All you need to know about studying, working, and living in Germany
“Are you really going?” I asked myself out loud.
The party started in 15 minutes.
I was still in my tiny Berlin student apartment, staring at the mirror like it might offer an escape route.
A few months ago, my daughter came home from her public school in California with a worksheet. At first glance, it looked like any other second-grade schoolwork—some drawings, some writing, maybe a little math. But then I looked closer.
If you’ve been following me for a while, you know I’m a huge fan of real estate investing—especially in Germany. Back when we lived there, we didn’t just buy our dream home… we also went on to buy two more investment properties.
If you want to know more about how I became a landlord in Germany, I’ve shared the full story before. Honestly, I loved everything about it.
Two years ago, after our big move from Germany to the U.S., I sat down with my new American tax adviser and asked a seemingly simple question:
“Can I deduct the money I send to support my parents back in Hong Kong on my U.S. tax return?”
He looked at me, paused for a moment, and then said:
“No. Actually… depending on how much you send, you might even trigger a gift tax.”
Wait. What?! Gift tax?
Last week, we had something really special: one of our German friends visited us here in California!
He was actually on a business trip to Texas, but he made an extra effort just to visit us for one night. That really touched us.
Planning a family relocation or moving with kids? It’s an exciting yet daunting process, and I’ve walked that road myself. Whether it’s helping your children settle into a new school or making sure they stay connected to old friends, there’s a lot to consider. But with some preparation and a little creativity, you can make the transition smoother for everyone. Let me share what I’ve learned along the way.
Leaving Germany and moving abroad can be an exciting adventure, but it also involves some bureaucratic steps. One important task to complete before you go is deregistration in Germany (Abmeldung), which involves officially informing the local authorities that you no longer live in the country. In this article, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about deregistration in Germany. We will also provide you with some helpful tips to deregister in Germany to ensure a smooth departure.
Leaving a place you’ve called home can be tough. In this article, we’ll guide you through a checklist of what to do when leaving Germany, based on my personal experience of spending 12 years there before moving to the US. Whether you’re leaving for good or just for a while, this checklist will definitely assist you in making a smooth move.
Yes. You read it right. I am moving to the U.S. from Germany! Sounds crazy, I know. I also feel that way. This is a personal post about why we are moving to the U.S., how long we plan to be there, and what will happen to this blog.
Moving to a new city may not be an easy task for many. I can totally understand that as I have moved from Hong Kong to Germany all by myself. Having said that, there are things that you can already do before moving to a new city. Doing these things can help you to adjust to your new life easier. In this article, Chelsea will tell you her story of moving from Seoul to Berlin. She will also give you her 4 best tips to make life easier when moving to a new city.