Christmas markets in Berlin officially open in late November: here are the most popular locations, the unexpected delights, their opening hours and – most importantly – what to eat and drink.
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What can we expect from German bureaucracy in 2023?
We expect German bureaucracy to keep us on our toes in 2023. Can we expect the long-awaited citizenship reform to become a reality? Will medical matters finally go digital? Is cheap train travel really here to stay? Here’s what we anticipate from German red tape next year.
2023 Berlin public holidays (“Feiertagen”) and school vacations
What are the 2023 Berlin public holidays? If you work for a company in Berlin, you’re probably already planning your vacation for 2023… particularly if you have children in Berlin schools or Kitas, coordinating with colleagues can be a nightmare. This should help.
Six ways to win over German bureaucrats
It’s taken me years, but I’ve finally unlocked the secrets to winning over German bureaucrats, and I’m here to share six of them with you.
What it’s like to sign a German notary contract: tales from the interpreting booth
When I first found myself in a notary’s office, it was a shock. He was in full garb – robes, a gold and scarlet waistcoat, a traditional baroque wig with a ponytail. We were ushered silently into an enormous conference room with a chandelier – I felt a bit like I had landed on stage at the opera house and I’d forgotten my costume.
Client Spotlight 🔦 Get ready to meet some inspiring expats in Berlin
Get ready to meet some seriously inspiring expats in Berlin – who happen to be our clients here at Red Tape Translation!
It’s no surprise that we encounter many impressive, courageous folks in our line of work: people who come from all over the world, determined to find a way to live and work here in Berlin. This path is not the easiest but it certainly is rewarding for those who genuinely want desire a life in Germany and are willing, and able, to keep at it through the ups and downs.
Which brings us to a new series we want to share with you…
Down Under Berlin: Australian & New Zealand film festival is coming up!
Down Under Berlin has risen like a phoenix after a couple of years of setbacks thanks to the virus-that-shall-not-be-named. I personally am hanging out to see Nude Tuesday and some spectacular Aussie short films. I need an urgent hit of antipodean culture and humour.
The Complete Guide to Relocating to Germany as a Singer
For the second year in a row, I’ll be presenting a series of digital workshops as part of THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO RELOCATING TO GERMANY AS A SINGER, hosted by Opera Programs Berlin. This year, we’re diving in even deeper to topics like business and taxes.
What’s the KSK? Kathleen explains: all about the Künstlersozialkasse in Berlin
I was asked to speak at a Monthly Meet Up event on Tuesday evening hosted by Touring Artists e.V. as an expert on the Künstlersozialkasse (artists’ social security). With a bit of humour and a whole bunch of crazy anecdotes, we dived into the application process in delightful detail.
Thai Park Berlin – what’s new at this delicious outdoor street-food market
Have you had the new and improved Thai Park experience in Berlin?
Preußen Park is a beautiful, large park in Wilmersdorf, with a delicious history of Thai street food: from April to October each year, the park becomes home to a giant outdoor street-food market, with vendors selling their best Thai dishes to a hungry crowd. In the past the market was pretty much unregulated. Basically a bunch of cooks and vendors just set up shop on picnic blankets across the grassy field and casually sold their ridiculously good food to whomever happen to come to the park that day.
And while there were some advantages to this – for example, on sunny day I could just walk to the park and get lunch with my friends from German class without any pre-planning – the general lack of organization also ended up being problematic…especially when it came to trash and litter. Seeing as Berliners aren’t exactly known for attending to cleanliness, even when forced (!), you can imagine the state the park was left in at the end of the day.
Opening a blocked account (Sperrkonto) for the student visa
More bureaucracy for your student visa application? Sperr me! Katie Kruse from Red Tape Translation tells you how to make your rations last when you’re studying in Germany.
How to do Oktoberfest in Berlin…the right way! Read our top 5 tips
What you need to know!
After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, I am embarrassingly excited to offer our top 5 tips on how to do Oktoberfest in Berlin. But first, a bit of background on this internationally known and beloved folk festival…