Magdeburg Diaries

Ps: Beware of the craziness and ironic content

This is my first blog ever. I never thought that one day I would start writing down my views and ideas. Thanks to ME!!!!!!!!!

2 months in Magdeburg, Germany. Time is freaking fast...As typical Indian I found many things that works differently here. First thing that I need to mention is about the people that I meet in my everyday life. Almost everyone like immigration officer, co-passenger, bus driver, police officer, shop keeper...everybody seem cool and pleasant.(Unless you start some offensive debate..:P). I was amazed when people gave a gentle smile and greeted each other but later i came to know that it is their nature which we hardly see in India(Indians are Melancholic brilliants..:P). Before coming to Germany I heard a lot about punctuality and cleanliness of Germans. But frankly speaking that was a bit of exaggerating the things. But yes, they are punctual. And also clean..with little bit public littering, broken beer bottles on footpaths and only 5-6 cigarette butts for every one square meter area. :P. 

Germans love their language. 99% of the things will be German language. No native uses his phone in any other language except German. They don't take things for granted. They work hard. I met a guy who works for a TV channel, Radio station and also drives a transport van. He makes up his living by doing multiple things. He just didn't stick to one thing. He is friendly and very much down to earth. I am wondering how he manages his time. And the best part is..Er kann Englisch sprechen(He can speak English)...:P. These people take sports and hobbies very seriously when compared to Indians. 

Everything goes in process. The traffic is so disciplined that we hardly see any violations. One more which astonished me is that these people don't make their wash room floors wet. This is actually a very good idea but initially I felt little complicated to implement this.

By the time I understood that I started liking this country, I faced some things which seemed heavily bureaucratic and too much red tape is involved.To get my University Id card I should have insurance. To buy the insurance I need city registration. To complete city registration I must submit the residence proof with valid contract. To obtain a housing contract I should have a bank account. To open a bank account I have to get a letter from BürgerBüro. By god's grace I was able to get out of this mess very quickly because of my roommates and a senior who helped in finding accommodation. One more thing that I don't like here is the neighborhood of the people. Since 2 months I hardly saw my neighbor. I can't know even if a terrorist lives in my next door. Thankfully this is not the case in India. After coming here I am fed up of listening two words "Appointment" and "Contract". Even to get small things done they ask for appointment which sometimes doesn't make any sense and sounds stupid. It took 24 days to get our internet connection. In India it would have been only 24 hours. Now I am used to all of these :D

Being a vegetarian is not an easy thing in Germany. Unfortunately, we don't find okra(Lady Finger) and coriander here..(My favorites). Never ever go to a halal meat shop if you are not a non-vegetarian. The utter discomfort present there may create a vomiting sensation in you. Sadly only one variety of vegetarian burger is available in McD. So no eat outs for me. People eat chicken, pork, beef and fish. I think this is one reason why they are more sturdy and bigger that Indians. The calf muscle of a young German lady will be definitely bigger than a strong Indian man..(General observation). Alcohol is gnikcuf cheap here. These people don't have belt shops..:P Daaru is sold in supermarkets. Just go and grab your favorite brand.

The cold weather here is supposed to extreme..atleast worse than Hyderabad. Recently I had my all time lowest temperature experience. It is -4 C. That chilled my spine to a new extreme as I went to my German class in that condition. Unlike most of the Indians, Germans are mad about football. In a football court near to my flat, I see guys practicing football when the temperature is below zero.

Finallyy....Germany is a very good place to live...But India is better for me as I am an Indian....

That is all for now.....

So far this is my experience in Deutschland. If anyone feels that some point is offensive defensive possessive decisive or apprehensive...please ignore it...i never meant what you thought.