10 reasons why being a British European is a really good thing!

The last week has been extremely stressful, and we have the awful outcome of the Brexit Referendum to thank for that, and by all accounts, it isn’t a pretty story.

The Prime Minister – David Cameron – handed in his resignation. So did Boris Johnson.

The leader of the Labour Party is struggling to keep his head, Scotland and Northern Ireland are talking loudly about secession, and the pound lost a third of it’s value, and has never been lower!

The idea of BREXIT.

Is.

Frightening.

And.

Totally Awful.

But let me be clear.  I’m still British, and I’ll be British to the end.

Yes, those losers voted for Out. But they’re not my people. They’re not the British people that I know.

And.

They don’t represent me.

The people who voted for Remain ARE my people. And even though we lost the Referendum. We haven’t lost our spirit.

I’m proud to be British.

Being British has never been about self.

Being British has always been about supporting the common good, the underdog, freedom and fairness.

I may not agree with the verdict, but it’s democracy, and that vote has been taken, and so we must bear the consequences.

It’s true that I have the luxury of a double nationality if I so wish, and I have the right to do so.

I have lived in three European countries as an expat, and each nation has been left better off than when I found it. They have benefited not only from my expertise, but also my money.

I am the British Berliner.

I’m a strong advocate for Europe and I will keep on advocating. Here’s why:

10 REASONS WHY BEING A BRITISH EUROPEAN IS A REALLY GOOD THING!

• Being a British European means that you can learn a second, third, or fourth language:

Living in Europe means that you get to learn another language. Our son – “The Tall Young Gentleman” – speaks German, English, Spanish, and a bit of Chinese, although he would actually like to learn Japanese! My husband – The Music Producer – speaks German, English, Latin, and a bit of French. Myself – The British Berliner – well, I speak English, German, a bit of a Czech, a bit of Polish, and a weeny bit of French, although I would like to learn Hindi or Mandarin!

Now of course, the reality is, if you’re an Anglo-American expat and your native language is English, you don’t really need to but… And this is a huge but.

If you want to be truly a part of your new country, it helps if you try. They appreciate it.

• Being a British European means being widely travelled:

I have been to 30 countries in Europe, 10 countries in Asia, 6 countries in Africa, 2 countries in North America, 1 country in South America, 1 country in the Middle East, and 5 dependent islands.  In 2014, I travelled to 10 countries, in 2015, I travelled to 11 countries. That makes a grand total of 55 countries and 5 continents!

I love re-visiting countries that I like, and so in 2016 I returned to Spain, Portugal, Belgium, and England of course!

In the summer, I’ll be travelling to 5 countries, and two of them will be new – Switzerland and Luxembourg – and in the Autumn, I’ll be in Asia again travelling to the Philippines, but open to China and Taiwan while I’m there, and trying to squeeze in France somewhere along the way lol!

Not too shabby!

I’ve said it before, and I’ll probably say it again, if you live in Europe (and that includes the UK), you have no excuse not to travel all around this beautiful continent.

While we still can!

• Being a British European means free education:

In March 2016, I went back to England and attended the very dignified graduation ceremony for my MA Degree.

Yep!

I obtained an MA – Masters of Art Degree at the University of Chester.

In England!

My specialisation was in Education Management and Training. A bit like an MBA for teachers!

I am extremely pleased. And very proud!

My first degree was obtained at an elite university abroad, with a BSc. honours degree in Political Science! I then did a Master’s Degree at Durham University which is the 3rd oldest university in England!

Now I’m a corporate inter-cultural life coach and an educational English language trainer and teacher in Berlin, as well as being an International Social Media Lifestyle & Professional Travel Blogger!

I love teaching and training others, and that is why I wanted a second Masters Degree. I might even go for a Phd sometime in the future. Who knows?

And I paid thousands of pounds for that esteemed and elevated education. And so did my parents!

In European schools and most European universities, you don’t pay a single penny.

Not a single penny!

Of course, you pay student union fees and probably for transport (student discount of course), but no school fees!

The point I’m trying to say is that education is free to all.

Our son used to go to an international school and we paid just €6,000 a year! He now goes to an elite school for scientists – and we don’t pay a cent!

In a few years, he’ll be off to university, and the money that I would have saved will go to his exchange year abroad, when he’s 16 years old, and his GAP year-around-the-world, when he’s 18!

• Being a British European means excellent healthcare:

In the UK, the NHS is free of charge but there’s a hell of a lengthy queue and as a result, many people have opted for private care. On the continent, your health card will cover you in every European country, there are no fees to be paid, medication is subsidised, and healthcare for children is absolutely free!

Lat year, I went skiing in the Czech Republic and became enormously ill, but I didn’t have to pay for anything, except for prescription drugs that cost me all of €13.00!

• Being a British European means tolerance on sexual orientation, and exploring your sexuality.

There I said it. SEX. If you’re an adult. Yes. You. Can!

I wrote a post about this a few years ago, and it was based on another post that hit a nerve and got lots of people very upset!

There are many advantages to living in Europe. People fought for a right to choose their own way of living.

We’re liberal.

We can choose without eyebrows raising.

We can marry or not marry.

Be single or in a relationship.

Be committed or be free-loving.

Have a lover or have a million lovers.

Be gay, straight, bi-sexual or transsexual.

Have children or have none.

And isn’t that the point?

CHOICE.

• Being a British European means parental leave for both genders:

Germany gives both genders, the right to parental leave, for up to three (3) years. As do many other European countries! Either gender or both, can stay at home to look after their children.

When our son was born, I stayed at home for a year, and my husband stayed at home for the other two!

We were also entitled to a home water-birth (which I took) and a girl who came in and did the cleaning and shopping for a fortnight (two weeks), all paid for by my health insurance!

The child benefit is generous as the state would like people to have more children, sadly most of us either have “an only child” or none at all.

Ah well!

• Being a British European means having a holiday and using it!

Europeans take their holidays and vacations seriously, and they’re not afraid to use them! You get a minimum of 24 holidays per year (by law), and between 11-15 public holidays on top of that. That makes 35 days.

You are also allocated breaks and if you’re ill during your vacation, you’re entitled to get those days back! Even I didn’t know that, until last year when I was so ill on vacation, I couldn’t ski. But when I contacted my company, they’re were great, and when I contacted my health insurance, they were fantastic, and gave me the complete week back again!

• Being a British European means free or cheap access, to sport and exercise:

In the summer, most Europeans are out and about, either on holiday / vacation, out of the city, or on their bikes. It’s great. Everyone does things outdoor.

In Berlin, it’s so green that you would hardly know that you’re in the capital city of Europe’s strongest economy, and one of the largest countries in the European Union. And if you didn’t already know, Berlin is a river-city too!

In fact, 44% of Berlin is covered with parks, forests, fields, rivers, lakes and canals, and Berlin has about 30 beaches and 960 bridges, which is far more than the ever romantic city of Venice!

I mean, thirty (30) beaches!

So is it any wonder that water activity is an important aspect of living in Germany. As well as mountains, hiking, fields and beaches.

I’m quite lazy but in the last three years, I have done tango dancing, hip-hop, skiing, a little bit of horse-riding, tai-chi, Broadway Musical dancing classes of “Chicago” – that was a killer! And a bit of ballet.

I would like to go back into ballet again. Eeeeek!

• Being a British European means cheap and available public transport:

As you know, I don’t drive, although my husband does, and in only a few years, our son will too!

And it hasn’t been a problem!

I use other alternative means of getting around. And living in Europe makes that extremely easy to do so! I can, and do love using the train as you can spread out, you can read, you can walk about, and you can take as many suitcases as you want (within reason of course)!

I also love flying and flying within the EU is a doodle, as everywhere is just so close by.

And if you’re really short on cash, taking the coach or bus, is not a problem as nowadays, they’re as fully equipped as planes with wi-fi, flat-screens, free drinks, and everything!

If you’re as romantically inclined as I am, then go ahead and take a ferry cruise, or go the whole hog, and cruise around Europe instead!

• Being a British European means a work / life balance:

I don’t need to tell you how important this is.

So how did I do it?

Well, if you look at my About Me page, you will see that I’m married, I have a husband, a tween child and a very nice corporate job, as an inter-cultural life coach, educational English language trainer and teacher in Berlin, so if you need help with anything, just let me know lol!

And I have this wonderful lifestyle, travel, expat blog!

In short, I live a normal life. Just like you.

I’m married, in a relationship with someone, or have been single. Just like you.

I have family responsibilities. Just like you.

I have a full-time job. Just like you.

And so I get smart. And work things around family life, and I have an understanding German husband to thank.

10 REASONS WHY BEING A BRITISH EUROPEAN IS A REALLY GOOD THING!

I’ve always been a supporter of Germany – my adopted country – and I’ll continue to do so.

I’m a strong advocate for Europe and I will keep on advocating.

I’m the British Berliner – a British European.

And I’m proud of it!

This article is not sponsored, and all opinions and the wonderful things associated to living in Germany, and being a British European, are my very own!

Next week, I’ll be writing about Berlin Fashion Week!

July is Pride Week!

From 02.07.16 – 24.07.16, the LGTB (community), well-wishers and gay-friendly supporters will gather in Berlin to celebrate and advocate a tolerant and open-minded society.

The Lesbian-Gay City Festival will take place from 16.07.16 – 17.07.16.

CSD on the Spree (River) will take place on 21.07.16.

Dyke * March Berlin will take place on 22.07.16.

Our main Gay Pride Day otherwise known as Christopher Street Day (CSD), will take place on 23.07.16.