What inspired you to come to Berlin?

Hey everyone out there

Just curious as to what people's reasons were for moving to Berlin and how long it took you to get a reasonable grasp on the language. eg could have a fairly intelligent conversation. I'm a bit of a statistics freak and just want to see if there is a correlation between reason and success in gaining language. I was going to list reasons for you to choose from but have decided that I am sure that will starve us all from hearing about all the colourful reasons out there so what the helles do your worst. It would be good though if you could rate your language on a scale of 1 - 10. 1 being they would understand me in the Reichstag 10 being I might find the toilet if there is an english speaking person around. And also say how long it took you to get to that level. It's subjective I guess, but that's not important.

Oh yeah one more thing if you have or had a german lover - do you think that excelerated or impared your learning?

thanks for your participation.

Stats Freak

I moved here from koln 5 years ago for a well paying job. Lost the job and stayed.

heya, I moved to Berlin Aug 05 to further my training in dance (primarily ballet) at the State Ballet School of Berlin. I came here with very basic German skills. I mean I could say hello, good bye, I want, I need, Thank you and introduce myself. I understand a hell of a lot more now but can't always express everything the way I would like. But general conversation is fine. I did have about 1.5hrs of german classes within the school but I never really made a huge effort to study hard particularly on the grammar unlike some Japanese students who began when I did. Although they know the gender of more nouns than I do (I usually end up using "die" when unsure...) they don't speak much and they always encouraged us to talk as much as possible as that's the best way to learn. Friends say I've learnt fast and if I studied a bit more I'm sure I could master it eventually heehee.

I was born here, Its my hometown. - No matter how often and far i went, i always came back. For studies, for a job, or for just being home again. I've been around the world and seen a lot of cities and alot of them are just like the next, but Berlin is special and compare to no other.

I am going to use R+F Dopes words to explain my feelings:
(Imagine some Badass Oldskool Hiphop beats.)

Du fickst mich schon am Morgen
mit
zugestopften Straßen,
mit
zugestopften Bahnen,
du
kannst mir einen blasen,
du
stresst mich mit Mutanten,
die
den ganzen Tag shoppen
und
durch die Stadt joggen
[...]
//:Berlin Berlin, meine Stadt, ein Traum,
Du bist pflegeleicht wie Wäsche
bei 30° - Wohl kaum.
Du bist zickig wie 'ne Schnalle
aus Neukölln - das schon eher.
Doch ohne dich geht nichts,
Hassliebe ojah. ://

Ich
habe auch kein Herz mehr
für
junge Türkenraser
Dein
Schwanzgehabe hat
IQ
wie ne Packung Wasa
Ich
steh auch nicht auf Stresser
die
gammeln an der Ecke
mit
keine Arbeit und
elanlos
wie ne Kifferzecke
[...]
Berliner sind verzogen
und
kopflos arrogant
Sie
haben kein Respekt
wie
auch kein Verstand
ich
meide schwer Neukölln
will
Wedding nicht betreten.
Nur
Pöbelpack ihr seid
das
(?) der Proleten
Am
Kudam tummeln sich
die
SchleimerJuppieNutten
wie
Fick mit Gummipuppen
erstickt
an eurer Mode
ihr
überstylten vögel,
und
trefft bitte versehentlich
auf
Kreuzberger Pöbel.

//:Berlin Berlin, meine Stadt, ein Traum,
Du bist pflegeleicht wie Wäsche
bei 30° - Wohl kaum.
Du bist zickig wie 'ne Schnalle
aus Neukölln - das schon eher.
Doch ohne dich geht nichts,
Hassliebe ojah. ://

Ich
Scheiß aufs schicke Schöneberg
Hochburg der Lackaffen
Nur
Wannsee und Charlottenburg
toppen noch in Sachen
wie
arrogant wird man mit
zeig
was du hast nach draußen
[...]

Auf
einmal ham sie alle
die
moderne Hauptstadt gern
Kreuzbergs Revoluzzer-
chic
Bitte bleibt uns fern
Diese Stadt hat nur ein Vorteil
Sie
härtet dich ab,
Wers hier schafft schaffts überall
Du brauchst nur
Liebe zum Hass.

Cherchez l'erreur.

Oui, cherchez!

Oui, je l'ai trouvée depuis belle lurette, et vous?