Families here get child support from the government. It’s not like that in Nigeria. The more shocking thing is that Germans even complain when the money is small or not enough because of inflation. And I am like, if you guys suffer what normal guys are suffering in Nigeria, you won’t complain o. If Nigerians get these exact things you have here, they won’t complain about life at all. Germans complain a lot. They complain when the weather is good and when it is bad. Their mood can also be dependent on the weather. The politics is surprising, too. Quite different from what we have in Nigeria in the sense that politics here is about ideology. The ideologies inform people’s lifestyles and vice versa, unlike in Nigeria, where political candidates can easily jump from one party to another. One struggle people have when they move here is the language. I think it is an important part of integrating into the system. Even though my German is not perfect to my desired standard, the people here appreciate that I speak. So if you are coming to Germany, try to learn the language — I’ll be happy to help. Without the language, you will not feel like you belong unless you live in a city where they speak English. Also, try not to come as an asylum seeker. It is not the best. And try not to come as an unskilled labourer, although some people would argue that it’s still better than working back home in Nigeria. Another challenge is the weather. If you are not someone who enjoys being alone, it can lead you to depression. The best places to make friends are the church and maybe dance or music classes or some other gathering of people doing the same thing or sharing the same interests. If you want to make German friends, you have to be proactive and you have to be prepared to be asked intellectual questions. It will make you a lot of friends if you are widely read.
As narrated by: TOMIWA (MECKLENBUR-VORPOMMEN, GERMANY)
Published by