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The Brexit Collection

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Here’s a collection of all the observations, tips, tricks, anecdotes and commentary written by myself and my British peers, all of whom are entangled in Brexit one way or another.

At the turn of 2019 we gave you Six Tips for Skittish Brits in the wake of the forthcoming Brexit deadline.

Interpreter and singer Suzy Fischer played her cards right for early German citizenship.

Eight months after submitting her citizenship application, Katie Kruse received a curious letter.

Spurred on by her generosity of spirit and emboldened by her dual citizenship, Katie regaled us on how to pass the citizenship test with flying colours.

 

The Kita Crisis – where we’re at in summer 2019

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Back in 2014, I visited a handful Kitas while 5 months pregnant. I signed up at a few. I emailed my desired Kita every 8 weeks for a year after the initial meeting. I applied for a childcare voucher (Kitagutschein) 9 months early, the earliest possible date you can apply. When it arrived, we emailed it directly to our Kita of choice. It was a full-time voucher (7-9 hours). It seemed we ticked the right boxes, for a day after doing this, my daughter got an offer for a full-time spot. In the weeks that followed, we were offered a place in three other Kitas for the upcoming summer. I patted myself on the back for my superior organisational skills and that was that. But that was then and this is now.

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Mauerfall (Fall of the Berlin Wall) – 30 years later

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November 2019 marks the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berliner Mauer, the wall that divided Germany’s capital city for around 28 years. Berlin will host a whole series of events throughout 2019, in particular throughout November, to take a look back at the events that unfolded. If you plan to be around in the fall of 2019, it’s going to be a pretty special time to be in Berlin. … Read More

Minimum Wage in Germany

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A minimum wage (Mindestlohn) has already existed in many European countries for quite a while. Despite this, its introduction in Germany only happened very recently. In 2015, negotiations between the CDU, CSU and SPD saw a minimum wage of €8.50 introduced to Germany in accordance with the Act Regulating a General Minimum Wage. Over the following years, it increased gradually.  Right now, it is 9.19 EUR per hour. As of 1 January 2020, it will increase to €9.35 per hour. Some industries have been given a transition period before becoming compliant. 

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The Berlin Airport Fiasco – where we’re at in 2019

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In April 2012, I became a bride. My honeymoon trip to my native Australia was going to be particularly special – not just because I got to spend two weeks of wedded bliss with my dashing new groom, but also because we were going to be two of the first customers to set foot in Berlin Brandenburg airport. We were scheduled to depart from Tegel and return to BER 20 days later. Well, kids, I’ve now been married for seven years, I have two children, though I am yet to set foot in Berlin Brandenburg airport. Here’s what happened.

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How to Pass the Dreaded German Citizenship Test

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By guest author Katie Kruse

Citizenship application sent off? Then it’s time to hit the books!

Brexit is still looming; come Hallowe’en, the ghosts and ghouls won’t be the only thing making you quiver with fright. Lucky for you Brits, 31st October is still a way off, which means you can still get your citizenship application in before Britain departs from the EU for good.

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German citizenship: Katie gets a curious letter

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by guest author Katie Kruse

On a sunny morning in May, a day so wholly unexceptional that I expected nothing more than the customary rising and setting of the sun with the filler that is life in between, a letter dropped into my mailbox. It was no bigger or smaller than your average letter, the little window was neither shiny, nor dull, nor did it instill any particular hope that this letter should be different to any other letter I have received since living in Germany. I did not know at this point just how special this letter was.

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A new way to pay – credit card!

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You have spoken and we have listened. We’re happy to announce we’ve now made it even easier to pay for translation, interpreting, admin and coaching services with Red Tape Translation. Now along with the usual suspects: Paypal, TransferWise and a regular bank transfer, as of April 4th you can now pay with your credit card at no extra cost.

We understand that many of you wishing to take advantage of Red Tape Translation’s services have bank accounts overseas and there are usually teething problems with access to accounts when you move to a new country. With that in mind, we’ve taken this step toward making access to our array of expat expertise simpler and, hopefully, making your transition a little smoother.

Just fill out the forms as you normally would (Skype Coaching, Life Admin or Take a Translator) and choose the radio button “credit card”. The rest probably doesn’t need any explanation.

Happy shopping and happy Friday!

Katie from Red Tape Translation

Suzy’s Quest for Early German Citizenship in Berlin

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This post is written by guest blogger and interpreter Suzanne Fischer. 

Fellow Brits, this post is written with you in mind. Have you lived in Germany for 6+ years?  Do you speak terrific German? You have the chance to gain German citizenship earlier than the usual 8-year period of unbroken residency. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to retain your status as a European with dual nationality. No promises, of course – it’s all dependent on providing a stack of extra documentation.

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Introducing Fiona

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The idea of taking on an intern had never even crossed my mind. But Fiona had just the right combination of initiative, drive, skills and impeccable timing to motivate me to find a way to make it work. Mentoring is very rewarding, and having her around inspires me to create all sorts of interesting projects for her: translation, interpreting, shadowing, marketing, translation project management, research, networking and everything in between. So far she’s handled everything from real estate law and finance to custody matters and cupcake toppers and managed to stayed as cool as a cucumber. A short interview with Fiona Gillespie at Red Tape Translation.

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A guide to rental contracts in Germany

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Translators get to see a lot of rental aparment contracts. Big ones, small ones, fat ones, skinny ones, vague ones, long ones and horribly restrictive ones. From preposterous airing regulations to antiquated quiet time stipulations, from cold rent to hot water, here’s what to expect when you’re presented with a tenancy contract for a flat in Germany. We’re also happy to help in more detail if you really want to know what you’re getting into before you sign on the dotted line.

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The bank won’t pay out my loan until I get the documents translated

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Congratulations on purchasing property in Germany! You’ve probably sat through the read-through at the notary’s office by  now, and if your German isn’t terrific, chances are you had an interpreter tag along to help you out. Now the bank wants proof that you understand the loan documents before they pay out. What’s the easiest and most cost-effective way to get the money rolling?

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