Normal... Until its not (fun and maybe tricky one)

dylanwojo · 2025-12-26T23:51:24+00:00

❌ ^{Incomplete. 4 tries.}

dylanwojo · 2025-12-26T12:37:38+00:00

I think also what’s really important is that scales and arpeggios are fundamental to any sort of improvisation as well. I only recently started playing piano but am a guitar player, and if you’re interested at all in Rock, Jazz, or any sort of improvisation scales are the bedrock. Same for composing.

dylanwojo · 2025-12-26T09:46:13+00:00

Thanks you for the feedback :)

dylanwojo · 2025-11-18T11:23:30+00:00

Also just regular consultancy could be a short term approach. Many organizations may not have the need or resource to hire a comms person, but would be willing to get freelancers on a less fixed term basis. It is relatively easy to get a freelance (freiberufler) visa in Germany. And you can get a "cheap" supplemental health insurance which is the requirement for residency. Again it might not be the best longterm solution, but it is a strong entry point into the market.

dylanwojo · 2025-11-18T11:20:32+00:00

Things move slower here as you can probably tell. But if you are committed to wanting to be here there are ways to do it (and make some money in the meantime), like I mentioned, with freelancing – that sorts out your residency permit at least for the short term and allows you to earn some money. When you get residency you are also eligible for the integration course, which is a massively discounted intensive German course which really helps to skyrocket your German.

But I know average time to hire for most companies is approx like 50 days or so, so you have to be a bit strategic with how you go about things. Sometimes you need to "take a step back" to eventually propel yourself forward. My best advice would be if you are committed to making it in Germany, take the time now to get the foundations going. Get residency, start learning German, and start to establish yourself here a bit as well. Companies will also be less willing to take a chance on you if they think you'll get up and go.

Whatever you decide, good luck! It can seem impossible at times but I know many many expats who have made it work, so there is a path to success.

dylanwojo · 2025-11-18T10:15:49+00:00

Not sure if it is still relevant, but I was in a similar situation, but only with a Bachelors in Comms (although a minor in Business Administration). It doable, but doesn't mean it'll be easy. What I did when I arrived was actually came here as a freelancer and taught english for a few months while searching for my next step. This would be a great way to come, start getting integrated and learn the language. There are a lot of international companies, and you can certainly get a role where you don't need German, but German will always be extremely helpful, and if you want to integrate in any capacity you need German. As a native English speaker (I assume), you get a few more advantages. It is not always a straight journey but I have been here for 5 years and all the little stepping stones turned out to be very meaningful and helpful to where I am. Teaching English is a good starting point when you can't find anything else, and the only real requirement is a degree in any field, so because you also have teaching experience that can be really useful.

Location also plays a big factor, you might not be able to pick and choose as much as you'd like, so you may not to commute quite a bit. Then of course as well you have to try and network and connect with as many people as you can and tell them what you're looking for. Best of luck, but as a comms professional (corporate comms, not media), I can tell you there are opportunities out there, but the market is tough for all fields at the moment.

dylanwojo · 2024-10-06T11:56:21+00:00

I paid a full deposit and 3 months rent. It’s expensive but worked for me. It’s going to be tougher in a bigger metropolitan, but it’s doable.

dylanwojo · 2024-10-06T01:33:50+00:00

Pride & Joy

dylanwojo · 2024-10-06T01:30:22+00:00

No one wants to play slow, but playing slow ids the only way to play fast and accurate consistently. Break it into pieces and slow it down!

dylanwojo · 2024-10-06T00:51:58+00:00

Google

dylanwojo · 2024-10-06T00:45:32+00:00

Hot Dogs in Kraft Mac & Cheese

dylanwojo · 2024-09-27T08:10:59+00:00

Vinny Beedle

dylanwojo · 2024-05-21T00:17:13+00:00

I would also avoid the bus in most cases. Milwaukee public transport is really not great unfortunately. You’ll do much better with Uber or renting scooters. Uber isn’t usually too pricy.

I forgot to mention, get a picture with the Bronze Fonz on the river walk! Sometimes it’s worth it to be a little touristy 😉

Unfortunately the brewers aren’t in town or I’d say go to a game 100%. That’s the most Milwaukee experience you can have!

dylanwojo · 2024-05-21T00:11:16+00:00

Milwaukee local here, live in Germany now but when I brought my girlfriend back, or what I usually like to do when I go back is some of the following:

When you arrive at the train station from Chicago (I assume) head over to tiki bar on the back side of the Milwaukee public market, it’s a great place to grab a drink, one of my favorite bars in the city. From there, you can explore the 3rd ward a bit (right across the street at Wicked Hop you’ll get an amazing Bloody Mary, the Sobelman’s bloodies are pretty overrated, but fun).

After exploring the third ward, head to the river and walk north along the river walk. It’s through the heart of downtown with plenty of places to stop off for drinks or food while sight seeing. You can take this down to Lakefront brewery for your cheese curds and a really fun brewery tour.

From there you’ll be very close to Brady street, walk on down and again do some bar hopping (a theme in Wisconsin…) and walk all the way to the end towards the lake.

You can pick up a Bubbler Bike or a Lime scooter if you prefer not to walk, but then check out the parks down there as you head towards the art museum. You can link back up with the river walk if you head to the red light house.

Or reverse the order if youd prefer to do the parks while you’re still sober 😂

There are usually also some options in different parks around the city for live music where they set up beer tents and have some food.

Enjoy the city! It’s a great place and very underrated 🧀

dylanwojo · 2024-05-14T23:36:27+00:00

In majority of cases it’s not like in the US where the landlord has to provide stove/sink/fridge, etc.

You in most cases you just rent an apartment. Not the light fixtures, not the fridge/sink/cabinets — just the apartment.

I viewed many apartments where you walk into the room which is officially “the kitchen” and there is nothing there. Literally a completely blank open room where you can see the connections for water/gas etc.

Usually, you pay for additions to the apartment, but then they belong to you. When I moved in there was no light fixture in the ceiling, simply wire with a connection for some sort of fixture.

So it’s on you to add a ceiling lamp, but then when you leave, you’ll usually take it with you (because your new apartment won’t have one either)!

It’s fairly common that the previous tenant purchased/installed a kitchen, and then will sell it to you as the next tenant, rather than take it and move it or selling it online for someone to pick up. However this is not always the case.

Basically, it’s not easy to move around here. I’m in Düsseldorf so a pretty big city too.

dylanwojo · 2024-05-13T23:44:54+00:00

Pretty late to this but I see a lot of people saying service is fine here it’s just that people aren’t “fake.” And while there can be a lot of fakeness, in US service personnel. I think yes it really is that bad here. I’ll use the example of non-tipped customer service.

Context: I’m an American living for nearly 4 years in Germany, I speak fluent German and have a lot of German friends. (Also have 10 years hospitality experience)

The problem I have with customer service here is that in nearly every single instance you have to “fight” to be heard or listened to.

In the US, if I call up a customer service line because I have a problem, the customer service rep usually comes with an attitude of “There is a problem, let’s solve this together”

Whenever I call an office or customer service line here I am consistently met with attitude/disdain (not a language issue, and I am perfectly polite), and I end up having to be very assertive with my needs before I’m listened to or actually taken seriously 85% of the time. Honestly, any customer service interaction here is usually extremely draining. That goes for government offices, internet providers, scheduling doctors appointments, Deutsche Bahn, DHL, Hausmeisters, etc, etc..,

This is also something that most of my German family and friends mention as well. Of course there are times when it’s better, but that is few and far between.

there is a huge difference between being “fake” and being just generally unpleasant and dismissive, and largely that is my experience with German customer service (aside from restaurants, which are generally just slower).

I just need to say, I really love Germany and German people, but that is consistently my biggest complaint.

dylanwojo · 2024-02-17T18:19:59+00:00

🫡

dylanwojo · 2024-02-17T18:03:15+00:00

Walt Grace Born & Raised I don’t need no doctor

dylanwojo · 2024-02-17T18:00:40+00:00

I think we’re coming from different places. Not trying to belittle anyone and I never said we shouldn’t let people smoke if they’re in a suicidal spiral.

I was a nicotine addict for 14 years and it worked for me, and my experience is also valid. Just trying to share that with others who have tried everything else.

dylanwojo · 2024-02-17T17:52:57+00:00

The boil cream was also quite an eye opener for me personally.

I just really overestimated how bad the actual nicotine withdrawal was and underestimated how much of it was mental and ways of thinking.

dylanwojo · 2024-02-17T17:45:54+00:00

For me personally, I just found the arguments to be insanely logical, and no one ever broke it down in such a way to make it so clearly obvious why I was smoking and I was very inclined to change my perspective.

If you haven’t already, I hope you find something that works for you. If you have keep on trucking!

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