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Official Chris Abraham Blog

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Chris has had a web presence since 1993 and started blogging in 1999. Here Chris Abraham's official blog.
Top Sieben German Language Films

Top Sieben German Language Films

Movies are one of the most fun ways to get an ear for a language while also experiencing some of that country’s popular culture, scenery and history. I went over lists of top German cinema, and also asked folks via Facebook and Twitter, and came up with a short list of some of the movies you should really check out.

Top Sieben German Language Films - Read More…

Listen to Reinforce Your Comprehension

Listen to Reinforce Your Comprehension

I’ve learned that the only way to really learn a language is to soak yourself in it. I try to maximize my exposure to everything German as often as possible. One of my favorite ways to do this is to catch as much native content as possible.

Listen to Reinforce Your Comprehension - Read More…

Third Time’s a Charm

Third Time’s a Charm

In the middle of my German language learning travails, Rosetta Stone reached out to me and asked me to blog about my language-learning process in light of being able to try out their new solution, Rosetta Stone TOTALe. So, here I am.

Third Time’s a Charm - Read More…

Learning German – Round 2

Learning German – Round 2

I arrived in Berlin, terrified of sounding like a toddler and a moron while trying to speak German. So, I just didn’t — I spoke English. After a while in Berlin, I signed up for another language course, again starting at the beginning. This time it was serious: three hours a day, five days a week, for four months.

Learning German – Round 2 - Read More…

Failing with Language Classes

Failing with Language Classes

I have been struggling with learning German for years in spite of lots of classes both in Washington, DC, as well as in Berlin, Germany, a city I moved to over Halloween 2007 through Christmas 2008. While I know a lot about the German language I still don’t feel comfortable as a German speaker.

Failing with Language Classes - Read More…

Marketing Online and Around the World

Marketing Online and Around the World

Alumni Chris Abraham and Mark Harrison, who met on GW’s crew team, run a Washington, D.C.-based digital PR company that has a global reach.

Marketing Online and Around the World - Read More…

Officially Almost Tourist Season in Berlin

When the tour boats rife with rooftop tourists on white plastic chairs glide along the Spree, when the pale-flanked Europeans in tank tops quaff beer on makeshift bar beaches, when the sky is blue and not low clouds of steel gray, when the Fernsehturm glints and glimmers in a bright spiritual cross, then it is surely approaching tourist season in Berlin, Germany.

Officially Almost Tourist Season in Berlin - Read More…

Church and State in Berlin

I fancy this photo of the Fernsehturm in juxtaposition to this well-patinaed church tower with the background of the clear blue Berlin sky.

Church and State in Berlin - Read More…

Concrete Alexanderplatz is like a Reptile Solarium for Berliners

On a Sunday in Berlin, even where there are loads of proper green parks, Biergartens and Tiergarten in this green city, Berliners cannot help themselves. If they’re walking about, looking around, and the sky clears, they’re transfixed. Even in concrete-laden urban jungle Alexanderplatz. They fall to their flanks onto the pavement, tilt their heads up, maybe don their shades, and just expose their alabaster shins and forearms to the sun. If you’ll notice, the youngins use the teps and the proper adults are allowed to enjoy the tons of concrete and tagged public benches.

Concrete Alexanderplatz is like a Reptile Solarium for Berliners - Read More…

Map of the Berlin U-Bahn and S-Bahn

A convenient map of Berlin's famous Berlin U-Bahn and Berlin S-Bahn

Map of the Berlin U-Bahn and S-Bahn - Read More…

Guten Morgen Berlin!

When you're in Berlin, Germany, to learn German from the famous Goethe-Institut in Germany's capital, life is good. Blue skies!

Guten Morgen Berlin! - Read More…

Off to School with my Schoolbag Over My Shoulder

My daily life in Berlin was pretty great when I was there in 2010 to attend a full course at the Goethe-Institut in Berlin, Germany--here's what it looked like for me.

Off to School with my Schoolbag Over My Shoulder - Read More…

Alexanderplatz is a Gorgeous Space

I must say that this austere public space, historic Alexanderplatz, is very beautiful, graphic, powerful, and I love to just walk around here in the early morning or evening. There are always tons of people around — tourists, locals, workers, business people, and young ne’er do wells all. And it doesn’t hurt to have a super-beautiful day with a beautiful sky as well.

Alexanderplatz is a Gorgeous Space - Read More…

Fernsehturm Berlin und Neptun

The vicinity of Alexanderplatz is one of the most photogenic of all of the districts of Berlin, including the iconic Berlin TV tower, known as the Fernsehturm Berlin.

Fernsehturm Berlin und Neptun - Read More…

This morning in Berlin in Moabit near Bellevue on the Spree

I arrived in Berlin, Travis picked me up at Tegel, and then we tried to get into my apartment here to no avail. All of our elaborate”where’s my key” backup systems broke down so I have been working a little, taking a serious nap, and waiting until I hear from the upstairs neighbor.

This morning in Berlin in Moabit near Bellevue on the Spree - Read More…

Has Second Life Cut Its Mullet?

Has Second Life Cut Its Mullet?

Two Years Later, I Venture Back Into the World We All Forgot

Has Second Life Cut Its Mullet? - Read More…

Twitter is What Second Life Wasn't: Light, Cheap and Open—and That's Why It'll Outlive the Hype Cycle

Twitter is What Second Life Wasn't: Light, Cheap and Open—and That's Why It'll Outlive the Hype Cycle

I run into many skeptics who believe that Twitter is rife with the sort of hype associated with the ascent and crash of Second Life. This is not true. Twitter is suffused with hype, for sure, but it is a much different and more sustainable hype than Second Life. Here's why: Twitter is light, cheap, open and permanent, whereas Second Life is heavy, expensive, closed and ephemeral. Twitter does things right where Second Life failed.

Twitter is What Second Life Wasn't: Light, Cheap and Open—and That's Why It'll Outlive the Hype Cycle - Read More…

Twitter is what Second Life wasn't: light, cheap and open and that's why it'll outlive the hype cycle

Twitter is what Second Life wasn't: light, cheap and open and that's why it'll outlive the hype cycle

I run into many skeptics who believe that Twitter is rife with the sort of hype associated with the ascent and crash of Second Life. This is not true. Twitter is suffused with hype, for sure, but it is a much different and more sustainable hype than Second Life.

Twitter is what Second Life wasn't: light, cheap and open and that's why it'll outlive the hype cycle - Read More…

Bratislava, a city to watch

Bratislava, a city to watch

Residents of the Slovakian capital coming to grips with credit and many eye-level ads. Blogger Chris Abraham chronicles his visit to the Slovakian capital, a cash-friendly place where residents are coming to grips with an influx of credit.

Bratislava, a city to watch - Read More…

The Freezer Might Have Unfogged My Seiko 6309-7040 Diver

The Freezer Might Have Unfogged My Seiko 6309-7040 Diver

If you have a problem with your dive watch or any other watch and there’s water in the watch and you’re getting all fogged up, give the freezer a try.

The Freezer Might Have Unfogged My Seiko 6309-7040 Diver - Read More…

Mein Fahrrad Was Stolen Last Night

Mein Fahrrad Was Stolen Last Night

I received an email from my business partner, Mark Harrison, at 0500 this morning that I saw when I woke up this morning: ":-( All three bikes got stolen last night. Fuck."

Mein Fahrrad Was Stolen Last Night - Read More…

So, Where Do You Live in Berlin, Chris?

I don’t know how many people have actually been to Berlin — and with my friends, I am sure most of them; however, everyone always asks where I live. I guess you can say I live in Moabit, Berlin, or Tiergarten. Heck, I think it is important to just show you… you’ll get a much better idea.

So, Where Do You Live in Berlin, Chris? - Read More…

Berliner Fernsehturm and Galeria Kaufhof

I was hanging out on Alexanderplatz and caught this lovely view of two of the most famous structures in the former East Berlin, the Berliner Fernsehturm and Galeria Kaufhof. What a lovely evening.

Berliner Fernsehturm and Galeria Kaufhof - Read More…

Partying on Alexander Platz

I escaped the mad and mad-making (and shame-making) cleaning of my apartment to Alexanderplatz, which is famous in Berlin. On a Saturday evening, it is also popular as a place to listen to live music, in the background, as well as drink some beer, laugh your ass off, take some pictures, and enjoy the relatively warm weather.

Partying on Alexander Platz - Read More…

Chris Abraham as Quoted in The Atlantic

Chris Abraham as Quoted in The Atlantic

"Chris believes that women are far too picky: everyone knows, he says, that a single middle-aged man still has appealing prospects; a single middle-aged woman likely doesn’t. And he’s right. Single women are painfully aware of this. I hear far more women than men talk about getting married as a goal to be met by a certain deadline."

Chris Abraham as Quoted in The Atlantic - Read More…

Good Morning Berlin Hauptbahnhof

I took a walk to grab some breakfast and detoured through a local part commemorating a prison while munching a butter croissant. Well, isn’t this a pretty morning photo of the modern Berlin Hauptbahnhof. It is really quite an impressive structure.

Good Morning Berlin Hauptbahnhof - Read More…

Lunch of Pasta with Frank

Lunch of Pasta with Frank

It is wonderful to live in the civilized world of Berlin.

Lunch of Pasta with Frank - Read More…

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