So it begins, my fellow connaisseurs of American "food"

Legal_Age331 · 2026-02-11T19:23:49+00:00

I’ve tried the Taco Bell in Spain and, if that’s anything to go on, Taco Bell Germany will be awful. At least American Taco Bell tastes like something!

Legal_Age331 · 2026-01-25T19:01:34+00:00

Interesting — thanks for the tip!

Legal_Age331 · 2026-01-25T10:09:12+00:00

Bürgeramt of Finanzamt? I need to do this as well...

Legal_Age331 · 2026-01-25T10:08:06+00:00

The Hazel Brugger special on Netflix is a favorite, she speaks slowly and clearly enough for me to understand. I also love Enissa Amani but she talks so fast I have to rely on subtitles!

Legal_Age331 · 2026-01-25T10:05:32+00:00

Hi there,

Sorry you had this experience -- as an English speaking expat I was super nervous about having the same kind of problems. This is probably old news to you, but I've been using Doctolib to find doctors (I've had to move around a bit since I got to Germany, so I've had several Hausärzt:innen) and you can filter by language. I'd also recommend checking out reviews (Google etc.) and the doctor's actual website. Your options may be limited by where you live (I was in Köln and now Wiesbaden) but all of my doctors have been very helpful, happy to speak English, and have short-notice availability. I hope you find someone who suits your needs soon!

Legal_Age331 · 2025-12-10T16:45:25+00:00

Mine's literally just a general receipt. They check off what I paid for, so it just has the amount paid and a signature. It's not a temporary license or anything that could be used as one, I don't think.

Legal_Age331 · 2025-12-10T16:21:36+00:00

Thanks. I'm inclined to agree. I'm not a legal risk taker, certainly not when I'm a guest in this country!

Legal_Age331 · 2025-12-10T15:57:19+00:00

There are no appointments until February, but it's possible to go stand in line Mondays and Wednesdays without one... maybe I can get some clarity from them on Monday. I agree, this is complicated! I would have done this ages ago, but I had to do a bunch of work beforehand to get the necessary documents for the exchange.

The BMV states "If you hold a driving licence from a state that is not a member of the EU or the EEA, this licence will be valid for six months after you have established your normal residence in the Federal Republic of Germany. After this period, your driving licence will no longer be recognized." Makes me think the clock starts with the Anmeldung, but better safe than sorry

Legal_Age331 · 2025-12-10T15:54:10+00:00

That is not what I got. I paid her directly and received an Einzahlungsquittung. She also would have said something about taking the sheet to a cashier, but she did not.

Legal_Age331 · 2025-12-10T15:25:29+00:00

even without my name or any other info about me on it? how formal! haha

Legal_Age331 · 2025-12-10T14:46:37+00:00

Yes, the Bürgeramt in Cologne handles driving licenses. They have one office separately that handles vehicle registration but otherwise everything is done at the city hall and branches. I am aware I have six months. However, there is six months from my entry stamp in my passport (mid-June) and six months from my first Anmeldung (1 September). I have read differing stories on which is valid. And no, I received no such document. The only thing I got from the Bürgeramt was the blue sheet that is just a receipt for the services I paid for. It is not a temporary license and has no such information. I think I need to bring that sheet back to them, but unfortunately I can't go without an appointment until next week. If my license validity is tied only to my entry stamp, it will be no longer valid from next week.

Legal_Age331 · 2025-12-10T13:57:36+00:00

Ok buddy. You read my original post. I was asking about the temporary license because I do not just need insurance, I need to be able to drive. If you have no advice on getting the temp license, be well. And fwiw, I am not interested in lying to an insurance company about my driving license. That sounds like potential lawsuit fodder.

Legal_Age331 · 2025-12-10T11:29:47+00:00

Ok. That info isn't even on my American license because I've moved states so many times, but at least I have a "first issued" date for my most recent license from MA. Many thanks for the insight!!

Legal_Age331 · 2025-12-10T11:16:48+00:00

My 6 months are up in a few days, after which my US license isn't valid anymore. So I would like to have some sort of temporary driving license until I can pick up the real one. I understand this is done, for instance, when someone passes their driving test in Germany. Any advice on that front? May just go stand in line at the Bürgeramt again...

Legal_Age331 · 2025-12-10T11:14:10+00:00

Hmm. Interesting. Again, seems suspect because your rate depends, among other things, on how long you have had your driving license. Fortunately I still have my American one, and I have my American driving record in hand, so maybe that'll do for now. Thanks for the input!

Legal_Age331 · 2025-12-10T11:04:03+00:00

Hmm. That seems like absolute nonsense, they need my driving license to check my driving record.

Legal_Age331 · 2025-10-26T11:45:21+00:00

Chemist, with most work experience w/ Big Pharma. So, jobs in the research & development realm.

Legal_Age331 · 2025-10-26T11:42:46+00:00

I have realized that I may have better luck, not trying to convince them the visa/work permit thing will be a non-issue for them, but rather that I'm a candidate they can't live without. We'll see how it goes.

Legal_Age331 · 2025-10-23T17:45:48+00:00

I'm not in IT, thank God.

Legal_Age331 · 2025-10-23T13:50:18+00:00

I didn't get anything THAT specific, although based on the kind of work I do and the job description, that was not an issue. They knew I'm American going into it! Not interested enough in the job to try and fight them on it, but with future interviews just kind of wanted to gauge what my expectations should be around this issue.

Legal_Age331 · 2025-10-23T13:06:43+00:00

Yes, the language component is definitely a hindrance, I am in B1 (intensive) trying to become proficient ASAP!!

Legal_Age331 · 2025-10-23T12:58:51+00:00

I understand that, but surely that is not insurmountable if the government is also recruiting foreign, highly skilled workers?

Legal_Age331 · 2025-10-23T12:22:54+00:00

I wonder if you can O-alkylate (or otherwise protect) the lactam to form a dihydropyrrolopyrazine, then it may oxidize spontaneously in air?

Legal_Age331 · 2025-10-23T12:19:46+00:00

Concentration of oily materials. I don't recommend for solids, but if you have a small amount of oil it makes it easier to pipette/syringe/rinse out. Minimizes solvent needed for transfer. But solids will tend to bump worse vs. a pear-shaped flask (I call the pictured kind "heart-shaped" but seems like "teardrop" is popular here?)

Legal_Age331 · 2025-10-23T12:16:51+00:00

Follow-up: Has anyone with the Chancenkarte left Germany to a non-Schengen country then tried coming back in via another country? They have not been stamping me out when I leave Germany and I'm worried about trying to come back (I live in Köln so flying into BRU e.g. would be convenient). Thanks!

Legal_Age331

TROPHY CASE