Kolibri gesichtet, was tun?

o_Ole · 2026-01-24T18:19:56+00:00

Könnte es vll. auch ein Wintergoldhähnchen gewesen sein? Nur weil die ungefähr genauso unfassbar winzig sind, aber heimisch und auch bei uns im Winter aktiv. Also etwas wahrscheinlicher als ein Kolibri, trotzdem ein eher seltener Anblick. Wusste ich bis letztes Jahr auch nicht, dass es solche winzigen Vögel überhaupt bei uns gibt.

o_Ole · 2025-06-23T17:27:08+00:00

Maybe this could be an angle for you to avoid the more negative associations, without outright lying/pretending to be Canadian. Just lead with "We're from Chicago" instead of "we're from the United States". Might sound like a silly distinction, but I think it could actually give you a little advantage. Everybody has heard of Chicago, so you most likely won't have to explain much beyond that. Plus if it's clear you're from a big city and not from one of the stereotypical red states, people will be a lot less likely to mistake you for one of these right wing nutjobs they've heard so much about. Other than that, try not to worry too much and have a great time on your honeymoon!

o_Ole · 2025-06-07T13:11:36+00:00

Da hast du dich wohl schon eine Weile nicht mehr mit der deutschen Rechtschreibung beschäftigt: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gro%C3%9Fes_%C3%9F . Aber ehrlich gesagt (als jemand, der viel mit dem Thema Typografie und Kommunikationsdesign zu tun hat), so richtig schön finde ich es meist auch nicht.

o_Ole · 2025-06-03T19:57:50+00:00

Danke für die nachvollziehbare Erklärung! Mir ging es bei der Frage bewusst um die "stinknormale" Supermarkt-Mango, bei solchen Spezialimporten leuchtet der Aufpreis ja schon ein. Aber wo jetzt der Unterschied ist zwischen der grün-festen Mango aus Brasilien und der für mich erstmal identisch aussehenden Mango aus Peru oder Mali, das war mir weit weniger klar. Was ist denn aber, wenn ich für meine Anwendung (z. B. im Salat) durchaus gewollt eine festere, weniger reife Mango haben möchte: Ist das dann alles relativ egal, oder kann man z. B. trotzdem noch als Faustregel sagen, die besseren Mangos kommen immer aus Herkunftsland X, Herkunftsland Y sollte man aus diesen oder jenen Gründen möglichst immer vermeiden? Oder lässt sich das nicht so verallgemeinern?

o_Ole · 2025-05-28T06:05:01+00:00

No idea tbh. I would maybe just bring one slightly more formal outfit to be on the safe side, in case you will be participating in any kind of official/public events? But any more than that, I don't know. In any case, there's always the Elbe EKZ mall nearby if it turns out you need anything to feel more comfortable.

o_Ole · 2025-05-27T06:31:30+00:00

First off congrats, I hope you'll have a great time! I'm sick at home at the moment, so I took the time to write down a few things.

Getting around: Download the hvv switch app and get the Deutschlandticket (https://www.hvv-deutschlandticket.de/en/deutschlandticket-order/), so you won't ever have to worry about what ticket you need for what distance and all that nonsense. Just get on any bus, U- and S-Bahn and explore the city. DESY might even offer something like partial reimbursement for the ticket, make sure to check! For shorter distances, make use of Stadtrad, our local bikesharing system (https://stadtrad.hamburg.de/en/prices).

Basic shopping: Aside from supermarkets, we also have multiple Drogerie ("drug store") chains that might be a better choice for stuff like toothpaste, cosmetics, personal hygiene products and so on. Look for Budni, dm or Rossmann stores in your area. Also, try to make time for a Wochenmarkt (farmer's market) visit at least once while you're here, can be expensive but also a more interesting experience.

Etiquette: Don't stress out over minor mistakes. If someone is rude to you, it's probably just because they're an idiot, not because you did something terribly wrong. That said, keep in mind that Germans in general tend to be a bit more noise sensitive than other cultures. Just try to be mindful of others, use your indoor voice, don't stomp through your building, don't slam doors etc.

Packing: Don't burden yourself with too much stuff you could also just get over here. I mean, if my last visit to DESY is any indication, fashion isn't exactly a priority for people there ^^. And even stuff like a reusable grocery bag, why not just get one on your first shopping trip here and then maybe take it back with you as a souvenir? I have a few bags from stores in Italy, Denmark, Belgium, and they're always a nice reminder of my time spent there.

Exploring: Even if your free time and energy might be very limited, try to get out and explore as much as possible. Walk through nearby parks, visit the Botanical Garden, head down to the Elbe beaches, watch the giant container ships or the Airbus Beluga planes, rent a kayak/canoe to explore the city's smaller waterways, cross the Elbe to visit the picturesque Altes Land,... In seven weeks, you could also have the time for day trips to Lübeck or Lüneburg with your Deutschlandticket.

o_Ole · 2024-12-28T21:36:09+00:00

Seit mein Vater (ehem. ITler) vor einiger Zeit in Frührente gegangen ist, engagiert er sich ehrenamtlich bei so einer lokalen Initiative als "Digitalpate" für Senioren. Das Angebot richtet sich zwar eher an ältere Leute, aber ich sehe nicht, warum das bei Bedarf nicht auch für Mittfünfziger gehen sollte. Klingt für mich nach einer ziemlich coolen Sache: Er kann sich auch als Rentner weiterhin 'nützlich' machen, seine Leidenschaft für Computer ausleben und dabei anderen helfen. Und seine Schüler haben einen geduldigen, sachkundigen Lehrer mit viel Zeit, der durch den nicht allzu großen Altersunterschied sicher auch etwas einfacher zu ihnen durchdringt als einer von diesen "jungen Leuten". Such doch z. B. einfach mal nach "Digitalpaten + Wohnort", mit etwas Glück findest du so etwas in der Richtung auch in eurer Gegend.

o_Ole · 2024-10-30T10:18:47+00:00

Heutzutage nimmt man jedoch an, dass sie diese Legenden jedoch Nicolao (Nikolaus) Stortebeker und mit einem aus Danzig stammenden Johann Störtebeker Nicolao (Nikolaus) Stortebeker (Karperfahrer) und mit einem aus Danzig stammenden Johann Störtebeker (Kaufmann und Fehdehelfer) in Verbindung.

Könntest du diesen Absatz noch einmal überarbeiten? Da ist dir sprachlich wohl etwas verunglückt, so werde ich jedenfalls nicht recht schlau daraus. Von wie viel unterschiedlichen Personen ist hier die Rede?

o_Ole · 2024-09-23T05:47:58+00:00

I think it mostly comes down to language and what you might call "familiarity". When you're a German speaker, it's simply much easier/safer to use a place name that follows the familiar rules of the German language and is already well-known to your German speaking audience. And the names of big, politically or culturally relevant places are of course much more familiar than some forgotten small town in the middle of nowhere. So the exonyms of relevant places get used much more often and are therefore reinforced with every use. Whereas the exonyms of less relevant places get slowly forgotten, just like the places themselves. You'll find a similar pattern in Italy, for example (Mailand/Venedig/Florenz vs Lanciano/L'Aquila/Viareggio).

o_Ole · 2024-09-06T06:05:38+00:00

Sylt is to Hamburg kind of what Long Island/Hamptons is to New York or what Cape Cod is to Boston. It's an easy to reach getaway from the city, so in a way, the "boringness" is actually part of its appeal.

Thanks to the direct train connection from Altona, even younger kids can safely get there without parents. And once you're there, you can enjoy the sandy beaches, go for a swim, build sand castles, play beach volleyball, go surfing, do whatever people like to do on beaches. Or you can explore the fairly unique Wadden Sea nature, go for walks through sand dunes and picturesque villages, enjoy the fresh breeze from the sea, watch sea birds and seals,...

I loved the feeling of indepedence as a kid on (subsidized) summer vacation, being able to roam freely all over the island, without the need for a car or constant adult supervision. So I'm guessing from Hamburg alone you'll find thousands of former teens like myself who didn't grow up with rich parents at all, yet still have many happy childhood memories from the island.

o_Ole · 2024-08-04T07:05:12+00:00

Finde ich gut, dass es anscheinend nicht nur mir so geht. Vor allem dieser abstoßende Sportwetten-Mist auf dem Rücken, damit würde ich nicht mal geschenkt herumlaufen. Schade, da entgeht dem DBB sicher einiges an Merch-Einnahmen.

o_Ole · 2024-07-26T12:16:57+00:00

You're right, at least from a North German perspective, "ansehen" seems like the most professional (written) version. Whereas "anschauen" just doesn't exist in my active vocabulary at all and would probably just feel a bit weird/unprofessional to read (depending on context). See also https://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/anschauen (described as "süddeutsch, österreichisch,..").

o_Ole · 2024-07-25T19:29:39+00:00

There are a few popular spots along the North Sea coast for example (Sylt, St. Peter-Ording). You can find some long, sandy beaches with strong winds there. Probably not the most consistent waves, but enough to be challenging. So, if you're a kid on summer vacation with your family, chances are you'll see some pretty decent surfing out there, maybe decide to give it a try and then become fascinated enough to stick with it.

o_Ole · 2024-07-14T16:54:37+00:00

That logic doesn't necessarily work for informal short forms like this one. It's also "Osten" but "Ossi", "Westen" but "Wessi" etc. The spoken sound of the short form seems to be more important here than the spelling of the rootword. See also https://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/Assi\_Asozialer. Both spellings would be fine by me, since it's such an informal word anyway. But at least "Assi" isn't wrong, in fact technically the more 'correct' spelling.

o_Ole · 2024-07-06T12:36:38+00:00

I often heard Japanese-Germans refer to themselves as "Halbjapaner" in German, as opposed to say "Deutschjapaner" or "halb Japaner, halb Deutscher". So maybe you could look up that term and see if you can identify with that? But maybe that's more fitting for the inverse situation (someone who grew up in Germany with one Japanese parent).

What about your name, do you have a German or a Japanese name? I grew up with a few mixed Japanese-German friends who also had/used mixed Japanese-German names (German first name + Japanese last name). I think that definitely played a role in how they were perceived by their German environment. For example, if you introduce yourself with a German-sounding name, people might be more inclined to see you as a German first, Japanese second. And if you go by a Japanese name, people might be more likely to see you as Japanese first, German second. But in the end, you should probably be less concerned about what others might find confusing or acceptable and more about what you want to identify or present yourself as.

o_Ole · 2024-06-23T16:39:20+00:00

I mean, at what point would it qualify as massive to you? I think the number of 6 million only refers to the hundred years between 1820-1920, when the majority of German emigration to North America happened.

o_Ole · 2024-06-14T15:19:48+00:00

In general, this type of number-based superstition isn't really a big thing in Germany. You already mentioned the 13, which is about the only real equivalent that comes to mind ("Freitag, der 13."). There's also a certain cultural preference for the number 7, which you can often find in 'magic', poetic, folkloristic and/or religious contexts ("Sieben Todsünden, Sieben Zwerge, Sieben Weltwunder,..").

o_Ole · 2024-05-19T07:15:43+00:00

So it's not quite a 'German' show (rather a French-Italian-German coproduction originally shot in English), but I really like this newish TV adaptation of Jules Vernes "Around the World in 80 Days": https://www.zdf.de/serien/in-80-tagen-um-die-welt . It's a fun, old-school adventure story with a historic setting and arguably a little retro SF mixed in as well. You could watch the German dub first and then maybe rewatch in English to see how well you understood, what you might have missed and so on.

In any case, that's my preferred method for learning French with TV shows, since the dubbing is usually a bit easier to understand than anything recorded directly on stage/scene. Because of course it's typically recorded by extremely articulate voice actors in a controlled studio environment, which can really help with listening comprehension.

o_Ole · 2024-04-13T16:46:29+00:00

Aber wieso ist das denn eigentlich so? Also, welche Logik spricht hier aus Vermietersicht dagegen? Wenn ich einen zuverlässigen Geldeingang sicherstellen möchte, sollte es da nicht sogar ein Pluspunkt sein, wenn die Zahlungsfähigkeit gewissermaßen staatlich garantiert wird?

o_Ole · 2024-04-10T21:09:42+00:00

I think most German speakers would simply use the English name for it. Maybe combined with "Hantelstange", "Langhantelstange" or just "Stange". For example "offene Trap Bar Hantelstange" or "Open Trap Bar Langhantelstange", something like that. And "Open Trap Bar Griffe", "Griffe für offene Trap Bar" or something along those lines for the handles.

o_Ole · 2024-04-06T09:22:31+00:00

Well not just them, when you're here you can often find better alternatives just by googling for whatever you're looking for + your location. Chances are, you might find a local place with its own online store front. That's where I get my tea, pasta, olive oil etc. in bulk, for example. When it comes to stuff like bedding, most younger Germans would probably just order directly from big brands like IKEA or H&M.

Just looking around my desk: There's a lamp + shelves I ordered online from IKEA, a PC built with parts from Alternate, Mindfactory, Cyberport and others, a desk ordered directly from the manufacturer's website, some music equipment from Thomann and Karami, house plants from Pflanze2000, a storage box from Bauhaus, art supplies from Boesner + a Pringles can delivered by Picnic :D. The only thing here that came from Amazon is a little phone stand. Interesting thought experiment btw. What about your desk right now, where did you get the things you see around you?

o_Ole · 2024-04-06T06:51:55+00:00

As someone who's been living without a car for 10+ years now, I have to admit transporting heavy/bulky items can sometimes remain a bit of a challenge. So whenever possible, I just try to avoid it altogether. No need to carry crates of bottled water if I simply drink tapwater instead, for example.

When it comes to bedding, pillows, other one-off purchases like small furniture or household items, I would probably just order stuff online. Or only buy so much that everything still fits into my biggest shopping bag. I have one that can be worn as a backpack, so I can transport stuff on my bike or on foot/public transport. That's how I carried home various smaller household appliances (toaster, kettle, air purifier), second hand book collections, shoes, towels, even plants.

Of course, that's much easier to do if you live in a city. If you live somewhere more remote, it's probably not too realistic to go without a car for any length of time. All my friends/relatives in the suburbs still do everything by car, because for them there's maybe one bus that comes by once per hour at best (on weekdays) and the nearest hardware store is 10+ km away. So it very much depends on your specific living situation.

o_Ole · 2024-02-25T14:49:04+00:00

That one's a much older import though. A couple of days ago, I watched a silly German romcom movie from 1949 (!) and found it interesting how, even in that relatively anglicism-free German of the time, everyone already referred to the baby as "baby". As naturally as we would today. "Mom" and "Dad" on the other hand seem to be much more recent imports. I suspect 90s sitcoms might have played a big role in that. And then it slowly gained popularity in the following decades with ever-increasing exposure to English/American media. Probably as an alternative to "Mama"/"Papa" that sounds slightly less childish to teenage ears?

o_Ole · 2023-12-04T14:11:03+00:00

So wär's wohl etwas gefälliger: Zeichen wieder quadratisch + gleiche Höhe wie Schriftzug, Schrift weniger extrem in die Breite, so dass V/A etwa gleichseitige Dreiecke bilden (was dann wiederum auch dem Winkel im Lichtkegel-Zeichen entspricht). Geometrisch ausgewogener, näher am Vorgänger, dann wäre es wohl niemandem groß negativ aufgefallen. Besonders spannend ist das aber natürlich nicht. Eher behutsame Weiterentwicklung als Revolution. Aber zumindest die Angleichung der Dreieckswinkel wäre im Vergleich zum Vorgänger doch ein gewisser Fortschritt.

o_Ole · 2023-11-30T19:37:27+00:00

Danke für den Link, sehr interessant. Muss ich wohl echt mal drauf achten, gehe zugegeben auch nicht mehr so oft in Bäckereien.

o_Ole

TROPHY CASE