omg....nice ..but why Berlin ? Munich is so much better Or Münster or Freiburg or Soest... In Berlin , remember these people think being impolite constitutes a proper dialect.
How on Earth did you find someone to date in this time and era? Seriously, wherever I look it's: people like to be single now, people do not want to be in a relationship. Doom and gloom and in the end no Donnerschlag to make your life a little bit more geil. :/
I understand everything you've said about your reasoning about everything, and I definitely think new experiences are worthwhile to pursue, but maybe consider why you think that 22-year-old Evan would be disappointed that you're a homeowner, that you've carved out a space for yourself where you feel comfortable and secure, that you've had enough success to provide all that for yourself. It's not a failure to want stability and commitment. It's not a failure to want to do the things you already know better, rather than do something new. It sounds like you kind of realize this, but you still feel like you need to prove something to someone. We all think you're awesome. Why do you feel you aren't good enough for past you to be proud of?
Agreed! Also, sometimes priorities/values just change over time. Sure I'm doing some things today that 5ys-ago me would not agree with, but that's because I am a different person today and I value other things now. I don't think that's sad, it just comes with ageing and maturing. It is hard to admit to myself though that I have in fact aged...
You sound like you assume people SHOULD be proud of feeling comfortable and secure in a house they own. That for me sounds like death. If one isn't being challenged, learning, growing experiencing other cultures, then what is the point in being alive? I'm 49. I've been 'stuck' in my life for 7 years and it has made me SO miserable - my mental health is rock bottom. There is no challenge in going to work doing the same thing every day then going home and socialising with the same people over and over. I genuinely pity people who have to remain fixed in one place with one never-changing life. That's not a good use of ones time on this planet imo.
@hellfirepictures That is an easy position to have when you already have that security. For younger generations, being able to own a house on your own is an accomplishment a minority achieves. Yes, he should be proud of that. If that is something that makes *you* feel stagnant, it's not the fact that you have the house that is the source. You can still seek out new experiences and skills. You've chosen not to. Maybe there is adversity you are dealing with preventing it, but that's a you thing and shouldn't be used as a way to diminish other people's accomplishments.
@@hellfirepictures With all due respect, that sounds like more of a 'you' problem rather than a homeowner problem - I think that having stimulating hobbies and activities breaks up the monotonicity of staying in one place. Having personal projects which show improvement over time and let you express yourself definitely helps, and you can set yourself new challenges whenever you like - feeling challenged is not mutually exclusive with owning a home and staying in one place. You can still travel and seek new opportunities!
As a fellow German learner I can attest it is hard to use German, but it’s so cool that you have had the chance to live in Germany again, best of luck to your German, and Schönen Tag Noch!
As a “german” speaking Swiss citizen in France I understand how hard it can be to learn a foreign language when you are not in the country. BUT at one point you have to start using it or you will never be able to speak it, everyone will help you to improve and be very kind with you for trying…
It does become a lot easier if you are able to use it every day. Living 5 minutes from the german border exposes you to a lot of it. Especially since not a single german actually knows how to speak dutch.
I haven‘t spoken french in 25 years, (with one little paris trip in between). And went on holidays there and was amazed how quickly some things came back to me. Don‘t be afraid of being rusty, it is hidden somewhere in your brain
Just wanna say that It's not embarassing to speak a language foreing to you, ever. It's amazing that someone goes trough the trouble of learning one they don't really need to and does their best to meet others with their language. And it's so understandable and normal to make mistakes.
In principle I agree, but to gain fluency you have to push yourself to speak up even tho you're sure to occasionally say things that are silly or embarrassing.
I used to work at a historic site where I live, a president’s home. I worked there giving tours. I knew everything there is to know about this president and his house. I left and didn’t work there for more than a decade. When I went back there I thought I would need at least a week learning just the basic tour again; I couldn’t remember ANYTHING! But after just half a day shadowing the tour, it was like a switch flip on in my brain again! I remembered EVERYTHING! I’d just not thought about all those facts in so long I thought they somehow disappeared. So, all of that to say, I get ya.
I have a family member who lives in Canada and works as a translator of French and German. Every year she has a holiday for at least a week in each country to make sure she keeps the fluency she built up over years isn’t lost. And German in Berlin is quite a different thing to German in München!
Being somehow embarrassed speaking a foreign language happens to almost everyone when speaking a (new) foreign language. The key is to just keep going.
That "I live in London, what am I doing?" really resonated with me. Been living here for 15+ years now and I still haven't even visited London... crazy to think about. There's so much to do here!
I needed this video, honestly I relate so much to that feeling of constantly comparing yourself to previous versions of you and feeling like you're in a rut. Thanks for this🧡
For those that missed it, Evan is only there for 1 month (ref @14:07). It isn’t a permanent move, nor does it breach the 90/180 rule. Edit: assuming the 60 days prior to the move were not all spent in the schengen area
@@minimim89 i get why he's saying it like that, he moved into a houseshare and is still working and probably doing "normal" things that don't feel like he's just on holiday. we all use language a bit differently and i think that's ok
@@minimim89 I agree. “Staying” is what I would use, but “moving” is more likely to encourage people to watch the video. It is a loose definition of the word, but he has used it well here.
@@Bluetangg lol. I didn’t mean for people to skip the video. It is still worth a watch. The comment was originally made because so many comments were asking questions about how long he planned to stay there or were wondering what would happen to his uk citizenship.
Evan, this video hurt a bit, mostly because this is something I deal with a lot. I feel so on top of things when I'm abroad BECAUSE I'm in slight discomfort. Going back to the US just makes me comfortable and complacent in bad habits.
Literally just moved from the UK to Berlin myself, it’s a big challenge but your outlook on the situation is a much needed boost. Looking forward to your next videos!
i never thought about being able to cook as any special skill, but now that he describes it I realize it must really lower your self esteem to not being able to cook. I learned to cook when I was around 14 and I don't remember ever being bad at it, it was a part of growing up and I believe that is how it should be for all kids because otherwise it just makes you feel bad about yourself for no real reason as it is a skill that is pretty easy to learn. so teach your kids how to cook it will make them so much more confident and happy
@myflyingkidney I agree that it is a good idea to teach all children to cook, just for survival, being able to cope on your own if you are housebound for any reason. However, I think that some people never come to feel bad about it because they have always had someone to do it for them, parents, spouse or professional. A few years ago it was reported that the reasonably well off were buying houses with really nice kitchens (so if you wanted to sell, get the kitchen up to snuff) but they were not using them, preferring to eat out or have takeaway - cooking took too long. My father and all his siblings learned to cook - more than 80 years ago. His parents had no prejudice that cooking was only for the women. It is an attitude I share, but I do know people who are pretty helpless in the kitchen or who have such basic skills that they soon get fed up of their own cooking.
@@charleshayes2528 I think cooking being for women only really is truly a social construct of 20th century. And 19th probably. Through our evolution cooking was rarely separated from hunting or gathering, it was always the same process and later same goes for growing food. I often disagree with people who think every kind of male-female differences are all just social constructs, because many really do stem from our biology, but idea that cooking is for women never existed before, so yeah. But anyway cooking and eating are among few most important things in life and knowing how to cook means knowing how to eat so kids deserve to know it. And I feel like people here in europe cook more in general. At least in my group of friends (male and female) I don't think there is anyone who doesn't know how to cook but also it isn't anything special, it is expected. But glad that you have good cooking heritage, it means you know your food :)
You do realise the life you described in the UK is really what we all crave. A calm life with the occasional fun activity or holiday thrown in. What you were describing was life for most of us. I'm not saying one way is better than another but maybe you don't need to go to such extreme measures every time you feel you are too settled into a ho hum life. However, it is nice to try something outside ones comfort zone now and again.
Definitely agree about wanting to spend time more wisely in a different country! I went to Korea for two weeks and spoke more Korean, saw more things and overall got more out of my day than I do in London!
Good on you for recognising and stepping up Evan! I'd love to try psychedelics, but worried it'll be bad for me. I dont want to lose the plot. Im in a depressing rut, so when i woke at 4am, i went outside to listen to the birds morning song and check out the stars, something i havent done in 8 years. Small steps 😄 Looking forward to the Q & A
2018 Evan was going from novice to beginner/intermediate a much easier skill jump than fine tuning existing skills. You shouldnt be so hard on yourself, youve had a tough year and its ok ramp up slowly to your next successes. Good luck with it ! And enjoy Berlin coffee
A wise person said to me once (a psychiatry professor actually), that “if you plan to fix your problem by waking up the next day and simply doing everything you are already doing better, then you have no plan”……..I have remembered ever since and always strived to make sure I am actually _changing_ something in my life in order to solve my problems. It seems you have reached the same conclusion naturally!
As someone who moved cities recently, this really resonated with me. I really needed to get out of my rut and experience new things, and you articulated that perfectly
Hi Evan, I can highly recommend taking the train to Potsdam this week, because autumn and castles and parks and sunshine are a great combination. I spend a few hours in Park Sanssouci today and I am not a good picture taker, but the photos turned out lovely from the scenery. 🌳🍁🍂☀️
As a Potsdamer, born and raised and former tourism board employee, I can only second that! I’m glad that Evan visited our lovely city. It’s especially beautiful in autumn, as the facades of the historical buildings really come to life in the warm autumn sun. x
What you said about the act of planning vs act of doing… relatable! It’s London get out and see it… oh god I feel you! That inspired me to get out there and just live! Little improvements less visible than large improvements, so annoying yet so real don’t I know it
Ah I love this video! Everything you’ve said is how I feel but I never have anyone to talk to about it, so I feel like I’ve had a good chat with a friend and now I feel more motivated to get out of that rut. We can do this💪🏻
You know what, I learned German up to B1 15 years ago and then just... lost it completely. I mean completely. When I came here as a refugee last year, all I got were numbers. So I crunched and learned the language till B2 now. And now I'm applying to German jobs in German. It's so embarrassing every time I make a severe mistake or just freeze, but I feel like my brain really built new pathways this time. It's true that without the immersion into the language culture it's impossible to really speak it. So thanks for a relatable video!
Idk if that helps but I'm a German native speaker, and from my experience, most German native speakers know that our language is incredibly difficult and lacks logic (like how grammatical genders, plurals, etc., just do whatever they want), so we kind of expect German learners to make mistakes (but are all the more impressed when they don't). It's okay! We natives make mistakes too! I just wrote an email where I wasn't sure whether I should say, "ich würde mich über Rückmeldung freuen" or rather "ich würde mich über EINE Rückmeldung freuen". Good luck with your job hunt, as well as the German language!
@@endlessteatime4733 vielen Dank für die Unterstützung! btw I was taught in my Berufsprachkurs to write "ich freue mich AUF die Rückmeldung / Antwort", so there you go, another thing to worry about XD Ich hasse die Verben mit festen Präpositionen, wenn es mehr als eine Präposition gibt
I am really impressed how quickly you and most of the other Ukrainian refugees learnt German to a level where you can work with customers and speak in German even. One of the assistants at my dentist came here in 2021 and is now speaking German fluently with only a very soft accent. Viel Erfolg bei der Jobsuche und viel Spaß dann bei dem künftigen Job.
I feel somewhat similar about living abroad. At age 20, in the middle of my bachelor's degree I decided to spend a gap year as an intern in Japan. While it was far from perfect (lots of tears had been shed during the year) it was the first time I had my own place, earned a significant amount of money, managed my own groceries, meals, club activities, travel itineraries etc. It was cathartic. I returned to Germany, and despite moving to a different city I'd never felt as independent and settled as I had in Japan. This summer I've arrived in Korea as an exchange student, and I've realized what I need is this challenge to get settled in a place far from home, way outside my comfort zone, because the leaps that I'm able to make in my development from this experience are bigger than they could have ever become in Germany.
Hey Evan! First of all, I've been following you so long I can't believe it's already been 5 years since your first move to Germany! I hope this trip will prove just as invigorating to you! Second of all, thanks for this video in general. I think a lot of people'll relate to it - it's very comforting to hear I'm not alone at least in getting stuck in routines. That learning plateau is a killer! As a language learner myself, I really understand the difficulty of keeping up the usage of it, or even just the motivation to keep it up! This video has urged me to return to the language café in town, though! My Mandarin isn't going to learn itself😂 Keep on being you, can't wait for these Berlin videos!
That feeling you get when moving to a new country is really cool. I've done it twice now. Lived in Berlin for 3 years and now in Canada. I miss Berlin a lot.
It is of course a good thing to always want to better yourself, and learn more about other countries and cultures. But can a person truly ever be happy and content if they are constantly looking to better themselves. Whatever stage a person is at, they can always do better. There is no final point you will reach, you will always want more if that is your charachter. At some point, we all either have to settle for what we have, or forever be unfulfilled striving for more. Not an easy choice for sure.
Your journey with German echoes mine with crochet. It's a skill I've been learning now for a few months & I went from not even getting the hook size right, to amigurumis, miniature capes, big blankets, scarves, & as I watch you, my second hat!!! And there's always more to learn!!!
So proud of you!! Cool that you go through these waves because you have a genuine chance to revamp, change, and challenge yourself. Super happy to hear how you've handled life.
Just remember time is not meant to be productive it is just time. Thinking that you need to be productive to be happy is a dangerous fallacy. Doing nothing is a necessary part of being a healthy human.
You make a great point. Do things for fun. I’m a terrible painter but I love painting and try to do it every week. Some of it’s even recognisable. I’m in the Bob Ross frame of mind with a fraction of his talent but I enjoy it!
Es geht ja viel mehr darum, Herausforderungen zu erkennen und sinnvoll anzunehmen. Das hast du toll auf den Punkt gebracht! Ich wünschte, ich hätte das bereits in deinem Alter so klar erkannt. Sehr schön rübergebracht, mit viel Humor und verschmitzter Selbstkritik. Sehr gelungen dieses Video👏
Same as last time I very much look up to you for taking the courage to move to the country whose language you've been learning. And you explained the creation of new pathways quite well. I especially liked the "I'm in Berlin, I should not waste time!" notion. Gets me thinking...
You've just described my life to a tee. I'm exactly the same with planning vs actually following through. My brain will class the task as complete once I've finished planning, because the satisfaction level for finishing the plan is so much higher than for doing the task. I used to lie awake at night and say "tomorrow, I'll finally sort myself out", and really beat myself up about it. I was diagnosed with ADHD earlier this year, and it's honestly explained a lot about myself and my patterns of behaviour. Not saying that this anyone's experience other than my own! But that negative self talk is easier to tackle if the reason for behaviour is easier to put down in my experience
Same thing here! Diagnosed at 42, I am now 53 and what you and Evan are describing is Executive Dysfunction, one of the most recognizable traits in ADHD, and a fair bit in Autism too. It ABSOLUTELY is not just you!! 😄❤
Glad to see that you’re happy and bursting with energy and the need to become an even better version of yourself. Your enthusiasm is contagious, too. I’m sure that you will adapt well, and become fluent in German soon. Looking forward to future videos. 👍
Oh! I'm now in Vienna. Four years ago I moved from London. Brexit is wot dunnite. I have UK Settled Status, of course. (I'm a dual-national: Commonwealth national & Portuguese) I recently completed a B1 Deutsch course successfully and am astonished at how much confidence I gained in the 3 months it took. The vocabulary was always there, I just needed the KICK from participating and interacting with my trainer and colleagues (we're 11 from 10 countries and NO ENGLISH). I can relate a whole lot to what you went through. The Austrian Mental Health services are incredible. I have managed to recover from a major burn-out to functioning somewhat, and all in German.
As a psychologist I agree that there are great psychologists and therapists here, but how the health insurance deals with their patients is a shame. They are seriously dropping the ball here. The waittimes are completely unacceptable, at least where I work. Way too many people don't get the help they need. But I am glad your experience was a good one, wish you all the best for your recovery!
As someone who moved to the UK from abroad around 5 years ago, I have had that same feeling of chasing the high of uprooting life and doing something completely different. It's very relatable
By far your best video ever. Very honest. I moved to Spain to learn Spanish and I got fluent very quickly (side note: English people will pick a very obscure Spanish word that most Spanish people wouldn’t even know and test me on it and if I don’t know what it means they will say I’m not fluent even though I had a 2 year relationship with someone who spoke no English without any communication issues) and now I’m close to moving back to London I fear I’ll lose it, so thanks for this video!
Thanks for this really inspiring video! I’ve been learning Swedish for the last 15 years, on and off. I always did it mainly, because I like learning languages. As you can imagine my progress was slooooow (15 years on and off) and I, too, struggle with “I should” and “now I’ve lost so much skill & knowledge, again”…but over the many years (and repetitions from several courses) I realized: Oh, wait, I am getting better, I actually know quite a lot. Repetition and time do wonders, even if there are long stretches of breaks and not doing “enough”. Yes, every percent is worthwhile if it’s fun for you and you like doing it. So I stopped pressuring myself and am better for it. :)
This honestly made me feel a lot better about jumping back into learning Spanish. I did a semester abroad there in college and within a month after I came back I lost all confidence in my language skills
I don't have a q&a for you, but thank you for being articulate, open and frank discussing your mental health; it's given me an insight into getting better myself
I think Evan from five years ago would be extremely proud of you for everything you've achieved; it's been heartwarming and exciting to watch your videos as you've gone through the journey of the last five years, and I know you can't see it right now, because the grass is always greener, right? And that's really human, to have those thoughts, but that doesn't mean the thoughts are truthful.
Also what I thought. No matter how often you move abroad, no matter where you move to, life will inevitably become somewhat of a drag at some point. Besides, there's nothing wrong with not being productive all the time. Have that mindless scroll on your mobile phone every now and then, play those videogames for far too long every now and then, binge watch that series every now and then, that's all absolutely fine. There's still going to be plenty of time in which you will be productive instead. So just try to be comfortable with being comfortable.
@@jdjphotographynlwhile yeah I don't think living somewhere else for a bit is a viable solution to most people, and that it should be okay to be unproductive and sit on the couch all day, it *does* become a problem when you do that every time. I feel like I am in that position, many a weekend thinking I *should* go do something, meet people, whatever but then I just sit on the couch and play games or watch shows. I need more friends and some actual hobbies because it is affecting my life, but my brain won't stray out of comfort mode. So yes, it's fine to be comfortable sometimes, but when it's such a pattern that it's actively becoming detrimental to your life, you absolutely do need to make changes.
@@Bisonrulz16 Agreed, but those changes don't necessarily require something as big as moving abroad, often smaller changes do the trick just as well or even better already. But yeah, one does need to get up his/her arse and actually start doing shit. Procrastinating isn't going to get you anywhere. Then again, maybe moving abroad is the proverbial kick in the arse some people need to get out of their comfort zones and start doing shit... think I'm now taking a big detour to basically say the exact same thing you say, don't I? 🤣
@@jdjphotographynl Yeah haha I'd say we're mostly in agreement. Sometimes change is needed, but as you say it definitely doesn't have to be as big as uproot your life and move 1000km away
Thanks Evan, I'm the same. I live in a picturesque area that I rarely get out & see. Its amazing how you can slowly settle into habits that reduce what you do & where you go. I'm going to give myself a metaphorical shake & get out there more & be more productive. Thanks for the wake up call & helping me realize that!
We moved States, New Mexico to Northern California. Then we moved to Island of Hawaii. New experiences are so important. We go out and and experience community at least one day every weekend. We work to put ourselves in places where language is diverse. It's fun and a lot to learn. Enjoy the journey.
This is how I feel about my English (being German) and we‘re actually moving to London next year. Everything you say makes so much sense and I hope I can make the most of my time in the UK. I found your channel this spring when I was stumbling across your Chiswick video and we‘re most likely moving to this very area 😊
This is how I feel about rollerskating rn! I used to be able to learn something completely new in 1 session but now I have got to the point where everything needs to be smoother and more stable, incremental change is very important
I have lived in 5 countries. I get high on the feeling of being at first lost/disorientated, and then learning, finding my bearings and feeling at home! And then, one day, I am too much at home, too comfortable, and I need to change. Keep it up and don't give up Spanish!! I also recommend learning a non-European language xx
god i relate so hard to the sentiment that going from "not being able to do something to being able to do it" feels a lot more rewarding and inspiring than going from "being able to do something to then actually mastering that something." It feels like there was a clear division in when i went from a novice to conversationally fluent in my target language but now that i'm at the intermediate level i just cant find ways to get that same motivation and clarity that what i'm doing is still a form of progression.
I am French. Watching your videos (and others) is one of my ways to keep using my English language on a daily basis. I listen and read the language every single day or I miss it like crazy. I just wish I had a native speaker friend I could chat with on a regular basis, because I can't practice my speaking skills. I have also recently started doing the same with Italian and Spanish because I am so rusty (although, contrary to English, I have never been fluent in those languages).
I'm English . I've been learning French since June this year. I have an incentive as my brother has a house in the Nouvelle Aquitaine region that I can visit whenever I want. My brother's neighbour only speaks french and I want to be able to have a conversation with him instead of relying on phrasebook french.
I went through a period just like that, a whole year of just completely changing my life in so many positive ways, to the point where people who knew me before were always commenting on how different I seemed, acted, looked...how much more confident I was. That was about 6 years ago and while overall I'm stil in a really good place, I've let some things slip and I'm now working on getting back into a happy, comfortable resting state and to be honest it's so much more tedious than last time lol. There's no big transformation, it's all just mental and physical maintenance - I've done it before, so I know I can do it again, but the process is not as exciting, like Evan said I don't feel like I can 'compete' with that former version of myself who was doing it all for the first time - I was feeling really alone in that feeling, so very grateful for this video 💛
Well I’m chuffed as buggery . I’m a life long procrastinator and anxiety ridden and have wasted alot of my life and am now old with regrets. Es ist viel einfacher, eine Sprache zu lernen, wenn man auf dem Land lebt und sie jeden Tag spricht. Sie haben auf jeden Fall eine gute Wahl getroffen.😊
Ahhh the "lying in bed and thinking tomorrow I will finally change it all" and then not doing anything. You didn't have to call me out like that :D I hope you love Berlin as I do. I've lived there for a while as a kid and it still has a place in my heart.
Youre right with getting dopamine from just telling people goals. Its sometimes useful to keep your real goals inside and only get the reward once you actually get it. otherwise its too easy to give up as you got your reward and good jobs too early. Love your videos evan!
I just moved states yesterday for work after finishing my bachelor's degree 5 months ago. I spent those 5 months looking for jobs, and got nothing in my field and in my state, and now I've found a job that wasn't part of my career goals. Before I start, I'm told myself I would do things at home to develop my skills for my career goals, irrelevant to my job (which is a higher paying, more stable job than my goal career). I think it will be really easy to accept a big paycheck and not work towards my dream, and come back and watch UA-cam, but this video reminded me why I promised myself I would not let myself just work and get money. Thank you, I hope for the best for you and me!
You are so right about the effects of picking up and moving to live in a different country, speak a new language, learn a new culture. It gives your brain a shake. Even just going to the grocery store is a different experience. It can be both exhilarating and exhausting. You’re doing yourself a favor going to Berlin for a whole month! I hope you’ll do some videos there and share the experience with us.
Willkommen in Deutschland Evan! Ich hoffe du kannst die Zeit genießen und viel mitnehmen. Ich fand das Video jedenfalls sehr inspirierend und würde jetzt beinahe nach London ziehen wollen für einen Monat... beinahe. Ich freue mich schon mehr aus meiner Hauptstadt zu hören. Du machst das super! Tschüssi
Great video. Congrats to getting therapy and taking mental health seriously and talking about it, great Evan. My condolences to moving to Berlin. Mein Beileid das du nach Berlin gezogen bist. I was born in West Berlin and I am so happy I escaped that hell hole about 13 years ago. I live 1km beyond the German Border in the Netherlands now haha. I should probably give you some tipps: Allierten Museum (Allied Museum in the Outpost Movie Theater). Take a listen to Spezialitz - G.B.Z. oholika and M.O.R. both Berlin rap groups from 20 years ago. Tons of more music from that music. I used to be a hip hip A&R and a Jazz DJ in Berlin. I am watching the news in horror with all the Pro-Hamas demonstration in Berlin the past 2 weeks. Stay safe Evan, pass auf dich auf.
100% agree, the idea of fluency being a binary is so frustrating! I live my daily life using my second language and get around just fine, but when people ask if I'm fluent, I always feel like I have to say no because I don't speak at the same level as a native speaker. I think it's discouraging as an adult language learner to think about the fact that I'll never fully get rid of my accent or stop making occasional mistakes, and therefore, never reach "fluency".
Fluency, to me, doesn’t mean speaking like a true native, because you’d have to be in a country for years down the line to speak like a proper native. For me fluency is when you can hold a conversation with someone enough to talk about topics, interests, order food etc etc. But I get that ‘fluency’ can be different for everyone 😊
Oh Evan, so much of this resonates with me! I studied languages at uni and for most of my early twenties I was travelling and working in different places, including abroad. I love the novelty of figuring out how things work, how to get around, where to buy things, how to ask for things in other languages and now I’ve lived in the U.K. (and in my hometown) for a few years I’ve got such itchy feet to get out of this rut and go somewhere different again. Really hoping next year I can spend more than a week or two living abroad to practise my languages and challenge myself again. Thanks for sharing your experience! My question for you: how are you finding ways to interact with german speaking people to practise? Just in shops etc or are you going to any groups or events?
OMG! I have never really thought about this, but I too am a planning junkie! The feeling I have while planning something, the more complex the better, is a thousand times more gratifying than the actual execution of the plan!! Now I have to look more deeply into that and find out why!!
I'm more of a planner than a do-er too. I've spent many a happy hour planning trips I never go on. I was in hospital in March for 2 weeks (my chronic condition had deteriorated) and that invigorated me to start exercising. Then in May I went and got cancer, which was frustrating. And terrifying. But an extra kick up the arse. I'm halfway through chemo and my fitness is worse than it's ever been. There's now an uncertainty over how much life I have left so as soon as I'm well enough I'm going to do some fun things. And hopefully build my exercise back up. I think a change can be really positive to remind you to do things you enjoy, but it's also a real pleasure and privilege sometimes to just relax and not worry about hitting goals. I would have preferred a month in Berlin to getting cancer though. 😅 On the language front, I've got to A2/B1 with a few languages and then totally neglected them and forgotten most of it. So my plan with Spanish has always been to get as advanced as possible. I'm about to hit 600 hours of input and I'm planning to keep going to 2000.
There's a psychological concept around the joy of anticipation. People frequently get more joy out of the anticipation of a thing than the actual doing of the thing. We see this around vacations or purchasing large ticket items. I don't know that this helps, but just know that it's normal. It helps me because I use it when I'm feeling down. I just start planning something I can look forward to
Omg i feel this so much! I‘ve just come back from an exchange year in France and i feel like i‘ve learned and grown so much there and learned french of course. Now it‘s been a minute since i left and i‘m back at home and going to my university again and i‘m suddenly in this rut again and i have the same problems again. And i know i forget to give myself credit for how far i‘ve come but i feel like i can only go backwards from that point… So thanks for the reminder of that energy that comes with change and the knowledge that i can always get out there again. I really have to try to appreciate my life back home more
What is the best advice you can give to someone trying to change their lifestyle that can't just move. I realised early this year I wanted to get off my ass and have a career change. Specifically an author. I'm not expecting it to be sunshine and roses but I think I owe it to myself to get better something I love. The thought of ending up in a lidl or aldi stacking shelves gives me motivation but I still struggle with the discipline.
I would suggest taking a holiday in the Scottish Highlands or Islands - preferably the Islands as they are more remote. Even if you don’t go walking or hiking and just look at the scenery, then it will clear your mind, and if you go for a week or two then it’s so remote and inspiring that you are bound to come up with ideas. You’ll also get memories you can use in the future and have the opportunity to experience a different culture than most people usually do. Although I’d leave your main phone at home and get a simple phone that just does the basics: text, email and phone so you aren’t tempted to just browse the internet. George Orwell wrote 1984 when he was staying on Jura.
I've taken a big leap to move countries recently, and all of this really resonated a lot! I've been starting to think about how this experience (whether it becomes a long-long term thing, or stays a relatively shorter one) is reframing how I think about & experience home (also London for me!) and Europe in general, and I've already been thinking similar things about how I'll likely view it from a fresher more, "hey I'm in London! Let's do something/go somewhere!" perspective. Thank you for articulating this all so well 🥰 have a great time in Berlin!
Evan, this type of video makes me happy. Especially with the circumstances currently in my family, and while visiting another country isn't an option for me, this type of change could help. My mother is currently going blind, as we learned on Friday. This has caused an existential crisis for me as well.
It's the same with learning anything. My piano teacher always told me: first week not practicing: you will hear it. second week: your teacher will catch up on it. third week no practice: the audience knows it.
Hi. I am a Berliner and I can recommend to visit one of the Underground Tours ‚ Berliner Unterwelten‘ which are tours that explore literal old underground structures. It’s run by a not profit organization with the goal to preserve history. They offer various tours but I can recommend the WW2 flak tower in Humboldthain Park and the Dark Worlds Tour. Even a Berliner I learned so much that I didn’t know.
Love this video. I was partly inspired by Evan to move to the UK for University back in 2017, and though I'm done with Uni now and loved living in the UK, I'm now trying to figure out how to really feel like I'm living my life again. I've been in a rut because although I loved my University city, I felt the same as Evan by the end of my degree, that there were comfortable routines I had fallen into and that the intentions of my 18 year old self for gaining new experiences had fallen to the wayside. I've since been living in my hometown again for a while but that is also not great for my mental health since there is a strong reason I had initially left. This video is a good reminder that there is a whole wide world full of life that's waiting to be experienced. Comfort is good to fall back on when life get rough, but only experiencing comfort is really unhealthy IMO. Even if you don't have the resources to move to a new city, you could even try a sleepover at a friend's to try to break free of a routine that you feel has been trapping you. You could also try psilocybin but uhhh do be careful with that and don't do it without acknowledging the risks involved. Psilocybin mushrooms aren't harmful in of themselves since they're non addictive and don't have neurotoxins like alcohol and muscarine, but they can cause psychosis in some people and a bad trip can be incredibly stressful and can impact you for days to weeks afterwards. There's nothing wrong with enjoying what life has to offer as long you're doing it safely.
This is fascinating to me, we have completely opposite ways of viewing time and productivity! Don’t get me wrong, I love adventure and spontaneity and the feeling of achieving something I’ve worked hard for but over all I definitely fall in to the slow living category. I don’t ever measure my day and think in bed “I should’ve done more” I simply just don’t care 😂 I work hard and try my best and tomorrow is another day
Ich habe gerade ein Erasmusjahr in Deutschland gemacht und eine der größten Lektionen war, dass ich am Anfang zu nervös war und nicht genug Selbstbewusst hatte. Also, was ich meine, ist, dass meine Angst vor Fehlern mich verhindert hat, und mein Deutsch hat sich schneller verbessert, wenn ich mich nicht so sehr um meine Fehlern gekümmert habe. Also finde ich, dass Ihr Deutsch zurückkommen wird und, dass vielleicht ein bisschen Alkohol Ihnen helfen könnte :)
I travel for work. So every six months I have this mind set. I’m in this new city for only a couple of months or I’m back home. See as much as I can then back home. Then in a new city. It’s great.
I lived in Germany from 1972-74 (as a missionary), then as a soldier from 1980-83. My missionary service, talking with Germans every day, led to near native fluency. I'm living in the UK since 2017, but from 1983 I never returned to a German-speaking country, until my new wife took me to her favorite vacation place in Austria. I had never lost the ability to read and think in German, but I was very hesitant to converse in German, for fear I would sound like an idiot. But it came back quickly and it worked out well. I was very happy!
I had to leave germany and go home because of covid. I adored it there, it felt like the perfect place for me in EVERYWAY. I had to find a new uni back home and have felt very stuck. Ill be graduating in about a year amd have been noodling on wether i should stay and go to a very good uni for my masters or study it in germany. This video flipped a switch in my head. Im comparinga. Future i do not yet have with my happiness. I know I'll be happier in germany, because I've done it before... Thank you
Wow, that part about getting more dopamine from planning stuff than actually doing stuff really resonated with me... maybe I gotta switch some things up in my life
Death to capitalism you say? Maybe I should visit 😂 I need a break. Don’t know if this helps or not l but: Past Evan gave me the motivation to move to the Uk (and back) and relearn Spanish and introduced me to people like Dodie, Corry and Noah. Present Evan inspires me to get my life together to finally maybe get a home and fine and partner, and be serious about my art again. It’s kinda cool to almost grow up along side people online. Do you have that relationship with anyone you follow online? You’ve gotten to follow their journeys and draw from them?
I can follow the need for big changes. I move about every 2 years. I have been doing that for 10 years now. My next big change is moving to an apartment I have lived in before and try to be okay with staying there for about 10 years, while paying off my debt and finishing my studies. I am actually kind of looking forward to stop the cycle of "saving to move -> moving -> saving to move". I hope your new adventure is going to be fun :)
So interesting to listen to someone being so different. I hate planning. I'm not always a fan of "doing" either but planning is definitely what I dislike more. And I also love nothing more than routine. Really don't like getting ripped out of my routines. Maybe not the healthiest but it's how I deal with life.
2:40 I feel that! I've certainly lost other parts of my Chinese, but my biggest problem is confidence in speaking. Just a few days ago I was at a Chinese restaurant and the waiter spoke to me in Chinese, but I was somehow not confident enough to answer him clearly and after a few awkward moments he started to try and speak German...which didn't work either. In the end my friend did the talking. I felt a bit bad after, because he felt the need to speak German to me, which he was clearly struggling with, when I understood everything he wanted to say to me, just because I couldn't get myself to answer him in time:/
Wow. Eine ziemlich drastische Aktion, die ich aber irgendwie auch feiere! Respekt! Deine Argumentation bzgl. "incremental learning" kann ich absolut nachvollziehen. Das geht mir ganz genauso. Ich hoffe, dass Berlin dir das gibt, was du suchst und tatsächlich dein "Reset" wird. VG aus Köln.
I’m playing quiplash 2 with my twitch viewers rn: stop on by twitch.tv/evanedinger
omg....nice ..but why Berlin ? Munich is so much better
Or Münster or Freiburg or Soest...
In Berlin , remember these people think being impolite constitutes a proper dialect.
I don't blame you, London in my experience is a rather soulless city populated by the living dead
How on Earth did you find someone to date in this time and era? Seriously, wherever I look it's: people like to be single now, people do not want to be in a relationship. Doom and gloom and in the end no Donnerschlag to make your life a little bit more geil. :/
what happened to the flat you purchased in london
Traitor come back to us in the UK!
No worries just do what's best for yourself & try to live a happy life
I understand everything you've said about your reasoning about everything, and I definitely think new experiences are worthwhile to pursue, but maybe consider why you think that 22-year-old Evan would be disappointed that you're a homeowner, that you've carved out a space for yourself where you feel comfortable and secure, that you've had enough success to provide all that for yourself. It's not a failure to want stability and commitment. It's not a failure to want to do the things you already know better, rather than do something new. It sounds like you kind of realize this, but you still feel like you need to prove something to someone. We all think you're awesome. Why do you feel you aren't good enough for past you to be proud of?
Agreed! Also, sometimes priorities/values just change over time. Sure I'm doing some things today that 5ys-ago me would not agree with, but that's because I am a different person today and I value other things now. I don't think that's sad, it just comes with ageing and maturing. It is hard to admit to myself though that I have in fact aged...
You sound like you assume people SHOULD be proud of feeling comfortable and secure in a house they own.
That for me sounds like death. If one isn't being challenged, learning, growing experiencing other cultures, then what is the point in being alive?
I'm 49. I've been 'stuck' in my life for 7 years and it has made me SO miserable - my mental health is rock bottom. There is no challenge in going to work doing the same thing every day then going home and socialising with the same people over and over. I genuinely pity people who have to remain fixed in one place with one never-changing life. That's not a good use of ones time on this planet imo.
@hellfirepictures That is an easy position to have when you already have that security. For younger generations, being able to own a house on your own is an accomplishment a minority achieves. Yes, he should be proud of that. If that is something that makes *you* feel stagnant, it's not the fact that you have the house that is the source. You can still seek out new experiences and skills. You've chosen not to. Maybe there is adversity you are dealing with preventing it, but that's a you thing and shouldn't be used as a way to diminish other people's accomplishments.
@@hellfirepictures With all due respect, that sounds like more of a 'you' problem rather than a homeowner problem - I think that having stimulating hobbies and activities breaks up the monotonicity of staying in one place. Having personal projects which show improvement over time and let you express yourself definitely helps, and you can set yourself new challenges whenever you like - feeling challenged is not mutually exclusive with owning a home and staying in one place. You can still travel and seek new opportunities!
@@hellfirepicturesThat sounds more like you have been unable to learn how to grow and progress in life without using outside influence.
As a fellow German learner I can attest it is hard to use German, but it’s so cool that you have had the chance to live in Germany again, best of luck to your German, and Schönen Tag Noch!
As a German, I admire everyone who learns our language. We’re aware of how hard it is!
As a “german” speaking Swiss citizen in France I understand how hard it can be to learn a foreign language when you are not in the country. BUT at one point you have to start using it or you will never be able to speak it, everyone will help you to improve and be very kind with you for trying…
I’m starting to learn German I only know stuff like weir giets I think that’s see you soon minie muttur
It does become a lot easier if you are able to use it every day. Living 5 minutes from the german border exposes you to a lot of it. Especially since not a single german actually knows how to speak dutch.
@@baronvonlimbourgh1716 I live in Uk but like history’s especially wars and stuff like thar
I haven‘t spoken french in 25 years, (with one little paris trip in between). And went on holidays there and was amazed how quickly some things came back to me. Don‘t be afraid of being rusty, it is hidden somewhere in your brain
Just wanna say that It's not embarassing to speak a language foreing to you, ever. It's amazing that someone goes trough the trouble of learning one they don't really need to and does their best to meet others with their language. And it's so understandable and normal to make mistakes.
In principle I agree, but to gain fluency you have to push yourself to speak up even tho you're sure to occasionally say things that are silly or embarrassing.
real mistakes are needed 🙏
I used to work at a historic site where I live, a president’s home. I worked there giving tours. I knew everything there is to know about this president and his house. I left and didn’t work there for more than a decade. When I went back there I thought I would need at least a week learning just the basic tour again; I couldn’t remember ANYTHING! But after just half a day shadowing the tour, it was like a switch flip on in my brain again! I remembered EVERYTHING! I’d just not thought about all those facts in so long I thought they somehow disappeared. So, all of that to say, I get ya.
I have a family member who lives in Canada and works as a translator of French and German. Every year she has a holiday for at least a week in each country to make sure she keeps the fluency she built up over years isn’t lost. And German in Berlin is quite a different thing to German in München!
Being somehow embarrassed speaking a foreign language happens to almost everyone when speaking a (new) foreign language.
The key is to just keep going.
That "I live in London, what am I doing?" really resonated with me. Been living here for 15+ years now and I still haven't even visited London... crazy to think about. There's so much to do here!
As someone who lives in San Diego and goes to the beach maybe once a year, that line hit me too.
I needed this video, honestly I relate so much to that feeling of constantly comparing yourself to previous versions of you and feeling like you're in a rut. Thanks for this🧡
Me too!
For those that missed it, Evan is only there for 1 month (ref @14:07). It isn’t a permanent move, nor does it breach the 90/180 rule.
Edit: assuming the 60 days prior to the move were not all spent in the schengen area
If I was going somewhere for a month, I wouldn't use the word 'move'. If I have the return ticket, I haven't moved, I just travelled.
@@minimim89 i get why he's saying it like that, he moved into a houseshare and is still working and probably doing "normal" things that don't feel like he's just on holiday. we all use language a bit differently and i think that's ok
@@minimim89 I agree. “Staying” is what I would use, but “moving” is more likely to encourage people to watch the video. It is a loose definition of the word, but he has used it well here.
Thanks for the clarification. Saved me 10 minutes.
@@Bluetangg lol. I didn’t mean for people to skip the video. It is still worth a watch. The comment was originally made because so many comments were asking questions about how long he planned to stay there or were wondering what would happen to his uk citizenship.
Evan, this video hurt a bit, mostly because this is something I deal with a lot. I feel so on top of things when I'm abroad BECAUSE I'm in slight discomfort. Going back to the US just makes me comfortable and complacent in bad habits.
Literally just moved from the UK to Berlin myself, it’s a big challenge but your outlook on the situation is a much needed boost. Looking forward to your next videos!
Auch ein herzliches Willkommen! :) Viel Spass in Berlin
i never thought about being able to cook as any special skill, but now that he describes it I realize it must really lower your self esteem to not being able to cook. I learned to cook when I was around 14 and I don't remember ever being bad at it, it was a part of growing up and I believe that is how it should be for all kids because otherwise it just makes you feel bad about yourself for no real reason as it is a skill that is pretty easy to learn. so teach your kids how to cook it will make them so much more confident and happy
@myflyingkidney
I agree that it is a good idea to teach all children to cook, just for survival, being able to cope on your own if you are housebound for any reason. However, I think that some people never come to feel bad about it because they have always had someone to do it for them, parents, spouse or professional. A few years ago it was reported that the reasonably well off were buying houses with really nice kitchens (so if you wanted to sell, get the kitchen up to snuff) but they were not using them, preferring to eat out or have takeaway - cooking took too long. My father and all his siblings learned to cook - more than 80 years ago. His parents had no prejudice that cooking was only for the women. It is an attitude I share, but I do know people who are pretty helpless in the kitchen or who have such basic skills that they soon get fed up of their own cooking.
@@charleshayes2528 I think cooking being for women only really is truly a social construct of 20th century. And 19th probably. Through our evolution cooking was rarely separated from hunting or gathering, it was always the same process and later same goes for growing food. I often disagree with people who think every kind of male-female differences are all just social constructs, because many really do stem from our biology, but idea that cooking is for women never existed before, so yeah. But anyway cooking and eating are among few most important things in life and knowing how to cook means knowing how to eat so kids deserve to know it. And I feel like people here in europe cook more in general. At least in my group of friends (male and female) I don't think there is anyone who doesn't know how to cook but also it isn't anything special, it is expected. But glad that you have good cooking heritage, it means you know your food :)
cooking, at a basic level, is the fundamental thing everyone needs to learn because that is how we get the vast majority of our energy.
You do realise the life you described in the UK is really what we all crave. A calm life with the occasional fun activity or holiday thrown in. What you were describing was life for most of us. I'm not saying one way is better than another but maybe you don't need to go to such extreme measures every time you feel you are too settled into a ho hum life. However, it is nice to try something outside ones comfort zone now and again.
Definitely agree about wanting to spend time more wisely in a different country! I went to Korea for two weeks and spoke more Korean, saw more things and overall got more out of my day than I do in London!
This is actually a very refreshing video of "just do it" and appeared when I really needed it. Thank you!
Good on you for recognising and stepping up Evan!
I'd love to try psychedelics, but worried it'll be bad for me. I dont want to lose the plot.
Im in a depressing rut, so when i woke at 4am, i went outside to listen to the birds morning song and check out the stars, something i havent done in 8 years. Small steps 😄
Looking forward to the Q & A
2018 Evan was going from novice to beginner/intermediate a much easier skill jump than fine tuning existing skills. You shouldnt be so hard on yourself, youve had a tough year and its ok ramp up slowly to your next successes. Good luck with it ! And enjoy Berlin coffee
Hallo Evan! Schön, dass du wieder an deinem Deutsch arbeitest! Geniess die Zeit in Berlin :)
A wise person said to me once (a psychiatry professor actually), that “if you plan to fix your problem by waking up the next day and simply doing everything you are already doing better, then you have no plan”……..I have remembered ever since and always strived to make sure I am actually _changing_ something in my life in order to solve my problems. It seems you have reached the same conclusion naturally!
This is my life... Thank you for the talk about procrastination and planning!
As someone who moved cities recently, this really resonated with me. I really needed to get out of my rut and experience new things, and you articulated that perfectly
Hi Evan, I can highly recommend taking the train to Potsdam this week, because autumn and castles and parks and sunshine are a great combination. I spend a few hours in Park Sanssouci today and I am not a good picture taker, but the photos turned out lovely from the scenery. 🌳🍁🍂☀️
I was just there yesterday! Editing the photos as we speak
@@evan Cool! Can't wait for the photos / video!
You guys currently have actual SUN up there? I'm jealous, in the middle of the country it's as foggy as one might expect London to be 😢
I just adore Potsdam! So beautiful 😍
As a Potsdamer, born and raised and former tourism board employee, I can only second that! I’m glad that Evan visited our lovely city. It’s especially beautiful in autumn, as the facades of the historical buildings really come to life in the warm autumn sun. x
What you said about the act of planning vs act of doing… relatable!
It’s London get out and see it… oh god I feel you! That inspired me to get out there and just live!
Little improvements less visible than large improvements, so annoying yet so real don’t I know it
I just wanted to say that whenever I watch your videos, I have genuine joy. Thanks for the content Evan
Ah I love this video! Everything you’ve said is how I feel but I never have anyone to talk to about it, so I feel like I’ve had a good chat with a friend and now I feel more motivated to get out of that rut. We can do this💪🏻
You know what, I learned German up to B1 15 years ago and then just... lost it completely. I mean completely. When I came here as a refugee last year, all I got were numbers. So I crunched and learned the language till B2 now. And now I'm applying to German jobs in German. It's so embarrassing every time I make a severe mistake or just freeze, but I feel like my brain really built new pathways this time. It's true that without the immersion into the language culture it's impossible to really speak it. So thanks for a relatable video!
Idk if that helps but I'm a German native speaker, and from my experience, most German native speakers know that our language is incredibly difficult and lacks logic (like how grammatical genders, plurals, etc., just do whatever they want), so we kind of expect German learners to make mistakes (but are all the more impressed when they don't). It's okay! We natives make mistakes too! I just wrote an email where I wasn't sure whether I should say, "ich würde mich über Rückmeldung freuen" or rather "ich würde mich über EINE Rückmeldung freuen".
Good luck with your job hunt, as well as the German language!
@@endlessteatime4733 vielen Dank für die Unterstützung! btw I was taught in my Berufsprachkurs to write "ich freue mich AUF die Rückmeldung / Antwort", so there you go, another thing to worry about XD Ich hasse die Verben mit festen Präpositionen, wenn es mehr als eine Präposition gibt
Willkommen in Deutschland und Daumen sind gedrückt das es mit dem Job funktioniert :)
@@PSzallies Danke dir! Ich gebe mein Bestens!
I am really impressed how quickly you and most of the other Ukrainian refugees learnt German to a level where you can work with customers and speak in German even. One of the assistants at my dentist came here in 2021 and is now speaking German fluently with only a very soft accent.
Viel Erfolg bei der Jobsuche und viel Spaß dann bei dem künftigen Job.
I feel somewhat similar about living abroad. At age 20, in the middle of my bachelor's degree I decided to spend a gap year as an intern in Japan. While it was far from perfect (lots of tears had been shed during the year) it was the first time I had my own place, earned a significant amount of money, managed my own groceries, meals, club activities, travel itineraries etc. It was cathartic. I returned to Germany, and despite moving to a different city I'd never felt as independent and settled as I had in Japan. This summer I've arrived in Korea as an exchange student, and I've realized what I need is this challenge to get settled in a place far from home, way outside my comfort zone, because the leaps that I'm able to make in my development from this experience are bigger than they could have ever become in Germany.
Hey Evan! First of all, I've been following you so long I can't believe it's already been 5 years since your first move to Germany! I hope this trip will prove just as invigorating to you! Second of all, thanks for this video in general. I think a lot of people'll relate to it - it's very comforting to hear I'm not alone at least in getting stuck in routines. That learning plateau is a killer! As a language learner myself, I really understand the difficulty of keeping up the usage of it, or even just the motivation to keep it up! This video has urged me to return to the language café in town, though! My Mandarin isn't going to learn itself😂 Keep on being you, can't wait for these Berlin videos!
Thanks!
That feeling you get when moving to a new country is really cool. I've done it twice now. Lived in Berlin for 3 years and now in Canada. I miss Berlin a lot.
I miss germany too, I used to live in Hamburg
It is of course a good thing to always want to better yourself, and learn more about other countries and cultures. But can a person truly ever be happy and content if they are constantly looking to better themselves. Whatever stage a person is at, they can always do better. There is no final point you will reach, you will always want more if that is your charachter. At some point, we all either have to settle for what we have, or forever be unfulfilled striving for more. Not an easy choice for sure.
Your journey with German echoes mine with crochet. It's a skill I've been learning now for a few months & I went from not even getting the hook size right, to amigurumis, miniature capes, big blankets, scarves, & as I watch you, my second hat!!! And there's always more to learn!!!
So proud of you!! Cool that you go through these waves because you have a genuine chance to revamp, change, and challenge yourself. Super happy to hear how you've handled life.
Just remember time is not meant to be productive it is just time. Thinking that you need to be productive to be happy is a dangerous fallacy. Doing nothing is a necessary part of being a healthy human.
You make a great point. Do things for fun.
I’m a terrible painter but I love painting and try to do it every week. Some of it’s even recognisable. I’m in the Bob Ross frame of mind with a fraction of his talent but I enjoy it!
Es geht ja viel mehr darum, Herausforderungen zu erkennen und sinnvoll anzunehmen. Das hast du toll auf den Punkt gebracht! Ich wünschte, ich hätte das bereits in deinem Alter so klar erkannt. Sehr schön rübergebracht, mit viel Humor und verschmitzter Selbstkritik. Sehr gelungen dieses Video👏
Same as last time I very much look up to you for taking the courage to move to the country whose language you've been learning. And you explained the creation of new pathways quite well. I especially liked the "I'm in Berlin, I should not waste time!" notion. Gets me thinking...
god bless you evan! change what to can and accept what you can't. may you month be a great success!
Dude, it takes some stones to talk so openly about stuff like this, respect to you.
You've just described my life to a tee. I'm exactly the same with planning vs actually following through. My brain will class the task as complete once I've finished planning, because the satisfaction level for finishing the plan is so much higher than for doing the task. I used to lie awake at night and say "tomorrow, I'll finally sort myself out", and really beat myself up about it. I was diagnosed with ADHD earlier this year, and it's honestly explained a lot about myself and my patterns of behaviour. Not saying that this anyone's experience other than my own! But that negative self talk is easier to tackle if the reason for behaviour is easier to put down in my experience
Same thing here! Diagnosed at 42, I am now 53 and what you and Evan are describing is Executive Dysfunction, one of the most recognizable traits in ADHD, and a fair bit in Autism too. It ABSOLUTELY is not just you!! 😄❤
Glad to see that you’re happy and bursting with energy and the need to become an even better version of yourself. Your enthusiasm is contagious, too. I’m sure that you will adapt well, and become fluent in German soon. Looking forward to future videos. 👍
Oh! I'm now in Vienna. Four years ago I moved from London. Brexit is wot dunnite. I have UK Settled Status, of course. (I'm a dual-national: Commonwealth national & Portuguese)
I recently completed a B1 Deutsch course successfully and am astonished at how much confidence I gained in the 3 months it took. The vocabulary was always there, I just needed the KICK from participating and interacting with my trainer and colleagues (we're 11 from 10 countries and NO ENGLISH).
I can relate a whole lot to what you went through. The Austrian Mental Health services are incredible. I have managed to recover from a major burn-out to functioning somewhat, and all in German.
As a psychologist I agree that there are great psychologists and therapists here, but how the health insurance deals with their patients is a shame. They are seriously dropping the ball here. The waittimes are completely unacceptable, at least where I work. Way too many people don't get the help they need.
But I am glad your experience was a good one, wish you all the best for your recovery!
As someone who moved to the UK from abroad around 5 years ago, I have had that same feeling of chasing the high of uprooting life and doing something completely different. It's very relatable
By far your best video ever. Very honest. I moved to Spain to learn Spanish and I got fluent very quickly (side note: English people will pick a very obscure Spanish word that most Spanish people wouldn’t even know and test me on it and if I don’t know what it means they will say I’m not fluent even though I had a 2 year relationship with someone who spoke no English without any communication issues) and now I’m close to moving back to London I fear I’ll lose it, so thanks for this video!
Thanks for this really inspiring video! I’ve been learning Swedish for the last 15 years, on and off. I always did it mainly, because I like learning languages. As you can imagine my progress was slooooow (15 years on and off) and I, too, struggle with “I should” and “now I’ve lost so much skill & knowledge, again”…but over the many years (and repetitions from several courses) I realized: Oh, wait, I am getting better, I actually know quite a lot. Repetition and time do wonders, even if there are long stretches of breaks and not doing “enough”. Yes, every percent is worthwhile if it’s fun for you and you like doing it. So I stopped pressuring myself and am better for it. :)
Happy to have you back! Noch einen schönen Tatort-Abend, Grüße aus München 😘
This honestly made me feel a lot better about jumping back into learning Spanish. I did a semester abroad there in college and within a month after I came back I lost all confidence in my language skills
I don't have a q&a for you, but thank you for being articulate, open and frank discussing your mental health; it's given me an insight into getting better myself
I think Evan from five years ago would be extremely proud of you for everything you've achieved; it's been heartwarming and exciting to watch your videos as you've gone through the journey of the last five years, and I know you can't see it right now, because the grass is always greener, right? And that's really human, to have those thoughts, but that doesn't mean the thoughts are truthful.
Isn’t this going to keep happening every so often? Either you’ll have to move every few years to new countries or you’ll have to deal with it
Also what I thought. No matter how often you move abroad, no matter where you move to, life will inevitably become somewhat of a drag at some point.
Besides, there's nothing wrong with not being productive all the time. Have that mindless scroll on your mobile phone every now and then, play those videogames for far too long every now and then, binge watch that series every now and then, that's all absolutely fine. There's still going to be plenty of time in which you will be productive instead.
So just try to be comfortable with being comfortable.
@@jdjphotographynlwhile yeah I don't think living somewhere else for a bit is a viable solution to most people, and that it should be okay to be unproductive and sit on the couch all day, it *does* become a problem when you do that every time.
I feel like I am in that position, many a weekend thinking I *should* go do something, meet people, whatever but then I just sit on the couch and play games or watch shows. I need more friends and some actual hobbies because it is affecting my life, but my brain won't stray out of comfort mode.
So yes, it's fine to be comfortable sometimes, but when it's such a pattern that it's actively becoming detrimental to your life, you absolutely do need to make changes.
@@Bisonrulz16 Agreed, but those changes don't necessarily require something as big as moving abroad, often smaller changes do the trick just as well or even better already. But yeah, one does need to get up his/her arse and actually start doing shit. Procrastinating isn't going to get you anywhere.
Then again, maybe moving abroad is the proverbial kick in the arse some people need to get out of their comfort zones and start doing shit... think I'm now taking a big detour to basically say the exact same thing you say, don't I? 🤣
@@jdjphotographynl Yeah haha I'd say we're mostly in agreement. Sometimes change is needed, but as you say it definitely doesn't have to be as big as uproot your life and move 1000km away
Well, but most people make major changes every few years, even if it’s just moving apartments or cities. He’s just going to Berlin for a month.
Thanks Evan,
I'm the same. I live in a picturesque area that I rarely get out & see. Its amazing how you can slowly settle into habits that reduce what you do & where you go. I'm going to give myself a metaphorical shake & get out there more & be more productive. Thanks for the wake up call & helping me realize that!
We moved States, New Mexico to Northern California. Then we moved to Island of Hawaii. New experiences are so important. We go out and and experience community at least one day every weekend. We work to put ourselves in places where language is diverse. It's fun and a lot to learn. Enjoy the journey.
This is how I feel about my English (being German) and we‘re actually moving to London next year. Everything you say makes so much sense and I hope I can make the most of my time in the UK. I found your channel this spring when I was stumbling across your Chiswick video and we‘re most likely moving to this very area 😊
Excited for you, thank you for such an uplifting message!
This is how I feel about rollerskating rn! I used to be able to learn something completely new in 1 session but now I have got to the point where everything needs to be smoother and more stable, incremental change is very important
I have lived in 5 countries. I get high on the feeling of being at first lost/disorientated, and then learning, finding my bearings and feeling at home! And then, one day, I am too much at home, too comfortable, and I need to change. Keep it up and don't give up Spanish!! I also recommend learning a non-European language xx
god i relate so hard to the sentiment that going from "not being able to do something to being able to do it" feels a lot more rewarding and inspiring than going from "being able to do something to then actually mastering that something." It feels like there was a clear division in when i went from a novice to conversationally fluent in my target language but now that i'm at the intermediate level i just cant find ways to get that same motivation and clarity that what i'm doing is still a form of progression.
I am French. Watching your videos (and others) is one of my ways to keep using my English language on a daily basis. I listen and read the language every single day or I miss it like crazy. I just wish I had a native speaker friend I could chat with on a regular basis, because I can't practice my speaking skills. I have also recently started doing the same with Italian and Spanish because I am so rusty (although, contrary to English, I have never been fluent in those languages).
I'm English .
I've been learning French since June this year.
I have an incentive as my brother has a house in the Nouvelle Aquitaine region that I can visit whenever I want.
My brother's neighbour only speaks french and I want to be able to have a conversation with him instead of relying on phrasebook french.
I went through a period just like that, a whole year of just completely changing my life in so many positive ways, to the point where people who knew me before were always commenting on how different I seemed, acted, looked...how much more confident I was. That was about 6 years ago and while overall I'm stil in a really good place, I've let some things slip and I'm now working on getting back into a happy, comfortable resting state and to be honest it's so much more tedious than last time lol. There's no big transformation, it's all just mental and physical maintenance - I've done it before, so I know I can do it again, but the process is not as exciting, like Evan said I don't feel like I can 'compete' with that former version of myself who was doing it all for the first time - I was feeling really alone in that feeling, so very grateful for this video 💛
My condolences
😂
Funny enough, I just discovered this channel today because I want to do a trip to London next year, mainly to improve my spoken English.
Well I’m chuffed as buggery . I’m a life long procrastinator and anxiety ridden and have wasted alot of my life and am now old with regrets. Es ist viel einfacher, eine Sprache zu lernen, wenn man auf dem Land lebt und sie jeden Tag spricht. Sie haben auf jeden Fall eine gute Wahl getroffen.😊
Ahhh the "lying in bed and thinking tomorrow I will finally change it all" and then not doing anything. You didn't have to call me out like that :D I hope you love Berlin as I do. I've lived there for a while as a kid and it still has a place in my heart.
"Every inch of space in my heart
Is filled with something I'll never start"
- Arcade Fire, Everything Now
I needed to hear this. Thanks for the bit about incremental progress. It all counts. Another great video!
Youre right with getting dopamine from just telling people goals. Its sometimes useful to keep your real goals inside and only get the reward once you actually get it. otherwise its too easy to give up as you got your reward and good jobs too early. Love your videos evan!
I just moved states yesterday for work after finishing my bachelor's degree 5 months ago. I spent those 5 months looking for jobs, and got nothing in my field and in my state, and now I've found a job that wasn't part of my career goals. Before I start, I'm told myself I would do things at home to develop my skills for my career goals, irrelevant to my job (which is a higher paying, more stable job than my goal career). I think it will be really easy to accept a big paycheck and not work towards my dream, and come back and watch UA-cam, but this video reminded me why I promised myself I would not let myself just work and get money. Thank you, I hope for the best for you and me!
You are so right about the effects of picking up and moving to live in a different country, speak a new language, learn a new culture. It gives your brain a shake. Even just going to the grocery store is a different experience. It can be both exhilarating and exhausting. You’re doing yourself a favor going to Berlin for a whole month! I hope you’ll do some videos there and share the experience with us.
Honestly Evan, this is one of the most inspirational videos I've ever seen from you! Thank you.
Willkommen in Deutschland Evan!
Ich hoffe du kannst die Zeit genießen und viel mitnehmen. Ich fand das Video jedenfalls sehr inspirierend und würde jetzt beinahe nach London ziehen wollen für einen Monat... beinahe. Ich freue mich schon mehr aus meiner Hauptstadt zu hören. Du machst das super!
Tschüssi
Great video. Congrats to getting therapy and taking mental health seriously and talking about it, great Evan. My condolences to moving to Berlin. Mein Beileid das du nach Berlin gezogen bist. I was born in West Berlin and I am so happy I escaped that hell hole about 13 years ago. I live 1km beyond the German Border in the Netherlands now haha. I should probably give you some tipps: Allierten Museum (Allied Museum in the Outpost Movie Theater). Take a listen to Spezialitz - G.B.Z. oholika and M.O.R. both Berlin rap groups from 20 years ago. Tons of more music from that music. I used to be a hip hip A&R and a Jazz DJ in Berlin. I am watching the news in horror with all the Pro-Hamas demonstration in Berlin the past 2 weeks. Stay safe Evan, pass auf dich auf.
100% agree, the idea of fluency being a binary is so frustrating! I live my daily life using my second language and get around just fine, but when people ask if I'm fluent, I always feel like I have to say no because I don't speak at the same level as a native speaker. I think it's discouraging as an adult language learner to think about the fact that I'll never fully get rid of my accent or stop making occasional mistakes, and therefore, never reach "fluency".
Fluency, to me, doesn’t mean speaking like a true native, because you’d have to be in a country for years down the line to speak like a proper native. For me fluency is when you can hold a conversation with someone enough to talk about topics, interests, order food etc etc. But I get that ‘fluency’ can be different for everyone 😊
Oh Evan, so much of this resonates with me! I studied languages at uni and for most of my early twenties I was travelling and working in different places, including abroad. I love the novelty of figuring out how things work, how to get around, where to buy things, how to ask for things in other languages and now I’ve lived in the U.K. (and in my hometown) for a few years I’ve got such itchy feet to get out of this rut and go somewhere different again. Really hoping next year I can spend more than a week or two living abroad to practise my languages and challenge myself again. Thanks for sharing your experience! My question for you: how are you finding ways to interact with german speaking people to practise? Just in shops etc or are you going to any groups or events?
Oh, to be young and have such adventures... Wunderbar!
Have a great time in Berlin.
OMG! I have never really thought about this, but I too am a planning junkie! The feeling I have while planning something, the more complex the better, is a thousand times more gratifying than the actual execution of the plan!! Now I have to look more deeply into that and find out why!!
I'm more of a planner than a do-er too. I've spent many a happy hour planning trips I never go on. I was in hospital in March for 2 weeks (my chronic condition had deteriorated) and that invigorated me to start exercising. Then in May I went and got cancer, which was frustrating. And terrifying. But an extra kick up the arse. I'm halfway through chemo and my fitness is worse than it's ever been. There's now an uncertainty over how much life I have left so as soon as I'm well enough I'm going to do some fun things. And hopefully build my exercise back up.
I think a change can be really positive to remind you to do things you enjoy, but it's also a real pleasure and privilege sometimes to just relax and not worry about hitting goals.
I would have preferred a month in Berlin to getting cancer though. 😅
On the language front, I've got to A2/B1 with a few languages and then totally neglected them and forgotten most of it. So my plan with Spanish has always been to get as advanced as possible. I'm about to hit 600 hours of input and I'm planning to keep going to 2000.
There's a psychological concept around the joy of anticipation. People frequently get more joy out of the anticipation of a thing than the actual doing of the thing. We see this around vacations or purchasing large ticket items. I don't know that this helps, but just know that it's normal. It helps me because I use it when I'm feeling down. I just start planning something I can look forward to
Omg i feel this so much! I‘ve just come back from an exchange year in France and i feel like i‘ve learned and grown so much there and learned french of course. Now it‘s been a minute since i left and i‘m back at home and going to my university again and i‘m suddenly in this rut again and i have the same problems again. And i know i forget to give myself credit for how far i‘ve come but i feel like i can only go backwards from that point…
So thanks for the reminder of that energy that comes with change and the knowledge that i can always get out there again. I really have to try to appreciate my life back home more
What is the best advice you can give to someone trying to change their lifestyle that can't just move. I realised early this year I wanted to get off my ass and have a career change. Specifically an author. I'm not expecting it to be sunshine and roses but I think I owe it to myself to get better something I love. The thought of ending up in a lidl or aldi stacking shelves gives me motivation but I still struggle with the discipline.
I would suggest taking a holiday in the Scottish Highlands or Islands - preferably the Islands as they are more remote. Even if you don’t go walking or hiking and just look at the scenery, then it will clear your mind, and if you go for a week or two then it’s so remote and inspiring that you are bound to come up with ideas. You’ll also get memories you can use in the future and have the opportunity to experience a different culture than most people usually do. Although I’d leave your main phone at home and get a simple phone that just does the basics: text, email and phone so you aren’t tempted to just browse the internet. George Orwell wrote 1984 when he was staying on Jura.
I've taken a big leap to move countries recently, and all of this really resonated a lot! I've been starting to think about how this experience (whether it becomes a long-long term thing, or stays a relatively shorter one) is reframing how I think about & experience home (also London for me!) and Europe in general, and I've already been thinking similar things about how I'll likely view it from a fresher more, "hey I'm in London! Let's do something/go somewhere!" perspective. Thank you for articulating this all so well 🥰 have a great time in Berlin!
Evan, this type of video makes me happy. Especially with the circumstances currently in my family, and while visiting another country isn't an option for me, this type of change could help. My mother is currently going blind, as we learned on Friday. This has caused an existential crisis for me as well.
It's the same with learning anything. My piano teacher always told me: first week not practicing: you will hear it. second week: your teacher will catch up on it. third week no practice: the audience knows it.
Hi. I am a Berliner and I can recommend to visit one of the Underground Tours ‚ Berliner Unterwelten‘ which are tours that explore literal old underground structures. It’s run by a not profit organization with the goal to preserve history. They offer various tours but I can recommend the WW2 flak tower in Humboldthain Park and the Dark Worlds Tour. Even a Berliner I learned so much that I didn’t know.
Love this video. I was partly inspired by Evan to move to the UK for University back in 2017, and though I'm done with Uni now and loved living in the UK, I'm now trying to figure out how to really feel like I'm living my life again. I've been in a rut because although I loved my University city, I felt the same as Evan by the end of my degree, that there were comfortable routines I had fallen into and that the intentions of my 18 year old self for gaining new experiences had fallen to the wayside. I've since been living in my hometown again for a while but that is also not great for my mental health since there is a strong reason I had initially left. This video is a good reminder that there is a whole wide world full of life that's waiting to be experienced. Comfort is good to fall back on when life get rough, but only experiencing comfort is really unhealthy IMO. Even if you don't have the resources to move to a new city, you could even try a sleepover at a friend's to try to break free of a routine that you feel has been trapping you. You could also try psilocybin but uhhh do be careful with that and don't do it without acknowledging the risks involved. Psilocybin mushrooms aren't harmful in of themselves since they're non addictive and don't have neurotoxins like alcohol and muscarine, but they can cause psychosis in some people and a bad trip can be incredibly stressful and can impact you for days to weeks afterwards. There's nothing wrong with enjoying what life has to offer as long you're doing it safely.
I think you just changed my life - thank you
This is fascinating to me, we have completely opposite ways of viewing time and productivity! Don’t get me wrong, I love adventure and spontaneity and the feeling of achieving something I’ve worked hard for but over all I definitely fall in to the slow living category. I don’t ever measure my day and think in bed “I should’ve done more” I simply just don’t care 😂 I work hard and try my best and tomorrow is another day
Exactly. There is nothing wrong with being “unproductive” and enjoying the comforts you’ve earned.
Ich habe gerade ein Erasmusjahr in Deutschland gemacht und eine der größten Lektionen war, dass ich am Anfang zu nervös war und nicht genug Selbstbewusst hatte. Also, was ich meine, ist, dass meine Angst vor Fehlern mich verhindert hat, und mein Deutsch hat sich schneller verbessert, wenn ich mich nicht so sehr um meine Fehlern gekümmert habe.
Also finde ich, dass Ihr Deutsch zurückkommen wird und, dass vielleicht ein bisschen Alkohol Ihnen helfen könnte :)
Ich war mich nicht sicher, ob ich Sie duzen or siezen soll, also habe ich Sie gesiezt, um sicher zu sein 😅
It’s been five years since then 😳
I think you are the only person I’ve followed this long continuously
I travel for work. So every six months I have this mind set. I’m in this new city for only a couple of months or I’m back home. See as much as I can then back home. Then in a new city. It’s great.
I lived in Germany from 1972-74 (as a missionary), then as a soldier from 1980-83. My missionary service, talking with Germans every day, led to near native fluency. I'm living in the UK since 2017, but from 1983 I never returned to a German-speaking country, until my new wife took me to her favorite vacation place in Austria. I had never lost the ability to read and think in German, but I was very hesitant to converse in German, for fear I would sound like an idiot. But it came back quickly and it worked out well. I was very happy!
I had to leave germany and go home because of covid. I adored it there, it felt like the perfect place for me in EVERYWAY. I had to find a new uni back home and have felt very stuck.
Ill be graduating in about a year amd have been noodling on wether i should stay and go to a very good uni for my masters or study it in germany.
This video flipped a switch in my head. Im comparinga. Future i do not yet have with my happiness.
I know I'll be happier in germany, because I've done it before...
Thank you
Wow, that part about getting more dopamine from planning stuff than actually doing stuff really resonated with me... maybe I gotta switch some things up in my life
Death to capitalism you say? Maybe I should visit 😂 I need a break.
Don’t know if this helps or not l but: Past Evan gave me the motivation to move to the Uk (and back) and relearn Spanish and introduced me to people like Dodie, Corry and Noah. Present Evan inspires me to get my life together to finally maybe get a home and fine and partner, and be serious about my art again. It’s kinda cool to almost grow up along side people online.
Do you have that relationship with anyone you follow online? You’ve gotten to follow their journeys and draw from them?
I can follow the need for big changes. I move about every 2 years. I have been doing that for 10 years now. My next big change is moving to an apartment I have lived in before and try to be okay with staying there for about 10 years, while paying off my debt and finishing my studies.
I am actually kind of looking forward to stop the cycle of "saving to move -> moving -> saving to move". I hope your new adventure is going to be fun :)
Your language skills that you learned earlier will come back to you in a week or two, certainly a lot quicker than learning it first time round.
So interesting to listen to someone being so different.
I hate planning. I'm not always a fan of "doing" either but planning is definitely what I dislike more.
And I also love nothing more than routine.
Really don't like getting ripped out of my routines. Maybe not the healthiest but it's how I deal with life.
2:40 I feel that! I've certainly lost other parts of my Chinese, but my biggest problem is confidence in speaking. Just a few days ago I was at a Chinese restaurant and the waiter spoke to me in Chinese, but I was somehow not confident enough to answer him clearly and after a few awkward moments he started to try and speak German...which didn't work either. In the end my friend did the talking. I felt a bit bad after, because he felt the need to speak German to me, which he was clearly struggling with, when I understood everything he wanted to say to me, just because I couldn't get myself to answer him in time:/
Wow. Eine ziemlich drastische Aktion, die ich aber irgendwie auch feiere! Respekt!
Deine Argumentation bzgl. "incremental learning" kann ich absolut nachvollziehen. Das geht mir ganz genauso.
Ich hoffe, dass Berlin dir das gibt, was du suchst und tatsächlich dein "Reset" wird.
VG aus Köln.