Discovering Germany - Caitlin's Fulbright Experience in Tübingen

In this episode of Worlds Collide, host Viktoria sits down with Caitlin, a Fulbright Scholar who recently moved to Tübingen, Germany. Caitlin shares her journey of relocating with her family for a research project at the University of Tübingen, discussing the contrasts between her current home and her previous experience in Dortmund just before the pandemic hit.The conversation dives into the cultural nuances of living in a smaller town, the challenges of navigating German bureaucracy, and the delightful surprises that come with settling into a new country. Caitlin reflects on the differences in childcare, public transportation, and grocery shopping, offering listeners a glimpse into the everyday realities of expat life in Germany.Listeners will appreciate Caitlin's candid insights on building a social network, the warmth of the local community, and the joys and hurdles of adapting to a new culture. This episode is a heartfelt exploration of resilience, family, and the transformative experience of living abroad, making it a must-listen for anyone considering a move to Germany or simply curious about expat life.Support the podcast by leaving a five-star review or consider buying me a coffee to keep the stories coming!If you're interested in being a guest on the podcast, send an email to [email protected] or visit www.worldscollidepodcast.com.Keywords: Expat Life, Moving to Germany, Fulbright Scholar, Cultural Adjustment, Childcare Challenges, Public Transportation, Grocery Shopping, Community Integration, Work-Life Balance, Resilience Abroad, Expats in Germany.(00:00) Worlds Collide is a podcast about moving abroad(00:34) You're in Germany on a Fulbright Scholar grant(02:09) Okay, so. You've been to Germany before on a Fulbright(03:06) Tubingen is in the south versus Dortmund, which is more north(04:57) There was uncertainty around childcare for your daughter when you applied for Fulbright(10:07) Your program is in English and everybody speaks English most of the time(13:18) The first month was our hardest for settling in, right(16:42) Are you, um, usually when you are at home, do you use your car(17:20) It took us a month to figure out which tickets make sense for us(18:36) So can you maybe explain to the listener who are interested in moving to Germany(20:26) All the grocery stores in Germany are closed on Sundays, right(24:23) Do you think running errands takes more time now than before(27:25) Our budget for groceries has been pretty similar compared to the US(28:59) How do you feel about the difference in um, work life balance(36:51) Do you think in Germany religion matters less as an expat(41:07) There are a few ways you can support the World Scollide podcast