Join us every second Thursday of the month for an easygoing online get-together created especially for South Africans living in Germany. Whether you’re newly arrived or have years under your belt, this is a space to connect, share, and feel a little more at home.
🕗 20:00 – 21:00 | Topic Session
Each month, we explore a theme that matters — life in Germany, cultural quirks, work, family, identity, food, language, or simply the shared realities of living far from home. Expect honest conversation, lived experience, and the occasional laugh that hits a little close to home.
🕘 From 21:00 | Open Circle
After the topic session, we switch to a relaxed open circle. No agenda, no pressure. Stay, leave, or just listen in. This is where stories wander, friendships form, and the evening takes on its own rhythm.
💻 Platform: Google Meet
To keep things running smoothly, we’ll use two Google Meet sessions (Google allows one hour per session):
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Session 1: Topic discussion
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Session 2: Open circle
Meeting links will be shared before the event.
| Month | Topic | Focus & Talking Points |
|---|---|---|
| January | New Year, New Country (Again) | Fresh starts, old habits, and why Germany can still feel new after years. Goals, routines, winter survival, and realistic resolutions (no, you won’t become a morning person). |
| February | Love, Loneliness & Long-Distance Everything | Partners back home, families far away, friendships in limbo. Romance, homesickness, and how we keep connections alive across continents. |
| March | German Bureaucracy: Tell Me Your Worst Story | An instant crowd-pleaser. Ausländerbehörde trauma, forms that multiply overnight, and survival tips we only learn the hard way. |
| April | Easter, Traditions & Doing Things “The Old Way” | How German holidays differ from SA ones — and which traditions we stubbornly keep. Faith, family, food, and why hot cross buns still matter. |
| May | Work Culture Shock | Direct feedback, punctuality worship, and “no small talk” meetings. Office life, freelancing, job hunting, and staying professional without losing your warmth. |
| June | Raising Kids Between Two Cultures | Languages, discipline, school systems, and identity. For parents, future parents, and the quietly curious — always a rich conversation. |
| July | Summer Freedom & Travel Dreams | School holidays, travel hacks, camping culture, and why Germans love rules even on holiday. Where we go, where we wish we were, and how summer softens everything. |
| August | Identity: Where Is Home Now? | A deeper, quieter month. Are we South African? German? Both? Neither? And why this question sneaks up on you years later. |
| September | Food, Braais & Cultural Cravings | What we miss, what we’ve adapted, and what Germany actually does well. Recipes, substitutions, braai stories, and emotional eating confessions. |
| October | Language Fails & Funny Moments | A lighter one again. Embarrassing German mistakes, misunderstood phrases, and moments where laughter saved the day. |
| November | Mental Health, Darkness & Staying Grounded | Short days, long thoughts. Seasonal blues, motivation dips, and the quiet strength of community. |
| December | Year-End Reflections & Gratitude | What this year taught us, what we’re proud of, and what we’re letting go. A warm close — part storytelling, part collective exhale. |