Julia Galster, 21 years old, hometown — Kaliningrad, choreographer, @life_in_de
About moving
I live in Germany for the fourth year, and I have tried to move by three different programs. At first by Au Pair program, after which I went to language courses, applied as a late immigrant, and I had a call.
Besides my parents 20 years ago under the same program here also moved my relatives. You need to have German roots for this. My father's military ID says he's German by nationality. That's why we moved.
First, you need to make a request and we have been waiting for a year. Then two more years we waited for the answer and an invitation.
The advantage of moving with family is that only one family member needs to take a language test to B1 level. For others, the A1 level is enough. Also, the family get a large apartment and paid benefits for children. In Germany, the child's parents get 200 euros per month before he/she turns 25 years old.
About resettlement programs
There are several possible ways to move to Germany. First, move for work, but you have to be a qualified specialist with the appropriate education. The easiest way is for programmers as there is not enough of them in Germany.
Many people come here to study, but the Russian 11 classes are not suitable for the German education system. You need to pass a year of classes to study at the university. It is better to university not to be private. You need to know at least English if you don't know German.
To easily obtain citizenship, you need to pick up a document confirming your departure.
About Germany
It is comfortable to live in Germany, there is good social support from the state. We helped by payments, and the state has fully paid for the apartment. Social support money is even enough for food, clothing and other expenses.
It is comfortable to live in Germany, there is good social support from the state
About difficulties
The difficulty in moving with relatives is that you are tied to the apartment. You will have to go through the paperwork and pay a certain amount for the apartment If one of the family members did not learn the language and did not find a job and the other one has already done everything.
There are no difficulties in moving if all family members are interested and ready to start from scratch.
Danil Kvashnin, 26 years old, hometown — Stary Oskol, civil engineer
About moving
My relatives simultaneously issued citizenship to us when they moved to Germany under the resettlement program. I received a German passport at the Consulate of Moscow when I was 18 years old.
My family is slowly moving here after me. I am in Germany for the ninth year and seven people from my family moved here during this time.
About resettlement programs
There are standard language courses in Germany for those who moved.
I would advise learning the language before moving, to know it at least at the household level
I also know about the program of late immigrants and Au Pair. But they need to do a lot to stay in Germany.
I would advise learning the language before moving, to know it at least at the household level. Knowledge of English is also a plus. Many companies in Germany take on a job just because you know English.
About Germany
I like that in Germany work is well paid. An educated person will get a good salary here. I'm still studying to be an engineer, but I can already work in a construction company and get paid.
There are well-functioning workers' unions. They will help to solve issues with employers. The trade unions in Russia do not really help ordinary people.
In terms of development, education and people, Germany is not much different from my home region.
The Russian-speaking direction is developing at the university where I study. Faculties in English are opening for students from the former Soviet Union.
Germany has a developed system of bureaucracy. Every week come different letters, insurance, bills and so on. All this needs to be tracked and stored. You need to pre-register, call and arrange to come somewhere.
About difficulties
I didn't know the language when I moved. Since I have a technical mindset, languages are not easy for me. German is a simple language if you approach it correctly. But you need at least two years.
German is a simple language, if you approach it correctly
I had to confirm my school education after I had learnt the language. I had to study for another three years. And after I graduated from high school in Germany, I got the status of an applicant and entered the university.
Anastasiya Kolpakova, age 28, hometown — Kaluga
About moving
In 2000 I moved here with my parents when I was 9 years old. We moved with my mother's parents, my grandparents, as my grandfather's ancestors were Germans. When late immigrants come here, they are distributed to hostels called "Heim".
The advantages of moving with the family are that you always have someone 3,000 kilometres away from home
We had to leave a lot of things in Russia or give to someone. We stored important things in the apartment at the grandmother. And we sold our apartments to have money for the first time. First of all, we bought a car in Germany, and it is difficult to live here without transport.
The advantages of moving with the family are that you always have someone 3,000 kilometres away from home. It gives power.
About Germany
In the 90s it was difficult to live in Kaluga because the salary wasn't paid for a long time. Therefore, we were surprised by the standard of living here when we moved. For me, it was like two different worlds.
Everything is different in Germany the weather, people, mentality. I'm used to living in Germany.
About difficulties
Moving here as a child is not so difficult than as an adult.
They teach better here in high school, but in elementary school, the Germans are a little behind
The education system in Russia and Germany is different. They teach better here in high school, but in elementary school, the Germans are a little behind. I quickly learned the language, probably in the eighth grade I already spoke without an accent. Many people do not even believe that I came from Russia because German has become my native language.
At first, it was difficult for my father to get used to, to find a job because the language wasn't easy for him. Things are different now. Since he found a good job, they go to rest in different countries, bought an apartment, a car and live a normal European life.
