Author: Tara
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How To Get Your Qualifications Recognised In Germany
Searching for work in Germany has probably already made you realise something: qualification recognition is almost definitely going to be a part of your life in Germany. How do yours stack up? Will they be accepted? Do you need to complete further training? Despite Germany’s lack of qualified professionals, there is still unfortunately a stringent…
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How To Make Connections When You feel like an Outsider
Even after four years in this city, I still feel like an outsider sometimes. I’m learning how to make connections here. At first I thought it was a language barrier and I told myself “Once my language improves it’ll be better”. Then, after reaching the high-intermediate level of German still didn’t help, I thought it…
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Australian Citizenship by Descent: What you need to know
When I gave birth to my second daughter in Germany, I was determined that she too would be an Australian citizen. Suddenly, it seemed that the most valuable thing I could give her was access to my home country, language and culture. Maybe it was all the hormones. Regardless of the reason, I fell down…
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What you need to know about Driving in Germany
Are you dreaming about speeding down the Autobahn in Germany, but unsure if you’re even allowed to drive here? I spent my first months in Germany trawling through Reddit and Facebook groups to figure out the specifics about if I could drive with my Australian driver’s license and how to exchange it for a German…
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The Cheat Sheet you Need to Shop Secondhand in Germany
There’s nothing like the thrill of shopping secondhand and finding a unique treasure. From a vintage dress to a retro record, or a unique piece of furniture, I love the experience of searching through used items and discovering a hidden gem. It’s not only friendly on the wallet but also helps reduce waste and gives…
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5 Unexpected Challenges of Raising Bilingual Children (& How to Handle Them)
Updated by Tara on October 17, 2025 Parenting is rough. Anyone who tells you otherwise is lying. But raising your child bilingually? That’s a whole new level of what on earth am I doing here?! When my family moved to Germany, my daughter effortlessly absorbed the language around her. I… well, let’s just say I’m…
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Why living abroad sucks (and how to overcome it)
Living abroad is the worst. It’s not fun. It’s not glamorous and it is most definitely not always Instagrammable. But weirdly, it gets better. Read on for the top three reasons living abroad is the worst and how I’ve overcome them. If you take away only one thing from this post, it should be this:…
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Parents get homesick too! 7 Tips to overcome homesickness
It’s the most wonderful time of the year but I just cannot be bothered! I’m cranky. The Christmas carols sound weird in German. The food is too heavy. The weather is terrible! Am I a Grinch? No. I just really miss my Christmas traditions. I’m a homesick parent abroad, doing my best to give my kids the…
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The Tips You Need To Support Homesick Kids While Travelling
Updated on 25 July, 2025 by Tara You’ve made it. You’re away. After months of planning, organising, saving and impatiently waiting – you’re finally on holiday. But not everyone’s loving it. Traveling with your children is one of the most rewarding gifts you can give them. New places, new foods, new cultures, and new adventures…
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The girl behind the blog
As a little girl, I wanted to learn every word in the world. I had no concept that there were different languages. Dressing up as an artist for the school dress-up day, I wore a beret and even had a little easel of cardboard to carry. Because the clothes were better than what I thought…
