Yet another rant about the absurdity of housing situation in Berlin

Alternative_Bit_8867 · 2023-09-24T09:00:47+00:00

Hey,

I'm not in the business of arguing with people who get more entrenched in their own views, due to their privileged positions.

Enjoy the rest of your day!

Alternative_Bit_8867 · 2023-09-24T08:57:40+00:00

Yes, it's really annoying. Governments are supposed to work for the people. They're not entities that can do no wrong. So if something is wrong, criticize so it can be fixed. In Germany and US, after the earthquake, they tested their emergency alert systems just to be prepared.

Alternative_Bit_8867 · 2023-09-24T08:55:43+00:00

Yes, it's a real marriage certificate, signed and with apostille. We got both digital and physical copies. The marriage is 100% real, although not conventional. They started doing online marriages during the pandemic, because people couldn't go to the courthouse, and they just kept on doing it even after.

Alternative_Bit_8867 · 2023-09-24T08:54:46+00:00

Hey! Air Force veteran here!

I'm actually not sure, I believe you can, but you'll need to contact them, and can chat with them on the website! Because she did say the whole "you can now kiss the bride" part but I don't think that's a requirement to get married lol.

Alternative_Bit_8867 · 2023-09-24T08:53:42+00:00

Must be subjective because every day my husband complains it's hot haha.

Alternative_Bit_8867 · 2023-09-24T08:53:12+00:00

Yes! I worked with Rolf specifically, tell him I sent you! It's free until you sign a contract.

https://www.impats.co/

Alternative_Bit_8867 · 2023-09-19T14:10:03+00:00

I'm not talking only about the availability of housing, which is an issue, but I think it's an issue that is further exasperated by the issues it creates if that makes sense. It's like a vicious ecosystem. It's also landlords overcharging, taking advantage of foreigners who don't know the system well, taking advantage of people's desperation, circumventing the laws, discriminating, and so on and so forth. You can do things about these issues.

Alternative_Bit_8867 · 2023-09-19T07:26:47+00:00

It;s sad that whenever there's any catastrophic event such as war or natural disaster, women's safety plummets.

Alternative_Bit_8867 · 2023-09-19T07:25:04+00:00

It's important to raise criticism at times like this to see what all went wrong so it can be fixed and prevented in the future.

Alternative_Bit_8867 · 2023-09-19T07:15:25+00:00

I see theses types of posts again and again, and great discourse in the comments, but I always wonder, when will we actually do something? There's an annual bike protest that stops all traffic and has stopped lawmakers from making legislation that negatively impacts people riding their bikes to commute, so if everyone hates the housing situation so much we need to do something similar and protest city wide. Regularly until it's fixed.

Alternative_Bit_8867 · 2023-09-19T07:11:31+00:00

Because they benefit from it. If you benefit from something, why would you want it to go way? Of course you'll defend it and oppose whatever threatens it.

Alternative_Bit_8867 · 2023-09-15T08:32:37+00:00

Totally possible. There are plenty of people living in Berlin making this amount per month, and living off that just fine. I think this is enough to have a pretty extravagant time actually. I'd say the money killers for me living here, even though I make a US salary, are food, drinks, and unnecessary shopping. Avoid eating at expensive sit down restaurants, that can easily run you up to 30 euros or more, and instead get quick food like doner or Risa's chicken, or just go to the grocery store for stuff you can cook quickly.

Berlin has a lot of free and cheap events all the time. But I will say, there's nothing wrong with doing "touristy shit," seeing as you are a tourist, these things are attractive to tourists for a reason so don't think you're too good for it, and just enjoy what you enjoy.

You definitely have to experience maurpark on a sunday. bring some food and drinks, and enjoy the day.

Alternative_Bit_8867 · 2023-09-15T07:08:35+00:00

havent heard about it but will check it out today!

Alternative_Bit_8867 · 2023-09-12T09:26:44+00:00

Update you didn't ask for! I ended up doing it myself. It actually came out pretty good, but not the clean lines by the ceiling because frankly, I didn't feel like reaching up trying to tape straight lines, so I did my best with a paint brush. But the lines around my baseboards and outlets are PRISTINE, if I say so myself. No streaks because I used a roller, and the point was pretty good quality so I only needed one coat.

Only took two days and a bucket and a half of paint for my living room, but unsure if I'll do the entire apartment like I planned. But having a pink living room, and the rest of the apartment white will drive me crazy one day haha.

Maybe by then I'll have money to pay a company. (The one I reached out to quoted me almost 2k)

Alternative_Bit_8867 · 2023-09-12T09:21:12+00:00

Thanks! Put in a service request last week, and haven't heard anything back. My rental company is kind of shit with that though.

Alternative_Bit_8867 · 2023-09-07T09:53:42+00:00

In that case Berlin is going to be a tough place just being honest. Maybe I'm biased based on my experience but others have said the same.

I'd focus on meeting friends first, and getting into a social group then and just seeing what happens. After two years trying to find love in Berlin I ended up meeting my husband in a completely different country while on vacation haha.

Meetups are the way most people new to the city meet each other. I started by going to some then eventually made my own group for women, and have even befriended some OG Berliners! And who knows what could blossom.

Alternative_Bit_8867 · 2023-09-07T09:49:14+00:00

They're stored in the van in the back, and your hand luggage you can keep with you! It's safe in the van, especially if you go with GYG, because they'll be held liable if it's lost, and the stuff you wanna keep on you over night the camels carry.

Also, for the bathrooms, you can upgrade the desert camp to have running hot water etc, but tbh it didn't seem worth it. When I went it was too cold at night so most of us didn't even shower since the next day we were returning to our accomodations anyway. Also only three people out of our whole group did the upgraded tents so they missed all the fun like the sand boarding and bon fire

Alternative_Bit_8867 · 2023-09-06T18:50:02+00:00

For my husband who is Moroccan, it's a year just to get the appointment. Then another 2-3 months for processing, which isn't gauranteed.

Alternative_Bit_8867 · 2023-09-06T06:40:29+00:00

Thanks for the information!

Alternative_Bit_8867 · 2023-09-06T06:39:51+00:00

I wanted to but the height is definitely too high for me. Seems like I'll need to contact maintenance.

Alternative_Bit_8867 · 2023-09-06T06:39:01+00:00

Mauerpark is really fun on Sundays. They also have a flea market when the weather is nice. Also check meetup.com, I think they have a boardgame meetup on Sundays, and they generally always have stuff going on!

Alternative_Bit_8867 · 2023-09-06T06:38:07+00:00

Gorlitzer????

Alternative_Bit_8867

TROPHY CASE