3 weeks later

Ok some my last post just wen up today but mostly because I forgot to post it before, most of that happened like 3 weeks ago. so I'll do a quick recap to now

Saw gas light anthem and they were sweet
Went to a bar with a bon fire
found a place to live YAY!!
Two days later my Canadian friend dropped by (what?)
We went to the zoo (sweet)
I need a job badly (not sweet)

So I'll go back about a week and start then. My friend from University Jo came to visit me and it was super fun. It stalled a lot of my ability to look for work, but the probability of me doing that wasn't great so whatevs (yeah I busted out an abreve what are you going to do about it). So I went to pick her up at the airport and she walked in and there were hugs and oh my gods, and then I had to give her an ultimatum. I had been invited by some people to join them to go see a football game (not american football, but soccer football... also not soccer baseball). We did not have enough time to both go to my house  and then to the game so we had to choose a quiet night in, or a rowdy football game (while carrying luggage). Obviously we went to the game. It was fun, there was giant sausages and litres of beer all over the place. The game was in the olympia stadium which housed the 2006 world cup championships... and also the Olympics in the 1936 olympics I guess).  We decided that seeing we were in Berlin we should cheer for the home team (although I have no idea where the visitors were from so it was probably for the best). The  home team was Hertha BSC (I do not know what the BSC stands for), there was a huge fan base for them and all of them were synchronized which was almost as fun to watch as the actual game. It was kind of sad to look over at the visitors section of the stands and see a patchy group of people holding one raggedy banner. So in any case we (Berlin) won so who cares about those losers.

Unfortunately for Jo the entire time she was here it was raining (at best misting) so a lot of the more fun things to do went undone. Although I did teach here the fin art of what has become known as (by me at least and maybe one other guy who I think said it and I stole it from because i'll never see him again) "Riding Dirty". What is this you ask? Well in an earlier post I mentioned how I have no idea how the transit works here, since then I have been enlightened on the matter. Here is a brief tutorial.

First you buy a ticket from an automated machine, these can be for hours, days, months or even a year. Once you have bought your ticket you can just hop on a train or bus right? WRONG, you need to validate it, (get a stamp, these machines are also automated) the stamp tells you where and when the ticket was validated.
Now you might ask "if it's all automated then why would I even bother" well sorry there impatient Irene, I was getting to that.
So you do not need to show your tickets UNLESS you happen to be there when one of the random ticket checkers bust out into the scene. These guys are dressed in casual cloths and have nothing to let you know that they are legit other then a badge (well maybe a laminate). If they check your ticket and you either don't have one, or it isn't validated BAM! 40 euro fine.

So in getting back to the point, riding dirty is using transit without tickets and taking your chances. But I have become pretty good at this. I got Jo to also ride dirty with me, after most of the trip having to buy tickets. Obviously the first time we do this is when one of the inspectors comes out. So they start checking tickets on the end of the train car, Jo and I are in the middle, he is getting close. Suddenly the train reaches the next station and the doors open, the checker is two seats away from us...
Me: "well this is our stop Jo"
and then we make a break for the door and make in time to elude the checker, living to ride dirty another day.
So that was a close call and we were lucky, but I may not also be so I have since compiled a short list of tips for riding dirty in Berlin.

1. Look at your fellow commuters
Check around to see who is getting on the train car. Do they look like they are actually going somewhere? All of the checkers I have seen to date fall under this description (disclaimer: I doubt all checkers fall under this description so be safe): Male, 25-35 years old, riding alone, no bags or other personal property.

2. Look for where the most people are
If you're in a crowded train car it is less likely that a checker will take the time to check tickets closely so you could get away using an old ticket (although this is not the best choice at any time). Also if they are checking the tickets properly then you will have more time to make an escape.

3. Never sit on the ends
So yeah, go to the middle of the train car, this way no matter which the checker starts at you should have enough time to get to the next stop and get away.

4. Stay away from the bus
Some buses you can get on the back door and you're golden, but most you need to pass the driver and show your ticket as you enter. If you have an unused ticket then the validator is right behind the driver and they will know if you didn't do it.

5. I don't speak no German!
Yeah so guess what, the fines are not immediate, so if you get caught plead ignorance (and act it out like no ones business). Do you know a few phrases in German, well you better forget them. Even if you still get the ticket it is pretty easy to have it bumped down to 7 euros from 40, but even easier to throw it out and leave the country. If you are just visiting then this is my suggestion.


So yeah that's about it for now... except I'm finding it hard to find peanut butter here, which sucks because I put it on everything.  Also I do need a job so if you know anyone in Berlin who wants to hire someone with poor German and a winning smile then send them my way... No? yeah I figured.

So
me = unemployed
Riding dirty = better believe it.
Jo = Back in the Canada
Ha Ho He = Hertha BSC

SCENE