Official Chris Abraham Blog
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Map of the Berlin U-Bahn and S-Bahn
A convenient map of Berlin's famous Berlin U-Bahn and Berlin S-Bahn
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
In 'Poor but Sexy' Berlin, Brands Need to Understand Casual
To Market Successfully, You Need to Know the College-Kid Mentality
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.
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."
Jonny Goldstein Was Poor But Sexy in Berlin
I was lucky enough to be a part of Jonny’s German Par-Tay.
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.
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.
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.
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."
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.
My Neighbor Berlin Hauptbahnhof
If I walk across the street, I get to walk into this majestic building, the “new” Berlin Hauptbahnhof.
Washington, DC, Dinner Party on the Hill
I really enjoyed a dinner party I attended last night on the Hill. Thank you, Professor Meredith Hindley.
The Style in Berlin is No Fashion
I like to rib my German friends in Berlin because they’re always wearing these silly Chairman Mao hats — everyone wears OD green and black caps. If you want some good advice to help you look cool while visiting or living in Berlin, please just dress like a distressed communist revolutionary student protester… blue jeans, Adidas soccer shoes, hoodies, leather coats or bomber jackets — dark colors — but you can wear these until you’re deep in your 40s so buying an assortment of them is a worthwhile investment. I like to call it “Vanguard of the Proletariat Fashion.”
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