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09/06/2009Expat Voices: Pia Lappalainen on living in Germany

Finnish expat Pia Lappalainen loves living in the happening city of Berlin but wishes Germany didn’t like overdubbing movies so much.

Name: Pia Lappalainen
Nationality: Finnish
City of residence: Berlin
Civil status: Married
Occupation: Marketing freelancer
Reason for moving to Germany: I have lived in Germany three times now. First as a student, then I came here for a job and now I am back again for love.


What was your first impression of Germany?

My first memory is when I arrived in Bavaria and realized that the German I had learned at school was only remotely related to the language I was hearing around me.

What do you think of the food?

I prefer the modern, lighter dishes to the hearty traditional ones. Bread is fantastic and you can find all possible sorts under the sun. In the bigger cities, such as Berlin, the restaurant options are extremely international – unending and of outstanding quality. It makes it easy to avoid cooking at home.

What do you think of the shopping in Germany?

I love shopping and I have a thing for accessories. Shopping for clothes is great in Berlin. It has all the big fashion brands as well as edgy local designers. It is nice to be able to avoid the chain stores and go for more individual choices.

What do you appreciate about living in Germany?

I like the fact that everything works and is safe and trustworthy. Also a big country in the middle of Europe offers many professional opportunities; the whole continent is easily accessible. I also think that Berlin is one of the most happening cities in Europe, it feels good to be here.

What do you find most frustrating about living in Germany?

For a movie buff like me, dubbing all the feature films is hands down the most frustrating aspect around. Luckily, Berlin has a number of theatres that are showing original versions.
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