How to Make German Friends When It Feels Hard

Living in Europe Changed Me More Than I Expected

Americans abroad, moving to Germany, life in Munich, cultural differences, immigration, identity, friendship, and what happens when a move that was supposed to be temporary quietly becomes an entire life.In this solo episode of The Pod Abroad, I reflect on nearly 10 years of living in Germany and the ways Europe has changed me more than I ever expected.When I moved from Texas to Munich in 2016, I thought I was coming for a master's degree and a short adventure abroad. Instead, I built a life here. Along the way, my views on money, time, friendship, home, and identity have shifted in ways I never could have predicted.I talk about why Germany changed my relationship with debt and consumerism, how a slower pace of life reshaped my view of time, what it means to build a chosen family abroad, and why saying goodbye to friends can be one of the hardest parts of immigrant life. I also reflect on seeing America from the outside, becoming an immigrant myself, and why home no longer feels like just one place.This is a personal conversation about building a life abroad, finding community far from home, and how living in another country can fundamentally change the way you see the world—and yourself.🎙️ IN THIS EPISODE• Why I moved from Texas to Germany• Student loans, debt, and consumer culture• Living without a credit card in Germany• Work-life balance and a slower pace of life• Why I sometimes miss American grind culture• What 30 days of vacation taught me• Building friendships across cultures• Chosen family and life as an immigrant• Why Sara moving away hit me so hard• Why Munich now feels like home• Seeing America from the outside• Immigration, identity, and belonging• The parts of me that became more German• Why I'll never be fully the old me again⏰ CHAPTERS00:00 – Nearly 10 Years Abroad04:30 – Money & Consumerism11:45 – A Different Pace of Life20:15 – Friendship Abroad28:30 – The Meaning of Home34:15 – Identity U.S. & Germany🌍 ABOUT THE POD ABROADHowdy und Servus, y’all :-) I’m Paulina — originally from Texas and living in Munich, Germany for nearly 10 years.The Pod Abroad is a long-form podcast about life abroad, cultural differences, identity, immigration, and building a life overseas through honest conversations with people from around the world.👉 New episodes every Tuesday.🎧 LISTEN & CONNECTSpotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/711j4OKApple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcastAll platforms → https://linktr.ee/thepodabroadInstagram → https://www.instagram.com/thepod.abroadTikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@thepodabroadSubstack → https://substack.com/@thepodabroadInquiries → paulina@thepodabroad.com🎥 CREWVideo, Audio & Music → Tim ter HuurneDesign / Branding → Ali Khazanbeik

Working in Sustainability Changed How I See Germany

Sustainability in Germany, recycling myths, climate careers, nuclear power, work-life balance, and what happens when an Indian immigrant sees Germany's environmental reputation from the inside. In this episode of The Pod Abroad, I sit down with my friend Vishnu, a sustainability professional originally from Kerala, India, who has lived across the Middle East, the UK, Southeast Asia, and now Germany.What started as a master's degree in Munich turned into something more. Five years later, Vishnu is still here, calling Munich home and reflecting on how living in Germany has changed the way he thinks about sustainability, work, ambition, and life itself.We talk about Germany's green reputation, the realities of recycling, why he believes nuclear power should have stayed, climate guilt, flying, solar energy, sustainability careers, and the surprising ways Germany differs from the image many people have abroad. Vishnu also shares his perspective on building a life as an immigrant, finding community, and why work-life balance in Germany completely challenged the "grind culture" mindset he grew up with.This is a thoughtful conversation about climate, immigration, privilege, sustainability, and learning to see the world through a wider lens.🎙️ In this episode:• Growing up between India, Kuwait, Dubai, the UK, and Malaysia• Why Munich feels like home• Germany's sustainability reputation• Nuclear power: hot or not?• Solar panels and Germany's energy transition• Why recycling is more complicated than most people think• What really happens to recycled waste• Climate guilt and individual responsibility• Flying, emissions, and personal choices• Working in the climate and sustainability sector• Challenges immigrants face in the German job market• Salary transparency and pay disparities• Why Germany changed his view on work-life balance• Life lessons from living abroad⏰ CHAPTERS000:00 – Intro10:47 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qv4gB0zemnI&t=647s] – Growing Up Across Countries & Finding Home20:56 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qv4gB0zemnI&t=1256s] – Climate Guilt, Flying & Personal Responsibility33:09 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qv4gB0zemnI&t=1989s] – Germany's Sustainability Reputation42:19 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qv4gB0zemnI&t=2539s] – Immigrants, Careers & Salary Transparency49:07 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qv4gB0zemnI&t=2947s] – How Germany Changed His View on Life🌍 ABOUT THE POD ABROADHowdy und Servus, y'all :-) I'm Paulina — originally from Texas and living in Munich, Germany for nearly 10 years.The Pod Abroad is a podcast about life abroad, cultural differences, identity, immigration, and building a life overseas through honest long-form conversations.👉 Subscribe for new episodes every Tuesday.🎧 LISTEN & CONNECTSpotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/711j4OK [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbUtzalI0SXlIYTZKTGpsRlFKME42UGYwT0I3Z3xBQ3Jtc0tsc1BmeTlUSVRIOXdMaDBJNzFQaW0zQzdsMVRId05ESzVRSTlRb0FfbVRURFpFUTl3dmVRVFFOdFhBclVIbTJack9qWVQ1dlhlMTRubjh0SHE2MV9QLTFzdncyUEVkQ2JVWDl4YkRySEVPUmdtMFFERQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fopen.spotify.com%2Fshow%2F711j4OK&v=qv4gB0zemnI]Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa0FDQ1RKb3RKdjgzbHlUQXBRWWFJRXpodWlRQXxBQ3Jtc0tuaTBaSnlIWU5FamNrQ3RFY2ZXOGJBdjFtdk1sV1NvRk45NkptaEp4akNTOVNSNzJ1QzI2N21DVlBrS0x0TkF5Ym5yamdkVnJoZDV3SWxkdkpsSnZXU1g1aWg3LVQxYzRFaEN1X0cxUFR2SVpoNFBOMA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fpodcasts.apple.com%2Fus%2Fpodcast&v=qv4gB0zemnI]All platforms → https://linktr.ee/thepodabroad [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa0FNdTIwTmoyYzNLRjhaZlpXZS12QTFMYk1YUXxBQ3Jtc0tsR3ZRd21xVDF1R09CWGd1ZWRBUmJjVFg2X01ISVoyUDNna2Z4MkZrMEw2TGs1Q1B1aEE3bnpOOXFUMFFYT3JSb2w0RFZZaW8xUndDTVZNMWc3WHNWUG1jNGo1N2h6eGVSY2VER2s5bC1CSHNGU2gwbw&q=https%3A%2F%2Flinktr.ee%2Fthepodabroad&v=qv4gB0zemnI]Instagram →   / thepod.abroad   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbnZFVW0ycXpJRG1yZFl1RHRwQjFncGtwMmc5d3xBQ3Jtc0trTVAwMHdPckppRDJodWRubV9La0had2lyZjFzRVA3aGJXY1JBOEFZZHU2OHJQSl9nTUhkMDM2TFZXazJxa3l6Q0luTldzaEk2OUxQSFkxR0ZYRDFwdk5Xay1pMVE0VVN2cFI4VXdPYVF0SXZMWHZOYw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fthepod.abroad&v=qv4gB0zemnI]TikTok →   / thepodabroad   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbk1xdWtaMkZKU1M4U3RqXzB1TEFnUjN1ZF8tZ3xBQ3Jtc0ttMkNFNkUzRkhKVTYwNmFFWUNoUnVjWS0xYTNDSm1xX2l3MXFINzF0UWhtbnNDUVJvWXp2UGRiRWJuZGxrbzBYM1ZTRm5LUWE0ZmZ1d2tpRDRBQ2VRODdkTlpMYWZOc1ZHT25ETEVUdmZqTXFza01MVQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40thepodabroad&v=qv4gB0zemnI]Substack → https://substack.com/@thepodabroad [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbmhpZEdTb014M0tUY2Fwdk45MWZMVzhSbERCUXxBQ3Jtc0trUjRFN2NlNlRDMDBkZ1dhQWhYSlBLYURNcmtDLVJGdnU4Uk5FMVBxTGp0TjFzVHV1VGd3WWJ2bC04Nl9kNFpJNFp5d2JTRk1Zd1NMWlJKMWZISFIwSnBJMHd5d09sOFdRUFU2WTAwTGJLS0ViSHliQQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack.com%2F%40thepodabroad&v=qv4gB0zemnI]Email → [paulina@thepodabroad.com](mailto:paulina@thepodabroad.com)🎥 CREWVideo, Audio & Music → Tim ter HuurneDesign / Branding → Ali Khazanbeik (though it was me this time, Ali is on holiday!!)How this was made

He Moved to Germany for 3 Years… 46 Years Ago

Americans abroad, moving to Germany, Munich expat life, culture shock, Vietnam War, life in Germany vs America, and what happens when a “temporary move” quietly becomes your entire life. In this episode of The Pod Abroad, I sit down with Larry Schultz, an American from outside Chicago who first moved to Germany in 1980 and never moved back to the United States.What was originally supposed to be a short-term chapter abroad slowly turned into nearly five decades of life in Munich. Larry shares how his path took him from growing up in the American Midwest, to being drafted during the Vietnam War, to eventually building an international life and career in Germany through Motorola.We talk about what Germany was like in the 1980s, Munich before reunification, Oktoberfest decades ago, globalization, healthcare differences between Germany and the U.S., and why so many Americans who move abroad “just stay.” Larry also reflects on identity, belonging, community, and how living outside the United States changes your perspective over time.This is a thoughtful conversation about immigration, reinvention, unexpected life paths, and what it means to quietly build a home somewhere far from where you started.🎙️ In this episode:• Growing up outside Chicago• Being drafted during the Vietnam War• Moving to Germany in 1980• Building a life in Munich through Motorola• Munich before and after German reunification• Oktoberfest decades ago vs today• Why Americans stay in Germany• German vs American healthcare• Globalization and international business• Identity and belonging abroad• Watching America from Europe over time• How temporary moves become permanent lives⏰ CHAPTERS00:00 – Moving to Germany “temporarily”04:52 – Growing up near Chicago10:31 – Being drafted during the Vietnam War18:42 – Discovering Germany and Europe27:16 – Moving to Munich in 198034:58 – Building an international life abroad42:11 – Germany vs America over the decades49:03 – Why so many Americans stay abroad54:26 – Identity, belonging, and home🌍 ABOUT THE POD ABROADHowdy und Servus, y’all :-) I’m Paulina — originally from Texas and living in Munich, Germany for nearly 10 years.The Pod Abroad is a podcast about life abroad, cultural differences, identity, immigration, and building a life overseas through honest long-form conversations.👉 Subscribe for new episodes every Tuesday.🎧 LISTEN & CONNECTSpotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/711j4OKApple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcastAll platforms → https://linktr.ee/thepodabroadInstagram → https://www.instagram.com/thepod.abroadTikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@thepodabroadSubstack → https://substack.com/@thepodabroadEmail → paulina@thepodabroad.com🎥 CREWVideo, Audio & Music → Tim ter HuurneDesign / Branding → Ali Khazanbeik

Leaving Utah Changed How I See Everything

Growing up Mormon in Utah, moving to Germany, culture shock, Americans abroad, Munich expat life, and realizing your upbringing wasn’t “normal.” In this episode of The Pod Abroad, I sit down with Sarah Fife, an American from Salt Lake City who grew up in a deeply Mormon/LDS environment before leaving Utah for Brown University, eventually moving to Munich, Germany, and building an entirely new life abroad. We talk about what it was really like growing up in Utah, the intense sense of community within Mormon culture, and the moment she realized that her upbringing looked very different from the outside world. Sarah shares how moving from Utah to the East Coast completely shifted her perspective, what it felt like to suddenly be surrounded by people from different cultures and backgrounds, and how that eventually led her to Germany. This episode also dives into the emotional side of immigration and life abroad: reverse culture shock, missing family, building community overseas, and why so many Americans who move to Germany “just stay.” From au pair life in Munich to religion, identity, homesickness, and the strange experience of watching America from Europe, this is a thoughtful and deeply personal conversation about reinvention, belonging, and what happens when you leave home. 🎙️ In this episode: • Growing up Mormon in Utah • What LDS/Mormon culture is actually like • Leaving Utah for Brown University • Realizing your upbringing wasn’t “normal” • American culture shock within the US • Moving to Germany as an au pair • Building a life in Munich • Reverse culture shock in America • Missing family while living abroad • Americans connecting abroad • Why Americans stay in Germany • Community, identity, and belonging overseas ⏰ CHAPTERS 00:00 – Growing up Mormon in Utah 09:55 – Mormon stereotypes vs reality 17:14 – Leaving Utah for Brown University 24:21 – Learning German and discovering Europe 30:07 – Becoming an au pair in Munich 35:41 – Missing family and life back home 42:35 – Watching America from abroad and finding community 🌍 ABOUT THE POD ABROAD Howdy und Servus, y’all :-) I’m Paulina — originally from Texas and living in Munich, Germany for nearly 10 years. The Pod Abroad is a podcast about life abroad, cultural differences, identity, immigration, and building a life overseas through honest long-form conversations. 👉 Subscribe for new episodes every Tuesday. 🎧 LISTEN & CONNECT Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/711j4OK Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast All platforms → https://linktr.ee/thepodabroad Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/thepod.abroad TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@thepodabroad Substack → https://substack.com/@thepodabroad Email → paulina@thepodabroad.com 🎥 CREW Video, Audio & Music → Tim ter Huurne Design / Branding → Ali Khazanbeik

What Germans actually complain about (we live here)

Why do Germans complain so much? In this episode, we talk about German complaining culture, Deutsche Bahn delays, bureaucracy, construction sites, weather, food prices, and life in Germany as a foreigner (+Tim) living in Munich.After years of living in Germany, we’ve realized that complaining here is almost a social skill. Whether it’s Deutsche Bahn, endless Baustellen, expensive döner, weather, bureaucracy, or people policing each other in public, complaining is deeply woven into everyday German culture.But is it actually negativity… or something else?In this episode, my partner Tim and I unpack the things Germans constantly complain about, how foreigners experience it, and why “not complaining” is basically considered praise in Germany.From passive-aggressive notes to train chaos, shrinking bakery rolls, and the emotional damage of a rainy German summer, this is a funny but honest conversation about daily life in Germany from the perspective of two immigrants living in Munich.🎙️ In this episode:• Why Germans complain so much• Deutsche Bahn delays and train chaos• German bureaucracy and lack of digitalization• Construction sites that never end• Döner and grocery prices in Germany• Germans complaining about other Germans• Weather complaints and seasonal depression• German rule-following culture• Passive-aggressive notes and public policing• Why complaining creates social connection in GermanyIf you’ve ever lived in Germany, traveled here, or wondered why Germans seem to complain about everything, this episode is for you.⏰ CHAPTERS00:00 – Why Germans complain so much05:50 – Ice cream and döner prices14:00 – Grocery prices in Germany16:55 – Deutsche Bahn chaos30:45 – German bureaucracy and digitalization34:23 – Endless construction sites38:26 – Germans complaining about other Germans47:54 – Weather complaints in Germany50:24 – Is complaining becoming toxic?🌍 ABOUT THE POD ABROADHowdy und Servus, y’all :-) I’m Paulina — originally from Texas and living in Munich, Germany for nearly 10 years.The Pod Abroad is a podcast about life abroad, cultural differences, identity, immigration, and building a life overseas through honest long-form conversations.👉 Subscribe for new episodes every Tuesday.🎧 LISTEN & CONNECTSpotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/711j4OKApple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcastAll platforms → https://linktr.ee/thepodabroadInstagram → https://instagram.com/thepod.abroadTikTok → https://tiktok.com/@thepodabroadSubstack → https://substack.com/@thepodabroadEmail → paulina@thepodabroad.com🎥 CREWVideo, Audio & Music → Tim ter HuurneDesign / Branding → Ali Khazanbeik