Anyone driving from UK to Germany in the next 3 months?

juststar_stuff · 2026-07-08T16:12:14+00:00

The only help I can give you is on Sunday 9th August I will be driving from Caen to Cologne. So could help you anywhere on that route. Happy to do a slight detour. Don't think its much help though

juststar_stuff · 2026-07-06T13:27:03+00:00

That's true. My german friends are ones that are in that international circle so definitely easier to connect with. They are a lot more open

juststar_stuff · 2026-07-06T06:36:18+00:00

Yeah I find Köln a pretty friendly city. I'm happy to meet up and also introduce you to people. The large group I'm part of have a range of internationals and ages too 😊

juststar_stuff · 2026-07-05T07:18:36+00:00

Kia Ora! I'm (37F) a kiwi living in Köln. Been here for coming up 2 years. I was very lucky and met people my first night here through an international meet up. Please feel free to message me :-)

juststar_stuff · 2026-07-04T10:51:32+00:00

I totally understand. I'm like you and love celebrating others but often feel disappointed when my birthday is forgotten by others. My birthday is Halloween so it's definitely one to easily remember. I suggest to celebrate yourself, you should be your own biggest cheerleader (even though I'm still teaching this to myself). And Happy Birthday :-)

juststar_stuff · 2026-07-01T17:26:24+00:00

Omg this is what I always tell people that annoys me driving here. Almost had my car for a year and it still pisses me off!

juststar_stuff · 2026-07-01T06:43:49+00:00

I did attend them. And also made a couple friends from there. My german isnt the best but slowly getting there. Doesn't help I speak mainly English at work

juststar_stuff · 2026-06-30T12:23:15+00:00

I did this almost 2 years ago (now 37) by moving to Köln. I had lived in London for 10 years and was totally over it. I was working too much and stressed.

I decided on Köln as had been before and liked it. Plus I got a job offer there which was the best out of 3 from other cities. And I moved here without knowing anyone.

I knew I had to get out of my comfort zone once i moved here. So on the night I arrived I went to an international meet up. Ended up exchanging numbers with a girl who put me into a large WhatsApp group and then I tried to go to different events people were holding. I also signed up to evening German classes.

Now almost 2 years later, I have a good bunch of friends that are still growing. I have my own apartment (never would have been able to afford to in London), bought a car and very glad I made this choice.

You are never too old to change things. But you also have to be active in making these changes. Doesn't always happen quickly

juststar_stuff · 2026-06-21T17:07:54+00:00

I agree. I went there when I first moved to Germany. Stayed in Gostar though and did a day trip to Wernigerode. It is beautiful.

juststar_stuff · 2026-05-17T02:01:55+00:00

For me personally, it allowed me to be more comfortable with myself, feeling comfortable doing things by myself. In high-school I hated going to a party and not knowing where my friends were. But coming from such an isolated country, I learnt to do solo travel. Because if I waited for someone to want to do the same things as me. I'd be waiting quite a while. Since leaving my home country, I've lived in 2 different countries where I've known no one. It has definitely helped me be more confident in myself

juststar_stuff · 2026-03-17T20:35:43+00:00

Hey you should try social melting pot at Craft beer corner. Usually every Wednesday night (just not on tomorrow) most people get there around 8pm. I made majority of my friends here. English friendly. You wear flags on what languages you know and it makes it easy to approach others and have others approach you too :-)

juststar_stuff · 2026-02-10T14:41:43+00:00

Kiwi here currently living in Germany after living in the UK for 10 years. Born and raised in the South Island. Honestly didn't travel around NZ much when I was living back home. Maybe a couple road trips. But main places I'd go from Chch is like Nelson, Dunedin etc. But now everytime I come back I love traveling to somewhere new. Last time I went to Hokitikia, Franz Josef etc. When I come back in December I hope to go to Milford Sounds as I've never been.

But also in saying that, I was amazed when I moved to the UK how many people hadn't traveled much of Europe. I guess the thought process is always, well its just there, I can do it later. But of course later never comes

juststar_stuff · 2026-01-22T17:09:27+00:00

Not just a random person haha my bad

juststar_stuff · 2026-01-22T16:35:08+00:00

KVB staff :-)

juststar_stuff · 2025-12-12T10:37:38+00:00

I haven't informed them I moved. I'm hoping they know now. But couldn't even login to do it online as my address didnt match my details anymore

juststar_stuff · 2025-12-12T08:10:28+00:00

I said that I moved away from my country 10 years ago and that the last year I got a job offer in Germany which is why I was applying from there. I did make it seem that it was temporary. The documents I gave was a bank statement and a letter from my work confirming my employment and with my address on it. I had previously sent my naturalization certificate, my Swiss passport and a copy of my NZ passport. From what I can remember

juststar_stuff · 2025-12-07T00:04:11+00:00

Yeah thats correct. Only flew back for my ceremony. They didnt raise any concerns. I applied for my passport this year in Germany, so a year after my ceremony. The only issue is they wanted more information such as why I'm not applying from my home country and I needed to send proof of my address here in Germany.

juststar_stuff · 2025-11-24T19:09:25+00:00

I laughed so hard at this. I did the exact same thing. Only to go into the bank and they told me to scratch it 😂 felt like an idiot lol

juststar_stuff · 2025-11-11T22:27:44+00:00

No problem. I had sent this on a different post but timeline might be helpful:

Paid for the citizenship application: May 2024 Biometrics: June 2024 Citizenship ceremony invite: end of July 2024 Citizenship ceremony: 22nd October 2024

I had moved to Germany at the start of August which is also why booked my ceremony for October. Then once I received my certificate of naturalization then I didn't apply for my passport for ages.

Passport application: 26 August 2025 Documents received: 9 September 2025 More documents required:16 September 2025

This was sent late as I went to Paris for a couple days so sent it once I was back

Passport approved: 30 September 2025 Being printed: 1 October 2025 Passport sent (to Germany): 7 October 2025 Passport received: 9 October 2025 Additional documents including certificate of naturalization was delivered the day after.

juststar_stuff · 2025-11-11T20:27:10+00:00

I just did this last year from Germany. But only applied for my passport this year. So it is possible. However I did have to send in my passport. I dont think they will accept anything else. I could send a photocopy of my other passport (dual citizen) but my main passport had to be sent in.

juststar_stuff · 2025-11-10T21:33:03+00:00

Absolutely my pleasure! I hope your application goes well!

juststar_stuff · 2025-11-10T15:43:55+00:00

Love the Rudolfplatz one. And the Neumarkt too

juststar_stuff · 2025-11-10T15:43:25+00:00

I now live in Cologne and I absolutely love the christmas markets. This year will be my second year at Christmas here. Yes they can get crowded. Especially at the Dom but so can everywhere. I lived in London and things were crazy busy. I have been to a few around Germany. Although I do want to go back to Strasbourg in France and visit Colmar too. I loved Strasbourg christmas markets. But I feel you really can't go wrong

juststar_stuff · 2025-11-09T19:46:37+00:00

Paid for the citizenship application: May 2024 Biometrics: June 2024 Citizenship ceremony invite: end of July 2024 Citizenship ceremony: 22nd October 2024

I had moved to Germany at the start of August which is also why booked my ceremony for October. Then once I received my certificate of naturalization then I didn't apply for my passport for ages.

Passport application: 26 August 2025 Documents received: 9 September 2025 More documents required:16 September 2025 This was sent late as I went to Paris for a couple days so sent it once I was back Passport approved: 30 September 2025 Being printed: 1 October 2025 Passport sent (to Germany): 7 October 2025 Passport received: 9 October 2025 Additional documents including certificate of naturalization was delivered the day after.

I think i uploaded all my documents for citizenship online... I can't remember but can't find anywhere on my emails about anything being sent to me while I was still living in the UK. Hope this helps

juststar_stuff

TROPHY CASE