tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3327335801201042758.post3849969706790608859..comments2024-03-16T08:08:35.533+01:00Comments on Sole Satisfaction: Berlin apartment progress (or, a huge step backwards)shoegirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03083644399052718075noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3327335801201042758.post-68574497038143662782013-12-02T23:35:57.462+01:002013-12-02T23:35:57.462+01:00There has to be a response to that. I am trying no...There has to be a response to that. I am trying not to be to harsh but I really feel the need to apologize for my countryman. There is a German word for small minded and ignorant. Kleinkariert. That is the only word that can be used here. It really makes me angry to listen to stuff like that and sadly "real Berliners" feel entitled to tell this nonsense. What gives them the right to claim that this is their city and all people coming here are just responsible for higher rents. Just because you are born here means nothing. There is and old saying: the real Berliner comes from somewhere else. That is how it was for centuries, before the wall was built. Just this comment shows that this city desperately needs people from all over the world come and live here, maybe that makes this small minded thinking go away. It would be so necessary and this city could progress.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3327335801201042758.post-41038974017062691822013-11-29T22:08:19.611+01:002013-11-29T22:08:19.611+01:00Being a Berliner who once lived in Prenzlauer Berg...Being a Berliner who once lived in Prenzlauer Berg, reading this makes me very sad. What you do in this city is just done by far too many people from countries like yours. Please, do me a favor and tell your American friends how horrible it is to live in Prenzlauer Berg in order to stop at least more Americans to move to Berlin neighborhoods. Don`t wonder if you will be bored in a few years because your fancy Berlin developed into another big city were gentrification destroyed everything you liked about it.<br />Yes, I feel desperate about it, because the city lost a lot of its spirit because of people who are moving to it instead of just visiting it for a week or two.<br />Good day!Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15658122266691400857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3327335801201042758.post-53575005680249223962013-11-24T12:54:15.179+01:002013-11-24T12:54:15.179+01:00Thank you for your advice and kind words, Franky. ...Thank you for your advice and kind words, Franky. These kinds of things are always a challenge, even with cultural differences aside. We have already articulated the tile flooring we want, so at least we were able to do some of what we were promised... And if the kitchen is as awful in person, I suppose we will just have to figure out how to re-tile it ourselves. As an interior designer who has spent the last several months planning out what we wanted our apartment to look like, I found this lack of design tough to accept, but it's not the end of the world. I'm reserving final judgment until we see it in person. Thanks again and perhaps we will run into each other in the neighborhood once we move!shoegirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03083644399052718075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3327335801201042758.post-31145995760133464832013-11-23T19:15:25.692+01:002013-11-23T19:15:25.692+01:00Hello shoegirl, You don't know me. I am German...Hello shoegirl, You don't know me. I am German reading your blog. I was together with an American woman for 7 years. Well that ended in may but that is another story. <br /><br />I started to read blogs from expatriates because it helped me to understand my girlfriend and cultural differences. <br /><br />We went through the same thing with an apartment in 2011. I am German and I have to say there is not a lot of style and good interior design in this country.<br /><br />Long story short. Since I am German I know that you have to get a bit feisty sometimes to really get what you want. Don't give in and remind the landlord what was promised. <br /><br />I would offer advice and help if you want to since I live close to your street. Don't freak out, I don't stalk, I just recognized the street from the photo you posted some weeks ago.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3327335801201042758.post-71553169085174262392013-11-22T18:40:58.897+01:002013-11-22T18:40:58.897+01:00We've been recommended to them in the past, bu...We've been recommended to them in the past, but at least in Wiesbaden, they will only give legal advice in German. Our German isn't quite up to legalese standards, let alone fluency, so I worry it would not be beneficial enough to join. Might be time to improve our German and take the plunge though! I'm just chalking this up to cultural differences at this point and hope that communication will improve through the rest of the process. shoegirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03083644399052718075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3327335801201042758.post-8026226086102244282013-11-21T12:13:40.477+01:002013-11-21T12:13:40.477+01:00So sorry to hear this! I would recommend joining t...So sorry to hear this! I would recommend joining the Mietverein asap. It isn't expensive and they can advise you as to what your next move should be! http://www.berliner-mieterverein.deRebeccahttp://www.fieldoffice.conoreply@blogger.com