How do you like Berlin ?
 

Apart from the weather, Berlin is a great city. Low cost of living, means of transport are consistent even during the winder with lots of snow, variety of Restaurants - some great Greek and Italian ones- and full of artistic venues !!


The only thing would be some indications that Germans do not get along with certain minorities for instance, I've heard they treat differently the ones who speak English than the ones who don't !!


So what do you believe ?

Re: How do you like Berlin ?
 

Hi,
my Anglo-French daughters both live in Berlin and love it. They live in a district full of Turkish shops/restaurants and have no problem with any one, but then they both speak relatively fluent German (with a French accent!).

Re: How do you like Berlin ?
 

I understand the Brits , the Irish , the Skandies and the Dutch ( as well as the Austrians , obviously ) are Very Welcome , the Italians usually are O.K. , the Swiss somewhat less so , the Croats are fine , whereas some other Balkans's emigrants are often treated with more suspicion than the Turks , even .

Re: How do you like Berlin ?
 

I am not really certain about Balkans but from what I have seen and read the minorities from Middle East are treated worst.Unfortunately the issue with the Turks seems quite insolvable it is said both sides need to act in order to reach a compromise !!

Re: How do you like Berlin ?
 

I know several people that have been driven out of Neukölln by the "minorities". For example, a German family whose sons were beaten up by the Turks because they wouldn't do as they were told and an Israeli transvestite (do I need to say more?). Does that count too. Or are these stories only acceptabel when Germans are the evil ones?

Re: How do you like Berlin ?
 

I love berlin and love the life style and arts and culture here but
you are right there are some minorities that can't feel at home which makes me sad..

Re: How do you like Berlin ?
 

Lived there for six months. Neukolln, Prenzelberg. And had a great time.

Learn some German. Not necessary, but appreciated.

Re: How do you like Berlin ?
 

I would say there is almost always issues between cultures in a city setting with language barriers, and Berlin or Germany in general is no different.

Personally, I found it fairly easy to get along in Berlin even though I didn't speak German, but I was not a visible minority so I can't say I know how it is from that stand point.

As with being in any country with a foreign language, it's always going to be easier to integrate if you know the language. Germans definitely appreciate the difference.

Re: How do you like Berlin ?
 

I love the city but it is dirty and gritty. It is very, very mixed and there are issues with minorities, I imagine that a general "Left" leaning is the norm though. I don't know a city that is better culturally or has such an undercurrent of energy. It is very cheap to live here compared with most cities in Europe and also more exciting.

Re: How do you like Berlin ?
 

Could you get by in Berlin with limited German?

Re: How do you like Berlin ?
 

Berliner U-Bahn stories :rofl: