Jenna, a Canadian expat living in Düsseldorf, shares her experiences navigating life, parenting, and culture in Germany. Through her websites and YouTube channels, she helps others figure out the practical and cultural challenges of moving here. We sat down with Jenna to talk about everything from bureaucracy to bed sheets — and how she came to embrace her inner “boring German.

Sigrid
Hello Jenna and welcome here.

Jenna
Hello. Thank you so much for inviting me. I’m very excited.

Sigrid
We’re also very excited to have you here. Especially because you’re an expert regarding Germany. When you first arrived in Germany, what were your first cultural shocks and how did you master them?

Jenna
The big one for many is the bureaucracy, but honestly, everyone figures that out eventually. For me, the real culture shock was all the tiny details on day one. Like, why are there two buttons on the toilet and no one explains that one is for pee and the other for poo? Or the tipping culture, creaky floorboards, oversized pillows, separate sheets on the bed—it was like being hit by a thousand little surprises all at once.

Jenna reflects on the moment she realized she had become “that German,” especially after becoming a mother.

Sigrid
After so many years in Germany, have you had moments where you thought, “I am that German now”?

Jenna
Absolutely, 100%. I even made a YouTube video called How I Became a Boring German. My son calls me boring now! It’s partly because I’m a mom with responsibilities, not because I lost my spark. I don’t laugh as much or act as loud as my Canadian self anymore. I’ve become the stereotypical organized German mom, with a calendar packed months ahead. Sometimes I sit and wonder, “What happened to you, Jenna?”

Sigrid
As a mom now, what advice do you have for families living here?

Jenna
After five and a half years of parenting in Germany, I thought I had it all figured out—until I really dived into topics like Schuluntersuchung, Gesundheitsamt, Einschulung, and the infamous Schultüte. Germany offers fantastic support and subsidies for families, but you really need to dig deep to understand what’s available and how to access it. For example, figuring out Elterngeld—the parental benefit—was so complicated, I actually hired someone to help me. My advice: don’t be stubborn like I was. Ask Germans who know their way around these systems and don’t hesitate to get help. It will make your life so much easier.

Jenna talks about her experience learning German and how motherhood motivates her to improve her skills.

Sigrid
You’re married to a German. How’s your German?

Jenna
Joa, könnte besser sein. I can speak German fluently. No problem. The only thing is, my grammar is awful. So I got to get there one day. I just figured now that I’m a mom, I might just learn with my child who’s going to the Grundschule.

Sigrid
I think I need to have a kid before that happens!

The complexities of adjusting to life in Germany, particularly the challenges of making friends and navigating bureaucracy can be overwhelming. Jenna reflects on starting Life in Germany, her initial expectations of the country and her surprise upon arriving here.

Sigrid
What inspired you to create Life in Germany?

Jenna
Oh, there’s a long way to explain this and a short way, but I’ll try to sum it up. I started with LifeinDüsseldorf.com because I had so many questions when I moved here, about visas, freelancing, making friends and found almost no English resources online. Since I had a background in travel blogging, building the site was easy. I reached out to experts to contribute blog posts, turning it into a community resource for English speakers. It went very well, much better than I expected.

I am no longer a travel writer, to say the least, but it went so well that eventually I was just getting bombarded with questions not only for this set up, but Germany in general. I was able to work with the Germany Tourism Board and travel to every single state across Germany. So I have very extensive understanding of all of the different cultures and the different types of people in Germany and what to expect, and not every city is for every person in Germany, right?

So there is definitely the right city for you. It’s just more about figuring it all out. And I thought, what better way to do that than to carry on and create Life in Germany? It’s more focused on getting these immigrants and foreigners coming into Germany and really helping them with those first steps and taking them through our welcome program so that they feel entirely comfortable in their entire journey.

Jenna discusses the typical questions she receives from newcomers, highlighting the common obstacles and practical solutions.

Sigrid
What are the questions you get asked most?

Jenna
Visas are always number one—how long processing takes, how to get residence permits. Each city is different; smaller towns often have one dedicated officer, while in big cities like Düsseldorf, it can be hard to reach anyone. One trick is to mark emails as urgent and be very clear about your situation.

Housing is another big challenge. You often need a bank account to pay rent, but many banks require an address to open an account—a frustrating catch-22. I help people find banks that don’t require an address initially.

Finally, making friends is the hardest for many. My biggest tip: build confidence. Even if you only know how to say “Hi, ich heiße Jenna,” it’s a start. Germans appreciate the effort. I was terrified to join a soccer club because I feared not understanding the language, but I wish I had just jumped in sooner.

Jenna shares how her view of Germany evolved from an idealized tourist destination to a complex, lived experience shaped by everyday challenges and personal growth.

Sigrid
How did your expectations of Germany shift once you arrived?

Jenna
Growing up in Canada, Germany was just a history textbook topic, not a place I imagined living. I thought of it mainly as a tourist destination with castles and cobblestone streets. My first year in Freiburg felt like a dream—it was exactly as I imagined. But then reality hit when we moved to Düsseldorf because of family reasons, and the bureaucracy, visa issues, and cultural differences hit hard. I had moments where I wanted to give up. Sometimes the rude encounters, like with a grumpy old man yelling at me after I helped him, really got to me.

But after ten years, my view has evolved. I understand the unspoken rules—Selbstverständlichkeiten—why Germans often say “no” and seem grumpy, but it’s not personal. There’s a whole cultural context beneath the surface. I’m grateful for my life here—the work-life balance is amazing, and overall it’s a wonderful place to live.

Favorite Topics and Ongoing Projects

Sigrid
What are your favorite topics to cover right now?

Jenna
They change as my life changes. Right now, it’s all about kids—understanding the Kita system, terms like Tagespflege, Tagesmutter, and preparing for Schultüte. I love helping parents navigate these details. In five years, I’m sure my focus will shift again.

Sigrid
What are your top recommendations for thriving in Berlin or Germany in general?

Jenna
Learning German is essential. Without the language, it’s tough to form genuine relationships, start a business, or fully engage with the community. Even simple things, like attending a Elternabend (parents’ evening), can be intimidating if you don’t speak German. Language opens doors and helps you move from surviving to thriving.

Jenna shares her favorite German word and summarizes what visitors can find on her site.

Sigrid
Do you have a favorite German word?

Jenna
I like Eichhörnchen (squirrel) because it’s cute. And the other one is, oh, I don’t even know how to say it anymore. I’ll have to save that one for another day. Something with Ochs. Let’s stick with Eichhörnchen.

Sigrid
What can people find on your website?

Jenna
Tons of info on navigating bureaucracy, finding housing, setting up life, saving money, and fun tips for exploring Germany. It’s a resource for making life here easier and more enjoyable.

Sigrid
Are Düsseldorf and Berlin very different?

Jenna
Absolutely. Berlin is huge and sometimes overwhelming, especially in winter when it feels like there’s nothing to do. Düsseldorf is smaller, more like a town—you run into neighbors and it feels cozier.

Sigrid
Thank you so much for being here. Please remind us of your web pages.

Jenna
You can find me at lifeingermany.com and lifeinduesseldorf.com, plus on YouTube under Life in Germany, and on Instagram @lifeindus and @lifeingermany_.

Sigrid
Definitely check those out. Jenna, you’ve done amazing work supporting people in their journey here. It was a pleasure having you.

Jenna
Thanks so much for having me!