World's Least Welcoming City Identified

Denigrating Munich: A Trawl Through the Bavarian Metropolis

By: Imke Rauhut

The Raw Deal

Let's face it; Munich ain't all sunshine and lederhosen. Two fresh faces to the city – Gift Adipere and Janina Metzner – are revealing the grittier side of Bavaria's crown jewel. Struggling to make connects, these newbies share their surprises, disappointments, and the culture shock that slapped them right in the kiffer!

The Oblivious Hofbräuhaus Hopscotcher: A Düsseldorf Transplant in Uncharted Bavarian Territory

Janina Metzner, a native Düsseldorf resident, moved to Munich in 2020 and hasn't looked back, er, forward, really. Now an independent HR consultant, she's accumulated her fair share of tipsy tales. Janina's path to Munich was paved with stereotypes: People here are "cold" and "distant," she says.But what's the dealio?

"One woman told me she already had enough friends,” she spits. “Is there a 'friend cap?' she asks before posing a confounding question: "Does she have a limited friend zone?" Huh, who knew friendship had level limits!

"Friendships here are like courting,” Metznerhs elaborates. “You meet up more often, and eventually, you're invited home. In Düsseldorf, it's more spontaneous," Metzner says. Her friend always comments on how friendly people are in Düsseldorf.

In Munich, they find the human contact "more distant and superficially cool." However, there's a silver lining: "Once you make friends, they stick around."

Lost in Translation: Munich's CodeSwitch or Missed Connections

What Metzner misses most here is a place to make new friends. "In Düsseldorf's old town, you always meet new friends," she laments. "Here, I wonder, where are the people? I don't know where to meet new people." She does appreciate Munich's stronger club culture, especially in the surrounding area.

Metzner explains, "In Düsseldorf, people are more empathetic and friendly. That's just part of the culture." Unfortunately, the empathy has been lost in translation during her Munich tenure.

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Metzner's Take: "They're Suspicious. It's Obvious I'm Not From Here," Says HR Consultant. This is Mainly Due to the Lack of Bavarian Dialect. "In the Work Context, I've Often Been Asked: You're Not From Here, Right? I've Also Been Told That I Should Learn Bavarian."

What she does love about Munich is the international contact. "I have many international friends here - also because it's easier to meet them," she explains gushingly. A "Cologne Evening" takes place in a bar once a month. "I feel at home there," she beams. "Unfortunately, I haven't met too many Munich locals yet, but maybe carnival season will change that."

From the Motherland to Mother Bavaria: A Nigerian Migrant's Perspective on Munich Life

Gift Adipere has been in Munich for only ten months. "The main reason I came is for my studies," he says. "And the chance to discover a new lifestyle," the 28-year-old explains. Adipere hails from Bayelsa, Nigeria, completed his Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, and has landed at the Berlin School of Business and Innovation, BSBI.

But it wasn't just education that drew Adipe to Germany – a sentimental connection played its part too. His sister also came to Munich for her Master's in 2016. She found love, married a Bavarian, and after her husband's death, Adipere decided to move to Munich to be closer and to meet his nephew.

Adipere on Munich: "City of Automotive Dreams."

The family-oriented student prefers Munich to the German capital of Berlin. He finds it too individualistic, too fast, and unequivocally dirtier. But it ain't all bad news; Adipere appreciates the city's distinct charm. "The automotive industry's headquarters" lies here - a car enthusiast's dreamland.

However, life in Munich isn't always smooth-sailing. Adipere faces racism: "People expect you to speak German because you're in Germany. That's racist," he explains. "I've met people who think I shouldn't be here because I don't have any connection to Germany."

Adipere Calls Out Racism in Munich

Just like Metzner, Adipere finds it difficult to meet new people. "I'm very picky about my interactions," he admits. "Sometimes, other black students only want to interact with me because I'm black. But I don't like those shallow relationships." Germans are a different story: "They stick to themselves. If they open up to you, they're a friend for life."

Does Munich's unfriendly label sit well with him? "It's all about perspective," says Adipere. "But sometimes, appearances can be deceiving. Even though they smile, you can't always tell if they're genuine."

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In summary, newcomers to Munich often struggle with social integration due to cultural differences, language barriers, and Munich's more reserved social culture compared to other German cities like Berlin or Frankfurt. Despite these challenges, making connections in Munich can lead to lasting friendships that engulf a newcomer in Munich's enchanting charm.

In the unsettling account penned by Imke Rauhut, Gift Adipere and Janina Metzner, two migrants in Munich, express their struggles with adapting to the city's social (relationships) culture. Metzner, from Düsseldorf, finds the process of making friendships similar to courting, more formal than in her hometown, while Adipere, from Nigeria, experiences racist prejudices and the difficulty of forming genuine connections.

Munich's social scene extends to various aspects, including fashion-and-beauty, as shown by the expensive Instagrammable tomatoes, and entertainment, with the CSD parade showcasing pride and diversity. For education and self-development (education-and-self-development), Adipere has already enrolled at the Berlin School of Business and Innovation, BSBI, drawn to the city by its educational opportunities and personal ties.

Metzner accentuates the importance of social media (social-media) in helping her meet new people, while Adipere expresses a preference for authentic human interactions. The city's general-news has been filled with headlines about gravel mounds, princely plunder, and excavations of neolithic settlements. Through the lens of these two newcomers, Munich's many aspects, including its automotive industry (food-and-drink, home-and-garden, books) and political climate (politics), come to light. The duo's experiences suggest that despite the city being a tourist's dream, social-media platforms aid in overcoming social-integration hurdles, ultimately offering glimpses into Munich's estimated 1.5 million residents' hidden gems. As Adipere implies, appearances (crime-and-justice) can be deceiving; even though Munich may seem unfriendly at first, it holds potential for personal growth (personal-growth).

World's Least Welcoming City Identified