Making a move after Brexit

Magdeburg l Magdeburg is not exactly London, but Paul Kilbey does not seem to mind. When the Brit walks around the streets of the capital of former Eastern German state Saxony-Anhalt he still appears a bit lost. After all, it has only been a few weeks since he packed up his life in the vibrant British metropolis and moved to low-key Magdeburg. Yet, he is able to put a positive spin on even the most obvious eyesores of a city plagued by vacancies and decay.

"It really is a work in progress", says Paul Kilbey while standing in front of a disused residential building. "You definitely would not see this in London."

Is he serious or hiding behind the fabled English courtesy? When he talks, the 29-year-old lives up to the German idea of a polite Brit. He calls things "very nice" repeatedly or adds "I suppose" to his carefully crafted sentences.

In his calm and rational manner Paul Kilbey can explain his decision to make the move to Germany well. As a freelance journalist and proofreader he can work anywhere. His girlfriend Emily Engels had moved back to her native Germany from London one and a half years ago and is currently working as a reporter, also at Magdeburger Volksstimme. The duo were understandably tired of a long-distance relationship that entailed countless flights between London and Berlin.

And there is another positive side effect, Paul Kilbey says. In London high rents and high cost of living meant that, even though he put up with long working hours and long commutes, at the end of the month money was scarce. "Here I can save a lot more while working less, it's quite crazy actually", Paul Kilbey says.

And then there's the impending Brexit that the British Parliament pushed ahead with a vote in February. Paul Kilbey, like many younger Brits, voted to remain in the preceeding referendum. As of now, he is still a EU citizen and is legally allowed to live in Germany. He is not sure if he will keep that right though. Making the move to Magdeburg was therefore a matter of now or never for the Londoner. "When I handed in my resignation at work, that was the moment when I knew I was really leaving", he says.

As a former employee of the London Royal Opera House's publishing house Paul Kilbey writes on classical music mainly. But he is in for a change. Starting next week, the Cambridge alumnus will be writing a column about his life as a new Magdeburger for Volksstimme Magazine. The first edition is due to be published on August 5.

"Those new topics will be challenging", says the columnist-to-be. He hasn't come up with a strategy to find ideas for his writing, but is convinced his new life in Germany will generate enough interesting stories. In the beginning, his girlfriend and colleague will translate the columns to be printed in German. Paul Kilbey is also studying German with the goal of one day writing the German version of the column as well as the English version, which will be published online.

Paul Kilbey hopes he can give people a glimpse of what it feels like to be a foreigner. Germany and Great Britain aren't polar opposites, he admits. "But it's the little things that make you feel at home somewhere", he says.

Some minor differences he has already noticed. He is amazed by the entry doors of residential buildings that close silently and automatically behind every visitor. It also strikes him that architects of different decades build bridges of such different styles across the river Elbe, which runs through the city. Walking through city park he notices industrial-era Hubbrücke especially. Yet, a stop at the supermarket left him most puzzled. "Do they even sell hummus?", he asks and describes the hunt for the chickpea specialty that is a staple of Middle-Eastern and London cuisines. 

Germany is less multicultural than Paul Kilbey's home country. "You can get foreign food at every cornerstore in London", he says. Not just that is an adjustment. "I do stick out more here", says the Londoner with British and Japanese anchestery.

It is quite ironic to talk about Britain as a role model for multiculturalism, Paul Kilbey remarks. "Right now we are trying to close off our country." He is noticeably uncomfortably talking about Britain's intention to leave the European Union. "Right now I feel like a foreigner in my own country." While most Londoners voted to remain, people from rural parts of the country voted largely in favour of Brexit. "The feeling after the vote was just utter disbelief", says Paul Kilbey.

That the American and German public is just as divided on major issues as the British people leaves him perplexed. "I don't think it's about who is right and who is wrong any more", says Paul Kilbey. "People just believe what they want to believe."

Paul Kilbey's friends said they were jealous when they heard he was moving to Germany, he recalls. "Many young people are thinking about emigrating at the moment." Paul Kilbey acted on that thought. "Actually it would have been crazy not to take this opportunity now", he says. "Londoners are used to everything."

Eine deutsche Version des Artikels finden sie hier.