As you get going on your integration into Germany (or even as a tourist), it’s exciting to bumble around the market, clueless what’s going on, taking it all in. At some point, about 3 months in, you’re going to want to have an easy day, where nothing is hard, and your brain can relax.
I have been there, I am still sometimes there, and I don’t know about you but I like to prepare for my down time. Over the years I’ve collected my favorite ways to make living abroad just a little bit easier sometimes.
For those settling in long term or the travelers looking for ways to use their electronics, read on.
Apps & Digital
Google Chrome – this browser is the best for customization and integration with Android phones (which are much more popular in Europe than the iPhone). With Chrome one can install extensions or apps that will sync with your phone, and provide other tools for productivity or travel.
Extensions and apps I have installed in Chrome and my phone include:
- Google Translate – the original online translator everyone knows; also comes as an app (make sure to download the German language pack to always have it available, even offline)
- DeepL – an online translator, extremely intelligent and highly accurate (comes with a pro version to switch between formal and informal cases)
- Chromecast – I haven’t had cable since I left my parents’ house and this has worked especially well since streaming really took off. I can take this anywhere in Europe and haven’t had issues.
- Pinterest – for vacation planning, new apartment planning, etc.
- Toggl – nothing to do with living abroad, I just like it a lot for work and freelancing (also has a desktop app)
- VPN – a VPN is a Virtual Private Network and is best described as your own “tunnel” that hides your identity, your login point and other geo-centric data about your internet connection. I use Nord as it has a good 3 year deal, though I haven’t had to actually use it much, occasionally for banking.
- TripIt – I have been a customer for over ten years, I love this app. It can be set up to automatically scan email addresses and will compile reservations and organize them into itineraries. There is a free and a pro version, and this is one of a few apps I happily pay for (see if your credit card offers a free pro membership!)
A note on Hola – a Chrome extension. You may come across this too good to be true service in your VPN search. With one click, you can change your IP to another country (like a VPN). This is a type of geo-centric specific VPN and I was super excited to discover this and used it for a few years as it was too easy. However, a discovery was made that this service uses your computer’s internet connection to make one giant P2P botnet that could be used for less than legal purposes (article). In a nutshell, I do not recommend its use anymore unless you’re positive you can secure and protect your computer. I miss it a lot :(.
Physical Devices
Cell phones – it used to be that cell phones would not cross borders, but all that has changed. Should you, for some reason, have a phone from the early 2010’s, it’s probable it won’t work here. A phone from 2017 or later is a safe bet to work. I wrote much more in depth here.
Voltage Converters and Plug Adapters – when I first traveled abroad, I borrowed an awesome set of plug adapters from a friend and never gave it too much thought from there.
What I needed to learn when I first started out however is there is a huge difference between a plug adapter and a voltage converter. I learned this lesson in my bathroom in Dubai when my hair straightener started smoking a few seconds after turning it on.
Cell phone chargers, for example, are 110v/240v compliant (look at the fine writing on the plug in) and don’t need the converter.
What size voltage converter do you need? Use one that is approximately double that amount of volts of the total output of your electronic device (see especially: air conditioning units, use the max amount to include cycling on power).
Desktop Computers – not everyone has these anymore, but in case you do (I do), it was a pleasant surprise to find a simple switch on my power unit to go from 110 to 220.
Below are my favs (some still in use several years later!) for living and traveling with mixed electronics.
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