Things to do in Essen and surroundings

March 18, 2008 6:41 AM

Moved to Germany from the US. Need advice on rebuilding my life.

I just moved to Germany (Essen to be exact) last weekend. I have a job, an apartment and a husband - so no need for advice in regards to these. What I do need help with is:

1) Making friends - how do I go about it in a city like Essen? I am not particularily shy but I wonder how to make friendships when I work from home and I am done with my studies (I am 27).

2) Finding some of my favorite (American) services/websites - e.g. the German equivalent of Netflix, craigslist (not craigslist.de but something similar which actually is used in Germany), online bookstore that has an offering of English books (is amazon.de any good?), free city publications with upcoming events or community websites (catering both to expats and non-expats)

3) Ideas for fun things to do in the city as well as recommendations for the best restaurants, bars, clubs in the Essen-Dusseldorf-Cologne area. Recommendations for a good manicurist and waxer. Generally recommendations for what is good around here, regardless of category.

4) Any general advice on what to do once you move to a new place.

Thanks.

posted by barrakuda to travel & transportation (10 comments total)

Have you asked this question on the forums at Toytown Germany? They may be your best help.

I recommend Amazon UK for English books. I would LOVE to find out the German equivalent of Netflix, so please speak up, German MeFites.
posted by laconic titan at 7:02 AM on March 18, 2008

Amazon.de is great but you'll probably find that Amazon.com is usually cheaper (especially with the exchange rate) and the delivery is still very fast.

Also check out the German forums of Expatica.com to find others in your neighbourhood. It should provide a great intro to Germany too, and a place to ask further questions.

I hope that helps a bit :-)
posted by different at 7:03 AM on March 18, 2008

For god's sake try to learn German. Get German television. My sister-in-law is returning this year after four years in Germany (with her husband and three children) and it's appalling how little effort they made to learn the language. It cracks me up to see a 27-year-old declare that they are done with their studies. I am more than twice your age and I am still learning stuff. Getting out of the house to take conversational German is a great way to meet people. If you are really lucky you will make friends with whom your only common language is German (for example, a japanese woman in your situation).

Toytown Germany is a great resource for ex-pats. I believe that amazon.de actually rents as well as sells DVDs (I live in the United States so I am not really interested in renting DVDs in Germany but I do buy stuff from amazon.de and have it shipped to my sister-in-law).
posted by thomas144 at 7:52 AM on March 18, 2008

IDNLIG (I do not live in Germany), but, a search for Germany and Netflix led me to Amango. My German is barely passable, but it looks like it might be just what you're looking for (the site even looks like Netflix).
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 7:53 AM on March 18, 2008

thomas144 - I am learning German, I am getting German TV, and even though it cracks you up I think I am done with my formal studies for a while - I have my MA - I do not foresee going for a PhD or another degree in the nearest future.
posted by barrakuda at 8:43 AM on March 18, 2008

I would check out US military community resources, as there are a bunch of bases in Germany. They're mostly to the south of you, but the base websites usually have resources adjusting to life in Germany. There are tons of similar resources out there. E.g., ArmyWives.com, or this. I know you didn’t ask for military stuff, but a lot of these folks know what it’s like to adjust to a new country and can offer American-focused advice applicable to civilian life.

A lot of Germans speak (or are learning) English. If they find out you’re American they may initiate conversation in order to practice, which could lead to friendship. Personal anecdote: my S.O. is stationed in Germany and living in an off-base apartment. During my last visit, the upstairs neighbors randomly invited us in for a small birthday celebration with some of their visiting American friends. We spoke some bad German, they spoke some pretty good English, and it was really sweet.

Anyway, most Germans are pretty friendly (in my experience at least), so I would just be friendly and open to the locals and see what happens. Check out the local pubs, which often have something “gasthof” or “gasthaus” in the names.

Good luck!
posted by the littlest brussels sprout at 8:51 AM on March 18, 2008

Amazon.de offers several DVD deals. A friend of mine pays 15€ per month, all shipping costs included. He can have 2 DVDs at home at the same time, so one can be in transit and you are never without one. 3 DVDs is about 19€. The amount you can rent is limited by how fast you ship them back. (If this is no news to you, it is for me. I know nothing about online DVD rental.)

I am lazy and use Amazon.de for English books. They might be cheaper at Amazon.com, but does this include shipping? Shipping from Amazon.de is free.

If you like the browsing experience, generally there is an English book section in larger bookshops. I don't know about Essen, but the Sternverlag in Düssseldorf has a fairly large English language section. I just googled this one at Markt 5-6. This might be a good canidate to try.

The Army is in the south, but there are British Forces in your area. FM 96.5 is BFBS, if you like to listen to English language radio while on the road. Radio AFN is only available in the south.

You also might want to join a Sportverein if you like to play any sports. There are tons of them and they all have teams at different competitive levels. (There are a lot of Vereine around, not only concerned with sports. If you want to have a peek at some peculiar German customs google Schützenverein ;-) Just look at images and depending on your keyboard it might be easier to type ue instead of ü)

Again, I am not familiar with Essen, I mainly move between Düsseldorf and Münster, but you can try if the web pages of the city can help you. I linked to the tourism section in English.
posted by mmkhd at 10:07 AM on March 18, 2008

As for a Netflix clone, Lovefilm supposedly has more stuff, and more current stuff, than amazon.de. I haven't tried Lovefilm, but I use the German amazon dvd service and am somewhat disappointed with what they have to offer.
Bookstores: amazon.de is ok and very fast, but I can also recommend Abebooks for relatively cheap second hand (English) books. Books are expensive in Germany.

I am German, but not very familiar with the Essen area. The "Ruhrgebiet" supposedly has a lot to offer in the field of culture; it is the designated "European Capital of Culture 2010." (which means lots of money is spent on all kinds of cultural events, museums, etc.).
Regarding the landscape/general "looks," it is probably not representative of our country, as a whole (comparable to the U.S. "rust belt.)" Try to see some more conventionally pretty parts of Germany, too, such as: Hamburg, maybe Munich (Americans seem to love my home town!), Sylt, or the Ostsee. In the south, the "Voralpen", i.e. foothills of the Alps, are especially nice and traditional (a good place for relaxing holidays).
Good Luck in Germany!
posted by The Toad at 10:44 AM on March 18, 2008

Living in the UK, I am a happy customer of Lovefilm. If you scroll down, it looks as though they have a German site as well.

With regard to making friends, this has probably been the hardest thing about moving to a different country. Most of the friends I have here I met through work. I worked a few temp jobs when I first moved here, so I did meet quite a few people this way. Everyone was very good about inviting me out and including me in their activities (knowing I had just moved here).

Good luck!
posted by triggerfinger at 12:05 PM on March 18, 2008

Sorry, now that I've read your post more closely, I see that you work from home. Another way I met people was by picking up flyers and local papers/magazine everywhere that I saw them (shops, reataurants, bars). It was through these that I found some social groups that I have attended (example: a Philosophy in Pubs group which, of course, discusses philosophy in pubs) and being on this group's mailing list has introduced me to at least three other social groups that I've taken an interest in.

Also look for any kinds of seminars, book readings, speakers that might be going on in your area. I finished university some years ago, but I get a newsletter from the local university in my town and there's always lots of events advertised, speakers coming to town etc. It helps that I live near campus, so I always see things that are going on at the student union etc.

Mainly just try to get out an about and you'll discover ways to meet people and things to do. Ultimately, it just takes a bit of time. Don't be like me and sit at home waching rentals from Lovefilm all weekend.
posted by triggerfinger at 12:17 PM on March 18, 2008