Somya Agarwal
By Somya Agarwal
My life is a great example of how just keeping an open mind, going with the flow, and embracing new opportunities and experiences along the way, can turn an ordinary existence into an extraordinary one!
I moved to Germany in 2011, for love and for career, but staying on for the long haul was never on the cards. Here, life revolves around ‘garbage management’ a bit too much—separation into six types of waste, and a Müll (German for waste) magazine! And weather plays a pivotal role in your day. You require specific clothing for all weather, and for every sport and activity. Besides, the smallest of tasks calls for an enormous amount of ‘paperwork’.
But, after 13 years, I am still here, and this land of beer and sausages, Christmas markets and carnivals, and cars and innovation, now feels like home. We live in a beautiful region dominated by Lake Constance. It is the southernmost part of Germany, bordering Austria and Switzerland. This place has it all, from the snow-clad Alps and the shimmering blue lake to vineyards dense with grapes and farm stands overflowing with apples, and from old castles, picturesque views, medieval villages and exquisite gardens to a thriving tech and automotive industry. In fact, a common tagline that a lot of headhunters use to describe the area is, “Work where others holiday.” Truly, so! After a regular working day or over a weekend, you could easily hit the lakeside for a barbeque, enjoy ‘coffee & cake’ at a local café, or just take a leisurely stroll through farms and vineyards. In fact, I would even say that Germany has the most perfect work-life balance known to mankind!
My 13 years in Germany have seen many important life milestones: completing my Masters, getting my first job (in the country), experiencing the birth of both my daughter and son, buying our first house, acquiring some fancy cars, and striking off destinations on the travel bucket list, among others. And life has generally been kind to us but there were some surprises along the way—it wouldn’t be life if there weren’t!
For instance, when we moved from Regensburg to Kressbronn in late 2013, we hired a moving company. The reviews seemed positive, and the ‘moving’ guys appeared competent. I still remember the moment when everything we owned was nicely loaded onto a big truck, and the man from the moving company closed the doors with a big smile. The day of delivery arrived, but our stuff never did--—poof! Police, insurance, contract, lawyers, and the Indian Embassy— nothing worked. Can you imagine something like this happening in Germany? Neither did we, at the time. While we lost all trust in the legal system, our faith in healthcare remains intact. Getting an appointment at the doctor may seem like a daunting task but once there, you are taken care of. The sudden and premature birth of my daughter in 2016 was a shock for our family but I spent over a month in neonatal care with my tiny baby, and always felt safe and in good hands. Now she is seven years old, a gorgeous and intelligent young lady.
Then came Covid, in 2020, which led to a series of lockdowns. It also led to our lives slowing down. So, my husband and I decided to make some real-estate investments. Let’s buy a small apartment, we thought, and maybe let it out long-term, or as a holiday rental—perhaps even fix and flip? That’s how we started, and three years and 14 properties later, we now have a flourishing real-estate and holiday-rental business in the city! Still, establishing a company, dealing with the time-consuming German bureaucracy, and learning about an industry totally new to us—none of this made for an easy journey. And all this while managing two full-time jobs and raising two full-time kids!
But what we both built together is something we feel extremely proud of, and woven into this life abroad were the aspirations and inspirations of our parents. Still, not to steal the thunder from my main job, which will always hold a special place in my heart. I’m employed with an automotive industry leader, where I work on autonomous driving vehicles and steer the launch of digital products in global markets. Over the years, an ideal work-life balance and the proximity to ample leisure avenues has given me the chance to realise my travel dreams. From kissing in front of the Eiffel Tower on my honeymoon 13 years ago to celebrating my 35th birthday on a Mediterranean cruise last year, each of these experiences has turned out to be an unforgettable adventure!
Of course, I still miss India for family, food, and festivals, and I still tear up every time the song
from ‘Swades’ plays. But I also embrace living in Germany in its full glory. At this point, I don’t
know where my life will take me, but I am excited to add a new chapter to it!
.png)
