Teaching, learning, making friends – Daniela Noya’s life in Germany

Daniela Noya feels most content when she’s surrounded by children playing in the sandpit, telling them stories and getting them to brush their teeth. The 29-year-old from Colombia works as a teacher in a nursery school in Hanau near Frankfurt am Main. 

Daniela Noya already had some experience of working at a nursery in Colombia but wanted to advance her professional career. She knew about the demand for qualified professionals in Germany and a colleague encouraged her to take the next step: “She thrust the application into my hand and I said, ‘Okay, let’s give it a try and see what happens!’” 

From Medellín to Hanau 

And a lot happened: The agency Talent Orange arranged a position for Daniela Noya, who arrived in Germany in the winter of 2022 – the cold came as quite a shock to the Colombian. The educational approach followed at the Hanau nursery also differs from what she’s used to at home. Nurseries in Colombia concentrate more on preparing children from school and already teach them to read and write. “In Germany the focus is more on the children’s social and emotional development, which I like a lot. And I love the fact that the children learn through play, which also allows me to learn from them.” 

Daniela Noya’s goal was to familiarise herself with German culture as quickly as possible. “I want to build a life here, integrate into society and settle down in Germany. I am convinced that this requires you to get out of your comfort zone. But then it is definitely possible!”  

Daniela doesn’t agree with the clichés about Germany. “People often told me at first that I wouldn’t find many friends, and that I wouldn’t have much contact with Germans at all. But that’s not true. Germans take a bit of time to thaw but then they are very nice, approachable and also very funny!” She also gets on well with her colleagues. “I believe it is important to ask a lot of questions from the start. If I don’t know something I ask my colleagues, and that has made lots of things easier.” The German language remains something of a challenge, but Daniela is ambitious: “I want to perfect my German and learn a bit more every day.”