| As a new international student, employee or visitor working at our institute you may face a number of challenges while you are planning your stay abroad or while already living here. Below you will find an excellent collection of information and tips, winkingly told from somebody who actually experienced coming from abroad and working in Göttingen himself. However, since the Germany guide was composed in 2005 it might be outdated in regard to some procedures such as registration at the local registry office or closing of insurance contracts. We would recommand to cross-check with the Guide to Göttingen (GöGuide) of the University of Göttingen, which is kept up-to-date with the respective rules and procedures. If you have any suggestions and comments or if you find any of these links outdated, please notify the PR Office. Carmen Rotte |
| |
| Introduction Part I: Practical Information Before you leave for GermanyGöttingen - A short history History of the MPIbpc Climate Arriving in Göttingen Finding a place to live Moving in and monthly payments Registering with the city Finding work for your spouse Day care, kindergarten and schools Health insurance Financial matters Telecommunications Rules and contracts Driving Public transportation Miscellaneous information Arts and entertainment in Göttingen Part II: Cultural Information Prepare for culture shock!Some common stereotypes about Germany Appendix Useful links |
Dear Visitor, No matter whether you'll be coming here for three months or three years, moving to Göttingen will bring about some important changes in your life. Some of you may have lived abroad before, while for others it will be an entirely new experience. To prepare you for things that may expect you in Germany, and to make the transition as smooth as possible, we have compiled some valuable information for you. I roughly divided our brochure in two parts. Part one deals with the practicalities of moving to Germany. Many everyday things, down to banking customs and road rules, may differ a lot from those in your home country. By preparing for these differences, you will spare yourself unnecessary frustration. Part two deals with the mental preparation for your stay in Germany. Even though the scientific community is a cosmopolitan crowd, you will still be exposed to Germany's national customs. Even if you should spend much of your time at the lab and at home) you'll still have to deal with the country's everyday culture anytime you shop, travel, or go out for a drink. In our opinion, it is crucial for you to prepare for the cultural aspects of your stay in Germany. For that reason, we would like to introduce you to the common phenomenon of culture shock as well as to - finally! - the "ultimate truth" about some of the most popular stereotypes you may have heard about Germany. We hope our information will help making your stay in Göttingen as pleasurable as possible and that you will enjoy your time in Göttingen and get some great research done! Anthony Streeter had the initial idea for this guide and compiled some of the information. Caroline Keedy continued the project and expanded on it. I took over from her, compiled the bulk of this version in the summer of 2002, and have revised and updated it in June 2005. Thanks to everyone who contributed feedback and information, especially to Thomas M. Jovin, Renate Jenssen, Vinod Subramaniam, Graciela Humbert-Lan, Rolando Rivera-Pomar and Yu Shan Chia. Willkommen in Deutschland, willkommen in Göttingen! Stefan Höppner, September 2002 Disclaimer: The information in this guide is for informational purposes only. Neither the authors nor the MPI for Biophysical Chemistry guarantee its accuracy nor are they liable liable for any damages resulting from following this information. Some general information has been adapted from the brochure "Practical hints for your stay in Germany" issued by the Alexander
von Humboldt Foundation, www.goettingen.de, http://pages.vossnet.de/aussies.html (now defunct) and
www.daad.de/deutschland/deutschland/ |
|||
 | ||||
 | ||||
Obviously, you can't prepare for everything you may encounter in Germany. However, you may want to take some time out to get yourself ready, as well as in practical matters . For one thing, familiarize yourself with Germany. Study brochures such as this one, gather information online (some useful addresses will be given at the end of this brochure), read travel guides,and so on. Exposing yourself to some German culture beforehand is a great idea will add some additional flavor, but of course a Beethoven symphony, "Run Lola Run" or a Thomas Mann novel will not provide you with practical advice on how to find a place to live or even a decent phone provider. However, it is even more important to prepare for practical matters. Rule No. 1: BRING AS MANY IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS AS POSSIBLE. This will save you lots of valuable time and mental energy. German bureaucrats can be very hard-nosed when it comes to adhering to the way THEY do things and will rarely make exceptions for you. Don't rely on your luck. For entering the country, you will need the following identity documents:
If you need a document after your arrival If you need an official document from your own government after you get here, you will need to take care of this business yourself. Your country most likely has an embassy in Berlin. Many countries also have consulates in other German cities. We recommend getting their addresses before you depart for Germany. |
||||
| ||||
 | ||||
According to the famous poet Heinrich Heine, Göttingen's population is divided into four classes: Students, faculty, Philistines (the bourgeois), and cattle. However, as you will see for yourself, things have significantly improved over these past 200 years. The first written record of Göttingen dates from 953 AD, when it was a small hamlet near Pfalz Grona, an even smaller and rather insignificant palace of the medieval German emperors, who did not reign from an established capital but would roam from town to town, resolve regional issues, and then move on. Nevertheless, archeologists have found evidence that the actual settlement today known as Göttingen probably dates back at least to the 7th Century AD. After the imperial palace was destroyed in 1180, Göttingen became a semi-important merchant city, a member of the Hanse (the country's foremost trading association) for over two hundred years, as well as the seat of its very own dukedom. However, for some reason the locals never took a liking to castles. In 1387, they burned down the duke's residence and chased him out of town. From then on, the duke of Göttingen ironically had to reign from Hannoversch- Münden, some 20 miles away, and could not even go near the city. Speak about respect for the nobility! Shortly after the Lutheran reformation swept Germany in the early 1500s, the city switched to the new denomination and joined a league of Lutheran cities. Unfortunately, this turned out to be a bad move - after the so-called Schmalkaldic league was defeated in battle in 1547, the city lost much of its importance, and what was left went out the window during the Thirty Years' War that ravaged most of Germany in the 1600s. As in many parts of the country, diseases and battles took a heavy toll and turned Göttingen into a sleepy farming town. Luckily, King George II Augustus of Hanover - also King of England at the time - chose Göttingen as the seat of his territory's university. Legend has it that it originally was to open in Celle, an equally small town east of Hanover. According to this story, Celle was given the choice between the university and the jail and chose the jail, since it would bring less upheaval to the town. The new-founded university finally opened its gates in 1737. Soon, the city's alma mater attracted renowned faculty from all over Germany, and gained the biggest student body of all European universities at the time (more than 800 students!). Göttingen University has played a central role in Germany's academic life ever since, e.g. in establishing the humanities in the academic curriculum, and in particular with regard to modern science. Niels Bohr, Werner Heisenberg, Otto Hahn, Max Born, James Franck, Carl Friedrich Gauss and Friedrich Wöhler were all faculty members. As a result, Göttingen boasts 42 Nobel Prize winners to date who have either taught or studied here - more than any other place in Europe, and second only to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Two of those scientists are from our very own MPI - Manfred Eigen (1967, now retired) and Erwin Neher (1991). Some major political figures also attended the university, among them Otto von Bismarck and the current German chancellor, Gerhard Schröder. After the establishment of the German empire in 1871, Göttingen became a fairly conservative town. When World War I was lost, the Nazis gained a big following very quickly and received a majority of the vote even before they did in other parts of Germany. After they rose to power in 1933, many Jewish or left-wing faculty members were forced to leave the university, a fatal loss Göttingen's academia did not recover from for a long time. As everywhere, Jews and those opposed to Hitler were heavily persecuted, and the local synagogue was burned down in 1938. The only respect in which Göttingen was lucky: the city was spared from major bombings in World War II. After the liberation, there were quick efforts to re-establish academic excellence. Max Planck spent his last years in town, and Werner Heisenberg (yes, the man of uncertainty principle fame) took over as president of the local Academy of Sciences. In the 1950s, Göttingen also hosted some of the country's foremost film studios. So if you get to watch a West German movie from that period, you may get a glimpse of the local scenery as it looked back then. In the Sixties and Seventies, a lot of surrounding villages officially joined the city. Today, the population is about 120,000, roughly a quarter of them university students. The last significant change came with the reunification about a decade ago. Until 1990, Göttingen was located very close to the East German border and thus on the very periphery of West Germany. Since the fall of the wall, many lost connections have been re-established, and today Göttingen is once again one of the most prominent places in the country's heartland. If you receive a Ph.D. here, do not forget to kiss the "Gänseliesel," the girl statue on the fountain in front of the old city hall - it's the local custom for those who have earned a doctorate. Until very recently, you would have even committed a rebellious act. For some reason nobody can remember, kissing the statue was technically outlawed in 1926. In practice, no one ever cared, and the custom was formally re-legalized in 2001. We hope that you will enjoy your stay, get to love the city and be eager to return once you have to leave. Heinrich Heine once claimed that Göttingen looks its most beautiful when you turn your back to it. We hope you will disagree! |
||||
| ||||
 | ||||
|
Although the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry was only founded in 1971, we are proud to be part of a much older tradition. After World War II, Karl Friedrich Bonhoeffer founded the Max Planck Institute for Physical Chemistry here in Göttingen, practically a re-establishment of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Physical Chemistry, which had been located in Berlin before World War II. When the institute for Physical Chemistry moved out to its current location in Göttingen-Nikolausberg, it merged with the Max Planck Institute for Spectroscopy, and is now known as the MPIbpc. The future home to your research, named in honor of its original founder, is one of the largest and most prominent within the Max Planck Society. 700 people currently work here, more than 400 of them scientists from all parts of the world. In addition to Manfred Eigen and Erwin Neher, our Nobel Prize winners, our scientists have been awarded numerous national and international research prizes. In 2002, MPIbpc department head Peter Gruss was appointed president of the Max Planck Society, a step that has increased our weight within one of Germany's foremost research organizations. |
||||
| ||||
 | ||||
Like all of Germany, Göttingen is in the temperate climate zone and has four seasons. Because of its central location, the city is often situated between two weather zones, thus the weather tends to be somewhat less stable than in other German areas. As a scholar from Minnesota who once lived here put it: if the national forecast calls for rain in the north and a sunny day in the south (or vice versa), Göttingen tends to be wherever the rain is. Clouds and rainy days are fairly common, though the total precipitation is about average for Germany. In Germany, the actual seasons vary quite a bit. Summers may be either very hot and sunny or cool and rainy. Winters can be very snowy and cold or mild and rainy. Make sure to bring warm sweaters and a winter coat as well as light summer clothes. Here's the statistical data (remember that Germany uses the Celsitude scale):
|
||||
| ||||
 | ||||
How to get to the MPIbpc By plane: The nearest major airport is Hannover. However, chances are that you will find a cheaper ticket to Frankfurt, Germany's biggest international airport. There are convenient and fast train connections to Göttingen from both cities. Frankfurt Airport has its own train station. There are some direct connections to Göttingen, but in many cases you need to change at the main station in Frankfurt's city center (Hauptbahnhof or Hbf). During the day, local trains (S-Bahnen) serve the airport every few minutes. In Hannover, there are both S-Bahnen and shuttle buses connecting the airport with the city center. We do not necessarily recommend traveling by plane within Germany if Göttingen is your starting point. Although the actual flying time will be very short, you need to take into account that you need to get to an airport first (Göttingen has none), and that the procedures before and after the actual flight take up a lot of time. Therefore, traveling by train is often just as fast and efficient, especially if you use the high-speed ICE trains that connect most major German cities. By car: Göttingen is conveniently located on Autobahn 7 (A 7), one of Germany's main North-South arteries, between Hannover and Kassel. Take the Göttingen-Nord exit and stay on road A 388. When the freeway ends, go straight ahead on federal route B 27 towards Braunlage and Duderstadt. After about 2 miles (3 kilometers), turn left at the traffic lights by the Chinese restaurant "China-Haus" and go towards Göttingen-Nikolausberg. After half a mile and some curves, the Max Planck institute will be on your left. The gate is just opposite from the bus stop. For better visualization, we recommend you take a look at the map on the institute's website. By train: Most Intercity and ICE trains on the Hamburg/Bremen-Frankfurt, Hamburg-Munich and Berlin-Frankfurt routes stop in Göttingen. From the train station, you can take a cab (about 10-15 ¤). The MPI is also served by bus. Take bus #5 for "Nikolausberg" from the train station and get off at the "Am Fassberg" bus stop right across the entrance of the institute. | ||||
Who to talk to at the MPI Your contact persons will vary from department to department. In most cases, the departmental secretary, your prospective department head, and prospective group head will be your first contact. They will handle your requests themselves or guide you to an appropriate person in the department. An overview of the departments and research groups is available under www.mpibpc.mpg.de/english/research/index.php. |
||||
| ||||
 | ||||
|
Finding a place to live In general, it is much easier to find a place to live after you get here. Therefore, we recommend the assistance of your department secretary. In many departments, finding you a place to live is part of that person's job, and in general they are familiar with the local market and its idiosyncrasies. Before you have a place to stay... If you arrive in Göttingen before you have a place to stay, you need to set up a base. In some cases, it may be possible to arrange a place at our institute's on-site guesthouse through your department secretary. If that should not work, you have the following options: If your financial means are modest, we recommend the IYH Youth Hostel (Jugendherberge). Prices are fairly cheap. You need an IYH membership card (available at the hostel). To get there from downtown, take bus #6 for "Klausberg." Get off at the "Jugendherberge" bus stop, and the hostel is right around the corner. For reservations call (0551/57622) or send an Email to: jh-goettingen@djh-hannover.de. If you would rather stay at a hotel, contact the city's tourist office. It is located downtown by the market square in the "Altes Rathaus." You may also call in advance (0551/49880-0). Some of their staff speaks English. You can also find a list of accommodations online at www.goettingen-tourismus.de (click on "accomodation"). Searching a place on your own The cheapest and most common way of finding a place is through the local newspaper, the Göttinger Tageblatt. Rentals appear under the heading "Immobilienmarkt" in the Wednesday and Saturday editions. Listings usually clearly indicate whether the apartment is being offered directly by the owners or from a real estate agent (for an explanation of newspaper listings and abbreviations see later). There are also online ads available at www.goettiger-tageblatt.de/ (see the "Anzeigen suchen" column, click on "Immobilien", which means "real estate", but also includes places for rent). Another way is to go through a real estate agent, called an Immobilienmakler or Wohnungsmakler. This is usually expensive though - when a Makler succeeds in finding a place to you, i.e. when you sign the rental contract - he or she is entitled to charge you a fee. 2 months rent (excluding utilities) is the legal limit. So if the Makler gets you a place with a monthly base rent of 850 Euro , he or she is entitled to charge you a 1.700 Euro fee. Never pay a fee if the Makler's work does not result in the signing of a rental contract. Using networks of friends and colleagues avoids having to pay for a real estate agent or newspaper ad. A recommendation to the owner from a work colleague or friend who is moving out often also speeds up the formalities. Paying about one third of net income for housing is common in the major metropolitan areas of Germany. The MPIbpc owns a limited number of apartments that it rents to its employees. Take a look on the bulletin boards in the department you are working in and/or ask Rüdiger Wiegand in the administration building. Housing is rented by the square meter (Quadratmeter), not the number of rooms (1 qm = approx. 11.25 square feet). Although announcements will include the number of rooms in an apartment, the rent will be calculated by the total number of square meters. In general, 80 to 100 square meters translates into three to four rooms, but that may not always be the case. The number of rooms is calculated as follows: If you are looking for an apartment with two bedrooms, a living room and a dining room, you will be looking for a four room (4 Zimmer) home in Germany. Furnished (möblierte) apartments are rare; most come unfurnished (unmöbliert). If an ad is listed without the term "möbliert" or "möbl." the apartment will most likely be unfurnished. Unfurnished apartments and houses don't include cabinets, closets, shelves, tables or even lighting fixtures. More often than not, you may even have to buy your own kitchen furniture, including a fridge, a sink and a stove. Among the most popular apartments in Germany are those located in "Altbau" buildings. These are old style buildings, usually with high ceilings. Some have a lot of atmosphere. Despite their age and sometimes faulty plumbing and heating, an Altbau is generally more expensive than a Neubau or "new buildings". Apartments for rent will be listed under Vermietungen/ Wohnungen in the classifieds. A standard ad may read as follows: |
||||
3 ZKB, 100m2, Balkon, ruhige Lage, | ||||
Abstellraum, Stellpl., 450,- +NK, ab sofort. | ||||
This indicates a 3 room (Zimmer) apartment with kitchen - K for Küche - and bathroom - B for Badezimmer, It's 100 square meters in total, has a balcony (Balkon), is in a quiet area (ruhige Lage), has a storage area (Abstellraum), and parking space for a car (Stellpl.). It costs 450 Euro plus utilities (NK for Nebenkosten) and is available immediately (ab sofort). Other abbreviations and terms you'll see: AB and NB indicate whether the apartment is in an Altbau or a Neubau. The initials WC, Bad and Du tell you about the sanitary facilities, and mean, respectively, "water closet," "bath" and "shower" (Dusche). Bath means only a tub, and a WC is a room with a toilet but no bathing facilities. The initials EG, OG and DG tell you how high up in the building you'll be; respectively "ground floor" (EG/Erdgeschoss), "upper floor" (OG/Obergeschoss) and "attic floor" (DG/Dachgeschoss). More often than not, "Sout." (Souterrain) is a polite way of saying "basement". The initials Ka, KI and Kaut all stand for the "security deposit" (Kaution) that you must lay down over and above your rent. QM is the abbreviation for square meters (Quadratmeter). Warm means the rent includes the Nebenkosten (this is a reference to the heating costs). If you're looking for a fully furnished apartment, keep an eye out for the abbreviation Möbl (möbliert), and if you are looking for such comfortable amenities as central heating, an entrance hallway or a garden, look for ZH (Zentralheizung), Diele and Gart (Garten). "Nähe" indicates a location near something, e.g. "Nähe Innenstadt" means that the apartment is near downtown. Most newspaper ads list the town or section of the city in which the apartment is located. Some give the names of streets (it is a good idea to buy a city map upon your arrival). There may also be reference to the proximity of public transportation, schools or the city center. Close to the city center: Südstadt, Ostviertel, Klausberg, Papenberg, some parts of Geismar, Weende, and Grone, anything "Nähe Uni," "uninah" or "Nähe Innenstadt." "Innenstadt" means "downtown" or "city center". Close to the MPI: Nikolausberg, Klausberg, Luttertal, Papenberg, Weende, Weende-Nord, anything "Nähe Klinikum" or "Nähe Nord-Uni." Herberhausen, Deppoldshausen, and Roringen are nearby villages. Actually, so is Nikolausberg, which is located in walking distance from the institute. Therefore, many scientists and MPI workers prefer to live in Nikolausberg. |
||||
| ||||
 | ||||
Moving in In order to avoid disputes about damages during occupancy, renters should examine the dwelling with the landlord immediately upon moving in and make a list of damages or necessary repairs and then have them entered in to the lease. Most leases require tenants to repaint the interior of homes when notice is given. In some instances, the landlord may stipulate that the painting be done by a company approved by the landlord. If that is not the case and you do not wish to do the painting yourself (beware: the landlord approves whether a job was suitable or not), there are plenty of painters who can be found under the heading of "Malerbetriebe" in the Yellow Pages. German leases often stipulate that tenants take out a household and personal effects insurance (Hausratsversicherung) and personal liability insurance (Haftpflicht-Versicherung). If you have furniture to move, you can either call up a moving service or rent a van or truck to move everything yourself. Moving services are generally very professional and spare you lots of backbreaking work, but are rather expensive. Renting a truck is, of course, much cheaper, but you will need to get enough people together to do all the moving with you. For rentals, ask your department secretary for advice. Quiet time or "Ruhezeit" in Germany is holy. It is between 1pm and 3pm and 10pm and 7am, Monday through Saturday and all day Sunday. Avoid loud noises such as drilling, sawing, hammering or turning up your stereo. Inform your neighbors if you are planning a party during that time - Germans have no qualms about calling the police for noise disturbances. Utility and rent payments You will be paying the rent, which can't be changed for the duration of a lease, and the "Nebenkosten" or additional costs such as heating, staircase cleaning, garbage collection, and water. You will generally pay for electricity separately, directly to the electricity provider. Make sure you include this extra money in your financial plans. Remember to ask your landlord to specify the "Nebenkosten" for you before you sign the rental agreement. If a tenant uses less heat, for example, than estimated in the lease, he or she is refunded the difference. On the other hand, if the price of one of the Nebenkosten rises, such as rubbish collection, during the period covered by a lease, your Nebenkosten will be raised accordingly. Tenants receive a summary of these extra costs once a year. Landlords usually require two to three months of rent as a security deposit. Security deposits are in the form of interest-bearing savings books taken out by and in the name of the tenant and then turned over to the landlord. Be aware that some leases include automatic annual rental increases, called "Staffelmiete". These are negotiable and must be agreed upon in advance. Annual increases are controlled by local "rent control guides" (Mietspiegel), usually in cities. Where rent control guides do not apply, rates increases are determined by "local rents of comparison" (Vergleichsmiete), which can be found at your local tenants association, called a "Mieterverein" (0551/57592 for Göttingen). Leases are generally unlimited with a three-month period of notice for both parties, something you need to keep in mind if you want to move to a different place. Be prepared for forthright questions from landlords concerning employer, income, proposed length of stay and ages of children. Since it can be very difficult for a landlord to evict a tenant once a contract has been signed and since leases are generally open-ended, landlords are looking for long-term tenants who fit in well with the other occupants of the building. As a result, you want to make a good impression when you meet the landlord, who is certainly interviewing several people, especially if the ad was placed in a paper. Garbage Garbage separation is mandatory. In your neighborhood, there will be local containers for paper, metal and non-deposit glass bottles. Do not throw these things into your regular garbage. Ask your neighbors for directions where to find the next containers. The city usually provides two garbage bins. The green bin is for organic waste, the dark gray bin for everything that does not fit into any other category. Plastic and metal is collected in yellow garbage bags that you have to buy for yourself. They are usually picked up on the same day as the organic waste. Please ask your neighbors for collections dates in your area. Large items such as kitchen appliances and old furniture (Sperrmüll) may be removed free of charge by the city. For more information, ask your landlord. |
||||
| ||||
 | ||||
If you are staying in Germany for more than three months you must obtain a residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) from the local government authorities. This applies even if you did not need a visa to enter the country, or if you are a EU national. First you need to go to the local registry office (Einwohnermeldeamt), which is in the new town hall (Neues Rathaus), to register where you live. You will need to fill out a form and show your passport. Every time you move to a new address, even within the city of Göttingen, you must re-register. If you move to another city or locality, you must fill out a de-registration form (Abmeldung) at your previous address and re- register at your new address. You will be given an official form called an Anmeldebestätigung. Then you can apply for the residence permit at the Ausländerbehörde (Office of Foreign Registry), which is part of the Ordnungsamt in the Rathaus. When you submit your form at the Ausländerbehörde, you need at least the following:
The necessary forms and certifications - such as the Certificate of Health and proof of insurance - vary depending on the state and marital status. Some states require a Certificate of Good Conduct, i.e. a statement that you have not been convicted of any crimes, which can be obtained at your nearest embassy or consulate. Being married to a German obviously expedites the process. Be aware, that once you have all the necessary forms and submitted an application, you may be in for a long wait at the Office of Foreign Registry at City Hall to submit forms to the government employee responsible for you (assigned alphabetically in cities and large towns) and for approval of a residence permit. Approval for citizens outside of the United States, Canada, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and the EU can take up to six weeks. Don't forget any forms, otherwise you will have to come back with them, which means even more lost time. And be aware of the expiration date in your passport. Your passport may expire before your residence permit, which means you will have to go through the process again once you get a new passport. You will be given papers to show your status, which must be carried at all times, together with acceptable ID (usually passport). Since January 1, 2005, there are only two basic types of residence permits.
The Aufenthaltserlaubnis - the basic types There are various sub-types of the Aufenthaltserlaubnis, and they come with the following sentences stamped in your passport:
If you take up work with a Type 1 permit, and your scholarship is expiring and cannot be extended, you will in many cases reach an agreement with your department head that you will be paid by the MPI as a student worker or scientific collaborator. Obviously, you will not only need a new contract, but you will also have to transfer to a different type of permit. When you go to the Foreigner's office to do this, it is absolutely necessary to bring a preliminary work contract from the institute, otherwise you will NOT be issued a new type of permit. Without this change of permit type, in turn, you cannot be issued the final version of your new MPI work contract, and you will not receive payment from our administration, not even as an advance. Sorry, but it's the new law. The settlement permit In general, the German authorities are fairly restrictive about issuing the so-called "Niederlassungs-erlaubnis" (unlimited settlement permit). But even if you are eligible to apply for this permit, issuing it takes a long time. The local authorities advise you to always apply for an "Aufenthaltserlaubnis" first, so there is due time for submitting and processing your settlement permit application. |
||||
| ||||
 | ||||
If you bring your spouse to Germany, he or she may want to seek employment. However, actually finding a job can be very difficult for foreigners. Compared to many other European countries, unemployment is high in Germany (about 12% on average, although in some former East German areas it is closer to 25%; Göttingen's quota is about the national average) and is likely to rise even further in the next few years. Therefore, even many Germans are struggling to find a job. In many cases, foreigners only have a chance if they have outstanding qualifications for high skilled jobs (such as computer specialists) and/or excellent German language skills. Illegal work is strongly persecuted. If your spouse is from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway, they need no further documents to look for a paid job; exceptions may currently still apply for the 10 countries that joined the EU in 2004 (Czech Republic, Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia). Nationals from any other country do need a work permit, though (only unpaid jobs are exempt). In this case spouses who would like to find employment need to inform the German consulate in their country of residence and apply for the correct residence permit (indicating "employment permitted") before departure. You cannot do this later. Working without this permit is illegal and may result in your spouse having to leave the country. Once you are here and have the necessary paperwork, you apply for the actual work permit at the local Arbeitsagentur (Employment office) in the city center (located on the West side of the train station). The procedure is time-consuming - processing the application alone can take several weeks - and not always successful. You and your spouse should not rely on being able to find a second job. Do not include a potential second income in your financial planning before actually finding a job. Spouses of former Humboldt research fellows recommend that your spouse should think prior to departure how to make good use of a stay in Germany in case in case the job plans should fall through. Here are some possibilities you may want to consider:
|
||||
| ||||
 | ||||
Kindergarten and Day Care Many of you will plan to bring their children to Germany. If they stay here for an extended period of time, you may have to find a kindergarten place or an appropriate school near your place of residence at the beginning of your stay. Kindergarten attendance is voluntary in Germany. Most kindergartens only accept children aged 3 years and up. Day care in nurseries is an alternative for children below 3 years of age, although openings are few and far between. Although the situation has improved in recent years, there is still a shortage in kindergarten and day care places. Try to enroll your children as early as possible, even if the next opening should only be available in a few months. Kindergartens are usually open from 8 am and 12pm and/or 2 to 5 pm. Lunch is usually not provided. Most kindergartens are run by either local authorities or Protestant or Catholic church associations. They usually charge a monthly fee of approximately 100 to 200 Euro. Day care fees may be even higher.
Schools School attendance is mandatory for all German and foreign children between six and fifteen years of age. Home schooling is NOT permitted. However, finding the right school for the needs of YOUR child may be tricky, since the school system may be very different from what you know. After 4th grade, there is a wide host of different school forms that even varies from state to state. The school year usually starts in August or early September and ends in June or July. Actual dates vary from year to year and from state to state. Summer break is about six weeks, with further holiday periods of varying length in autumn, around Christmas, and in the spring. All in all, German children get about three months off from school every year. Virtually all German schools offer classes in the morning only. From grade 5 and on, classes usually run from about 8 am to 1 pm. Course grades are on a scale from 1 to 6, with 1 as the top grade and 4 as the minimum grade for passing a class. Most schools in Niedersachsen are run by the state and free of charge; more than 95% of all children attend public schools. There are few private schools, and some may be very expensive. In Göttingen, there are only one Catholic school (Bonifatiusschule, 1st through 10th grade) and a Waldorf school. In contrast to many other countries, the type of your school certificate is generally more important on the job market than the fact whether your school was a public or private institution. In Germany, attending a private school does not always guarantee a better quality of education. The general language of instruction is German, with language classes ideally taught in the subject language (except Latin and ancient Greek, of course). Here is an overview of current school forms in the state of Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony), where Göttingen is located. The information in this summary does not necessarily apply to other German states and may have changed by the time you read this:
Note: If your child takes up an apprenticeship or other training position after graduating, they will usually attend a "Berufsbildende Schule" (Job-qualifying school) for additional courses relevant to their field.
For more information on Göttingen's schools, check out www.goettingen.de/schulen/index.htm (German only) or call +49-551-400-2496. |
||||
| ||||
 | ||||
Health insurance is mandatory in Germany. Contrary to what you may have heard, German health services are NOT free. You must join one of the "Krankenkassen" (health insurance providers) or get private health insurance, which generally provides an even better coverage, but is also considerably more expensive. If you come to the MPI on a fellowship - this applies to post-docs, Ph.D. students and their families - you can only get private health insurance. The MPI cooperates with EUROPA Versicherungen, which currently charges 85.20 Euro per person per month for basic health insurance. This includes spouses and children, even babies (that is, a family of four will pay 340.80 Euro). If you sign up for this insurance, the fees will be deducted directly from your monthly stipend. The department secretary and/or the personnel office will help you with getting this insurance. The few among you who are here on a regular job contract from the institute may join a regular Krankenkasse. The money is deducted directly from your pay and the MPI administers the procedure from there. Different insurance companies offer different rates. Make sure you compare them. The MPI usually recommends the "Techniker-Krankenkasse". When you become a member you will receive a card that needs to be carried and shown to your doctor on attendance. If you are not sure which status applies to you, check with your future department or the personnel department. You may consider holding off with signing up for any insurance until you get here and talk to someone at the institute. NOTE: If you are not from the EU, your German insurance does not cover you in your home country. You may have to sign up for an additional travel insurance that you can purchase from a private insurance company, and - in connection with a ticket - at some travel agencies. We recommend private travel insurance for anyone traveling outside Germany because it provides a better coverage even within the EU. However, if you get sick outside Germany, whether in your home country or not, both private insurance companies and Krankenkassen require you to pay out own your own pocket when you get sick abroad, and may then reimburse you. |
||||
| ||||
 | ||||
Tax Classes Largely sorted out by the personnel department. If you come here on an MPI fellowship, you are usually exempt from paying taxes and social security. Ask the personnel department whether that applies to you. If you are liable for paying taxes, ask for a "Lohnsteuerkarte" (a tax card) at the Einwohnermeldeamt in the city center. You will be put into the appropriate tax class. You must give the Lohnsteuerkarte to the personnel department at the MPIbpc. Social Security/ Pension Citizens from EU countries continue to contribute to their national pension. Give your National Insurance Number to the personnel department. If you are from an EU country you have the same social security rights and duties as Germans once you are working. Other countries: Your earnings here may not count towards social security in your home country. You still may have to make payments to the German social security system. For details regarding your specific country, contact a German embassy or consulate, or your home country's embassy in Berlin. Currency Remember that our good old Deutsche Mark (DM) is no more, much to the dismay of many Germans! On January 1, 2002, Germany switched to a new currency, the Euro. You can no longer pay with German marks, even if you have some old coins flying around. So if you're from another EU country (except Sweden, Denmark, or the UK) you don't have to convert your money any longer. If you're from outside what is now called the "Euro zone," please check a newspaper or web site from your own country for the current exchange rate of your currency to the Euro. In case you are using an older tourist guide or other outdated price information: One Euro roughly corresponds to two old German marks (1,955833 DM, to be precise). To get the new price in Euro, just divide the price listings in Deutschmarks by two, and then leave some leeway for a few extra percent. Banks You have to pay a monthly fee for an account, and most banks' opening hours are more or less when you are at work. There are also telephone banks and online banking. Withdrawing cash from your own bank's cash machines is free, but generally costs if you are using machines from other banks (except now there is a deal between certain banks - not the Sparkasse - like the Deutsche Bank and the Dresdner Bank that the customers of each can use each other s machines for free). Use and acceptance of credit cards, debit cards and even checks is less common than elsewhere, but increasing. Don't expect to go into a supermarket and pay for everything on your credit card. Germans use EC-cards or cash for that. There are two basic types of bank accounts. For your everyday needs, you may want a "Girokonto." This is the account you access from cash machines, and from which you transfer your rent, pay bills etc. Your credit and debit cards are usually linked to this Girokonto, too. If you are neither a student nor very, very well off, the bank charges a small monthly fee for running your account. Note that transferring money abroad (e.g. to your home country) is almost always connected with very high fees, especially when you transfer money outside the EU. The other basic type of account is the "Sparkonto" (savings account) for your long-term savings, which comes with a modest interest rate. Moreover, there are additional options for earning an even higher interest if you deposit your money for an extended number of years. However, you cannot withdraw your funds during that time, so we do not recommend to sign such contracts if you don't stay for more than a couple of years. So which bank should you choose? Ask friends and colleagues for recommendations. When you sign up for an account, it can't hurt to bring a person you trust with you, simply because they may help guiding you through the process. While you will find someone who speaks English at almost every bank, few will be familiar with how exactly the German banking system is different from the one you know. Virtually all major German banks offer online banking these days. However, their menus may be available in German only. |
||||
| ||||
 | ||||
Phones For more than a century, there was a public monopoly on the German phone market. Since its privatization in the late 1990s, there have been rapid changes that are still in progress, and even for insiders it's hard to keep an overview. For the best deals regarding cheap long distance prefixes or mobile phones, it's best to ask your colleagues or friends. Their opinions will vary greatly, so ask more than one person. If you want to set up a conventional or ISDN phone account at your home, you need to contact Deutsche Telekom (formerly Deutsche Bundespost, the public phone and mail company), which still holds a monopoly for this part of the market. To set up an appointment, call 0800 / 33-02000. In contrast to some other countries, local calls are not free of charge. Prices vary depending on the time of the day. In general, weekend and evening rates are lower. For long distance calls made from a regular phone, Deutsche Telekom is the most expensive provider. Fortunately, there is a host of providers for cheap long distance and international connections. All you need is to dial their prefix before the number you want to connect with, and you will be charged on your regular phone bill. Ask friends and colleagues for recommendations. You can also buy international calling cards at a few stores in the city center. They are not very common though. If you can, ask people from your home country for the best deal. You can also check www.billigertelefonieren.de and www.teltarif.de (both of them in German) for different carriers' current rates. Both sites can find you the cheapest deals for your needs for long distance and international calls, but may look a bit confusing if you are not yet familiar with German telecommunication vocabulary. Public payphones: Although there are some coin-operated phone booths, many only work with a "Telefonkarte" (phone card). In general, you can buy them at post offices, some convenience stores, and gas stations. Currently, there are cards for 5 and 10 Euro . Right now, Deutsche Telekom is introducing new booths that work with both cards and coins, but they are still few and far between, at least in remote areas. Mobile phones/Cell phones: Mobile phones are very popular with Germans, especially with young people. Even a lot of grade school students use them. Instead of slavishly using actual English words, Germans have coined their own term. In Germany, a mobile phone is a "Handy." Nobody knows the exact origin of the word, but it is commonly assumed it was chosen because mobiles are hand-held and English sounds cool. The Handy market is even more confusing than the long distance market. While there are only a dozen or so major providers, they try to beat each other with hot deals and specials all the time. For instance, if "Handys" are offered at extremely low prices (such as 20 or 10 Euros) or even for free, this offer is usually linked to a long-term contract with a specific provider, during which you can make use of their services only and not switch to a cheaper provider. 2 years are a common length for such contracts. Be cautious when you sign a contract: some of them contain hidden charges or require you to sign up for an extended amount of time - something you definitely want to avoid if you are only here for a few months. Also, rates are generally high. Make sure you inquire for them; otherwise you may be in for unpleasant surprises. Some common prefixes: |
Prefix | Examples | Category | ||
No prefix | 7654321 | Local call | ||
0xx, | 030 (Berlin) | Regular Long Distance Calls(within Germany) | ||
00x, | 001 (USA/Canada) | International calls | ||
016x, | 0160, 0171, 0172 | Mobile (or cell) phones | ||
010xx | 01013, 01093, 01051 | Prefixes for cheaper long distance and international connections(dial before regular long distance or international prefixes) | ||
0800, 0130 | - | Free of charge | ||
0900 | - | Charge (per call) | ||
0180 | any number starting with 0180... (0180, 01805, 01800) | (relatively low) charges per minute | ||
0190 | any number starting with 0190... (0190, 01905, 01900) | (high) charges per minute, sometimes used to trick people BE CAREFUL! |
E-mail and Internet There are lots of providers for online access. AOL is fairly big here (hey, even Hamburg's soccer stadium was named after them), but there are many other providers, among them Deutsche Telekom's online service T-online. With most companies, you need to pay a monthly fee plus phone charges. Some offer flat rates, too, but they only pay off if you use your home account a lot. We recommend you to set up a user account with the GWDG (Gesellschaft für Wissenschaftliche Datenverarbeitung Göttingen) upon your arrival at the MPIbpc. The GWDG is a non-profit company that handles the computing resources for the university and the four Max Planck institutes in Göttingen, and their offices are located in the same complex as our institute. This account will be free of charge and you have access as long as you are affiliated with our institution. You will also get an E-Mail account. If you use your GWDG account from home, however, you are still responsible for local phone charges. After logging into the GWDG server, you should still be able to access any E-mail accounts abroad. Of course, you can still set up additional accounts with commercial providers such as Yahoo, Excite, Altavista... A lot of Germans I know have gotten E-Mail accounts at www.web.de or www.gmx.de because these companies state that they provide more security than some other competitors. Since I don't use them myself, I can't really make an endorsement, though. |
||
| ||
 | ||
When signing a contract (i.e. with your landlord, a phone provider etc.), be aware that you will have to honor it to the tee. Germans are usually very strict about this part, and it is difficult to get out of contracts. Make sure you read - and understand - the fine print, especially when it comes to notification periods. In many cases, i.e. if you want to change insurance companies, phone providers or newspaper subscriptions, you will need to inform the other party of your intentions until a certain date specified in the contract, otherwise the contract will be automatically renewed. When you want to move out, you usually have to notify your landlord at least 3 months (!!!) in advance. | ||
| ||
 | ||
Driving License You must carry your driver's license and the "Fahrzeugschein" (car papers = a small leaflet) at all times when you are driving. If you are an EU national, you may drive with your national license or an international driver's license for one year after your date of entry into Germany. If you are from outside the EU, your national or international license expires after 6 months in the country. After that, you will need to exchange it for the German equivalent. The exchange procedure generally requires you to take at least a few driving lessons from a German driving school (Fahrschule), and in some instances, to take a German driving test which may be more difficult than equivalent tests in other countries. Road rules Signs and road rules may differ from your own country. In general, German drivers and the police are very strict about the rules. Never try to cheat or bribe the police. In most cases, your attempts will result in a harsher punishment. Some common differences:
Intoxication The legal limit for driving is 0.05% - about one large beer or one glass of wine. If you are caught above the blood alcohol limit, your driving privilege for Germany may get temporarily suspended, or - depending on how intoxicated you are - permanently revoked. But you can get pulled over and punished even with less 0.05% if the police think you are driving funny. Driving under the influence of illegal drugs is, of course, illegal as well. Hitchhiking Hitchhiking is technically legal, except along the Autobahn, though onramps and off ramps are OK. Thumbing down cars is also somewhat more common than in other European countries. Most hitchhikers are young people trying to get a cheap lift. However, it remains an unsafe practice, so be careful when you are hitchhiking yourself or picking up unknown passengers. Ride sharing is a cheap and safer alternative to travel with others. For a small fee plus your share of gas expenses you may be able to score a ride to many places in Germany and abroad at the "Mitfahrzentrale" (in Göttingen: 0551/485988). There is also a ride sharing board on the main university campus at the city center. For viable alternatives, also see the chapter on public transportation. Bringing a car from abroad Foreign registered cars can be driven for a certain period by temporary residents (e.g. students), but not by permanent residents (employed etc). Cars owned by permanent residents must be reregistered in Germany and go through the TÜV. Foreign cars must carry proof of ownership and insurance (see "Preparing for Germany"). Insurance HUK Coburg is recommended for employees of the MPI. They have experience (foreigners can find dealing with insurance companies trying). From experience, we also recommend a legal insurance for cars (Autorechtsschutzversicherung), since legal battles over accident liabilities are fairly common. Buying a car Cars must be registered directly to the owner. This is done in person at the Rathaus - involves taking the car s old papers, cash, ID etc., being issued with number plates, which must be officially attached. Ownership papers include "Fahrzeugbrief" and "Fahrzeugschein". The Schein must be carried at all times by the driver of the car. When selling a car you must unregister it at the Rathaus. Scrapping a car costs! Miscellaneous It is strongly recommended that you buy winter tires because it does get very icy in winter, especially in Nikolausberg and the Fassberg, where our institute is located. You must carry an approved first aid kit and a warning triangle, otherwise you can be fined (even if there is something missing in the kit or if the used-by-date has passed). It is very wise to join the ADAC, which is the national car club. They will even help you for free if you get stuck anywhere. They also offer insurance, cheaper than usual maps and car and road information. There are different categories of membership, so make sure you get what you want. Check www.adac.de (in German) for more information. |
||
| ||
 | ||
Trains Traveling by train can be expensive but is generally efficient. There are different prices depending on the train category, e.g. the high-speed ICEs are the most expensive, then ECs/ICs (there is an extra cost for these) and traveling by RegionalExpress (RE), RegionalBahn (RB) or StadtExpress (SE) is the cheapest. If you travel by train frequently, we recommend you to buy a BahnCard, which entitles you to discounts on all trips. There is a BahnCard 50 for a 50% discount (200 Euros, 2nd class), and a BahnCard 25 for a 25% discount (50 Euros, 2nd class). Moreover, there are discounts if you purchase your ticket in advance. You can get 25% to 50% off (roundtrip tickets only!) if you buy your ticket at least three days in advance, and prices get even lower if you buy these in connection with a Bahn Card 25. However, these offers do not work in connection with Bahn Card 50. Please note that these discounts are subject to some restrictions. For example, there is only a limited amount of discount tickets available, and they are only valid for the specific train connection you buy it for. If you miss your train or one of your trains (due to delays in your connection), you can only exchange your ticket for a 15 Euro fee. Moreover, 50% discounts are only available if your trip includes at least one weekend night or one weekend travel date. There are also group discounts. On weekends, Deutsche Bahn offers the "Schönes Wochenende" ticket. For approximately 30 Euros, up to five adults or children may travel on the entire German train network on local trains only (RE, RB, SE). While this is a very cheap way to travel, especially for groups, it is also slow. A trip to Hamburg, for instance, takes four hours each way, and it is almost 10 hours to the Swiss border - if all your connections are on time, that is, and you should not necessarily rely on that. Visit www.bahn.de for special deals and more information or ask you colleagues at the MPIbpc for their recommendations. Buses There is a regular bus net in Göttingen. Visit www.goevb.de/ for schedules (Fahrplaninformation) and other information. Individual tickets cost 1,60 Euro, but if you buy 4 tickets (Viererkarte) at once you will pay only 5.00 Euro. You can buy weekly/monthly passes and books of tickets at Karstadt (a local department store) or the Bus travel center (near the Weender Strasse bus stop). A regular monthly pass costs 37 Euro. Student passes are cheaper, but require proof of enrollment at the university (not the MPI). The MPI is served by bus. Take bus #5 for "Nikolausberg" from the city center and get off at the "Am Fassberg" bus stop right across the entrance of the institute. During the day, bus #5 runs twice an hour, both ways. | ||
| ||
 | ||
Shops: Opening hours Opening hours are restricted, but recently increased (many stick to the old times though). Getting involved in the community While personal commitment in sports, politics, charities, or religious groups is not for everyone, it can be a very rewarding experience and a great way to meet interesting people. Göttingen offers a wide variety of clubs and communities that offer something for everyone. www.goettingen.de is a good starting point for your search, but it is also a good idea to ask your colleagues at the MPI about ways to get involved. Television and Radio German law requires you to register radios and TV sets with the GEZ (Gebühreneinzugszentrale, or fee collection center) and pay a monthly fee (about 20 Euros, no matter whether you actually use the equipment or not). These fees are used to finance public television and radio stations. Registration forms are available at many banks and post offices. Hint: While it is statistically possible to get away without registering, don't bet on it. If you get caught, you may have to pay a considerable penalty. | ||
| ||
 | ||
General For a medium-sized college town, Göttingen has a lot to offer. Lots of student bars, classical music, local bands, drama, movies... Most major pop acts prefer nearby cities. If you want to see major bands, you may have to go to Kassel and Hannover. The same goes if you have a knack for opera. Visit the Göttingen website at www.goettingen.de for events and other information. Once you are in town, you may also check the arts section of the Göttinger Tageblatt, the local newspaper. Drama There are three theaters in Göttingen: Deutsches Theater (DT), Junges Theater (JT), Theater im OP (ThOP). Most productions are in German, though both DT and ThOP offer occasional shows in English. Deutsches Theater (DT) For tickets and reservations, call (0551) 4969-11 or (0551) 4969-19. Junges Theater (JT) For tickets and reservations, call (0551) 49 50 15. Theater im OP (ThOP) Theater im OP: www.thop.uni-goettingen.de/homepage.html For tickets, reservations, and information how to get involved, call (0551) 397077. Movie theaters Herr Travolta and Frau Zeta-Jones: A word about languages Today's program is listed in the Göttinger Tageblatt, the local newspaper. For weekly listings, check the links and sources below. CinemaxX Current listings: Go to www.cinema.msn.de/cin, type "Göttingen" into the "Kinotimer" feature and click on "Go". Stern/Sternchen Current listings: Go to www.cinema.msn.de/cin type "Göttingen" into the "Kinotimer" feature and click on "Go". Lumière Current listings: www.lumiere.de University films The names of the groups are Club-Kino, Campusfilm, Memo, and Oscar. Mostly recent mainstream fare, both domestic and from Hollywood (mostly in German), screened a few months after their regular run. On top of that, they also show classics. The annual highlight is the screening of "Die Feuerzangenbowle," a German comedy classic from the 1940s, and arguably one of the few memorable films made during the fascist era. These special screenings in early December have evolved into a major party, including champagne and an orchestra. Make sure to buy your ticket well in advance. Schedule and tickets: Check in the ZHG (the central building on main campus), where you will normally find pamphlets flying around, to see what is showing when. You can't beat their extremely cheap tickets! Videotapes/DVDs in foreign languages As you may know, DVDs usually come with the original language, and may include soundtracks and/or subtitles for various others. However, German shops regrettably sell few domestic films with foreign subtitles. Print media Books in foreign languages You can also buy English books from some bookshops, like Deuerlich (their main branch in the Weender Strasse, located in the pedestrian zone). This store also holds a small selection of books in other foreign languages, such as Spanish, French, Turkish, Russian, and Italian. Ask for their ordering service. However, many out-of-the-way titles may only be available through the usual online booksellers. Every October, Göttingen hosts the "Literaturherbst," a large literature festival of national renown that usually features a handful of English-language authors. Participating authors have included the late Douglas Adams, Tom Robbins, T.C. Boyle, Jonathan Franzen, and French author Phillip Dijan. For more information, see www.literaturherbst.de. The local Literarisches Zentrum also offers an excellent year-round selection of readings from mostly German-language authors. However, the committed team, headed by local poet Hauke Hückstädt, also tries to open up our local readers to international authors, and thus occasionally invites foreign-language authors and their translators. For their current program, visit www.lit-zentrum-goe.de/ and click on the "Z" to enter. International press You can find a large selection of foreign newspapers and magazines in a wide variety of languages at Tonollo (2 stores on Weender Straße) or Vaternahm (inside the train station). Be prepared to pay multiple amounts of your favorite magazine's domestic newsstand price, though. Music Händel Festival Orchestral Music Opera and Ballet Pop The local music scene has spawned a few nationally known acts, among them Vivid and the Guano Apes. The quality of the bands that have not made it varies greatly. Some are extraordinary, some ... well, did you ever join a misguided heavy metal outfit when you were 15? I have, so I know what I am talking about. For recommendations, ask local friends and colleagues. You are welcome to check out my own band, the guitar pop outfit "Sweet Creature," at www.sweetcreature.de. Painting and Sculpture As a rule, it is not easy to find big name exhibitions in town. There are occasional exhibtions at the Altes Rathaus, the old city hall at the market square, which are listed on the city's web site. The most renowned art museum in the area is the Sprengel Museum in Hannover: www.sprengel-museum.de/v1/englisch/smhframes.html. Kassel is home to one of Europe's leading contemporary art events, the documenta, a huge show that only takes place every five years. Documenta 12, however, will not take place until 2007. Both Hannover and Kassel boast beautiful chateaus and parks from the age of the Sun King that are well worth a visit. Sports Overall, Göttingen is not exactly a national hot spot for sports. Well, the club BG Sartorius plays in the national Basketball league, but then basketball is not that big in Germany in the first place; In any case, your best bet is to visit www.goesf.de/ (in German) where you will find an exhaustive list of events and clubs you can join. If you enroll at Göttingen University, it is a great idea to take a non-credit sports course for a very low fee at the Zentrum für allgemeinen Hochschulsport. Their classes are a cheap alternative to regular sports clubs, and also a great way to meet people. Check www.sport.uni-goettingen.de/zhs/ (in German) for current information. | ||
| ||
 | ||
Introduction After you have read about the practicalities of living in Germany, this chapter is of a more philosophical nature. Nevertheless, the issues it deals with will prove important for many of you. Of course, it applies mainly to those of you who are living abroad for the first time, but even those of you who have done it before might find a few helpful hints here. Culture shocks are a common experience for anyone moving abroad, and their impact is not to be underestimated. It can be important for you to prepare not only for the practical aspects of moving to Germany, but to brace for their mental side effects, too. So what's a "culture shock"? Even though the international community of scientists is very cosmopolitan, and even though you may have lived outside your home country before, you may be in for a "culture shock." From your perspective, people may behave odd, even lunatic, enjoy apparently inedible food and practice strange customs. You may feel lonely, even homesick. When you talk to the natives they don't seem to understand exactly what you mean or don't seem to show any reaction at all. Maybe you ask yourself whether Germany simply is a weird country or whether you are out of your right mind. Yes, culture shocks can be frustrating. Don't panic! You are not alone. What you go through happens to many people who move abroad, even if they go only for a limited time. While some of you will get along great with your fellow scientists, encounters with the rest of the population can be an entirely different matter. Many Germans, especially the older ones, are not used to dealing with people from different cultures. If you never lived outside your own culture, you tend to take your own customs as what is "normal" and everything else as an aberration. By living abroad you can gain an entirely new perspective on your own culture of origin. Are you safe? In general, culture shocks may be somewhat easier to handle for you than for others. As a scientist, you may have previously lived outside your native culture, worked with people from many different countries and have learned to put your own customs into perspective as something shaped by your culture, your social class, gender and so on. Research also shows that the more educated you are, the less difficulties you will have to acculturate in a different country, if only because you have learned more about other cultures than others. To some degree, our community at the MPI is very cosmopolitan, in some cases almost removed from the context of national cultures. Still, there is a whole world outside the institute that you most likely do NOT know. Your education does not necessarily shield you from the totally "strange" and unexpected. Thus, it is advisable for you to brace for a culture shock anyway. If you are totally spared (few people are), simply consider yourself lucky! Living between cultures: Germany in the long run If you stay here for more than just a few experiments or a few months of research, you should be aware of the following: Getting used to a different culture takes time, and integrating takes even more. Do not be impatient with yourself. Every individual reacts differently to the challenge of acculturation, so it is difficult to predict how YOU will. A few of you will aim to "go native" and never want to leave Germany again, some of you will largely remain untouched. Most people who live abroad for an extended amount of time eventually come to live with one foot in both cultures. They do preserve their domestic traditions, keep in touch with friends and family at home, but will also participate in German culture some of the time. Finding the perfect balance for you may not be easy, but is a rewarding process that will enrich your personality. Culture shock: the five phases When I first came to UC Santa Barbara, California, as an exchange student, someone from the University's International Office drew a strange figure on the blackboard. It remotely resembled a sinus curve and represented the five phases of culture shock. Many of us, new international students from over 40 countries, just laughed. This was hilarious. After all, we perfectly knew about California from Beverly Hills 90210. Besides, how could the same rules apply to people from countries as different as India and Italy, Guinea and Germany? As it turned out, however, the rules generally did work. Most of us got homesick and desperate at least for a little while. The phases I describe vary from person to person, of course, but you can use them as a rule of thumb for what you can expect when you move to a different country. Phase 1 (0-3 months): Euphoria. Phase 2 (2-5 months): Culture shock. Phase 3 (4-8 months): Neutral gear. Phase 4 (7-12 months): Adjustment. Phase 5 (upon return): Reverse culture shock. When the going gets tough: Now what? Phase 2 has hit you. You are totally homesick, and miss your spouse/family/friends. Even that music, food or custom that always annoyed you at home now gains a certain charm. The signs are clear: You are a victim of culture shock, and that is perfectly normal. No reason to panic. Chances are this feeling will pass in time, but you also need to take some action yourself. So how do you deal with this challenge? First of all, be patient with yourself. At this point, it is perfectly normal that you get in touch with your family and friends at home. You may also find that you spend a lot of time with peers from your home culture. But spending time with people from your own culture only is a big mistake. By cutting yourself off from German culture, you slow down the integration process. This way, your obvious relief may needlessly drag out the problems you seek relief from. And of course, just hiding in your room and watching satellite TV will not help either. As difficult as it sounds, you will likely benefit most from exposing yourself more to Germany and its culture. Join a club, try to make friends at work (Germans as well as other foreigners), go watch a movie, travel - there are scores of possibilities. You will see that things will improve over time. | ||
| ||
 | ||
Here are some of the most common stereotypes of Germans I have heard from foreigners, namely a group of US college students I once went to Germany with. So they are based on experience and necessarily subjective. Disclaimer: When you read this chapter, please take it with a grain of salt. Having experienced Germany both as a native and from an outside perspective, I may exaggerate here and there, but only slightly (;-)). Watch out for traces of irony. (Note: If you're German and feel offended by this chapter, please consult the books I recommend at the bottom of this chapter, and you will find that most of these are actually common perceptions about your culture.) So what are Germans "really" like? Some years ago, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, which promotes the stay of international researchers in Germany, asked their research fellows to describe what they found Germans to be like. The following list is the result of thousands of filled out survey forms, obviously contains contradictions and is designed to give you a broad general impression. However, keep in mind that the individual traits of your colleagues at the MPI and the Germans you meet on other occasions may be very different. So keep an open mind and you will be rewarded with pleasant surprises. "Typical" German traits: orderliness, punctuality, efficiency, discipline, adherence to rules and regulations; friendliness, openness, helpfulness, a genuine interest in guests; politeness, reliability, a sense of responsibility and duty; preservation of traditional values; reserve, coolness, difficulty in making friends; arrogance; hostility to children and foreigners, Eurocentrism. A look at some common stereotypes
Here we go then: "It's hard to get to know a German." Yes and no. Overall, and more so than others, Germans are a fairly reserved people. In general, they don't display too many emotions. It often takes quite some time to develop a close friendship, but then it may last for years. Not surprisingly, one Ukrainian student remarked that Germans are like a thermos: cold on the outside, warm on the inside. Thus, if you're only in Germany for a few months, some Germans may think that building up a friendship is not worth the effort since you're going to move away again anyway. Do not take that personally. If you really want someone's friendship, be patient, polite, and friendly, and chances are you will be rewarded. Often, people will not invite you to their home first, but rather meet you for a cup of coffee or dinner at a restaurant. You can expedite the process by inviting them first. Many Germans will be surprised, but gratefully accept the offer. "You can't date a German." No, you can, but it might take time. Dating is always a sensitive topic when two cultures meet. Of course you can date a German, but the dating game may be entirely different from what you are used to in your own country. Therefore, it will be easier to date a German after you have been in the country for a while, that is after you have acquired more of a feel for the customs. Do not try to force your own customs on people, go with theirs. Be prepared for occasional misunderstandings. In general, Germans date from early on, but marry late. It is very common to have long-term live-in relationships before you marry, and few marry their first sexual partners. However, that does NOT mean Germans are "loose." Often, men are still expected to make the first move, but it is appropriate for a woman to take the initiative. Dressing in revealing clothes is NOT an invitation to sex. And always keep two things in mind: 1. Always use a condom when you have sex with a partner you don't know very well yet. 2. If someone says NO to sex, they really, really, really mean NO. "Germans don't like children." Yes and no. On the one hand, most young Germans dream of a family, and intend to have children. On the other hand, Germany has one of the lowest birth rates in the world. Most couples only have one or two children, if any. There are lots of reasons for this contradiction. To name just a few: Contraceptives are very widespread; job opportunities for women have significantly improved over the past decades; people marry late; divorce rates are fairly high; fear of unemployment - and thus poverty - is widespread; due to the German social system, you do not need children to provide for you in your old age; many women are afraid to damage their career when they opt for children; raising children is expensive and can translate into a lower living standard - a no-no in this country that puts a lot of emphasis on personal wealth. Because of this, German society is largely geared towards grown-ups. Some people - especially those who never had children - may act a bit intolerant, and your kid's running, laughing or crying may raise quite a few eyebrows. If you feel that someone unjustly criticizes you and your children, it is best to stay polite and firmly defend that what they do is often perfectly normal for their age. "'Du' and 'Sie' are confusing." As a rule, you only address children, youth, your family, and close friends with the informal "du." For most acquaintances, neighbors, and people on the street you need to use the formal "Sie." Most University students also call each other "du." When people offer you a "du" it is generally a privilege, but you should wait until they offer it, especially if the other person is older or higher-ranking than you. There are exceptions to these rules, however. It takes time and experience to figure them out. Don't worry: Even natives never get "du" and "Sie" perfect and occasionally manage to insult someone. "Herr" and "Frau" before the last names are the most common forms of address for people you call "Sie." Calling girls and young unmarried women "Fräulein" has become outdated, no matter what your language book says. There are also certain rules when it comes to academic titles. Many German Ph.D.s and M.D.s insist that you use address "Doktor" before their surname while others feel embarrassed by this practice. The same goes for "Professor." When in doubt, address people with their title first. If they would like you to address them in a less formal manner instead, they will let you know. If you hold a doctoral or professorial title yourself, do not use such titles when you address your peers. If you work at an institution where lots of people hold doctoral degrees, such as the MPI, these are often dropped. Listen for the practice at your department. A word about German greetings (OK, so I'm cheating. That's not really a stereotype.) Formal greetings: The standard formulas are "Guten Morgen" (good morning) until about 11 am, "Guten Tag" (good day) until about 5 pm, and then "Guten Abend" (good evening). There are some regional varieties to "Guten Tag" - like "Grüß Gott" in Bavaria, "Servus" in Austria, "Salü" and "Grüezi" in Switzerland - none of them common in Göttingen. When you leave, you say "Auf Wiedersehen" (goodbye) or "Gute Nacht" (good night). If you are introduced, shake hands and reply with "Guten Tag" or "Freut mich, Sie kennen zu lernen" (Nice to meet you). When people meet or take leave they usually shake hands briefly, too, except when you say hello to someone in passing. Informal greetings: University students usually greet each other without shaking hands saying "Hallo" or "Hi" or "Ciao." Friends tend to do the same thing, but often in connection with shaking hands. Short embraces are common between young people who are close friends, too, even between men and women. Please note that these embraces do not have a sexual connotation and are usually not considered an invitation to a sexual pursuit. The informal thing to say when you take leave is "Tschüß" or "Ciao." When to use formal and informal greetings is a tricky question, just like "du" and "Sie" are. Greeting people at the MPI - some extra rules: Always greet people at your MPI department, and everyone else you know at the institute. This is seen as a simple matter of politeness, even if you should feel a bit insecure. Silence on your part is often viewed as a sign of arrogance. A special case of greetings in the workplace is "Mahlzeit," which confused quite a few people when they first came to the MPI. Literally, it means "meal" or "meal time." You get to hear this greeting in many workplaces around midday, and the MPI is no exception. When people say "Mahlzeit," they want to wish you a good lunch break. How you really are: In contrast to many Anglo-Saxon countries, "Wie geht's?" or "Wie geht es Ihnen?" (How are you?) are not considered greeting formulas, but personal questions that friends tend to ask each other. If you address Germans with "Wie geht's?", be prepared for detailed statements on their health and frank complaints about their family or current job situation. If the question is considered a formality, i.e. used between you and your new colleagues after you just arrived, you will receive a rather curt "Danke, gut" (Fine, thank you). "German is so difficult. People won't speak German to me." Many researchers at the MPI speak very good English and use it as their main language of communication at work. However, chances are you need some German in your everyday life - plus most non-scientists at the MPI are native Germans and will communicate in German with you and with each other. True, German IS difficult. It's my native language, I taught it abroad for years, and even I agree it's quite tricky to master all its subtleties. Don't let that discourage you, though. The more you practice, the better you get. So it's a good idea to make use of your German whenever you can. However, there are two obstacles: Many Germans have learned English in school, but rarely get to use it. Thus, some are eager beavers when it gets to test their knowledge out on you, especially if English is your native language. Therefore, you might want to insist on speaking German, even repeatedly, or they may keep on falling back into English. Second, you may find that some Germans have high standards when it comes to foreigners speaking their language. Basically, you can only satisfy them if you speak with no detectable accent whatsoever. There are two reasons for this: 1. Every German has to learn foreign languages in school from 5th grade and on, so many deservedly or undeservedly believe they're really good at it. If you are less than perfect, they might wrongly assume you're disinterested in their culture. 2. In spite of high unemployment rates, many Germans are still reluctant to move out of their home region, leave alone their country. For my own relatives, the only legit reasons to relocate from Göttingen would be war, famine, a natural disaster, or all of the above. Because they are so connected to their home region, some Germans do not value what it is like to move to a foreign country, adjust to a different culture, and master a second or third language - at least beyond statements such as "This pen is blue," "The youth hostel is closed on Tuesdays" and "We all live in a yellow submarine." "Germans don't like foreigners." Yes and no. While there are many reports on Germans' xenophobia, what they show is not always representative for the entire country. Many Germans are indeed friendly and hospitable towards foreigners - and that means you. There is no denying there is some open violence, though, and that it has increased noticeably over the past decade. As a rule, hostility prevails where there are a lot of social problems - it's especially bad in some neighborhoods in major cities like Bremen or Berlin, or small towns in the former East German states. Some of these areas have more than 25% unemployment and foreigners wrongly tend to get blamed for the after-effects of the 1990 unification - when a capitalist economy was introduced to East Germany a decade ago, more than a third of all jobs in East Germany was cut faster than you could say "free market," and the economy in this part of the country has not recovered ever since. This malaise still sparks a lot of tensions between Germans from the Eastern and Western states - and foreigners, who have sadly come to serve as scapegoats. Of course, their situation hasn't exactly gotten better after the attacks on the WTC and the Pentagon, which were apparently in part planned and carried out by foreigners who had lived in Germany. In the wake of the attacks, some laws concerning foreigners have gotten tougher. As in many other European and North American countries, a majority of the population is always in favor of toughening immigration laws. This said, Göttingen itself is, for the most part, an open-minded and liberal college town where many foreigners live and work. A lot of them are students, faculty, or researchers like you. There are few open right-wingers here. Sadly enough, I went to High School with a local Nazi big shot. He spent much of 8th grade torturing gummy bears. As far as dealing with the past goes, Germans attitudes differ widely. A large majority holds no sympathies for the Nazi past whatsoever, and is genuinely concerned about recent right-wing surges. However, a considerable share of old people and an increasing number of the young and/or underprivileged aims to end the discussion of Germany's legacy and wants to "draw a line" because these things happened "so long ago." Another common strategy among right-wingers is to cherish a "core" of the Nazi legacy with the exception the responsibility for WW II and the Holocaust and to praise Hitler at least for building the Autobahn system (not his idea in the first place) and getting the unemployed off the street (which he accomplished through massive arms production, running Germany into debt, and putting people into concentration camps). But even many of those who do acknowledge Germany's crimes in the Nazi era insist to see today's Germany as a "normal" European country among others that should not primarily be judged by its past. "Service in German shops is bad." True, at least on the whole. In Germany, we say "Der Kunde ist König" (the customer is king) but some people regard that as a call for a palace revolution. As soon as you enter a store, an old school German salesperson may pretend not to notice you, hide behind a shelf, get busy with filing receipts, or seem completely absorbed by a thorough discussion of today's weather with their colleagues. Don't worry: In this country, that's perfectly normal. It's also not unusual to be treated with a rudeness that positively borders on passion. Don't ask yourself what you have done to deserve this treatment. In most cases, this has nothing to do with your behavior or with being a foreigner. German customers are often treated just as bad, though they might have stopped to notice. Bad customer service is an ancient national custom, like drinking beer (see below) or manufacturing cars. This is why Germany has been calling itself a "Servicewüste" (customer service desert), a place where it may seem easier to buy illegal drugs than to wrestle a heartfelt smile from the face of a sales clerk. Things have been getting better over the past few years, though, since storeowners started to notice that bad service begins to do damage to their sales. If someone treats you like a nuisance, do as some Germans do: talk back, demand your right, and if you still don't get what you want, go to a different store and have them yell at you there. A word on German bureaucracy. Arguably, the most orderly sector of German life is bureaucracy. Compared to other countries, it may be fairly efficient in the long run, but it often takes a long time to get anything done. Many German offices are the true home of the "Servicewüste" (see above); readers of the Hitchhiker s Guide to the Galaxy may find striking resemblances to Vogon bureaucracy. Some office clerks may expect you to adhere to their rules without having to spell them out for you. If you don't fill that application out correctly, you have to do it all over again, sorry. Many documents you will have to fill out are written in "Amtsdeutsch," a special "dialect" for official forms spiked with cryptic abbreviations and passive constructions for the advanced user of German. Even for us natives, such forms can be difficult to master. As a rule, only the few initiated who designed the forms are fully capable of understanding them properly. If you have trouble filling out a form, ask a native. Many people will be happy to help you. And, to be fair, many places are trying to improve their service. Although corruption is statistically on the rise, never ever try to bribe the officials. Most will take it as an insult and flat out deny whatever request you may have. In Göttingen, most city offices are located downtown in the new city hall building (Neues Rathaus). It's the ugly Seventies high-rise on Hiroshimaplatz and has been compared to a rocket-launching pad. The tax authority (Finanzamt) and the employment office (Arbeitsagentur) are located near the train station. "Stores are closed on Sundays." True. Most of them, that is. A few shops at the train station in Göttingen are open, though. You can also get some basic things at many gas stations twenty-four hours a day - mainly newspapers, overpriced snack food, and (of course) beer. "Germans drink lots of beer." Half true. Not everyone does, but drinking beer is common. In Southwestern Germany, where there are a lot of vineyards (notably along the Rhine), the alcoholic beverage of choice is wine. The percentage of actual alcoholics in the population is about as high as in the surrounding countries. At the same time, we have to admit that it were Germans who came up with a host of wildly popular drinking songs, such as "Bier her, oder ich fall um" (Give me some beer, or I'll drop dead), "Wir versaufen unserer Oma ihr klein Häuschen" (We drink our grandma's little house away) and "Schnaps, das war sein letztes Wort" (Schnapps, that was his last word). As far as beer and hard alcohol go, the market is practically split in two. There are some popular brands you can get all over the country, while others will be specific to your region. The local beer brand is "Göttinger Edel Pils," which, in general, enjoys a lukewarm repetition around here and, despite its name, is brewed out of town. But wherever you go, it can't hurt to ask some locals what regional beers and other alcoholic beverages they recommend. "Germans are chain smokers." Not true. The actual number of smokers has been declining for years. Still, German regulations about smoking in the workplace or in public are less strict than in some other countries, especially in comparison to the US. Due to the chemicals you handle at work, you cannot smoke inside your MPI lab and most rooms in your department, but just step outside on the balcony and no one will complain. This of course refers to tobacco only. As you may have guessed, smoking any other substances is definitely against the law. Unlike in the Netherlands, law enforcement does not always simply look the other way, either. So if you choose to buy any illegal substance, be aware that you risk a substantial punishment, and in some cases being deported from the country. Please keep in mind that many landlords prefer to rent to non-smokers, so being a smoker might make your search for a place to live somewhat more difficult. "Germans listen to funny music." A common stereotype - at least in the US - is that Germans love bad Heavy Metal. Well, if you are going to come to Göttingen, prize yourself that you're moving to the home state of the Scorpions (they are from Hannover). Indeed, it is no problem to obtain what some people call "butt rock" in most record stores, and Volkswagen indeed once came out with a Bon Jovi edition of their cars. This said, Germany also has a vivid scene as far as indie pop and electronic music go. This country is also home to cool and influential people like Einstürzende Neubauten, Kraftwerk and Nico of The Velvet Underground. There is also a vibrant Hip Hop scene, and, of course, Berlin's famous Love Parade and Hate Parade (for those who find the Love Parade too commercial) in July. If you want to check out what's cool with the indie crowd, check out the TV station "Viva Plus" (evenings only) or magazines like Spex, Musik Express or Rolling Stone Deutschland (all of them in German). There are also more mainstream music channels such as Viva and MTV Germany. The German branch of VH-1 actually went bankrupt, contrary to the butt rock stereotype (ha!). You want to go for the songs about drinking and the beautiful Alps that are traditionally associated with Germany? Well, this is called "Volksmusik" - not to be confused with folk music - and you can also find it in many record stores and countless TV shows. The most famous show is called "Musikantenstadl" (The Musicians' Barn). Some people who don't like this kind of music - count me in - renamed it "Mutantenstadl" (The Mutant Barn). Similar music minus the ornamental folklore is called "Schlager." In the 1990s, the cheesy Schlager hits of the 1970s underwent a tongue-in-cheek revival, which tended to be funny mainly to those who suffered through the originals as children. Classical music in Germany? Bach, Beethoven, Brahms. Wagner, Mahler, Berg. Schönberg, Stockhausen, Strauß. The Bayreuth Festival. Gewandhausorchester Leipzig. Enough said. To find out what is currently going on at the national level, www.klassik.com (in German) is an excellent starting point. "Germans are deep, especially on TV." Chances are some of the Germans you heard about first were philosophers, writers, composers, or soccer players. With the exception of the latter group, names like Nietzsche, Beethoven, Goethe, Hölderlin, Walter Benjamin or Hannah Arendt suggest a very deep culture that shuns anything superficial. Indeed, for more than a century, our great thinkers since Nietzsche have bemoaned the imminent sell-out of German culture to the "trivialities of modern life". Apparently, that decline hasn't quite come to a breakthrough yet, for the laments are still continuing. However, a look at private television channels suggests it's just around the corner. In general, sexuality is portrayed more openly on TV than in many other countries, while there is a certain hesitancy towards showing violence in domestic productions. Nonetheless, Germany imports a lot of American TV shows and soaps; many of them are broadcast during the day when the channels have to fill their programming schedule with ANYTHING they can get their hands on. This means you occasionally get to see things as old as "Bonanza" or "77 Sunset Strip." However, some US shows such as "Die Simpsons" and "Desperate Housewives" do have a considerable German following. Like most US movies, these shows are dubbed in German. There are also lots of domestic game shows and talk shows of the type that is common all over the Western world. Depending on your regional cable supplier or the satellite you aim your dish at, you may be able to receive some foreign channels. Some of the more common ones are: CNN, CNBC (USA), BBC World, MTV Europe (UK), TV5 (France), TRT (Turkey), Raiuno and Raidue (Italy), DRS (Switzerland) and ORF (Austria). "Germans love soccer." Definitely true. Currently, the national team is not doing so great, though. If you have male German friends and you're not into soccer yourself, you might not see much of them during the world championship (Germany gets to host the next one in 2006). If they don't show up to work, they might have just taken the day off to watch Belgium vs. Saudi Arabia. A lot of German soccer fans regard it as a natural law that Germany must make it to the finals of any international championship. Should they get kicked out before the final game (as they sometimes do), remember not to crack jokes about it the day after the "disgrace" (as the yellow press usually calls it). The national league is called "Bundesliga," and their games are broadcast every weekend throughout the season (generally August to December and February through June). The club with the most points wins the championship. There are no playoffs, but the top clubs get to play in all kinds of international European competitions. "Germans dance slapping dances": a word about regional varieties Germans yodel and dance funny dances ... well, slapping dances (Schuhplattler) are indeed part of the folklore tradition, but only in the Southern parts of Bavaria, near the Austrian border - definitely NOT in Göttingen. Many of these dances are staged for tourists only. If you want this kind of folklore, it is a good idea to visit the Oktoberfest in Munich. Contrary to what you might expect from the name, it actually takes place in September. Another tradition with only regional significance Karneval (at the end of winter), celebrated at the same time and corresponding to Brazilian carnival and Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Karneval or Fasnacht has its biggest following in the Catholic areas of Southwestern Germany, especially in major cities along the Rhine such as Cologne, Düsseldorf and Mainz. As far as traditional German party habits go, Karneval in Cologne is as wild as it gets. You will find that a lot of places usually associated with Germany - e.g. the Rhine, the Alps, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Heidelberg, Neuschwanstein, the Black Forest - are in fact in Southern Germany. While most are only a short train ride away, Göttingen is culturally part of Northern Germany, and that is an entirely different cup of tea. There are not quite as many foreign tourists up North. That means you can make your own discoveries in a part of the country that is just as diverse and culturally rich as any area in the South. Visit Germany's biggest harbor in Hamburg, its scenic coasts, the nearby Harz mountains, the medieval cathedrals of Lübeck and Rostock. And, of course, there is always Berlin, less than 3 hours away by ICE. Keep in mind that some of the general things you have heard about Germany may well be outdated or regional traditions. How many Englishmen wear bowler hats? Do all Italians eat pasta? Have you ever witnessed a Rodeo in downtown Seattle? How many Argentineans work as Gauchos? How many Japanese still wear Kimonos? Keep an open mind, get ready for pleasant surprises and enjoy Europe. More stereotypes (and where they come from): Richard Lord - Culture Shock: Germany (Graphic Arts Center Publishing Company, 1996) Stefan Zeideritz and Ben Barkow - The Xenophobe's Guide to the Germans (Oval Books, 1999) Culture shock and intercultural encounters - some theory: Triandis, Harry C. Culture and Social Behavior. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1994. Ask at your bookstore whether they can order these and other titles for you. When in doubt, contact an online bookstore. | ||
| ||
 | ||
| www.mpibpc.gwdg.de/english/start/index.php
Our institute's homepage in English. A must-read before you get here. www.mpg.de/english/portal/index.htmlThe Max Planck Society's homepage. www.goettingen.deGeneral information on the city, from hotels and housing to current events. From here, there are links to corresponding pages in Polish, French, and English. www.uni-goettingen.de/en/sh/1.htmlThe local university's homepage. More information on the city and its history, academics, and the sciences. www.gtonline.deThe homepage of Göttinger Tageblatt, the local newspaper, with links to regional housing ads (German only, sorry). www.goethe.de/index.htmAll over the world, Goethe Institutes promote the cultural exchange between Germany and other countries. Namely, they provide excellent German language courses. Some of our scholarship packages include language courses at the local Goethe institute, but if you want to, you can prepare on your own at a Goethe Institute in your country of residence. Some information is available in Japanese, too. www.daad.deThe website of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). Lots of useful information for foreign university students. While you may not fall under this category in the strict sense, you may namely benefit from their "Study and Research in Germany" pages The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation promotes the stay of international researchers in Germany for extended periods of time. If they do not fund you already, maybe they have something for you to offer. Also lots of useful links for scientists coming to Germany. |
| If you find any of these links outdated, please notify the PR Office. |