INTERVIEW: PHYSIOTHERAPY IN GERMANY
In our interviews about living and working abroad, this time we have a friend Gonca from Munich!
Gonca first went to Germany with the ‘ He did the European Voluntary Service, then he got an equivalency with his own efforts and found a job in Munich.. 5 years in Germany. A little curiosity, a lot of effort, a lot of persistence, as you can see, anything is possible.. The rest is from Gonca…
Hi Gonca, welcome to the blog! Let’s start with the most classic question, can you tell us a little about yourself? What do you do, what do you like, work, life.. you can start by talking about anything about yourself.
Hi! I am Gonca, I was born and bred from Artvin.. I completed my university education in Ankara, Baskent University, Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation in 2009.. Afterwards, I received my Master’s education at Hacettepe University.. I have been working as a pediatric physiotherapist since the day I graduated.. I am currently working as a Physiotherapist in Munich, Germany.
I like innovation and change. That’s why I always try to learn and do new things. Cinema, TV series, music, travel, sports and food are my must-haves.. I’m a part time Netflix watcher. I like to go to concerts often. I travel whenever I can.. Even though I haven’t been doing sports for a long time, cycling is a part of life here, nature walks from time to time.. I started squash this year.. Apart from that, the target this year is triathlon.. I like to try different cuisines and cook different dishes.. I give advice on movies, TV shows, and music to friends, I also get advice from people who have the same curiosity, I try, I drink, I travel..
Life is beautiful when shared..
How did the idea of abroad first come about? And why Germany?
I don’t even know how it came out. Crazy mind.. Get a change, head.
The project became Germany because it was in Germany. Or Germany was not in my mind at all.
Have you had previous overseas experience?
Yes. I stayed in England for about 6 months for a pre-master language school. It was a good experience as it was the first and long. Apart from that, I participated in an Eastern Europe Tour.
How did you hear about European Voluntary Service (EVS)? Do you have any suggestions for those who want to apply for EVS and for our friends who have never had the opportunity to go abroad?
I heard about EVS through a friend who was accepted to EVS. To briefly talk about EVS; EVS, which is an EU project, gives you the opportunity to work within the scope of the project for a year in various countries of Europe.. For this, you need a sending institution (sender) from Turkey and a receiving institution (host) in Europe.. And of course, the EU project that suits you..
Whether you have overseas experience during the admission process to EVS is not a criterion sought by every receiving institution. Knowing only one language, especially speaking the language of that country, plays an important role in your preference.. When you find the right project for you, you can turn the factors that seem like disadvantages into advantages with a sufficient motivation letter.
After deciding on the project or country you want to go to, I recommend you to learn that language a little bit before you go.. Knowing the language and culture of that country and being interested in that country definitely arouses sympathy.
Have you had any difficulties at EVS?
Although I have a very good sender and receiver institution, of course, there were situations where I had difficulties. One of them, as anyone can guess, is in German When I came to Germany, I could only say my name, age, profession and where I came from, and that by heart at the last minute!! So, I came not knowing German.. One of the first problems I faced was that I could not speak German at work even though I communicate with friends who came with the EU project like me in English.. Likewise, the fact that I did not speak German was the issue/problem during the admission process.. As I said before, it is also beneficial to know the language of that country.
Another difficulty is to live a minimalist life with a low budget, although you should be aware of it before you come.. Within the scope of the project, the receiving institution has to provide you with accommodation.. He even pays the fixed expenses of the house, such as water and electricity.. Other costs such as transportation and internet differ between the receiving institutions.. Apart from that, you have a low income, which they call “pocket money”.. Even though I had difficulties at first, then I have to
Besides that, everything is new (country, language, home, work, friends, food, etc.) and you are alone. an adaptation process in itself.
How was the job search process? And how long did it take to find a job? Are there any sites you use to look for a job? Did you speak German during this process, or did you have the chance to learn it later?
I am European Voluntary Servicein another small close to Munich i did it on the ground. Even though I intend to stay during the project, when I decided to stay in Germany towards the end of the project, I found another project in Munich and the whole process actually started with my moving to Munich. I needed a diploma equivalency, a sufficient degree of German and of course a job offer for my work.
If I were to list the process,
1 -Business in Germany language proficiency
Within the scope of the project, if you do not know the language of that country, the receiving institution will support you in learning the language even a little bit. My receiving institution also sent it to a language school for entry level.. Apart from that, I worked at home and developed by speaking slowly at the workplace. When I came to Munich, I attended an intensive course for a month.. In a year and a half, I passed the required B2 German exam in Germany, where I came with zero German. they said it was possible.
In this process; I receive a positive response from a clinic where Turkish patients are concentrated, I apply for a work permit with my employment contract.. There is no answer, there is no result, the workplace prints, articles are written, but the foreigners’ branch says that it is very, very difficult for my work permit to be issued, since the physiotherapy profession is not on the list of sought-after professions.. And there is no equivalence. In a way, they say to their hometown, “Come on, dear, come back”.
A period of three months is given after EVS ends.. In this process, I continue in a child rehabilitation center within the scope of an EVS project.
2 – Diploma equivalence:
I think the hardest and most long term. First of all, I have to say that when I started this process, everyone from the workplace I worked to the officials in the foreigners’ branch said that I could not get full equivalence, Munich is very strict in this sense, and full equivalence is impossible because Turkey is not an EU country.. Physiotherapy lasts for 3 years in vocational schools in Germany. I still wanted to try, relying on my four years of university and 2 years of Master’s education, my work experience and the courses I took.. Another problem during the application period is that you can apply for this equivalence from wherever you live. In my Cologne, “I have no aunt, I have an uncle, I will stay there for a month, I will apply, nolcaaak” does not happen guys!
Diploma All documents required for equivalence must be translated into German. They do not accept translations from Turkey.. I know you have coyote ideas. I have an acquaintance, translator, friend, friend, and they never allow us to act like we’re okay.. Translations should only be translated by sworn translators in their own lists (100 euros front and back for diploma).
Then I collect whatever is in the list of required documents and apply for equivalence.. This process took a lot of time. After the application, a response must be received within six months at the latest, and I receive an answer within the sixth month.. This is the pace of work of the Germans! They can never come to stress but they deliver the job on time. German discipline! The answer after six months: These documents are missing.. Do you wish you had said it from the beginning? Once again, the missing documents are obtained from Turkey, their translation is taken from there in a month.. Finally, the result comes.. It’s called impossible.. Full equivalency
3- Job finding and work permit: Language OK, diploma OK, it’s time to find a job.
In those three months The workplace that hired me under the project wants to continue working with me as a physiotherapist.
Re-applying for a work permit. As a result of the reply I received a month later, I am starting to work as a physiotherapist in Munich.
There is no site that I specifically use for job application. In general, I found my second current job by following up-to-date job applications on the institutions’ own websites.
Finding a house in Germany is a whole process.. How was it for you? What was the most challenging thing for you during the moving process?
I was very lucky in this regard. Both my old and new workplaces had homes for their employees and my workplace provided my home.. Their rents are also slightly below the normal market.
How is your office life? What pros and cons do you see when you compare it to your office life in Turkey?
There are differences compared to Turkey, of course.. Weekly working hours 39. This working hour is not a continuous session like in Turkey.. Around 10 sessions per week are reserved for meetings, seminars, reporting. The working system in every workplace in Germany may not be as I described, but in my current workplace, the child who comes for physical therapy is also provided with treatment services under the same roof, apart from the education service; Individual therapy, group therapy, water therapy, equine therapy, doctor service and all assistive device support are provided.. The opportunities offered by the insurance to the patients in Germany are not available under Turkish conditions or they are very expensive in Turkey.
There are employee rights. We don’t have to rush to work when we’re sick.. We can stay at home for two days without going to the doctor.. The workplace encourages its employees to do sports, supports monthly sports expenses.
Gives extra days for courses to workplace employees every year. The workplace also undertakes a part of the course fee.
Do you have any difficulties in Munich? For example, the moments when you want to go back and miss Turkey.
Actually, there isn’t much or I’m used to it now. But I can mention a few things.
Germans are never spontaneous. For example, we are in February, “What are you doing on July 20?” They can ask something like!!! What do I know, what am I doing?!? How many months are there? No, but German? Not! He opens it, looks at his calendar…
He’s very prescriptive, you’re two seconds late for the bus, the attendant doesn’t come in, he doesn’t open that door! This is the person who came from immigrants.. It’s such a system.. (sometimes there are people who are open, we drown those cute people with danke schöns a hundred times)
The things I miss; As someone who has lived in Turkey for twenty-seven years, it is very difficult not to be able to speak Turkish.. It’s not that you don’t want to do goy goy without thinking like this.. It’s funny when you tell some things only in Turkish, or it’s funny only for those who know the culture of Turkish people, people who were born and raised in Turkey.. Then, of course, the longing for family, friends; temperature.. Briefly; Turkish conversation, Turkish warmth, and Turkish cuisine.
What is your favorite and least favorite thing about living in Germany?
My favorite things: Human rights and freedom in law and in force people to respect each other, to live in a settled order and security..
Other than that, Munich’s green, Isar, lakes, Alps and Europe being in the middle of the city.
What I dislike the most: The weather and food is beaah veee German!!!
Living abroad seems like a rosy life from afar. We know it’s not. .Do you have anything to add about this?
The sound of the drum is pleasant from afar. if you say come, no one can come easily, they can’t.. Coming abroad and settling in is an event in itself.. Everything is changing.. home, work, language, food, weather, friend. Not easy.. Adaptation is important. It’s definitely not what everyone will do, but anyone who does it does.. it’s totally up to you. You can say, “Oh my friend, what am I going to do”.. Everyone knows for themselves.
With your current awareness, what would you do differently or pay more attention to before you went to live abroad?
You should start language education earlier and more solidly. complete way, I went abroad earlier, even for educational purposes. Internship abroad could be done. Likewise, I would take advantage of many opportunities for young people, such as Erasmus, Interrail, for both education and sightseeing.. I would use the university facilities to the fullest. Apart from vocational education, I would develop myself professionally on a subject that I am interested in.
A little travel! We know that traveling is easier when you live in Europe. Do you have time to travel a lot? Where have you been?
I have a little time to travel for 30 working days (i.e. six weeks) excluding public holidays. Although I try to travel at every opportunity, I do not think that I travel much.. I visited many places in and around Bavaria. And I’ve seen the ones who come and go a hundred times.. What comes to my mind are; Must-haves like Nürberg, Passau, Bamberg, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Neuschwanstein Castle, Kehlsteinhaus (Eagle’s Nest) and lakes like Königsee, Chiemsee, Starnbergersee, Ammersee, Tegernsee. Salzburg, Hallstatt in Austria. Berlin, Leipzig, Hamburg, Dusseldorf in Germany. In Europe, Prague, Budapest, Vienna, Zurich, Venice, Verona, Lake Garda, Valladolid, Amsterdam, Stockholm, Rome, Oslo, Warsaw and many places in Turkey at least twice a year.. Now I’m making plans to go far away. First stop looks like Cuba.
Let’s get one of your favorite country and city if available!
My favorite country is Italy and the city is Oslo.
So the golden question is, do you plan to return to Turkey in the future?
I don’t think right now, what can I say for the future.
Is there anything you want to tell our followers that we forgot? Or to future Physiotherapists :))
I recommend them to establish good relationships with everyone who works, from professors, assistants, to the staff of the place where they do their internship, apart from keeping their GPA as high as possible.. These relationships can return to them as a very important letter of reference or a job opportunity at that workplace, opening doors they never expected in the future.. It is important to work ethically and be open to sharing.
Let them be open to innovation and experimentation. Do not be afraid, do not give up at the first difficulty. One door closes another opens. Let them develop themselves outside of their profession and travel a lot.
I wish them all success in advance.
We have come to the end of another nice conversation.. Maybe we’ll see you again in new articles ?
We are on Instagram and we are waiting for you. Even Gonca is on Instagram ?
https://www.instagram.com/ari.gonca/
https://www.instagram.com/yoldabiblog/