ABOUT
Amanda Graybill is an American living in Frankfurt Germany. She grew up in southern Arizona but has had the privilege of living in various places including: New Orleans Louisiana, Washington D.C., Durban South Africa, Arusha Tanzania and most recently before coming to Germany, in Seattle Washington. She has two little boys, both of whom she had in Germany and she is a self employed Childbirth Educator and Birth Doula. She has a website: www.mindfulmamafrankfurt.com
Moving to Frankfurt
When and why did you move to Frankfurt?
We moved to Frankfurt in November 2014 for my husband’s job. Incidentally, we got married in Sept of 2014 so it was a wild few months right before we relocated.
How did you get set up?
Fortunately, my husband has some extended family not too far from Frankfurt and they were kind enough to give us some guidance regarding issues like phone plans etc. We also ended up hiring a relocation and she was really helpful with getting things like utilities etc established.
Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance?
Not really- because we came with my husband’s job, it was fairly straightforward as I recall. We just needed to choose a provider (we asked around to find out which one had the best reputation for having English speaking support) and then it wasn’t too hard to set up.
What did you bring with you?
Not much – we sold about 85% of our belongings and came with 2
suitcases each and a dog. We also purchased one small pallet that went on a ship, and arrived in January. The stuff we shipped were a few basic things and sentimental/recreational items. But since we were organizing and financing our move ourselves, we decided to sell all our furniture and start fresh once we arrived. We also kept a small storage closet in Seattle with a handful of items for a couple of years in case we came back to the states. After a few years though- we went back and donated most of it since it was clear we would be staying in Germany a while.
How did you find an apartment in Frankfurt?
We used an agency as neither of us spoke enough German to navigate the system here. It was a really good choice! Moving here is a real hassle and if you’re coming from somewhere else, it’s worth it to get a helping hand to get settled. Our agent was able to help us navigate the tricky situation of needing a bank account to apply for apartments but needing an address to get a bank account. Without her, we would have been lost! The rent on our 1st apartment was 1500 Euros for a one bedroom with a small terrace.
What should people consider before deciding to move to Frankfurt?
Of course they should consider what kind of a lifestyle they lead/are looking for and they should give Frankfurt a chance! When it comes to Germany- people tend to focus on cities like Berlin and Munich, but Frankfurt is a wonderful city. It’s a small-ish city with big city amenities! We have lots of culture, tons of green space and you can be in so many amazing places within a two-hour drive.
What specifically is Frankfurt famous for?
Frankfurt is famous for being a banking and trade city. We are the home to the Europea
central bank and you can’t attend any event without meeting folks who work in the banking
industry. We’re also home to the Frankfurter Buchmesse, which is a great event for literature
lovers! As for food- Frankfurt is famous for Grune Soße, a dish made with 7 different herbs and
served with potatoes and boiled eggs, Handkäse mit Musik which is a cow milk cheese served
with raw onions, apple vinegar and rye seeds and for Apfelwoi (Applewine) which is neither wine
nor cider…it’s a unique and refreshing drink and Frankfurters love it! We’re also famous for our
fantastic museums. Frankfurt is home to 39 world class museums and they are a great way to
spend those long rainy winter days.
How can Americans immigrate to Germany?
Good question- I married someone with a German passport so it made my process a bit easier than it might be for others. I’m not sure exactly what you would need to do to immigrate but I do know that there have been a lot of recent changes here regarding immigration and citizenship, so it’s worth asking around if you’re thinking of moving here. Two places I would recommend to start with for those questions are Vinland Immigration and if you’re moving with kids The Eltern Hub.
Living in Frankfurt
What is your favorite place in Frankfurt?
One of my absolutely favorite places in Frankfurt is the Palmengarten. It’s a gorgeous botanical garden in the middle of the city and they host concerts in the summer and other events throughout the year. I absolutely love that when I walk in there, my shoulders drop and I can feel myself relax. There is just something so lovely about being in a beautiful garden.
What is the most recent thing you’ve read in the news about life in Frankfurt?
I recently read some sad news that a local hospital is closing its labor and delivery ward. Frankfurt is a decent sized city with about 14,000 births a year. The loss of a labor and delivery ward is a real hit to expectant parents and midwives as it makes all the other hospitals even busier. It’s a real shame.
How much money do you need to live comfortably in Frankfurt?
This depends on your lifestyle. But I will say- Frankfurt is a pretty expensive city. Plan accordingly.
Can you tell us something else about Frankfurt that we might not know?
I’m not great at trivia but if you’re in town and want to learn the secrets of the city- check out a tour with Frankfurt on Foot. Anita is the best!
Do you feel safe as a woman in Frankfurt?
100%. I’ve never felt worried about coming home late at night with public transportation or with my bike. Of course, you should be safe and observe your surroundings like in any bigger city- but I absolutely feel safe here. The only exception is in the area around the main train station. It’s not the best area and I likely wouldn’t walk around there on my own in the evening.
How do Americans compare to Germans in your opinion?
There are some notable differences, for sure, and lots of things we have in common. We’re all just people doing our best- but there will be things that are frustrating or confounding when you live in a new culture. Germany is no exception.
How does Frankfurt compare to other cities in Germany?
It’s hard to say really. All the bigger cities in Germany (Berlin, Munich, Hamburg for example) all have totally different personalities. The thing that stands out to me though about Frankfurt is that it’s more of a neighborhood city. The action isn’t in the downtown core for the most part. The fun restaurants and bars are in the neighborhoods. I think that’s why it’s often overlooked as a tourist destination- you kind of need to dig a bit to get to know our city. But once you do- you’ll love it! It’s relaxed, easy to get around, lots to do, and has tons of green space. We’re also so centrally located! You can be in a different country in two hours and you can barely make it from one side of Berlin to the other in the same timeframe.
Final Thoughts
Are there any experiences there that you are particularly proud of or that surprised you?
Without a doubt, the two things that I am most proud of are learning to speak German and starting my own business. We moved here when I was 33 years old and I didn’t speak a word of German. It was November and it was cold, rainy and isolating. Finally in January, I got into an intensive class that was Mon-Friday from 8:00-12:30. I did that for about 7 or 8 months and it made all the difference. Without that, I never would have accomplished my next big step of starting my own business. Having gone through the entire pregnancy and birth experience with my 1st son, in a foreign language and a foreign culture, I learned first hand how tough that was! I remember taking my hypnobirthing class in German and only understanding about half of it and being way too nervous with my language skills to ask any questions. It was after this experience that I realized that I could use my background as a health educator to help other international families navigate their transition to parenthood as well. I went on to qualify as a Childbirth Educator and trained as a birth doula so that I could assist families like ours, that are having a baby in a foreign country, to be able to navigate that transition in English. I started Mindful Mama over 5 years ago now and I am so grateful for all the families that have welcomed
me along on their parenthood journey.
What are some disadvantages to living in Frankfurt?
The biggest one is that it’s so far away from our friends and family back in the States. We’re from the west coast and so the time difference is usually 8-9 hours and makes catching up a real challenge. As far as specific challenges to the city itself- probably traffic and parking. But I bike most places so it’s not usually too bad for me personally.
Was it easy making friends and meeting people?
It wasn’t too hard actually. Initially, the majority of my friends came from my German class and we were from all over…Brazil, Ukraine, Poland, Iran…. And then we started to attend Meetup events and events hosted by InterNations. Our friend group today is still pretty international- with a large chunk of folks being an expat married to a German, so some locals and some expats.
Thank you so much Amanda! Reading about your experience moving to Frankfurt with your family was awesome. I have actually been there several times and I love that city too! I wish you the best in your adventure there and with your business! 🙂
