2008
A dream fulfilled in Germany
by Adrianne George
An American soldier
The US Air Force assigned Derek Bembry to duty in Germany when he was 18 years old. The Waycross, Georgia native had never been out of the US before. “I arrived in the middle of winter and for the first few months like many others was homesick and missing family, friends and American sports. But as soon as spring arrived so did a renewal of my spirit and a yearning to venture out and explore my new country. I backpacked all over the area and left three years later with enough memories to last a lifetime as well as a desire to return at some point in my life, which I did 30 years later”, Bembry recalls. “Once I arrived I knew I wanted to stay and not go back to the U.S. The major goal was to open up a business that could support my lifestyle and financial obligations. I also wanted to travel and thus far have done that as each year I try and take a major trip to some place new. Last year it was Latvia and this year it will be Montenegro.
Getting to Know You
When it came to getting to know his Bavarian neighbours, persistence paid off for Bembry. “I lived in Bavaria for more than two years and I was adopted by families and friends who are often maligned as being cold and distant. It may take a Bavarian some time to warm up to you and to get to know you. But once it happens a bond is established that brings one into a tight knit circle that includes all manner of celebrations and friendship. It was a heart warming experience”, Bembry recalls. But he had a different experience in Herrenburg not related to his neighbours. “Moving in to my first flat in Herrenberg Germany and discovering that not only did I not have a refrigerator but neither did I have a kitchen sink, cabinets or a stove. It was quite a shock”, Bembry recalls.
Mixing in the New and Remembering the Old
Living in a new country provides the opportunity incorporate new customs. “I celebrate Christmas on the 24th and have adopted many other German traditions. I have lived abroad now for more than a quarter of my life so it’s become easy to adapt and share in the lifestyle of my new home country”, according to Bembry. However there are some things American that he misses. Those include “baseball, baseball, baseball and maybe an occasional Philly Cheese steak made with home grown Jersey cherry peppers. Oh yes French fries WITHOUT mayo and a big thick Sunday newspaper that takes all day to read. Every Thanksgiving I invite 12-16 people from many different nationalities to help me celebrate my favourite holiday”, he laments.
Bembry advises other would be expats to “arrive with an open mind and check your American way of life ego at the door. If you are open to experiencing new ways of doing things you will do find and have a terrific experience.”
Going Local and Staying Global
Can English speakers make it in Germany? According to Bembry, “It all depends on exactly where you live. I have lived in small villages in Germany where it’s essential to have at least a passing knowledge of the language to handle every day affairs or it can be very frustrating. During my first four years in Germany I took language classes and it helped immensely especially in Bavaria. However since moving to multi-cultural Frankfurt it’s rare that I speak German. There are so many expats here and a huge proportion of the population; especially those under 30 speak English. There is a direct correlation here with levels of education and status as to whom speaks English.”
Bembry has found that in Frankfurt the bulk of the expat population is professional associated with the banking sector that permeates the area. There are also large multi-national American firms that employ Americans. Since arriving in Frankfurt Bembry made a concerted effort to reach out and discover others with in the Expat community. He’s joined the German-American Chamber of Commerce and two Expat organizations. As a result, “I have friends from all over the world who share a common bond that we live in Frankfurt but are from a foreign country. “ Bembry also keeps his ties to the US through the Internet and occasional phone calls. “30 years ago when I first came I relied on mail delivery. My spirits lived and died with the delivery of the mail to the post office”, Bembry remembers.
At Home in Germany
Bembry considers himself a permanent expat. “I have a thriving business here that allows me to travel and quite honestly I see no reason to move back to the U.S. In fact I’m not even sure where I would move back to. I love the European lifestyle and have grown to dislike the shopping mall on every street corner way that I see whenever I visit family. I find that after only a few days I can’t wait to get on a plane home to Frankfurt”, Bembry explains.
But he’s not returning to a place free of discrimination. “The key in Germany is to understand that in general they discriminate more on social status than race. If you have a good job and meet your obligations they are great people. On a more subtle level they have experienced more than 50 years with Blacks who were part of the American military occupying their country after WWII as their major points of example. The first question I’m asked most is if I’m here because of the military and there is usually an underlying reason based on their previous experience. But only once in eight years have I experienced any forms of overt racism, but to be honest friends from the African continent speak of much more difficulties than I have known”, Bembry relates.
Living abroad has taught Bembry many things. “That I’m not what I think a typical American is. I think less about me and my place in the world and more about humanity. I rent instead of owning, I take public transportation whenever possible, I recycle, I travel to many different countries and I’m open to different opinions from other nationalities. I don’t think America is the center of the universe”, he says.
Cost of Living
If you are paid in $$$ then life at the moment can be pretty bleak. I am paid in euros and I definitely treat my business as global in nature as I seek suppliers who are in locations where the exchange rate is favorable. The cost of living in Frankfurt is not as expensive as Munich or San Francisco but not as cheap as Denver or Houston. In the past few months inflation has begun to creep in as daily staples such as milk, bread and petrol has seen a surge in prices.
Living & Spending
Monthly rent:
1000€ euros per month
Cost for meals:
50€-75€ – dinner for two including wine
Transportation costs:
100€ euros per month to commute to work via train. Gasoline is very expensive
Compared to your home country are most things cheap/same/expensive?
If you factor in the currency exchange rate expensive. But without that about the same.
Recommended monthly living budget:
Depending on lifestyle a minimum of 3000€ euros per month
How modern are basic amenities/infrastructure?
In Frankfurt very modern. Just make sure when renting an apartment you insist on two things… a shower WITH A DOOR and a kitchen with all amenities as its not typical to find them in German apartments. Most people install their own and take it with them when leaving or they try and sell it to you.
Any legal hurdles all foreigners have to face to live there?
Residence permit and work permit. Without these two its near impossible. Germans like to keep track of their citizens so registration is required even to move to another part of the city. Best to hire someone to handle the maze of issues around residency permits though being an American is easier than say being from Ghana.
Top 3 things you would recommend someone to bring when they come:
A sense of humor, Oreo cookies, and a dedication to work hard because everything has to be earned here including trust and friendship.
Top 3 things you would recommend for someone visiting or living here to do:
To visit Hamburg, Dresden and Berlin
Top 3 hangout places:
Hmmmm… difficult one for me.
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