Is there still a German Thread?

[BeatrixBurgund]

We've moved back to Germany after 8 years in Switzerland and Scotland, and with the kids in school, I just know I'm going to have lots of questions about the Bavarian education system.

And I'd love to catch up with all the folk I used to chat with (even if I can't remember their usernames!). I'm on a namechange - it's MmeLindor here!

I think Germans find our varied, different S sounds quite hard too, NaServus. My Ds tutor told me she had trouble differentiating between ZIP and SiP, for eg.

I cannot say U-umlaut. I mangle it into Uoue...

I actually meant on my keyboard for "Grüss", ptumbi

But yes, even my bilingual DC occasionally mix up "zip" and "sip", and as for "Pflanze" or anything else beginning with "Pf-", forget it - I'll be saying "Planze" or "Flanze" to the amusement of my DH till the end of my days!

I just had my parents here visiting and DD1 was trying to teach my dad some German words including Pferd... He could not get his head round that "pf" sound! It's so difficult!

Ah I see! That makes more sense.

Try verpflichtet.

Ha! Funnily enough I can usually manage that one, it's the "Pf-" at the beginning of words that my mouth can't get itself around. And I'm sure it makes me pull a silly face too

Bit of a specialised German question here... I am looking for the German equivalent of the book I had as a child for preparing for the Associated Board Grade 5 music theory exam. Can anyone recommend me a comparable German book? Thx

Hi I have a question my DD made her First Communion today, she has been very spoilt by our neighbours and I would like to know do Germans do thank you cards for these kind of occasions. It was a lovely day, the sun came out and I have never been to a Communion before where a Brass Band has preceded the Communion children into the church, I was worried we wouldn't have much of a celebration with just us and my PIL but we ended up with about 16 of our neighbours two who baked cakes for the occasion, this is one of the reasons I am really loving living here.

Hello - another post a little further down the line in organising a move to Frankfurt..have visited international schools and the immersion schools acadis (phorms tomorrow) I would prefer to be sending kids (7&3) to local schools but no German spoken at home so not really an option! Welshcake I was going to PM you but didn't want to ambush without a headsup! I'm sure this type of question gets asked all the time.......If anybody has background on the intl schools or indeed city vs taunus life it would be really helpful! Thanks alot

Frankfurt you are welcome to PM me! I don't have much experience with schools yet as DD1 is starting this year (local German school) but happy to help with other questions. If you're on Facebook id definitely recommend the group expatbabies frankfurt for advice/opinions on the schools. Plenty of people there who use the international schools.
I love living in Bad Homburg, after 12 years in Frankfurt it was the perfect move for us when we started a family. childcare, schools are excellent, lots to do especially outdoors. It's quick and easy to Frankfurt (either train or car) so commute is no problem. Plenty of English speaking families around too.

Frankfurt, when we moved to DE we out DS1 then just 4 into German kindergarten with only a few words of German, he's now doing well at a bilingual gymnasium 8 years down the line.

We've done the whole range of local, international etc etc and if your are planning on staying in Germany long term in our experience the only way you can get enough German is in the local system.

The international schools we've had experience of actually resulted in our DCs German skills getting worse as they didn't have enough exposure.

I'd suggest your put yours into the local system, your 3 yr old works be right at the beginnning of Kita and your older one could go into yr 1 of Grundschule and learn German from there. My DC get extra German help for foreigners in school on top of the usual lessons.

Frankfurt definitely consider a regular German Kindergarten for the 3 year old - ideal age to pick it up through immersion.

I'm not an expat😔 bit wondering if there are any posters in Vienna who wouldn't mind me sending a message with a few questions?

Hi Becles, I'm just outside Vienna - feel free to PM me .

Have sent you a pm

Received, thank you (we've been out and have only just got back in) - will reply now.

Hi folks,
I posted a while back about being really nervous moving from Manchester to Munich.
Well we moved 3 weeks ago today and although all the organising and moving house was insane, I feel really serene now we're here! Actually it feels like I have been here forever.
Kids started grundschule last week. They don't speak German but the school are helping as they have already had a few refugee children so are now really great at dealing with children who are learning. Eldest has an american boy in her class who is 12 months down the road from being in the same position and he has adopted her.
I have bought a dutch bike with a basket on the front and go to Edeka to shop most days.
The worst thing was the events in Manchester last week a couple of friends were at the arena with their kids (not hurt thankfully) and wanting to give my best friend a hug when her dad had a stroke, but other than that I am feeling pretty good.
Is there a honeymoon period and then you hit a wall?
My parents are coming in two weeks and I have booked a week in the UK in October. I speak to them every couple of days on facetime.
Hope you are all well and enjoying the super weather we're having here in Bavaria.

Wanted to edit to say hubby is Austrian so kids will have German spoken at home.

Hi Mrsdraper glad to hear things are working out well in the beginning for you and the family! It must have gone quickly in a strange way.

My DH starts his job in Munich next week so we will start house hunting and move over the summer holidays :-)

MrsDraper we moved in June 2007 and I hit a wall in November (but I did have a new baby in late summer, so I also had hormones going on...). The first summer was great, keep the enthusiasm going - its easy and wonderful while the weather lasts!

I found the first winter very hard, but I had a toddler and a newborn and we are not in the city - there are no soft play type places out where we are so I found it hard going once the weather was cold and grey, and snow is lovely but not easy to stay out long in with a 2 year old and a baby in a sling... That probably won't be nearly as bad for you as you have all the indoor activities in Munich and slightly older children.

Its worth weathering the downs as well as the ups - it took about 3 years to hit a fairly even keel I think, and then you are just home...

Schlobob thanks for the good wishes, have you thought of an area you like? I'm sure you will like it here, Munich is lovely and the public transport is amazing.
5moreminutes, that sounds hard but yes I suspect the ages of the kids probably made things more difficult. Also precisely why I wanted to come over in spring and not when it was freezing and dark outside..
We actually visited at the end of January to look round at houses, then hubby moved in March and me and the kids had a few things to do in the UK before coming over. Visiting in January made me sure I did the right thing!!! It hurt your face it was so cold, and no fun without the Christmas build up, it's just cold and boring. At least in November/December you have the Christkindl Markt! Have endured similar winter in Austria and as the kids are older it will think be easier.
Hopefully I will be feeling more settled by the time Christmas is over.

First place to look is Garching as it's on the U6 and direct for DH's office. Also been looking on immobilien scout and saw places in Ottobrunn and Vaterstetten, also had good commutes, but we're happy with anywhere with a reasonable distance that has a s/u bahn!

We visited back in February and I loved the city, I've always commuted to London for work but the public transport was brilliant! I'd love to be in a city suburb good for families really.

As DH flies on Monday he's going to spend next weekend travelling around to get a feel for places, I'm hoping to join him once we've got a shortlist. Feels like we're running out of time to get there at the end of July though as we need to give a month's notice on our house here.

Stay in touch, would love to hear how you're getting on :-)

We are in Unterhaching/Taufkirchen so got S3 into the city, station is approx 10 minute walk. Is really good.
In fact I went last night to a group I have joined and it was a beautiful summer evening.

Hallo!

I'm English, in Hong Kong with DH who is German and it is really likely that we will move to Germany (near Cologne) in a few years time - once I get through learning German in Hong Kong - definitely an experience! I had my Goethe Institut A1 Exam today and wouldn't say I sailed through it; that's for sure!! Fingers crossed!

Anyway, we are pregnant with our first and I was wondering if you all could help with suggesting some baby names that work in English and German? We have chosen not to find out the sex so I am looking for suggestions for boys and girls if you have them?

Thanks for your help and look forward to being part of this group!

We've done it! We had our little receiving of certificates ceremony yesterday - now Dual German/British citizens. Feels like a weight off our minds as our status here is now secure.

Congratulations Doradoo 🇩🇪🇬🇧 That's really exciting! I am just waiting for my first pay slip after maternity leave to be produced next week then I will finally be handing in my application. It must be such a relief!

@pregoinHK (hope that tag worked!) congratulations on your pregnancy! I think there lots of names that work in both languages, although with slightly different pronounciations...off the top of my head I would say...

Benjamin
Sebastian
Maximilian
Daniel

Elisabeth
Laura
Sarah
Clara
Victoria
Daniela

I would also say though, that unless you go for something with a really difficult spelling/pronounciation (like my Welsh name!) most names work well here and you will hear a wide range of names from many different languages and cultures. Just so you don't let that hold you back!