Raising Two Children in Germany: Lessons in Resilience, Youth Football, and Global Growth

 “Reflecting on my career spent navigating global automotive engineering hubs, my fondest memory remains raising my son and daughter in Germany—a quiet, challenging, and deeply meaningful family chapter.”

1. A Rough Start in Möglingen: Commutes and Culture Shock

During my assignment working alongside the Bosch K3 headquarters in Schwieberdingen, our family settled in the adjacent village of Möglingen—a quiet municipality of roughly 6,000 residents.

While my own commute to the Bosch facility was a pleasant bicycle ride, my children faced a complex journey each morning to reach the Stuttgart International School.

Their daily route required taking a local bus, transferring to the Stuttgart U-Bahn (underground rail), and boarding a final connecting bus directly to the school gates.

At that time, Asian families were a rare sight in that rural enclave.

Walking home from the bus stop, my daughter (then in 7th grade) and my son (then in 4th grade) occasionally endured childish taunts like "Ching Chang Chong" from local kids.

Furthermore, neither of them spoke fluent English when entering the international school system.

During their first six months, the language barrier was so intimidating that my children once admitted to eating their lunch boxes inside bathroom stalls to avoid social awkwardness.

Hearing that broke my heart, making me question whether relocating my family across the globe was the right decision.

Yet, as with all challenges in life, that difficult phase passed into shared strength.

2. The German "Jugend" Football System and Early Morning Swimming

Both children eventually adapted to the rigorous International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum.

Beyond academics, living in Germany provided a firsthand look at the country's structured youth sports infrastructure.

The German youth football system—known as Jugend—mirrors the professional Bundesliga structure.

Divided into age brackets from G-Jugend (preschool) up to A-Jugend (high school), young players compete across 1st Division, 2nd Division, and Regional leagues. Teams earn promotion or face relegation at the end of every season based on performance.

Every Saturday, I drove my son across home and away matches. Playing as a forward, he scored goals and held his own on the pitch.

In our neighboring town of Birkach, a Turkish-German teammate of exceptional athletic fluidity was later scouted by a professional club right after high school, changing his family's fortunes. My son played with passion alongside such talent.

Meanwhile, my daughter—energetic and persistent despite her small stature—joined the school swim team. Her schedule demanded early-morning swim practices three times a week, requiring pre-dawn drives to the pool.

Between music tutors visiting our house for flute and piano lessons and weekend match schedules, German parenting proved every bit as active as raising kids in Korea.

3. University Years and Returning Home

Both children completed their IB diplomas and entered prestigious universities: my daughter studied Law at the University of Warwick in the UK, while my son enrolled at the University of Tübingen in Germany.

Seeing my daughter live independently in England was bittersweet.

During a visit to Warwick, she casually mentioned working part-time jobs at the campus canteen, laughing off moments where her small frame made balancing heavy trays tricky: "I spilled drinks and coffee on tables a few times, but it’s okay!"

Hearing her dismiss those struggles with a cheerful smile left me both proud and emotional.

After completing their university degrees, both of my children chose to return to South Korea to launch their professional careers rather than staying in Europe.

Observing their choice, I realized that adapting to life as young foreigners in Europe had carried its own quiet burdens.

Yet, those years of overcoming language barriers, navigating new cities, and competing on football pitches built the quiet resilience they carry today.

💡 hk Automotive Commentary

“Engineering control systems requires managing noise and unexpected variables until stability is achieved. Raising children in a foreign country follows the same principle: weathering early friction ultimately yields lasting strength and character.”

Welcome back to hk Automotive Lab. Having shared this personal story of raising two children in Germany—from navigating early language barriers and the German Jugend football league to studying at Warwick and Tübingen—how do you view the life lessons gained from living abroad? Let's share your family travel or living experiences in the comments below!