When I first moved to Germany, I thought I had it all figured out. I already had friends here, I knew how to get my residence permit, and I felt ready to start my new life. But even when you’re social and prepared, loneliness after moving to a new country can still hit hard.
Those friends? They had their own busy lives. We’d meet sometimes, but most days it was just me. Slowly, I started to feel isolated. The gray, rainy German winter didn’t help, and I realized that adapting to life in a new country is not just about handling paperwork – it’s also about building meaningful connections from scratch.
One day, I decided I couldn’t wait for things to change on their own. I leaned into what I’m good at: organizing and connecting people. That’s when Stand-up Nations was born – a comedy night where people could get on stage and tell jokes about their own cultures. We laughed until our cheeks hurt, and it felt like a weight lifted.
I also started giving workshops about German men for international women, helping newcomers navigate dating and cultural differences with humor.
Both events were incredibly successful, but the best part wasn’t the turnout – it was meeting people who went from strangers to friends.
This experience taught me that loneliness after moving abroad doesn’t mean you made the wrong decision. It just means you need to take action, even in small ways. Host something, join something, say yes to an invitation. One day, without realizing it, you’ll look around and see that you’ve built your own community, and your new home will feel warm again – even in the grayest German winter.
