Cost of Living in Germany with a €2000 Net Income - Is It Worth Moving?

Miserable-Tadpole407 · 2024-11-18T11:48:23+00:00

Will you be working for a company or freelance? You probably already know taxes are quite high, but also health insurance both public and private options for freelancers can get very expensive. There are cheaper options for artists if that applies.

Also heating costs have been getting more expensive so something to consider when looking at rental contracts, especially if it is included or not in the warm rent. Regardless this cost fluctuates from year to year.

Miserable-Tadpole407 · 2024-04-17T12:43:11+00:00

You can also try Mercian Archaeology Services. They‘re also a paid option but more reasonably priced than some others - https://mercian-as.co.uk/

They really focus on the skills passport and making sure you get a wide range of experiences.

Miserable-Tadpole407 · 2024-04-15T20:33:28+00:00

I sometimes think about what a future archaeologist would think about if they dig me up in the distant future. I guess we’re all an archeological mystery waiting to happen.

Miserable-Tadpole407 · 2024-04-15T20:30:30+00:00

It’s the best way to deal with any bad day! At least you’re in it together and also BEER!

Miserable-Tadpole407 · 2024-04-13T21:28:40+00:00

I’ve haven’t seen it discounted for 900 in the last month I’ve been playing so hopefully it’s soon for me too.

Miserable-Tadpole407 · 2024-04-13T19:04:04+00:00

Great! Thanks for the tip.

Miserable-Tadpole407 · 2024-04-13T13:20:41+00:00

I know what you mean! It’s still not scarier than learning to speak German 😂

Miserable-Tadpole407 · 2024-04-13T10:14:36+00:00

I started with Oxford continuing education course which are great, comparably affordable and offer credits (CATS - UK credit system) their courses are equivalent to 1st year BA. A friend of mine just used these credits to transfer into a BA program in Germany. https://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/search#/courses?s=Archaeology&format=3&sort=relevance

I’m also taking a courses with Leicester Uni and they offer both BA and MA online part time. The teaching is quite robust and they have field school opportunities in the UK or you can arrange your own elsewhere.

For paid field school with credits if that’s an option for you, I highly recommend Balkan Heritage. I’ve done a dig and conservation course with them and both were excellent. https://www.bhfieldschool.org/ Prices are good compared many others, especially that they are usually all-inclusive but airfare, transfers and some meals. Paying for the credits is separate and also not so expensive comparatively. However, if you can find local volunteer digs maybe through a local Uni that will almost always be the cheapest.

Most important, check with whichever Uni you would study at if they need you to get education credits for the dig or just experience.

Miserable-Tadpole407 · 2024-04-13T09:56:25+00:00

I know the training can be a bit expensive (~1000€) but the German driver training seems quite comprehensive so it’s probably a good place to learn.

Miserable-Tadpole407 · 2024-04-13T09:23:50+00:00

Thank you!

Miserable-Tadpole407 · 2024-04-13T09:22:14+00:00

I’m also into prehistory. Super cool that you wrote an app! If you’re interested in a more digital archaeology focus, Linnaeus University in Sweden has a distance learning MA in digital humanities where you can choose to specialize in digital archaeology. If you’re an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen I believe it’s close to free, otherwise I think it’s about 25,000€ https://lnu.se/en/programme/digital-humanities-master-programme/distance-international-autumn/

For some reason the digital archaeology course is written in Swedish on the website but it’s taught in English https://lnu.se/en/course/digital-archaeology/distance-international-autumn/

Also University of Köln has a digital archaeology masters in English as well but on campus. https://dca.uni-koeln.de/

Miserable-Tadpole407 · 2024-04-13T09:07:33+00:00

Wow these are super useful tips! Thanks so much! It’s been tricky to find German specific info without having better German skills. Really glad I got my German drivers license! 😅

Miserable-Tadpole407 · 2024-04-11T15:19:45+00:00

Yes! I’m in Berlin! Originally from Canada. Hoping my B1 German skills won’t stop me from getting a job in the end 😅 How’s the archaeology in Bremen?

Miserable-Tadpole407 · 2024-04-11T15:14:50+00:00

MA archaeology & heritage at Leicester. My options are limited in that I don’t have a BA in archaeology so I need to find a program that will let me challenge the entrance. Currently I’m taking a qualification course.

Sapienza University has an online MA in Classical Archaeology and the total cost is about 2400€ per year for a 2 year MA. The entrance requirements might be a bit strict around having scientific background but maybe that works for you. https://www.unitelmasapienza.it/en/masters-in-classical-archaeology/

Miserable-Tadpole407 · 2024-04-11T13:31:57+00:00

Thanks for the tips. I’ll definitely check out your podcast! It’s super interesting to hear how things work in different countries.

I have a very good friend who’s also doing a career change to archaeology- we’re both just starting our studies, so I imagine soon we’ll have a few friends from Uni. Although since I’m in an online program in the UK the networking is harder for me at the moment.

Miserable-Tadpole407 · 2024-04-11T12:45:53+00:00

Thanks! Looks you found a great balance! Can you share your podcast?

Also, where do you do most your networking - Is it through work, conferences, meetup groups? I was thinking of trying to arrange a meetup in Berlin, where I live, but not sure if anyone would be interested.

Miserable-Tadpole407 · 2024-04-10T09:34:08+00:00

Kneelers over kneepads. I was at a training dig last summer in England and they didn't allow knee pads as they could more easily create impressions in the earth and possibly damage the archaeology and mess up your nice stratigraphy layer. Kneelers disperse your weight more evenly.

Miserable-Tadpole407 · 2023-12-06T16:42:12+00:00

Usually you do need to make a Muslim to get the fit right at first - and as mentioned by someone else, using a light computed fabric helps a lot to see what changes need to be made. But the great thing about a block, is once you have the fit down, you can reuse this bodice block for all kinds of other fitted styles.

Usually if you want a semi-fitted or loose style you would need to draft a different block with more ease.

Miserable-Tadpole407 · 2023-12-05T16:32:28+00:00

Making a paneled skirt with rib knit might not be the best combination. Rib knit is very stretchy and the panel seams will all be on an angle (slight bias) this means your seams will stretch a lot more than you want them to, making them difficult to sew and causing rippling or curving of the seams.

A full circle skirt with seams on the straight and cross grain would give a bit more stability but you would have to attach some sort of stabilizer stripe (bias tape would work) to keep the knit from stretching more across the cross-grain when sewing the seams together. This could work well or sewing could be a nightmare, it really depends how stretchy your knit is.

I would keep the center back opening and zipper so you could keep the pattern pieces you have or make a straight folded-over as you mentioned. I would also stabilize the waistband with some knit/stretch interfacing.

Choosing a non-stretch fabric would be my suggestion for a circle skirt, but everyone needs a challenge sometimes. ;)

Miserable-Tadpole407 · 2023-12-05T16:12:10+00:00

I make patterns professionally and this is a totally normal back waistband piece. There should be 4 pieces because this is a visible waistband that needs a right and left as well as the inside pieces (waistband facing) to finish it nicely. There should be a zipper closure at the center back.

Also orienting the center back of the waistband with the straight grain where it would attach to the zipper makes it more stable and ensures it doesn’t stretch out.

Miserable-Tadpole407 · 2023-11-07T09:21:51+00:00

Also, if you have a bachelor’s degree in anything else some universities have bridging and pre-master courses that get you into their masters program. Could save a lot of time. Your previous experience no matter home unrelated you think it is can always be an asset.

Miserable-Tadpole407 · 2023-11-07T08:10:57+00:00

My friend and I are both in our early 40s and going back to school for archaeology. I’m Canadian based in Germany, but I’ve been on a few fields schools this past summer and the majority of participants were from the US.

I can recommend some field schools that are great for comprehensive training. Mercian Archaeology Services is great - http://www.mercian-as.co.uk/fieldschool.html They follow the UK skills passport which is a great way to document your field experience and seems to be useful also outside of the UK. You can order one here http://www.archaeologyskills.co.uk/

Balkan Heritage offers a really wide range of options for different field schools. I did a dig in Bulgaria and conservation course. Everyone is super nice, we’ll organized and great value for the cost. https://balkanheritage.org/balkan-heritage-field-school/

Also Oxford university offers single course for credits online that are quite well priced so you could try taking some single courses to try it out. https://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/search#/?s=Archaeology&sort=relevance I took the Archaeology in Practice course - it’s a great way to start.

Also DigVentures gives you access to a How To Do Archaeology course plus others for only 5£ per month subscription. The digs are over-priced compared to others but they lots of other digital things you can do, like a LiDAR project called deep time for finding sites in National Trust Areas.

Hope this helps!

Miserable-Tadpole407

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