#emmigration — Public Fediverse posts

Here is my working-poor moving to Germany post. I work with people from Africa, Syria, Afgahnistan and poorer european countries like Serbia and Romania very frequently. These people have a weak passport and are from dramatically poorer countries. I am a cook. I was a cook in the USA and the vast majority of my progress to get to europe was done at minimum wage. The idea it's just for the super wealthy is a myth.

You don't get to call cooks both underpaid and overprivileged in the same sentence. Or Afgahnistan or Syrians or Muslims "privileged". So let's talk some tips for those of you that don't have backgrounds in high paying industries and even if you do, stick around it might help.

1) Start learning German now. I would hazard against duolingo and look for something like Memrise instead. It boosted me to an A1 in two years. Duolingo uses very negative reinforcement strategies and I'd argue it's not that good.
2) If you are in a job like culinary pull as much overtime as possible. Pick up every shift. Work two jobs. Find roommates. I labled food as an "Extravagance" and home became where I slept and nothing else. I was working at minimum 70 hour weeks for 3 years. People are literally walking out of bombed out houses all the way from Syria to Germany on foot. Overtime is a dream in comparison and what is coming in the USA... Overtime, discomfort and roommates are a cakewalk.

Is it healthy, fuck no. But it's better than dying and being given rohipnol like I was. And yes I was a teacher during a school shooting as well as almost shot for being queer, so I've been a little close to death.

3) I wouldn't just move to Germany because it's better. I do well here because my mindset is very close to Germans. Integration was easy and I was comfortable the whole time. Look for a country that matches your odd American edges that gets you in conflict with USians.

4) It is going to suck when you get here. Immigrants are a underprivileged class in other countries and you will be called an idiot, uneducated, and talentless. It is our stereotype here and you will not escape it.

Your first job and your first two years will try to pull your soul out of your eyeballs. I was required to take a German course that cost €220 a month while also working full time/overtime. It meant no weekend for 5 months and two hours of freetime a day. My first February here I had an appointment everyday and was still working overtime. And that's because Germany loves me and sees reasons to devote resources to me. It was the hardest thing I have ever done. Get the first job you can and keep a lookout for when your standing improves because your first job is almost garuanteed to suck ass.

5) Being on Germany's shit list is even worse. If you can get here patience and respect of every bureacrat is required and I still ran into one that stalled my progress until literally this month. Form connections with Germans or other Americans if you must. I would hazard against trying to find American enclaves. Integration is better than trying to retain your Americanisms in another country. You're trying to escape those anyways, right?

6) It will not be easy but it was one of the best choices I've ever made. Stick with your plans and don't falter. Be it saving before, picking up overtime, or your german lessons and integration when you get here.

7) Navigating German bureacracy is hard but if you get lucky there are bosses that will help you with moving and rent. Ther are bosses that will actually take you to immigration services or even pay part or all of your rent. Germany is dying for workers and it's possible in larger cities to find stuff like that EVEN as a cook. Or try to make some friends that might help you when you get there. @thatfrisiangirlish has been with me to almost every appointment from Ausländeramt to Einwohnermeldeamt.

8) Germany isn't perfect and I'd still avoid some states and areas. It still has it's problems with Fascism. Still has a problematic government and the work culture is incredibly strong. They refer to Germans as robots in europe because of it. I'd still argue I have never been happier.

#uspol #immigrantlife #workingclass #immigration #emmigration