Libraries

BOOKS – More than just bicycle stands!

I remember first leaning to read. It was my first year at school. I was in baby class in the corrugated iron hut, separated from the main Yorkshire stone building. My teacher had a dog called Ben who used to sleep in front of the old coal stove with the iron chimney that rose up through the roof. The afternoon sun streamed through the window on my back as I sat at a long low table. In front of me lay the book ‘Little Black Sambo’ Suddenly, the letters that had appeared as separate entities began to form into words and I could read, I was in heaven. My passion for reading was unbridled and I obtained my first library card by the time I was six years old.

Libraries today are streets away from the time I joined my first library. Then, the gas lighter used to come at dusk, lighting up the streetlights one by one. There would be a smell of wood and coal smoke in the air, sometimes the whiff of burnt toast and I‘d walk home with my books in the chill of winter, counting my steps from one gaslight to the next until I reached streets where electric streetlights cast wider arcs of light, then up the hill and home.

So now you are in Bonn and want to join a library. In order to join a library in Germany you must first produce an “Anmeldungsbescheinigung” obtained from the Rathaus in your area, it also best to take along your passport just in case. There are various charges for joining with different privileges but the best value is the annual subscription fee othis covers all the libraries in the Bonn area including the music library and you can check out items without incurring extra charges.

Bonn libraries have English language section as well as small selections of French and Spanish materials. There is also a selection of English videos, music CD’s and DVD’s. As with the Music library media items can be checked out for a week. The library is also pleased to accept donations of books, CD’s or DVD’s in good condition. I organised my CD’s,  copied my favourite tracks onto an MP3 player then donated the CD’s to the music library. I also passed on my unwanted books that were in good condition to Frau Trimborn, Tel. (0228) 774593 at Bonn Central. They are pleased to accept all donations in good condition. The music library has over 2000 CD’s. One is allowed 15 CD’s at any time; this includes any CD’s that have three or four to one case. If, like me, you are catching up on obtaining music from the past for an MP3 player, this is an ideal time to check out what is on offer in the latest digitally re-mastered CD’s some CD’s are older and there is a lot of difference in sound quality. However, I managed to get three Steely Dan CD’s, which saved me downloading the tracks I wanted on-line at about Euro 1.15 to 1.49, a track. (If you don’t know already, T-Online have a download site for music and this can be charged directly to your telephone account – the only drawback to this is that you cannot listen to all the tracks in order to ascertain which ones you remember from the past!! I had to go into Amazon.com to listen first, jot down the titles, and then download. Inter-links for info on media, libraries, theatres are as follows:

http://www.theatrelibrary.org/sibmas/idpac/europe/de604.html

http://www.bonn.de/stadtbibliothek/musik.html

Happy browsing.

Popularity: 12% [?]

More Hints & Links for Expats

Some links for expatriates in Bonn

if you have any tips you would like to share with others feel free to contact me

·         I furnished my apartment almost completely with second-hand furniture. There is a warehouse called Schnäppchenmarkt at Am Weidenbach 26 in Beuel (near the Globus store – find Pützchenschausee and drive towards Globus. It’s across from the gas station at the side of Globus.) whose prices can’t be beat. It’s a crap shoot. Sometimes you find a lot of great stuff and sometimes you find nothing. You have to keep going, because you never know what you will find.

·         Washing machine broke or looking for a reasonable appliance? Check out the Der Weiße Kreis resale shop (631994 – Wolfstr. 5). He also makes house calls and was willing to tell me over the phone my freezer wasn’t worth fixing and saved my money.

·         Re-Cycle on the Römerstr. is a bicycle shop that is run by Mandehra, a friendly Dutchman. He sells used and new bicycles, is very reasonable and can repair just about any bike known to man.

This is a great list of what’s going on this month in English from the official Bonn web

·         This is a great list of what’s going on this month in English from the official Bonn web site. You might also want to check out the Bonn English Network web site.

·         www.bonnaparte.de has a great list of pubs & restaurants in Bonn, but it’s in German. I’ve also made Jill’s own personal list of restaurants based on my past dining and drinking experiences during the 5 years I lived in Bonn. When I lived in my tiny, depressing basement apartment in Beuel I was out just about every night. My friends are always amazed at my knowledge of restaurants and bars in Bonn. If it’s a cool place (or even a not-so-cool place) in Bonn I’ve probably been there.

·         Check out my movie page for movies in English showing in Bonn and Cologne.

·         The American Protestant Church and St. Thomas More (Catholic community) both offer worship and fellowship in Stimson Memorial Chapel. Give us a look if you want to join us.

·         The International Women’s Connection in Bonn is currently accepting new members. Membership is open to all English-speaking women in the Bonn area. For more information, contact me or the current president Helen Schneider. We can give you the phone number for the membership chairperson. I recently joined and was quite impressed by how many people are members and the number of activities.

·          

·         The American Women’s Club of Cologne meets in Cologne and provides the opportunity to make new friends through various cultural and social activities.. 

·         Each January you will receive a garbage pickup calendar ("Abfallplaner") for your area for that year. It will tell you when the "Biomüll" (compost-type garbage), "Restmüll" (regular garbage), "Gelbe Säcke/Tonne" (plastic and metal recyclables) and "Altpapier" (paper recycling) pick-ups will be. It also has information on "Sperrmüll" (quarterly pick-up of larger items that don’t fit the other categories).

·          

·         I was recently asked for some links for expats for the AWCC bulletin. I did a bit of additional research on the subject and came up with the following links for expats:

·         Auf Wiedersehen Net serves members of the British community living in Germany

·         The Expat Page offer information and links for expats living in German-speaking Europe

·         expatica.com is a good source for English-language news & information for expatriates in Germany. I visited the site recently and learned a few new things myself, so be sure to check it out.

·         Expatriates Working & Living in Germany has a ton of excellent advice and answers to little things that you wonder about but never thought to ask

·         The US Embassy in Germany 

·         State Department Travel Tips & Advisories 

• I was recently made aware of a workbook for relocating children, available in German ("Andere Länder, andere Kinder, dein Auslandsumzug mit Ori" ISBN: 3-88864-340-6 VAS Verlag) and English ("When abroad – do as the local children do Ori’s Guide for young expats" ISBN: 90-5594-262-6 Xpat Media). For a preview visit Ori’s Website: www.Ori-and-Ricki.net 

Are there any I may have missed? Also, information changes, so if you see something here that needs correction, please e-mail me by clicking on my name below.

© Jill R. Sommer, July 2000
Last modified: January 2005

Popularity: 5% [?]

English Movies in Bonn and Cologne

English Movies showing in Bonn and Cologne!

For its size,
Bonn is quite well supplied with cinemas. The  major ones in the city centre are the  Stern ( UFA) on Marktplatz plus the Woki-Filmpalast on Bertha-von-Süttner-Platz. A multiplex Kinopolis opened in Bad Godesberg in 1997. Then there are what are known as Programmkinos that show classic and art films: the Neue Filmbühne and the Rex Lichtspieltheater in Beuel and Endenich respectively, and the Bonner Kinamathek in the Brotfabrik art centre, Beuel.

If you like watching films at home, a good source of English-language videos except the very latest releases is Bad Godesberg district library (Bezirksbibliothek). An English video rental shop that closed down a couple of years ago donated its entire collection. The library is across from Kinopolis at the junction of Moltkestrasse and Bonner Strasse and opens Mon., Wed., Thu., Fri. 10 am – 1 pm and 2.30 – 6 pm (Wed. 7pm); Sat. 10 am – 12 noon. You need a member’s card (Kundenausweis, at the time of writing 30 euros a year from any Bonn public library) will include DVD’s as well as books.  Bonn residents pay half. More details are available from the Stadtbibliothek/Public Library

For those who prefer the big screen, the links below are to listings of films showing in English at various
Bonn cinemas.

New and recent releases showing in English:
Kinopolis Bad Godesberg
Woki-Filmpalast

.Classic and art films showing in English:
Brotfabrik (Beuel)

Rex and Filmbühne (Endenich and Beuel): films showing in the original with subtitles are marked O.m.U. (Original mit Untertiteln).

All films showing in
Bonn:

Kinoprogramm in Bonn: films showing in the original with subtitles are marked OmU.

The above information taken from Jill Sommer’s A Stranger in a
Strange Land website

www.jill-sommer.com/en/private

Popularity: 17% [?]

Restaurant & Pub tips

Restaurant & Pub Tips by Jill Sommer

Bonn has a wonderful selection of restaurants and pubs – and the beer gardens can’t be beat. When I first arrived here I lived in a cold, dank basement, so I tried to avoid it by going out a lot. I’ve visited a lot of these places and decided to make my own list for English-speaking readers. I’ve decided to separate the list by district. Remember, this list is not complete and is based on my visits.

The information below on restaurants, pubs and beer gardens has been taken with permission from Jill Sommer’s Stranger in a Strange Land website (http://www.jill-sommer.com/en/private)

These are her own recommendations and opinions experienced during her stay in Bonn.

Since writing this in 2001 some of the information below may be a little out of date.

Bad Godesberg

· Aennchen (at the foot of the Godesberg) is a wonderful old restaurant that is world-famous. Its praises are sung of in many foreign countries. The restaurant once actually received a postcard with the address “n, Germany” – meaning the small “A” (or Aennchen) in Germany. The food is outstanding, as is the service. It isn’t cheap, but it is well worth it.

· Bastei (Von-Sandt-Ufer) – I was here for a wedding reception and was impressed with the food. The balcony and terrace offer a great view of the Rhine, Petersburg and Drachenfels.

· Casa Rustica (Im Auelchen 9) – I’m crazy about this place! It is a tiny little half-timbered house tucked away on a one-way street. They only have 10 tables inside – plus outdoor seating in good weather. The food is unbelievable, and the service is fantastic!

· Costa Verde (Wurzerstr. near the B9) – good meal, excellent wine. They serve very good tapas.

· Da Tung (Am Michaelshof 4b) – they serve Dim Sum – what more could you want?

· Drachenburg (Mainzer Str. 152) – the best Bohemian restaurant in Bonn as far as I’m concerned. The portions are well-sized, the prices are reasonable, and they have Budvar on tap. The Hochzeitsknödel and sauce melt in your mouth!

· Oscars Schnitten (on the left side of the main pedestrian shopping area when you get out of the U-Bahn and walk towards Michaelshof) – I just discovered this place. They have extremely reasonable sushi menus – and the sushi is really good.

· Pino (Rheinstr. 26) – good food and reasonably priced.

· Zwitscherstube (Rheinallee 17) – a great little wine cellar. The perfect place to go after you’ve been to the Kinopolis or are looking for a little something to eat.

Beuel

· Beueler Grill (Friedrich-Breuer-Str. across from the Filmbühne) – I have been here many times for a quick takeaway sandwich or a sit-down meal and have never been disappointed. I especially recommend their Falafel or chicken pita (Hähnchen-Pita)

· Der Blaue Affe – this beer garden is the most reasonable and low-key of the Bonn beer gardens and is located right off the bike path. Seating is casual on picnic benches.

· Café Aetna (corner (Friedrich-Breuer-Str./Obere Wilhelmstr.) – one of my favorite ice cream cafes. Try the Coppa Aetna. I love the Blue Curacao. The sundaes here are also excellent.

· Eiscafé Olivetti (Friedrich-Breuer-Str. 69) – my second favorite ice cream cafe in Bonn. Excellent ice cream sundaes.

· Furios (Friedrich-Breuer-Str. 67) – great cocktails, nice atmosphere, and the scene of one of the funniest moments with my friend Olaf (funny for him, not-so-funny for me – although if you consider being covered from head to toe with beer and cigarette ashes funny…). Open past 1 am.

· Rheinlust (Rheinaustr. 134) – one of the best beer gardens around, but not the best place to go since the teenies discovered it and its owner Alex from “Big Brother”. Wait a while to try it out once the excitement has died down.

· Stadtcafe (Friedrich-Breuer-Str. 89) – pretty good, but nothing special

· Tivoli (Friedrich-Breuer-Str. 91) – great Italian food at a reasonable price. I highly recommend their mixed antipasto from the buffet.

· Bambus China-Restaurant (Obere-Wilhelm-Str. 31) – reasonably priced and good portions.

· Ocean City (floating Chinese restaurant) – I’ve heard from everyone I’ve talked to that the food is overpriced and too salty.

Bonn Altstadt

· Bärwinkel (Heerstr. 121) – excellent food and wine. I celebrated my birthday here a few years ago and really enjoyed myself. If you like seafood I highly recommend the Calamari with spinach or the escargot.

· Brauhaus Machold (corner of Dorotheenstr./Heerstr.) – excellent food and a great atmosphere. They brew their own beer and offer a Bierbörse on either Mondays or Thursdays (I can’t remember when exactly) when the price drops according to demand. I really enjoy coming here and highly recommend the Brauhaus platter.

· Cantina Siesta Mexicana (Breite Str. 72) – very authentic Mexican food, but avoid the margarita if you are looking for the large frozen variety. You’ll only be disappointed.

· Caramba (Georgstr. 28) – great food and a cute little terrace. I knew the owner, so I definitely wanted to give it a try. I’d go back if I could find someone to split the paella with – any takers?

· Casa Antonio (Heerstr. 67) – a “Geheimtipp”. This Spanish/Portuguese restaurant only has 4 or 5 tables and has a high turnover, but the Portuguese waiter always remembers me – no matter how many years have gone by or where I am (he recognized me in a hard rock bar once). The food is very reasonable and good. They serve their wine in water glasses, just to show you how unassuming this place is.

· Elsässer (Breite Str.) – excellent ambiance and good French cuisine.

· Eulenspiegel (Vorgebirgsstr. 19) – I was here during Karneval and had a great time.

· Godot (Im Krausfeld – excellent food! I especially like the banana casserole and the chicken in honey and coconut. They aren’t afraid to experiment, and the results are wonderful! From the outside the place looks smaller than it really is.

· Indian Palace (Graurheindorfer Str. next to Edeka) – if you love Indian food and are looking for great ambiance, this is the place for you. The restaurant is located down some stairs, but it is very plush and candle-lit. A bit pricier than Mogul (see below), but well worth it.

· Klein Bon(n)um (Paulstr. 5) – known for its excellent food, so get here early or reserve ahead of time to make sure you get a table.

· Moghul (Dorotheenstr. – tucked away next to Pawlow) – the most affordable Indian restaurant in Bonn with good food. Since I am a huge fan of Indian food, I wouldn’t leave this off the list for the world.

· Pawlow (Heerstr. 64) – if you like “headbangers”, this is the place for you.

· Die Pille (Dorotheenstr. 2) – my friends and I like to get together here every once in a while for a tall Weizen. The owner is a lot of fun, but don’t use the “Sie” form. You won’t get your beer unless you use the “Du” form.

· Die Pinte (Breite Str. 46) – this is the first pub I ever went to in Germany. The place is small and very old.

· The Pub (Dorotheenstr. – a bit more “high level” than the other pubs in the Altstadt.

· Rosa Lu (Vorgebirgsstr. 80) – a great place to get together with friends to play board games or just talk. They also serve an excellent brunch buffet on Sundays.

· San Telmo (Breite Str. 55) – a very popular Spanish restaurant. The place is always packed and the food is excellent.

· Stachel (Maxstr. 30-32) – the place was a bit too loud and crowded for my tastes, but then again, it was the weekend.

· Tuscolo (Kaiser-Karl-Ring 63) – The pizzas are baked in a wood-burning oven and don’t fit on the plate – even though it is rather large. The noodles are also homemade, and the tiramisu is to die-for.

Bonn City

· Bonngout (Remigiusplatz 4) – my all-time favorite café in Bonn. They have the best Milchkaffees in town, and the food and cakes are excellent. The ambiance is also wonderful.

· Brauhaus Bönnsch (Sterntorbrücke 4) – I always bring my guests here. They have excellent German food, and I love the beer glasses and the house-brewed beer.

· Carpe Noctem (Wesselstr. 5) – Shake your body down to the ground at Carpe Noctem. A great dance club. Thursdays is Oldies night – enjoy the music from the 70s and 80s.

· Cartoon (Kasernenstr. 16) – a cute little pub, but nothing special if you ask me.

· Casa del Gatto (Kaiserplatz 20) – I always run into someone I know here. This is a great pub down in an old cellar. Very reasonable prices.

· Cassius Garden (Maximilianstr. 28) – a great cafeteria-style vegetarian restaurant. They price things according to weight, and it tends to add up quickly. The fresh-squeezed juices are a nice tip.

· Creperie-Rotisserie (Markt 3) – the crepes are surprisingly filling. Ask for no garlic or you (and those anywhere near you) will regret it for the next few days.

· Em Höttche (Markt) – a great little old restaurant. I especially like the table tucked away inside the old fireplace. Good German food.

· Göttlich (Fürstenstr. 4) – a Uni hangout, but nice all the same. They’re open past 1 am.

· Gum (Sterntorbrücke 7) – I don’t care what anyone else says about this place, I love it. It serves Russian cuisine and is open after 1 am for those who are hungry or looking to continue the party. I recommend ordering the Vodka Kirsch.

· Hähnchen (Münsterplatz 21) – a bit pricey, the tables outside in the sun are the best, and they serve Weizen (no Kölsch).

· Jazz-Galerie (Oxfordstr. 24) – great music. Jazz during the week, Samba on Thursdays (I think) and good dance music on the weekends. Open past 1 am every night.

· Korrekt (Brüdergasse 9) – the location of a terrible date, so I’m a bit biased, but I remember enjoying the food and the beer.

· La Rotonda (Friedrichstraße) – I was recently here for a company dinner. I liked the atmosphere and the décor – especially the starlight (is that the right word for a glass ceiling?) The food was excellent, and the wine my date and I ordered was out of this world! I like the idea of a three-course meal for a reasonable price (about 40 DM), but I splurged and got a steak. It was unbelievable!

· Le Copain (Berliner Platz 5) – a gay bar. We went in accidentally when Olaf needed to use the restroom. The people there were very nice to us.

· Man Wah (Markt 5) – the food here isn’t the best.

· Maredo (Wesselstr. 5) – excellent steaks and salad bar.

· Metropol Café (Markt – a great place to get a drink while waiting for your movie.

· Nachrichten-Treff (Kaiserpassage) – excellent food, a wonderful terrace balcony and the inside is quite cozy too. They actually have seating in an old train car.

· Pendel (Citypassage 1) – they recently expanded and doubled their seating, but it is still almost impossible to find a seat.

· Phuket Thai (Berliner Freiheit 14) – excellent atmosphere (I especially like the requisite fish tank) and good Thai food. The cocktails are fantastic.

· The Quiet Man (corner of Quantiusstr./Baumschulallee below the hotel – where the Schnappsuhr used to be) – a cozy little Irish pub. There are no other chips quite like these in Bonn. Don’t miss them!

· Salvator (In der Sürst 5-7, near the Hauptbahnhof – not the one on the Thomas-Mann-Str.) is a Bavarian-style beer hall. The fresh-baked pretzels are really good, and I enjoyed the fish and spinach I ordered.

· Spitz (Sterntorbrücke 10) – excellent food and a great location. I love sitting outside and watching the people go by. I always see at least one person I know when I am here.

· Tacos (Bonngasse 7) – good Tex-Mex food and excellent margaritas. Just don’t expect a lot of alcohol in the drinks during happy hour.

· Tri Angeli (near the traffic light heading towards Endenich – right after the bridge). The food was wonderful – from the appetizers to the main course.

Dottendorf/Kessenich

· LaVita (Kessenicher Str. 165) – I’ve been told this is the best Italian restaurant in Bonn, but I think Casa Rustica and Tri Angeli are better. Although this is very good…

· Rincon de Espana (Karthäuserplatz 21) – very rustic atmosphere and reasonable prices. Whatever you do, don’t blow into the pipe!!!

· Bodega (corner Reuterstr./Burbacherstr.) – a romantic, candle-lit Greek restaurant. The seats are covered with lambskins, and the food is good and plentiful.

Endenich

· Fiddler’s Irish Pub (Frongasse) – voted the best Irish pub in North Rhine Westphalia. The food is good and the beer is the perfect temperature. Be sure to order some of their brown bread! I really love coming here.

· Harmonie (Frongasse 28-30) – offers lots of great live music in their concert hall in the back. The food is also quite good here.

· Springmaus (Frongasse) – a nice little theater that serves you beverages while you enjoy the show.

Oberkassel

· Karawane (Adrianstr. 104 – corner of Baumstrasse/Adrianstrasse, 0228 9449680) – this restaurant is definitely worth a visit! You get a plate with a little bit of everything on the menu (the food has a decided Oriental/Mediterranean touch). Once you have sampled everything you can choose 3 dishes to eat. When you finish those 3 dishes you can choose another 3 until you are full. The food is excellent and varied. When we ate there there was a lot of Turkish, Arabian and Indian food. The food is excellent, and the drinks are also very good. Open Tuesday through Sunday from 6-11 p.m.

Plittersdorf

· Dionysos (Plittersdorfer Str. 220) – hearty Greek food. If you can, sit in the romantic, grape-leave-covered garden in the back of the restaurant. Avoid the weird spread they bring with the bread though.

· Im Steinhaus (Turmstr. 13) – good food, if a little pricey

· Kanton China-Restaurant (Mittelstr. 8-10) – the food is excellent, and the lunch special runs from 12 noon – 2:30 pm. I recommend the beef with ginger and leek or the curried fish or chicken.

· Parkrestaurant Rheinaue (Ludwig-Erhard-Allee) – great romantic atmosphere in the middle of the park.

· Schaumburger Hof – the beer garden is unbeatable in the summertime. Inside is really expensive – go for coffee and cake if you can. It was excellent.

· Trattoria Pizzeria Italia (Plittersdorfer Str. 220)- the waiters are a lot of fun, and the food is good. I recommend the Penne All’ Adriatica or the Pizza Romana.

· Zur alten Post (Plittersdorfer Str. 191) – my “Cheers”. I have never had a meal here that I didn’t enjoy. And you can’t beat the prices!

Poppelsdorf

· Bodega Miguelito (Sternenburgstr. 86) – I remember being very impressed by the food and the service.

· China City (Clemens-August-Str. 2) – great Chinese food.

· Extra Dry (Clemens-August-Str. 46) – a nice little cocktail bar

· Havanna Caffe (Clemens-August-Str. 1) – one of the most popular pubs in Poppelsdorf. Great tequila drinks.

· Poseidon (Clemens-August-Str. 81) – good Greek food served with a free Ouzo or schnapps compliments of the house after your meal.

· Rietbrocks One reader recommends “best winehouse in Bonn – on Lennestrasse in Bonn Südstadt. The owner makes every visitor feel like an old friend – and the wine is fabulous!!!”

· Spiegel (Sternenburgstr. 37) – I used to be here a lot. A nice little bar to hang out in.

· Spleen (Am Botanischen Garten 20) – decorated a bit crazy with lots of old, unmatched chairs and sofas. I’ve been told the politicians used to come here to relax.

Regierungsviertel

· Bowling alley (Bundeskanzlerplatz) – if you like to go bowling this is the place for you.

· Pantheon (Bundeskanzlerplatz) – I was here recently for a cabaret and was quite impressed. A great little theater and bar. I especially liked the Batilda Orange.

Südstadt

· Albert’s Cafe (Ermekeilstr. 28) – they serve great Milchkaffees here. I like coming here.

· Alibi (Weberstr. 41) – a fun little pub – especially during Karneval.

· Café Extro (Lessingstr. 50) – recently reopened under new management.

· Pathos (Weberstr. 43) – a great little restaurant & pub. They serve a *fantastic* brunch buffet on Sundays.

· Wespennest (Argelanderstr. 139) – I love how they decorated this place – very cozy. I’ve also been told it serves the best Sunday brunch in town. The hot food comes out at 12 noon, although we still had a nice selection from 9 am on.

· Zur Kerze (Königstr. 25-27) – Is it or isn’t it closed? This used to be the best place to go once all the other bars had closed.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Eating out and Tipping

Eating out

Tipping in Germany: at the hairdressers (Friseur) it is usually good to tip about 2 – 3 Euro. If waiters in a restaurant do a good job round up to the nearest 2-5 Euro when the bill is presented (a general rule of thumb I use is 5-10% of the total). You should round up to the nearest 5 Euro for taxi drivers, and hotel maids are happy with 5 Euro for a week’s stay.

Restaurant etiquette: You do not need to wait for someone to show you to your seat – except in the very upper class establishments. Men also enter ahead of the lady. This is not to be rude, but to make sure that the place is safe for his lady to enter!  If no tables are available in the restaurant, it is perfectly acceptable to share a table with people already seated there. But be sure to ask if it is free. Eating without a knife (i.e. just with a fork) are not exactly normal, but I never had anyone look at me funny for eating with just a fork. You need to ask for the bill at the end of the meal. Unlike the restaurant trade in America, no one is in a hurry to move you on after your meal. "Linger longer" dining is the custom here, and a waiter would never dream of bringing you the bill before you ask for it.

© Jill R. Sommer, July 2000
Last modified: January 2005

 

Popularity: 4% [?]

Tips for Expats

Tips for Expatriates by Jill Sommer

The first thing you notice when you get off the plane is that everyone is speaking another language. Another thing you will notice is that the Germans appear to be extremely conscientious and not as friendly as the Americans. But appearances can be deceiving. If given the chance, Germans can be as warm and open as Americans. And they aren’t as punctual as everyone believes…!

I have met some wonderful people here, and my networking skills have come in very handy. My father taught me by example to not be afraid to ask a lot of questions. As a result, I have built up a support network here that can’t be beat. I have found a good car, lucrative jobs, and excellent handymen just by asking the right people the right questions. So start talking with your neighbors or that woman standing next to you at the bus stop, and don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Bonn has a lot of opportunities for English-speaking citizens. Since the embassies were here, the people of Bonn learned to be more tolerant of different cultures. We also have a lot of really great stores that have a large variety of goods. Hit, Kaufhof and a lot stores in Godesberg and Plittersdorf have many American and British products if you just know where to look.

Some of these hints are from the American Women’s Club of Cologne Bulletin and the IWC Connection newsletter and some are my own. I hope they help you survive in Germany.

My first big tip is don’t be mad at yourself if you find yourself complaining about the size of the refrigerators, general unfriendliness, lack of ice in restaurants, bureaucracy, etc. It is natural to grieve a bit when adjusting to a major change in our lives. Some days will be better than others, and some days you just won’t be able to cope at all. Just put a lid on it after a few months. Other foreigners, who have been here longer, and Germans we meet get tired of hearing us complain. Take it from me – I’m very vocal when something is going on that I don’t like. Enough to have irritated some of my friends so much that they told me point-blank that if I don’t like it here I should move home. Get out, join some clubs, take a class or two, talk with your neighbors. Savor your experiences here while you have the chance. I for one am taking full advantage of my last few months here.

Living overseas is usually exciting, often challenging, and rarely easy. Need help or answers? Here are some organizations that may help (from the State Department’s newsletter):

* United States Embassy Berlin http://www.usembassy.de – The official web site of the American Embassy in Berlin and its constituent posts in Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Leipzig, and Munich. The site contains a wealth of information of interest to American citizens throughout Germany.

* American Citizens Abroad http://www.aca.ch – A nonprofit nonpartisan association dedicated to serving and defending the interests of individual US citizens living worldwide.

* Association of Americans Resident Abroad http://aaro-intl.org/index.html – Founded in 1973, the Association of Americans Resident Overseas (AARO) is a not-for-profit, non-partisan, public service organization representing United States citizens living abroad.

* Expatriate Exchange http://www.expatexchange.com – The Expatriate Exchange was founded in 1997 and has become the largest online community for English-speaking expatriates. Comprised of over 140 country and topic networks that can be accessed for FREE, the community has supported over 500,000 expats through all phases of the expatriation and repatriation process.

* Federation of American Women’s Clubs Overseas http://www.fawco.org – The Federation of American Women’s Clubs Overseas Inc. is an international network of 76 independent clubs with a combined membership of over 17,000 women in 34 countries worldwide. It serves as a support network for American women living and working abroad and is particularly active in the fields of U.S. citizens’ concerns, education, environmental protection, and women’s and children’s rights.

* Are you a Uniformed Services member or dependent? Are you a U.S. citizen living overseas?
In 2004, you can take part in an exciting new initiative called SERVE (Secure Electronic Registration and Voting Experiment), which will let eligible U.S. citizens vote from any Windows-based computer with Internet access, anywhere in the world!
The Secure Electronic Registration and Voting Experiment, or SERVE, is a project aimed at providing Uniformed Services members and overseas citizens the ability to register, vote and check their status throughout the absentee voting process. The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP, http://www.fvap.gov) wants you to be able to exercise your democratic right in a safe, convenient, reliable and timely manner, by bringing the voting booth to you through the Internet. The FVAP has taken all by-mail absentee election functions, and placed them on the Internet. Anyone with a Windows-based computer and an Internet browser will be able to vote without worrying if your ballot will arrive on time. You will even be able to check the status of your registration, your ballot request and see if your vote was counted. SERVE will let you:  Register to vote, Check the status of your registration, your ballot availability, and your voted ballot, Request your absentee ballot, Vote Find out how you can participate by visiting this site: http://www.serveusa.gov.

* Democrats Abroad http://www.democratsabroad.org – Democrats Abroad is the official Democratic Party organization for some six million American citizens who live outside the United States.

* Republicans Abroad http://www.republicansabroad.com/index.htm – Republicans Abroad is the international arm of the Republican Party, formed to enlist the personal energy and leadership of Republicans living overseas.

Also, I just discovered this great page with tips about televisions, available channels, and the Gebühreneinzugzentrale.

© Jill R. Sommer, July 2000
Last modified: January 2005

 

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Expatica

Survival guide
http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=104&story_id=12756

City Essentials ? Cologne/Bonn
Expatica is updating its popular Survival Guide so as to help you navigate Germany's leading cities. As part of our new series on city essentials, we set out all you need to know about forging a new life in Cologne and Bonn.

 

 

Expatica -  the #1 English-language news & information source for expatriates living in, working in or moving to the Netherlands (Holland), Germany, France, Belgium or Spain. www.expatica.com

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University of Applied Sciences, Bad Honnef

December 4, 2004 by admin  
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University of Applied Sciences, Bad Honnef

 www.fh-bad-honnef.de

We are  proud to annouce that we now have new partnershps with universities in Peru, Taiwan, Hong Kong und Finnland.
Anyone interested is invited to come and find out more about our English language study programs (eg tourist management, hotel management, air traffic management, event management, international business management and see the campus for themselves.

Why not have lunch at the excellent on site restaurant, St. Anno Park –  very reasonably priced too! www.st-anno-park.de
More details and how to get there by car (or tram and enjoy the view along the Rhine)  

Tel: +49 (2224) 9605-104
Fax: +49 (2224) 9605-115 d.laschke@fh-bad-honnef.de
www.fh-bad-honnef.de 

 

 

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A Manual for Germany

September 13, 2004 by admin  
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"How Germany is trying to make you feel at home" … The German Government has released a book aimed at helping newcomers set up in the country and understand the new world they find themselves in. Read either the Expatica link below. This manual is available in German and five other languages and can be ordered free of charge direct to your home.
http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=104&story_id=10791
or go direct to www.handbuch-deutschland.de

 

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