After the initial honeymoon phase wears off, the culture shock of life in Berlin can hit hard. It can be especially challenging for people who come from more friendly cultures. The stares, the frowns, the lack of a friendly greeting when entering a store or ordering food. Even when you know that there is a connection to cultural norms at play, it is still really hard not to take it personally when you experience the people around you as unfriendly. The detrimental impact on your mental health can be very real.
The language
It can also be really hard to know where to turn for support. Friends and family back home might advise you to ‘just learn German’ as if this is something that can be done in a few weeks. The reality is that even people who have the time, money and motivation to really dedicate themselves to learning German will usually need multiple years to reach a level where it can really help them deal with these culture shock stresses of daily life in Berlin. Hardly a simple quick fix.
Because of the language factor it’s easy for us to get bogged down in blaming ourselves for any difficulties with settling in. We might have thoughts like ‘if only I had focused more on learning German, everything would be easier now’.
Because of the language factor it’s easy for us to get bogged down in blaming ourselves for any difficulties with settling in. We might have thoughts like ‘if only I had focused more on learning German, everything would be easier now’.
The weather
As a Brit I almost forgot this one, if anything Berlin is a slight improvement on the weather I’m used to back home. But I know from my clients that for many many expats the weather in winters in Berlin can be a huge challenge. Not just the weather but the darkness. It is especially tough on anyone who is stuck in the office during the daylight hours and finds themselves traveling to and from work in the dark.
The bureaucracy
German bureaucracy is often much more complex and outdated that what people have experienced in other countries. This can be especially challenging when combined with the German language and the frequent experiences of rudeness or aggression in administrative offices.
The housing crisis
Many expats in Berlin struggle with housing that is temporary or not suitable for staying in long-term. This can mean it’s really hard to feel settled and turn your focus to other things. The knowledge of how difficult it is to find suitable accommodation in the city can lead to a sense of insecurity and fear. It’s hard to feel safe when you know you may have to compete with hundreds of people to get a roof over your head.
Homesickness
Missing family or friends. Feeling torn between two places. Realising that after spending some time abroad there is no longer any one place that truly feels like home. All of this can be difficult to process and adapt to and leave us longing for the feeling of being at home and the sense of belonging we associate with that.
Expat turnover
A common experience in Berlin is that just as you feel you have finally got a comfortable friendship group around you, so many people leave Berlin that the group dissolves and you feel like you’re back at square one. Berlin is a transient city and this can really exacerbate the isolation and loneliness experienced by many expats here.
I have outlined some of the challenges associated with culture shock in Berlin. The first step in overcoming these is to acknowledge them. These challenges are often an unexpected feature of living abroad that friends and family back home find difficult to relate to, and that your life prior to moving abroad couldn’t fully prepare you for.
I have outlined some of the challenges associated with culture shock in Berlin. The first step in overcoming these is to acknowledge them. These challenges are often an unexpected feature of living abroad that friends and family back home find difficult to relate to, and that your life prior to moving abroad couldn’t fully prepare you for.
If you would like support with these issues and more, feel free to reach out to me for a free consultation where we can discuss how I can help: book a free initial consultation