I’ve spent the last few months in Germany, apologising for Brexit

‘I don’t understand why we can’t all be friends anymore’


I moved to Mannheim (don’t worry I hadn’t heard of it either) in late August, just as the dust from the Brexit earthquake was settling and Europeans began to accept the fact that Britain would soon leave the EU. Since then, I probably haven’t gone a week without someone mentioning it to me.

“So, where are you from?”

“I’m from London, in the UK.”

A sympathetic, vaguely piteous look comes over my conversation partner’s face.

They reply: “Ohh, how do you feel about Brexit?”

Cue a grimace from me, after hearing the ‘B word’ for the umpteenth time. This is a typical conversation I have had far too many times in my time here in Germany.

Germany is the heart of the European Union. From the moment I arrived in Frankfurt Airport, I realised that I, as a Brit, was no longer on the same page as the people around me. I felt distant, disconnected from the European-ness around me. And only some of that was because I can’t tell Bonn from Bremen or a bratwurst from a hot dog.

Delicious

This sense of nationality-based alienation only increased once I met other international students – the first question past the usual name, degree, and country was the one I detailed above. I can’t tell you how often I’ve had to reassure concerned colleagues that I really did vote Remain, and I don’t worship Nigel Farage’s grotty feet.

My British friends and I have sat through so many cringeworthy presentations about Boris Johnson and Brexit that I’d rather listen to a ten-hour loop of Rebecca Black’s ‘Friday’. The topic is understandably fascinating to my German friends in these classes, but it’s a little humiliating to hear them chuckle bemusedly at how ridiculous British politics is now.

Even worse is the fact that I am, as well as the other British students here, financially far worse off than I would have been just a year ago. The impact of the pound crashing in value against the Euro wouldn’t matter much if I was back in Exeter (where you lucky sods can still grab a cheeky £3 meal deal), but here every pound counts. When you’re transferring your maintenance grant into Euros, that 1.1 exchange rate (it was 1.4 before Brexit) really hurts.

Conflicting currencies

I asked some of my fellow exchange students, who are also European, what they thought about the massive palaver that is Brexit. Ciara, 21, said: “I don’t understand why we can’t all be friends anymore,” and: “Britain should just get over themselves and accept the fact that they’re only 21 miles away from the Continent.”

Ciara isn’t amused about Brexit

Despite all this, I am thoroughly enjoying my year abroad in Germany. I’m still getting free money from the EU to sit around drinking great beer and eating fresh pretzels all day.

Studying in a castle is a perk

I’m still learning a language and getting experience that will help me find a job (and as a History student, God knows I’ll need it).

Smiling through the pain

In some ways, Brexit has made us all more grateful to have this rare opportunity to live, study and travel in Europe; because who knows how much longer British students will be able to follow in our footsteps?

And at the end of the day, we’re all still European.