, Germany (Near Kaisserslautern). Nice to see other expats in our area (Frankfurt is about 90 minutes by Autobahn)
Hi Tiffany, thanks for the tip with the Ahorn Syrup! I like your blog and will need to come get acquainted…
Greetings from Ochsenfurt
tj
Hey TJ,
My pleasure. So glad you stopped by and I hope to see you more often. I’m actually trying to get back in touch with my inner expat since I’ve lived here in Germany for almost 10 years now and it’s all become second nature
It’s so nice to see an expat who came over and stayed so long. My husband and I are only in our 2nd year here, but we hope to stay for much longer. And your bathroom renovation cracked me up – we have the same awful green toilet and sink in our apartment! Wish we had such an awesome tub though.
Hi,
We moved to portugal 4yrs ago yesterday,we travelled around europe for 12 months and stayed in germany which i love i went there with my son when he was 11yrs old, to the rine valley, so when i got married i told my husband i would like to show him where we went, as we where in a motorhome we travelled all over we loved the black forest area.
my son of 25yrs went back to the UK as he could not find work here in portugal, 6wks there and he was killed, it will never be the same here without him but still have not thought of going back to the UK, you have to live everyday to the full & do all things you want or you never will.
So glad I found you page! It’s beautiful! Can’t wait to read about your experiences as a fellow American expat
My inclusion in your list is much appreciated, if a little off in the description: I don’t blog anymore! Well, I do, but not nearly at the rate I used to. I can’t seem to get inspired to write anymore.
Love your website and really appreciate the recipes. My husband and I just returned from 2 weeks in Germany after purchasing a BMW through the European Delivery program. We traveled mostly to the south and west. Now all my foodie friends are coming over this week expecting great Bavarian food from me and your website helped get me there. Thank you for taking the time.
I started reading your blog while in TX last fall, before moving to Wiesbaden a couple of weeks ago. Thanks for all your insight on German life!