Pocket-German

Jahresendspaziergang in Potsdam

2017-01-02T12:44:00.002+01:00

My friend is a fan of Potsdam and frequently goes there for walks in the park. On the 31st she wanted to do with me an end-year-walk there. Ok, fine. We started at the station Berlin Friedrichstraße, took the express train, and 35 minutes later I was already walking in the beautiful (but super cold) Potsdam park of the Sanssouci palace. Unbelievable!

Meine Freundin ist ein Fan von Potsdam und fährt dort regelmäßig hin, um durch den Park zu spazieren. Am 31. wollte sie dort mit mir einen Jahresendspaziergang machen. Ok, bitte. Wir starteten am Bahnhof Berlin Friedrichstraße, nahmen den Expresszug, und 35 Minuten später spazierte ich schon durch den wunderschönen (aber super kalten) Schlosspark von Sanssouci. Unglaublich!

I added some photos for you at the bottom. Now we look for a moment at this little article:

I guess for most of you the most frightening word was "Jahresendspaziergang". Ok, we break it into pieces: Jahres-end-spaziergang. The "e" is being dropped so, that the "Jahresende" can connect with the Spaziergang.

at the end of the year = am Jahresende (n)

You might have noticed, this expressen "Ok, bitte".

Using the English word OK is quite international, but still remains colloquial in German. Especially this phrase, "ok, bitte" is more like a resignition. When you say it, you give in. It is like "ok, you said it, fine, I hope you know what you are doing, but I am not the problem." So, be careful with what intonation you say it, otherwise you could sound a bit childish or offended.

Feuerzangenbowle II & Zuckerhut

2016-12-26T12:52:00.001+01:00

I promised you more about the Feuerzangenbowle.

The flm
I found an article on Wikipedia. The German article is very informative, while the English version is ultra-short. If you have difficulties reading it, just put the URL into Google Translate.

(this image is a link from Wikipedia)

The drink
You need:

rum
sugarloaf (in German Zuckerhut)
mulled wine.

You put the rum soaked sugarloaf on fire and let it drip into the mulled wine.

(this image is a link from Wikipedia)

On the website of Südzucker you find recipes and pictures with the Zuckerhut, including recipes for the Feuerzangenbowle as well as non-alcoholic winter beverages.

The Zuckerhut is also the German name for the the sugarloaf mountain in Rio de Janeiro.

Zweiter Weihnachtsfeiertag & Reiseverkehr

2016-12-26T12:26:00.004+01:00

Hello, hello,

in Germany the 26t of December is still a holiday, they call it "Zweiter Weihnachstfeiertag". The shops are closed and many already tavel back home because they have to go back to work tomorrow. But the time between Christmas and New Year - so called "zwischen den Jahren" - is when many companies go on vacation. When I was a kid, we would spend the "erster Weihnachtsfeiertag" with the family and the "zweiter Weihnachtsfeiertag" we would go to the Black Forest or the Alps for skiing. Nice memories.

Travelling during holidays is stressful, in all countries. Getting caught by heavy "Reiseverkehr" is not expensive, it is also slow. You have to go to the airport before time, to the station, etc. Too much traffic on the road... not enjoyable. I talked my dad into taking me a bit earlier to my station. I rather explore some cafés with all tranquility in the world than fear of loosing a train or plane.

Friends of mine are also coming back from their families today. Maybe we can have a cozy after-christmas evening. With all the nice biscuits we brought home, the "Weihnachtsplätzchen".

In the following post I will update you on the Feuerzangenbowle, as promised.

Alles Liebe und bis bald!

weg vom Fenster sein

2016-12-25T19:23:00.001+01:00

During the days that I visit my family in Western Germany, I have access to local TV. My dad is a history junkie, my granddad was a history teacher... you see, it runs in the family. We enjoy watching history documentaries. A couple of minutes ago I picked up an expression that I have known from little on, but never questioned its origin:

weg vom Fenster sein = to be away from the window???

In cololquial language it means to be dead. But not just dead, you actually noticed that this person just passed away. You do not say about your granddad that he is "weg vom Fenster". It is today more used as a warning: do not ... sonst bist du weg vom Fenster.

Origin
It comes from the mining business. Western Germany used to have a lot of coal mines in the Ruhr area (Duisburg, Essen, Dortmund, Herne, Bochum...). Many of those workers had lung problems, silicosis, due to their work below surface. Once sick, they would spend a considerable part of their day sitting at an open window. If you noticed a person everyday sitting at the window, you knew, he was sick with silicosis. But you also knew, when you stopped seeing him at the open window - away from the window - he had passed away. Er war weg vom Fenster.

Die Feuerzangenbowle - A German classic

2016-12-24T17:57:00.001+01:00

While most German families are now either already unpacking the presents or prepare dinner (or are on the way back from church), i am sitting on the sofa with my dad. We are watching an old German film: Die Feuerzangenbowle.

The movie is from 1944 and was produced to lift the mood of the Germans during the war. Despite the Nazi goverment, this movie has nothing to do with their ideology. It a truly funny black and white movie about a young teacher starting a new job in a boys' lyceum, having fun w his students. Still a great movie.

Feuerzangenbowle is a hot alcoholic drink that comes "flambé".

Tomorrow more! !

With lots of love and peace from PocketGerman ♡♡♡

The Attack. ICH BIN EIN BERLINER

2016-12-21T10:45:00.001+01:00

I m usually complaining a lot about Berliniers ' attitude. For me, a native from Düsseldorf, Berlin is a desaster on all levels: politics, tax spending, criminality, education... an endless list... BUT the same attitude is now preserving the western life style.

Berlin is surely one of the best places to start a new chapter in life. Okay, cheap flats are long gone, but basically Berliners do not care what you do and how you look like. Nobody wants to give explanations, so they also do not ask. It is always a bit of "what do I care?" Very unnerving when you want to go to tje city hall and they give you an appointment in 2 months. The clerks could not care less what your problem is. Being from Düsseldorf I find it shocking how public employees act. Anyway, these days all of this is a big, big plus.

Berliners let nobody change their way of life. They made it thorugh walls and military blocks. And they simply see mo connection between terrorism.and their own plans

12 people died. Please say a little prayer for their souls and for the comfort of their families. Few days before Christmas, it could not have been a worse moment. But Berliners will keep standing.

ICH BIN EIN BERLINER!!!

Pocket German is BACK!!

Untersetzer (m)
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