Finding My Voice: Talking About Creativity in Germany

Okay, so here I am, six months in Munich. It’s amazing, truly. But let’s be honest, the initial thrill of just being here has faded a bit, replaced by this constant, low-level hum of wanting to connect. I’m working as a freelance translator – it’s great, flexible, but…it’s also pretty solitary. I realized I was talking about my work constantly, but I wasn’t really talking about me. Specifically, I don’t talk about my passion for photography, or my love of sketching, very much. And I wasn’t really making friends by sharing those things. So, I’ve been trying to figure out how to bring my interests into conversations, and German has, unsurprisingly, thrown a few curveballs.

The First Hurdle: “Was machst du?” (What do you do?)

This is the question. Seriously. Everyone asks it. I used to just blurt out “Ich arbeite als Übersetzer” (I work as a translator). It’s technically correct, but it feels…flat. It doesn’t invite conversation. Then I messed up trying to explain my photography. I said something like “Ich fotografiere, sehr oft” (I take photos, very often). My colleague, Klaus, looked puzzled. He asked, “Aber warum fotografierst du?” (But why do you take photos?) I panicked and just mumbled something about liking beautiful things. It was mortifying! I quickly learned to prepare a slightly longer sentence: “Ich bin Fotografin. Ich liebe es, Landschaften und Menschen zu fotografieren.” (I’m a photographer. I love taking photos of landscapes and people.) It felt much more natural, and Klaus actually asked to see some of my work.

Vocabulary for Sharing My Interests – and Avoiding Awkward Silences

I’ve been building a little phrasebook for this. It’s surprisingly important. Here are a few things I’ve found really useful:

• “Ich bin ein/e…” (I am a…) – “Ich bin eine begeisterte Zeichnerin” (I’m an enthusiastic drawer) – this feels more genuine than just saying “Ich zeichne” (I draw).
• “Ich interessiere mich für…” (I’m interested in…) – “Ich interessiere mich für Street Art und urbane Fotografie” (I’m interested in street art and urban photography).
• “Das ist ein Hobby von mir” (That’s a hobby of mine) – Especially useful when someone suggests something and you don’t want to commit!
• “Wie findest du [Hobby]?” (How do you find [hobby]?) – A great opener. Example: “Wie findest du Malen?” (How do you find painting?)

Misunderstandings and Gentle Corrections

This is where things get tricky. I once told a group of people in a café that I “liebe es, kreativ zu sein” (I love to be creative). They looked at me with this slightly pitying expression and asked, “Aber was machen Sie, um kreativ zu sein?” (But what do you do to be creative?). It highlighted how the phrase is used differently here. “Kreativ sein” isn’t just about feeling creative; it’s about doing something creative. I quickly realised I needed to be more specific about my activities.

Small Wins and Building Connections

It’s not always easy. Sometimes I feel like I’m talking at people, not with them. But there have been small wins. I joined a local photography group – “Fotografen München” – and it’s been incredible. I’ve met some fantastic people, and we regularly go out shooting. I even had a conversation with a woman, Alice, about my sketches. I said, “Ich habe ein paar Skizzen gemacht, wenn du magst, schaue sie dir an” (I’ve done a few sketches, if you like, you can take a look). She was genuinely interested, and we spent twenty minutes discussing different techniques.

“Probiere es mal aus!” (Try it!)

Something I’ve heard a lot, and am slowly getting used to, is people suggesting I try something. Like, after I said I liked photography, someone suggested, “Probiere es mal aus!” (Try it!). At first, I felt pressured, but I realised they meant it as encouragement. It’s a good reminder to actually do the things I enjoy, and to talk about them with confidence.

Right now, my German feels a little clumsy when I’m talking about my passions. But I’m getting better. And I’m learning that it’s not just about the words, it’s about being open, showing genuine interest in others, and letting them see a little bit of who I really am. “Ich freue mich darauf, mehr zu lernen und mich zu öffnen!” (I’m looking forward to learning more and opening myself up!).