Living in Germany as a foreigner?

Question

I'm a Natirah-American (American who is Native American, African and European descent). I was interested in going to Germany for college maybe. First off. I have an odd appearance. I'm very pale. Beyond pale. Pale enough that they don't even make concealor for my skin tone (porcelain and ivory are too dark on me). My hair is long white blonde (think lighter than Gwen Steffani) down past my waist. My eyes are blue but sometimes look purple. Ironically, no, I'm not an albino but hundreds of people have asked me if I am. I have a lot of tribal tattoos (traditional Native American and African). Will I painfully stick out or look weird? Secondly I have a thick lisp/speech problem. My voice almost sounds French or a really British accent. Ever seen the movie The Others? I sound like Anne and Nicholas on most of my words. How will people take this? Also I would like to try modeling/acting (not a big career) there. I'm 5'8-5'9 ft and slender but I have DD b*****s. Could I have chance? Thanks.

Answer 1

Germans are open minded with many cultures living together  (Multi-Culti is their word for it).

You will feel the same way as you feel now in the US.

Answer 2

I do not live in germany I will admit that to you first hand, but my grandparents were born and raised in germany (so in other words I have a thick german look to me) I am extremely pale (about like you, I would say). My great grandparents (and grandparents) had either brown or light blonde hair (both curly or straight), and the girls kept theirs long. I have hazel eyes (like mostly everyone in my family). I would say the tattoos if anything would look weird, but even that I wouldn't say would be weird. Your accent should be able to fit in, the speech problem don't worry about, germans get those problems too (I had a problem pronouncing my 'r's and had to take speech class until I was in High School just to correct it). Your hight will probably stick out, I am 5'3 and I am about the tallest person in my family (immediate family that is) my mom is 5'4 and she's the tallest (again immediate family) both my grandparents and great grandparents were shorter. The slenderness might too, because of my German genes I tend to be slightly heavy looking even though my weight is at a normal for my height. Otherwise I would say you are in the clear. From what I know of Germans (immediate family, meeting Germans, and other stuff) Germans tend to be short, stout, blonde or brown hair, straight or curly hair, either eye color (traditionally green I think), big b*****s, and pale skinned.

Answer 3

Your appearance won´t be a problem. I´m an American that has lived and worked in Germany for almost 12 years now. The younger generation, 15-25, is very big into piercings and tattoos. I would have to say that a majority of the younger people here have one or both. They also seem to like the Gothic look, dark clothes and pale skin. As far as the lisp goes, if you make an honest effort to speak German, most people will be very understanding and willing to help you. I can´t comment on the modeling, since I have no experience with that, but I´m pretty sure that it would be the same as trying to break into modeling in the US. As for college, unless you go to an international school, with a program in English, you will need to be fluent in German. Regensburg University is about 30 miles from me (It´s one of the larger German Universities) and all the standard classes there are in German.

That all said, Germany is a beautiful country to live in, though you will need to get appropriate Visas before you come here. Check on-line to find the nearest German consulate to you, and they can help you with the paperwork. Good luck.

Answer 4

I'm a foreignor living in Germany at the minute!

I'm pale (i come from Ireland!) and in my opinion germans are not pale!!! But they also don't seem to have a problem with my paleness lol. It's definitly not a problem and I doubt you'd stick out!

Also, unlike someone else said, I find Germans really tall, so you'll have no problem with your height!!!

I doubt your tattoos will be a problem, since there's alot of grungy/gothy type people about with tattoos.

And your voice really isn't going to be a problem, since most people won't know what it's meant to sound like!!!!

Germany's great! You'll have a great time!

Only thing i'd say is that your dress sense could make you stand out. Germans aren't fashionable and tend to wear dark boring practical clothing!

Answer 5

Firstly, i dont normaly flame people but with is it with the "Natirah"?  Did you think that up all at once or over time?  Im 1/2 Commanche (Card to prove it) and 1/2 Irish i have dual citizenship to prove that!  If your Native then yo native nothing else matters!  No one cares what you look like or how big your b*****s are or if your pale.

The reason I say this is because you question the intelligence of the Germans a hard working people.  Dont worry so much about what you look like and it wont be a problem.  Work on the inside and the rest will take care of itself.

-L

Answer 6

I m a german guy, and live in Germany. I guess you wont get any problems here. the "old school Germans" which disline foreigns are today pretty rare in Germany. the n***s are in Germany the outsiders and the restly Germans are pretty liberal. We Germans are anyway a bit unemotional. some germans say "we love our cars more than our girls, because german cars can we trust" lol back to topic - but if you talk a bit in German (about more than just the dark german history) I guess you will find a lot fun here. slender and DD sounds good. sorry, I m just a guy.

if you are planing to travel in the next month to Germany, dont be suprised, when you meet a lot crazy Germans on the street with german flags in the hand; its soon FOOTBALL EURO CUP :) paaaaarty time it will be alike there

http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=VLWuCW-NJl...

sometimes we can show emotions. that was a magical summer 2006.

...and there more smiling Germans

http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=jQq9lzGDNm...

anyway, I hope I was able to give you some impressions.

Answer 7

I think you will find in every country some idiots who have a problem with other people and you shouldn't be worried about your looks. You are young and as long as you have the chance to see something from the world: DO IT. I think the people in Germany / Europe will be nice to you and are interested to meet someone who came from the other side of the world to learn about their life. Sorry, but I don't know much about the modeling part.

Answer 8

Sweetheart, Germans are amongst the palest people on the planet, but they recently have discovered self tanning body lotions, just like the US and the UK. ;)

Don´t worry. If you go to a German college or university, you will most likely choose one in a bigger city. Germany works basically like most other countries work: the bigger the city, the more open-minded the people. The smaller the suburb or village, the more conservative people tend to be. If you go to Berlin, for instance, or Hamburg, Frankfurt or Munich, you will most definitely not stick out more than any other person that does not look exactly mainstream. The old clichee that Germans are tall, blonde and blue-eyed, by the way, is long gone.

Don´t worry, people are going to treat you just fine, same way people treat you in other places. :)