I am currently running one of my “Home & Happy in Germany” courses at the prestigious Frankfurt International School, Oberursel. When I was devising the course, the questions of what is “home” and what makes us happy were, of course, at the forefront of my mind. But they aren’t as easy to answer as I’d hoped, because as with so many things, everyone has their own set of criteria for defining home, and for what makes them happy.
So I concentrated on what I believe to be the common elements that are likely to help everyone – whatever their bigger picture – to find their feet and feel at home in their current town & country of residence, and consequently to feel happy as they gain the confidence to master daily life. And one main element in my opinion is understanding – understanding how things work, how “the locals” tick, and how best to get the most out of your time here. The second key element is the feeling of “Geborgenheit”, which roughly translates as feeling cared for/safe/looked after.
Because I believe one key to success is knowledge. I remember being taught as a young work experience student that “knowledge is power”, and while at the time the context was corporate and somewhat more cynical, I do agree in principle. Because having sufficient knowledge about the place you have chosen to live gives you the power to master the challenges that daily life throws at you. 
Another snippet of wisdom I learnt as a trainee was from one of the ever-patient IT support staff, who once slightly less patiently suggested I “RTFM” (read the flipping(!) manual). And you certainly can’t argue with that advice, in theory! But sadly, there is no personalised handbook for surviving family life in Germany as a non-German speaker. Well, there wasn’t – until now. It is this gap that I aim to fill. But I knew instantly that a book was not the answer. Because that wouldn’t combat the issue of feeling isolated, lonely, or insecure. A book can’t answer questions, it can’t anticipate people’s individual situations, and it can’t reassure or encourage someone facing a specific challenge.
That is why I designed “Home & Happy” as an interactive course where people can come, meet others in the same situation, and ask all those questions they haven’t found answers to yet. At my Home & Happy courses, I aim to guide you through the maze that is family life in a new country where you don’t speak the language. We cover topics that you will encounter whilst setting up home and establishing a life here, and/or regularly throughout your time here. And every week you have the opportunity to ask questions – about what we have learnt that week, about something we talked about in a previous session, or about a situation you are facing that you need help with. That could be anything from birthday etiquette if your child has been invited to a party through what insurance cover is recommended in Germany to where to park when you go to a hospital appointment, and everything in between!
If you are interested in joining the next course or if you have any questions, please message me. Even if you’ve been here a while, if you don’t yet feel happy and at home, then this course could be just what you need.
I look forward to meeting you.