Brexit checklist: a valid passport, Anmeldung, a print-out of your online registration form for the Ausländerbehörde, a paying job, German health insurance, a German bank account, a German driving license, and a year’s supply of decent cider.
The 29th of March is nearly upon us, and after more than two years of “robust” negotiations, it’s looking more and more like we’re headed for a no-deal Brexit. So what does that mean for those of us from the UK who have decided to make Berlin our home? As we get closer to the big day, I’ve accepted that I can’t keep sticking my fingers in my ears and hoping that this whole thing will go away. I decided to finally do a bare minimum of research, pump a couple of clued-up friends for information, and see if there were any shreds of certainty in the sea of Brexit doubt.
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by Guest Author | Stories
illustrations: Berk Karaoglu
It seems to be true for most relationships that after three years you get to notice things about your loved one that you’re just not very much into. And as I find, it’s no different after you’ve lived in a country for this period of time. Germany’s love for rules becomes apparent once you arrive at the airport and notice the line you’re supposed to stand behind while waiting for your suitcase to show up. Once you leave the airport, it may gradually start to dawn on you why is love sometimes synonymous with obsession.
We have chosen 10 German words that come from the field of bureaucracy. Chances are you don’t want to know them, but here there are anyway. You’ll thank us later.
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by Michalina | Stories
illustrations: Berk Karaoglu
Expats arrive in the city with varying levels of life experience and capacities to adapt. Everyone is anxious to speed up the initiation process and finally become a true Berliner, but few are aware that this noble title comes at a price. First off, you have to learn to live with extremely capricious Internet and the general reluctance to accept cash payment. But that’s merely the beginning. Read on…
by Michalina | Stories
I don’t know why, but in the last week I have seen so many postings on Facebook complaining about the struggle of going to the Bürgeramt (registry office / citizen center) that I felt it was such perfect timing when illustrator Sophia Halamoda sent us her latest comic: A guide on how to get an appointment at the dreaded office. Her illustrated guide on how to get into Berghain was such a huge success a couple of weeks ago that it makes a lot of sense she would do another one of the one place that is apparently even harder to get into than the infamous techno cathedral. In her guide, she once again pokes fun at all the little urban myths and cliches surrounding this special temple of German bureaucracy. Mixed in with a lot of typical bad experiences and classic missteps, she also gives some helpful advice that might make your next visit more successful 😉 Enjoy her witty new guide after the jump.
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by Frank | Art, Stories
