Saving energy is a big topic of discussion right now in Germany with the prices of gas and electricity going up by the day. Here are some of our energy-saving tips to lower your bills in the coming months and help the planet, too. This is also a space to share your own tips and tricks for saving energy – just leave a comment below with any ideas you have…and let’s all get through this together!
Category Archive: Life in Germany
Parental benefits in Germany – what are they and what’s the difference?
There seem to be parental benefits coming out of your ears when you’re a parent in Germany. It’s just a bit of a nightmare figuring out what they all mean and whether you have access. We’ll take you through it.
Christopher Street Day in Berlin (aka CSD) – celebrating pride in Germany
Germany not only celebrates Pride, but also its own European version known as Christopher Street Day (CSD).
Although most Pride Month celebrations happen in June, Germany (and Switzerland) celebrate another special day in July: CSD or Christopher Street Day. Christopher Street Day is a day to remember the Stonewall Riots. It was the first LGBTQ+ community uprising against police assaults that occurred at a bar in Manhattan in 1969. Since 1970 onward, parades and marches with various names evolved in the US to what we know today as Gay Pride. Germany stuck with Christopher Street Day and held its first celebration in 1970 in Berlin – natürlich!
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Berlin’s “Secret Park” hidden oasis – your 1-minute tour inside
Did you know there’s a completely secret oasis – aka Berlin’s “Secret Park” – concealed in the bustling Monbijou quarter of Berlin Mitte?
Einschulung: the German school-starting party to end all parties
Einschulung, noun: the process in which your little bundle of joy is initiated into the German school system. This is an absolute rite of passage in Germany and many deem it, rather poetically, “the end of childhood”. It may cost more than Christmas.
Outdoor swimming pools in Berlin – How to get your VIP ticket entry
Have you tried visiting any of the outdoor swimming pools in Berlin on a hot day recently? ☀️ …Did you bring the kids and stand in line without a ticket? Were there tears? 🙈 Do you now require couple’s therapy?
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Registering your dog in Berlin
If you have a furry friend in Berlin, it is now mandatory to register your dog in the city. I know what you’re thinking – another trip to the Bürgeramt, right? Noooo!
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What we can expect from Germany in 2022
It’s not all doom and gloom. Much of it is. But here is some hope to hold on to for bureaucracy in the new year in Germany.
Can you give blood? It’s kind of urgent…
Can I give blood in Germany? If you’ve ever thought about it, now is the time! Shelves are empty and the need for donations is immense. The DRK even created this cute little barometer to show the levels of different blood types:
Merry Christmas from the Zollamt
As much as we love sending and receiving care packages, there’s nothing less “merry” than opening a package in front of the Zollamt worker containing those cute undies your mom just had to include with her homemade cookies (true story). Or having a Zollamt worker sniff the armpits of your items of clothing (also a true story). Pretty funny in retrospect – but the trip to the public office and sitting in the waiting room was annoying. Even worse is when you have to pay a tax to receive your package – whether it was a gift or you ordered it yourself. Luckily, there are ways to avoid this trip and give you more time for baking cookies and watching your favorite holiday films.
Here’s everything you or your loved ones need to know about the Zollamt and how to avoid your package ending up there.
“My talents are languages and sport. Everything else ends in chaos.” Meet Sophie
She’s into martial arts, Asian languages and making people laugh. Meet Sophie, one of five talented young linguaphiles spending some time with Red Tape Translation while completing vocational training in Berlin.
Heart and Soul – Meet Paula
Paula is fierce and endlessly passionate about whatever she’s doing. She wants to see the world and immerse herself in languages along the way. We’re looking forward to spending the summer showing Paula the ropes and hope that her experience as a Red Tape Translation intern solidifies her ambition!