Desparatetoleave

Hi,
can anyone send me links for bilingual schools and nurseries in Berlin (I know of the JFK school but is there anything specifically British as opposed to American?) What other things in Berlin could a bilingual child do to keep up their English?
Any other links for British expats in Berlin?

Thanks a lot

Menschlein

Oh how I envey U. Ich bin eine echte Berlinerin, born in the heart of Berlin, went to England, married a Yorkshire fellow and eventually immigrated to Canada, and have been Homesick ever since. I have heard that it is easier for foreigners to move to Germany than for native Germans to return. I miss the Botanical Gardens, the Zoo, Alex, Kurfürstendamm, those wonderful Cakes, warme Schrippchen, Potsdam Schloss, Boat trips etc. all things I only learned about during countless post immigration trips back home. Let us know how you are getting on.

dmu

Not Curry-Wurst?
My two Anglo-French daughters are in Berlin and I'm off to visit them next month.

Assanah

Why would that be??


Answer to the OP:
There is another bilingual school Nelson Mandela Schule. My friends (german-Irish couple) like the school - but I think it is not British.

Have a look here too:
http://www.toytowngermany.com/forum/...p?showforum=84

Menschlein

There is also the Hartnackschule on Motz Strasse (look for the Yellow Cube). Not sure if English otr primarily Ammi speak.

Menschlein

Na klar, Mensch Meir det hat ick doch verjessen.... Curry Wurscht, Weihnachts Märkte überall, die schönen Kondietoreien, die Berliner Luft, (just kidding) die Berlinger Klappe usw....Wier wollten ja eigentlich am 8Apr. unseren 50 Hochzeitstag (eene Woche) in Berlin feiern, konnten aber dort keine preiswerte Unterkunft für 6 Travellers finden. Schade um den kleenen Knut.....

dmu

It's a wonder your post hasn't been removed, English is the language for the forum!
Congratulations on your Golden Anniversary!
Yes, I saw on FRENCH TV that poor little Knut had died.

Menschlein

Ok, in order to remedy my mistake here is the translation of the above. Referring to the curry wurst, which I had forgotten to mention through words in my Berliner Dialect I continue to recall those fab tortes, Berliner Luft (a typical Berliner reference to the milieu, atmosphere, air etc.) We had plans to visit Berlin (for 1 Week) to celebrate our 50 Wedding Anniversary on April 8th but could not find suitable accomondations for 6. To bad about little Knut (the 2 year old Polar bear who died last week in the Berliner ZOO.

sueffun

I'm an ex pat living in South Africa for 31 years, married to a German who has been in SA since he was 5yrs old.
Our family went to Berlin in 2009 for a holiday,( I had been once before in 1974 for the Gymnastrada) it was Christmas time, so it was really amazing, especially for our three sons who are used to a hot,humid, summery Christmas. The Christmas markets were beautiful and I too loved all the bakery shops.
Berlin is my favourite capital city in the world, I loved it in '72 but it was even better recently.
My nephew is considering moving to Berlin from SA and is at present practicing his german on his Grandad.
I would LOVE to live in Berlin, but I would have to live in a house with a garden as I have three cats, any suggestions what part would be a good place to move to if we ever left SA? (maybe in our retirement). Good luck with finding a school by the way.

Assanah

Berlin is a very green city. I don't think you should have any problems finding a place with a garden, maybe even close to a lake if you fancy that. Which "Kiez" is right will depend on how much money you would like to spend and how far from the center you are prepared to move. Most parts of Berlin are cheap but everything is getting more expensive.You could also move to Brandenburg - some parts have a very good train connection to Berlin. For retirement Berlin is great but not for people that are looking for work. It is really difficult to find a well (!) paid job in Berlin. Berlin is very poor and has high unemployment (German standards, of course). Of course, once you have a good job you will have a really good standard of living. When do you want to move?

sueffun

Thanks for replying, i only joined this site yesterday and everyone is so nice and friendly.
I doubt very much whether my husband would leave SA any time soon, he is a general surgeon in private practice and our youngest son is only 17 and will be going to University in 2013, his other brothers are 22 and 21. We would not be able to retire yet, as we would need to still support the boys, until they have finished university and can support themselves.
If we did go, it would probably be in about 5-6 years, although that could pass very quickly, I am ever optimistic that I can leave SA someday with my entire family, either to go back to the UK or Germany.
The exchange rate is also abysmal so we would need a LOT of money to even think about buying our own place abroad. R1 = 11euro +-
I have spent nearly half the day reading all the posts on this site, its really interesting and I have learned so much, more interesting than Facebook!!!

Ray51

In Good Faith , 2 instant comments :
a ) many people "in the know" reckon that the S.A. Runt iz , in fact OVERVALUED , much like the currencies of other commodities' exporting countries , the most blatant examples beig the Ozzie $ and the Canadian $ ;
the theory goes that the more "correct" rate being 9-10 for the US$ ( in which RSA gold is mostly traded ! so , the mines/exporters would gain more Rands...) this should then translate to , say : 14 R to the Euro , 16 to Sterling...N.B. With a big pinch of salt : the way currencies , interest rates , banking crises etc. have been criminally manipulated and misrepresented/lied about , from the top down , in recent years , what happens next is anyone's guess and no Logic nor science apply - Caveat Emptor or praying to Lady Luck , i.e. ; here , most of us who happen to live in the EUro-zone , think that the whole concept and execution of it is hugely overrated and ridden with abuse , corruption , bureaucracy , fraud and worse fault/s and also that the Euro should come down against $ , Swiss Francs , Yen , Sterling etc , see ?

b ) if you think KwaZulu Natal a bit yeucchy nowadays , why not consider re-locating to Western Cape instead ?
I know many a person there , a few of them Germans and Brits , some of whom I am in frequent contact with , some I've known for over 20 years...everyone claims to be blissfully happy there and would not even consider leaving the Fairest Cape for EUrope ! There should be openings/opportunities for your husband there , good education for the children , decent shopping , less crime , good golf etc ; sure , the real estate there is madly expensive ( compared to Gauteng and others ! ) , but what do you think it costs anywhere semi-decent in EUrope ?
At least you can have some relative pleasures and comforts and certain ease of life , which you will soon miss , if ever you leave SethEffrika , I assure you ! ( Since I have met too many South Africans who emigrated to the EU/Canada/DownUnda/NZ and elsewhere and many ( espacially the female part ) seem Never to stop complaining , about how much better they had it , in S.A. )
Good Luck/Bonne Chance/Viel Glueck ,
R.

sueffun

Thanks for you lengthy reply.
If you read my message carefully, i stated that I would LIKE to live in Berlin, I didn't say I was going to.
You cannot just "move" down to the western cape if you are in Private practice, especially if you have built up a practice for the past 18 years, it would be like starting again.
I don't really want to get into a discussion about money either, so thanks again. I am leaving this discussion as its now way off the origional topic.
I am not South African by the way and neither is my husband and yes I love the western Cape my best friend lives there.

Assanah

BTW, sueffun, if your husband is a medical doctor. He might be able to find a job in Berlin pretty easily. I have two friends that are doctors and they found jobs within weeks. Good money and now they are looking to buy a big house close to a lake with a garden. I think it is also pretty easy to find jobs somewhere else in Germany as a doctor. Just in case you and your family might want to move sooner ;-)
My parents used to live in SA a while ago. They loved it there but left when they were still very young.

Feel free to ask if you have questions about Berlin and Germany. I have been living in Berlin since 2004, but I will be leaving soon. Off to new shores :-)

sueffun

Thats really interesting about your friends and not finding it difficult to get a medical post. Yes he is a specialist surgeon and speaks german fluently, we always thought he would have to "re-sit" the medical exams, which would be a pain at 55yrs old especially having been in private practice for 18 years.
Its always nice to get some inside information and after reading many posts on this site, everyone seems to be so very helpful and full of advise.
Good luck with your move.