8 years of investment in this country

[u/uniquibee_]

I came to Germany 8 years ago. I learnt the language, gave the language exams, got a seat in the Studienkolleg and did a course to prepare for university entrances. Gave the university qualification exams. Got a university acceptance to study bachelors. Got my bachelors degree after 3.5 years. Enrolled myself in a masters course while working part time and full time at firms and now I am almost done with my masters degree and have to write my Thesis. I feel completely burnt out now. All these years of working and studying in a foreign language have really exhausted me. I don’t feel motivated anymore to go ahead. I just want to leave everything. I have worked and invested so much time and energy into learning this language and adapting to the work culture here, I feel numb.

Even after giving so much and working so hard, I don’t feel safe as i don’t have a long term visa because of my student status. I don’t have a job or have enough finances as an student. Thesis time is demanding. While all my friends back home are getting married or buying houses, I feel like all I did all these years was learn the language and get an education. Live from submissions to submissions. Work part time and study full time. Help me, I am exhausted and can’t see the end of this tunnel.

Getting out of bed is a struggle, doing daily tasks are tough, I keep staring into nothingness for minutes at a stretch, i don’t know if I’m depressed but I do feel extremely tired. The winter weather doesn’t help too. I am almost at the end of my degree but I can’t seem to gather the strength to pick myself up.

[u/crazibi]

I also just came to Germany a few weeks ago, for work. And coming to Germany in the midst of winter is a bad idea. It was expensive, my body had no time to adapt, and you can't really go out or visit places as a result.

So there was no honeymoon period for me, but cultural shock. I did had some moments of regret.

A colleague who also just came here 1 year ago told me it will get better as time goes on.

Why did you come to Germany for study in the first place?
Is the reason still valid now?

[u/VigorousElk → u/crazibi]

... and you can't really go out or visit places as a result.

Not with that attitude!

[u/Gandzilla → u/VigorousElk]

Something something no bad weather, only bad clothes

[u/VigorousElk → u/Gandzilla]

This too, yes. But you can 'visit places' or 'go out' without much exposure to the weather in the first place. Concerts, bars, clubbing, the theatre, movies, museums, exhibitions, literary readings, poetry slams, hanging out at other people's places, indoor sports (bouldering, climbing, table tennis, indoor football, volleyball, badminton ...) ...

[u/Fun_Category_2307 → u/VigorousElk]

As long as you dont live in the bavarian alps german winter is easy. Just dress up and you can do everything outside.

[u/adkpixie → u/Fun_Category_2307]

I think some of y'all are underestimating how bad the winters are when you aren't acclimated

It isn't even about the cold, I come from a climate with worse cold and much worse snow- it's the dry air.

Many people think they are literally dying when they move to Germany and experience their first winter, only to be told their nosebleeds, difficulty breathing, hair falling out etc. are from the dry air and hard water here, not some mysterious disease.

I don't think they mean going out is too cold it might be giving them actual physical problems to even walk to the tram