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Really big decision to make.............
Hi guys,
I am facing a really major decision that I need to make and need some urgent advice.
I am Australian but am living in Germany since 4 years. I have a PhD and am a researcher, I attained my PhD at 26 years of age, was rather proud of that fact. I came to Germany looking for work (and then for personal reasons) and ended up at a hospital which did not pay me, in order to stay in Germany for longer. Then I managed to finance myself via a scholarship and then after 1 year, the hospital started to pay me from their funds. In the meantime, I was not accepted seriously as a researcher, my ideas which were for the sake of research were put down as it was more about making money (patents, intellectual property etc), so I felt really demotivated as a researcher around all this doctors who thought they were better.
My current contract ends on 15th Sept, I'm on maternity leave anyway (it's paid by the government here as I worked for at least 12 months prior to giving birth) which is 67% of my salary. My husband is also a researcher and was promised a job since last October and just signed his contract last Monday, really unbelieveable, it took so long and he devoted so much time and effort especially in writing research grants and worked at least 2 months without pay and has a part-time contract (expected to work practically full-time) and only for 5 months. Therefore, for two academics like us, we are really unhappy with the situation and our financial situation isn't getting any better. We can't even afford a car. Before tax, I earn 40 000 € ($56 000) and 26 500 € ($37 000) after and since September last year, was the only one providing for the both of us, paying all the bills etc.
In Germany, it's hard (esp. in Berlin) to find a job and I must admit due to my choice to wear the headscarf, it will be even more difficult for me to find a job here after maternity leave.The longer I'm unemployed, the more harder it will be to find a job. We are really unhappy here, the people aren't that friendly, there is really alot of anti-Islamic sentiment here, the weather is miserable, we get strange looks because I wear the headscarf and my husband is a typical 'Arian' German (tall, blonde, blue-eyed) and even once a young man spit in front of us when I was pregnant and out with him, and people pointing at times (in particular the older generation) - we're sick of that too. Ok there is racism or prejudice where ever you go, but I don't feel welcome here, Sydney is my home and is more multi-cultural than here in Berlin.
I found a position in Sydney which would be perfect for me and I would earn around $AU85 000 (full salary package including superannuation, $70 000) and base salary prior to tax between $49 000 - 57 000 after tax $40 000 - 45 000, so I would be earning much better and the standard of living is slightly cheaper in Sydney and it's more realistic to buy a house here, my family is there and I can initially live with my parents.
I didn't really want to go back to work full-time in the first year of Medina's life and if so, only part-time after 6 months of age. Therefore, I would like some advice from some other Mums who work and have a baby under 12 months.
My husband would have to stay in Berlin until the end of his contract and his visa is finalised and if his research grant application goes through, he wants to stay a big longer, see it partially through and we would be a max. of 12 months apart, though he would come for one month and then Medina and I the same. That's the worst case scenario.....
I don't know what to do, I have alot of contacts in the company (I did my PhD there as well, and my PhD supervisor knows my direct boss and recommended me to her).
If I don't take this job (if offered), I know that my career will practically die here in Berlin but I'm afraid of going back to work early but mroe so full-time but my family would take care of her.
Need some advice please :-(
I am facing a really major decision that I need to make and need some urgent advice.
I am Australian but am living in Germany since 4 years. I have a PhD and am a researcher, I attained my PhD at 26 years of age, was rather proud of that fact. I came to Germany looking for work (and then for personal reasons) and ended up at a hospital which did not pay me, in order to stay in Germany for longer. Then I managed to finance myself via a scholarship and then after 1 year, the hospital started to pay me from their funds. In the meantime, I was not accepted seriously as a researcher, my ideas which were for the sake of research were put down as it was more about making money (patents, intellectual property etc), so I felt really demotivated as a researcher around all this doctors who thought they were better.
My current contract ends on 15th Sept, I'm on maternity leave anyway (it's paid by the government here as I worked for at least 12 months prior to giving birth) which is 67% of my salary. My husband is also a researcher and was promised a job since last October and just signed his contract last Monday, really unbelieveable, it took so long and he devoted so much time and effort especially in writing research grants and worked at least 2 months without pay and has a part-time contract (expected to work practically full-time) and only for 5 months. Therefore, for two academics like us, we are really unhappy with the situation and our financial situation isn't getting any better. We can't even afford a car. Before tax, I earn 40 000 € ($56 000) and 26 500 € ($37 000) after and since September last year, was the only one providing for the both of us, paying all the bills etc.
In Germany, it's hard (esp. in Berlin) to find a job and I must admit due to my choice to wear the headscarf, it will be even more difficult for me to find a job here after maternity leave.The longer I'm unemployed, the more harder it will be to find a job. We are really unhappy here, the people aren't that friendly, there is really alot of anti-Islamic sentiment here, the weather is miserable, we get strange looks because I wear the headscarf and my husband is a typical 'Arian' German (tall, blonde, blue-eyed) and even once a young man spit in front of us when I was pregnant and out with him, and people pointing at times (in particular the older generation) - we're sick of that too. Ok there is racism or prejudice where ever you go, but I don't feel welcome here, Sydney is my home and is more multi-cultural than here in Berlin.
I found a position in Sydney which would be perfect for me and I would earn around $AU85 000 (full salary package including superannuation, $70 000) and base salary prior to tax between $49 000 - 57 000 after tax $40 000 - 45 000, so I would be earning much better and the standard of living is slightly cheaper in Sydney and it's more realistic to buy a house here, my family is there and I can initially live with my parents.
I didn't really want to go back to work full-time in the first year of Medina's life and if so, only part-time after 6 months of age. Therefore, I would like some advice from some other Mums who work and have a baby under 12 months.
My husband would have to stay in Berlin until the end of his contract and his visa is finalised and if his research grant application goes through, he wants to stay a big longer, see it partially through and we would be a max. of 12 months apart, though he would come for one month and then Medina and I the same. That's the worst case scenario.....
I don't know what to do, I have alot of contacts in the company (I did my PhD there as well, and my PhD supervisor knows my direct boss and recommended me to her).
If I don't take this job (if offered), I know that my career will practically die here in Berlin but I'm afraid of going back to work early but mroe so full-time but my family would take care of her.
Need some advice please :-(
My hubby wants to go to Syd, he was there with my once and loved it so much. But it just depends on heaps of things. We are waiting for a decision on Thursday and if it is negative I will apply for the job in Syd and if it's positive news, we will remain here for at least another year (as I get paid maternity leave) and then move to Australia once we find a job (which for our qualifications is usually not that difficult). I just love being a Mum, it was difficult at first but she's so sweet and her smile melts my heart.....
Zazou, I understand you dont want to go back to work and leave your baby. Thats hard decision. Lucy is my second baby, my son is 8 years old now. He was around 4 months old when I went back to work. Now I get back to work when my daughter was 2 months old. Its hard but I will tell you after a week or two you will be fine, specially if your family will be helping you. My husband mom is taking care about our little girl now and this makes things easier. Also think- this will be almost impossible to find job after a year in Germany (besides that you dont like that place) how you want to support your family? Time you will spend with your little one is precious but you need to think in long run- school and education for her, if you will not have job and money how you will pay for it? There is milions of mothers need to go back to work when they kids are little and they are fine, it not easy, I know. If I will be u, I will at least try get a job, if they will offer job to you then I will seriously think about this. Also the important thing is what your husband think about this, does he wants to move?
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