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Expat1

Geographical situation
Economy & statistics
Agriculture
Industry

Expat2

Other sectors
Population
Languages
Religion
Weights, measures and voltages
Money
Main towns
Climate
Insects

Expat3

Working in South Africa
Formalities
Entry formalities:
Health & medicine

Expat4

Connections with France
Time differences
Telecommunications
Airports
Car rental
Hotels & restaurants
Your suitcase
Information
Your car
Banks
Schools & schooling
Guides
Observations
Cost of Living
in Johannesburg :
Accomodation

Usefull Addresses

City Guide

6 - Other sectors 
Electronic high precision material, photographic equipment.

Germany has developed an important new technology sector which already employs over 1.7 million people, and there is a shortage of skilled labour.
The Neuer Markt, which is the German equivalent of the NASDAQ, is composed of 271 companies, 56 of which are linked to the Internet, it represents 80% of this sector's stock capital in Europe.

In 1999 the building industry again dropped 0.4% but it expects to pick up by at least 1% in 2000. Restructuring is continuing, but a lot of companies have been weakened by several bad years.

The 10 biggest companies in Germany:

Name ....................................Sector ........................... Turnover (in billions of euros)

Daimler-Chrysler ......automobile/aerospace ..............131.78
Volkwagen ....................automobile ............................. 68.64
Siemens ....................electromechanics ....................... 60.18
Metro .......................... distribution ............................. 46.89
Veba .............................. energy .................................... 42.79
Deutsche Telekom ....telecommmunication................ 35.72
B M W ......................... automobile ............................. 32.28
R W E .......................... electricity ................................ 31.38
Rewe ........................... distribution ............................. 28.84
Bayer ............................. chemicals .............................. 28.06

(source'Handelsblatt' 1998)

7 - Population

82,047,000 inhabitants.
Population density 235 inhabs./km²

0 - 14 years : 15.76%
15 - 64 years : 68.56%
65 years and over : 15.68%
life expectancy : 76.49 years
urban population : 87.10%

Ethnic composition : Germans 91.5%, Turcs 1.7%

8 - Language

The official language is German (Hochdeutsch). Bavarian is spoken in Munich.
English and French are often spoken and understood.

9 - Religion

Roman Catholics (34%) and Protestants (38%), in majority. Muslims 1.7%.
Nearly the whole population is Christian. The north is Protestant and the south Catholique : Rheinland, Palatinate, Saxony and Bavaria.

10 - Weights, measures &.voltages

The metric system is used, except for the demi-quintal (a quintal = 100kgs)! (Zenther).

Electrical current is 220-250 V. 

11 - Money

The Deutsche Mark (1 DM= 3,50 Francs), divided into 100 pfennigs.

1 euro = 1.95583 DM


12 - Main towns

Aix-la-Chapelle Augsburg Barweiler Bayreuth Berchtesgadener Land Berlin Bochum Bonn Brême Brunswick
Cap Arkona (Rügen) Chemnitz Cologne Constance
Dortmund Dresde Düsseldorf Duisburg
Emden Erftstadt Erfurt Essen
Francfort-sur-le-Main Friedberg Friedrichshafen
Garmisch-Partenkirchen Giessen Greifswald Halle
Hambourg Hanovre Heidelberg Helgoland Hof Kassel
Kempten Kiel
Leipzig Lindenberg List Lübeck
Magdebourg Mainz Mannheim Meiningen Mönchengladbach Münster Munich
Neubrandenburg Neuruppin Norden Nuremberg
Oberammergau Oberpfaffenhofen Oberstdorf Offenbach
PaderbornPetersdorf Polch Puttgarden (Fehmarn)
Reit im Winkl Rhin Main
Sarrebruck Schleswig Schwerin Straubing Stuttgart
Westerland Wiesbaden Wuppertal

The biggest towns in Germany

Berlin,
The capital of re-united Germany, 3,600,000 inhabitants.
New sky-scrapers rise in the heart of the city, the Stalinian buildings in the east have been classified and are being renovated.
On each side of the ex-Wall distinctly different districts rub shoulders.
Mitte, the historical centre, heart of the old capital of the German Republic, with its monuments, its museums and its worksites; Charlottenburg, the centre of West Berlin, with its shopping malls, its shop windows, its buildings and its castle; Schöneberg and its cafes; Kreuzberg, 'Little Istanbul', West Berlin's old centre of controversy; and Prenzlauer Berg, a fashionable district for dining or having a drink in the evening.
Between nostalgia and looking towards the future, each day the town changes a bit more.
The town is immense, it can take a long time to get from one point to another.
Berlin is a green town with several parks, lakes and forests.

Cologne, city on the Rhine with about 970,000 inhabitants. It is an important industrial centre (automobiles, chemical products).
This town, 90% of which was destroyed during the Second World War has had its main buildings rebuilt exactly as before, mostly using the original stones
To visit : The twelve roman churches, the magnificent Gothic cathedral (Kölner Dom), with a panoramic view from the top of its 509 steps, but also the Rhine where you can pleasantly stroll along the banks; the Römich-Germanisches Museum which is built around a large mosaic, the Ludwig Museum, the Gross Saulet Martin.
The Kölnmesse (association of trade fairs and exhibitions in Cologne) organizes 35 international trade fairs and over 1,000 congresses each year.

Hambourg capitale du Land avec une population de 1,7 millions habitants.

Munich (1.4 million inhabitants) is a cosmopolitan metropolis, both culturally and economically, a liberal stronghold in a conservative Bavaria.
It is also the capital of beer.
It is interesting to visit its numerous breweries and very pleasant to sit in the beer gardens in the summer.
It is the most expensive town in Germany.
The English Garden is a long stretch of greenery, 5 kms which connects the centre of town to the surrounding countryside.
All Munich can be found there, on bikes, horses or on foot, to stroll and sunbathe on sunny days, or to drink a beer in the shade of the Chinese Tower.
The churches, castles (especially the Nymphenburg Castle and the Amalienburg Pavillion), museums (about 50 of them) and parks are all worth a visit.
Weather : lowest temperature : -10°, highest temperature : +25°
Office opening hours : 8am - 5 pm

Francfort am Main :
With its population of 650,000, Frankfurt can be described as the smallest of the big cities.
Thanks to the fact that the European Central Bank is established there, Frankfurt has become the cradle of the European single currency.
The presence of the Bank has been the cause of a boom in the sectors of finance and insurance.
Today 60,000 people work in the 400 banks in Frankfurt.

13 - Climate

Germany has a continental climate, a cold winter often with snow and a hot and dry summer with temperatures sometimes going up to 30° in July.

In the western part of the country there is a lot of rain and very frequent temperature changes.
Heavy winds blow from the west.

In the north-west the climate is oceanic.
The summers are hot and the winters are very mild.

The best period to visit is from May to September.

Temperature averages (max/min)

month	Berlin	Hamburg	Francfort	Munich
J	2/-3	2/-2	3/-2	1/-5
F	3/-3	3/-2	5/-1	3/-5
M	8/0	7/-1	11/2	9/-1
A	13/4	13/3	16/6	14/3
M	19/8	18/7	20/9	18/7
J	22/12	21/11	23/13	21/11
J	24/14	22/13	25/15	23/13
A	23/13	22/12	24/14	23/12
S	20/10	19/20	21/11	20/9
O	13/6	13/6	14/7	13/4
N	7/2	7/3	8/3	7/0
D	3/-1	7/0	4/0	2/-4

Sea temperatures (monthly average) :

month	Baltic	North Sea
J	3	4
F	2	4
M	3	5
A	5	7
M	9	10
J	13	13
J	17	16
A	17	17
S	15	16
O	12	13
N	8	9
D	5	6

15 - Working in Germany - Formalities
If you are staying for less than three months you can enter the country with only a valid identity card.
This does not allow entry to other members of your family, neither does it entitle you to work.
If you stay over three months you have to apply for a residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis).

Registration
Anmeldung : the obligatory administrative form - without this document you are not allowed to do anything in the country. You should apply for this within a week of your arrival.

To get one, go to the police station in the district you live in, with your passport.
You will only get a form if you have your own address, otherwise you will have to get the Anmeldung form signed by the person from whom you are subletting a flat (or by a friend confirming that you live with him).

Residence Permit (Aufenthalserlaubnis) :

A residence permit is still necessary, in spite of the European Union.

In order to obtain a residence permit, you will need your Anmeldung, your passport and 2 identity photos. Go with these documents to the Landeseinwohneramt.
You will also have to be able to justify your income in Germany, before you receive the permit.
If you have opened a bank account in Germany you can show a simple photocopy; a letter certifying to financial back-up plus photocopy of the passport and a bank statement from the person helping you, is acceptable.
If you have already found a job, a certificate from your employer indicating that he is waiting for the permit to regularize your situation, will be sufficient to obtain it.

Information from :

Federal Bureau of Administration (Bundesverwaltungsamt)
Marzellenstrasse 50-57, 5000-Köln-1 : 0221-77800.
(Ask for the free book no. 119).

The Arbeitsamt/The Studentenarbeit-Vermittlung
This Labour Exchange offers its services to all the members of the European Economic Community resident in the FRG.
Studentenarbeit-Vermittlung are labour offices for students where there are several offers, but not often for high quality jobs.

If you decide to look for a job on your own, you can get lists of companies from professional unions.

There are plenty of openings if you want to do au pair work, or teach languages, or do housework.

If you want to work as a farm labourer contact :
IFEP, National Agricultural Centre
Keniworth, Warwickshire CV8 2LG
Grande Bretagne -(203) 696584

To work in tourism, you need to have a minimum of German.
You can contact :
Zentral und International Fachvermittlung für Hotel und Gaststätpersonal. Feuerbachstrasse 42, D-6000 Francfort. : 00-49-69-71111.

For jobs in building, contact :

*Bosch & Partner GmbH, Huhnerstrasse 11, W-4240 Emmerich,
Tel : 282-270-177

* Gerüstbau GmbH & Co Kg, Industriestrasse no. 64, D-6700 Ludwigshafen
* Interproject, PO Box 1105, D-4193 Kranenburg, Germany

* Kuster Bau, 4 Vorheiderweg, D-4700 Hamm, Germany

For jobs with computers, contact :

* Eurolink - Keizersgracht 62 - 1014-CS Amsterdam, Holland
Tel : (010-31) 20520 - Fax : (20-5207-510).


To work in Germany, you need a work contract, a letter from your employer and a medical certificate.

* If you are not a student the Labour exchange address is :
Bundesanstalt für Arbeit, Postfach 8500, Nuremberg.

To create a company
You need to go with a valid passport to the Ministry of Economy :
Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft,
Unter-den-Linden 40-60, D-1080 Berlin -
Tel : 372-233-5520 Fax : 372-239-6250.

Taxation
Taxation works on an installment system. The social charges are the highest of all the EU.
A couple earning less than 11,000 DM does not have to pay income tax, nor does a person living alone who earns less than 5,600 DM.

The Press
The leading national dailies regularly publish job offers : the Frankfurter Allgemeine, the Süddeutche Zeitung and Die Zeit are amongst the best known.

Web sites dealing with employment in French, English and/or German :

Office fédéral du Travail (BfA) : http://www.arbeitsamt.de
Ministère fédéral du Travail et des Affaires sociales (BMA) : http://www.bma.de
Ministère fédéral de l'Economie (BMWi) : http://www.bmwi.de
Goethe-Institut de Paris : http://www.goethe.de/fr/par/friwirt6.htm
http://www.forum-jobline.de
http://www.absolventenkongress.de -
http://www.forum-jobline.de/produkte/consultingdays
Chambre franco-allemande de Commerce et d'Industrie (CCIFA) : http://www.ahk-ccifa.fr/emploi.html
http://www.web.de/sql/select/Wirtschaft/Arbeitsvermittlung
http://www.athenajob.de
http://www.robbo.bwue.de
http://www.Jobs-DF.com
Centrale de placement d'emploi : http://195.185.214.164/iv
Université de Mannheim: http://www.praktikum.wifo.uni-mannheim.de
Wirtschaftswoche: http://www.wirtschaftswoche.de
Cesar : http://www.cesar.de
Agence de placement central et international des personnels et cadres de l'hôtellerie et de la restauration (ZIHOGA) ) : http://195.185.214.164/zihoga
Service international de l'échange de jeunes et des visiteurs de la RFA (IJAB) : http://www.ijab.de/europa/html/vier_pra.htm
AIESEC : http://www.fr.aiesec.org
Association Franco-Allemande des assistants parlementaires (AFAAP): http://www.afaap.org
Association Franco-Allemande des Stagiaires Professionnels (AFASP) : http://www.afasp.net
Jobline ( : http://www.jobline.de
International Aupair Association (IAPA) http://www.iapa.org
Office franco-allemand de la jeunesse (OFAJ) : http://www.ofaj.org/fr/famille/html
Société pour des contacts internationaux de la jeunesse: http://www.gijk.de
Séjours au pair : http://www.au-pair-box.com/french/index.htm
Association pour le travail de la jeunesse international: http://www.ekd.de/au-pair
Absolventen im Web: http://www.abiw.de
Agence Königsteiner : http://www.koenigsteiner-agentur.de
IQStellenmarkt : http://www.IQStellenmarkt.de
Jobline : http://www.jobline.de
Jobpilot : http://www.jobpilot.de
Jobware : http://www.jobware.de
Jobworld : http://www.jobworld.de
Junge Karriere : http://www.jungekarriere.com
WDR-Jobs : http://www.wdr.de/jobs/bin/index.cgi
Job: http://www.job.de
Jobmonitor : http://www.jobmonitor.com
JobNET : http://www.jobnet.de
Jobrobot : http://www.jobrobot.de
Job-Suche : http://www.job-suche.de
Jobticket : http://www.jobticket.de
Monster.de : http://www.monster.de
Paris-jeunes-emploi : http://www.paris-jeunes-emploi.org
Stellenanzeigen : http://www.stellenanzeigen.de
Stellenbörse : http://www.stellenboerse.de
Stellenmarkt http://www.stellenmarkt.de
Worldwidejobs : http://www.worldwidejobs.de
Unicum : http://www.unicum.de/praktikum/index.html


Newspapers publishing job offers

http://www.yahoo.de
http://www.zeitung.de/haupt.html
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung : http://www.stellenmarkt.de
Handelsblatt : http://www.handelsblatt.com
Süddeutsche Zeitung : http://www.sueddeutsche.com/indexa.html
Die Zeit : http://www.jobs.zeit.de
Wirtschaftswoche : http://www.wiwo.de
Die Welt : http://www.berufswelt.de/berufswelt
Le Figaro : http://www.lefigaro.fr/campus
Frankfurter Rundschau : http://www.fr-aktuell.de/fr/index.htm
Focus : http://www.focus.de/job
Computerwoche : http://www.computerwoche.de

Forums for student employment

http://www.berufstart.de/ad/auswahl.htm.
Comité de salons et de foires de l'économie allemande : http://www.auma.de
Access: http://www.access-online.de
Bonding: http://www.bonding.de
Career Futures : http://www.career-futures.de
Careers-in-Germany : http://www.careers-in-germany.com
Characters : http://www.characters.de
Congrès allemand des diplômés d'études: http://www.absolventenkongress.de
Consulting Days : http://www.forum-jobline.de/produkte/consultingdays
Forum franco-allemand Entreprise/Université/Etudiants pour l'emploi et la Coopération ( http://www.Forum-Franco-Allemand.org or http://www.deutsch-franzoes-forum.org
IKOM - Contacts industriels : http://www.fsmb.mw.tu-muenchen.de/ikom
Karrieretag : http://www.karrieretag.de
Kontaktiva : http://www.kontaktiva.tu-darmstadt.de

16 - Health

Hygiene conditions
Very good hygiene conditions.
No particular diseases.

Vaccinations/ Precautions
There is no obligatory vaccinations apart from being up-to-date with tetanos, typhoid, BCG-German measles and polio.
Attention :
As in the rest of the European Community there exists a developement of MST, Sida and Hepatitis B and C, which is preoccupying the government.

Medicine /Hospitalization
The German public health system encourages the use of public hospitals. It is however possible to be treated by private services in a university or regional hospital if you have a complementary medical insurance.

German doctors are very competent. It is possible to find French-speaking doctors (our list of Useful Addresses).

As a European citizen, even if you don't have a job, you can still get good quality medical care in a public hospital or in a private clinic if you are sick or pregnant or need an operation, and nearly free of charge.
It is necessary in this case to have a E111 or E112 form (for pregnant women or children) which will allow the medical charges to be arranged by your own country's Health and Welfare and other insurance organizations.

You will find all the medicines you need in Germany.
There is an international pharmacy in Dusseldorf where you can order and rapidly receive French medicines.
Domestic animals
Dogs and cats (up to 3 animals) can be taken to Germany with you on holiday so long as they have an international health certificate and a veterinary certificate.

17 - Connections with France

Cologne
Plane : Air France or Lufthansa, flight time 1h-1h30 (depending on the type of aircraft) from Paris
Train : 5h30 to arrive at Köln Hauptbahnhof from the Gare du Nord in Paris.
Car : about 4 hours from Paris (480 kms, by autoroute/autobahn).

Munich
Plane : Air France and Lufthansa, several flights a day from Paris and other big towns
Train : Several trains each day leaving from Paris-Est.

Frankfort
Plane : Air France and Lufthansa, several flights a day from Paris

Internal transport
- in Berlin, all kinds of transport circulates well : personal cars, underground, buses, urban train and taxis.
- in Hambourg, it is easier to use the underground, buses and taxis.
- in Munich and Frankfort : underground, buses, taxis and the tramway.

Air and Rail : There are good air and rail connections all over Germany

Road : A very good network over the whole country

Ports : Hambourg is an important international port.

Deutsche Bahn : bahn.de
SNCF :  sncf.fr
Raileurope: raileurope.de
Lufthansa : lufthansa.com
Air France : airfrance.fr

18 - Information

A letter or a postcard takes a stamp costing 1,10 DM

Driving
Licence :
Your French driving licence must be converted into a German one within a year.
It is best to apply for a local one during the first six months of your stay.
To do this you have to go to the Strassenverkehrsamt, taking your French licence and identity photos.
If you don't do this within the time limit you will be obliged to sit for another driving test.

When you give in your French licence it will be sent to the administrative service in France that delivered it, when you are back in France you can recuperate it by handing in your German licence (this is a decree dated 15/2/1983 from the EU).

In Germany you drive on the right-hand side of the road and give priority to traffic coming from the right.

The speed limit is 50 or 60 kph in town (in some residential areas it is 0 kph), on the road it is 80 or 100 kph and on the highways it is 130.

It is obligatory to have a third-party insurance with civil responsability for corporal and material damage.
If you don't have an insurance you will have to take one out locally.

Habits and traditions

Germans don't kiss, they either shake hands or just say hello.
Often you have to remove your shoes when you enter a German house.
On the phone you give your name immediately before saying anything else.
Germans usually pay in cash and don't use credit cards very often.

Shopping

Shops close at 6.30pm during the week, 8.30pm on Thursdays, 2pm on Saturdays and 4pm on the first Saturday of each month.
They are all closed on Sundays, except at the railway station.

Gastronomy
- the famous white sausages (Weisswürste)
- liver paté (Leberkäs)
- cakes

 
19 - Time difference

It is the same time in Germany as in France

20 - Telephone

The German telephone directory

Index of German postal codes

To dial Germany from Europe : 00 49 + the town code + the number of your correspondent

The town code for Berlin is : 30, Dusseldorf : 211, Bonn : 228, Hambourg : 40, Leipzig : 341

To telephone France from Germany : 00 33.

Emergencies : 110 (police).
(medical emergencies) : 112.

Consular section of the French Embassy in Berlin : Tel. : 00.49.30.88.59.02.43. (Berlin, Brandebourg, Saxony,Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringe, Mecklembourg)
24 hour service (week-ends and holidays): 00.49.30.20.63.90.00.
Consulate in Düsseldorf : 00.49.211.49.77.30. (North Rhienland - Westphalia)
Consulate in Frankfurt : 00.49.69.79.50.960. (Rhienland, Palatinate, Hesse)
Consulate in Hambourg : 00.49.40.414.10.60. (Hambourg, Brême and the town of Brême,
Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony)
Consulate in Münich: 00.49.89.419.41.10. (Bavaria)
Consulate in Sarrebrück : 00.49.681.93.67.50. (Sarre)
Consulate in Stuttgart : 00.49.711.23.74.70. (Bade-Wurtemberg)
21 - Airports
Cologne :
the Köln/Bonn airport is 16 minutes out of Cologne

Munich :
the new airport is 30 kms to the north of the town

Frankfurt :
the airport is 10 kms out of town with a train connection to the central station which is in the centre of the business district

There are buses and taxis running from the airports to town

22 - Car rental, vehicles

There are one or more Avis offices in every town in Germany (at least 300 agencies in all).
The central reservation office telephone number is 06171 681800.
Some towns :
Bayreuth : 0921 7857710
Berlin : 030 2309370, airport 030 6091570
Bonn : 0228 228020
Bremen 0421 201060, airport 0421 559055
Köln : 0221 9130063, airport 02203 402343
Dortmund : 0231 9172170, airport 0231 9213153-253
Dusseldorf : 0211 8656220, airport 0211 4216747/48
Frankfurt : 069 423017, airport 069 69027771
Hambourg : 0405403032, airport 040 50752314
Hannover : 0511 12174-0, airport 0511 772081
Munich : 089 403091, airport 089 97597600
Stuttgart : 0711 2237258, airport 0711 9484451

All Avis cars are completely equipped, have done less than 15,000 kms and have an average age of 3 months.
The vehicles are carefully prepared and checked between each rental using a procedure containing 7 obligatory control points.
The cars are rented with a full tank.
Renting from Avis automatically means that the car passengers, renter and/or driver are covered by a third party insurance as well as an insurance covering repatriation and the immobilization of the vehicule in case of an accident.

You can reserve a car :
- from your travel agent
- from the international reservation centre at 0 820 05 05 05
- or from any Avis agency
Avis has an interactive network worldwide, a client can reserve a car instantly from anywhere in the world.

We recommend that you pay your rental using your accredited Avis card or with another credit card accepted by Avis : American Express, Visa, Mastercard, Diners.
Through a simple free membership system, Avis gives identity and/or payment cards, which are a real help for a rapid and efficient service.

REASSURING : No on-line payment, you can pay Avis directly at the agency when you return the car
RAPID : Avis has the quickest car rental reservation service on the web
ECONOMICAL : The cheapest rates on the market are available on the Avis microsite
COMPLETE : You can rent a car anywhere in the world.
The Avis network : 5000 agencies in 172 countries, is now on-line!
EFFICIENT : Find your town (you don't have to fill in the country), enter the date and click on estimate
PRACTICAL : You only have to fill in 4 boxes and you will receive an e-mail confirming the reservation.
You can even rent a vehicle at the last minute just round the corner or ... on the other side of the world.

Importing a car

You have to register your car within 12 months following your arrival, we recommend that you go about it immediately after you have moved to Germany.
Go to the registration service which deals with the area in which you live (Strassenverkehrsamt) with the following documents (which must be up-to-date) :
- car registration papers (carte grise in France)
- certificate from the licence plate office
- your identity card or passport
- a proof of your domiciliation
- your residence permit
- a certificate of non-objection (Unbedenklichkeitszeugnis) which you can get from the Kraftfahrtbundesamt, 24932 Flensburg, fax 0461 / 316 16 50, this document can be sent to you if you send a stamped addressed envelope and 26 DM
If you are in Berlin, contact the Kraftfahrzeugzulassungsstelle, Jüterborger Str. 3, 10965 Berlin, tel. 030/699 5 or Ferdinand Schultze Str. 55, 13055 Berlin, tel 030/902 37 - 0.

Your car will undergo a technical control in a TÜV agency (Technischer Überwachungsverein).
Once these formalities have been completed you will receive your German licence plates.

23 - Hotels and restaurants

All categories of hotel are available.
It is better to reserve in advance.
(see the list of Useful Addresses)

Frankfurt :
Hotels :
Hilton Frankfurt : tel. 69 27 30 30 342 rooms, modern and colourful
Astoria Hotel : 69 97 56 00, 30 rooms, family type hotel in city centre, very reasonable.
Restaurants :
Maingau Stuben : tel 69 60 91 42 01, light and modern German cooking
Ficherkränzi, tel 69 61 27 78, typical wooden tavern in the old Sachsenhausen district

Berlin :
Hotels :
Ritz-Carlton Schlosshotel, 5*, decorated by Karl Lagerfeld, in a palace
The Astron Berin Mitte, 5*, 392 rooms, modern and central
Adlon, Unter den Linden,77 tel. 30 22 610, fax 226 12 22 22, a monument where all the greats of the world have stayed. 337 rooms, excellent restaurant
Grand Hyatt, Marlene Dietrich Platz 2, tel. 30 25 53 12 34. Modern and luxurious
Art'otel Ermelerhaus, Wallstrasse 70-73, tel 30 24 06 20. On the Eastern side, in a 18th century residence, bright rooms, reasonable prices.
Restaurants :
Vau, Jäger St.55, tel 30 202 97 30, its chef is one of the stars of the town
Lutter & Wegner, Charlotten St. 56, tel 30 20 29 54 10, very popular brasserie

24 - Your suitcase

Winter on the North Sea coast can be intensely cold with the wind and the humidity, even though the temperatures are not very low.

In summer the evenings tend to be cool.
Also don't forget to bring a raincoat and an umbrella.

Munich : thick sweater, suit and tie recommended.
Cologne : suit and tie for business.

25 - Banks

Opening times : Monday to Friday 8h30 - 13h, 14h - 16 h, Thursdays till 17h30

You can either exchange Marks in Germany or take them with you from France

The Visa card is generally accepted, but it is more practical to pay in cash, or with Travellers or Eurocheques as there are not very many automatic distributors.

26 - Schools

German schooling is very similar to French schooling.
The German equivalent to the French baccalauréat is the Abitur, which is recognized and has an automatic equivalence.
The equivalence of a degree in French Studies is the Zwischenprüfung.

Inter-university agreements authorize other degree equivalences.


School grants
From the French government :
Only available for local schools where the programme is recognized by the French Minstry of Education.
For French children in the primary or secondary sections.
The grant can cover schooling, half-board or boarding.


General information about grants :
* the candidate and his family must reside in the country where the child is going to school

*the candidate and his family must be registered at the local Embassy or Consulate

*demands for grants are initially examined by a local commission at the competent diplomatic post or consulate (whether it is for a complete or a partial grant)

*the proposition is then made to the national commission for a final decision.
Get information from the French consulate.


Courses by correspondence
The organization of national correspondence courses (CNED) is a French public establishment. The programmes they offer are identical to official programmes given by national education. Admittance to classes is decided by the CNED teachers, the system functions in all French schools in France or abroad.

Ecole française de Sarrebruck et Dilling
Halbergstrasse 112
66121 Sarrebruck
Tel: 0681 62624

Lycee Antoine de Saint Exupery
Hartsprung
22525 Hamburg
Tel : 0049 40 582768 Fax : 0049 40 582498

Internat franco-allemand "Villa Röchling"
Kohlweg 7
66123 Saarbrücken
Tel : 0681 37904-12

• Learning German in Hambourg

Deutsch-Institut für Ausländer e.V. (Goethe Institut)
Heimhuder Strasse 39
20148 Hamburg
Tel : 040/44 00 79

Volkshochschule
Schanzenstrasse 77
20357 Hamburg
Tel : 428 41 - 3238 or 428 41 - 3304 Fax : 428 41 - 3033

Calendar of school holidays in Germany 2000 - 2001
Area	Summer 2000	Autumn 2000	Xmas 2000
Bade-Wurtemberg	27.07.-09.09.	02.11.-03.11.	23.12.-05.01
Bavaria	27.07.-11.09.	30.10.-04.11.	27.12.-08.01.
Berlin	20.07.-02.09.	28.10.-04.11.	23.12.-02.01.
Brandebourg	20.07.-02.09	30.10.-04.11.	23.12.-02.01.
Brême	13.07.-26.08.	23.10.-01.11.	22.12.-06.01.
Hambourg	20.07.-30.08.	16.10.-28.10.	21.12.-02.01.
Hesse	23.06.-04.08.	02.10.-14.10.	27.12.-13.01.
Mecklembourg-Poméranie western.	20.07.-30.08.	23.10.-28.10.	20.12.-02.01.
Lower Saxony	13.07.-23.08.	19.10.-01.11.	22.12.-06.01.
Rheinland of North-Westphalia	29.06.-12.08.	02.10.-14.10.	22.12.-06.01.
Rheinland-Palatinate	23.06.-04.08.	02.10.-13.10.	22.12.-05.01.
Sarre	22.06.-02.08.	02.10.-14.10.	23.12.-06.01.
Saxony	13.07.-23.08.	16.10.-27.10.	22.12.-02.01.
Saxe-Anhalt	13.07.-23.08.	23.10.-30.10.	27.12.-02.01.
Schleswig-Holstein	20.07.-02.09.	23.10.-04.11.	27.12.-06.12.
Thuringe	13.07.-23.08.	16.10.-21.10.	22.12.-06.01.
Land	Winter 2001	Easter 2001	Whitsuntide 2001
Bade-Wurtemberg	26.02	09.04.-20.04.	28.05.-09.06.
Bavaria	26.02.	09.04.-21.04.	05.06.-16.06.
Berlin	03.02.-17.02.	14.04.-30.04.	25.05.
Brandebourg	05.02.-16.02	17.04.-30.04.	-
Brême	-	26.03.-17.04.	-
Hambourg	-	05.03.-17.03.	30.04./21.05.-26.05.
Hesse	-	09.04.-20.04.	-
Mecklembourg-Poméranie western.	05.02.-16.02.	09.04.-18.04.	01.06.-05.06.
Lower Saxony	-	30.03.-17.04.	30.04./25.05./05.06.
Rheinland of North-Westphalia	-	09.04.-21.04.	-
Rheinland-Palatinate	-	05.04.-20.04.	-
Sarre	26.02.-27.02.	09.04.-28.04.	25.05.
Saxony	12.02.-23.02.	12.04.-21.04.	02.06.-05.06.
Saxe-Anhalt	12.02.-24.02.	17.04.-30.04.	25.05.
Schleswig-Holstein	-	09.04.-24.04.	-
Thuringe	05.02.-10.02.	09.04.-21.04.	01.06.-05.06.
Land	Summer 2001	Autumn 2001	Xmas 2001
Bade-Wurtemberg	26.07.-08.09.	29.10.-02.11.	22.12.-05.01.
Bavaria	26.07.-11.09.	29.10.-03.11	24.12.-05.01
Berlin	19.07.-01.09.	27.10.-03.11.	22.12.-05.01.
Brandebourg	19.07.-01.09	29.10.-03.11.	24.12.-31.12.
Brême	28.06.-11.08.	01.10.-13.10	24.12.-05.01
Hambourg	19.07.-29.08.	15.10.-27.10	24.12.-05.01
Hesse	21.06.-03.08	01.10.-13.10.	24.12.-11.01.
Mecklembourg-Poméranie western.	19.07.-29.08.	22.10.-27.10.	19.12.-02.01.
Lower Saxony	28.06-08.08.	01.10.-13.10	24.12.-05.01
Rheinland of North-Westphalia	05.07.-18.08.	08.10.-20.10.	24.12.-05.01.
Rheinland-Palatinate	28.06.-10.08.	01.10.-12.10.	21.12.-04.01.
Sarre	21.06.-01.08	01.10.-13.10.	21.12.-05.01.
Saxony	28.06.-08.08	08.10.-19.10	22.12.-02.01.
Saxe-Anhalt	28.06.-08.08.	04.10.-13.10.	20.12.-05.01.
Schleswig-Holstein	19.07.-01.09.	22.10.-03.11.	24.12.-05.01.
Thuringe	28.06.-08.08.	15.10.-20.10.	21.12.-05.01.

27 - Guides

Free guides from :
Price Waterhouse: Gervinusstrasse 17
D-6000 Frankfurt am Main
Tel : 69-152040 ; fax 69-15204-107

Brochure on promotional measures for commercial enterprises:
Federal Ministry of Economics - D-5300 Bonn 1
Ref « Offentlichkeitsarbeit »

 
28 - Observations

Some tips :

- Flowers are always offered in their wrapping from the florist
- If you are having dinner with a business associate you should dress fairly formally
- Germans appreciate punctuality
- Christmas is always spent with the family
- Germans enjoy standing on ceremony, using degree titles, the use of 'Dr' is not reserved to medical doctors
- big spending is frowned on, every cent counts, one pfennig is the beginning of a mark
- Germans admire Wirksamkeit (efficiency) and Bestleistung (performance)

Public Holidays

1st January : Neujahrstag (New Years' Day)
March/April : Karfreitag (Good Friday)
March/April : Ostermontag (Easter Monday)
1st May : Tag des Arbeit (Labour Day)
May : Himmelfahrstag (Ascension Day)
3rd October : Day of German Union
25th December : Christmas Day
26th December : Boxing Day

Cost of living

Germany has generally a high cost of living.
Rent varies depending on the town.
Rent and charges represent 30 to 45% of a budget.
Accomodation is not always rented with fitted kitchens.
Central heating systems are usually gas or fuel, electricity is less common.

In Berlin a one-bedroom flat costs about 1,500 Marks (5,000 FF) if you go via an agency, but many Berliners live in 'Wohnungsgemeinschaft' (WG), which is a sharing system. A room in a WG costs about 500 - 600 Marks per month.

If you rent via an agency (Mitwohnzentralen), the commission is equal to 2 - 3% of the yearly rent. There is one month's rent to be paid as guarantee.
Boarding in a family boarding house will cost about 50 to 70 marks a night, with breakfast (170-240 FF).

Hotels/Restaurants :

* Price of a meal in a restaurant (in Marks) :

Top class rest..................... 70 à 180
Medium class ..................... 30 à 100

* Price of a hotel room (in Marks) :

De luxe hotel...................... 270 à 400
Average hotel...................... 200

It is usual to tip and usually the tip is about 10% of the bill (you don't leave it on the table, it should be given when the bill is paid).


Travelling :

* Paris-Berlin, one-way, by bus costs from 350 F.

* By taxi, the amount on the meter is usually rounded off at the figure above.

* In Munich, the underground cost 3 DM a trip.

Tourism

To see :
The Bavarian Alps, the lakes, the Urzig region, the Tyrol, the Black Forest, the Renaissance city of Tothenburg ober des Tauber, Cologne (and its cathedral), Munich, Dresden (orangery), Berlin (centre of culture and music) ...

Munich
- The Beer Festival (Oktoberfest) takes place in the second half of September
- The Carnival is in January/February.
Cologne or Köln
The local beer is called Kölsch.
In the Kölschlokale or the Kölsche Weetschaff drinking is a whole ceromony where the servers (Köbes) wear big blue aprons.
Frankfurt
Among the museums, don't miss the Museum of German cinema.

Spas and hydros :
There are nearly 350 recognized spas and hydros which have modern equipment, organized leisure activities and sport complexes for relaxation and rest.

Hiking and mountaineering :
In the mountains, regional hiking associations maintain a network of about 132,000 pedestrian paths.
252 mountain huts are open to mountain lovers.
Information from Le Dentocher Alpenverein.
Praterinsel 5. D - 80538 München.