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Who's in Germany or planning to come over?

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  • Registered Users Posts: 7,627 ✭✭✭Lawrence1895


    The story with 'Du' and 'Sie' is a bit strange indeed ;)

    Usually, the 'Sie' applies to anyone, who does not belong to your family and who is not your friend/school mate/colleague in work.

    Cops, teachers, your boss. somebody, who is older than yourself or the priest might take it quite serious, if you address them with 'Du'.

    And funny things happen in school: Let's say, you go all the way to university, you have to spend 13 years in school (it was like that when I was young anyway), the first 10 years, the teachers says 'Du' to the pupils. Once you are in 11th class (16 years of age approx), pupils have to be addressed with 'Sie'...some teachers fail big time ;)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,093 ✭✭✭Amtmann


    Just on that, the German 'du' is actually the same as 'thou' in English, and 'dein' is 'thine' or 'thy'.

    Today when we hear thou, thine, thee or thy in English (as in, 'how art thou'), we tend to associate it with lofty, elevated speech. But actually 'you' in English used to be considered as formal as Sie is in German.

    It's not clear why thou fell out of use; but one theory is that it began to be used in a disrespectful way to people when the formal 'you' really should have been used.

    One famous example of such disrespectful use of the word thou occurred during the trial of Sir Walter Raleigh. Edward Coke, the prosecutor, hated Raleigh and fumed at him: I thou thee, thou traitor! In this case, Coke used thou as a verb, just as dutzen is a verb in German today, meaning to use 'du' when addressing someone.


  • Registered Users Posts: 7,797 ✭✭✭munchkin_utd


    only Dieter Bohlen (similar type of alpha male talent show jurior as yer man off x factor) gets away with using "du" to a cop.

    It was considered as unmanerly rather than a directed insult.
    http://de.wikinews.org/wiki/Gericht_erlaubt_Dieter_Bohlen_das_Duzen_von_Polizisten

    A quirk of the german system is that your fine is in days wages.
    Feckin good idea though to be fair.
    The rich get rightly shafted, and unlike in Ireland, they cant hope to get off with a 100 euro fine to the court poor box that anyone of means can easily afford, but a person more strapped for cash would find very very hard to afford.
    (NOTE: the irish and british legal system was concieved in a time 100s of years ago when the landlords and gentry, i.e. the rich, were the only people who could vote or become judges. The system was invented by them to protect their interests. Its basically a system to keep the poor in their place! Fixed rate fines are chronic punishment for the poor, but an irrelevance for the rich!! )

    Anyhow, Beleidungen, insulting someone gets you a fine of 10 to 30 days wages, and more if a cop.
    For Bohlen that would have been 100's of thousands for a simple "du".
    A LITTLE harsh to be fair. Which probably also weighed on the mind of the judge.

    for the punishments for insulting someone:
    http://www.internetratgeber-recht.de/Verkehrsrecht/frameset.htm?http://www.internetratgeber-recht.de/Verkehrsrecht/Straftaten/aa02.htm

    Complete tangent, but kinda relevant.
    A lad in switzerland was doing 200+ kmh on a 120kmh limit road. He got fined according to his income so 800,000 Euro fine!!!
    No escape for the rich there!!


  • Registered Users Posts: 107 ✭✭Wilde86


    Hello. I have already posted this on another thread but it might be best suited here. So here it goes.

    Myself and my boyfriend have been considering moving to Germany. A city like Berlin, Munich or Düsseldorf. We have previously visited Frankfurt and loved it and a mutual friend studied and lived in Germany for a couple of years.

    Life here in Ireland at the moment has been quite depressing. No need to explain why. I have a part time job and my boyfriend has been struggling to find work for over a year now. We have basic German but not great. I was hoping someone might be able to shed some light on the job situation over there and if it's a huge hindrance to not speak fluent German while looking for work?

    Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,093 ✭✭✭Amtmann


    It is generally a hindrance in my experience. But! There is always hope. Take a good look at this here website. It lists a range of jobs for English speakers in various cities around Germany. Its discussion forums will also be a great resource if you do move there.

    I know a lot of American engineers working in Nuremberg who never needed German. Also, working in Irish pubs etc., you don't really need it. But for most other jobs, I think you will unless explicitly stated otherwise.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 11,001 ✭✭✭✭opinion guy


    Tremelo wrote: »
    It is generally a hindrance in my experience. But! There is always hope. Take a good look at this here website. It lists a range of jobs for English speakers in various cities around Germany. Its discussion forums will also be a great resource if you do move there.

    I know a lot of American engineers working in Nuremberg who never needed German. Also, working in Irish pubs etc., you don't really need it. But for most other jobs, I think you will unless explicitly stated otherwise.

    Agreed - great website. Sort of the boards of expats in Germany. But great for finding jobs, accommodation etc etc etc.


  • Registered Users Posts: 107 ✭✭Wilde86


    Thanks for the replies and the link.I must do more research but I do want to go :confused:


  • Registered Users Posts: 7,797 ✭✭✭munchkin_utd


    the job office in germany has a database with 640,000 jobs.

    SURELY theres one there for everyone in the audience!! :)


  • Registered Users Posts: 7,627 ✭✭✭Lawrence1895


    I don't know, in which branch you are looking for a job. But in the tourism industry, the IT branch or transport industry, you are required to speak English...and somebody fluent in English is more than welcome.

    And, since English is a compulsory subject in every school in Germany, the majority in Germany has at least a basic knowledge in English, so I see no difficulties in communicating at all.


  • Registered Users Posts: 400 ✭✭jb-ski


    Wilde86 wrote: »
    Thanks for the replies and the link.I must do more research but I do want to go :confused:

    I would definitely recommend Germany as a country to move to, my personal bias would be for Munich, but any of the bigger cities are worth trying.

    HOWEVER, it depends on what your expectations are; is it a short term move for 6-12 months or open-ended.

    To properly partake in German life you need to have a reasonable command of the language. I know all the ‘I have a mate who doesn’t speak German & is earning 20zillion per annum etc’ stories, but to PROPERLY enjoy the whole LIFE experience language skills are essential.
    (also unless you have very specific skills or education, this also affects career/job opportunities).

    ‘Good’ accommodation can be difficult to find, and generally comes unfurnished, with high broker commission & (often) hefty deposit required.
    This applies to longer term stay, obviously for shorter duration, you can be more flexible,less choosy.

    I would also suggest (controversially maybe), get out of the English Speaking
    (Irish Pub!) scene a bit, and try to fit into local life, (rather than craving Tayto crisps, Barry’s tea and such B….SH..T).
    Accept that some things are different, not better, not worse, just different!
    (your perception of better/worse will evolve the longer you’re there:) )

    And remember it’s only ever a 2 hour flight away, which allows for trips home & lots of friends visiting!


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  • Registered Users Posts: 369 ✭✭Empire o de Sun


    I managed to get a job, so it is possible. and my german is not the best.


    register with the arbeitsamt.
    http://www.arbeitsagentur.de/

    jobs
    http://jobboerse.arbeitsagentur.de/vamJB/startseite.html?kgr=as&aa=1&m=1

    you can change it to english


    you can transfer you jobseekers for 13 weeks to any eu country, and they can extend it too, if they see you are making a good effot to find a job.

    but bring savings (if you can) as this can take 4 weeks or more to transfer you benefit.

    Germany is crying out for engineers and the like, dive into you german, read books, news onlne, watch dvds you have with german dubbing.


  • Registered Users Posts: 7,627 ✭✭✭Lawrence1895


    jb-ski wrote: »
    I would definitely recommend Germany as a country to move to, my personal bias would be for Munich, but any of the bigger cities are worth trying.

    HOWEVER, it depends on what your expectations are; is it a short term move for 6-12 months or open-ended.

    To properly partake in German life you need to have a reasonable command of the language. I know all the ‘I have a mate who doesn’t speak German & is earning 20zillion per annum etc’ stories, but to PROPERLY enjoy the whole LIFE experience language skills are essential.
    (also unless you have very specific skills or education, this also affects career/job opportunities).

    ‘Good’ accommodation can be difficult to find, and generally comes unfurnished, with high broker commission & (often) hefty deposit required.
    This applies to longer term stay, obviously for shorter duration, you can be more flexible,less choosy.

    I would also suggest (controversially maybe), get out of the English Speaking
    (Irish Pub!) scene a bit, and try to fit into local life, (rather than craving Tayto crisps, Barry’s tea and such B….SH..T).
    Accept that some things are different, not better, not worse, just different!
    (your perception of better/worse will evolve the longer you’re there:) )

    And remember it’s only ever a 2 hour flight away, which allows for trips home & lots of friends visiting!

    About renting a place and deposits: It's usually not more than a 2 month rent, which you have to pay as a deposit, sometimes less, if you rent from the city council.

    And for people who only want to stay for a certain time, there are many websites offering short term apartments in almost every bigger city, and most of them come fully furnished, for example (western part of the country): http://www.zeitwohnen.de/?lang=en


  • Registered Users Posts: 757 ✭✭✭Apanachi


    only Dieter Bohlen (similar type of alpha male talent show jurior as yer man off x factor) gets away with using "du" to a cop.

    It was considered as unmanerly rather than a directed insult.
    http://de.wikinews.org/wiki/Gericht_erlaubt_Dieter_Bohlen_das_Duzen_von_Polizisten

    Leaving aside the fact that I think it's utterly stupid to be fined for saying "du" to a police officer, Dieter Bohlen's reasoning behind the whole "du" episode was that he was a religous person and when he prays to God at night he says "du" to him, and if he's can say "du" to God, why should he have to say "Sie" to a person ;)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 25 Port Royale


    Apanachi wrote: »
    ... if he's can say "du" to God, why should he have to say "Sie" to a person ;)

    ...because God is your friend?! :D


    well, joke aside he lives by the bible http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dieter_Bohlen

    well, NOT - his just a clever f*ckin' smart-arse

    .


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 870 ✭✭✭scopper


    So I'm here in Freiburg for a few months now and wanted to register that I'm here for any other Irish people that might be here. I've been focusing on German, but would be interested in meeting up with people that have found themselves here (perhaps a drink in the Irish bar(s)!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,750 ✭✭✭liah


    I don't suppose there's anyone on here who's north of Hamburg who would want to meet up sometime?

    I miss the craic. :(


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,093 ✭✭✭Amtmann


    scopper wrote: »
    So I'm here in Freiburg for a few months now and wanted to register that I'm here for any other Irish people that might be here. I've been focusing on German, but would be interested in meeting up with people that have found themselves here (perhaps a drink in the Irish bar(s)!
    liah wrote: »
    I don't suppose there's anyone on here who's north of Hamburg who would want to meet up sometime?

    I miss the craic. :(

    Hi folks, I really recommend that you both try out www.toytowngermany.com for meeting people and getting to know expats from all over the world while in Germany. I found it a great way of getting to know people.

    I'll go out on a limb here and say that Irish people abroad tend to be extremely clannish and hang out way too much with only other Irish people they find. Often socialising then becomes all about drinking in the pub. Seek out people from all over (you'll find 'em on ToyTown, in the forums section), and you just might have a blast :)


  • Registered Users Posts: 346 ✭✭Micamaca


    I would agree with Tremelo...lots of great people to meet from all over to open your horizons and to teach you new things and interests.

    Mind you, some of them do like to end the night in a pub or a bar...drinking cocktails it seems more than pints. But, well that might be something new!

    Freiburg is gorgeous...wish I was there. Enjoy!


  • Registered Users Posts: 6,171 ✭✭✭1huge1


    Toytown is great, go to it un Munich fairly often, 20 somethings meet up on a thursday night, I'd recommend it.

    Loving munich, im here till september


  • Registered Users Posts: 24 Tall Saint


    Hey scopper, I'm also in Freiburg. If you posted already on toytowngermany about meeting up in freiburg there's a chance I replied to it, recently. Don't know if it's you or not but anyway. Send a pm if you're still looking to go for a few pints.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 870 ✭✭✭scopper


    That is very likely me indeed. I don't check Toytown too much since replies are usually quite rare! PM being sent.


  • Registered Users Posts: 34 Orla_inka


    Anyone planning on driving over to Germany for the summer? Just that you know: This is the ideal year to come over - the weather is fookin' freezin'. You will all feel at home.
    (Actually, it is usually too hot for me here, I am not complaining)

    Anyway, I am just bumping the request that I made 1 year ago. I would love if someone could bring over lots of Club Orange or Finches orange for me as I am not going to manage to come over this summer.

    Please send me a message if you will be able to help me quench my thirst.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 870 ✭✭✭scopper


    Orla I notice you are in Karlsruhe, if you make it to Freiburg drop me a line.


  • Registered Users Posts: 34 Orla_inka


    Will do, although I am rarely in that neck of the woods. Same applies with Karlsruhe. Let me know via Toytown (I am using the same moniker) .. maybe we can get a group of people together.
    Freiburg must be a great place to live. I used to have friends living there.


  • Registered Users Posts: 294 ✭✭Misty Moon


    A new thread started on toytown the other day about a meet-up for people in Offenburg and I was quite surprised at the number of responses so quickly (probably because when I lived near there I don't think I met any English speakers apart from in work). Not all that far from Freiburg and might be worth checking out.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,039 ✭✭✭rmacm


    In Nürnberg since January originally on a short term assignment from Ericsson Ireland but I've decided to take a job with Ericsson Germany. Here's to a new adventure and me learning some German :)


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,835 ✭✭✭CamperMan


    I'm a short drive (in Irish terms) from Meissen... stunning area :D


  • Registered Users Posts: 6,171 ✭✭✭1huge1


    CamperMan wrote: »
    I'm a short drive (in Irish terms) from Meissen... stunning area :D
    Think I was there when visiting Dresden one time. Nice place


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,262 ✭✭✭DesertCreat_15


    Summer 2012 I should be heading over to the GF to stay for a while. Depending if i like the place enough, i plan on enrolling in a sprachschule or a volkhochschule to learn some deutsch ! :p

    Heading over now in January for a break before i start into the final semester at college too by the way !
    Anyone on here live in the Bremen or the North East NRW area? :P


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  • Registered Users Posts: 5,438 ✭✭✭livinginkorea


    Moving over from Korea in three weeks time. Really looking forward to it. Going to live near Frankfurt in a small town. Beautiful area. Hopefully it won't be too cold over there at that time.


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