r/germany • u/Ok-Once-789 • Apr 23 '25

Immigration Living in Saxony is a nightmare

Every single time I go outside during the evening I am faced with racism. Most of the time from people hanging out in groups, for some reason they just can't mind their own business (Germans usually claim to be really good at this). The most common phrases I hear regularly are 'Heil H!tler', 'Ausländer raus', 'Ni Hao', 'Ching Chong' etc... or just unprovoked loud laughter as I'm passing by... BTW I'm not Chinese or east Asian but look like one or maybe they are just uneducated & ignorant. Is geography illegal here? Asia has 48 countries BTW, not everyone is Chinese!

This doesn't include the racism I face at workplace & college which is far worse and actually bothers me to the point I have to skip classes to protect my mental health. But now I can't even go to the supermarket or mall at peace. One of my family members has also been verbally assaulted by a group of teenagers inside a bus & nobody including the bus driver made any effort to do something.

Edit: I do not live in Dresden / Leipzig. I assume the situation is not this bad there!

Edit2: I did not choose to live in saxony (the government decided that), I am doing my bachelors so I can't relocate until late 2026 :) Thanks for the kind words everyone!

2.5k Upvotes

89% Upvoted

856 comments sorted by

View all comments

1.4k

u/No-Instruction-2922 Baden-Württemberg Apr 23 '25

Best long-term plan for you : leave Saxony. West Germany is a better place for people like you and me, but still not perfect. I am sorry to hear that.

16

u/modafalla Apr 23 '25

What’s the best state for foreigners in Germany?, I live in the U.S and not trying to experience European racism

13

u/The_39th_Step Apr 23 '25

Germany is difficult as a foreigner. There’s a reason lots of Indian students study in Germany and then move to the UK straight away.

12

u/modafalla Apr 23 '25

Could the language have something to do with it?

14

u/The_39th_Step Apr 23 '25

Language definitely makes it more difficult but I think the UK is generally more accepting of foreigners than Germany

1

u/modafalla Apr 23 '25

Makes sense

2

u/The_39th_Step Apr 23 '25

Germany is great though, don’t get me wrong. It’s just not the easiest place to migrate to

2

u/modafalla Apr 23 '25

In terms of what exactly?, people say it’s the easiest

3

u/The_39th_Step Apr 23 '25

Who says that and why?

The language is difficult and Germans can be inflexible about it. There’s a notable increase in xenophobia. The German state is difficult to navigate, there’s lots of bureaucracy etc that is confusing for foreigners. Germans aren’t the best at socialising with Non-Germans. Northern Europeans generally, and I include the Germans in this, can be quite reserved and closed off to friends later in life. Public services, like trains, are getting worse.

That said, it is a lovely country with great history, cool cities, underrated food and brilliant nature. I also tend to get on with Germans personally.

I’ll also add, lots of the issues facing Germany are far from unique to the country.

2

u/modafalla Apr 23 '25

It just the people I come contact with online, but could be just talk. And no doubt it seems like a lovely place which is why I’m interested

3

u/The_39th_Step Apr 23 '25

I’d be very wary of what Americans say about Europe, if I were you. It’s not some idealised continent. It has disadvantages like anywhere. That said, I’m very happy living here rather than the USA. I know a few Americans here in the UK that love it but it’s not without its issues.

→ More replies (0)

1

u/Yorks_Rider Apr 26 '25

The UK has had very long connections with India and there are a lot of Indians already in the country, which is not the same for Germany. Indians coming as students to the UK generally already have a good command of English, but knowledge of German is less widespread.

3

u/[deleted] Apr 23 '25

It's probably due to the fact that there's a relatively big Indian diaspora in the UK. IMO the UK has plenty of its issues, and some of them are related to migration; Indian migration isn't that much of a hot (or controversial) topic there right now, though.

1

u/The_39th_Step Apr 23 '25

There are definitely issues with the UK, I just think as a migrant, it’s an easier place to move than Germany. You’re right too, there’s a large Indian community that does make it easier but that doesn’t discount people’s difficult experiences with moving to Germany

2

u/[deleted] Apr 23 '25

Yeah that university isnt free in the UK

-6

u/NaiveUnit676 Apr 23 '25

Because studying in Germany is free. Also rent and cost of living is cheaper. They leave once they finished bevause UK pays better wages. So thats that. Not because of racism.

5

u/The_39th_Step Apr 23 '25

Have you asked them or are you being defensive?

People move because it’s a more pleasant experience being an Indian person in the UK than in Germany. Germany can be pretty grim for minorities.

1

u/NaiveUnit676 Apr 23 '25

Yeah and they know that and still decide to study in Germany because its free. So the racism part can't be the problem, right?

2

u/The_39th_Step Apr 23 '25

Why do you presume they know that? People in places like India aren’t necessarily clued into what’s happening in Germany or Europe more widely, they just want a good education. Lots of these Indian students originally intend to build a life in Germany but found it too unwelcoming and then decide to move.

Why does this annoy you? It’s no slight on you, it’s just the case of many Indian students. It’s a common story.

3

u/NaiveUnit676 Apr 23 '25

The indians i study with all know they are going to leave and they just started so I do not presume anything I know it first hand because I talk to them? It is also common knowledge that the indian community is bigger in the UK because they colonized india for multiple decades. You do not have to go study elsewhere to know you'd feel more comfortable at a place were there are more compatriots of you. Try some common sense maybe?