Kelsey Wood: 8 Things about Berlin
1. German is not mandatory
Berlin is a big city with people
from all over the world. The common language spoken is English, so if
you’re German language skills are not tip-top, no worries. I don’t regret
attempting to learn the language before I arrived, but I can’t say it really has
done me any real good (no harm either.) Everyone speaks better English than my
German. At least I tried.
2. Beer (But the wine’s good
too)
I somehow thought that by moving to
Germany I would be drinking beer exclusively. I lasted about two weeks.
As someone who doesn't typically enjoy beer I thought that by not drinking a
lot of beer I wouldn't be experience Germany to the fullest. Who knew
that Germany is a wine producing country? I recommend a Dornfelder.
3. Night Owl
If you turn into a pumpkin at
midnight, Berlin might not be the city for you if you’re interested in the
night life. The party doesn't get going until 2 or 3 in the morning and
lasts until the morning commuters are heading the office. An
evening nap is highly recommended.
4. Good shoes
You may get away with some cheap
kicks back home, but Berlin still has cobble stones and those are not so
forgiving. Make sure you invest in some stylish shoes that can hold up to
the wear and tear (remember you’ll be walking more.) Shoes are very
expensive in Berlin. Something that is $80 back home is about $130 here,
so bring don’t buy. You will not regret it.
5. Get room-mates
It’s the absolute norm in Berlin to
have room-mates, which is not something everyone is used too. Here’s its
fun and a great way to meet people. Plus you will save on money,
which is awesome!
6. Bring drugs from home
In Germany things like aspirin are
over the counter at the Apotheke. While you do not require a
prescription you will still have to speak German and figure it all out (not the
best when you have a headache). Save yourself some trouble by going to
Costco and stocking up beforehand.
7. Cash is King
Since I’ve been in Berlin I have
only used my Visa card twice. In Berlin cash is king, and the most
accepted form of payment. If you’re paying at a bar or restaurant
it’s easy to break bills, just tell your server the amount you want back.
Example if you’re paying for a 6.50 bill with 10.00 bill and you want to leave
.50 tip just tell your sever you want “3 back”
8. Don’t walk in the bike
lane
People from Berlin will ring to let
your know they’re coming, and will certainly let you know if you’re standing in
the bike lane. Sometimes it’s on the road, but it’s sometimes right on
the side walk. So if you’re standing in a red lane, move on over.
Comments
Post a Comment