Going to Germany

[Blasphemous]

Well, in something like 35 hours I'll be flying off to Germany for the second summer in a row. This time, however, I will be flying alone, almost for a whole month, and with the express purpose of immersing myself as much as possible in the language and culture to further my study of the German language.
I have a few questions, especially (but not exclusively) for German CFCers:
-First and foremost, if you know of any common embarassing mistakes that students of German make, please please please let me know of them so I can avoid them... My fear of making such mistakes has gotten in the way of my studying right from the start. =\
-Similarly, I'd like to know of anything I could culturally do wrong, including clothing issues and such... Specifically, I know there was a (false) Nazi stigma attached to Rammstein early on in their career, and I happen to be a fan of theirs, and I have a sweatshirt (this back and this front) that I would like to bring along and possibly wear... But being a worrier as I am, I have some anxiety about wearing this in Germany... So I'd just like to make sure that it's okay. =X
-Any other general tips anyone could give me would be much-appreciated, even general travel trips... This will be the first time I'm ever without immediate kin for more than like a week. ._.
-I will be attending IDEC in Berlin. If anyone else here happens to be going, it could be cool to meet up there. Also, I will be speaking on two panels in the second, public, part of the conference. One is already listed here and the other should be up there soon as well. I'm Michael Sappir, my name is under the title of the panel I'll be leading. I'd be honored if anyone attends my panel(s), even more if they be CFCers. If you wanna hear about what I would call a real education, come to my panel (the one listed so far, about Self-directed Education), you're all invited. (Please note I'm doing all this on a voluntary basis, I get nothing out of your participation besides satisfaction.)
-In theory, I should have time to travel around and see stuff, both during the conference in Berlin and earlier when I'm nearby Friedrichshafen for two weeks... I will also likely pop over to Tübingen for a day or two. If anyone has any recommendations for stuff to do and see in those areas I'd love to hear them. I also could be persuaded to meet up with any of you in a well-lit public area (;p) if you wanna... It would technically be the first time I ever meet a fellow CFCer, except for Sh3kel whom I primarily know from elsewhere (he's kinda my boss at Gamer.co.il )

 

[King Alexander]

Well, fellow CFC-brother, since no-Germans can also say their opinion...

-First and foremost, if you know of any common embarassing mistakes that students of German make, please please please let me know of them so I can avoid them... My fear of making such mistakes has gotten in the way of my studying right from the start. =\

One thing I remember is when I said: 'es ist mir egal'(spelling?) --- I thought, it meant "I don't have a problem(with something)" but it apparently meant "I don't give a damn", not so polite I said that all the time to my German language-teacher , and one friend later told me it's real meaning.

-Similarly, I'd like to know of anything I could culturally do wrong, including clothing issues and such... Specifically, I know there was a (false) Nazi stigma attached to Rammstein early on in their career, and I happen to be a fan of theirs, and I have a sweatshirt (this back and this front) that I would like to bring along and possibly wear... But being a worrier as I am, I have some anxiety about wearing this in Germany... So I'd just like to make sure that it's okay. =X

I don't think you'll have a problem, but better to wait for a German to answer your question.

-Any other general tips anyone could give me would be much-appreciated, even general travel trips... This will be the first time I'm ever without immediate kin for more than like a week. ._.

Do tips for women count?
If you go to Berlin, visit the zoo and aquarious(they're fantastic), go to Alexanderplatz(just to see it). Oh...if you go to a kino, just be careful to see 'original'-language films.
(I wonder if some clubs were I had a fantastic time, are still open... )

Anyway, a German CFC'er will probably answer your questions better.

 

[Doc Tsiolkovski]

Language...not really. Most Germans (except those with the very short hairs ) are quite friendly to any foreigner who even tries to speak German; so, you shouldn't face any troubles here.
Rammstein: While they of course are no Nazi, they are still not that liked from the leftish. So, in a typical student's club etc you may better abstain from wearing your t-shirt. It just doesn't fit well there.
Note that is a minor issue in Berlin or the East, but in the typical university towns (Tübingen, Göttingen, Marburg etc).
But whatever you do, try to not look like our typical "Russian" immigrants, and you won't face any animosities, outside the rural East.

 

[Kan' Sharuminar]

I'm afraid I don't have anything helpful to say, but would like to wish you a happy trip. Have a strong desire to go to Germany one day, so needless to say I'm kinda jealous.

Wishing you a safe trip and a good holiday.

 

[schmiddi]

I have a few questions, especially (but not exclusively) for German CFCers:
-First and foremost, if you know of any common embarassing mistakes that students of German make, please please please let me know of them so I can avoid them... My fear of making such mistakes has gotten in the way of my studying right from the start. =\

Can't think of one that I havn't heard being made by germans.

-Similarly, I'd like to know of anything I could culturally do wrong, including clothing issues and such... Specifically, I know there was a (false) Nazi stigma attached to Rammstein early on in their career, and I happen to be a fan of theirs, and I have a sweatshirt (this back and this front) that I would like to bring along and possibly wear... But being a worrier as I am, I have some anxiety about wearing this in Germany... So I'd just like to make sure that it's okay. =X

Nothing to add to Docs comment.

-Any other general tips anyone could give me would be much-appreciated, even general travel trips... This will be the first time I'm ever without immediate kin for more than like a week. ._.

Depends very much on your preferences. Especially Berlin has a lot to offer.

-I will be attending IDEC in Berlin. If anyone else here happens to be going, it could be cool to meet up there. Also, I will be speaking on two panels in the second, public, part of the conference. One is already listed here and the other should be up there soon as well. I'm Michael Sappir, my name is under the title of the panel I'll be leading. I'd be honored if anyone attends my panel(s), even more if they be CFCers. If you wanna hear about what I would call a real education, come to my panel (the one listed so far, about Self-directed Education), you're all invited. (Please note I'm doing all this on a voluntary basis, I get nothing out of your participation besides satisfaction.)

Sounds interesting, but thursday is my long day at work.

 

[Blasphemous]

One thing I remember is when I said: 'es ist mir egal'(spelling?) --- I thought, it meant "I don't have a problem(with something)" but it apparently meant "I don't give a damn", not so polite I said that all the time to my German language-teacher , and one friend later told me it's real meaning.

Thank you, that's good to know.

Do tips for women count?

Well, yes, but keep in mind that I'm a shyish 17-year old guy (working on the shy thingy tho.) =X

If you go to Berlin, visit the zoo and aquarious(they're fantastic), go to Alexanderplatz(just to see it). Oh...if you go to a kino, just be careful to see 'original'-language films.

I'll keep that in mind, though I don't really mind seeing dubbed films... It can be a bit funny, but generally the dubbing in Germany is so much better than the dubbing we have here that it's entirely bareable...

But whatever you do, try to not look like our typical "Russian" immigrants, and you won't face any animosities, outside the rural East.

Hmm, how do those typical "Russian" immigrants look? (We have some here as well, and I don't look remotely like them, but I dunno, maybe they look different in Germany. oO)

Depends very much on your preferences. Especially Berlin has a lot to offer.

I'm pretty open-minded, I don't mind trying anything as long as it's legal . I'm not sure I'll get a chance to go many places, but if I have some recommendations in mind that can probe useful.

Sounds interesting, but thursday is my long day at work.

Well my other panel will be Friday afternoon.

Thanks everyone.

 

[King Alexander]

Have a nice trip, Blasphemous.

btw: be sure not to miss any wild parties when students organise them

 

[Marla_Singer]

I'm sure most people will be very glad if you try to speak in their language, so you shouldn't be scared in your attempts. However, in the case you get over it and sticks on english don't forget to ask first whether they speak english instead of directly speaking in english. It may sound stupid but it can sound very rude to anyone if you directly speak in a foreign language as if it was a given that everyone speaks it. This may work in Copenhagen where indeed everyone speaks english, but this wouldn't be true in Germany, and even less in France. However, if I believe in your first post, you seem to already be a pretty decent speaker so you shouldn't be directly concerned about this.

 

[Blasphemous]

I'm sure most people will be very glad if you try to speak in their language, so you should be scared in your attempts. However, in the case you get over it and sticks on english don't forget to ask first whether they speak english instead of directly speaking in english. It may sound stupid but it can sound very rude to anyone if you directly speak in a foreign language as if it was a given that everyone speaks it. This may work in Copenhagen where indeed everyone speaks english, but this wouldn't be true in Germany, and even less in France. However, if I believe in your first post, you seem to already be a pretty decent speaker so you shouldn't be directly concerned about this.

I actually already knew this from last summer, but thanks anyways.
It really is rather rude when people just start speaking in a foreign language. Lucky for me, here in Israel it mostly happens with English, since the vast majority speaks the language, but as a native speaker of English I can be more helpful than most to confused tourists...

 

[Marla_Singer]

I actually already knew this from last summer, but thanks anyways.
It really is rather rude when people just start speaking in a foreign language. Lucky for me, here in Israel it mostly happens with English, since the vast majority speaks the language, but as a native speaker of English I can be more helpful than most to confused tourists...

Yeah. Actually, if I'd go to Israel I guess I would still ask first to people if they speak English. Israel is a very diverse country culturally speaking, and that's an interesting thing I'd like to discover. It's part of the countries which I consider as mandatory to visit at least once in my life.

By the way, talking about Israel, have you heard about a movie called in French "Va, vis et deviens" ? It could be translated in English as "Go, live and Become". It's about a Falasha immigrating to Israel during the Operation Moses in the 80's. Well, I'm simply talking about that movie because I've seen it few months ago and I really recommand it to anyone. It's a beautiful movie.

 

[Blasphemous]

I haven't heard of or seen said movie, but if I ever happen by it I'll be sure to remember your recommendation.
If and when you happen to visit Jerusalem, don't hesitate to drop me a PM or an email or something, I can show you around a bit. Just come soon, I'm gonna probably leave the country for good two or three years from now. =X

 

[kronic]

By St. Friedrichshafen you certainly mean Friedrichshafen at the Lake of Constance (Bodensee), don't you?

 

[Perfection]

MMMMMMM... German Tater Salad.

 

[Blasphemous]

By St. Friedrichshafen you certainly mean Friedrichshafen at the Lake of Constance (Bodensee), don't you?

Right, I got confused about the name last summer when I went there and the "St." somehow got stuck in my memory. ><

 

[Marla_Singer]

I haven't heard of or seen said movie, but if I ever happen by it I'll be sure to remember your recommendation.
If and when you happen to visit Jerusalem, don't hesitate to drop me a PM or an email or something, I can show you around a bit. Just come soon, I'm gonna probably leave the country for good two or three years from now. =X

Well, I'm leaving for Italy on tomorrow and knowing I'll spend 17 days to visit the country I'm not sure I'll have enough economies to continue with a trip in Israel. But thanks anyway.

See you later, I really must go.

 

[ComradeDavo]

Rammstein: While they of course are no Nazi, they are still not that liked from the leftish. So, in a typical student's club etc you may better abstain from wearing your t-shirt. It just doesn't fit well there.

Given that Rammstein are leftists themselves these leftist students need to get their facts right! Links 234!

I'd wear it anyway if I were you! *is listening to Rammstein at current*

 

[schmiddi]

I'd recommend the Museumsinsel for example (they're presenting a big Goya collection at the old national gallery), the Luftwaffenmuseum, the museum for traffic (or transport) and technology, the new national Gallery, the jewish museum, Potsdamer Platz, Reichstag, ...

 

[Blasphemous]

Being a worrier again, I have to ask - is it completely fine to wear Metal bands' merchandise shirts? Including ones with satanic symbols, such as the inverted pentagram? I know it's probably fine, I just have to ask. ><

 

[SilverKnight]

Hey Blas. A German student friend of mine just came back from a month there with her class. She says to remember use the "sie-form," which is more polite than the "du-form," unless you are specifically told otherwise. I have NO idea what that means, so I hope you do. It may be a low-level mistake, since she's a five-year high school student, but she said it was a common mistake on her trip.

SilverKnight

 

[Grisu]

Being a worrier again, I have to ask - is it completely fine to wear Metal bands' merchandise shirts? Including ones with satanic symbols, such as the inverted pentagram? I know it's probably fine, I just have to ask. ><

no problem there, symbols like that are pretty common around here. some of the older folk might mind, but not too much.

Hey Blas. A German student friend of mine just came back from a month there with her class. She says to remember use the "sie-form," which is more polite than the "du-form," unless you are specifically told otherwise. I have NO idea what that means, so I hope you do. It may be a low-level mistake, since she's a five-year high school student, but she said it was a common mistake on her trip.

du and sie both mean you in english. sie is the more respectful form of it. as a general rule you could say to use the Sie for everybody you would address with their last names in english. for people you address by their first name, du is appropriate. (I know in reality it's not that easy, but it's a start...). So to address fellow students/people of your age, du is perfectly acceptable.

don't worry, most people won't mind if you use the wrong form, we're pretty used to it from foreigners/tourist

@ doc: the lefties around you must be wierd most Rammstein-fans I know are, in fact, lefties

anyway, have fun in germany