In this episode, we unpack the phrase “I need money.” We ask why student workers, who often have enough savings to cover basic living costs in Germany, still experience strong financial pressure. Money, in this context, is not just about survival. It becomes a way to cope with social and cultural expectations, and a tool through which students redefine dependence, responsibility, and relationships with parents.

In this episode, we follow Chinese student workers during a full day on the shop floor. Starting at 8:30 a.m., we experience the rhythm of warehouse work as it unfolds: how tasks are assigned, how wages are calculated, and what the working conditions are like. Through these everyday moments and firsthand accounts, we see student work in the warehouse as a lived, embodied experience rather than an abstract job description.

What does it really mean to study and work in Germany as an international student?

In this introductory episode of Global Hours, we explain why we started this podcast, the topics we’ll cover and how we hope to build a community around rarely discussed experiences.