English-Speaking Clubs/Activities
You can get most major international daily papers from the Ostbahnhof and Hauptbahnhof train stations, in addition quite a few smaller newsagents supply limited international papers. However, international newspapers are usually only available from lunchtime. It is possible to purchase the "European Edition" of Financial Times and/or The Independent which has a special European edition printed daily and available first-thing in the morning,
An excellent source of information on keeping up to date with politics and news in Germany is with the newspaper International Herald Tribune which has a daily supplement of English-translations from Frankfurter Allgemeine. The IHT can be ordered and delivered to your door first-thing every day.
The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung is one of Germany's leading daily newspapers and among the most respected newspapers world-wide. With a circulation of more than 400,000, the F.A.Z. offers readers in 148 countries in-depth reporting, analysis and commentary on politics, business and finance, sports, culture and other topics engaging the interests of its readers.
The F.A.Z. English Edition is a daily best-of selection from the pages of the F.A.Z., translated and edited specifically with an international, English-speaking readership in mind. It is available as a daily supplement to the International Herald Tribune in Germany, Austria and Luxembourg (for subscription:
subs@iht.com and on the Internet.
An international website with in-depth details on living and working in various European cities, has an excellent sections on news, politics and events in Germany:
http:/www.expatica.com
There are numerous internet websites to purchase books online for delivery to Germany (for example
http://www.amazon.com). There are bookstores here which stock a reasonable store of English-language books, larger chain bookstores like Hugendubel, some smaller bookstores a round the city will provide more choice; If you are looking for
English books, contact
Anglia English Bookshop; they offer the largest selection of paperbacks, children's books and best sellers. Located 50 yards from the U-Bahn
Universität at
Schellingstraße 3. The phone number is +49-(0)-89-283642.
The largest library in Munich city is in the Gasteig (Rosenheimer Strasse, Rosenheimer S-Bahn), local districts also have their own library service which will stock English-language books for rental. English-language vidoes may be stocked for rental also.
German cinema houses show all the latest international films but these are mostly dubbed into German. There a few English-language/original version cinema houses as listed below.
Cinema, Nymphenburger Str. 31, 80335 München, Phone: 089 - 55 52 55 (U-Bahn Stiglmaierplatz)
http://www.cinema-muenchen.com. Sneak preview Friday nights, double and triple features on Saturday nights in Munich's largest English-speaking movie theater.
Museum-Lichtspiele, Lilienstr 2, Phone: 48 24 03 (U-Bahn Rosenheimer Platz or Isartor), original version films shown, with 4 screens, each cinema room is quite small but comfortable seating (English crisps on sale also!).
http://www.museum-lichtspiele.de
Filmmuseum, in Muenchner Stadtmuseum, St Jakobs-Platz 1, Phone 23324150 (U/S-Bahn Marianplatz or Sendling Tor).
http://www.stadtmuseum-online.de/abo This specialist cinema shows total classic films, all broadcast in the original version. There are a lot of very old films, even silent films in which a pianist plays to accompany the films! Please note the broadcasting versions indicated below if you wish to find an English-language (or silent!) film.
IMAX Cinema, Museumsinsel 1 80538 München, Phone: 089 - 21 12 50 (U-Bahn Rosenheimer Platz or Isartor),
www.fdt.de/home. Isartor, a five-story high screen with amazing showings of films in 3-D effect with advanced sound systems.
Further cinemas showing English-language versions can be found by looking through daily schedules of cinema shows in the area, where the language version is indicated, see below on Television.
Most households provide a cable-television reception giving approximately 30 different broadcasts. Naturally, most of these programmes are in German, however there are a few English-language stations (CNN/CNBC/SKY NEWS AND MTV). If you have a stereo television where you can select a second sound version, you can take advantage of the programmes broadcast with an original version/dual language. On television programmes, the language coding will be indicated (also for Cinemas). See below on Broadcast Codes.
OF Original version (Originalfassung)
OmU Original version with German subtitles
OmeU Original version with English subtitles
OmfU Original version with French subtitles
dtF German language
eF English language
There are various services available which individuals can privately arrange for satellite television reception. If you plan to arrange for satellite connections, you should bear this in mind when moving into your new property; to ensure a satellite signal can be received from your balcony for example. It is important however, to ensure that your landlord will accept a satellite dish being erected. In all instances, please discuss this with the BAESG office, who will assist in requesting permission from your Landlord. Possible contacts for enquiries for satellite connections is:
If you have a DVD player, many German films may have different/original version language options. There are various video rental shops located around the City for both VHS video and DVD hire:-
- The British Video Club, Franziskanerstr 41, Ubahn Rosenheimerplatz (Tel 4470607)
- English Video Club, Theresienstr 73, Tel 5420542
- Video Connection, Nymphenburgerstr 79, Tel 181858
- Die Münchner Film Passage, Zweibrückenstrasse 8, Isartor (Tel 296217)
The Hash House Harriers, with nine 'chapters' in Germany, epitomises the cutting edge of current thinking, painlessly combining moderate (?) alcohol consumption with moderate exercise. SRs (Serious Runners) are accepted as long as they're repentant or reforming. The HHH is said to be a "drinking club with a running problem," whose gatherings are "part dash, part bash." Germans sum it up as place for "laufen und saufen." A degenerate bunch of British soldiers and civil servants is blamed for inventing this perverse pastime in 1938 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
A typical hash, usually on a weekday evening or a weekend afternoon, lasts from half an hour to two hours, and may cover from two to five miles. The hare, one of the members with a head start, leaves a diabolically confusing trail that the pack tries to follow. At the end of the trail is a gathering place where the club's second aim comes to the fore. Such offenses as finishing first, taking shortcuts or wearing T-shirts from road races are severely punished with a "down-down." The culprit must drink a mug of beer, and if he fails to do it in one gulp the remainder is poured over his head.
The clubs in Germany are very international and could be a way for newcomers to get into the social whirl. There is a "Chapter" located in Munich. For details on contacts check their European website at
http://www.globec.com.au/~mtbilbro/freurhhh.html or contact Tel +89 12 00 7991.
Please see "Bars" specific for recommendations of bars, clubs and nightclubs
