Lost or lonely in Germany? READ HERE

Amtmann

Hi Guys,

I've noticed a recurring theme in this thread in which people need good advice about meeting people in and getting acclimatised to life in Deutschland. While many of us can offer good tips here, I don't think there's any doubt that the best place get immediate help is here on ToyTown Germany.

It's a forum for expats, mostly consisting of Americans, British, Irish and Canadian people. But you'll find many Germans and others there too. They hold extremely regular det-togethers in an informal way.

It helped me a lot when I lived in Germany, and I'm sure it'll help me again if and when I move back there later this year (depending on the job situation).

I'll stick this thread for a while and see if it's of use to people.

Amtmann

So, you've heard about ToyTown above. What else can you do to meet people?

Well, it's a truism, but there's always the local Irish pub to go to. Yes, you'll meet lots of Irish people there. Yay!

But you'll also meet other people from far and wide there too. Americans, Germans, British, college professors: all tend to socialise regularly in Irish pubs. Also, there are usually weekly table quizzes in Irish pubs and you can get dinner there.

They're also a good place to hear about jobs and what not. So go to your local one and make yourself known. That'd be my advice.

John C

In some towns an english group meet in a local pub.

Most english groups meet monthly. Communication among members is mainly by email.
New members learn of these groups through a "schwarzes Brett " i.e.
notice boards in local newspapers, libraries, fitness studios and workplaces.

People at these english group meetings are Germans, English, Irish, Americans, Australians, people from Peru, Finns and Canadians among others.


schwarzes Brett = notice board ( in a newspaper)
schwarz = black, das Brett = the board

John C

To clarify that statement: Communication among members is mainly by email. The group leader sends the group members an email before the meeting. If there is a change of venue, a barbecue or an outing he informs us by email.

English is usually spoken. People ask for an english word or asks for an idiomatic translation of a phrase. The pub asked for the best english for the menu card.
Like all pub based meetings people sometimes go off on a tangent.

One gets to know people at these Stammtisch. People share phone numbers and email addresses.

At our Stammtisch a man mentioned getting a new passport. Someone told him about informing the local council. (Photocopy, new number, new expiry date noted ). He was not aware of that. Many tips about travel, customs and laws are learnt at these meetings.

sadam

I would say the best way to meet people in Germany would be to go to a bar, drink a lot of beer, and start talking to the guy next to you.

Zurn

sadam wrote: »

I would say the best way to meet people in Germany would be to go to a bar, drink a lot of beer, and start talking to the guy next to you.

*lol*
That`s right. But not in all areas of Germany.
But the most people here are kind, if they meet a foreigner.

I am searching for some crazy Irish people here in Ruhrgebiet, to improve my English and to improve their German language.

Lawrence1895

Zurn wrote: »

*lol*
That`s right. But not in all areas of Germany.
But the most people here are kind, if they meet a foreigner.

I am searching for some crazy Irish people here in Ruhrgebiet, to improve my English and to improve their German language.

Where exactly are you based?

I'm from Dortmund, there is two Irish Pubs: The 'Limerick' (Kampstrasse, City Centre) and the 'Hicc Up' (Wittener Strasse, Dorstfeld)

Zurn

Lars1916 wrote: »

Where exactly are you based?

I'm from Dortmund, there is two Irish Pubs: The 'Limerick' (Kampstrasse, City Centre) and the 'Hicc Up' (Wittener Strasse, Dorstfeld)

I´m living in Castrop-Rauxel.

Hasn´t the "The Limerick" been closed since 2 years?

Lawrence1895

Zurn wrote: »

I´m living in Castrop-Rauxel.

Hasn´t the "The Limerick" been closed since 2 years?

You're right there, they closed in January last year. Had to look it up myself, didn't know about it, since I'm not living there anymore since 2004

Zurn

I was sad to heard about it.
I was not an regular....but sometimes...I visited the pub.

Lawrence1895

I was a regular in the 'Hicc Up', I lived around the corner. Did you ever go there?

Zurn

No, I don´t know that it exists.
Is it good there?

Niall_daaS

Limericks was closed in Jan 2010, so thats gone for a while. There is another (small) Irish Pub in the Kreuzviertel called "Church". They have a great choice of Whisky there, pretty much worth a try. And sometimes theres also Live Music.

Zurn

Huh....really? "The Church" is still alive?
I was often there 15 years ago...

Niall_daaS

Zurn wrote: »

Huh....really? "The Church" is still alive?
I was often there 15 years ago...

Well, if this was 15 yrs ago then you might remember the old Church pub at the Wallring (more closer to the station and the centre). They moved a few years ago to the Kreuzviertel, but it's still the same owner. They have a rudimental website so maybe you might have a look around.

Lawrence1895

Zurn wrote: »

No, I don´t know that it exists.
Is it good there?

Just avoid the Halloween Party, everything else is quite decent

Didn't know about the 'Church' though, even if I was working for ages in the Kreuzviertel :rolleyes: