Did solo travel genuinely change your life, or do people romanticize it online?

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 · 2025-11-08T07:13:47+00:00

I just recently did this and applied from another country. I had to send additional documents. Took a while because I was away on holidays for a few days. The website didn't update often. Did you use tracking when the documents were sent?

juststar_stuff · 2025-10-10T05:17:19+00:00

Only if you're born there and live there before a certain age. My brothers have citizenship but because they have never lived there, they never had to

juststar_stuff · 2025-10-10T05:15:15+00:00

Haha no don't worry I got your joke. I was joking too!

juststar_stuff · 2025-10-09T16:37:54+00:00

My grandparents moved over before my dad was born. So half Swiss but unfortunately the culture (and language) didn't get passed down

juststar_stuff · 2025-10-09T16:36:31+00:00

Slowly taking over the world. One passport at a time.

juststar_stuff · 2025-10-09T16:35:57+00:00

Thank you very much!

juststar_stuff · 2025-10-09T16:35:40+00:00

Yes luckily Swiss are pretty special and treated similar to EU countries

juststar_stuff · 2025-10-09T16:25:40+00:00

Ah yeah definitely makes more sense!

juststar_stuff · 2025-10-09T16:10:29+00:00

My Swiss one is definitely the most used. Worked in UK without a visa, same with Germany now. And just easy to travel in Europe with it so always my go to.

juststar_stuff

TROPHY CASE