The Fun Side of German: Dead Trousers and Chest Warts

Jubel - Jubilation

Language is funny, isn’t it? I remember when I was a teenager, fighting my way through puberty with the help of a whole host of wonderously creative expletives that (I thought) only my friends and I understood. I was reminded of one of them a few months ago on a trip back to my hometown when I heard a young person shout “That’s shan, that is!”

It could mean anything, couldn’t it, but I know for a fact that ‘shan’ means (or at least meant, in my time) something equating to the adult use of the term ‘bollocks’ or ‘bullshit’. The origin of the term fails me- who knows where youth pick up this crap from? Lush, mint, ace, minging (and variations thereof): You’ve got to love the vivid colours of the slang used by the youth of Britain (innit?)

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The Week in Germany: Escaped Spiders, Vegetarian Berlin, and a Eurovision Preview

Photo copyright dpa / picture alliance

Photo copyright dpa / picture alliance

Police don’t know what to do with a run away tarantula

“Two Munich police officers out on their regular evening jog ended up having to call a spider man – after finding an escaped tarantula and managing to capture it in a beer glass.”   Shudder.  You can read more about the runaway spider’s run in with the fuzz here.

Photo copyright dpa / picture alliance

Photo copyright dpa / picture alliance

Eating out (vegetarian) in Berlin

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Berlin With Kids: The Zoo Babycard

Photo workingberlinmum

Photo workingberlinmum

Today Sarah from workingberlinmum is back at YG to tell us about the Zoo BabyCard that makes a trip to the zoo with the kids affordable for new parents.  You can read more about Sarah’s adventures in Berlin with two kids here.  Thanks for joining us Sarah!  Enjoy!

Did you know that Berlin-based mums with little babies can go to the Zoo, the Tierpark or the Berlin Aquarium as often as you like for 13 months for just €20? Seriously! Want to know how? Well I’m going to tell you!

One of the fabulous pluses of living in Berlin is the Zoo BabyCard scheme. I had a card with Milo back when he was little but things have changed in the 4 years since he was born.

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Wordless Wednesday: Rhine in Flames

Last week marked yet another spectacular festival of firework-fueled lights on the Rhine: Rhine in Flames.  Check out some of the previous years’ show.

Rhine in Flames.  Photo copyright dpa / picture alliance

Rhine in Flames. Photo copyright dpa / picture alliance

Rhine in Flames.  Photo copyright dpa / picture alliance

Rhine in Flames. Photo copyright dpa / picture alliance

Rhine in Flames.  Photo copyright dpa / picture alliance

Rhine in Flames. Photo copyright dpa / picture alliance

 

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Expat Life: A Birth Abroad and Other Paperwork

Getting a child born abroad a passport involves a lot of paperwork.  But in the end it is more complicated than it looks.  Photo copyright dpa / picture alliance

Getting a child born abroad a passport involves a lot of paperwork. But in the end it is more complicated than it looks. Photo copyright dpa / picture alliance

It took us almost a year.  I guess you could call us procrastinators, but in the end, it turned out to be a good idea.  When it comes to doing paperwork and interacting with the German authorities, timeliness can be very important.  But the American authorities are a little bit more relaxed, and it didn’t matter that we’d taken over a year to get around to making an appointment.  But the rumor that the Germans love their paperwork might not be so unique.  The Americans seem to love it just as much.  At least when it comes to citzenship.

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Loving and Living: The Berlin Episode

Just another beautiful moment in a Berlin park.  Photo copyright dpa/picture alliance

Just another beautiful moment in a Berlin park. Photo copyright dpa/picture alliance

Today L of Cup of tea anyone? is joining us for another guest post about why she loves Berlin.  Enjoy!  You can find her here talking about her life in Germany every Monday.

I don’t like to pigeonhole my blog, though I guess I could become famous in the internets, like my friends Working Berlin Mum and Expat Mummy, if only I would stick to a theme. Since I mostly bitch and moan, hopefully along the way making valid points and intelligent arguments, I thought I would post something positive today for a change…Hold on to your hats!

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The Week in Germany: Hoeness, Fashion, and the Euro

Photo copyright dpa / picture alliance

Photo copyright dpa / picture alliance

Berlin and fashion

“…The Berlin Experts we talked with Arne Eberle, founder and director of fashion agency Arne Eberle Press+Sales and editor-in-chief of Œ Magazine. For many years Arne Eberle has been supporting talented German designers, believing in their creativity and presenting the most outstanding collections not only at Berlin Fashion Week, but also at international trade shows and events. Among the highlights of his accomplishments is definitely the Collect Showroom for contemporary fashion, the ultimate platform to promote the quality, skills and creativity of local designers.”  Read more about Eberle here.

Photo copyright dpa / picture alliance

Photo copyright dpa / picture alliance

Soccer saint not so saintly

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