I Have Never Experienced Racism in Germany, So Far 🇩🇪

4 October 2026 · by Holly Mohanye · ⏱️ 3 min read

One thing I can genuinely say about my experience living in Germany is this:

So far, I have never personally experienced discrimination or racism.

And I think it is important that I say “personally” and “so far”, because I can only speak about my own experience.

Since I came to Germany, I have met so many different people from different backgrounds, cultures and parts of the world. And honestly, one of the biggest things Germany has given me is not just a new environment, but a much broader understanding of how big the world really is.

Before I came here, my world was largely Nigeria 🇳🇬 and Africa.

I knew other countries existed. Of course I did.

But there is a difference between knowing something exists and actually experiencing it.

Then I came to Germany 🇩🇪 and suddenly, I was meeting people from countries I had never visited, seeing faces I had never seen before, hearing languages I had never heard and learning about cultures that were completely different from mine.

Sometimes I would just look at people and think:

“God, look at how differently You created everybody.”

There are billions of people in this world, and there are still so many people we will never meet, places we will never see and stories we will never hear.

That realisation alone has been incredibly humbling.

And then, of course, I started getting to know Germans.

They are different from Nigerians.

Very different. 😂

Germans can be incredibly direct. They say what they mean, and sometimes they say it so plainly that you are left wondering, “Okay… did you really just say that?” 😂

But I have learned that directness is not automatically rudeness, and being reserved is not automatically hatred.

They may not welcome you the same way many Africans do. In Nigeria 🇳🇬, you can meet someone today and, 20 minutes later, you already know their family history, their hometown and what they ate for lunch.

Here, people can take more time.

But when you take your time to know them, you can discover incredibly kind and beautiful people.

I have met families who have welcomed me, cared for me and treated me like one of their own.

I have made friends.

I have built relationships.

Some relationships have worked beautifully.

Some started beautifully and eventually did not work out.

And that is also part of life.

Not every bad relationship is racism.

Not every disagreement is discrimination.

Sometimes, people simply do not connect.

And I think that is an important distinction to make when living in another country.

Germany has also taught me that people know how to enjoy life.

They work hard, but they also know how to relax.

They eat.

They drink.

They travel.

They go on holidays.

They spend time with family and friends.

They party.

And somehow, they still get back to work and keep the country moving. 😂

And then there is the German language.

That one is another story entirely. 😂

Yes, many Germans speak English, but you quickly realise that speaking English does not mean they necessarily want to speak English all the time.

But I have noticed something beautiful.

When you genuinely try to speak German, even when your German is terrible, people often appreciate the effort.

They correct you.

They teach you words.

Sometimes they switch to English to help you.

And slowly, you begin to learn.

That has made me realise that sometimes, integration begins with simply being willing to make an effort.

My experience in Germany has not been perfect.

But so far, it has been a beautiful one.

I have not personally experienced racism or discrimination.

Instead, I have experienced kindness, friendship, culture shock, new relationships, new perspectives, new food, new languages and a completely different way of seeing the world.

And perhaps that is one of the greatest gifts of living abroad:

“Sometimes you leave home to discover another country, only to realise that you have been discovering yourself all along.”

Germany 🇩🇪 has shown me that the world is much bigger than the place you were born.

And there is something incredibly beautiful about discovering that for yourself.

Comments

No comments yet. Be the first!

More to read 📚

Subscribe to my blog and channel.

Get new posts, tips on life in Germany and updates straight to your inbox.

#LifeInGermany #BlackInGermany #NigeriansInGermany #Racism #Diaspora #Germany