Naturalization…for me?

There were lots of hype going on recently in the news here about the naturalization test introduced by the German government for foreigners planning to take up the German nationality effective the 1st of September this year.

I must say I rarely give much attention to anything politics here (not to mention to the politics in my own country) because ignorance is bliss politics is not exactly my cup of tea. However the introduction of the naturalization test caught my attention because as a foreigner here myself, I gotta keep myself updated with any news or new rules regarding anything that has something to do with foreigners in this country.

My boyfriend urged me to take a sample test online. He and some of his friends even took the sample test to check how German they fare. Well, luckily none of them fail or else I’ll laugh my ass off . The test consists of 33 multiple-choice questions chosen out of a question-catalog of 310 questions. You need to answer 17 of them correctly in order to pass.

So I took up the challenge out of curiosity and did the sample test online and I pass. Some of the questions are easy enough if you keep yourself up-to-date with the recent events happening here in Germany or if you pay enough attention during your history class in high school, like who’s the current German chancellor or when did WWII start etc.

After going through the test, I couldn’t help but wonder whether passing this test would really make me a German? Of course I’ll get a German passport, and with it I can travel to almost anywhere in the world (especially to Western countries) without needing to apply for visiting visa beforehand. But then Malaysian passport is almost just as good.

I’ve read in a news article saying that many foreigners here, especially those from Eastern Europe chose to be naturalized because as a German citizen, there are less hassles when it comes to buying properties or looking for jobs. Some even said that they are offered up to two percent more pay as a naturalized German citizen. Is that it? Is that all that it takes to give up your own nationality?

My mom used to remind me, even before I stepped foot in this country, that I should must not give up my nationality, no matter how long I plan to stay here. Honestly, I don’t have any plans to change my nationality, not even if I were to marry a German. I’m happy being a Malaysian, although the current political situation back home is far from perfect. Ah well, every country has its own dirty laundry, right? It’s just the dirty pants or smelly socks that make the difference, right? Duh..I’m blabbering, but you get what I mean.

Oh dear, with my Malaysian passport, I still gotta spend 100Euros (Ouch!) for a visiting visa each time I wanna travel to the USA. Not forgetting the amount of forms I gotta fill out! But I guess I can live with that .