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.

Working dog

Here is a snap of Diego doing what he does best: being cute.

He loves his little modest bed from Target and he sleeps in it under my desk at work.

Sometimes I stick my feet on him to see how long he will tolerate it. It's funny because I always tire of it before he does.

Lost in Translation

As you know, I do not speak German. But I work and live in Germany, so there are times where I need the help of a translation tool. I use Babelfish which offers translations from/to many languages.

Everyday I receive emails that are sent to everyone at work. At my old agency these 'public mailings' would contain emails where people were asking for yesterday's Wall Street Journal, trying to sell an Ikea couch, or letting everyone know that the parking cops were marking tires on the main street outside the office.

Here the 'public emails' are much the same. Here is an example of an email I received and translated using Babelfish. The translations are far from perfect and often pretty hilarious, but I usually get the gist of what they are saying. Do you?

'Holgers small sister (a refrigerator) contained today and only today all your food, which does not weggeschmissen is. Since we the other refrigerator times abtauen must. For the future it remains however thereby: No food into the beverage refrigerators. Oh and again a small note: Our refrigerator was times again super dirty and it is absolutely eklig to remove smudgy sticky Dressinglachen. Watches out please for your things better and should run out nevertheless once somewhat from you, please it makes away!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is only fair if for everyone its own dirt distant.'

huh?

Rosenstraße

My agency is in Mitte, on Rosenstrasse a street with a notable Jewish history. This is the street where over 6,000 women (not Jewish) protested the deportation of their Jewish husbands to the concentration camps of eastern Europe.

Before, Jews married to non Jews had been exempted from the death camps. But in 1943, the Gestapo conducted what it called 'The Final Roundup' and drove through the streets picking up anyone Jewish, or who even looked Jewish, and brought them to Rosenstrasse 2-4.

Over the course of the week, 6,000 woman came to Rosenstrasse to protest outside of the pre-deportation collection center, crying 'give us our husbands back!'

Avoiding a violent clash with the women, Joseph Goebbels, the Nazi Propaganda leader who was also the Nazi Party leader, ordered the release of the Jews with German spouses. Nearly 2,000 Jewish men were freed and were able to escape permanent deportation.

Apparently, Goebbels released the Jews to avoid attention and protest from the rest of the world. The Gestapo did not arrest the protesting spouses in order to avoid the risk of further unrest from the wives' German relatives.

Today Rosenstrasse 2-4 is the site of the Alexander Plaza Hotel. The original building and the magnificent Alte Synagogue on adjoining Heidereutergasse both were destroyed by bombs towards the end of the war.

The Hotel has many photos and information documenting the protest in their reception entrance. There is also a park next door, 2 information kiosks, and many photographs recognizing the heroic protest of these women.

Oddly, I was in the park, throwing a ball to Diego the other day and talking with a colleague who I believe has an amazing critical mind and head for strategy. When some German students came by and asked us (him) what the memorial was for, I could understand (his German) and see that he was struggling with the history; he gave them the wrong info saying that 'there was some sort of battle here or something.' I explained the real story in English and pointed them to the kiosks on either side of the street with the historical facts.

There is a documentary called Rosenstrasse: Resistance of the Heart which captures this important protest.

It is pretty amazing to come to work here everyday on this street.