Travis in Berlin

http://www.languagetrainers.co.uk/blog/2007/09/24/top-10-hand-gestures/

This is a great article and a must-read for anyone traveling abroad. You don't want to get caught in Germany thinking your complimenting someone's cooking but really calling them an anus.

Labels: Berlin, Germany, hand gestures, travel

If you go to a store in Germany, no one asks you within the first 30 seconds, "Can I help you look for something?" I worked in retail in the States and this was a company policy. In Germany it's implied that "no, you're just looking" unless you are by fact looking helplessly lost, then only reluctantly an employee will ask if you need their assistance. They really get it culturally. They were offered capitalism and got to choose the best parts and leave the others by the road side.

This cultural difference is most pointedly exemplified in a story I heard last night. It's about retail behemoth, Wal-mart. Wal-mart tried to come to Germany, but jsut couldn't figure out why people we afraid of their stores. It wasn't that they didn't like big-box discount places, they have OBI and IKEA. The problem was the people. When someone is standing at the door, smiling and welcoming every person, the Germans probably thought he was a nutcase. And when old ladies were asked if they needed help with their bags on the way out, they turned and ran, because the only people who'd ask you that in Germany are people who are trying to steal your bags.

And it's not that the Germans are impolite, it's that they're too polite. They don't feel like they should intrude into your life. You should be free to live you life in comfort without being harassed by other people. Ah, Wal-mart, proving Southern Hospitality doesn't quite cut the Senf mustard in Germany.

Labels: Berlin, Cultures, Germany, shopping, travel, wal-mart

So, on Friday we went to see Seeed, who are an awesome reggae/hip-hop band and Berlin natives. They were welcomed home in open arms and sold out three amphitheater-sized shows in a matter of days. The show was epic, with a massive stage, costumes, set-changes and some of the most kick-ass reggae/dancehall music this side of Kingston.

This is one of many live shows I've gone to in the past month (I saw New Zealand's own The Black Seeds twice). And I've come to another cultural observation about Germans: They love going out to concerts and will do about anything the band tells them too. Like when the lead singer says "put your hands in the air!" no one is "too cool" as in America to get involved. They love to clap along, even the ones with no rhythm. They also love to buy merchandise and dance their white guy 80s moves. This is absolutely wonderful for a band, but I couldn't help thinking...

These Germans will do anything for a good showman with a microphone. Give a man a stage and a Sennheiser and the crowd wave their hands just as Simon says. It made perfect sense all of a sudden how Hitler brainwashed them all some 70 odd years ago.

Labels: Berlin, Germany, seeed, the black seeds, travel

In part one of a multi-part series, we join Travis and Sofie on their whirlwind tour of Germany and Switzerland. In a rented Peugeot 307 cabrio, the two travel to Leipzig and Nürnberg enduring rain the whole way and checking out the sites. To be continued...

To Download Episode Zehn: Teil Eins Ten: Part One, ctrl+click here

Labels: Berlin, Germany, podcast, todcast, travel

Well, for a country that calls itself "The Fatherland," Germans seem to have gender roles reversed from the rest of the Western world...or at least the English.

In my ongoing observations I'd say the majority of German women I meet are really independent, self-assured and strong-willed, whereas a lot of the men seem to be emotional and passive. This matriarchal dominance seems to be a departure from what I'm used to.

This could also explain the un-manly sitting down to pee post I wrote earlier.

Labels: cutlure, Germany, sexes, travel

Here is a weird German word, Gerne (or Gern, depending on your fancies that day. Either spelling means the same thing and they're complete interchangable). This word is used to amplify a desire. For example: Ich will gerne Finanzierung für meines Projekt, Growvotes.org. I WANT funding for my project, Growvotes.org.

Now, I can't think of a word in the English language that does this. I would say "really" if the Germans didn't have a word for that also, wirklich. So, imply what cultural/historical things you want from having a word like this. I'll just leave it open to interpretation and contemplation.

Labels: German, Germany, language, travel

Democratic Socialism is a strange animal. It definitely has it's ups and downs (but I'll let Michael Moore explain those to you).

One bizarre thing in Germany, though, is that there is a TV/Radio tax. Now I haven't met anyone who actually pays it, yet, but apparently you have to pay a tax for every TV or Radio you own, and possibly, now computers. The tax doesn't go to the provider, as in America, but to the individual.

It stems from the state providing free TV and Radio, and on one hand it's nice they're only taxing the people who are using it but on the other...well, no one likes being taxed.

In my case though, the TV tax collectors have been coming by for the last couple of days and knocking on my door. I don't let them in. One, because I don't have a TV. Two, because I don't even understand the TV or Radio here. Thirdly, and most importantly, I don't feel like using my meager German skills to convey that to them.

Labels: Berlin, Germany, radio, tax, travel, TV

In this episode Sofie, a couple of her friends and me go to the Carnival of Culture in Berlin. The Carnival of Culture is a big parade celebrating the diversity of Berlin. It's also a place and time to drink exotic cocktails, and in our case, they were free (pays to know the bartender).

It rained most the day than cleared up, but it wasn't without it's bizarre sights, sounds and lack of sobriety. Also, Sofie wishes to apologize in advance to my parents for her drunkeness. ;)



To download episode Neun Nine, ctrl+click here.

Labels: Berlin, Carnival, Cultures, Germany, todcast

The summer is for vacationing (at least that's the European mentality), so I've scheduled a couple trips around this continent in the summer months.

July Road Trip to Switzerland.

Sofie found a great deal through ADAC which is like the AAA for Europe. We've (hopefully) booked a BMW 1 series to cruise down to Switzerland in the first weekend of July. If Hertz can't for some reason swing the BMW for us, we'll get a similar car with navigation.

We'll be visiting Sofie's cousin on the border of Switzerland and Germany on Lake Constantine, attending a memorial ceremony for her uncle (who passed away a couple months ago) and then driving through the Alps to Bern for the Swizzeridoo, the international didgeridoo festival.

Should be fun. Always an American dream to tear through the autobahn in a BMW, right?

USA v. Sweden

August 22nd, the USA Men's National Team plays in Sweden in an international friendly, a rematch of the US's first international match 91 years and 2 days prior. It's a quick, cheap flight from Berlin to Göteburg, Sweden. So, a couple Amercians and me are planning to just hop up there for the match and come back in the morning.

Labels: Autobahn, BMW, Germany, Göteburg, Sweden, Switzerland, Swizzeridoo, USA

Ok, this is the first episode post-hard-drive-crash so forgive the poor quality and limited content as I try and recover my webcam drivers and lost files. I also lost Final Cut Pro so I may need to make a new intro.

This episode was recorded a few weeks back, but chronicles Stephan and my experiences getting into, enjoying, and drunkenly leaving a G. Love and Special Sauce Concert in Berlin. This was Stephan's first time seeing G. Love and he was blown away. Every other day he tells me what an amazing show it was. (this was my 3rd time and..well..likewise)



To download episode Acht Eight, ctrl+click here.

PS- I say a couple naughty words in this one. Sorry Mom.

Labels: Berlin, G. Love, Germany, live music, special sauce, todcast

German guys sit down to pee. All of them. Honest.

Stephan and I have come to the hypothesis that it has something to do with the design of most German toilets. They have a shelf that sometimes makes a mess with a strong stream from a distance but if you have another idea let me know. It's a mystery.

Labels: Germany, toilets, travel

Tomorrow is Mannertag Men's Day. Apparently it's a holiday for men to hang out with their boys and get drunk. Ahhh, Deutschland.

Labels: Germany, holidays, mannertag, travel

Well, today was an adventure. I set out at 9AM, as normal on my way to language school But at Greifwalder Strasse between my home station of Prenzlauer Allee and my destination, Frankfurter Allee, the train decided to stop and order everyone out. Then it left empty. Then another train came, unloaded a bunch more people and left empty. I gathered from several repetitive German announcements that the train was broken ahead. Super, I always wondered why "Greifwalder" looked suspiciously like "Grief World." So,

I had to catch a street Tram. Now, Berlin's Strassenbahns street trams are wonderful because they go virtually everywhere. Unfortunately, because of their overarching presecence they can also be quite the labyrinth.

So, I got on what looked to be the most direct route to my school (it was now 9:30 and class was starting). Somewhere along the way though, we ran into some construction that halted our progress, and the LCD screen inside read "Ende Hier." Super. Now, I'm in Northeast Berlin somewhere and another half hour late.

So, I two more trams later and my 2 hour ticket had run out, and I had little desire to go halfway through class and try to catch up on the topic.

Think I'll stay inside for the rest of the day. It's gray out and the trains don't like me. Good thing is I should have enough time to finish this monster-long podcast.

Labels: Berlin, Germany, Strassenbahn, Trains, Trams, travel

Just thought it was somehow very appropriate.

Labels: Germany, history, old photos, travel

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.

Labels: Berlin, Germany, podcast, todcast, travel

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

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

Labels: Berlin, Germany, Ikea, podcast, todcast, travel

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!

Labels: 300, cinema, europe, Germany, movies, travel

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. ;)

Labels: Germany, island, podcast, todcast, travel, tropical

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!

Labels: europe, Germany, insurance, residency permit, visa

My brother and his friends all grow mustaches in March and call it "Mustache March." I don't know where the tradition dates from or why. Whatever the reason, I think this guy's got them beat!

Labels: Berlin, europafest, Germany, mustache

Episode 3 is a couple days late but I'd hate to have you miss the special footage from this weekend's activities. Week two was filled with some sporadic spring Berlin weather, also.

To download episode Drei Three, ctrl+click here.

PS- By the way, I should mention these only play in iTunes.

Labels: Berlin, europe, Germany, itunes, travel

Well, I ventured out yesterday to the supermarket to kind of explore and get my bearings. All the packaging for foods you'd want are the same, just the names are impossible to pronounce on the first try. So, it's pretty easy to get what you're looking for. Just figured I'd take some pictures to give you a taste of some of the unusual things I saw along the way.


Beer anyone? Mostly Pilsner...und...und Becks?


I know what you're thinking, "They totally stole the Budweiser name and screwed up the typeface." Well, my friends, this Budweiser is the original Budweiser from the Czech Republic. In fact, the two (American and Czech) have been in copyright disputes for years. And in this tasters honest opinion, hats are off to the Czechs.


Don't worry, there's still some options for you American sissy drinkers. Granted, these were buried somewhere in the back of the store.


Cigarette Advertising in Germany is alive and well! Marlboro has even taken over the grocery store conveyor belt dividers.


Lastly, I have no idea. Jsut thought the concept was hilarious.

Labels: beer, Budweiser, food, Germany, groceries, Kaiser's, Marlboro, travel