- John Lennon said: “I was born in Liverpool but raised in Hamburg
- When Hamburgers refer to the DOM they do not mean a church or cathedrale but a huge fair, taking place three times a year in Hamburg
- Hamburg has approximately 2500 bridges and hence not only more than Venice, Amsterdam and London combined, but it has more bridges than any other city of the world
- There are more millionaires living in Hamburg than in any other German city
- Hamburg is 7 times bigger than Paris and 14% of Hamburg is green space
- In Wedel is the ‘Willkomm-Höft’ situated. The only ship greeting dock of the world. It welcomes every ship entering the harbour of Hamburg with the national anthem and flag of the originating country
- The VIP-seats of the FC St.Pauli Stadium offer each an own Astra Pils tap as well as a small ice-rink where fresh Currywurst is served
- The Miniature Wonderland Hamburg is the largest railway museum as well as the largest model railway in the world. It inherits more the 12km of railway lines
- Only men as well as those women working there are allowed to enter the ‘Herbertstraße’ in Hamburg
- “Hummel, Hummel” “Mors, Mors” is a very common salutation in Hamburg. However, it is mere used as a distinctive mark and a battle cry among Hamburgers
Category Archives: Living
Top 10 Fun facts – Munich
- Beer is considered food and not an alcoholic beverage in Bavaria
- The Biergartenverordnung allows you to bring and eat your own food in a Bavarian beergarden
- Oktoberfest is held in September mainly and ends the first weekend in October
- The Bavarian dialect is difficult, even for other Germans: Brötchen (Buns) are called Semmeln and the city’s name ‘München’ becomes ‘Minga’
- Munich’s specialty the ‘Weisswürste’ (white sausages) is served with sweet mustard and freshly baked pretzels and ONLY until 12:00 noon
- not counting the cities in Alaska, Munich is located more north than any larger city in the US
- The city’s name ‘München’ was derived from the old High German ‘Munichen’ and means ‘by the monks the place’
- According to legend the architect of the well-known Frauenkirche (Cathedral of Our Lady) tricked the devil into thinking the church having no windows. However, when the devil realised he had been duped he stamped his foot near the entrance. You can view the footprint called the devil’s step even today.
- Munich’s English Garden is heavily influenced by Asian architecture, comprising Chinese pagodas, a Japanese teahouse as well as temples
- the oldest building in Munich known today is neither a church nor a Bavarian pub or tavern – it’s a toilet of the year 1260
Another kind of integration: participating in Carnival
Its coming closer again – every year between early-February and mid-March there is no other topic as highly discussed and dividing as Karneval or Fasching or Fasnet.
First, it divides German society in those going jeck (mad, crazy) during Karneval and those fleeing from the country to either go skiing or enjoying sun in a far-away Karneval-escape. Next, this season divides those who love Karneval into different groups, calling it Karneval, Fasching or Fasnet, depending on where they live.
While North-Rhine-Westphalia is a carnivals stronghold where it draws serious consequences to call this week of drinking alcohol and running around in crazy outfits Fasching. In the south however, it is opposite: do not say Karneval in Bavaria or Baden-Württemberg! It is at least Fasching, however a true Swabian would never say Fasching but Fasnet!
And of course every carnival stronghold is the best, in their eyes. The title of being THE carnival stronghold is highly contested, especially Cologne, Düsseldorf and Mainz are competing against each other and make fun of the others’ attempts of celebrating.
A quick tip:
When you participate in Cologne’s Karneval: Never say HELAU, shout ALAAF whenever possible 😉
When participating in Düsseldorf’s or Mainz’s celebrations use HELAU and do not try out what happens if you shout ALAAF.
ICH-Will-Deutsch-Lernen
“ich-will-deutsch-lernen” new onlineplatform for refugees and migrants
The German „Deutsche Volkshochschul – Verband” provides a tool to support migrants and refugees in learning German. Name of the webportal is “ich-will-deutsch-lernen”. The available platform implied a German language course which helps to learn and improve German language skills, starting from level A1 to level B1. The Volkshochschul – Verband want to support the integration of refugees and migrants in culture and social living.
The content of the digital courses is according to the rules of integration courses in Germany.
Furthermore the portal offers an extensive range of material for alphabetisation. And last but not least the portal provides also one tool to improve German professional jargon. The user can choose out of 30 cross-sectoral scenarios and 11 professional communication activities.
Everybody may use the tool: do-it-yourself-learner, teachers and professional learning classes.
Teacher of integration courses and German courses have to register and build up their own class online. Then they are able to supervise their participants. Learners who start on their own will be supervised by tutors of DVV.
ich-will-deutsch-lernen.de
update: there are new features available
Beginning of the festive season – Christmas markets
Autumn shows its wintry side those days in Germany: its cold and dark, snow is falling… So some festive atmosphere is coming up already – how great that most cities in Germany open their Christmas markets soon:
21st November – save the date: beginning of the festive season, time for savoring some Christmas treats.
A beautiful and popular tradition, making those cold, rainy days less dreary and shortening the time until Christmas. Visiting a Christmas Market with family, friends or colleagues. Chatting while having hot drinks or enjoying some Christmas biscuits, or better the good old Currywurst – Or a Bratwurst? Children can enjoy a ride on a merry-go-round, everything glooms and glows and its smelling Christmassy.
The most beautiful and most popular Christmas Markets of the German metropolises of Berlin, Munich and Stuttgart welcome their visitors with manifold Christmas treats, music and handicraft. Some Christmas Markets are open on certain weekends only, others are open throughout the entire pre-Christmas season.
The Christmas markets are various: some focus on carrousels and merry-go-rounds, some on handcrafted or design presents for Christmas and other on Christmassy treats and culinary delights.
What they all have in common: visiting a Christmas market is a welcomed alternative during the dark time of the year.
Gohelpy and XpatVisor paved me the way to Berlin!
I got a job offer as an IT consultant in Berlin. But I had no idea, how to get a work permit for Berlin. Then I found gohelpy online. It was unbelievable, gohelpy provided me with all necessary information. The XpatVisor created a tailor made relocation path regarding to my profile. So I got all information of the procedure to get my work permit.
It is hard to find an apartment in Berlin these days, but I was lucky, I found a room in a (WG) shared flat. I ask the relocation specialists of gohelpy for some support to handle the administrative matters. They coordinated and applied for the appointments at the municipal registration and the Department of Foreign request in Berlin (LABO).
Just to let you know, with gohelpy everything worked out perfectly..
Andrei from Russia
Berlin shines
Berlin shines in a new light. Days become shorter, weather is getting worse. After a rainy cloudy day you may see a wonderful shining Berlin at night. Superb light installations are projected at many buildings – it is so impressive.
Berlin festival of lights has started last Friday and will be in Berlin until the 16th of October. Take your chance going around Berlin have a look at that brilliant light installation. You can go on your own, take part at a guided walking tour or bus tour, by bike…
Don’t miss this wonderful festival of lights in Berlin.
Housing market in Berlin, Stuttgart and Munich
At most German Universities the winter term (Wintersemester) will start in October.
This means, thousands of students are moving from their home town to their university town. They all are looking after flats or rooms in shared flats. The situation becomes critical in the housing property market in the main towns of Germany. Thousands of flats are missing in cities like Berlin, Stuttgart and Munich.
It’s a very hard procedure. If you identify a flat online, you have to arrange an appointment for flat viewing. You must have all your paperwork with, otherwise you will not have any chance. Then you stand in line with more 50 interested persons, waiting to get a view on flat.
The housing market in Berlin, Stuttgart and Munich is really becoming worse.
Berlin registration
Back to business as usual at Berlin’s registration offices
In order to get an appointment at the municipal registration office you have to wait up to two months. The hotline to get an appointment on a short term notice was closed right after the Berlin election. That means you have to wait again for minimum a month. You should keep that in mind when making an appointment with the foreign department to apply for residence permit or work permit.
Our tip: If you know when you will move to Berlin exactly, ask for an appointment. You can make it online.
Berlin Marathon – Integration at it’s best
This weekend the 43rd Berlin Marathon will take place in the city of Berlin.
More than forty thousand runner and skater will participate in this competition. More than twenty thousand participants come from abroad countries to join the Berlin Marathon.
It’s great: people from all over the world, women, men, young and old people, professional runners and hobby sportsmen and handicapped person. They all will give their best on Sunday and the Berliners will cheer on them.
By the way, if your are new in the city, participating on Berlin Marathon gives you a superb overview of the streets of Berlin.