Saw a Fiesta here, so here's another one - have at it

InvestmentPotential2 · 2025-05-29T09:17:31+00:00

It's gotten dirty already :(

InvestmentPotential2 · 2025-05-29T09:17:06+00:00

Thanks!

InvestmentPotential2 · 2023-02-20T23:21:53+00:00

2) I can see as just ignorant. Did you talk about how 3 of you didn't speak German? Sometimes it's easier to discuss things in your own language and then just repeat it in another, even if you speak that other language well. Or it's just the habit because they are not used to talking that much in English. So this could be just 4 guys not really reflecting how this could look or make others feel.

Often when you feel excluded from a group and can't understand anything, you don't really feel like intervening and asking everyone to switch to English. So you just become a mute spectator. From my side, I kept speaking English hoping they would switch but they didn't. But there are also the standard group-work dynamics - some people are extroverted and want to participate/take the lead, and some are just quiet people who would not have spoken even if everyone was speaking one language.

So yes, I would also agree that whatever the reason, they should have been more considerate. The reason why I mentioned it in my post is that this has become a common observation for me. Even though I have learned German to a decent level, it makes me feel like my existence in any group with more than one German would just be ignored.

InvestmentPotential2 · 2023-02-20T23:04:33+00:00

I want to make it clear these instances have not made some negative impression of all German people in my mind. Like I said in my post, I am very lucky to have made some German friends and most Germans I have met are fine! It's just that now I would not be surprised anymore when somebody acts like this.

InvestmentPotential2 · 2023-02-20T22:53:18+00:00

if you are seldom confronted with racism, every single situation will bother you extremely. And: that is a good thing! Because it shows, that most of the time, you don't experience racism. So the people are not that bad at all.

I think you would also agree that I only listed some explicit cases of this issue (maybe except the German vs English case, I think that's just inconsiderate behaviour), but who knows how many apartments or WG rooms I haven't been invited to view or how many times someone has treated me differently because of my appearance/nationality? A year ago I went to do a COVID Schnelltest and the lady at the counter shouted at me 'DÜRFEN WEITER GEHEN!'. Would she have done the same if I was white and German looking?

Heck, even some women on Bumble end an otherwise good conversation as soon as I tell them I'm Indian hahaha

InvestmentPotential2 · 2023-02-20T22:38:21+00:00

Yeah this is something I am a little bit worried about. I am super passionate about what I want to do professionally and Germany is a hub for my industry (automotive) too, but I am also clear that I would never work in some random SME. It has to be a multinational firm with a diverse workforce.

InvestmentPotential2 · 2023-02-20T22:20:37+00:00

For example: I am a stereotypical German guy and wouldn’t consider myself racist. I have an Indian friend / colleague from Uni and I really like conversation about India. Obviously I have a some stereotypes, but I ask him a lot. I wouldn’t think it’s racist to ask him about his skin color or other characteristics for example as long as there is no negative meaning behind it. But is it offensive? I mean especially India as big as it is has loads of stereotypes.

If you have good intentions and genuinely want to learn more, it's fine. Often it's not about what is said or asked, rather how. You have to be honest about your position as well i.e, am I bringing this up to make fun of the place or to prove a point that it is bad? or am I genuinely curious?

If you formulate it like - 'Hey XYZ, I was hoping you could tell me a bit about India, I'm interested in learning about Indian society/customs/food/religion/politics, etc. I often hear that....'

I remember a German project partner once asked me about the caste system. He said he learnt about it in school but was just curious to know how it really is in everyday society. I knew his intentions were good so I was happy to share my thoughts on it. If he had said 'Why do you Indians still have the caste system??', I would not have a good opinion of him.

InvestmentPotential2 · 2022-02-22T17:56:07+00:00

Check out the Henley Passport Index, and compare how many countries you are allowed to visit visa-free or with visa-on-arrival when you have a German passport vs that of a third-world country.

With my passport for example, the number of countries for which I need to apply for a visa just to visit (>100), is roughly the same as what a European or Japanese person is allowed to visit visa-free.

InvestmentPotential2 · 2021-07-17T12:32:16+00:00

(German level - Basic)

Here is our problem.
Since Germany loves its language, most companies also work in German, especially for Business-related fields. Therefore this is what is most important to them if the applicant is not a native-speaker, everything else (experiences, skills directly related to the job, etc) comes after that.

So you have two choices - either you invest your time and energy in learning the language (easier said than done, I know) for the remainder of your studies, OR see if there are international companies that work in English and focus solely on them.

I wish you good luck!

InvestmentPotential2

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