Puja, born in India, left a successful career in Sydney to pursue strategic opportunities with Hellmann Worldwide Logistics in Germany. This interview explores her motivations and the unexpected joys of her new life in Osnabrück.

Hi Puja, what motivated you to go to Germany?

I was born in India. My parents encouraged me to pursue a Master degree abroad so I would be able to broaden my horizon. I moved out of India in 2016 and I'd been living in Sydney since then. I started my career with Hellmann Australia as a Finance intern and worked my way up to a Financial Accountant over a span of three and a half years. I had no complaints, I loved my life but I still felt that something was missing. I have always allowed my career to drive me and the move to Germany was no different. I enjoyed Accounting but I was very keen on being involved with strategic decision making. I didn’t have the slightest idea that I would ever leave Sydney. But to my surprise, in January 2022 there was a junior position available within the Global Controlling team in the Hellmann headquarters in Germany and I immediately knew that it perfectly aligned with my career goals - and if I were selected, I would leave the very next day irrespective of where I was going to live.

Has it been easy for you to integrate into your new work environment and the new country?

I think the saying goes: "When it feels scary to jump, that's exactly when you jump." It is never easy to move to a new country where the language, the food and the people are so different from my home in India or in Australia where I spent most of my adult life. Let’s just say, I didn't know what the "Ausländerbehörde" (Immigration office) was, or how to read the food labels in grocery stores and most embarrassing - how to operate a German washing machine.

If it weren't for my then manager Carsten Schumacher who took care of me at every step of the way, (gave me a list of English speaking doctors), or my colleague Nils Hüsing who gave me a virtual sneakpeek of Osnabrück's cityplan or the HR team especially Jutta Oeltjendiers and Anna Paetzold who were available to me at all times, I would have been lost. With most people in Germany, what you see is what you get and that I absolutely admire. They are one of the most helpful lot. A special thanks to THE Godfather Bruno Mang (I hope he won't kill me for using this reference) who mandated all meetings for a year and a half to be conducted in English so that I felt part of the team. The Hellmann Osnabrück team together made it the smoothest integration into the new work environment and in Germany for me and I couldn’t be more grateful.

What did you miss most from home?

I am very close to my parents so naturally I miss being around them. I crave the "Mom-Cooked" meals and miss having healthy debates with my dad. I hate that I can't just pop by and see them whenever I need some "good ol' pampering". Without getting too philosophical I want to add that I miss the familiarity of India. I miss celebrating Diwali & Holi with my friends, neighbours and family. I just miss the lovely people. I also very specifically miss the Australian wildlife. I didn’t realize how little I appreciated trekking alongside the gigantic lizards in the Australian National Park or spending the day feeding Kangaroos in Morriset Park and petting Koalas in Brisbane Zoo till I moved away.

What do you love most about living in Germany?

Contrary to popular opinion, I love the food. I love simplicity. I can say that my life changed the day I tasted "Franzbrötchen" in our Hamburg office in Norderstedt. I was enchanted. I literally ate Franzbrötchen all day for breakfast, lunch and dinner and I also took some home with me - no exaggeration. Another one of my magical moments was when I tasted Currywurst - you can't beat it. Ok, im getting hungry just talking about it. Aside from food, one of my most favourite cities in the world after London is Cologne. I can't say enough good things about it. Just sitting by the Rhine river and watching the magical sunset against the Dom (cathedral) is all the fix that I need. I dream of living in Cologne someday!

How does a perfect day-off look like for you in Germany?

I spend most weekends either travelling with my friends or setting off on solo expeditions to smaller cities in Germany like Celle, Kiel or Schwerin. On the rare occasion when I am in Osnabrück, I religiously go to the bakery near my home for a "Mandarinen Schmandkuchen" (Mandarin orange sour cream cake) and coffee. My weekend in Osnabrück won't start without this.

Thank you for sharing your experiences with us! Is there anything else you would like to add before we say goodbye?

I think I have said a lot, but I will wrap up by saying that saying "yes" to this new experience changed my life for the better, and looking back, I wouldn't change a thing.

Thanks a lot for sharing your story with us, Puja! 

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