Travis in Berlin

Hello all,

I'm sorry I haven't kept up with this blog or podcasts lately. My life is starting to accelerate at a pace that my digital presence can't keep up with. Most notably, Grow Votes is starting to gain a lot of momentum, and we're getting really heavy into development. Therefore, I'm going to abandon this blog for a while in favor of our company's blog: http://growvotes.org/blog/

I hope that it's shed some light on German culture, travel and my time here. I may post from time to time in the future, but don't hold your breath.

Thanks everyone for following along!

Love,

Travis J. Todd

Labels: Berlin, blog, grow votes, travel

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

So, I've been living in Berlin now for about six months and you really get a good (well, unsettling) perspective on America from this great a distance. You start to see how identical the Bushies are running things to the Stasi of Cold War East Berlin. Warrentless wiretapping, building walls along the borders, ...

What struck me today is there is this song, that was #1 on several European music charts, peaked at #3 on the German Singles Chart and was released more than a year and a half ago. And no, it's not some crazy house music by an obscure European band. Its the song "Dear Mr. President" by American artist, Pink.

Here's a link to a video and lyrics: http://becauseimaddicted.blogspot.com/2007/07/pink-dear-mr-president.html

What struck me most about this song is that it is almost ever-present on the radio here. I could turn on the radio right now and bet I could find it, but to my disbelief, no one I talked to in the States had ever heard of it.

So, it's pretty obvious to me that the Republican-backed Clear Channel Communications, which owns almost all the big media outlets in America has had it blacklisted. I can't help imagining what would happen to someone like Vietnam War era Bob Dylan or John Lennon in a political landscape like we have today.

So, lets use our last front of freedom, the internet, and at least give it a listen and pass it to a couple friends. And while you're at it, see Das Leben der Anderen The Lives of Others.

Labels: America, Berlin, Bush, Pink, Stasi, 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

Noel Hidalgo, of On the Luck of Seven stopped by to meet up with me and David Troy, creator of TwitterVision last week. It was a great conversation about open-source technology, coworking and the general nature of technology and the internet (ask Noel if you ever meet him about self-conscious ash trays, that'll blow your mind).

Noel is writing a book about his "open-source journey around the world documenting free culture, social innovators and global change." He's also filming a documentary and video blog along the way. Dave and I were featured in episode 10, with a little bettwr production quality than my Todcast:

http://luckofseven.com/vlog/episode10

Labels: Berlin, coworking, internet, social-networking, travel, twittervision

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

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

Ok, Peter and his brother, Nick, are coming to Europe this month. I'll be meeting them in Amsterdam this weekend and then come back with them to Berlin for Monday-Wednesday.

That's going to be great!

Unfortunately, Dave, a good friend from Florida and fellow surfer, forgot to remind me he's going to be in The Basque Region of France and Spain from this weekend until next. But he did remember to tell me that epic swell is on its way for that area. So, should I buy a $400 plane ticket to fly out there for one and a half days of surfing? It's a terrible dilemma and I need your help! Please comment below...

Labels: amsterdam, basque, Berlin, france, spain, 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

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.

Labels: Berlin, travel, visa

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

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, thought I'd just highlight a couple pictures I took and one culture shock moment from last week. First off, on our trip to the Tierpark, this Ferrari and Lamborghini were zigging and zagging past us through the busy Berlin streets, and I had a total guygasm. I managed to snap a couple pictures:






And don't leave your Lambo parked illegally in Berlin because, I kid you not, the Germans have a truck, with a crane, that will literally pick your car straight up out of it's parking spot and put it on a flat bed. I couldn't whip my camera out fast enough to get this Beemer mid-air but you can make out the mechanics of this thing. Wild.

Labels: Berlin, BMW, Ferrari, Lamborghini, parking, 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

Well, sorry to everyone who followed my previous post. If you did you probably noticed that my flight from Jacksonville didn't take off until after my flight from NY had left. Luckily, I looked at the departure boards in Jacksonville with enough time to realize this. Apparently it decided to snow in the busiest travel sector in the country yesterday.

When the flight to La Guardia was delayed 3 hours and was supposed to take off before mine to JFK, I became a little suspicious. I asked an unbelievably helpful Delta employee by the name of Annette Ellis (thank you so much!) what the deal was and even though she was getting ready to go home she stuck around to re-route me so I could avoid the mess up North.

My new plan of attack included a stop in Atlanta, and then to the dreaded Paris Charles-De-Gaule airport before finally making my way to Berlin. Luckily Annette finished my re-routing just in time for me to board the flight to Atlanta.

Can't say too much about the first two legs of the flight other than I didn't sleep much and that the brand new Delta 737 was pretty nice, with in-seat entertainment consoles. First I'd heard of these was from the Feb. 8^th Diggnation but that was on the (soon to be) new Virgin America. Basically you get a little touch-screen TV in your seat, right above the tray table on which you can choose movies and television shows to watch, and even play games. The games feature is pretty cool as some of them you can go head-to-head with other people in the cabin. I got a high score in Trivia (just for you Jason), and watched Man of the Year and some Arrested Development (for you Chad and Greg).

I arrived in Paris with a ton of ecstatic old ladies finally getting to visit Paris for the first time and their supportive husbands. I hadn't had much sleep as I can never sleep on moving vehicles but surprisingly didn't feel too bad.

Now, I'd never been, but I've heard horror stories of the Paris Charles-De-Gaule airport. The place is immense. It's like it's own little city. But it wasn't too hard to figure out where to go. Just look at the board, find your gate number and then follow the signs. What was weird was that I had to go to through passport control to get to my other plane. I didn't think much of it as I was just trying to connect, but it turns out this saved me from explaining myself to passport control in Berlin.

I made my way immediately to my gate and eventually my plane boarded in a much less orderly fashion than state-side travelers would behave. One more point up against the French, eh? On this flight I pretty much passed out. I had a sweet seat by the emergency exit which provided me first-class-like leg room, and I was able to doze off a couple times.

Then we arrived in a gray-skied Berlin. I wasn't too concerned about that as the weather still seemed pretty warm and all I really wanted to do was nap for several hours. I could see Sofie grinning ear to ear through the glass at the gate and was immensely relieved to see that all my luggage had made it even with the re-routing!!! Kudos again, Delta!

I packed my stuff into the back of Sofie's room mate's borrowed car (as it was bigger than her mini). Oh, and I guess I should mention we were blocked in as some popular boy band, US5 got out of their charted van. Sofie said any girl in German under 14 years old would have killed for that random meeting. Lucky me.

Well, das ist alles fuer jetzt (that is all for now). Stay tuned for my podcast!

Labels: Atlanta, Berlin, Charle-de-Gaule, Delta Airlines, Paris, travel, US5

Well, here I am sitting in the Jacksonville International Airport terminal, A1, awaiting my flight to JFK. I got through security fine (even though I carried on my playstation. I figured all those wires must be suspect, but seems they were just concerned with water bottles and body lotion.) Somehow my entire life fit in the back of a Volkswagen GTI and is now on it's way to Berlin in the belly of a Delta 737.

Flight Numbers

DL5200 - JAX to JFK
DL78 - JFK to BXL (Berlin, Tegel)
(for those of you with widgits)

Thanks again for everyone's well wishings! It really means a lot to have so many great friends supporting me. Pretty calm and reflective morning. I did one last walk up to beach to tell the ocean I'd see it on the other side. Thanks to Chad for this sweet pair of noise-canceling headphones I woke up to as a going away present! I didn't expect that at all. You're an awesome friend!

Well, not much else to report. I'll catch you guys on the other side!

Labels: Delta Airlines, flying, JIA, travel

Well, as with most exciting adventures, the realization of the magnitude of the event is something that usually occurs in an instant. You always remember why and when "it hit you."

That finally happened to me yesterday. This trip is like nothing I've ever tried to do before. For that reason it was hard for me to actually conceptualize the magnitude of moving my entire life to Berlin.

But yesterday Lauren moved into my old room. I spent the day organizing my things and hanging out with my brother. But it was when I came inside from our back porch and realized I didn't have a room to go to, that's when it hit me.

I no longer had my own space here. I don't belong here anymore. Boom!

So, now my nervousness is ramping up and I've got some butterflies, but everyone keeps assuring me it will be an amazing time and I'm inclined to believe them. Having to say goodbye is hard and since I've been doing it all day, I wanted to highlight a couple more people:

• To all the crew at Robin Shepherd, I really want to say thanks for being some of the coolest and most talented groups of people I have ever had the pleasure of working with. Especially the IT team, Kendrick, Zwicker, Clif, Kaz, Paul, too many to name...Thanks again for keeping me on board part-time!

• To my family, I love you. Thank you for being so supportive of everything I do and for continuing to send your love an help to me in my crazy adventures. I know my brothers will always have my back.

• To my room mates, sorry. I'm sorry for leaving you guys on the cusp of what promised to be an amazing summer. Greg and Chad, you guys were the best. I hope Lauren works out and I hope you guys keep smiling and having fun. It has been great living with you and thanks for being understanding!

• To all my Florida friends, Jason, Wessels (all of you!), Alex, Leslie, Pete, Mike, you guys have always been there for me, and even when things got rough you were true friends. I can't say thanks enough.

• Finally, to Sofie. Thanks for taking me in and being my translator, cook, councilor and ambassador. You're amazing!

Alright I gotta stop before I get too blubbery. Here's to old friends and new beginnings! Cheers, ya dobers!

Labels: goodbyes, travel

Well, your friendly Rocket Man is set for takeoff. I bought my tickets yesterday. 07 March, 2007. 02:00 PM. One-way. Here's the deets:

Wed, Mar 07

2:00 PM - Depart Jacksonville, FL
4:25 PM - Arrive New York, JFK
5:35 PM - Depart New York, JFK
Delta Airlines

Wed, Mar 07 - Thur, Mar 08

8:10 AM - Arrive Berlin-Tegal, Germany
Delta Airlines

So, there it is! The amazing thing is I only paid $286! That's three weeks in advance! I was expecting to pay around $500-$600. I used a site called flights-to-europe.com. So if when you all come visit me, I'd recommend it for some cheap flights. I'd also recommend flying on a Wednesday.

Labels: airfare, delta, europe, flights, travel