More German than many Germans
4 hours ago
- The author, a Turkish computer science student, moved to Hamburg, Germany, for an internship in 2017, which was his first time abroad.
- His initial experiences with Germans challenged stereotypes, as his flatmate and colleagues were friendly, trusting, and welcoming.
- He was offered a job and later returned to Germany permanently, feeling a sense of homecoming upon his arrival.
- He appreciated Germany's social democratic values, such as trust, inclusion, and flat hierarchies in the workplace.
- He likes Germany's rules because they provide structure and predictability, citing examples like traffic lights and quiet hours.
- He read numerous books and watched documentaries to understand Germany's history, culture, and social systems.
- Despite some challenges (e.g., a rejected residence permit application), he experienced no racism and believes most far-right votes stem from dissatisfaction with unresolved issues, not pure xenophobia.
- After eight years, he applied for and obtained German citizenship, which involved passing a test, proving language proficiency, and meeting other requirements.