Is Duolingo Enough to Learn German After Moving?
Is Duolingo enough to learn German after moving? It depends on your foundation. We share what Duolingo helped with, where it fell short, and why streaks aren’t the same as real progress.
Free German Learning Tools We Used After Moving to Germany
Learning German didn’t start with fluency for us — it started with survival. This post reflects on the free tools that helped us stay afloat early on, why they mattered, and when they naturally reached their limits.
The Paid Online German Lessons We Bought, as English-Speakers
Paying for online German lessons didn’t make us learn faster — it made us more intentional. This post shares what we bought, what didn’t work at first, and why timing mattered more than motivation.
(Trying to) Learn German After Moving to Germany
Moving to Germany was overwhelming, and learning German often took a back seat. This post reflects on how we approached the language early on—gently, imperfectly, and without adding more pressure to an already full life.
How to Descale Your Keurig Duo Step by Step (With Video) ☕️
Our step-by-step Keurig Duo descaling walkthrough—carafe and single serve—how to clear the DESCALE light, how often to descale, and what to do if brewing stalls.
German Apartments: What “Move-In Ready” Really Means (and What’s Missing)
We walked into our first Neubau and found nine dangling bulbs—and not much else. Here’s what “move-in ready” really means in Germany, the hidden costs (kitchen, lighting, storage), and the practical steps to make an empty shell feel like home.
Group Apartment Viewings in Stuttgart: What to Expect for Newcomers in Germany
Our first group apartment viewing near Nordbahnhof felt like a reality show: employer name-drops, tight windows, and a race for attention. Here’s what actually happens, the costly “extras” we missed (Keller, Stellplatz), and the steps newcomers can take to prepare—and win the flat without losing their sanity.
HP Printer: How to Fix Incompatible Cartridges (After Moving from U.S. to Germany)
We brought our US-bought HP OfficeJet Pro 6978 to Germany. It rejected the 903s, which were equivalent of the 902s. Here’s what we learned, and the process to change your HP Printer’s region to accept the European ink cartridges.
Apartment Hunting in Stuttgart: Advice to North American Expats
We thought shipping our belongings from Michigan to Germany would be the hard part. It wasn’t. Finding an apartment in Stuttgart turned out to be the real challenge — from confusing “Zimmer” math to competitive group viewings that felt like auditions. Here’s what we learned (and what we wish we knew before we started).
What’s Missing in German Apartments? Why Move-In Ready Isn’t Ready at All
Moving into a Neubau in Germany taught us a hard lesson: assume nothing is included. From kitchens to lighting to closets, here’s what was missing from our apartment, how much it actually cost to fix, and what North Americans should budget before signing a lease.
German Apartment Viewings: Why They Feel Like a Reality Show
German apartment viewings can feel like a reality show, with limited time, group tours, and subtle competition for the landlord’s attention. Here’s how viewings in Stuttgart really work, the mistakes we made, and what North Americans should watch for before committing.
Kaltmiete vs Warmmiete: Understanding Germany’s Rental Prices
Kaltmiete vs Warmmiete was one of the biggest budget surprises we faced in Germany. Here’s what these rent terms actually include, how they affect your monthly and annual costs, and what North Americans should factor in before signing a lease.
Finding an Apartment in Stuttgart: What We Wish We Knew Before Moving to Germany
Apartment hunting in Stuttgart isn’t just competitive — it plays by a completely different rulebook. From “Zimmer” math to group viewings and landlord dynamics, here’s what caught us off guard and what North Americans should prepare for when renting in Germany.
Living with Klarstein Portable AC in Germany: The Good, the Bad, and the Hacks
Coming from North America, we underestimated how hard German summers would be without central AC. After two heatwaves in Stuttgart, we bought Klarstein portable AC units. This is what living with them is really like — the good, the bad, and the hacks that made them work.
Why We Finally Caved: Choosing Klarstein Portable AC Units in Germany
After two summers in Stuttgart, fans and shutters weren’t enough. We break down how we evaluated portable AC options in Germany, what mattered most to us, and why we ultimately chose two Klarstein units instead of one.
Surviving Our First Summer in Germany Without AC
Coming from North America, we underestimated how hard German summers would be without air conditioning. From sleepless nights to shutter-dark workdays, here’s what surprised us most — and why fans and rolladen weren’t enough.
The Reveal: Our North American Kitchen in a German Apartment (After Months of Patience)
Installing a kitchen in Germany took longer than we expected — delays, extra rent, and plenty of frustration along the way. But once it was finally in, everything changed. Here’s what the IKEA kitchen process in Stuttgart was really like, start to finish.
3 Surprises While Building a Kitchen in Our German Apartment (for Newcomers)
We thought designing our IKEA kitchen in Germany would be quick and digital. Instead, it involved official measurements, in-person consultations, and unexpected language barriers. Here’s what the process was really like — and why it took longer than planned.
How We Designed a North American Kitchen with a Bar Island (Using IKEA’s Planner)
Designing a kitchen in Germany starts with a blank slate. We share how Duygu brought a North American bar-island vision into a Stuttgart apartment, blending openness, function, and modern European style.
Moving to Germany? What to Know About Apartments Without Kitchens
Getting the keys to our Stuttgart apartment taught us a hard lesson: in Germany, kitchens aren’t a given. Here’s what it was like moving into a kitchen-less apartment, how much it cost to build one, and what North Americans should plan for.