We're back on the playground

The longer I am here, the more I realize how backwards this country's office politic is. One doesn't need to be fluent in German to understand the not-so-subtle subtext here.

It's like the US in the 70's: women are here as eye candy. Angry, frustrated men run the show, and whenever threatened they lash out. Name calling, poor work, bad vibes. It's an old story, but Germany forgot to read up on it, and write a rebuttal.

In one office I know, people yell and call each other names. (!) This misbehavior is considered acceptable because this country still thrives on a culture of fear, and this agency cultivates it. The management yells, the employees quiver. Fear of getting involved, fear of making a stand, fear of standing out. There is no punishment, no reprisal for bad office behavior; people are too afraid complain. I've heard that those who stand up for themselves find themselves the recipient of the equivalent of office terrorism: bad reviews, undermining comments to clients & colleagues, etc. Eventually they resign.

This month alone, 4 people have quit the office. This an agency of 60 people. And I know of at least 4 more who are contemplating offers. Management it seems, is incapable of making a connection between the poor attrition rate and the ill office culture that exists. It's a wild cycle, one that shouldn't exist in such a culturally rich, intelligent place.

People make fun of how politically correct the US is. But I think this is one of those things that America is doing right. There are rules (equality), and there are consequences to breaking the rules (lose your job, get a reprimand, etc.).

Poor Heiko and Heika, this is their reality.

Acculturalization

Where am I when I can listen to NPR, conduct work everyday in English, stay in touch with old friends from my childhood? Can I be in Berlin, living abroad?

Why, asks my Polish hausmeister in German, am I living in Berlin? Why indeed.

Things I must do:
1) learn German. Sure, I can joke around with my hausmeister and debrouiller at Ikea, but I am not very good at the simple stuff. I speak shitty pigeon German. Its funny, but stupid.
2) Make more German friends (outside of work)
3) Get a German boyfriend (which will help me with point 1)
4) join a club (Muay Thai?) or gym to build community

To be fair, I have a really nice community here. There are the dog friends, the cafe friends, the work friends the old friends. I feel more a part of Berlin than I ever did in Amsterdam (or Moscow or Shanghai...)

I am really happy here in Berlin. It's the right place for right now.

So maybe the 'why are you here' question can wait on its answer. I'm figuring that out.

Lins + Lula

No, they don't live here in Berlin.

I surprised Lins when I was in the US last August, showing up at her door a couple of hours before her housewarming party.

It was one of those great Chicago nights, and LLH has an amazing view onto a park.

And of course, Lins cooked absolutely everything-- even crackers -- and it was ridiculously delicious.

Can't wait for her visit to Berlin!

Oh I forgot!

I saw Clive Owen at Tegel, right before I jumped on my plane to Istanbul earlier this month (September)

He was in town shooting 'The International' with Tom Tykwa, the guy who did 'Run Lola Run.'

Mother Knows Best

I think my mother might be the only one that reads this blog, so I am going to write her a letter here:

Dear Mom,
Hallo from Berlin! Diego and I are enjoying the fine fall weather. It's been gorgeous and sunny here in Mitte. Sometimes I feel like I should be a student again: the smell of fall, with the changing leaves and chill in the air, makes me think of school. Not college, because then I would have to smell the subway, taxi exhaust, and pretzels. But school. I guess anytime from when I wa 5-18. Remember those days? I'll bet you are have a nice fall in S (New England suburb).

Today I had a real stupid moment:. I misread my itinerary and missed my flight to Leeds. I read my German itinerary several times and understood that the flight was leaving at 6:45 am, and that I should be there by 6:15. Well, I transposed the numbers and the flight actually left at 6:15-- I was supposed to be there at 5:45am.

I haven't missed a flight since I went to visit Carol Farmer in 1992. Big Guy rewarded me for doing so well in summer school with a long weekend in Boca. I was so exhausted from my exams that I checked into my flight, bought a Rolling Stone, sat at my gate while they called my flight (and it departed). I looked up from an article about The Boss (I don't even really like Bruce Springsteen) and realized that I missed my flight, even though I was sitting right there.

The ticket counter people laughed with me at my stupidity and gave me a business class flight down to Florida for the next day. It turned out well in the end.

On the positive side, I found out that it takes only 20 minutes to get to Tegel that early in the morning from my apartment.

I was able to do my briefing over the phone. Hopefully the film turned out alright. The producer called today and said everything went well.

I will never misread a German itinerary again.

Yesterday was 8 years, and tomorrow is Big Guy's birthday. Even though I love this time of year, it's always a bit sad. How are you?

Alright, that's it for now. Miss you and can't wait for your visit.

xxoo,
Love,
Aph

Bella does Yoga at Barcomi's

Some people might eat bagels at Barcomi's, but Bella does yoga.

Countdown to Christmas

Christmas has officially hit Berlin.

In late September, I went shopping at Zene at Stilwerk and already there were Christmas decorations on display: tons and tons of multicolored glass ball ornaments and tasteful, design-y things for yuletide decor.

I will continue to countdown to Christmas here on these pages. Stay tuned.

Wildlife in Berlin

On Wednesday October 10, Diego found a hedgehog in the grass down the street. We were biking down the street and he stopped dead in his tracks and started barking.

Hedgehogs are ridiculously cute. So of course I made sure that Diego didn't get too close.

This is not the first wildlife sighting in Berlin.

This summer I saw a rabbit in Mon Bijou park, and just the other day, my friend saw a fox-- yes a fox-- outside his house in Gendarmenmarkt at 5am.

This is a funny city.

And because hedgehogs are so cute, I am posting a picture of one I found online. No, I did not pick up the wild German hedgehog.

Istanbul, not Constantinople

(I can't get that This Must be Giants song out of my head.)

I arrived in Istanbul 4 October for a quick weekend visit. Only 3 hours from Berlin, it's an easy trip to make.

I really didn't know what to expect. I bought my ticket only 2 days before arriving here, so I didn't do as much research into the area as I usually do.

I'll be here through Wed morning so there are still more sights, smells, and sounds to take in. I've been snapping lots of pictures so once I get back to Berlin I will post some impressions.

My first thought: I need to come back to Turkey and explore some more.

The Village

Berlin is small. Mitte is smaller.

It is really nice to live in such a cosmopolitan city where you see so many familiar faces everyday; the regulars at the (dog) park, the guy who makes my coffee, my neighbors. I love how Mitte feels like a little village, and I especially love my part of Mitte.

I wonder when/if it will ever feel too small?

Already people tell me 'oh I saw you at x' once. I think I will always have to be on my best behavior when I am out and about.

This is not LA, NYC or SF. This is a little big city. Are there any others?

Branding, what not to do

Berlinita or Berlinette? I'll have to fix that someday.

Home suss home

I am happy to be home in Berlin.

Ikea delivered the wrong shranks, my apartment is a mess, I can't access my clothes or cooking things, but I am thrilled to be home.

I think LA and I might have broken up during this last trip.

We can still be friends, right?

A Little Brilliance

After the excitement of a celebrity sighting, and the crush of mobile shopping at Saturn after work hours, I had a brilliant idea and bought Diego a blinking glow in the dark arm band from the bike shop. I strapped it around his neck and now he blinks and blinks as he runs around Mon Bijou in the darkness at 7:45pm.

Celebrity Citing

Is it stalking when you are too nervous to even acknowledge a celebrity?

Today I was riding my bike down Torstrasse with Diegito running beside me during working hours. Usually I ride my bike down the street once business hours are over, since I tend to work later. So this was a unique experience in itself.

I was daydreaming and staring in the shops when who should I see in the window of that repurposed kimono shop-- Suri!

Flabbergasted, I looked around-- no paparazzi-- and went in the shop. I always wanted to go inside, but it was always closed when I rode by before.

Upon entering, a gentle-ish German man spoke to me in German and pointed at Diego. What? I said. Was my dog friendly? he asked. Yes, why? I nervously responded as a handsome black man approached me (did this place have guards??) For the baby to grab, and pointed at Suri who was approaching Diego with Katie's kind-looking midwestern parents.

I was so surprised that the guards had directed my attention so suddenly to the child. She had a cookie in her hand, and I said yes Diego is very friendly and he likes cookies. Katie quickly came by and smiled and picked up the child. The parents smiled too. Smiles everyone, smiles!

I looked around and admired the dresses and didn't look at Katie and family much. She smiled a hello and I snuck out.

Is it stalking if you are too nervous to talk to a celebrity (even though you are in a foreign country and you usually blab to any/all foreigners you meet)?

Were those 'handlers' in the store S-gists?

Berlin- Los Angeles

Work has gotten very busy so I have not been able to update this blog as much as I had hoped. And now it has sent me back to LA so I will not be writing about Berlin.

I feel like I never left Los Angeles. But I am feeling kind of ambivalent about being here. I have been enjoying settling into Berlin and I really wanted to continue setting up my apartment, discovering new bars/restos, making new friends, and learning German.

I do love LA, a controversial sentiment I know, but I really love where I am living now. That feels great.