Community and Local.
Remarkably cosmopolitan for a city of its size, Ruhr has a diverse population and waves of immigration in past decades have left a rich ethnic legacy.
Newcomers from the Mediterranean and Middle East, Eastern Europe and more recently Asia and Africa have augmented the native stock, bringing with them new creeds and cuisines.
The city is home to the largest Japanese community in mainland Europe and Dutch, British, American and French citizens are also well represented. Everyone seems to rub along pretty well.
Traditions.
There are some customs in Germany which might appear strange and funny to anyone who is not familiar with them. Most know that on 1 April a colleague will play a trick on you but why would a man sweep away the straw on...
Statutory Holidays in NRW.
In Germany, there are two kinds of statutory holidays: religious and political. The best examples for political holidays are Labour Day and Unification Day. In NRW 1 May is officially called "day of the confession...
Spouses.
If you are going to move to the Ruhr with your spouse and do not plan to take up a job yourself, there are plenty of ways to spend your spare time. No matter if you are interested in sports, art, cooking or music, you will find...
Etiquette.
Cautious, law-abiding and reluctant to set a bad example for children, German pedestrians tend to avoid jaywalking and almost always wait for the light to turn before crossing at intersections. Break either of these rules and...
Students.
The Ruhr region has a broad higher education area. There are several public and state universities, colleges and academies attracting students from all over the world. The first and most important question after enrollment is...
Dictionary.
Finding the right word in a foreign language can be fun. To make it easier to express oneself and to improve one’s comprehension we chose the following internet dictionaries, thesauruses and free translation services...
Weather.
Ruhr, located barely a 150 miles from the North Sea, enjoys a temperate, submaritime climate. Snow in winter is rare and generally ineffectual; in summer, most people get by nicely without air conditioning...
