Word of the day - Die Rechnung Bitte (the bill please)

Its been a while since I posted, things are very busy in the zig, I get the impression things are always busy here. I was discussing with Mattheus that the problem with the german economy is that the standard of living is so high that know one can be bothered to work too hard. There is too much to see, people to meet and fun to be had to spend every hour of the day at work.

My german is progressing slowly, when I say slowly I mean not at all. I came here knowing good morning, good evening and good night. I can now add to that impressive list:

Excuse Me
Whats Up
Thanks
Please
How Much
Yes
One
Two
Three
I
Am
Shit
The Bill

14 words in 5 weeks, I’m progressing at a rate of nearly three words a week! Who’s says english people cant learn foriegn languages?

My two favourite words are

Achtung (which I already knew without knowing what it meant, thanks Bono)
Ich Bien Super

I use these two alot and get great pleasure from saying “Attention” in a sturn voice whenever possible. Ich Bein Super means “I am super” which I use to answer most questions, infact almost all questions. German people seem to get as much pleasure out of hearing me say Ich Bein Super than I do in saying it. Im not really sure why, but I’ve yet to hear anyone else use the expression so I figure I must be somewhat of a trend setter.

A recap of the past few weeks:

Friday - Go to some kind of gay festival by accident, much fun is had. Briefly chatted up by a man who held my elbow throughout the conversation. Bit odd but flattering. Strange bands played including one fronted by a 7 foot tall, bald, german, transvestite wearing layers and layers of white cloth. He looks a little like a 7 foot bald, german, transvestite, satanic second coming of christ. Despite the falling importance of religion I doubt somehow the masses would be anymore likely to rise early to attend church on a sunday to hear songs entitled “Rock n Roll Faggot”. But what do I know about the wishes of the religious. Either way it was an “experience”, which is what I call everything that I wouldnt do again but I’m glad I did once.

Sat - Party hopping with the girls and Jan. Start at the night flea market (bad), then on to Moritzbastei to watch Sonic Boom Foundation (amazing place), then “the bar” some kind of semi-secret bar on an industrial estate on the edge of the city which was awesome. Then back into town to Flashback (bad) which is the sort of bad club you can visit in england anytime. You know the sort of place, low ceilings, lower IQ’s, even lower morals, I enjoyed it greatly but wouldnt rush back.

Sun - Go with Mone to scary building the photo of which is on flickr

Wed - Go see Hidden Cameras. They are brilliant one of the best live bands Ive seen in ages. Afterwards I meet the lead singer at the bar (they’re canadian) so we spend 20mins or so talking about germany and our lack of knowledge on it. He attempted to teach me words he’d picked up from german pornography which seemed to somewhat of a specialist subject of his. I havent found a use for them since and unfortunately they have now slipped from my memory.

Fri - Car Party to say goodbye to Mone’s car. End up at drinking beer on the beach (mini-beach by one of the lakes on the outskirts of the city) at midnight (photos now on flickr). Beautiful.

Sat - Spreadshirt party, not overly eventful but nice to mingle and meet new people. Got bored and wandered home, stopped by police not sure why, we chat briefly, difficult as we dont speak each others language and id had a few of the local brew. Anyway its all very civil and I head off slightly bemused but entertained.

Sat - Very nice civilised houseparty followed by closing party for doc film festival. Great party probably the best so far, much dancing and drinking, fantastic old hotel as venue. Looked like something from a horror movie, excellent djs.

Much has happened in between, I get to socialise at last 5 nights a week but I forget it all. More to follow, I guess I should do some more observations or something as this blog is fast become a review of nights out which is probably pretty dull to read.