This chapter looks at different forms of integration in Germany and the ability of informal, less-traditional settings to facilitate individual connections and interpersonal exchange on an equal footing. The author draws on fieldwork involving speaking to newcomers, observing them in various settings, and conducting both formal and informal interviews. A language class, a community learning circle, and a walking tour are all described in more depth, with reflections on their relevance for integration and communication. It was found that students in the formal German class saw it as a useful tool to gain practical language and cultural skills, but noted the lack of interactivity and personal connection. The researcher’s experience of taking part in a community learning circle, run by a local nonprofit, is also detailed, and the tools used to facilitate open and mutually beneficial exchange, including the terminology used to refer to participants, are discussed. A walking tour that the author went on connected local German history with the current situation in Syria. The discussion of this tour includes an account of the process by which the guide reached Europe. The work concludes with an exploration of the process of researching integration and the author’s own positionality.

DOI: 10.5040/9781350452374.0021

ISBN: 978-1-3504-5237-4