What I Learned Working Abroad

Thriving In Unfamiliar Workplaces

After months of dedicating my existence to learning the nuances of German language and culture, I found myself unwilling to leave the wondrous capital of Berlin.

Unable to process my dread for imminent departure, I began to search for available summer internships in the land of techno music and currywurst. Within only a few short weeks, I was interviewed and hired by a jobs blog dedicated to helping people find a career in social enterprise and NGOs.

While I was excited about the opportunity, I couldn't help but feel nervous about meeting the new colleagues. I vividly recall my swirling thoughts while riding the U-Bahn to work on the first day, wondering if I had picked the right outfit and if I should introduce myself in German or English. 

It didn't take long after entering the industrial-chic Kreuzberg office to feel right at home, yet nearly every day provided an excellent learning opportunity.

While English Is Useful, It Isn't Universal

Prior to living abroad, I was vaguely aware of differences in American and British English; however, I didn't fully recognize the gap between the two. The company was pushing to expand into the UK market and through editing several SEO articles, I began noticing the subtle differences in prose. Attending a German musical called Linie 1 made this even more apparent. In the show, there were copious amounts of old Berliner slang, which they replaced with thick British colloquialisms in the subtitles projected on the sidewall. The abundance of indistinguishable phrases at times made it easier to understand the German singers than the English subtitles.

While it was fairly common to converse in English within the walls of the office, German was generally the expected communication language with partner organizations, customers, and investors. Although many people claim to get by just fine having only English abroad, I believe that you cannot truly connect with the place you are in without at least attempting to use the local vernacular. Your career and personal life abroad will certainly thank you for at least trying.

Work-Life Mentality Is Different

Best known for world-renowned efficiency, Germany (and Berlin especially) is in many ways a surprisingly laid-back place. While my colleagues were razor-focused on achieving their missions in the office, they were not opposed to taking incredibly long lunch breaks compared to the "working lunch" I am accustomed to in the United States. Most of my colleagues also pursued time-intensive passions outside of work. One was a DJ at a popular music venue, another published multiple books, and a third was incredibly involved in human rights activism across the city. To them, work was largely viewed as a means of survival rather than a defining characteristic.

Expansion Abroad Is Challenging

As stated before, the company was in the process of expanding from Germany into the UK market and clearly, there were growing pains. What grew into a business rather organically online in Germany, was not getting as much traction across the English Channel. It got to the point that a startup business counselor from Munich needed to visit and conduct team workshops. We spent days brainstorming ideas, rethinking the company's mission statement, and crafting a path forward. Although I was not present to see the results, these workshops were an extraordinary lesson in the importance of understanding the market you are entering. Cultural intelligence can truly be life or death for businesses no matter what region they enter.

It's Rewarding

While working abroad has its challenges, it is extraordinarily rewarding. Being an outsider, you can bring a fresh perspective to a team and learn immensely from your colleagues at every step. In fact, the intellectual stimulation you'll encounter while working abroad is second to none. Successfully navigating the way towards your goals feels like the ultimate accomplishment while living abroad.