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Berlin
17:44 and its nice and warm outside
Just like John Travolta said in Pulp Fiction, it’s those little
differences that make Europe so different to the States. I will
probably never understand why they like a huge dab of mayonnaise on
their fries, nor why they smoke like chimneys. Not only that, but
they stand at window/door thinking that they are being considerate
to let the smoke go out, when actually about 98% of the time their
tobacco smoke goes directly back into the, filling it up just as
much as if they smoked inside.
None the less, there is something so alluring about Europe.
Joel and I spent most of this week and last week looking for a
place to live. I was a bit surprised that every aspect of any
search we make, be it for a job, residence permit, house, etc...must
be done virtually 100% on the internet. I was thinking that
Germany was so technologically advanced, till my friend Byron told
me that the modern world has simply changed that much in the last 2
years that I stepped out of it. Germany may be technologically
advanced, but apparently the entire modern world is dependent for
computers for everything, not just most things like when I left.
Wow, how fast things can change, I feel like some old lady saying,
`I remember the days when we used to be able to search for a house
without a computer`.
The thing that I find most surprising about our house
search is not the variety of things they require of a person moving
in; 3 months of pay stubs, documents proving you have no debt,
documents from former landlords stating you don’t owe them any
money, signing leases, nor contracts that require a minimum of a
THREE month notice before moving out.
What I find most surprising is what they consider normal,
mandatory even, to take with you. For instance, in a flat here,
the ´kitchen´ is not included. When a tenant leaves, they take
with them the fridge, dishwasher, all of the cupboards, all the
counters, all of the furniture and mirrors (even the ones above the
sink in the bathroom), and any carpeting that was put in (even if
it improves the old floor beneath it).
I think the worst business to go into around here would be selling
furniture, especially second hand stuff. I have the impression
that Germans do not like used things, and they have so much
furniture that they can´t seem to get rid of that there is a whole
section in one second hand newspaper to give it away. We’ve been
offered all sorts of used furniture and bikes at almost every flat
we´ve looked at.
What surprises me even more is the lack of responsibility that
some of the university students demonstrate in moving out. They
basically want to trade us their old furniture for cleaning up,
re-painting every trashed wall of the entire apartment, tearing out
carpet, and even re-doing the ceiling!. No thanks. I guess a lack
of maturity and taking responsibility for trashing your apartment
can certainly cross cultural boundaries, even in such an orderly
and responsible society as Germany.
(Really, Germans are notorious for following the rules, the above
is quite abnormal. For example, they have little red and green men
on every street corner to indicate when you are allowed to cross
the street or not. I personally find it very difficult to start
following all the rules so soon after not having much of any, and
generally find myself resisting standing at a corner with no cars
passing, and just stand their simply because it’s the rule.
Often I will find myself in a situation like this: I’m standing at
a corner with people waiting on both sides of the street. I look
both ways several times and notice that there is not a car in
sight. I want to cross the street, because its safe and there is
no reasonable reason not to, in my opinion. When I do, people will
sometimes just keep waiting on their side of the street waiting for
the light, and stare at me, like , `Hey! What are you doing, the
light isn’t green yet! `. Even though inside I feel like saying
`So what?!?` I´m already finding that it’s sometimes easier to just
go along with it, other times not. I don´t really like doing
things just because it’s the rule. I still find myself wanting a
reason why. I guess some things never change.)
There are, at the same time, flats that seem to be the same price,
with really well maintained walls, wooden floors, and modern
furniture.
And YEAH, we finally found one! So, keep your fingers
crossed that we can work things out with the Brazilian tenant and
the landlord that doesn’t speak English, who apparently writes
tough enough contracts that the current tenant suggests we hire a
lawyer to deal with him.
Good thing I´m still giving thanks for small luxuries like hot AND
cold running water (since I think I had hot water for all of maybe
6 months out of the last 20), and great public transport.
So, that´s the update for now...its starting to rain, gotta go,
love
Timory
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