...
The rudeness of the people and that everything is dirty and broken
Day-to-day rudeness, freezing weather, darkness and language I don't speak but apparently can't survive without. Why didn't I go somewhere else...
i hate it how strangers especially women always stare at me with pure hate in their eyes. My friend also noticed the hateful looks I receive from strangers.
Insecurity and hate plagurs these people.
This is a question, not what bothers me. I know Berlin well from my US Army days and I lived it back then, it is the city of my coming out of the closet. I am also an Israeli citizen. What keeps about 15,000 Israelis in Berlin, who feel that they don't have a wealth of opportunities in Tel Aviv? I was considering either Berlin or Madrid for retirement next year, but I chose Madrid anyway, even before I discovered this website. So yeah, what keeps the Israelis coming, (as you know, many of them have EU passports)
Job-hunting in Berlin and in Germany 101. Questions like age, picture, multiple phones are illegal in America and in many other places so expect a lot of discrimination depending on what you look like, your age and what they think you are even if you're the opposite. Expect people saying wow you speak great English/French/Spanish/German, even if you're a native English/French/Spanish/German speaker if you don't fit the stereotype. In practice you need to be part of their network going back to college and even high school to even get a glimpse of their company. Their impervious network only can accept you if they are in dire need of people i.e. IT and healthcare to a lesser extent. But if you go into these fields you may make some money (not a big amount in most cases) and most important forget about promotions and career progress, don't expect to be manager, lead anything, etc. I hope you are in just for the same pay that you will get for years to come and probably doing the exact same thing in the exact same position forever. That is your place in Berlin, so pay taxes so all the worthless people in Berlin can still survive and be edgy.
Funny you bring that up. NYT recently did a piece on Berliners'/Germans' inability to accept non-conformity to their archaic stereotypes.
www.nytimes.com/2016/11/17/world/europe/berlin-racism-isaiah-lopaz.html
The thing that makes me laugh is the openness with which these people can express heated bigotry, especially hatred/mistrust/discomfort with other Western nations. I once had to meet with a professor for an interview at a certain technical university in the depths of East Berlin and discovered on a wall an experience board detailing student's impressions of an excursion to San Francisco. One German's thoughts pondered (paraphrased) whether Americans are capable of realizing the problems of homelessness in the Bay Area. It went on, in fact, to plagiarize the adage that anti-Americanism is the only form of bigotry that increases with higher education.
That's Berlin.
Great article by the NYT, even tho I'm not a huge fan of their non-economy articles. More people should read this article. What makes me happy is that big media outlets are finally showing Berlin for what it is. I hope more articles like this come in the future.
You people are making me sick!! Why all this negativity? Just look at the bright side! Look at all the nice things Berlin has to offer: good kebab, falafel, lamacun, haloumni and the chicken-vegetable kebab, yummy! And thats just to name the most important ones...
Berlin is my social nightmare. Everybody just keeps up his freaking facade and I never feel like getting through to anyone. Why is nobody telling silly jokes or trying to help other people or welcomes strangers? Berlin is a humor free zone. Everybody pretends to be open, politically correct and creative, but whats the use if nobody cares about one and another. Im german btw and believe me there are some rural areas where warmth and joy are not completely unknown.
Hello,
I know this page is committed to express anger, hate, negativeness or bad experiences. However, i will try to evaluate very objectively.
I used to live in Germany ( not in Berlin) two years. I have experienced almost everything which were written here. I was master student and i am not living in Germany right now but will be back very soon. So, i am living my favorite place in the world currently and it will be hard to go back to Germany ( Berlin) definitely. This time, i reckon, i will be not as depressive as previously because i am considering myself as Germany immunized. Not in a bad way actually. I will be justifying myself.
Number one obstacle for foreigners is being alone. You probably expect to build a new social network ( including partner ) as soon as possible because social network can boost your integration process. According to my observations this is extremely hard in Germany. People tend to stick their existent social network and closed to new interactions. I had my birthday couple of days ago. I have been working at the company since 6 months and i have invited couple of colleagues to my birthday party. The fact that ,they have attended even tough, we do not know each other well. In Germany, it would take at least one year to be able to invite someone for going out. ( I do not know why ) The invite should not be spontaneous in Germany by the way, i have invited my colleagues spontaneously. So, random interactions or invitations are almost impossible in Germany to take place. When it comes to communication, i would say Germans ( sorry for generalizing but i have not had reverse example ) have very weak communication skills. They only talk about work or school. Okay, minority of them are exceptions but seriously, i could not have progressive conversations with Germans. Can i have problems in order to communicate ? ( i was assuming this in Germany )Since i have been living in my favorite place, i have noticed that i can actually communicate with people progressively and meaningfully. This is like endless loop. You can not communicate, you feel lonely.
The biggest challenge in Germany is understanding German culture. German culture is based on pragmatism utmost. Yeah, this sounds mainstream but believe me " utmost " is the keyword. Unless, there is no benefit to talk to you for German person, you will be ignored. Is this rude or just cultural thing ? You can decide. Please, make yourself get used to this fact. This is the milestone of living in Germany as foreigner.
So, Germany is definitely not suitable country to live for foreigners from social aspect. It's better to build your social network with other foreigners to have joyful life in Germany. I personally do not believe that having German partner ( male / female) would change anything because, it means you will be dealing with German culture more and more.
Wow...I used to comment on here before I left that hellhole Berlin 3 years ago....the comments are becoing increasingly desperate - with longer threads - indicating that its become worse there - if that was at all possible....what a poop hole - so may people still think Berlin has an arts scene - wrongo - anyway I won't go on about it ...its SHIT....get out while you still have energy and sanity.....
Just your daily reminder that Germany is institutionally xenophobic. It doesn't matter if you think they accept you. Germans hate each other (Berliners hate Swabians, etc.) but above all they hate foreigners, and it varies how much depending what you look like. When in doubt just remember that when the 2016 Munich shooting happened the hashtag #ScheisseAusländer started trending almost immediately.
There is a "coaltiion" of Berliners, a group of berliners who have confused activism with group sociopathy - they Use Whats app to follow around people they choose don't "deserve" to live there, and they treat them with disrespect and rudeness. So, if your photo is on their whats app "list", and you go to the same cafe each day, there will always be one of the group members there to ruin your day by stepping on your foot, pushing you while walking away, blowing smoke in your face... the group thinks it's so funny. My bike was vandalised every time I went to a cafe or for lunch in Kruezberg, hundreds of times. They never damaged it - but I would come out and the seat would be adjusted, or handlbars moved... just, stupid pranks, over and over again. Eventually, my front wheel was loosened and i ended up in the hospital with a broken arm. They follow me and my girlfriend around and photograph us constantly lately. Its really annoying, but not illegal, and I can't complain to the police because it sounds crazy. Finally though, I managed to ask one of the people why they are hassling me all the time, and he was kind enough to let me know about this group, that has felt their need to "protect" Berlin from gentrification, by singling out foreigners they dont like (Americans) and adding them to the whatsapp group. Once the person is marked, there are people all over the city that will come out to harass them It's like a neighborhood-watch group gone bad. Very bad.
"Once the person is marked, there are people all over the city that will come out to harass them It's like a neighborhood-watch group gone bad"
Yes, that's how people act in Berlin. I don't believe one have to be specifically marked though, it is enough that you are not German. Though I wouldn't be surprised if they have a WhatsApp group where they add all the foreigners. That is actually quite novel and interesting explanation why we keep meeting such vile Germans all the time.
I couldnt believe it myself, the 2 guys that explained it to me were gay. I can't believe such historically persecuted people would do this and i metioned that to them. I said "i thought berlin was a place where all the misfits and refugees could come for peace" and they told me "not all special interest groups get along" my partner and I have both experienced the constant photographing and I have filmed it with a hidden camera so no, it is not paranoid delusions." it is a technique called "stasi-stalking" look it up. They think they are 'protecting' Berlin. There are many people in this group. its sadistic and really sick, and it is the actual reason some people come to berlin and have terrible experiences, and some people come and feel good about this city. I have been yelled at "pig" on the street, can't go to any cafe or yoga class or bar without an incident, it took years to figure all this out, and a hidden camera, but it didn't all make sense until the two guys explained it to me. They still try to follow me around all the darn time but it is a lot easier to keep calm at the pervasive rudeness now that i know it IS directed at me, and that Berliners actually are sociopathic sadists.
vimeo.com/192151844
filmed with a camera mounted to a hat on my head, worn backwards. I make no accusation against anyone- all i can say is this guy followed us around filming me, sneaking up on me in the bio company, taking pictures, acting creepy as hell. This is relentless and very intrusive.
This doesn't surprise me at all. This is not the first time I've heard people talking about "stasi-stalking" and "gentrifier-profiling". I have information about something similar. I know for a fact that club owners, music producers based in Berlin and in adjacent cities have profiled and harassed journalists, artists and musicians that have spoken out negatively about Berlin and its scene. They do this to defend their interests and investments obviously and they go as far as harassing and even hacking their victims. Just think for a second, why do they have such a brutal figure as the icon of the most famous club in the city if they didn't have equally brutal PR and marketing people working for them. To me it's just another example of their "it's our way or the highway" mindset. Just another reason why I moved far, far away from there.
you wouldnt believe the poop they are doing to me. It has gradually increased over the past year especially. At this point, I cannot leave the flat without being harassed. They have tried to frame me for crimes, they follow me around, literally jumping out from behind corners at me. They dont do anything, I am not in danger of physical harm, but still, my underwear was stolen while I was in yoga (twice) and i am very worried about that. I can't believe how much of my income goes to this country and still i dont have the right to be here and just live peacefully. I am lucky because I am a sensitive person, and I was able to notice pretty early on this sick sense of joy each person was getting out of simply sitting next to me and blowing smoke in face, for example. I was SHOCKED when it was explained to me. So, there you have it- now you know why Berliners are cunts to some people and lovely to others.If you are on their shit-list, you're gonna have a bad time. Anyway, the cops aren't going to do anything - you go to the cops and say there is a group of people who "decided" I am unwelcome in Berlin, they are gonna throw you in a nuthouse. And so what if you can prove they are following you around photographing you day in and out, strictly to annoy you- thats not really illegal. I have other videos of these fools. One day I will put them all up. (If I make it out of this city without being framed for some crime or killed) Wishing you the best of luck- one dis-enfranchised Berliner to another.
There is a "coaltiion" of Berliners, a group of berlins who have confused activism with group sociopathy - they Use Whats app to follow around people they choose dont "deserve" to live there, and they treat them with disrespect and rudeness. So, if your photo is on their whats app "list", and you go to the same cafe each day, there will always be one of the group members there to ruin your day, sometimes several.
Obama: "If you want a model for what is possible, if you want to see how to build a peaceful and prosperous and dynamic society, then look at Berlin and look at Germany."
You got to be f**king kidding me.
I have been travelling among Berlin - London and my home country recently. Let me share two conversations (one of them is monolog ) from London and Berlin airports.
- London Heatrow - P : Police Officer M : Me ( I was returning from my home country to London )
M : Hello sir. Here is my passport.
P : Hello. How long have you been away ?
M : Since couple of days i was visiting my family.
P : - Smiling face - It must be nice to visit your family i hope it was nice visit. ( He has given my passport back )
M : - Smiling face - It was. Thanks sir ! Have a nice day !
P : - Smiling face - : You too ! Welcome back to London !
- Berlin -
M : Hello sir !
P : No answer and facial expression. -Given my passport back -
M : Thanks have a nice day !
P : No answer and no facial expression.
Number one rule of living in Berlin. You should forget about your humanity and kindness.
Everything smells like piss again. I wonder why does everyone here just piss wherever? You got public toilets and restaurants and whatnot, but people just excuse themselves, walk 1m away, and start pissing. Bus stops, parks, buildings, cars... nothing is sacred.
Reminds me - I got a a new coworker. Guy came in January and I've jokingly mentioned that the gray season has started. He tells me it can't be that bad, can it? I told him yeah, cause you only saw the gray season between january and april, while there's three more cold and dark months preceding it.
He laughed it off. That was in the beginning of October. Now he's asking me about cheap air tickets to spain and if I got any hacks to last until April. Poor guy.
Well, I'm outta here before April comes around. It's really uplifting. Just got my one way ticket last week. Once I got that, I no longer feel so depressed. Got a smile on my face everyday now, which makes the Germans even angrier.
Coming here was a real eye opener. I didn't know how depressive and just plain negative people could be. Of course, I'm just not a good fit to live here. Not saying that people here are. It's definitely a great place to live if you only care about money, beer, getting drunk like a pig, cars. There's probably some upsides, but out of all the places Ive lived in, I just can't find any here. I wish I could say something nice about the people, I really do, but the amount of negativity is just staggering. You get hit by it like 20 times a day and you maybe see one good thing once every 2 weeks. Few days a go someone held the door open for me and I couldn't believe it happend!
Underpass and doorway pissing! I forgot about that. You know you're going near an underpass before you even turn the corner. I heard that in Munich they are using special paint that reflects the pee back at the pissee, supposedly to teach them a lesson.
This reminds me of people spraying water at cats to teach them not to do something bad. I just didn't think the same applies to people.
These savages somehow think sinking ungodly amounts of money into anti-piss paint will change anything. Here's an idea dumbasses, fine the miserly underbelly of this godforesaken hole. Obviously worked for jaywalkers and alcopos. Stop playing stupid already.
You know that feeling when you try to describe Berlin to someone who hasn't lived there? They are staring at you in disbelief, trying to figure out why you suddenly became so agitated. And why are you telling to them things that doesn't match their expectations at all. I swear to you, few of them even had "this guy is clearly a kuu kuu head" look in their eyes. And I can't really blame them. The stereotypical image of Berlin / Germany and the reality differ so greatly.
I fully agree, I meet so many people throughout the world that still think Berlin is a wicked cool place to go. When they find out I lived there for 10 years they say "OMG... wasn't it awesome?".... my pulse rises immediately and I try not to be too negative about it but I can't help it... After my ten minute rant they are pretty sorry for asking... I try to end with " It an OK place to visit but I strongly advise you not to stay too long as it will suck the soul right out of you."
(So 1st commentator) to whom wrote it:
Firstly I write fast, and we do not have a spelling competition here.
Secondly no I am not the mayor of Berlin.
Thirdly love the city or hate it, nobody from the "real world" gives a darn about your silly opinions. You do not have any qualifications to discuss economics or politics or philosophy for that matter. Of course you are entitled to your own opinions, but trust me nobody in the "real word" cares much nor do they have time to listen to someone like you. Your critical thinking is in the same stage as an embryo in the mothers womb. You need 10-15 years to form any personality or character first, in other words you are just a kid on a nice warmly lit trip of self discovery, take your time, I believe in you one day you might not end up being a complete moron you are now. Bless you.
sorry mates you got a long way to Monty Python level, the simplistic backstabbing your word against mine, this reminds me of someone who might have read a bit of transgressive poop, but never beyond that, would be surprised that you can actually read 3 pages in a row without touching your mobile phone in hopes of finding a new tinder date.
PS. I am not trying to impress you silly. You are simply zero to me, maybe even minus zero. All I want is so you grow up and stop thinking that the world revolves around you. The universe poops on you, simple fact your monkey brain is too slow to apprehend.
PS.PS I am done with you computer nerds, keep on jerking off on your website here. While I have some real fun in the "real world". Peace! and Merry Christmas!
I used to get the same feeling of uneasiness when somebody talked about Berlin and how they would like to go live there. Luckily it's now eased off but eventually I still get triggered. " It an OK place to visit but I strongly advise you not to stay too long as it will suck the soul right out of you." is the advice I also give.
Luckily the struggle with that feeling in your new country will vanish eventually, I've been in you position. Wounds are still too fresh and it will take time until you have re-adapted to a real society. Even so you might experience flashbacks but you just have to remember that you're no longer in hell and no one is going to attack you for no reason.