Reunification month

27 October 2008

So, me and T arrive in Berlin. We find a woman nice enough to rent us a room for three weeks, and crazy enough to demand 500 euros deposit after a week. Things sort themselves out though, we tell here to go f*** herself and move on. Pretty soon we find ourselves in another typical Berlin housing arrangement: 35 square, 200 euros, no furniture. The city is actually very liveable, with huge apartment blocks , big wide streets and ridiculously cheap Turkish markets. Because of the prices, everyone moves here: the city has an unemployment rate of 15 percent. We live in the centre of town, incidentally called Mitte. Our house is an ex-squat, now upgraded to typical housing for typical Berliners: artist, students, foreigners and other undesirables.

from friendly:

Dear *********, thank you for your interest in eos interactive GmbH. At the moment we are not looking for anyone, sorry. Have a good time in Berlin best regard

Dear *********, thank you for your interest in eos interactive GmbH. At the moment we are not looking for anyone, sorry. Have a good time in Berlin best regard

to direct:

Dear *****, thanks for your application. Unfortunately I had to tell you, that we didn’t choose you. Best wishes for the future.

Dear *****, thanks for your application. Unfortunately I had to tell you, that we didn’t choose you. Best wishes for the future.

to downright brutal:

Dear Mr. , I thank you very much for your interest in a job opportunity at DMS and confirm the receipt of your application with this email. Because of the **current global finance crisismany uncertainties and market changes have to be awaitedcurrent global finance crisismany uncertainties and market changes have to be awaited**But after a while, life aligned itself, and I find myself discussing a position at the fabulously named *, which is actually more telling than my previous employment (www.rdinternational.com/jobs.htm). Hopefully, terms and conditions can be contracted upon, and pixels can be beautified.

And then there is Bohemian life of course. T and me discover the city, both culinary and culturally. Germany was lucky enough to found archeology as we know it today, and the have some beautiful collections as a result. Central Asia, Egypt, Middle America, Troy, there isn’t a continent these clever Saxons haven’t robbed. And this place is huge! The streets are wider than anything I’ve seen in Europe, and it’s great fun to just start walking, all the streets are lined by trees, and there are yellow and reds everywhere (Tiergarten at night is also great). I think the city can fit double the population without feeling overcrowded, as long as they all stay away from my favorite Lebanese…

PS The hosting process looks like it can be underway again. Turn east from France and drive another hour or four. Mattress is provided, take your own linen. Hasta luego!