I Was Ready to Leave Germany. Here's Why I Stayed.

Moving to Germany was once just a dream for me. In 2018, I arrived in Berlin after spending several years working as an intensive care nurse in India and Sudan, caring for critically ill patients. I thought those experiences had prepared me for anything. The biggest challenges were still waiting for me.

The Truth No One Told Me

Those first few months taught me something I never expected. The biggest challenge wasn't passing a language exam or dealing with paperwork. It was leaving behind everything that felt familiar and finding the courage to start over in a place that didn't yet feel like home.

Looking back, this is the story I wish someone had shared with me before I moved to Germany.

The Hardest Goodbye of My Life

I soon realised the hardest part wasn't the paperwork or the visa, but saying goodbye to the people I loved. It's saying goodbye to the people you love. The smile you put on for your family, even though your heart feels heavy. Then the flight takes off, everything goes quiet, and one question keeps coming back: Did I make the right choice?

It doesn't mean you're weak. It simply means you're leaving behind people you love, so let yourself feel it, cry if you need to, then take a deep breath and keep moving forward.

I Worked for Free. Here's What Happened.

When I moved to Berlin, my master's degree was taught in English, so I never learned German beforehand. To be honest, I didn't think it would be a problem.

After my first semester, I had a two-month break and wanted to earn some extra money. While some of my friends took jobs delivering food or working in supermarkets, I had a different idea. "I'm a nurse," I thought. "Why not work in a nursing home? I'll earn money, improve my German, and do the work I love." It felt like the perfect plan.

I watched a few YouTube videos, learned a handful of German phrases, translated my CV, and started visiting nursing homes near my apartment. They all accepted my CV, said "We'll contact you," I waited. But the calls never came.

About a month later, one nursing home finally offered me a job, but there was one condition. I'd work for free during the first month, and after that, they promised, I'd receive a salary. I was so excited that I didn't question it. I simply said yes. The first week was tough. I barely understood what people were saying, but I worked hard and tried to learn something new every single day. Slowly, things started making more sense. I thought I was proving myself. Then, just before my unpaid month ended, the manager called me into the office.

"Your German isn't good enough," they said. "You'll need to work another two months for free." I realised I wasn't just working for free, I was letting someone decide what my skills were worth. I finished the month as we'd agreed, thanked everyone for the opportunity, and walked away with a lesson I'll never forget.

Looking back, I don't regret saying yes because that experience taught me to stay humble, keep learning, and never stop improving. If there's one piece of advice I'd give you, it's this: keep learning, ask questions, and improve your German every day. But never let your willingness to learn become someone else's opportunity to take advantage of you.

I Was Ready to Leave Germany

I started searching again, and this time, things changed quickly. Within a week, I found a nursing home that offered me a part-time job and something I hadn't expected, an apartment close to both my workplace and my university. In a city where finding a place to live felt almost impossible, it was a huge relief. For the first time, I felt like maybe things were finally working out.

But that feeling didn't last long. One day during a shift, a Bewohnerin (a female resident in a care home) said something to me in German that I didn't understand. A German colleague shouted at me in front of others and laughed. I walked away with tears in my eyes, decided I would finish my master's degree, return to India, and leave my dream of building a life in Germany behind.

Thirty Minutes That Changed My Life

Someone told the Pflegedienstleiterin what had happened. She came looking for me, took me into a room, and spent the next thirty minutes talking to me. "Don't go," she said. "We'll help you learn German, support you, and get through this together."

I decided to stay, and it turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life. She and the Zentrumsleiterin believed in me. They gave me time to learn, the confidence to grow, and the support I needed when I struggled.

Then COVID arrived, and while many people chose not to work, I worked twelve-hour shifts, sometimes caring for almost thirty residents in a single day. It was one of the hardest periods of my life, but I never felt alone because I knew my team was always behind me.

What Happened After I Stayed

I completed my master's degree, finished my nursing recognition, and today I work as an anaesthesia nurse in Berlin. The nursing home that believed in me all those years ago is still part of my journey. I still work there part-time because I'll never forget the people who believed in me when I needed it most.

I never learned German in a classroom. I learned it by using it every day, with colleagues, residents, and in everyday conversations. So if you're learning German, don't wait until you feel ready. Start talking. Confidence doesn't come first, it grows with every conversation.

The Part No One Talks About

One thing I never expected was how much life existed outside of work. As a nurse in Germany, you usually get around 30 days of paid holiday each year, which means there's time to rest, travel, and actually enjoy the life you're building.

And here's the best part. Europe is right on your doorstep. One weekend you could be exploring Paris, hiking in the Alps, relaxing on a beach in Spain, or enjoying pizza in Italy. Those little trips became some of my favourite memories. But it's not just about travelling. It's the simple moments too, Christmas markets, summer evenings with friends, cycling through parks, or discovering a new town by train.

Moving to Germany gave me more than a career. It gave me a life I never imagined. And that experience eventually inspired me to build something for nurses following the same path.

Fliyon Started With One WhatsApp Message

When I arrived in Germany, I had to figure almost everything out on my own. I made mistakes, struggled with the language, and came close to giving up. The only reason I stayed was because someone believed in me when I needed it most.

A few months back, I received a WhatsApp message from a nurse who was ready to give up on Germany because she couldn't afford the high fees asked by recruitment agencies. Her message inspired Fliyon. That's why I built Fliyon, so no nurse has to face this journey alone. Because sometimes, one person who believes in you can change your life.

You Don't Have to Do It Alone

I know how overwhelming this journey can feel because I've been there. If you're dreaming of a nursing career in Germany, I'd love to help you make that journey a little easier.

— Siby, Registered Nurse & Founder of Fliyon