So German ... #3

For our third interview on life and lifestyle in Germany, we talked to our designer Charles-Axel Pauwels from Belgium.

Is there anything that appeared specifically complicated to you when first coming to Germany?

To be honest, everything went really smoothly when I first came here.
I had absolutely no problems with the culture at all, as Belgium and Germany are neighbours.
Sure the language was an issue, but people speak English really well around here, and the only thing I remember being an actual problem was getting an apartment.
As I got an internship at Edenspiekermann Berlin, I had to find a place on short notice and due to that spent the first six weeks in a Hostel.
In many German cities, finding a place to stay around the times the new semesters at schools and universities start can be really tough. (Especially if you don’t speak German.)

Anything that comes to your mind when you think about life in Germany? 

One thing that really confused me when I came to Germany is that you will always be asked to take off your shoes when you visit someone.
It even is considered impolite not to take your shoes off and most people do it pretty much automatically when they enter a private home.
I still struggle adapting to that sometimes.

If you had to give one advice to someone who’s moving to Germany, what would it be?

Never, and I mean that, never download torrent files! Just don’t.
You will get a very nice letter from a not so nice lawyer and you will have to pay a fine for it.
Something around €500 to €800, I think.

Thank you, Charles!