Germany Changed Me – The Story Comes Full Circle (Part 2 with Perrine)
Episode #0031
“I love France even more when I live abroad.” That line from Perrine might just sum up the beautiful contradiction of expat life—how it stretches you, challenges you, and somehow brings you closer to home.
In Part 2 of our talk, we continue Perrine’s journey—one that winds from the snowy sidewalks of Montreal to the orderly trams of Munich, and finally to Stuttgart, where love, language, and learning shaped a whole new chapter.
Three Days, No Plan, and a Dream Job
Landing in Montreal with only three nights booked in a hostel and zero local knowledge might sound like a recipe for disaster—but for Perrine, it turned into one of her life’s most confident moments. She found an apartment within 24 hours, fell into a dream job with Bioderma, and soaked in the high-rises, bilingual banter, and frosty glamour of Canadian winters.
Was it beginner’s luck? Maybe. Or maybe it was something stronger: the kind of quiet inner compass you grow when chasing your dreams across continents.
Language Shocks and Mascara Failures
As a native French speaker, you'd think moving to French-speaking Quebec would be seamless. Not quite. “Newsletter” becomes “infolettre,” casual Franglais is swapped out for language laws, and the Quebecois accent? A universe of its own.
Then there was the first real Canadian winter: “I had the coat. I had the boots. But I went out with mascara and came back looking like a panda.” (Relatable, right?)
Still, with iced-over rivers turned skating trails and a job that sent her to makeup expos in Dallas, the Canadian chapter glittered with firsts, friendships, and the slow, sweet rhythm of belonging.
From Marseille to Munich: Rules, Pretzels, and a Pandemic
Fast-forward to a post-COVID leap into Munich. And no, this wasn’t a long-held dream—it was a feeling, a spark during a job interview that said: “Yes, this might be home.”
It wasn’t love at first sight. It was a grind—apartment hunting during lockdown without speaking German, paperwork, integration, learning to obey pedestrian lights under the watchful gaze of rule-abiding locals. But something shifted.
“I think Germany was the toughest expatriation. And because of that, it’s where I grew the most.”
She found comfort in hikes through the Alps, fell for buttered pretzels (as one must), and began learning German by night after long workdays. “I was dreaming in German. My brain was just… confused.”
Staying for Love, Settling in Stuttgart
Then love entered the picture.
She met a German from Stuttgart, negotiated a remote contract, and relocated once again—this time with a German surname, a fluent partner, and a lot more confidence in her toolkit. “This time, I just said 'sehr schön' at the apartment viewing and smiled. It worked.”
What surprised her most? How much more welcoming Stuttgart felt. “I still don’t have deep German friendships, but the small neighborhood chats, the smiles, the curiosity—they reminded me of France in a way I missed.”
So, Which Country Changed Her Most?
Canada was the dream. Singapore was the career launcher. France is still home in the heart.
But Germany? Germany was the transformation.
“It wasn’t the easiest. But it was the most meaningful. I grew up here in ways I couldn’t have imagined.”
Final Thoughts and Expats of All Ages
In one of the most touching moments of the episode, Perrine broke down where she’d recommend each country by age:
20s: Canada – for its fun, space, and spontaneity.
30s: Singapore – for career growth and global access.
40s and beyond: Germany – for quality of life, nature, healthcare, and balance.
Dreams, after all, don’t just have one shape. Sometimes they come true quietly, in the form of a winter walk in a city you never expected to love.
If you’ve ever felt torn between countries or wondered where you really belong, Perrine’s story is a reminder that home can be both a place and a feeling. And sometimes, it’s just wherever your shoes are.
