Germany (Berlin) through the eyes of an American.
Germany through the eyes of an American.
The longer I stay in Berlin the more I become immune to the difference between here and America. So I thought it would be a good idea to take pictures of my daily activities in addition to sharing my views, opinions and experiences in Deutschland.
This entry will be ongoing however, it will not be consistent. I don't know when or how often I'll update this entry but when I do, I'll announce it on my twitter account http://twitter.com/goddessamazon
So today is Monday September 27, 2010. Since I have German language class at 9AM I wake up at 5AM to head off to my gym at 6AM so that I can get a two hour workout before going to school. So let's start from me leaving out my front door.
The Elevator!
Now you're probably wondering why in the hell did I take a picture of an elevator. Well let me tell you. My building has 5 floors and it's furnished with an elevator which is considered a luxury in Berlin. Believe it or not there are lots of apartment buildings here in Berlin without elevators. I shit you not. When I was looking for an apartment back in March I had several landlords show me apartments on the 4, 5 and even the penthouse level floor with NO ELEVATORS!!! As soon as I was climbing all those fucking stairs I knew without a doubt I wasn't going to get the apartment!!! So after several involuntary cardio sessions while apartment shopping I learned quickly to ask two questions before scheduling an appointment to see an apartment.
- What floor is the apartment on?
- Does the building have an elevator?
My Gym
This is my gym McFit. I love this gym and so far it seems that this one in Wilmersdorf is the biggest and best in Berlin. When I finish with my German language classes I'll take the time to visit the other gyms in the Berlin area to see if any match up to this one. The best thing I like about this gym is that it's open 24 hours 7 days a week. This is important because Germany can go a little overboard with the holidays and the other gyms will either close early or won't open at all. No matter what day it is this gym will always be open. This is what gym rats like myself long for. Oh and the price is only 16,90 euros a month. When you sign up you have to pay 16 euros (or maybe 19) for your membership card and then you're billed from your bank account every month. With this price and your membership card you're allowed to visit all the McFits in Germany and Austria as often as you like. This is a fantastic deal! This gym in Wilmersdorf has the best weight lifting equipment so far but I'll visit the other gyms next month to see if this is still true.
The picture on the left is the door to the woman's locker room. Umkleide is the feminine version of Umkleideraum which means changing or dressing room. Damen means ladies. This is good to know because when you go to some restaurants here in berlin you'll see the letter "D" on one doors and the letter "H" on the other door. If you're a woman go into the bathroom with the "D" on it and if you're a man go into the door with the "H" on it. The letter "H" is for Herren which means Gentlemen.
The second door has this green sign which is very popular here in the EU region. This is Europe's version of an EXIT sign. Our exit sign is red and black and their exit sign is green and white.
The third picture is the door to the bathroom. If you're in Germany and you need to go to the bathroom just look for the initials WC which means "Water Closet". Yes this is an English term that goes back to the early years (19th century). A bathroom just meant a room with a bath in it. Toilets were oudoors back then but when indoor toilets started to happen a clothes closet was often converted to make room for a toilet and the name water closet came into use.
Why McFit cost 16.90 euros a month
If you're not a gym rat, powerlifter or spontaneous cardio queen then McFit is not for you. The only reason I joined this gym is because they had great weight lifting equipment. However, they don't have aerobics classes, saunas, steam rooms or a swimming pool. You also have to pay to take a shower here. The above pictures displays the showers that cost 50 cent and it last for 5 minutes. LOL!!!!
What you do is put a 50 cent coin in the machine (right pic) and then one of the showers come on and stays on for 10 minutes. If you want a longer shower then you have to put in 1 euros or more. I think 1 euro gives you 25 minutes but I'm not sure. I personally don't use these showers because the water here in Berlin is very hard and full of synthetic calcium and lime which dries the shit out of your skin. If you're black do not, I REPEAT do not wash your hair with this water. Use bottled water instead. I have a water filter for my shower in my apartment that I brought in Atlanta at Home Depot. So when I am really sweaty I just go home and take a shower in my home with my water filter. The Germans here will swear on their life that their water is the best water in the world. Every time they say this I just give them an eye-roll and keep on going. Debating with them on how fucked up their water is a waste of time. I'll talk about the water situation later in this entry. I have a lot to say about the water here and the people's belief that it's good. That in itself deserves in own entry.
Another reason for the low price is that there's no hot water for the sinks in the bathrooms. Don't get me wrong, they do have a hand dryer that blows out hot air but there is no hot water to wash your hands in. According to the Germans heat to warm the water cost money and if we want hot water we have to pay for it in the shower room. Hahahaha! But I'm OK with this. Washing my hands in cold water and then blowing them dry with hot air is cool with me. I'll survive.
If you are active in Berlin you will need a backpack. This is a necessity for traveling around Berlin. The good backpacks here in Berlin are crazy expensive so I waited until I went back to Atlanta to buy this nice backpack (pic one) from walmart. It only cost 15 bucks and it can hold A LOT. There's a similar backpack like this one here in Berlin and it cost 72 euros. That's the benefits of being an American. If I see something that is too expensive here I can always go to Atlanta and get it dirt cheap.
The second pic is my membership card. This card is used to get into all of the gyms and to lock and unlock my locker. Cool huh? So far Wilmersdorf and Chalottenberg has these locker features. What you do is put your stuff in your locker and close the door.
Place your card over the yellow sign and you're hear a loud "click" sound. That means your locker is lock. To make sure your locker is locked simply look at the light on the door. If it's blinking then it means that your locker is open. If it stays lit that means that your locker is locked. When you are ready to open your locker just put the card back on the yellow sign and you're hear another loud "click" and your locker will open automatically. Your card is the only card that can open your locker. If someone else takes their card and place it over the yellow sign the locker won't open. All cards have a chip inside that is unique and original from the others.
Oh by the way, if you are self conscious about your body then don't come into McFit between 5 - 6:30AM because the cleaning crew is full of men and they are allowed to be in the female locker room during that time to clean up. They're a bunch of nice guys and if you really have a problem with them being in there while you're getting dressed I'm sure they will leave if you ask them to. I personally don't have a problem with it and let them do their thing while I get dressed (but then again I like being nude in front of vanilla folks). These guys are pretty respectable and focus strictly on cleaning the locker room so you don't have to worry about them taking a sneak peek at you while touching their man parts in the process.
The best time to come into a gym like this if you're a serious lifter is in the morning or any time before 2:00PM. I've noticed that all the serious people come in during that time. Actually, the best of the best come to McFit during that time so that they can get a serious workout in. However, if you come after 2pm (especially after 4pm) you will have to deal with a huge crowd of "posers" coming in there and hogging up all the machines with their bullshit workout. The guys who come in the weight lifting room during this time are a JOKE! None of them are much to look at and they are far from impressive. They are either too skinny or overweight with huge guts similar to an 8 month pregnancy. What's really funny about this crowd of men in the weight lifting section (located on the top floor) is that they all lift "pussy weights". Seeing a grown man curl a 20lb dumbbell while taking 5 minute breaks in between his 8 sets of 20 reps is laughable. These guys aren't really working out. They are there to socialize. Women lifting weights on the top floor was never done until I came there. (Yes, I asked.) I've been going there consistently for the past 6 months and I'm still the only woman in there lifting weights!!! If I come after 2PM then I'm usually the strongest one there which is a shame when you think about it. But when I come in the morning I'm surrounded by men who are powerlifters, bodybuilders or normal gym rats. These guys are much stronger than me and they lift heavier too (and that's how it's suppose to be). I know that extreme fitness is an Amereican thing and I take that into consideration every time I go in there to work out.
Oh by the way, I fail to mention that McFit has lots of cardio machines. I know I'm dwelling on the awesome weight lifting equipment they have but in my opinion cardio machines are a given. All gyms will have good cardio machines (treadmills, elliptical, rowers, bicycles, etc) but finding a gym that has free weights and hardcore muscle building machines is not easy here in good ole' Germany.
The U-Bahn
The Berliners here may think they have the best water in all of Germany which far from the truth. Actually the water here in Germany sucks as a whole (but I'll talk about that later). However, when it comes to bragging right the Germans do have the right to say that their subway system is the best in the country. Hell, I dare to say that the subway stations here are one of the best in Europe. The train system here in Berlin is absolutely awesome. As a typical American who MUST OWN a car I am proud to say that the train system here in Berlin is so good that I don't want to own a car while here. Yes, it's that good!
U-Bahn is short for Untergrundbahn. Untergrund means underground and bahn is short for bahnhof which means one of three things "railway, station or highway" The highway is called Autobahn and the subway that runs above ground is called the S-Bahn. I'll talk about those later next month. For now, let's just focus on the wonderful train system known as the U-Bahn.
If you're ever drunk out of your ass and find yourself wondering around Berlin lost then look for one of these big "U" signs. The U-bahn is so easy to use that little kids ride it without parental supervision. Unlike America, seeing a 6 or 7 year old child ride the U-bahn to school or home is not uncommon. Not only is it easy for them but it's very safe. Child snatching is not common here like the States and everyone looks out for their safety anyway so these kiddes are always protected.
This is the U-bahn a block up from my gym. The train lines that are running in a particular station is usually labeled under the "U" symbol. Here at the U-banh Berliner Strasse there are two train lines running. The U9 and the U7. Remember - U9/U7 means untergrund-7/untergrund-9. Unlike the signs in Atlanta, GA the names of the train stations are big and easy to read.
So once you go downstairs you'll notice these signs on the wall. This is the outline of the stops for the U7 line. These signs are idiot proof. The first sign gives you the entire line from start to finish. However, it also let you know which stops have S-bahn, ICE, Regional and other U-bahn connections by looking at the symbols to the left of the station name listed. It also lets you know which subway stations have elevators. That sounds crazy but trust me it's necessary because most train stations don't have elevators (or escalators) so if you're wheelchair bound then your choice in traveling is very limited.
The second and third picture shows the direction of the train line. If the station name is in gray then this particular train won't go there. It only goes to the stations listed in black. See? Very easy to follow right?
Ok so now it's time to pay to get on the train. Unlike America, there's no security ticket gate at the entrances or exits in the U-bahn stations. The BVG which owns the U-bahn goes by the honor system. What you do is go to the touch screen machine (in pic 1 and 2) and press the button for your choice of tickets. A short trip (3 stations) is 1.30 euros one way and a longer trip within the AB section is 2.10 euros. I'm not going to go into the details of what AB or BC tickets mean. These machines can be programmed in 8 different languages so if you're interested in educating yourself simply go to one of them and read up on it. Orrrrrrrrrrr you can do what I did and get a German friend (waves at Jim) to teach you.
Ok so once you put 2.10 in the machine you'll get this small little ticket located in pic 1. Once you get your ticket you have to stick it in the ticket validater located in picture two and three.
then when you take it out your ticket will have this stamp with a hole at the bottom on it like this
Now I know what most of you all are thinking right now "They don't have a security gate or guard standing at the entrance to prevent people from train hopping? Fuck that! Why in the hell would I need to buy a ticket then?" Well let me tell you. Even though they don't have security gates, cameras or guards at the entrances they do have these people who come on the train to check to see if you have a ticket. They call these people "ticket controllers" and they get on the trains to see if you have a ticket. Unlike Bavaria the ticket controllers here in Berlin don't wear uniforms. They wear regular clothes and blend in with the other folks so if you are riding without a ticket you can't see them coming and hop off the train.
These folks are pretty slick. They get on the train as if they are normal riders and as soon as the doors lock close they announce themselves loudly in German and everybody reaches for their tickets to show them as they walk down the aisle of the train. If you are caught without a ticket they ask for either your passport, driver's license or visa. They place your information into their little machine (that they hide under their coat or jacket) and then give you a 40 euro ticket. You have up to 30 days to pay the ticket, if you wait after 30 days it will cost 50 euros. If you don't pay this fine after 30 days they will put it on your visa or passport profile and when you try to leave Germany the police will stop you at the passport check booth and make you pay the 50 euros or you won't be allow to leave. Hahahahahahaa! The BVG want their money!!!
Now truth be told, the ticket controller doesn't come on the same train line everyday. I've been back here from Atlanta for 3 weeks now and I haven't seen any of them on my train line yet (The day after typing this my train had two ticket controllers come on board). I also know their work schedule so when they are working I ALWAYS buy a ticket whether they come on my train line or not (I don't risk it) and when they are not working I don't. A cool guy from New York taught me the tricks of the trade for the U-bahn system. BTW - Americans will look out for each other here and will always give you the inside info. The Germans on the other hand are ..........um?............too honest. LOL!
FYI - This system is much cheaper than the US. There is no price jack-up for "rush hour" times and you have up to 2 hours to ride on each ticket (one way only though). For example. Let's say that I want to go home but I need to go grocery shopping first. What I do is buy a one way ticket and get on the train. Two stations later I get off and grocery shop for an hour. When I finish I simply get back on the train and go home. I don't have to pay to get on and I don't have to pay to get off. I can use the same ticket to get on and off as long as it's used within 2 hours.
If you're lost and need directions or having a health emergency then you can use one of these things located in the center of every train station. Personally, I avoid these things like the plague because they are loud and very embarrassing. What you do is push the bottom button for information and speak into the mic located by the words hier sprechen which means "speak here". Some loud ass chick will speak to you through the speaker located at the top and when I say loud I mean LOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUDDDDD! I saw one man try to use this thing and as soon as he heard how loud the speaker was on this machine he walked away. Hahahahaha!
My advice, if you need help with direction ask one of the people standing around. The Germans love to help lost foreigners find their way to their destination.
Above each stairway is a sign to tell you which side each train will run on. In the above pic the U7 going to Rudow is to the left and the U7 going to Rahaus Spandau in on the right. They also announce each stop on the train10 second upon arriving.
This sign will tell you what train is running on the track (The U7). What destination it's heading to (Rathaus Spandau) and how many minutes the next one will come (2 minutes). If you want to know what time it is they have clocks all over the place. Germans love to be punctual. ;-)
The U-bahn is very punctual. They run as early as every 4 - 6 minutes during the day and 10 - 15 minutes at night and start at 5AM. The train run as late as 1AM Monday - Thursday, 24 hours on Friday and Saturday and up to 12 midnight on Sunday. Awesome right? Now you see why I don't want a car while I'm in Berlin?
Another thing I like about the U-bahn is the very detailed signs. I'm on my way to my German language class and Wilmersdorfer Strasse is where I get off. Notice how the sign tells you which exit goes to which street and which direction is the S Bahn. It also let you know which side of the train line you're on. Very easy and simple to use. I have to go into the direction of Pestalozzistrasse and I need to go upstairs and then exit left.
So let's say I had a brain fart and forgot that quickly in the last 5 10 seconds where I was suppose to go. Well when I get upstairs all I have to do is look at this sign on the wall and I'll remember "Oh yeah, I'm suppose to go to the left"
And let's say that I am still uncertain where to go even though I just read the other sign 2 seconds ago and I am drinking 16oz of Dumbass, there will still be signs at the exit way pointing me in the direction I need to go AGAIN! When I say that the U-Bahn is idiot proof believe me...................it's very idiot proof.
By the way, remember when I mentioned earlier that most U-bahn stations don't have elevators. Well the same goes for escalators. As many of my German friends know I am not a fan of stairs, especially if I workout out my legs in the gym the day of or before. When it comes to stairs I always pitch a bitch when I have to go up them because I used most of my muscles and energy in the gym earlier that morning. When you do as much exercise and cardio as I do the last thing you want to do is hike up some fucking stairs during your leisure time. One time when slave jonas and I were riding the S-bahn we had to hike up a long flight of stairs to get to the train. I practically had to lean on him half the way there. I would have to say that this is the only thing I don't like about the U-bahn stations here in Berlin but this is very minor. I wouldn't care if all the stations had stairs, I would still be a huge fan of Berlin's U-bahn station.
My School
This is my school where I learn German. It's called Volkshochschule which is known as Vocational School in the US. Here they have cooking classes, art classes, etc. This one is located in Wilmersdorf and is one of the best in Berlin. It's not far from where I live and I take the U-Bahn to it Monday - Friday. They offer several class options. You can take German once a week in the evening (which I don't recommend), twice a week in the evening, 4 - 5 times a week in the afternoon or 4 - 5 times a week in the morning. I take my classes in the morning from 9AM - 1PM Monday - Friday. However, I leave early on Friday because I have to be at the Studio by 12PM. If you're serious about learning German you will have to take an intensive course. GERMAN IS NOT AN ENGLISH LANGUAGE TO LEARN!!!!!!!! I have a few friends here who take the class once a week and they can't order food by themselves after 6 months. I was able to do it in 2 months because of my regular scheduled classes. Many Americans who come here don't bother to learn the language at all because it's too difficult. I can't say that I blame them, especially, if they live in the P-Berg area (as most Americans do) they don't have to worry about learning German because a huge majority of people and businesses speak English. As a matter of fact Prenzlauer Berg (P-Berg) is full of folks from England, America, Canada, Australia, Brazil and South Africa so they are not forced to speak German because everybody is speaking English. I don't have that privilege and personally I don't want it. I purposely put myself in an area of Berlin where either the people are too scared to speak English or they don't know English at all. So I have no choice but to speak the language. The more I speak it the better I get.
So here are my classmates. There are 9 of us in here but the other 4 were out getting something to eat. The first day of class starts off with 25 - 26 people. Then three days later it drops down to 20. A week later it drops down to 18, a week after that 16 and then finally on the 3rd week we have only 12 folks. The thing is that Germany has this crazy ass social system that gives money for basically everything to any citizen or residence who is willing to lie for it. (I'll bust out a HUGE rant on that bullshit later). Anywho, so as soon as their name is reported that they attended the the first 2 days of class the German government cuts them a check for the school instead of paying the school personally and then those fuckers bounce out of there with the money. Once they got their money they NEVER come back. The people who usually stay in class from start to finish are those who MUST learn the language in order to stay here. I have taken two courses so far and most of my classmates have been women who speak Spanish or Portuguese as a first language while everyone else is from all over the world. Fortunately, everyone speaks English so if you want to communicate to each other it won't be a problem. I am actually very good friends with the female standing in the back row in all gray is from New Zealand and we were like the cool chicks in the class. She is a funny and we would make private jokes about the teacher when our teacher wasn't in earshot. She is a ball of fun and cool too!
Ok so there are some minor things that erks the shit of me here in Germany and these handrails are an example. In my school all the handrails have these metal round balls on them to prevent people from sliding down the rail. There were times when I would forget that these damn things were there and bruised my hand while going down the stairs. WTF? First of all let me say that this school is full of GROWN FOLKS so why in the hell would these things need to be here? I think it's stupid, Stupid, STUPID!
Anywho, besides that fuckery above I really like my school and I enjoy learning German there. Not all schools are created equal though. There are a few that have bad teachers or the class is full of turks who just don't give a fuck so they slow the rest of the class down. But the Volkshochschule in Wilmersdorf-Challotenberg is top rated. Small classes, great teachers and good classmates. I highly recommend it.
to be continued.
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