Floor names.
Here in Germany the first floor of a building is the second floor. What they call ground floor is what we call first floor. My name is Lisa and I live on the second floor. My apartment number is 208. About once a week I climb 2 flights of stairs, walk down the hall and get ready to insert my key into apartment 108 before realizing where I am and letting out a loud groan.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Differences #4
Hall lights.
If I'm in my own apt. in NYC and I wake up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom or get a drink of water I either turn the hall light on stumble around in the dark. But if it’s the middle of the night and for some reason I'm at work, or in a hotel, apt. building or Time Square I expect all the lights to be on 24/7.
Here lights are only on at night in hallways if you turn on a timed light switch. If I’m coming come to my apartment at night I have to flip a light switch before going up the stairs. If I’m too slow the light will go out before I reach my floor and I pray that I wont break my legs stumbling up steps to find the next light switch in the pitch dark. I usually don’t make it down the hall to my door before the next light goes out. Every once in awhile I arrive at my door unscathed and find my next obstacle. To the left of my door is the square light switch and right below it a square door buzzer. I say eenie meenie minie moe, cross my fingers and hope I don’t press the buzzer and wake up Jurij.
If I'm in my own apt. in NYC and I wake up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom or get a drink of water I either turn the hall light on stumble around in the dark. But if it’s the middle of the night and for some reason I'm at work, or in a hotel, apt. building or Time Square I expect all the lights to be on 24/7.
Here lights are only on at night in hallways if you turn on a timed light switch. If I’m coming come to my apartment at night I have to flip a light switch before going up the stairs. If I’m too slow the light will go out before I reach my floor and I pray that I wont break my legs stumbling up steps to find the next light switch in the pitch dark. I usually don’t make it down the hall to my door before the next light goes out. Every once in awhile I arrive at my door unscathed and find my next obstacle. To the left of my door is the square light switch and right below it a square door buzzer. I say eenie meenie minie moe, cross my fingers and hope I don’t press the buzzer and wake up Jurij.
Differences #4
4. Hall lights
If I'm in my own apt. in NYC and I wake up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom or get a drink of water I either turn the hall light on stumble around in the dark. But if it’s the middle of the night and for some reason I'm at work, or in a hotel, apt. building or Time Square I expect all the lights to be on 24/7.
Here lights are only on at night in hallways if you turn on a timed light switch. If I’m coming come to my apartment at night I have to flip a light switch before going up the stairs. If I’m too slow the light will go out before I reach my floor and I pray that I wont break my legs stumbling up steps to find the next light switch in the pitch dark. I usually don’t make it down the hall to my door before the next light goes out. Every once in awhile I arrive at my door unscathed and find my next obstacle. To the left of my door is the square light switch and right below it a square door buzzer. I say eenie meenie minie moe, cross my fingers and hope I don’t press the buzzer and wake up Jurij.
If I'm in my own apt. in NYC and I wake up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom or get a drink of water I either turn the hall light on stumble around in the dark. But if it’s the middle of the night and for some reason I'm at work, or in a hotel, apt. building or Time Square I expect all the lights to be on 24/7.
Here lights are only on at night in hallways if you turn on a timed light switch. If I’m coming come to my apartment at night I have to flip a light switch before going up the stairs. If I’m too slow the light will go out before I reach my floor and I pray that I wont break my legs stumbling up steps to find the next light switch in the pitch dark. I usually don’t make it down the hall to my door before the next light goes out. Every once in awhile I arrive at my door unscathed and find my next obstacle. To the left of my door is the square light switch and right below it a square door buzzer. I say eenie meenie minie moe, cross my fingers and hope I don’t press the buzzer and wake up Jurij.
Monday, September 25, 2006
Differences #3
Screens.
No one has screens on their windows or doors.
Screens, those metal frames with wire mesh that pop in place in your window or exist as a second door do not exist. Since no one owns an air conditioner and everyone’s house needs some ventilation various entrances to ones dwelling are often left open particularly in the summer months.
Therefore flies thinking this open door policy is the key to the apartment unceremoniously buzz around the German’s meticulously clean and ordered Haus. I did find a screen alternative in the supermarket that seems to be somewhat popular. You can buy a screen curtain, cut it to size, and hang it up by tacking Velcro to your window and door frames. From personal experience this is only partially effective but better than nothing.
No one has screens on their windows or doors.
Screens, those metal frames with wire mesh that pop in place in your window or exist as a second door do not exist. Since no one owns an air conditioner and everyone’s house needs some ventilation various entrances to ones dwelling are often left open particularly in the summer months.
Therefore flies thinking this open door policy is the key to the apartment unceremoniously buzz around the German’s meticulously clean and ordered Haus. I did find a screen alternative in the supermarket that seems to be somewhat popular. You can buy a screen curtain, cut it to size, and hang it up by tacking Velcro to your window and door frames. From personal experience this is only partially effective but better than nothing.
Friday, September 22, 2006
Differences #2
Windows and doors.
I was at Jurij's parents house during my first visit to Germany. I attempted to open the door to the porch by pulling upward on the handle and the door nearly fell off. At least that’s what I thought as I was busy having a heart attack. Porch doors and windows have this amazing capability of opening from the top for maximum ventilation. And you need a lot of ventilation in apartments and houses over here since most dwellings are no older than 60 years and have been constructed with the latest energy saving technology. If you don’t crack open a window you just might suffocate since buildings are really air tight. Unfortunately after several months over here I still struggle to open the door the right way. After 32 years of opening a door only one way, the old door neurons in my brain aren't learning any new tricks.
I was at Jurij's parents house during my first visit to Germany. I attempted to open the door to the porch by pulling upward on the handle and the door nearly fell off. At least that’s what I thought as I was busy having a heart attack. Porch doors and windows have this amazing capability of opening from the top for maximum ventilation. And you need a lot of ventilation in apartments and houses over here since most dwellings are no older than 60 years and have been constructed with the latest energy saving technology. If you don’t crack open a window you just might suffocate since buildings are really air tight. Unfortunately after several months over here I still struggle to open the door the right way. After 32 years of opening a door only one way, the old door neurons in my brain aren't learning any new tricks.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
US and Germany differences part 1
It’s a funny. You visit another country and everything is weird, strange, backwards. You’re inspired, you take a lot of pictures and you write. Then you’re annoyed and complain. Why do they do it this way? Then after awhile it all becomes completely normal. You even find yourself in a dirndl. Finally you go home and everything is weird again.
Difference #1
ESCALATORS
I have enough trouble on escalators back home. I’ve fainted on an escalator from staring down at all the trippy lines, I’ve gotten my shoe stuck and I’ve attempted to go up the down escalator and down the up escalator on too many occasions.
Here in Germany they like to save energy. Imagine that! Escalators do not continuously run 24 hours a day like they do in the US. In fact they only run when someone is on the escalator. This is a very good idea from a conservation point of view but for me it is troublesome. I have to wait until I see some on riding on the up or down escalator before I can determine which is which...And in some places this can be a really long time.
Difference #1
ESCALATORS
I have enough trouble on escalators back home. I’ve fainted on an escalator from staring down at all the trippy lines, I’ve gotten my shoe stuck and I’ve attempted to go up the down escalator and down the up escalator on too many occasions.
Here in Germany they like to save energy. Imagine that! Escalators do not continuously run 24 hours a day like they do in the US. In fact they only run when someone is on the escalator. This is a very good idea from a conservation point of view but for me it is troublesome. I have to wait until I see some on riding on the up or down escalator before I can determine which is which...And in some places this can be a really long time.
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