The Prenzlauer Berg market on a warmer day last week!
27 September 2006
25 September 2006
The punch line
It's a famous story in Germany.
When JFK travelled to a then-divided Berlin, he gave a speech which made history for more than one reason. I haven't got the details at the moment, but he ended declaring his solidarity with the Berliners by saying "Ich bin ein Berliner," which, in Berlin, means "I am a Berliner." However, in the rest of Germany, it means "I am a jelly donut." Berliners are jelly donuts. Germans talk about the mix-up to this day. They love JFK for it and now in Berlin there is a big school named after him.
When JFK travelled to a then-divided Berlin, he gave a speech which made history for more than one reason. I haven't got the details at the moment, but he ended declaring his solidarity with the Berliners by saying "Ich bin ein Berliner," which, in Berlin, means "I am a Berliner." However, in the rest of Germany, it means "I am a jelly donut." Berliners are jelly donuts. Germans talk about the mix-up to this day. They love JFK for it and now in Berlin there is a big school named after him.
The joke's on you, JFK.
Things nobody tells you about moving to Berlin:
1. Cashiers want exact change. Yesterday I got harangued in German by some upstart blondie who wanted exactly 1,39 euros instead of the 1,50 I gave him. “Nine cents! Nine cents!” he shouted repeatedly (in German, of course). Forget it, Fritz. He handed back my change of 11 cents, throwing in a look of exasperation for free.
2. Your chances of getting mowed down by a bicycle rise exponentially the further you stray from home.
3. Everyone obeys the crosswalk signal. Just when you think you’re safe to cross on a red, some little German car comes careening out of a side street you never saw. Shiny metal flashes before your eyes, and your feet refuse to leave the sidewalk ever again.
4. The tap water is disgusting.
5. And bottled water will break your bank account. Though significantly cheaper than in the States, bottled water is necessary for anyone who prefers to keep his gag reflex in check. Apparently you get money back if you recycle, but I haven’t figured that part out yet.
6. Where, oh where, have the ATMs gone?
7. Clean, efficient, and odor-free, the U-bahn and S-bahn put the New York subway system to shame. Except for the hours of operation – all trains shut down at midnight during the week.
8. The homeless people speak German. I’m not quite sure why I found this shocking, but to see a homeless person selling newspapers on the subway in German is a bit weird.
9. The coffee. Where are all the big cups of steaming caffeine so abundant in New York? Not here, I tell you, not here.
Also. My new cell phone is in German. I have no idea how it works.
Ich bin ein Berliner?
Yes, I occasionally feel like a jelly donut.
1. Cashiers want exact change. Yesterday I got harangued in German by some upstart blondie who wanted exactly 1,39 euros instead of the 1,50 I gave him. “Nine cents! Nine cents!” he shouted repeatedly (in German, of course). Forget it, Fritz. He handed back my change of 11 cents, throwing in a look of exasperation for free.
2. Your chances of getting mowed down by a bicycle rise exponentially the further you stray from home.
3. Everyone obeys the crosswalk signal. Just when you think you’re safe to cross on a red, some little German car comes careening out of a side street you never saw. Shiny metal flashes before your eyes, and your feet refuse to leave the sidewalk ever again.
4. The tap water is disgusting.
5. And bottled water will break your bank account. Though significantly cheaper than in the States, bottled water is necessary for anyone who prefers to keep his gag reflex in check. Apparently you get money back if you recycle, but I haven’t figured that part out yet.
6. Where, oh where, have the ATMs gone?
7. Clean, efficient, and odor-free, the U-bahn and S-bahn put the New York subway system to shame. Except for the hours of operation – all trains shut down at midnight during the week.
8. The homeless people speak German. I’m not quite sure why I found this shocking, but to see a homeless person selling newspapers on the subway in German is a bit weird.
9. The coffee. Where are all the big cups of steaming caffeine so abundant in New York? Not here, I tell you, not here.
Also. My new cell phone is in German. I have no idea how it works.
Ich bin ein Berliner?
Yes, I occasionally feel like a jelly donut.
22 September 2006
18 September 2006
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