^^

8/23/2019 3:28:31 PM

BanjoMan?

8/23/2019 3:30:54 PM

Oh my mr. new user! how would you know that information?

8/23/2019 3:40:51 PM

I never lived in Berlin, but I certainly visited quite a bit.

It is very unclean and relaxed by German standards, but prolly the closest thing to American culture that you'll find in the western block.

It's also one of the few German cities that you could live in without having to learn or speak German. You prolly wouldnt even need to bring a translator along to most official agencies.

It's also one of the most dangerous cities in Germany to live in.

[Edited on August 23, 2019 at 4:00 PM. Reason : k]

8/23/2019 3:58:04 PM

I was hoping to participate in this years secret santa, it is the 2nd story on the homepage. One thing led to another, and saw that BanjoMan lived in Germany.

[Edited on August 23, 2019 at 4:02 PM. Reason : Answering question]

8/23/2019 4:01:12 PM

hasn't even been here a full day and he already knows banjoman lived in germany

he's catching on quick folks!

8/23/2019 4:02:59 PM

^^^I too visit Berlin few times a year. But from October I will be living there. Do you know if there are any places that show ACC sports. Are there any NC State folks in town?

8/23/2019 5:49:37 PM

I don't know of any establishments that regularly air college sports.

Social networking is very big there. Your best bet is to find some expats that meet up to watch the games.

8/23/2019 6:35:31 PM

How familiar are you with Germany?

Do you already have a flat? Or, are you gonna stay in a WG?

I would definitely recommend the WG option if you are moving there on your own. That's the best way to live in Germany.

As I said, the crime rate is very high in Berlin. So, you might wanna educate yourself on protection against pickpockets and people putting shit in your drinks.

Also, educate yourself on the police and some of the big differences in German vs US law that catch a ton of expats off guard.

8/23/2019 8:02:36 PM

I spent a few days in Berlin in 2015 and at the time it was essentially Brooklyn with no Spanish.

8/23/2019 11:15:26 PM

Quote :

"hasn't even been here a full day and he already knows banjoman lived in germany he's catching on quick folks!"

To be fair, Banjo mentions it in every post he makes.

8/24/2019 8:39:13 AM

no I don't.

Like this post, for example.

8/24/2019 11:58:41 AM

It’s implied tho.

8/24/2019 4:15:14 PM

Nope.

I spend most of my time in entertainment droppin knowledge, or in chit chat for emotional support.

I use to be in sports talk quite a bit, but since that hot slice of peach cobbler(jbrick) left, i've been less inclined.

It's a shame, I was really lookin' forward to a threesome with that dude.

8/24/2019 4:46:16 PM

Quote :

"How familiar are you with Germany? Do you already have a flat? Or, are you gonna stay in a WG? I would definitely recommend the WG option if you are moving there on your own. That's the best way to live in Germany. As I said, the crime rate is very high in Berlin. So, you might wanna educate yourself on protection against pickpockets and people putting shit in your drinks. Also, educate yourself on the police and some of the big differences in German vs US law that catch a ton of expats off guard."

I am fairly familiar with Germany as I have been traveling to Germany since 2006. Have first hand experience with Berlin crime. As far as I see, it is more of petty crime like pick pockets, bicycle thefts and a rare taxi scam here and there. Craigslist type of scams are dime a dozen everywhere in the world.


I will be living in an apartment, although I am yet to look for one. A professional relocating company will help me with it. I have a family and am too old for a WG lifestyle . I am looking more into avenues for making friends outside of work and enjoying ACC sports (Football and Basketball in particular).

8/25/2019 7:08:19 AM

get a VPN and cable/directv login from a friend or family

8/25/2019 10:30:41 AM

Quote :

"I will be living in an apartment, although I am yet to look for one. "

If October is your move in date, then you are already about two months late to the party. Apartments in major German cities are very, very hard to find. It is nothing like apartment hunting in the US. Professional relocators are more than likely going to take advantage of you since you're a foreigner.

In any case, you'll prolly have to either take over and buy the existing kitchen, or buy and install one on your own. German apartments rarely come with kitchens at no extra cost. And for that matter, they don't typically come with ceiling fixtures/lights as well.

I would start looking today on your own through several online search engines, such as immobilienscout berlin. A budy of mine in Muenster started buying a lot of Berlin property in Alexanderplatz. I know that that's on the East, but he was quite fond of the area and was not the type of dude to make shitty investments. You should be able to get a decent, 2 bedroom apartment for around 800 euros per month all in. Be careful with the prices that you find on the internet, because all German landlords attach "warm cost" when you view the place.

If you need any help with the German, then just let me know.

Quote :

"get a VPN and cable/directv login from a friend or family"

Don't know about VPN, but radio and cable services come via a standard tax that everyone pays for, so he won't need to register for cable.

Most people, well at least everyone in the cities that I lived in, acquired their internet through the same WLAN wireless provider. It's pretty straight forward, but can take about a month to set up. However, you can buy relatively fast internet access on a USB sticks at any Tchibo coffee shop during the interim. It is a basic month to month, 15 Euro plan.



[Edited on August 25, 2019 at 11:53 AM. Reason : k]

8/25/2019 11:43:30 AM

my suggestion of the VPN and US cable login is for watching ACC sports

8/25/2019 12:12:38 PM

^ He can stream it through a sports provider. A friend of mine was into college football and did exactly that. They use to just pool their money together to pay for it. It's through a sports network called Sky, but everything will be commentated in German, obviously.

Quote :

"I have a family"

If that includes a child then you should get started on your paperwork for Kindergeld, which is a government-funded payment program to all families living with children. One child makes you eligible for around 200 Euros a month, but the bureaucracy involved can take months to clear.

You should also get started on your appropriate tax class to avoid having your salary clipped by what's call an "Abschlag". All employees in Germany are paid through a tax system that deducts from your monthly paycheck. It varies for everybody, but if this is not set up before your first paycheck then you get something like 33% of your salary while the paperwork is "in Bearbeitung". Believe me, you really want to avoid this at all cost.

Again, you are going to have to either speak in German with these people or get a translator. Let me know if you need help.


[Edited on August 25, 2019 at 12:34 PM. Reason : k]

8/25/2019 12:26:22 PM