Additional Coverage:
- I moved from the US to Berlin. I was yelled at and kicked out of registration offices, but I didn’t give up. I’m happier than I ever was living in the US. (businessinsider.com)
From Colorado to Berlin: How a Dachshund Helped Me Find My Place
My journey from Longmont, Colorado, to Berlin, Germany, began in 2015, shortly after college. The city’s vibrant energy captivated me, a stark contrast to my hometown in the foothills of the Rockies.
By January 2018, I had made the leap across the Atlantic. I quickly found love, both with my now-husband and with Berlin itself.
Weekends were filled with exploring WWII bunkers, savoring Turkish döner, and belting out karaoke in the park.
The honeymoon phase eventually faded, replaced by the harsh realities of navigating German bureaucracy. Securing a long-term freelance visa proved a daunting task.
I endured frustrating encounters with government officials, some shouting at me in German and refusing to speak English. There were moments of doubt, times I questioned my decision to move.
But with the support of friends and sheer determination, I finally obtained my visa after weeks of relentless paperwork and bureaucratic hurdles.
Unfortunately, the challenges didn’t end there. A disheartening encounter at a bar, where I overheard a group disparaging Americans, left a lasting impact.
While their comments weren’t directed at me personally, their blatant disdain for American culture made me self-conscious. To this day, I still find myself whispering in public, a lingering effect of that experience.
For years, I felt like an outsider, caught between cultures and struggling to connect with German society. The unsmiling faces on the streets reinforced my sense of isolation.
Then, in 2023, everything changed. We brought home Toby, a 15-week-old wire-haired dachshund puppy.
Toby wasn’t just a new addition to our family; he was a bridge to the community I had longed to join. Germans, it turns out, adore dachshunds.
Suddenly, the once indifferent faces transformed into warm smiles. Our grumpy downstairs neighbor, the grandma across the street – everyone wanted to meet Toby.
My interactions with locals shifted dramatically, from a dismal 30% smile rate to a heartwarming 80%.
Life in Berlin hasn’t always been easy. There have been struggles, loneliness, and moments of self-doubt.
But through it all, I’ve built a life filled with incredible memories and a deep appreciation for a culture so different from my own. And thanks to Toby, I finally feel like I belong.