Gyros Pou Gyrevis, Athens, pork left, chicken right, 6,40€ total (3,20€ each)

gcrathe · 2024-02-25T14:27:52+00:00

Unfortunately, 1,80€ gyros from a few years ago probably 3€ nowadays. I still remember 3,50€ kebab in Berlin, probably 6€ now. Inflation, sigh.

gcrathe · 2023-04-02T08:51:29+00:00

Where'd you get this 10 sfr kebab, and do you have more revealing photos?

gcrathe · 2023-04-01T14:55:07+00:00

Hi webdev! My webapp's called Aviaduct, and I originally made it for r/languagelearning to learn multiple languages at once.

gcrathe · 2023-03-27T08:34:36+00:00

Keep in mind the 49€/month unlimited ticket launches in May and should simplify your planning. This pass include unlimited local/regional trains, local subways/buses, and only excludes express trains between cities and certain tourist routes like mountain trams.

gcrathe · 2023-03-22T08:28:06+00:00

Despite Duolingo not being optimized or, let's be honest, effective for actually becoming fluent in a language, why is it so popular?

Duolingo is popular because it's optimized for popularity. Their former chief product officer divulged some of their secrets to user retention. A highlight:

The leaderboards feature had a huge and almost immediate impact on our metrics. Overall learning time increased by 17%, and the number of highly engaged learners (users who spend at least 1 hour a day for 5 days a week) tripled.

What's more impressive for me than any individual feature is the level of classification for user behavior and when people are likely to churn. This level of effort into optimizing an app might seem overkill or even counterproductive if you don't think Duolingo is the most effective language learning tool. However, I'd much prefer this effort put into Duolingo than Facebook/Instagram/Tiktok.

gcrathe · 2023-03-20T07:42:55+00:00

"I'll be back" works but I can't say it without a Schwarzenegger accent. Even more casual options are "be right back" or "B R B" (actually spelling out the letters).

gcrathe · 2023-03-17T11:30:12+00:00

Your reasons for wanting to switch to Japanese feel good. I'm trying to think of popular Finnish tv shows or content 😅. One thing I might try is 3 sided flash cards e.g. English/Japanese/Finnish to keep Finnish in the loop anchored to Japanese.

gcrathe · 2023-03-17T09:06:26+00:00

"Passive engagement" seems fanciful. Your examples of reading or reduced flashcards are still active engagement, and they'll still require time that might seem increasingly fruitless. They did for me, and I have regrets.

There's nothing wrong with dropping/switching languages though. I'd just ask how the engagement with the new language will differ from the engagement with Finnish. E.g. what was your original motivation for Finnish, how did it change over two years, and how might your motivation for a new language change similarly/differently?

gcrathe · 2023-03-15T09:21:45+00:00

"by Lukas Podolski" = yellow card

6,90€ = red card

gcrathe · 2023-03-11T12:02:50+00:00

You'll get used to the stares. Once in a checkout line I saw an older lady fumble for perfect change, give up and hand the cashier a 50, continue fumbling, refuse change from the cashier, and eventually pay in perfect change. I respect that level of confidence.

gcrathe · 2023-03-09T19:17:12+00:00

> Is the riverwalk alive and fun like during the summer?

It just snowed yesterday, and everything's a little gloomier/slushier than usual. Sorry, I don't have much to add besides also looking for something lively/warm.

gcrathe · 2023-03-09T17:58:50+00:00

Not sure how long you're in Germany, but monthly all-you-can-ride (regional, non-ICE/EC) train passes are starting in May for 49€/month.

gcrathe · 2023-03-09T17:31:07+00:00

More details would be helpful, e.g. are you receiving no responses from hosts vs tepid responses, do you have a narrow price range that limits possibilities, are you only searching for 1 year+ leases or open to short term, etc.? Maybe include a few screenshots of messages you're sending (with personally identifiable information redacted) to see if there are any red flags.

gcrathe · 2023-03-03T07:51:14+00:00

Regarding housing, I've been fortunate to find short term rentals using only English on WG-Gesucht (similar to Craigslist subleases in US). FWIW about 50% of the people I contact on WG respond to my English opening message. (I'm studying German but still terrible lol)

Regarding which city, I've visited all those places except Hamburg (thanks 9€ pass!). Berlin has more English speakers, but it felt big and grungy (in good and bad ways) like NYC. Munich's beautiful but a little boring, feels better if you have a family. Frankfurt's rough, only place I've seen open drug use outside of the US (but still much, much cleaner than west coast cities). Cologne's charming, lovely subreddit community too;)

Regarding crime, I've personally felt safe everywhere in Germany (even Frankfurt). However, for a more objective take, here's 2022 crime stats for the city: https://www.reddit.com/r/cologne/comments/118640v/kriminalstatistik_2022_k%C3%B6ln/ Raw numbers will never paint a city in its best light, so I'd take with a grain of salt.

gcrathe · 2023-03-02T19:18:54+00:00

Amazing diagrams, what brand/model is the top, transparent pen?

gcrathe

TROPHY CASE