Welcome to German Tips

Finding a person with a common name in Germany

It is tricky, but you CAN find a person with a common German name. Here´s how:

1) Search the German online phone directory:

http://www.telefonbuch.de/

Search is in either English, German or French. You can locate private phone numbers, addresses and businesses. You can search just with a name, but it helps if you know a town or a street address for the person. The server will give you a list of hits, which you can print. This is your best bet.

2) A similar page is:

http://www.teleinfo.de/

(you can also search in English, but the page is more complicated)

3) Alternatively, try a general server for Germany, such as Lycos:

www.lycos.de

You can do a general search there (only recommended if you can speak some German), but they also search for e-mail addresses.

Site Changes May 2001

German-tips is changing to make the site more compact. You will now find books, dictionaries and music under ´mass media´. ´Berlin´ will have two new subcategories, ´nightlife´, and ´sightseeing´. Food contains ´German food in the US´, and ´shopping´ has a subcategory about ´souvenirs´. It is all still there. If you have questions, write to German Guru@Lifetips.com

International Operator

Are you in Germany without your address book? Do you need an international phone number? Why not call the International Operator at + (49) 11834. May cost small fee.

The Free Democrats (FDP)

The Free Democratic Party (FDP), liberals, have lost a lot of influence during recent years. Will they be part of the new Berlin "Senat"? Go here to get information on their party program:

http://www.fdp.de/portal/

All information is in German.

Buendnis 90/Die Gruenen

More than 50.000 Germans are members of BUENDNIS 90/DIE GRUENEN. There is an obligatory minimum quota of 50% for women in all bodies and on the lists for parliamentary elections. At the national and the federal levels there also exist a lot of working groups on a wide range of political issues. More than 5.000 young people between 14 and 28 years of age are organised in the Green Youth. Their national office is in Berlin.
Check out the party program here:

http://www2.gruene.de/

(in German and English)

Klaus Wowereit

Another gay mayor for Europe. Berlin, just like Paris, France, now has an openly gay Social Democrat mayor. Wowereit peempted the German tabloids by outing himself a couple of months ago, when he was appointed acting mayor. His sexual orientation was not an issue in the campaign. Wowereit is suspected to be willing to go for a coalition with the former communists "PDS", who are the grandsons and -daughters of the GDR-party SED.

The US Consulate General

Lost birth certificate? Passport renewal coming up? General questions about living in Germany? These problems are a case for the US consulate in Frankfurt, Germany. They have various special services for American citizens. The mail address of the consulate is as follows:

US Consulate General
Siesmayerstrasse 21
D - 60323 Frankfurt am Main
Germany

The US consulate has a website:

http://www.usembassy.de/consular/index.htm

There are phone numbers and e-mail links to contact individual officers.

Here is a copy from the website about American citizen services in Frankfurt:

Frankfurt´s consular section is open to the public for American citizen services Monday through Friday, except German and American holidays. Hours for the various units are as follows:

Passports
For U.S. passport applications, the Consular section is open from 7:30 AM to 11:30 AM. Call (069) 7535-2280 for general information (tape) or (069) 7535-2100. For up-to-date information, Department of Defense ID card holders should call (069) 7535-2483 or 7535-2485. Fax: (069) 7535-2304

Reports of American Citizen Births Abroad
Applications for reports of American citizens born abroad are accepted by appointment only. Call (069) 7535-2481/2482/2487/2490 or 2491 after 2:00 PM for information.

Special Consular Services
Special Consular Services include: protection and welfare, child custody issues, deaths and estates, services to imprisoned U.S. citizens, repatriations, notarial services, lists of local English-speaking doctors, dentists and attorneys, U.S. tax forms, voter information and registration, and other general information. The public window is open 8:00 am to 12:00 noon. Telephone: (069) 7535-2514/15/17/18/19. Fax: (069) 7535-2252.
For emergency services outside normal business hours, call the main consulate general switchboard: (069) 7535-0.

Federal Benefits
The Federal Benefits Section is responsible for assisting persons residing in Germany with all Social Security, Veterans, Railroad and Black Lung benefits, pensions and some civil service matters. In addition, the FBU handles all OPM post-entitlement matters, such as death notices, change of address and non-receipt of payment. The FBU is open to the public from 9:00 to 12:00 PM. Telephone: (069) 7535-2440/1. Fax: (069) 7535-2370 or 749-352.
For emergency services: (069) 7535-2453.

Your luggage gets stolen

In case your luggage gets stolen, inform the airport and/or the police immediately. Cancel your (lost)credit cards. Go to your embassy if you need financial assistance. Note: do not carry expensive cameras and/or other gadgets around your neck. This is an open invitation for theft. Do not put your wallet into your jeans backpocket. Do not flash large amounts of cash. Do not dress in a fashion that attracts attention to the fact that you are a tourist. Do not go into a red light district on your own.

Telephone wake up call

If you need to catch a train or have to be ready for any kind of early date, yet do not have access to an alarm clock (or a human alarm), call 01141 (in Germany) and arrange your wake up call. Small fee.

The aims of a commom monetary policy

With the upcoming launch of EURO banknotes and coins, anyone who lives, travels, or does business in any of the 12 participating European countries will benefit from dealing in just one currency. The new banknotes feature bridges, signifying co-operation between the nations of Europe and the rest of the world. The new coins, which feature a national and a common side, can also be used in all 12 participating countries. Ideally, this means less hassle for travelers, and a simplification in the exchange of goods and services within Europe.

Free services at pharmacies

Feeling unwell, but not enough to see a doctor? Many German pharmacies offer a range of free services, such as taking your blood pressure, checking your temperature & weight, providing you with a diabetes strip ... - Most provide advice. Some even provide product samples and free drinks. Look out for an "Apotheke" sign and get your free stuff.

Postage rates

Current rates: a standard airmail letter (2 sheets of paper, envelope) to the US costs DM 3. An airmail postcard costs DM 2. In order to send packages, you need to go to a post office. Several rates (according to size and weight) and restrictions apply. No joke. Some years ago, the German post office even introduced their own rulers to measure the letters and packages. As a rule, airmail packages are quite expensive. Some articles can be sent bookrate or surface mail. Always inquire beforehand, or you can get an unpleasant surprise.

Baden-Wuerttemberg

Baden-Wuerttemberg is the most south-western county in Germany. It is very popular among tourists due to its picturesque scenery, such as the woods of the Black Forest, the charm of its old towns such as Freiburg and Tuebingen, the Bodensee area, and its fine wines and food. Baden-Wuerttemberg borders on France and Switzerland, and has integrated parts of their language and customs. People on the border are often bilingual.

The Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS)

The "Partei des Demokratischen Sozialismus" (PDS) is somewhat controversial, as it has ties to the former GDR-party SED. However, they have gained influennce among the younger German generation. Why? Go to:

http://www.pds-online.de/politik/aktuell/index.htm

and find out. In German.

German Government Webpages

Check out the website of the German government for free infos, newsletters, downloads, brochures, links, political news, science news, a citizen service and much, MUCH more. They also let you order up to 5 free publications, including their CD-Roms. They ship them to anywhere in the world. Go to:

http://www.bundesregierung.de/

Effects of the euro on travelers

For travelers visiting the euro area, things will become much easier from 1 January 2002 onwards. The euro banknotes and coins will be valid in all 12 countries. You will be able to exchange your currency into euro at any bank or bureau. This exchange works in the same way as you have converted it so far into the 12 national currencies of the euro area.

The Christian Democrats (CDU)

The Christian Democrats provide their party program in both German and English. Find information on such topics as:
- The "we-society"- the need for a New Social Market Economy
- Reflections on European Policy II
- The Future Course of European Integration -
Successful Policies for over 50 Years
- Our National Aspiration
- Leadership for the 21st century
- Our Future: Germany as part of a unified Europe
- European Agenda
- Principles and Programme
of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany

http://www.cdu.de/

How long are the old currencies valid?

Any euro area national currencies you may have can be used in their countries of origin during the dual circulation period. Afterwards, it will be possible to exchange these at the counters of national central banks in the euro area for an indefinite or a very long period of time. Go to:
http://www.euro.ecb.int/en/section1/travelling.html
for more details.