Sunday, April 29, 2007
The Todcast - Episode 6
Sorry for taking forever to finish this podcast. In this episode we go to a live music concert in Berlin, I record some craptastic quality music and we enjoy the mind-boggling Berlin flohmarkt flea market. I also challenge you at the end to find where my next podcast will be filmed.
To download episode Sechs six, ctrl+click here.
To download episode Sechs six, ctrl+click here.
Labels: Berlin, Germany, podcast, todcast, travel
Thursday, April 26, 2007
alles klar
Hey, just a quick post to let you know I'm still alive. I haven't written something in the blog in a bit and am way behind on the todcast episode 6. Spring is here and I've been trying to make the most of the schone beautiful weather.
Some good news though, on Monday we had another meeting with the residency permit people. I was awarded a one year non-working visa. So, I can stay here! Yeah!
Ok, I'm writing this on Sofie's laptop and none of the keys are int he right place so it's taking me twice as long. More soon. Love y'all.
Some good news though, on Monday we had another meeting with the residency permit people. I was awarded a one year non-working visa. So, I can stay here! Yeah!
Ok, I'm writing this on Sofie's laptop and none of the keys are int he right place so it's taking me twice as long. More soon. Love y'all.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Google Maps - Now with super accurate directions!
Google Maps has just released some new features and upgrades. What's most amazing is it can now provide you with accurate directions to my house! That's right my State-side friends, if you don't mind swimming across 3,462 miles of ocean you can be here in a mere 30 days and 5 hours!
Now that you know how to get here, what are you waiting for?
Labels: Berlin, directions, Germany, google, maps, travel
Friday, April 13, 2007
The Todcast - Episode 5
Oops, Uploaded the Todcast but forgot to make a post about it. Episode 5 is shot from my new digs in Berlin, about 4 blocks from the old location. I went to IKEA and spent to much, but the room still looks empty. I also went to a little jam session with a couple friends and snagged some footage. Overall a quick and dirty podcast with a little stop motion fun.
To download episode Funf five, ctrl+click here.
Oh, and if you want to send me something, here's my new Address:
Travis J. Todd
bei Jörg Messing
Stubbenkammer Strasse 12
10437 Berlin
Deutschland
To download episode Funf five, ctrl+click here.
Oh, and if you want to send me something, here's my new Address:
Travis J. Todd
bei Jörg Messing
Stubbenkammer Strasse 12
10437 Berlin
Deutschland
Labels: Berlin, Germany, Ikea, podcast, todcast, travel
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
The Twilight Zone of the Theater
Ok, just got back from seeing 300 (in it's original English version, thank god for the tourist haven of Potsdamer Platz) and I just wanted to highlight a couple of the weird culture-shock moments of a German Kino movie theater and I'll spare you a review of the movie which was pretty much how i expected (good art direction with a predictable plot, shit...there was a review).
Moment #1 - Assigned Seats
Yep, just as if you were going to see the Philharmonic or the Jacksonville Jaguars or flying the red eye US Air to Las Vegas, you get a row number and a seat number. Our were just ont he brink of uncomfortably close to the screen.
Moment #2 - Beer
Attention American rebels; theres no need to get the adrenaline rush of sneaking beer into your local cinema. You can buy it right at the concession stand, and frankly, it's cheaper than the jumbo soda.
Moment #3 - The Credits
Germans stay through the whole thing. In fact, the lights don't even come on until you've seen who the foley artists and assistants to the second mic grips were. Now, I know most of these Germans don't know enough English to understand half the colloquial language in the movie, what the hell are they reading in the credits?! I had a Chelsea match to watch!
Moment #1 - Assigned Seats
Yep, just as if you were going to see the Philharmonic or the Jacksonville Jaguars or flying the red eye US Air to Las Vegas, you get a row number and a seat number. Our were just ont he brink of uncomfortably close to the screen.
Moment #2 - Beer
Attention American rebels; theres no need to get the adrenaline rush of sneaking beer into your local cinema. You can buy it right at the concession stand, and frankly, it's cheaper than the jumbo soda.
Moment #3 - The Credits
Germans stay through the whole thing. In fact, the lights don't even come on until you've seen who the foley artists and assistants to the second mic grips were. Now, I know most of these Germans don't know enough English to understand half the colloquial language in the movie, what the hell are they reading in the credits?! I had a Chelsea match to watch!
Labels: 300, cinema, europe, Germany, movies, travel
Sunday, April 1, 2007
The Todcast - Episode 4
Here's a fun one. We went down to the middle of nowhere outside Berlin for a couple days to their Tropical Island. The whole resort is inside this massive temperature-controlled dome. Inside are a "sea," a "lagoon," a "jungle," some 50 meter high water slides and all sorts of other American-like resort goings-on. It was nice to be in the sun and sand for a couple days, but really weird to realize you were in the countryside of Germany.
To download episode Vier four, ctrl+click here.
WARNING - It's kinda shot in bad-home-movie style. Sorry. ;)
To download episode Vier four, ctrl+click here.
WARNING - It's kinda shot in bad-home-movie style. Sorry. ;)
Labels: Germany, island, podcast, todcast, travel, tropical
Residency Permit Followup
Thought I should follow up on the whole residency permit thing since I left everyone hanging in the podcasts.
Basically, What I learned (through the help of my wonderful translator) was that all I need for a "permission to freelance" residency permit is a valid copy of my diploma and proof that I have some money and insurance. What meager funds I had in my savings was more than enough to live in Berlin for a year, and I got some cheap travel insurance from HanseMerkur.
Only issue now is I need a copy of my diploma which has gone MIA sometime during my move. Hopefully Jacksonville University is not as scatter-brained as they used to be and can provide me a copy.
So, all in all, they didn't even care that I still had a job in the US. My reckoning is any country is more than willing to take your middle-class educated youth. Here's to that!
Basically, What I learned (through the help of my wonderful translator) was that all I need for a "permission to freelance" residency permit is a valid copy of my diploma and proof that I have some money and insurance. What meager funds I had in my savings was more than enough to live in Berlin for a year, and I got some cheap travel insurance from HanseMerkur.
Only issue now is I need a copy of my diploma which has gone MIA sometime during my move. Hopefully Jacksonville University is not as scatter-brained as they used to be and can provide me a copy.
So, all in all, they didn't even care that I still had a job in the US. My reckoning is any country is more than willing to take your middle-class educated youth. Here's to that!
Labels: europe, Germany, insurance, residency permit, visa
