198. To be fair...
Although I really can't stand so many things about Germany as you can read, and understandably so, I have to say it would probably be slightly better if we lived in a bigger city. Although Munich is the most expensive places to live and eat here, it does have it's charm and variety of being a bigger city. Vienna would be even better, in fact, anywhere outside of Germany would be better for me.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
197. If it's warm elsewhere it will be rainy here
Just checked our weather forecast this week, its spring in the rest of Germany pleasant weather finally!! and Austria was 72 and super sunny, Vienna 82 degrees! Here in the Armpit of Germany, it will be 46 degrees and rainy for 7 days! nice, I so love Spring in Germany don't you?? Also, last week I got the wrong weather report thinking Spring had arrived and I literally froze my ass off, you know thinking I could actually put my gloves, winter coats and umbrella away (BIG mistake!) and it was a nice warm 37 degrees till 2 pm. I had to walk and weather the storm literally in my spring clothes (BIG mistake!) while I could blow steam from my mouth, because it was so freaking like a freezer -ice-Armpit-cold!
Just checked our weather forecast this week, its spring in the rest of Germany pleasant weather finally!! and Austria was 72 and super sunny, Vienna 82 degrees! Here in the Armpit of Germany, it will be 46 degrees and rainy for 7 days! nice, I so love Spring in Germany don't you?? Also, last week I got the wrong weather report thinking Spring had arrived and I literally froze my ass off, you know thinking I could actually put my gloves, winter coats and umbrella away (BIG mistake!) and it was a nice warm 37 degrees till 2 pm. I had to walk and weather the storm literally in my spring clothes (BIG mistake!) while I could blow steam from my mouth, because it was so freaking like a freezer -ice-Armpit-cold!
196. Love Thy Neighbors
I just want to remind you how happy I am about my upstairs neighbor who has a huge dog, 2 grandkids that come over day for piano practice (they are merely beginning which makes it even more fun to listen to) that lasts exactly from 1 pm the time I come home to 3 pm. Then it's roller hockey in their living room that's super fun! and then they stomp all over the place, which made me discover that sound travels downward. He also has a vibrating bed or something that vibrates very loudly and makes our entire bedroom vibrate at his leisure and I believe he's hard of hearing because I can also hear his TV. He also likes to go to sleep after 12 am which is especially fun for us who get up at 7am every morning. Around 12:30am he likes to drop a load in his toilet and I can hear him pee like Austin Powers and it's quite refreshing to hear that and fall asleep for me. I am just wandering if I can hear that, what in the world can he hear from our apartment, scary! We are just so lucky to have him!
I just want to remind you how happy I am about my upstairs neighbor who has a huge dog, 2 grandkids that come over day for piano practice (they are merely beginning which makes it even more fun to listen to) that lasts exactly from 1 pm the time I come home to 3 pm. Then it's roller hockey in their living room that's super fun! and then they stomp all over the place, which made me discover that sound travels downward. He also has a vibrating bed or something that vibrates very loudly and makes our entire bedroom vibrate at his leisure and I believe he's hard of hearing because I can also hear his TV. He also likes to go to sleep after 12 am which is especially fun for us who get up at 7am every morning. Around 12:30am he likes to drop a load in his toilet and I can hear him pee like Austin Powers and it's quite refreshing to hear that and fall asleep for me. I am just wandering if I can hear that, what in the world can he hear from our apartment, scary! We are just so lucky to have him!
195. Terrified
I realized as we open up our mail everyday, we are literally petrified of legal documents from Immigration, drivers license office, real estate office, trash police, I mean every time we get something "official" we fear that we are in trouble with the Gestapo again and I HATE that, I mean really must we live in constant fear that we are in trouble, or we did something wrong, that what we did is "forbidden" my husband jokingly said I may end up in a German jail with scary big-boned German women and that I would be forced to eat wurst (hot dogs) every day, it was a scary thought.
I realized as we open up our mail everyday, we are literally petrified of legal documents from Immigration, drivers license office, real estate office, trash police, I mean every time we get something "official" we fear that we are in trouble with the Gestapo again and I HATE that, I mean really must we live in constant fear that we are in trouble, or we did something wrong, that what we did is "forbidden" my husband jokingly said I may end up in a German jail with scary big-boned German women and that I would be forced to eat wurst (hot dogs) every day, it was a scary thought.
194. Trash it!
Had a nice conversation about this recycling thing from a Vienesse guy and he said that it was confirmed that this is really not the most efficient way to recycle our trash. In Vienna, they make you throw away plastic in the restmull (other trash) so it can be burned for fuel. Plus mind you, we have 7 different trash trucks to come pick up the different assortment of goodies aka our trash and with all that gas, and emissions, you figure that one out.
Oh and while I was giving him my 2 cents about how these people are using their dishwashers to clean their yogurt bottles and cups, he said oh no! EVERYONE has a dishwasher, how funny. When it comes to things they want to use, it doesn't matter how much energy or electricity is being consumed. They are so funny these people, that's why you gotta love Germany!
oh, this is pix of german trash cans from Life magazine...
Had a nice conversation about this recycling thing from a Vienesse guy and he said that it was confirmed that this is really not the most efficient way to recycle our trash. In Vienna, they make you throw away plastic in the restmull (other trash) so it can be burned for fuel. Plus mind you, we have 7 different trash trucks to come pick up the different assortment of goodies aka our trash and with all that gas, and emissions, you figure that one out.
Oh and while I was giving him my 2 cents about how these people are using their dishwashers to clean their yogurt bottles and cups, he said oh no! EVERYONE has a dishwasher, how funny. When it comes to things they want to use, it doesn't matter how much energy or electricity is being consumed. They are so funny these people, that's why you gotta love Germany!
oh, this is pix of german trash cans from Life magazine...
193. The Closet Conspiracy
So, my local contractor came to fix our second broken blind and he nicely fixed my squeaking closet. I wouldn't call it a mere squeak though, it was the sound of grey whales in the ocean, a high pitched squealing like in the Star Trek movie, it was soooo loud, every time I opened my closet door it drove me nuts and seriously impaired my hearing. The problem was ever since we moved from the first apartment, the lazy movers didn't properly assemble everything when we moved to our 2nd apartment. I also noticed fallen chips of (fiber wood, aka fake wood) wood on the closet panels and that all the shelves were about to fall down from not being properly assembled. So I paid 2 guys to try to fix that problem (costing more money) but the truth came out. This contractor told me these closets (which are quality produced with mere fiberboard and plastic and that are sold for EXHORBITANT amounts of money) are only good for one time use. YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME! At last, I found out that these Germans are tricking us, by purposely not building closets in homes, then making us purchase these SUPER expensive monstrosities and then God forbid, if you decide to move, you can't even take it with you..WOW, another fun loving thing that really makes me sing for joy. It really is true, lemme refresh you on how much these suckers cost:
Price of closet
600 Euros
Delivery cost
price of assembly 4 hrs labor x 20 Euros=80 Euros
Moving of closet
Price of 2nd Closet
600 Euros
Delivery and assembly
Wait time to receive: 6 weeks
So, to be conservative, about 1300 Euros =$1700 USD
for the price of 2 closets, which lemme tell you, barely fits all our clothes, so we have to use other smaller closets as well and now you can just toss these suckers when you're done, because they will fall apart on the 2nd move.
joy.
So, my local contractor came to fix our second broken blind and he nicely fixed my squeaking closet. I wouldn't call it a mere squeak though, it was the sound of grey whales in the ocean, a high pitched squealing like in the Star Trek movie, it was soooo loud, every time I opened my closet door it drove me nuts and seriously impaired my hearing. The problem was ever since we moved from the first apartment, the lazy movers didn't properly assemble everything when we moved to our 2nd apartment. I also noticed fallen chips of (fiber wood, aka fake wood) wood on the closet panels and that all the shelves were about to fall down from not being properly assembled. So I paid 2 guys to try to fix that problem (costing more money) but the truth came out. This contractor told me these closets (which are quality produced with mere fiberboard and plastic and that are sold for EXHORBITANT amounts of money) are only good for one time use. YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME! At last, I found out that these Germans are tricking us, by purposely not building closets in homes, then making us purchase these SUPER expensive monstrosities and then God forbid, if you decide to move, you can't even take it with you..WOW, another fun loving thing that really makes me sing for joy. It really is true, lemme refresh you on how much these suckers cost:
Price of closet
600 Euros
Delivery cost
price of assembly 4 hrs labor x 20 Euros=80 Euros
Moving of closet
Price of 2nd Closet
600 Euros
Delivery and assembly
Wait time to receive: 6 weeks
So, to be conservative, about 1300 Euros =$1700 USD
for the price of 2 closets, which lemme tell you, barely fits all our clothes, so we have to use other smaller closets as well and now you can just toss these suckers when you're done, because they will fall apart on the 2nd move.
joy.
192. Eeewww it's starting to smell...
Let's not forget that when you start a compost under your sink, with every bit of bio remains, it will start to stink, in fact it will look and smell like a science experiment and grow certain fungus, mold, fuzz that you've never seen before in your life! Then all the liquid will seep to the bottom of the container, which means you must wash, and bleach out the science experiment remains every few days or your kitchen and house will start smelling like the back of a trash truck. I enjoy this immensely, like I have nothing better to do than this extra timely, and filthy chore...I am seriously starting to think I will defy the Gestapo Trash Police and to return to not recycling anymore, at least for bio.
Let's not forget that when you start a compost under your sink, with every bit of bio remains, it will start to stink, in fact it will look and smell like a science experiment and grow certain fungus, mold, fuzz that you've never seen before in your life! Then all the liquid will seep to the bottom of the container, which means you must wash, and bleach out the science experiment remains every few days or your kitchen and house will start smelling like the back of a trash truck. I enjoy this immensely, like I have nothing better to do than this extra timely, and filthy chore...I am seriously starting to think I will defy the Gestapo Trash Police and to return to not recycling anymore, at least for bio.
Monday, April 20, 2009
191. Kitchen is a Demolition Zone
Because there are now 6 containers, my kitchen is full of diff colored trash bins, with trash strewn everywhere and lemme tell you that BIO bag starts stinking and molding up really quick!! I hate it! Really I have glass yogurt bottles, beer bottles, wine bottles, plastic drink bottles, soda bottles, glass juice bottles all lined up and ready to go to about hmmmmm 7 different stores??! Let's see and some don't take the other bottles so you know where this is going, I swear PEOPLE!?!? does it make sense to put plastic yogurt containers and actually USE the dishwasher (for 2 hrs) for this?!?! and then drive to 7 I said 7777777777!! different places when the cost of gas is $8 dollars a gallon to drop it off, am I painting a picture here that THIS is how we are saving the world?! Makes a LOT of sense to me, completely backwards!!
190. No Garbage Disposals
It's a big one and it deserves it's own line. Think about it, if you're a cook. Just imagine not having one. You will touch more slimy, gross, food waste than you ever had in your life, you will have to clean the clogged drain every 5 seconds and everything you cook and clean, you must now clean out of the drain. gross.
That's all.
It's a big one and it deserves it's own line. Think about it, if you're a cook. Just imagine not having one. You will touch more slimy, gross, food waste than you ever had in your life, you will have to clean the clogged drain every 5 seconds and everything you cook and clean, you must now clean out of the drain. gross.
That's all.
189. The Land of Shit
Look at every single piece of trash, every single box of cookies, food packaging, milk carton, beef bone, aluminum foil wrapper, and now think of a world, where you must seperate every single fucking piece of item into it's own trash container, can you even imagine this world? It's called trash pickin and this nightmare is Germany!!! Now, I am relegated to itemizing every single, every fucking single piece of material used in every single packaging and putting it into the right bin. Do you know how much time, energy, frustration and nonsense this is? I read that Germany is soo fucking proud to be the world leader in recycling but that 1/2 the trash is in the wrong trash bins anyways. They are thinking of what other civilized countries do (you know modern ones that are not in the 70's fucking mentality! countries that HAVE GARBAGE DISPOSALS?!?!) already which is have machines sort out the trash. But some people would still like to stick to the useless traditional way, I swear they are sooo backwards here, it's unbelievable. For instance, I have to take a piece of chewing gum, put metal in one bag, paper in the paper, then the gum goes into restmuel (other trash). WOW, or remember my in law actually washing the foil lid and the plastic yogurt cup in the dishwasher before recycling>!??! I'm going to eat my pants!!!
PIX: here is a pix of the 3 Additional trash cans for glass, white, green and brown glass that is, you have to drop these suckers off yourself in your own car!
188. Every 10 minutes
Every 10 minutes the internet drops on my computer which I consider my lifeline here. When that sucker is out I am livid because that is my connection to the rest of the world, my entertainment (Slingbox and Tivo are great!) and info to Germany. It goes out consistently and even through our hundreds (no exxageration) of phone calls and Deutsche Telecom actually coming here and STILL not solving the problem I have to live with this nuisance. Which is what I've been learning to just live with all the fucking problems that go wrong here, can't beat them join them, they say!! arhhhgh! Oh, funny thing we signed up for the fastest possible dsl (we're LOCKED into this for 2 years meaning no rights, no choice in the matter to leave) and they said we can only get a certain speed because there's so many people using it here. WOW! unbelievable but typical Germany!! So, lemme get this right, I have to ask where my apartment is located before I even move in, to see if DSL reaches here (some places are remote so less speed) then if I find a highly populated location then I have the possibility that my signal will be split so I'll receive slow speed anyways. Then I am locked into the contract so nothing can be done and I am STUCK with this BS for 2 solid years. SO what is really their problem is actually my problem, nice!!!!!!!!!! I LOVVVVVVVVVVVVVE GERMAN THINKING!!
Every 10 minutes the internet drops on my computer which I consider my lifeline here. When that sucker is out I am livid because that is my connection to the rest of the world, my entertainment (Slingbox and Tivo are great!) and info to Germany. It goes out consistently and even through our hundreds (no exxageration) of phone calls and Deutsche Telecom actually coming here and STILL not solving the problem I have to live with this nuisance. Which is what I've been learning to just live with all the fucking problems that go wrong here, can't beat them join them, they say!! arhhhgh! Oh, funny thing we signed up for the fastest possible dsl (we're LOCKED into this for 2 years meaning no rights, no choice in the matter to leave) and they said we can only get a certain speed because there's so many people using it here. WOW! unbelievable but typical Germany!! So, lemme get this right, I have to ask where my apartment is located before I even move in, to see if DSL reaches here (some places are remote so less speed) then if I find a highly populated location then I have the possibility that my signal will be split so I'll receive slow speed anyways. Then I am locked into the contract so nothing can be done and I am STUCK with this BS for 2 solid years. SO what is really their problem is actually my problem, nice!!!!!!!!!! I LOVVVVVVVVVVVVVE GERMAN THINKING!!
187. Murder on the 5th Floor
There will one less German here and that is my real estate agent/management co. She is driving us nuts, even my well-tempered husband is near the breaking point. She completely read our contract wrong and now we are paying for the use and breakage of the faulty old apartment. Ex. We just paid 130 Euros to fix the FILTER!! of the washing machine and dishwasher which was clogged LONG before we got here. Now, we just paid for the 2nd window blinds $116 Euros, that broke because it's 20 years old and is too thin for the heavy blinds (which is not our fault at all!) plus we never used this particular blind ever, till our guest decided to pull it down for the first time and it broke. Our contractor had told us before that these were not proper for the weight of the blinds and would break anyways. All these things were here BEFORE we freaking got here and now they are making us pay for it. HELLO!!? This unit is over 20 years old and the appliances are over 11 years old?!?! It reminds me of this other blog stating how their German landlord still owed them their 2500 deposit, so I know this is NOT just happening to us!! But these people are unbelievable, oh I miss the States where you can fight for your rights and you have some legal protection against such ridiculousness! I had told you before how we had to live with the faulty washing machine and dishwasher for the first 6 mos and how long everything takes to fix and NOW THIS??! The problem is I must learn more German so I can cuss her out properly so she understands!! I'm working on it.
There will one less German here and that is my real estate agent/management co. She is driving us nuts, even my well-tempered husband is near the breaking point. She completely read our contract wrong and now we are paying for the use and breakage of the faulty old apartment. Ex. We just paid 130 Euros to fix the FILTER!! of the washing machine and dishwasher which was clogged LONG before we got here. Now, we just paid for the 2nd window blinds $116 Euros, that broke because it's 20 years old and is too thin for the heavy blinds (which is not our fault at all!) plus we never used this particular blind ever, till our guest decided to pull it down for the first time and it broke. Our contractor had told us before that these were not proper for the weight of the blinds and would break anyways. All these things were here BEFORE we freaking got here and now they are making us pay for it. HELLO!!? This unit is over 20 years old and the appliances are over 11 years old?!?! It reminds me of this other blog stating how their German landlord still owed them their 2500 deposit, so I know this is NOT just happening to us!! But these people are unbelievable, oh I miss the States where you can fight for your rights and you have some legal protection against such ridiculousness! I had told you before how we had to live with the faulty washing machine and dishwasher for the first 6 mos and how long everything takes to fix and NOW THIS??! The problem is I must learn more German so I can cuss her out properly so she understands!! I'm working on it.
186. 1.3 Feet
Do you know how wide 1.3 feet is?? That is the clearance distance between the sink and the door in our guest bath, aka our toilet room. So, I being pretty skinny still have to nudge my way to use the toilet in our bathroom. I was shocked to see how narrow these bathrooms were, but this is ridiculous. With all these big-boned German women, I would like to know how the heck they can get into these tight spaces? and not feel completely claustrophobic when you're in there like I do!!
Pix: this is NOT my bathroom, but this gives you an idea
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Just a quick note, I'm starting another blog called http://100reasonswhyilovegermany.blogspot.com/
there's nothing on there yet, but to all the naysayers and haters I thought I would try to look at the positives of being here too. It might take a lot longer to write that one but I will try. Of course there are some benefits of living here and some nice things can happen occasionally, so we'll see...
there's nothing on there yet, but to all the naysayers and haters I thought I would try to look at the positives of being here too. It might take a lot longer to write that one but I will try. Of course there are some benefits of living here and some nice things can happen occasionally, so we'll see...
185. Last night we had Shabu Shabu
here's what it takes to cook this japanese meal
-go to Munich Japanese Market purchase very, very hard to get (and very expensive) shabu shabu meat
-go to Asia market to get ingredients (udon, mushrooms)
-go to Turkish vegetable stand to get vegetables you couldn't find at Asia market (daikon, chinese cabbage)
-go to Tengelmann German market to get the stuff you couldn't get at Asia market and Turkish market. (other ingr. chicken stock)
-after 1 hour in Munich (plus 2 hrs drive time) and 2 hours going to the other markets, begin cooking.
here's what it takes to cook this japanese meal
-go to Munich Japanese Market purchase very, very hard to get (and very expensive) shabu shabu meat
-go to Asia market to get ingredients (udon, mushrooms)
-go to Turkish vegetable stand to get vegetables you couldn't find at Asia market (daikon, chinese cabbage)
-go to Tengelmann German market to get the stuff you couldn't get at Asia market and Turkish market. (other ingr. chicken stock)
-after 1 hour in Munich (plus 2 hrs drive time) and 2 hours going to the other markets, begin cooking.
184. Deduct 1 Star at Hotels
Throughout Europe, be sure to deduct one star rating for hotels, do not expect a 4 star hotel to be a 4 star hotel in the states! You may be disappointed.
1 Star = Shared public bathroom
2 Star=Twin beds, bring your own toiletries (shampoo, soap)
3 Star=Washed bedding, towels may be provided
4 Star=Standard 3 Star hotel in U.S. (bed, private bath, toiletries)
5 Star=A nice 4 Star hotel in U.S. (may even incl. breakfast!)
6 Star= Yup I've actually seen this advertised, its because they hype up the additional star, consider this your 5 Star hotel in the States
Throughout Europe, be sure to deduct one star rating for hotels, do not expect a 4 star hotel to be a 4 star hotel in the states! You may be disappointed.
1 Star = Shared public bathroom
2 Star=Twin beds, bring your own toiletries (shampoo, soap)
3 Star=Washed bedding, towels may be provided
4 Star=Standard 3 Star hotel in U.S. (bed, private bath, toiletries)
5 Star=A nice 4 Star hotel in U.S. (may even incl. breakfast!)
6 Star= Yup I've actually seen this advertised, its because they hype up the additional star, consider this your 5 Star hotel in the States
Friday, April 17, 2009
182. Effects of Hard Water
-dry, rough skin
-dehydration
-dry chapped lips (for 4 months and counting)
-hair loss
-weak, soft nails, nail breakage (sometimes one nail a day)
-cloudy drinking water (minerals)
-calcium deposits in your cofeemaker and shower
-dry, flaky skin >wrinkles>advanced signs of aging
-eczema, dermatitis
-dry, rough skin
-dehydration
-dry chapped lips (for 4 months and counting)
-hair loss
-weak, soft nails, nail breakage (sometimes one nail a day)
-cloudy drinking water (minerals)
-calcium deposits in your cofeemaker and shower
-dry, flaky skin >wrinkles>advanced signs of aging
-eczema, dermatitis
181. Dogs are More Valued than Kids
I know, sounds weird, but it's true. People will talk about it all the time here. Dogs are more important and valued than kids. My teacher told me how Germans were more interested in cooing over a passing dog, that they will ignore the cute baby in the stroller. Dogs are allowed everywhere in Germany and they are highly regarded. They will sit next to you in restaurants, in shopping areas, in stores, doggie water bowls are provided and if you have a really cute dog, you might even get a German to come up to you. They are so important here that it is considered inhumane to leave them at home for more than a few hours. Ok, I see your point but in America, most people have 8 or more hour jobs and they have dogs, it caused quite a debate with my European friends over here. They thought it was cruel and unusual punishment to do so, and it's better not to have one than to leave them unattended for a few hours. Wow. So, I guess all the Americans who took the abandoned dogs out of shelters to give them TLC, food and care are all a bunch of selfish bastards.
I know, sounds weird, but it's true. People will talk about it all the time here. Dogs are more important and valued than kids. My teacher told me how Germans were more interested in cooing over a passing dog, that they will ignore the cute baby in the stroller. Dogs are allowed everywhere in Germany and they are highly regarded. They will sit next to you in restaurants, in shopping areas, in stores, doggie water bowls are provided and if you have a really cute dog, you might even get a German to come up to you. They are so important here that it is considered inhumane to leave them at home for more than a few hours. Ok, I see your point but in America, most people have 8 or more hour jobs and they have dogs, it caused quite a debate with my European friends over here. They thought it was cruel and unusual punishment to do so, and it's better not to have one than to leave them unattended for a few hours. Wow. So, I guess all the Americans who took the abandoned dogs out of shelters to give them TLC, food and care are all a bunch of selfish bastards.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
