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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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 Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2015 6:15 pm Post subject: |
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Television ? This Far-seeing Device is a creation of the Evil One. Serious people immerse themselves in the study of Schiller and Fontane.
Last edited by scot47 on Sat Jul 23, 2016 3:23 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Hod
Joined: 28 Apr 2003
Posts: 1613
Location: Home
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| Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2015 12:52 pm Post subject: |
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It's that time again.
http://www.weihnachteninberlin.de/weihnachtsmaerkte/
The only good thing about Xmas: German Xmas markets. Well, I like them anyway, especially in Berlin.
Marks & Spencers closed down? Enjoy a bucket of Gluehwein at your nearest Weihnachtsmarkt. |
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jonniboy
Joined: 18 Jun 2006
Posts: 751
Location: Panama City, Panama
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| Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2015 8:13 pm Post subject: |
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| Hod wrote: |
| My wife worked in a so-called bilingual Kindergarten in western Berlin. The parents turned up in Mercs and BMWs, and why not? They were doctors, lawyers, etc. Did they speak English or have any confidence to try with the English-speaking staff? No. These people are in their twenties and thirties and grew up in West Berlin. |
It's exactly the same in Spain. The key point, as in Spain, is that those adults aren't interested in learning English, as they don't feel they need it and, if they have good jobs, 100 million other speakers of that language and don't travel much outside that region, that's understandable enough. But it is a negative factor for people thinking of going there to teach to consider.
I can get why the blocked content thing would be an irritation. Latvia really is a downloaders' paradise. Nothing blocked. Fastest internet speed in Europe and third fastest in the world.
@JohnCoan, sorry to hear it isn't working out for you, still would be interesting if you posted you experiences here as an update for anything thinking of it. |
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johncoan
Joined: 02 Jul 2010
Posts: 115
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| Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2015 9:22 pm Post subject: |
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I'll post updates regularly.
It's not that things aren't working out exactly - I've got a flat (at least until next January) and I've got plenty work - but life in Berlin is hard and German rules and laws mean a lot of the nice things that I took for granted in Prague (and other places) just aren't available.
I'd like to see people fall off their bicycles and sustain minor injuries from time to time. That would help a bit. |
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johncoan
Joined: 02 Jul 2010
Posts: 115
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| Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2016 10:40 pm Post subject: |
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I'm leaving Berlin on Thursday - back to the UK.
Things got a little better, but it's been a tough few months overall and without a doubt the most difficult of my however-many stints teaching English in Europe. Going freelance in this city isn't for the faint-hearted, the middle-aged, or the financially-limited.
If anyone's looking for enjoyable teaching work in Berlin, I'd wholeheartedly recommend Anda Sprachschule in Friedrichshain, by the way. Tell 'em John sent you... |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Sun Apr 10, 2016 8:25 pm Post subject: |
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| I am heading in the opposite direction. Berlin, City of My Youth, beckons for a visit - but not until September. I shall report back if I am spared. |
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Hod
Joined: 28 Apr 2003
Posts: 1613
Location: Home
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| Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2016 7:10 pm Post subject: |
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| I was about to suggest a good hotel, but you'll of course be staying with friends. |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2016 8:41 pm Post subject: |
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| I have a particular park bench in mind. In fact I have already selected my hotel. It is not the Adlon. I have decided to economise. |
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twowheel
Joined: 03 Jul 2015
Posts: 753
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| Posted: Sun May 29, 2016 2:18 pm Post subject: |
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| scot47 wrote: |
| Berlin is full of paradoxes but I for one have no doubt that the "Reichshauptstadt" is well on the way to becoming City Number One in Europe ! |
Agreed.
I must get back for a visit soon--summer of 2017?
My last time there was in May of 2000...a generation ago! My mind shall be blown.
| scot47 wrote: |
| Serious people immerse themselves in the study of Schiller and Fontane. |
Ganz genau! Sie sprechen doch die Wahrheit, mein Herr!
twowheel |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2016 10:04 am Post subject: |
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| Good to see that there is at least one other serious Mensch posting here in the midst of all this frivolity ! |
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twowheel
Joined: 03 Jul 2015
Posts: 753
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| Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2016 11:11 am Post subject: |
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| scot47 wrote: |
| Good to see that there is at least one other serious Mensch posting here in the midst of all this frivolity ! |
I do want to return to my study of German literature some day. Heady stuff, it does the mind and body good.
twowheel |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Sat Jun 11, 2016 2:10 pm Post subject: |
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| I dream of returning to Berlin, where even the tramps look prosperous ! |
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twowheel
Joined: 03 Jul 2015
Posts: 753
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| Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2016 1:58 am Post subject: |
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Unter den Linden! das Brandenburger Tor! der Alex! Checkpoint Charlie! KaDeWe! Kreuzberg! FKK-Strand!
Well, I'll give that last one a miss this time around.
Go and watch some zweite Bundesliga matches. Union Berlin! St. Pauli! Dynamo Dresden!
und so weiter und so weiter...
Here is a blurb about one of my favorite movies. I saw it in a theater in Vienna when it came out in the Autumn of 1999:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonnenallee
August 2016? To Berlin? City of my youthful dreams.
twowheel |
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Hod
Joined: 28 Apr 2003
Posts: 1613
Location: Home
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| Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2016 6:13 am Post subject: |
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Well yes, good places, even FKK Wannsee if you stay on the right side. My only problem with Berlin in six years there was the Germans, oh and having to pay some hefty tax and Sozialversicherung to support German pensioners who never did anything for or cared about me.
I've been back four times for visits. It's not hard with Ryanair or Easyjet, no need to bang on about it longingly on here, but they were just visits. I could work in Berlin again easily right now, but no thanks. |
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twowheel
Joined: 03 Jul 2015
Posts: 753
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| Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2016 6:40 am Post subject: |
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| Hod wrote: |
| I could work in Berlin again easily right now, but no thanks. |
...hence, my desire to only visit. Work and live long term in Germany? No thanks, my work and day-to-day living situation is good right now. No need to change that.
I keep Germany in my back pocket as a place to visit and enjoy as a tourist only, ditto for Japan.
twowheel |
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