Latest news with #InterNations
Local Germany
3 days ago
- General
- Local Germany
'Smile and make conversation': How to make friends with Germans
Friendship networks can take years to build, and moving abroad often means starting all over again. It's a daunting prospect in itself, and according to many of our readers, it can be even more difficult in Germany than in many other countries. The idea that Germany is a hard place to make friends isn't unfounded by the way, the country has consistently ranked toward the bottom of the list for friendliness in expat surveys, such as those carried out by InterNations. Given the importance of friendships to a healthy life, and for feeling connected to a place, we asked readers in a recent survey how easy they find making friends in Germany. Asked who their friends are, about 40 percent of the respondents to our survey said that most of their friends are other internationals, while just over 20 percent said most of their friends here are German. Another group (just under 20 percent) said they have a good mixture of both German and international friends, and the remaining portion (also just under 20 percent) said they have a hard time making any friends in Germany, both local or foreign. How hard is it to make friends in Germany? While several of our respondents reported making friends in Germany without difficulty, others said they struggled and wonder how open some Germans are to the idea of forming new friendships with foreigners. Advertisement Madeleine Oliver moved to a small village in Baden-Württemberg 13 years ago. 'We found it quite easy to integrate," she said. "I can't imagine life here without our German friends.' Madeleine's experience could hardly be more different from Amanda Vix's. Originally from the UK, Amanda lives in Osnabrück: 'I don't have any friends here," she told The Local. "I've lived here 13 years and still don't feel settled.' READ ALSO: 10 German life hacks to make you feel like a local Maria Sibiga agrees. Also based in Osnabrück, she reflects on how hard it is to break into local social networks: 'People here in north Germany seem to have their own social networks, and it's hard to join in.' Simon from Berlin is blunter when it comes to describing the cultural barriers. 'Germans speak German among themselves, are not very curious about other cultures, are often openly racist without realizing it, and are generally shite at small talk,' he said. Using slightly more moderate language, Christopher Michailov-Lee makes a similar point. 'Germans are very always seem to view outsiders with suspicion. I have struggled a lot even making connections at work and no one wants to spend time with me outside of working hours even though I see them heading out for beers after work with colleagues.' Advertisement Jenna in Hamburg adds that she met her friends at the gym and "honestly, even after years they still feel like acquaintances." People play spot on Berlin's Tempelhofer Feld in the evening sunshine. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Annette Riedl Children - the ultimate social lubricant According to our survey, children can be the magical ingredient when it comes to building friendships – although some people are sceptical about whether these relationships will stand the test of time. Jim, an American living in Berlin, said, 'Have a baby. We met most of our friends just from finding activities to do with our son.' An anonymous respondent from Hamburg agreed, with reservations: 'I'm friendly with several other parents at our Kita but wouldn't call them friends. The Germans who are most open to making friends are those in relationships with non-German partners.' How else do people make friends in Germany? Our respondents rarely suggest that lasting friendships spring up overnight in Germany, but regular interactions and a healthy dose of patience do lead to breakthroughs. READ ALSO: Yes you can make local friends in Hamburg, here's how For Giovanna Cenini from Italy, who lives in Bonn, work provided the most effective environment for making friends. 'The only genuine German friends I've made have been colleagues. Through daily interactions at work, I gradually built friendships,' she said. Other respondents talked about making friends through their involvement in local activities and events. Jacques Nalletamby in Berlin got invited to a German-speaking pub quiz and made friends there. Advertisement J. Hanson, a Canadian in Dortmund, recalls meeting German friends at a music event: 'They spoke English, so it was easy to start a conversation. Then they invited me to other events and I met more of their friends. I'm a part of the group now. It's great.' Larry Schulz, who has lived in Munich since 1980, made friends at 'local church groups', as well as 'international business and social clubs'. Is it necessary to make German friends? On the whole, respondents were almost unanimous in agreeing that it's impossible to really feel at home in Germany without making friends from the country. 'While you can certainly live in Germany without having native‐German friends,' said Giovanna Cenini, 'forming friendships with locals can greatly ease your integration. German friends help you navigate cultural nuances, introduce you to community events, and expand your social and professional networks.' READ ALSO: Foreigners on love, hook-ups and friendship in Germany 'German friends are crucial to feeling at home in Germany,' adds J Hanson. 'I feel like I fit in and belong. They help me understand the customs, attitudes and paperwork.' Maria Sibiga agrees – and goes on to explain: 'Friendships make a home and without them I feel isolated. Even after 14 years living here, and despite having very supportive German in-laws, I still often feel isolated.' 'I definitely feel more integrated having a couple of German friends because I get insider info and cultural explanations that I wouldn't be privy to otherwise,' said an anonymous correspondent from Hamburg. 'It's easy to meet other immigrants," she adds, "but they tend to be more mobile. I'm at the point where I'm hesitant to get close to anyone unless they're well settled or have strong ties to the country.' Advertisement An anonymous respondent from Cologne concludes with a pragmatic view – and some good advice: 'Don't have high expectations. Just put yourself out there and try not to try too hard. Also understand that your view of what friendship may differ from how Germans approach friendships. Unfortunately, it seems hard for Germans to make friends with other Germans too, especially if they didn't grow up together.' What other advice do people give for making friends in Germany? The main advice shared by readers is simple (if hard to accomplish in practice): learn German. It was mentioned by around half of our respondents. "Learn German," said Jenna in Hamburg. "Otherwise every interaction with a potential friend feels like an unexpected pop English test to them." 'No one will laugh at you," added Gary Cliffe in Lüdinghausen. "In most instances, it will be appreciated that you're making the effort.' Language classes help people feel more confident to explore Germany. Photo: Kristijan Arsov / Unsplash Gary also mentions that it's important to 'accept cultural differences and avoid telling people that life is better in your homeland." Giovanna Cevini is even more emphatic: 'The single most effective step is to demonstrate a genuine commitment to learning German. Showing that you're making an effort with their language signals respect for the culture and lowers the 'stranger' barrier. Over time…you'll find Germans much more open and eager to deepen the friendship.' Patience and persistence 'Be patient and keep showing up at the same meetings or places until you become a familiar fixture kind of like a lamp post that is always there," said an anonymous respondent from Hamburg. Daniel S. from Berlin also recommends 'patience' and suggests sports as a potential route to making friends. Advertisement William Trimmer from Burgwedel adds that he has found that a mixture of honesty and humour works well. 'Let people know the struggles of living in a new country but do it with a sense of humour,' he said. Don't give up Nearly all our respondents recommend attending events of joining clubs of an almost bewildering variety. Suggestions include: football, fishing, owning a dog, music classes, church groups, work-related networking events, online platforms and community forums, study groups, theatre groups, volunteering, and joining societies like Democrats Abroad. EXPLAINED: How to find a lost friend or relative in Germany Respondents acknowledged that it's often easier to meet fellow expats, largely because first points of contact are often language classes and other services for foreigners which Germans don't typically attend. Still, nearly everyone agrees that the extra effort involved in making connections with locals is crucial to feeling at home in the country. So relax, take your time and, and take a leaf out of J Hanson's book: 'attend events, smile, and be ready to make conversation.' Thank you so much to everyone who completed our survey. Although we weren't able to use all the responses, we read them all and they helped inform our article. If there's anything you'd like to add, feel free to drop us a line at news@ .
Arab News
28-07-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Expat remittances in Saudi Arabia jump 21% in May to over $4bn
RIYADH: Expatriate remittances from Saudi Arabia rose to SR15.2 billion ($4.05 billion) in May, marking a 21 percent increase compared to the same month last year. According to data by the Saudi Central Bank, also known as SAMA, transfers by non-Saudis reached nearly SR70 billion during the first five months of 2024, an annual rise of almost 26 percent. Money sent abroad by Saudi citizens reached SR29.8 billion, up 13 percent year on year, the central bank's monthly bulletin showed. The significant uptick in outbound transfers reflects several economic and social factors shaping the Kingdom's labor market and remittance behavior. Among these are the rising number of foreign workers, improving wages, and growing reliance on digital payment solutions that facilitate cross-border transfers more efficiently. Saudi Arabia is home to more than 16.41 million non-Saudis as of May, who make up over 44 percent of the population, according to data by Global Media Insight. As the Kingdom continues to develop under Vision 2030, many expats are taking on higher-paying jobs in health care, construction, logistics, and technology sectors. Improved career opportunities have led to increased disposable income, part of which is regularly sent back to support families in their countries of origin. In the Expat Insider 2024 survey conducted by international expat network InterNations, 75 percent of expatriates in the Kingdom said their career prospects had improved significantly since relocating to Saudi Arabia. This placed the country second globally in the 'Working Abroad Index,' just behind Denmark. The findings reflect growing expat satisfaction and underscore the rising earning potential in the Saudi labor market. Fintech adoption has also contributed to the remittance boom. Companies like stc pay, UrPay, and Tahweel Al-Rajhi offer fast and affordable remittance services integrated with mobile wallets, enabling low-cost and convenient international transfers. According to a 2024 World Bank brief, the average cost of sending $200 from Saudi Arabia was 5.5 percent in the fourth quarter of 2023, making it one of the least costly G20 countries for remittance outflows. In comparison, the G20 average stood at 6.5 percent, with countries like South Africa at 12.8 percent and Japan at 7 percent ranking among the highest. The global average cost for remittances was 6.4 percent, well above the UN Sustainable Development Goal target of 3 percent by 2030. The growth in remittances by Saudi nationals may be attributed to a combination of factors, including the expansion of the working-age population, increased international travel, overseas investments, and education-related transfers. Young Saudis studying abroad, owning property overseas, or supporting family members outside the Kingdom all contribute to rising personal transfers. The overall increase in outbound remittances aligns with broader macroeconomic trends. As Saudi Arabia pushes to diversify its economy and empower the private sector, higher employment levels and better wage conditions are translating into more outbound flows. At the same time, remittances play a vital role in supporting economies across South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, where many Saudi-based expats originate. The Kingdom's commitment to financial innovation, coupled with a strong expat-driven economy, will likely keep remittance flows elevated in the months ahead.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Retired Americans are moving to this vibrant country for its low cost of living and better quality of life
Retirees are saying adios to the US. Boasting plenty of beaches, top-notch food, a wealth of nearby travel destinations, a lower cost of living and a pleasant warm climate — it's not hard to see why American retirees are swapping out domestic locales like Florida, Georgia and South Carolina for Spain. According to InterNations, an organization dedicated to building a global community of expats, Spain offers Americans the highest quality of life and the most abundant leisure activities — making it the top European country to move to. Spain is also ranked among the top countries for travel, assimilation and health care — the country is ninth best on the 2025 Health Care Index, while the US is 39th. The tax rate in Spain is slightly higher, as the country operates on the worldwide taxation system, but per Forbes, given the benefits that it offers — allowances for inheritance, property taxes, access to high-quality health care and some exemptions for those 65 and up — many expats find it worthwhile. Global Citizen Solutions specifically ranked Spain the No. 1 country for American retirees in its 2025 report, and estimates that the average monthly cost of living is around $2,000 to $2,500 — which often includes rent. 'I started investigating the residency requirements for moving to Spain. My pensions just met the financial threshold. I started gathering documents, ordered an FBI report and got an apostille. My doctor wrote a letter saying I had no infectious diseases, and I bought Spanish health insurance,' said an American retiree, Marsha Scarbrough, who detailed her Spain expat experience in an essay for Travel + Leisure. 'I printed bank statements, took passport photos, filled out forms and paid fees online. Finally, I had everything translated into Spanish by a certified interpreter.' For retirees and those not planning on pursuing school or work opportunities in Spain, you can move there on a non-working, or non-lucrative, visa. Visitor visas, which can last up to nine months, can also be an easy way to spend an extended period in the country before deciding to move. Given the impending social security cuts that many Americans are set to face, moving abroad to enjoy a high quality of life without the rising costs of living in the US seems to be a popular choice for retirees.
CNBC
29-05-2025
- Health
- CNBC
This is the happiest city in the world, new data shows—it's not in the U.S.
In May, the Institute for the Quality of Life released its 2025 Happy City Index. The 200 cities in the report were separated into three groups: gold, silver, and bronze, with gold meaning those cities scored the highest across all metrics combined. To rank the world's happiest cities, researchers tracked 82 indicators of happiness across six major categories: 2025 is the first year the index included health as a category. It's something that Dr. Bartosz Bartoszewicz, Director and Co-creator of the Index, tells CNBC Make It was an important addition because of the covid-19 pandemic. "We've added health, and we didn't know what the results were going to be, and what was surprising is that most of the cities that were gold cities in the past remain," Dr. Bartoszewicz says. "It shows they are still developing in a sustainable way and that is great because it's not only about mobility or governance. It's about the whole structure of the city." The United States didn't have any cities rank in the top 10, but did have two get the "gold city" distinction: New York City at No. 17 and Minneapolis at No. 30. 18 U.S. cities were ranked and make up almost 10% off the entire index, which Dr. Bartoszewicz is still a good result. Copenhagen, Denmark, ranked No. 1 on the Happy City Index with a total score of 1,039. "What is amazing about Copenhagen? First of all, its ability to be open for innovation. Its educational system is of very good quality and it's affordable," Dr. Bartoszewicz says. Dr. Bartoszewicz adds that despite Copenhagen being ranked No. 1, it still has its issues, like housing. Apartment prices have doubled in the past 10 years, according to Boligsidens Markedsindeks, a Danish housing market portal. "Every city has its challenges but Copenhagen does a good job of not only confirming they have a problem but they are even listing them and telling people to join them in coming up with how to solve these problems," Dr. Bartoszewicz says. "Living in Copenhagen is still a challenge so even though it's first, they still have a lot of problems to solve." Denmark frequently ranks as one of the happiest countries in the world, so it's no surprise that its capital city took the top spot on this list. In 2024, the country the No. 2 happiest in the world, according to the World Happiness Report. Denmark is also the career opportunities, and work-life balance, according to a 2024 Expat Insider survey from InterNations, the online global community for people who've moved abroad. In Denmark, residents pay some of the world's highest taxes— up to half of their income — it is balanced out by the fact that most healthcare in the country is free, childcare is subsidized, university students pay no tuition and receive grants to help cover expenses while studying. For the second year in a row, Switzerland's largest city, Zurich, ranked No. 2 in the index with a score of 993. The city is a global financial hub that is renowned for its economic strength and high quality of life, according to the report. It scored highly in the categories of citizens and governance. "In Zurich, people have access to the best quality of education and a really strong economy. If you live in Zurich, your average income is much higher than the rest of the country. You're earning almost double what other cities in Switzerland do," Dr. Bartoszewicz says. Zurich is divided into 12 districts and was named the world's smartest city in 2024 for its innovative integration of new technologies. The Economist Intelligence Unit ranked it the third most liveable city in 2024. The city is often referred to as the "City of Banks" due to its global financial reputation. It is also one of the most expensive places to live in the world. ,
Local Germany
19-05-2025
- General
- Local Germany
'No curiosity from locals': Is Munich really an unfriendly city for foreigners?
As The Local recently reported, the latest 'Expat City Ranking' by InterNations found that several major German cities were ranked as the least welcoming cities for foreigners to move and live in. Out of 53 cities worldwide, Munich ranked dead last, effectively making it the 'unfriendliest' city in the world for foreign residents, according to the survey which was based on responses from 12,500 expats. Germany overall has earned a reputation for being a difficult place to get adjusted, with incoming foreign residents often citing the language barrier and cold or closed-off locals among the bigger barriers to settling into a fulfilling social life in the country. But opinions differ on which German cities are more or less welcoming than the others. Given Munich's new and unflattering title, we thought it'd be worth checking in on how unfriendly it really is - so we asked readers of The Local for their thoughts on life in the Bavaria capital in a survey of our own. Most readers don't agree that Munich is so unfriendly Asked if they agree that Munich is an unfriendly city toward foreigners and newcomers, a little over 60 percent of respondents said they disagree, whereas a little under 30 percent agreed that Munich is unfriendly, and around ten percent of respondents said they weren't sure. For what it's worth, that result largely aligns with reactions to a Facebook post about The Local's survey, where the majority of commenters wrote that Munich was actually friendly – and a couple refuted that Berlin was actually Germany's least friendly city. Almost every respondent to our survey said they thought that Munich was a good place to live as a foreigner. Just two respondents didn't think so, with one writing that it was 'not the best,' and the other saying, 'absolutely not.' Hundreds of sun-seekers populate the large meadow in the English Garden below the Monopteros in Munich. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Peter Kneffel 'More collegial than California' Overall, The Local readers who live (or have lived) in Munich suggest that the city is actually quite welcoming. A few respondents even went as far as saying that people there are more friendly than those in other German – or even other international – cities. 'The people are direct, but not unfriendly,' said Jeff, a 62-year-old American who lives in the city's Maxvorstadt district. 'I've lived in both Berlin and Munich and I generally feel that people are more welcoming in Munich.' Adi, a 35-year-old Munich resident of more than six years, goes a step further: 'I find the vibe much more collegial here than where I was before [in California]'. He said it 'boggles' him where Munich's bad reputation comes from, adding that his neighbours being helpful and community oriented has helped him feel at home. READ ALSO: 'Beautiful city, unfriendly people' - How foreigners feel about living in Hamburg Advertisement Language issues and an expat bubble Of course not every foreign resident in Munich finds the city to be welcoming and friendly, especially not immediately from the start. Among those who said they agree that Munich is unfriendly, many respondents highlighted not knowing German as being a major issue. 'They treat anyone whose German is less than perfect with disdain,' noted Lisa, 50, from the US and living in the city's Obermenzing district. Similarly, some noted that simply not being German could be an obstacle to feeling integrated. Ms. Roberta, from the UK who has been living in Munich for more than eleven years, said that the city can feel friendly to foreigners thanks largely to its large expat community. 'However, it is virtually impossible to break through the 'expat bubble' and integrate into the local German communities, unless you are dating or married to a German,' she said. Another respondent, who didn't give her name but noted that she was from India and lived in Munich, said, 'There is no curiosity from the locals about non-white cultures, so they make no effort to meet and even sometimes actively avoid non-Germans.' READ ALSO: 'World's largest village' - How foreigners in Germany feel about Munich Guests raise their beer mugs at the Giesinger Brewery's strong beer tasting in Munich. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Peter Kneffel Most readers would recommend moving to Munich Asked if they would recommend moving to Munich, most respondents to our survey said they would, but many added caveats. The general consensus was that Munich offers a high quality of life but that the cost of living can be a bit expensive. For example, Hans Averdung from Mexico City said he would recommend moving to Munich 'if you can afford it.' (The InterNations survey also saw the city rank toward the bottom for personal finance.) Advertisement Another reader noted that living expenses here 'are higher than other places in Germany', but they also praised the city for being walkable/bikeable and offering a good quality of life. Indeed, another recent survey actually ranked Munich as the most 'pedestrian-friendly' city in the world. Francisco, 46, from Argentina, says his recommendation would depend on your age and social needs. In his opinion Munich is a great city 'if you are over 35, professional, family-oriented and love nature.' Larry Schulz, 78 from the US, who has been living in Munich since 1985 – 'and loving it!' – thinks Munich and Vienna are the two best non-English speaking cities in Europe. He recommends Munich for its parks, historical and cultural attractions, extensive international community and also its "vibrant innovation ecosystem". READ ALSO" Munich, Vienna or Salzburg: Which is the best airport to fly from? Advertisement Taken altogether, out survey seems to suggest that most foreigners who live in Munich think it's a pretty good place to live, and don't find it particularly unfriendly. That said, foreigners may struggle with the language barrier and with culture shocks -- like being confronted by German directness -- when they first arrive. Fortunately, a vibrant community of foreigners, world-famous breweries and beer festivals, and breath-taking nature around the city are all there to help get you through the sometime rocky transition to life in Germany.
