German World Magazine / Winter 2015

GW

GERMAN WORLD

BILINGUAL MAGAZINE

In Memoriam

The World Mourns Helmut Schmidt

Travel

Discover Switzerland’s Largest Ski Region

Franka Potente My Life in L.A. Mein ganz normales Leben in L.A. WINTER 2015 / 2016

$3.50 / ISSUE | WINTER $12.952015 / YEARwww.german-world.com (USA) | ISBN 1558-7568 1

YOUR SOURCE OF GERMAN-AMERICAN NEWS IN THE US

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE

Liebe Leser, auch dieses Jahr neigt sich schon wieder zu Ende und die meisten von uns sind in leichtem bis schwerem Feiertagsstress.

Man wünscht einander zwar besinnliche Weihnacht, doch hier in Amerika ist das eher ein realitätsferner Wunsch. Ich kenne kaum jemanden, der nicht aus beruflichen oder privaten Gründen gerade jetzt sehr unter Anspannung steht und von Termin zu Termin hetzt.

Es gilt, Prioritäten zu setzen, damit man nicht im Strudel der Geschäftigkeit vergisst, worum es eigentlich bei Weihnachten geht: Zeit mit Familie und Freunden zu verbringen und einander zu zeigen, wie sehr man einander liebt und schätzt. Das kann in Form eines Geschenkes sein, das kann aber einfach auch Zeit sein, die man jemandem schenkt. So sieht es jedenfalls unsere Titeldame Franka Potente. In einem Interview nannte sie einmal „Zeit” das kostbarste Geschenk, das man einem Mensch geben kann. Und auch sie muss, seit sie Mutter von zwei Kindern ist und ein Familienleben in L.A. hat, Prioritäten setzen. Wie sie das macht und wie sie nicht nur als Schauspielerin in Amerika und in Europa viel Erfolg hat, sondern auch noch eine viel beachtete Buchautorin wurde, lesen Sie in unserer Titelgeschichte.

Wie immer hoffe ich, dass wir Sie informativ unterhalten und Sie uns auch 2016 die Treue halten.

Wir bedanken uns bei all unseren Lesern und Kunden für die Unterstützung in diesem Jahr und freuen uns auf ein neues Jahr mit Ihnen!

Alles Gute für 2016 wünscht Ihnen im Namen des German World Teams

Petra Schürmann Herausgeberin

Making Time for One Another Dear Readers, © Tshombe Sampson

Z eit haben für einander

With the year of 2015 coming to a close, most of us are engulfed in more or less stressful preparations for the holidays. We wish each other “a peaceful or restful Christmas,” but here in the U.S. the time leading up to Christmas is anything but restful. I personally do not know anybody who is not under extraordinary pressure right now due to tight deadlines rushing back and forth.

It is very important to set our priorities, so that we do not forget in the whirlwind of activities what the true meaning of Christmas is all about: To spend time with family and friends showing how much we love and cherish each other. This can be expressed in the form of presents or simply by making time for the people that are special to us. This is, at least, the opinion of our cover star Franka Potente, who once mentioned in an interview that making time is the most precious gift that we can give to each other.

And as a mother of two children with an active family life in Los Angeles, she knows about juggling different priorities. How she does it all – combining her family responsibilities with her successes in both America and Europe as an actress and as a respected book author in Germany – is the story our cover feature reveals.

As always, I hope that we inform you in an entertaining way, and that you remain our loyal reader.

We’d like to thank all our readers and customers for their support and patronage in 2015, and we are looking forward to sharing more GermanAmerican stories with you in the new year.

On behalf of all of us at German World I wish you all the best for 2016!

Petra Schürmann Publisher

WINTER 2015 www.german-world.com 3

ContENTS m

COVE R STORY 16-18 Franka Potente:

© Dollar Photo Club

My Life in L.A. | Mein Leben in L.A.

16

CU RRE NT S 8 - 10 11-12 14 -15

8

40

BU SINE SS

26 - 27 Real Estate: Insider Looks at the Markets in

New York and Los Angeles

One of the sublime ski runs in the Engadin. See page 40 for more.

CU LT U RE

R EG U L A R S

20 - 25 Germany in …California / …Florida / …Illinois / …New York / …Texas 46 - 49 German TV in the U.S.: DW-TV Programs for January & February

In Memoriam: Helmut Schmidt In Brief: News From Germany German Companies in the U.S.: Cautious Optimism for 2016

26

44 45

Spooky: Krampus Fever in Los Angeles A Trabi for the L.A. Berlin Sister City Committee

E NT E RTAINME NT 19

Entertainment With a German Touch by Katja Lau

GERMAN WORLD

Cover Photo: Actress Franka Potente arrives at the FX’s ‘The Bridge’ Season 2 Premiere at Pacific Design Center on July 7, 2014 in West Hollywood, California.

(Photo by Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage)

E DU CAT ION 32

28 - 31 Learning German in the U.S.: Gift Ideas,

Quiz & Ask the Expert

T RAVE L

40 - 42 Skiing in Switzerland: Discover Engadin St. Moritz 43 Travel News: Flying High with Air Berlin, Condor,

Lufthansa & SWISS

H OLIDAY SPE CIAL 45

PUBLISHER Petra Schürmann EDITORIAL Editorial Director & Editor in Chief Petra Schürmann Senior Editor /English Language Editor Jenny Peters TRANSLATIONS Ida Sophie Winter

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CONTRIBUTORS Alexander Hast, Katja Lau, Edeltrudis Matzak, Jan Rothe, Tshombe Sampson LAYOUT & DESIGN Art Director AMF Graphics | Anna-Maria Furlong amfgraphics@aol.com OFFICE MANAGEMENT & ADVERTISING Sandra Kashani / Hiltrud Altit sales@german-world.com Ph: 323.876.5843 / 310.801.0424 CONSULTANT AT LARGE Marianne Beland, Berlin

32 - 35 Festive Delights for the Holidays 36 - 39 Gift Ideas and Great Finds for Your Next Party

HOW TO REACH US Mailing Address German-World.com, Inc. PO Box 3541 | Los Angeles, CA 90078 Ph: 323.876.5843 office@german-world.com German-World.com Subscriber Services Phone Ph: 323.876.5843 subscriber@german-world.com GERMAN WORLD MAGAZINE is published quarterly by German-World.com, Inc. Subscription rate: $12.95/year Single copy: $3.50/issue

POSTMASTER Send address changes to German-World.com, Inc. PO Box 3541, Los Angeles, CA 90078.

Entire contents © 2002-2016 by German-World.com, Inc. unless otherwise noted on specific articles.

All rights reserved.

Printed in the USA by Southwest Offset Printing, Gardena, CA.

WINTER 2015 www.german-world.com 5

Editorial Staff m

ART DIRECTOR & GRAPHIC DESIGN

SENIOR editor Jenny Peters Jenny has covered the entertainment, lifestyle and travel worlds as a freelance journalist since 1989, with credits including Variety, USA Today Weekend, the Los Angeles Daily News, Scholastic, Cosmopolitan, Mademoiselle and many other domestic and international outlets. She was the Editor in Chief of both Brentwood and Scene magazines and is a voting member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association.

Anna-Maria Furlong Anna was born and raised in GarmischPartenkirchen, Germany, and studied architecture/graphic design in Munich.

After moving to the U.S. in 1988, she left her “prints” behind in Arizona, Washington, D.C., Nebraska and Missouri. Since 1998 she lives in the southwestern Texas desert. She specializes in culture communication and multi-language publications.

ENTERTAINMENT

translation

Katja Lau

Ida Sophie Winter

Katja began her journalism career in 1994 as a freelance reporter for various local radio and television stations; in 1997 she moved to Los Angeles. She currently produces TV shows and documentaries for the European market. She also produces live feeds from California for the German news station N24.

Sophie is majoring in Journalism, French and International Studies at the Missouri School of Journalism. She has contributed to Al-Fanar Media and NOW Lebanon as well as well as to German World Magazine. In addition, she works with the Moroccan-American High Atlas Foundation toward sustainable agriculture in Morocco.

Contributorsm

Tshombe Sampson, Esq., JD, MBA

Alexander Hast

Jan Rothe, Intern

Tshombe is a graduate of Dartmouth College where he earned a B.A. degree in Economics. He also holds an MBA with an emphasis in Finance and a Doctorate of Laws from Pepperdine University’s Graziadio School of Business and from Pepperdine’s School of Law. Tshombe has been active in the German community in L.A. for many years. He has a passion for photography, and his work has appeared in exhibits, other international magazines and calendars. The current GW issue features some of his photos taken at this year’s Burning Man festival in Nevada and at the film festival GERMAN CURRENTS in Hollywood.

Starting out as a journalist in 1982 in Germany, Alexander was trained in photography, editing and reporting for print, TV and radio.

He worked for SWF, Rhein-Zeitung, Stern, Spiegel, Südwest-film, Infosat and many others. He moved to Los Angeles in 1997 where he lives today with his family. Alexander is the cofounder of German-World.com Inc. and has his own company AHA Media, a website and eMarketing consulting business. He supports GW with eNewsletter production, translations and editing.

Jan, born in San Francisco and raised in Munich, finished school in 2014 and spent four months in America. He studied English at language schools in Boston and Los Angeles before he started his internship with German World. He contributed to the current German World issue as a writer and also kept the German World website www.german-world.com up to date. Back in Germany he is continuing his studies, focusing on North American history and literature. His passion is working as a radio journalist.

6 www.german-world.com WINTER 2015

WINTER 2015 www.german-world.com 7

NEWS FROM GERMANY |

Orbituary Helmut Schmidt

Zum Tod von Helmut Schmidt Deutschland verabschiedet sich von seinem früheren Bundeskanzler

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“Wir verneigen uns in tiefem Respekt vor einem großen Deutschen und Europäer.”

– Angela Merkel Helmut Schmidt with the omnipresent cigarette. Photo: dpa

F

ast zwei Wochen nach dem Tod des früheren deutschen Bundeskanzlers Helmut Schmidt fand das Staatsbegräbnis am 23. November in der Hamburger Hauptkirche Sankt Michaelis im Beisein von 1.800 geladenen Gästen statt. Tausende erwiesen ihren Respekt bei der nachfolgenden Prozession, die den Sarg durch Schmidts Heimatstadt Hamburg nach Ohlsdorf begleitete, wo Schmidts Leichnam später verbrandt und in der Familiengruft in einer privaten Zeremonie beigesetzt wurde. Helmut Schmidt war von 1974 bis 1982 Bundeskanzler gewesen, und wird als einer der bedeutendsten Staatsmänner Europas in die Geschichte eingehen.

Eine Reihe internationaler Prominente waren unter den Trauergästen, u.a. Schmidts langjähriger guter Freund, der frühere französische Staatspräsident Valery Giscard d’Estaing, sowie der der frühere US-Außenminister Henry Kssinger, Italiens frühere Präsident Giorgio Napolitano, und NATO Generalsekretär Jens Stoltenberg. „Der Tod Helmut Schmidts ist eine herbe Zäsur,” Bundeskanzlerin Merkel in ihrer Ansprache. Sie würdigte ihren verstorbenen Amtsvorgänger als eine partei- und generationsübergreifende „Instanz”.

Hamburgs Erster Bürgermeister Olaf Scholz würdigte den verstorbenen Altbundeskanzler Helmut Schmidt als Staatsmann und „öffentlichen Intellektuellen”. „Wir haben einen Giganten verloren”, sagte Scholz.

Viele Deutsche verbinden mit Helmut Schmidt vor allem die Erinnerung an den Mann, der im Herbst 1977 dem RAF-Terrorismus entschlossen die Stirn bot. Dieser hatte mit der Entführung des Arbeitgeberpräsidenten Hanns-Martin Schleyer und der Lufthansa-Maschine “Landshut” in die somalische Hauptstadt Mogadischu seinen Höhepunkt erreicht. Ziel beider Terrorakte war die Freipressung von RAF-Terroristen aus deutschen Gefängnissen aber Helmut Schmidt blieb hart. Es sei ihm darum gegangen, „die Fähigkeit des Staates zu beweisen, seine Bürger gegen Gefahren zu schützen”, so begründete er später seine konsequente Haltung.

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Helmut Schmidt with his beloved wife Loki who died in 2010. Photo: dpa

In Memoriam: Helmut Schmidt Germany says its last farewell to the former Chancellor

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“Helmut Schmidt’s death was a bitter event for us all.”

– Angela Merkel

A

lmost two weeks after the passing of former German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt, a state funeral with a ceremony in Hamburg’s St. Michael’s church and 1,800 invited guests took place in his home city of Hamburg. Thousands paid their respects during a later funeral procession on November 23, 2015. Helmut Schmidt was Chancellor from 1974 to 1982, and will be remembered as one of Europe’s most distinguished statesmen.

A number of international guests, including Schmidt’s longtime friend, former French President Valery Giscard d’Estaing, former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, along with Italy’s former president, Giorgio Napolitano, and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, also paid their last respects.

Hamburg’s mayor Olaf Scholz (SPD) described the late former chancellor as the city’s greatest son. “We have lost a giant,” Scholz said, adding that it was barely comprehensible that “future social and political debates must be held without him.”

Orbituary Helmut Schmidt

| NEWS FROM GERMANY

Chancellor Angela Merkel paying respect to her predecessor.

The state funeral on November 23, 2015 at St. Michel’s Church in Hamburg.

Schmidt ließ in einer äußerst riskanten Aktion die Schmidt with former U.S. President Ronald Reagan.

Lufthansa-Maschine von einem Spezialkommando des Bundesgrenzschutzes befreien. Wären dabei Geiseln ums Leben gekommen, so verkündete Schmidt später, wäre er vom Amt des Bundeskanzlers sofort zurückgetreten. Es war der Höhepunkt seiner politischen Karriere.

Immer wieder äußerte sich Schmidt kritisch zur Entwicklung der Europäischen Union, zu einer multikulturellen Gesellschaft in Deutschland und dem Afghanistan-Einsatz der Bundeswehr. Der Sozialdemokrat erhielt sich dabei aber immer ein ungebrochen hohes Ansehen in der Bevölkerung.

Im Jahre 2011, nach zwölf Jahren Abwesenheit von der politischen Bühne, hielt er beim SPD-Parteitag in Berlin eine viel beachtete Rede. Allen Fremdheitsgefühlen seiner Partei gegenüber zum Trotz blieb Helmut Schmidt bis zu seinem Tod ein engagierter Sozialdemokrat.

Beileidsbezeugungen aus aller Welt erreichten das Bundeskanzleramt nach dem Tod von Helmut Schmidt– auch aus der Welt der Musik. Selbst als Bundeskanzler nahm Schmidt sich Zeit für tägliches Klavierspielen – und er machte auch zwei sehr viele beachtete Tonaufnahmen.

Helmut Schmidt sah in der Musik so etwas wie ein Lebenselixier. „Johann Sebastian Bach hat die voll zutreffende Bemerkung gemacht,” erzählte der Altkanzler einmal, „Musik diene der Rekreation des Gemütes. Für mich persönlich war das auch immer so.”

1981 erhielt der Bundeskanzler einen Anruf aus London vom befreundeten norddeutschen Berufsmusiker Justus Frantz.

Zusammen mit einem weiteren Pianisten, Christoph Eschenbach, wollte er Mozarts Konzert für drei Klaviere und Orchester aufnehmen. Ob er die dritte Partie übernehmen könne? Schmidt sagte zu. Das Ergebnis ist ein respektables Tondokument.

In einem NDR-Interview zum Tod des Altbundeskanzlers beschreibt Justus Frantz den früheren Schmidt als „höchst begabt” und erinnert sich daran, dass auf seinem Flügel zu Hause die Bilder zweier Komponisten standen: Bach und Gershwin.

Schmidt. musikalischen Vorlieben gingen aber auch über die Klassik hinaus: Er hatte ein Faible für Jazz, Swing und Rock. Zu seinen Favoriten gehörten Dave Brubeck und die Beatles. Als Verteidigungsminister in der Regierung von Willy Brandt rief Schmidt

A large crowd lined the streets on Monday as the funeral cortege, accompanied by a police escort, made its way to the cemetery in the district of Ohlsdorf, where Schmidt’s body was later cremated and Former U.S. Secretary Henry buried in the family tomb in a private Kissinger at the state funeral. ceremony.

Helmut Schmidt was a politician of principles, which he would defend against his own Social Democratic party which he joined in 1946 if need be.

For many Germans, Helmut Schmidt earned respect first and foremost with his handling of the infamous ‘German Autumn’ in late 1977, when West Germany was terrorized by the left-wing urban guerrillas of the Red Army Faction (RAF). The German Autumn reached its high point when the RAF kidnapped industrialist Hanns Martin Schleyer and hijacked the Lufthansa airplane Landshut with the help of the allied Palestinian group PFLP, landing in Mogadishu, Somalia. Their aim was to force the release of RAF terrorists from German jails. But Helmut Schmidt dug in his heels, refusing to meet the kidnappers’ demands. He later explained that his goal was to demonstrate “the state’s ability to protect the public against threats.” In a highly fraught mission, Schmidt had the West German counterterrorism group GSG 9 storm the Landshut airplane. All passengers were freed. Had any hostages died, it later emerged, Schmidt would have most certainly resigned as chancellor. As it was, the events marked the high point of his political career.

Schmidt remained consistently critical of developments in the EU, the feasibility of a multicultural Germany and the Bundeswehr’s mission in Afghanistan, but continued nonetheless to enjoy the respect of the German public.

In 2011, after a 12-year absence from his party, the SPD, he gave what was hailed as a landmark speech at an SPD convention in Berlin. He might have harbored mixed feelings about his party throughout the decades, but he remained a staunch Social Democrat till the end.

Condolences on his death have been pouring in worldwide, also from the music world. Even as Chancellor, Schmidt took time for daily piano practice - and he participated in two respectable recordings.

m

All photos: Bundesbildstelle.

Schmidt being sworn in in 1974.

WINTER 2015 www.german-world.com 9

NEWS FROM GERMANY |

Orbituary Helmut Schmidt

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“Let us insure that music is made and sung in our homes and schools, so that those who come after us can learn to find joy and pleasure in it.”

- Helmut Schmidt

die Bundeswehr-Big Band ins Leben, und später, als Regierungschef, unterhielt er nähere Bekanntschaften zu den Dirigenten Herbert von Karajan, Kurt Masur und Leonard Bernstein.

Auch als Autor von 30 Büchern betätigte sich der Altbundeskanzler und Mitherausgeber der Wochenzeitung Die Zeit. Als großer Intellektueller kannte er die Schriften von Literaten und Philosophen wie Immanuel Kant, Max Weber, Karl Popper und Mark Aurel.

So schrieb er auch einmal: „Lasst uns also dafür sorgen, dass in unseren Wohnungen und dass in unseren Schulen gesungen wird und Musik gemacht wird. Auf dass die Nachwachsenden lernen, daran Freude zu haben.” ¦ Quelle: Deutsche Welle. Der komplette Nachruf so viele weitere Dossiers über das Leben und Wirken von Helmut Schmidt auf www.dw.com – Stichwort „Nachruf Helmut Schmidt”

Short Bio Helmut Schmidt

In 1981, Helmut Schmidt followed a call of musical director Justus Franzt and recorded a Mozart’s Triple Concerto with another pianist, Christoph Eschenbach in London.

It was a solid performance. In an interview with NDR (North German Broadcasting) after the death of the onetime statesman, Justus Franz described Schmidt as “highly gifted” and recalled that portraits of two composers, Bach und Gershwin, adorned his grand piano at home.

Schmidt’s musical interests weren’t limited to classical. He adored jazz, swing and rock ‘n’ roll; Dave Brubeck and the Beatles were among his favorites. As Defense Minister in the Brandt administration, Schmidt founded the Bundeswehr (Federal Army) Big Band. Later, in the chancellery, he maintained close contact with the conductors Herbert von Karajan, Kurt Masur, and Leonard Bernstein.

1953

Elected lawmaker of the Social Democratic Party in Germany

1961

Hamburg’s State Interior Minister

1969

Defense Minister, later Minister of Finance and of Economic Affairs

1974

Election as Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany

1982

Voted out as Chancellor

1983

Became co-publisher of Die Zeit

The author of 30 books, he was a co-publisher of the newsweekly “Die Zeit” after leaving office. His lively mind also reached out to the thoughts of men of letters such as Immanuel Kant, Max Weber, Karl Popper, and Mark Aurel. Then there is this passionate appeal from Schmidt’s pen: “It’s all about maintaining and continually creating living music culture anew. Let us insure that music is made and sung in our homes and schools, so that those who come after us can learn to find joy and pleasure in it.”

1987

Stepped down as lawmaker

¦

2015

Died at the age of 96

1918

Born in Hamburg, Germany

1939 – 1945 Served as a soldier in WWII

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“From Johann Sebastian Bach comes the apt statement that music is for the recreation of the soul. And that’s how it’s always been with me.”

Source: Deutsche Welle. For a full obituary and many other articles about Helmut Schmidt and his political career, visit www.dw.com -> keyword “Helmut Schmdit – Germany’s Elder Statesman”

News From Germany

| IN BRIEF

n Angela Merkel Named Time’s Person of the Year 2015

T

he news magazine has named German Chancellor Merkel its Person of the Year for 2015. She is the third post-war Chancellor to be named, after Konrad Adenauer (1953) and Willy Brandt (1970).

Angela Merkel is the most powerful woman in the world, the leader of the country that drives the European economy, and may help determine the fate of the greatest refugee crisis since World War II. “Merkel had already emerged as the indispensable player in managing Europe’s serial debt crises; she also led the West’s response to Vladimir Putin’s creeping theft of Ukraine,” TIME editor Nancy Gibbs said in a statement. Europe’s most powerful leader, who is allegedly afraid of dogs, is a refugee from a time and place where her power would have been unimaginable, TIME writes. In the GDR, where Angela Merkel grew up, the Iron Curtain Time used a painting by found literal expression in the form of the Berlin Wall.

Northern Ireland-based artist “A good compromise “For asking more of her country than most politicians would dare, for standing Colin Davidson as its cover. firm against tyranny as well as expedience and for providing steadfast moral is one where leadership in a world where it is in short supply, Angela Merkel is TIME’s Person of the Year, “ Gibbs says everybody makes further. a contribution. “ AFP journalists have also chosen Angela Merkel as the most influential figure of 2015 after the German - Angela Merkel chancellor stamped her mark on the European migrant and Greek financial crises. ¦

n Suspended FIFA chief Blatter

faces ethics commission

(AP) In December 2015, suspended FIFA President Sepp Blatter has appeared before the soccer body’s ethics commission to answer corruption charges. Switzerland has also frozen millions in accounts suspected to be linked to bribes.

The 79-year-old is under criminal investigation in Switzerland over questionable payments worth 1.8 million euros ($2 million) made to Platini in 2011.

Separately, FIFA is also under investigation by U.S. officials for corruption.

Swiss authorities have agreed to a request from Washington to freeze a “high double-digit million amount” deposited in accounts in Switzerland suspected to be proceeds of a pervasive bribery culture.

World soccer’s governing body is suffering its worst corruption scandal in its history. U.S. Prosecutors have charged 39 individuals and two companies over suspected bribes of more than $200 million paid for football marketing and broadcasting rights deals. The suspended FIFA chief is expected to plead innocent before a panel of four judges after entering the governing body’s headquarters for the first time since October.

Blatter faces a lifetime ban from soccer if found guilty of bribery connected to the $2 million payment FIFA made to Platini. Blatter did, however, get an unlikely endorsement on Thursday from Russian President Vladimir Putin. He said Blatter had made important contributions to soccer and “deserves the Nobel Peace Prize.” ¦ - jar/sms (AP, Reuters, AFP)

n Syrian Refugee Becomes

an Internet Hit

(DW) It’s a story that has moved the Internet: A Syrian refugee by the name of Alexander Assali cooks meals every Saturday and distributes them to Berlin’s homeless. His small act of charity has brought him worldwide attention after a Facebook post by Tabea Büttner (pictured below, right).

Tabea told Deutsche Welle (DW) that Alex has been dishing out the Syrian meals for three months now. Tabea and Alex know each other through a sort of shared-living space called “Refugio-Haus” in Berlin, where refugees live together with Germans in a communal apartment environment.

Every Saturday Alex goes out on the street and distributes food to the homeless, even though he doesn’t have much, Tabea writes in her Facebook post. “I never met anyone like him who lost everything and still gives everything,” she told DW. Alex came to Germany a few years ago after fleeing Syria. The IT engineer’s path to this country, however, was continually interrupted due his need to make money.

Alex’s Saturday handouts are a means of giving back to Germany.

He cooks the food himself, usually Syrian cuisine. That her photograph would ultimately result in this much media hype is something neither Alex nor Tabea could have expected.

She also hopes that the image will change how others perceive refugees - particularly after the terror attacks in Paris resulted in many negative reactions toward Syrian refugees, given that one of the attackers reportedly entered the EU as a Syrian refugee. ¦ WINTER 2015 www.german-world.com 11

IN BRIEF |

News From Germany

n ENSURING THE SUCCESS OF INTEGRATION DAAD’s Measures for Refugees In view of the growing number of refugees entering Germany, DAAD organized a conference with university representatives in Berlin at the end of September 2015 to determine current needs and necessary measures. DAAD has already implemented several measures which support refugees, for example last year’s “Leadership for Syria” scholarship program. They, along with the universities, receive ongoing support and consultation from the DAAD.

T

he latest set of measures for refugees builds on feedback from DAAD and complements its funding instruments. For instance, the DAAD Info Centre in Bonn, which fields questions and offers advice to interested parties, will be entrusted with further responsibilities. “I’m pleased that the DAAD is regarded as an expert organization,” said DAAD President Professor Margret Wintermantel at the press conference, “if any organization has experience with integrating foreign students, then it’s the DAAD.” Germany’s Federal Minister of Education, Professor Johanna Wanka, underscored the value of the work of the DAAD: “If integration is to truly succeed, then it shall happen largely through education.” She emphasized that the “best possibility to implement the measures is to rely on the longstanding cooperation with the DAAD.”

PATHS TO STUDYING AT A GERMAN UNIVERSITY

A

refugee is eligible to study at a German university, especially when the refugee status is recognized or when the application for asylum is still being processed and the individual only holds the “tolerate” status. Many universities offer special programs for refugees, such as trial courses.

The procedures for applying and gaining admission to a German degree program are the same for a refugee as for other international univer- • General information for asylum seekers: sity applicants. The individual www.bamf.de must have a university en- • Information for foreigners living in Germany: trance qualification and suf- www.goethe.de ficient language skills. The • Information about the recognition of foreign professional language of instruction at qualifications: www.anerkennung-in-deutschland.de German universities is usu- • More information on ally German. However, there www.study-in.de or www.daad.org are many courses and degree programs offered in English, particularly master’s degree programs.

If the secondary school-leaving certificate does not automatically qualify the person for admission to German university, that individual will have to take a test called the “Feststellungsprüfung” (qualification assessment examination). Students can prepare for this test by attending a foundation course in Germany. Foundation courses are programs at universities which offer subject-related courses in specific disciplines.

There are various ways to cover the expenses as a student in Germany. The best possibility is to apply for government funding called “BAföG”. Some universities pay for certain fees or waive them altogether. The good news is that German universities charge low or no tuition fees.

Source: German-American Exchange Service. www.daad.org

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WINTER 2015 www.german-world.com 13

BUSINESS

German-US Trade Relations

n GABO 2016: Gute Aussichten für

n GABO 2016: German Companies Expect

Fachkräftemangel bleibt größte Herausforderung.

Lack of skilled workers remains key challenge.

Von Jan Vater

deutsche Unternehmen in USA 2016

D

eutsche Unternehmen in den USA wollen weiterhin wachsen, einstellen und investieren. Dies war das Ergebnis des German American Business Outlook (GABO) 2016, eine jährliche Umfrage unter 1.900 US-Tochtergesellschaften deutscher Firmen, die den Wirtschaftsausblick deutscher Unternehmen in den USA, ihre Marktprognosen, sowie die Attraktivität der USA als Wirtschaftsstandort evaluiert. Die Umfrage wird von den Deutsch-Amerikanischen Handelskammern, dem Delegierten der Deutschen Wirtschaft, sowie Roland Berger Strategy Consultants herausgeben.

„Allein im letzten Jahr haben deutsche Firmen Investitionen in Höhe von 224 Milliarden US-Dollar in den USA vorgenommen....”

Laut GABO 2016, erwarten 97% der deutschen Unternehmen für 2016 wachsende Einkommen, während 75% planen, im kommenden Jahr Neueinstellungen vorzunehmen.

Während Firmen sich hinsichtlich des Wachstums der US-Wirtschaft moderat zuversichtlich zeigen, erwarten die Unterneh-men den Markt mit ihrem Unternehmenswachstum zu übertreffen. Basierend auf der starken Nachfrage nach Produkten und Dienstleistungen führen deutsche Unternehmen nicht nur neue Produktlinien ein und investieren in Forschung und Entwicklung; 41% mehr als noch im vorherigen Jahr planen ebenso ihre Produktionskapazitäten zu erhöhen um der anhaltenden Nachfrage nachkommen zu können.

Um ihre Wachstumspläne realisieren zu können, bleiben deutsche Firmen auf der Suche nach qualifizierten Arbeitskräften – und beäugen den Arbeitsmarkt in den US kritisch.

Martin Richenhagen, Vorsitzender der Deutsch-Amerikanischen Handelskammern USA sagt: „Deutsche Unternehmen in den 14 www.german-world.com WINTER 2015

to Continue to Outperform Market

By Jan Vater

G

erman companies in the US continue to grow, hire and invest. The German American Business Outlook (GABO) 2016, an annual survey highlighting the state of German companies in the United States, their outlook for future growth, and the attractiveness of the US as a business location, reports that 97% of German firms expect positive revenue growth, and 75% plan to expand their workforce in 2016. The survey was conducted among 1,900 US subsidiaries of German companies by the German American Chambers of Commerce, the Representative of German Industry & Trade, and Roland Berger Strategy Consultants.

While confident in a moderately growing US economy, German subsidiaries expect strong revenue growth to continue. Due to the strong demand for their products and services, German firms are not only focusing on introducing new product lines and investing in research and development. 41% more companies than in 2015 are also planning to expand their manufacturing capabilities to meet the sustained demand.

In order to keep up with their growth prospects, German companies continue to search for qualified employees – and look at the labor market in the US critically. Martin Richenhagen, Chairman of the German American Chambers of Commerce of the USA highlights: “With German firms ready to expand, skills remain a key topic for German-American businesses. While three-quarters of our respondents plan to hire, the labor market’s current skills gap remains a challenge for 69%. As a result, German companies see investments in education and better access to a skilled workforce as critical factors to make the US even more competitive.”

To facilitate a fast and sustainable development for skilled workers, the GACCs are supporting several vocational training initiatives in cooperation with companies, partner organizations, and

German-US Trade Relations

BUSINESS

“Last year alone, German companies invested $224 Billion in the US.”

USA wollen expandieren, und damit einhergehend bleibt die Arbeitsmarktlage ein zentrales Thema. Drei-Viertel der Befragten planen neue Arbeitsplätze zu schaffen, zugleich bleibt für 69% der Fachkräftemangel eine Herausforderung. Daher schätzen deutsche Unternehmen Investitionen in Ausbildung und Zugang zu Facharbeitern als wichtigste Faktoren bezüglich der Wettbewerbsfähigkeit der USA ein.” Um zeitnah und nachhaltig die benötigten Fachkräfte auszubilden, treibt die AHK USA zahlreiche Initiativen voran, welche die gemeinsame Einrichtung von Ausbildungsprogrammen mit Unternehmen, Partnerorganisationen und Hochschulen nach deutschem Vorbild vorsehen.

educational institutions throughout the United States.

Das Handelsabkommen TTIP, das Handelshemmnisse abbauen und den Marktzugang verbessern soll, bleibt nach wie vor für viele Unternehmen relevant. „Allein im letzten Jahr haben deutsche Firmen Investitionen in Höhe von 224 Milliarden USDollar in den USA vorgenommen. Der erfolgreiche Abschluss von TTIP sowie des aktuell verhandelten Transpazifischen Partnerschaftsabkommens (TPP) würden weiteres Wachstum fördern und Vorteile auf beiden Seiten des Atlantiks schaffen,” sagt Thomas Zielke, Delegierter der Deutschen Wirtschaft in den USA. ¦

The 2016 GABO also revealed that the topic of Industry 4.0 and the Industrial Internet of Things is receiving more attention. The main benefits German companies expect are the automation of production processes and enhanced external connectivity with customers and suppliers. Data security and the actual implementation of cyber-physical systems remain the top challenges, and companies of all sizes will need to address those issues to reap the rewards of smarter production. ¦

Weitere Information unter www.ahk-usa.com/gabo

More information on www.ahk-usa.com/gabo

TTIP, which would reduce tariffs and improve market access, remains important for many companies. “Last year alone, German companies invested $224 Billion in the US. They would not only benefit from TTIP, but also from a Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which will be voted on soon” says Dr. Thomas Zielke, Representative of German Industry and Trade.

WINTER 2015 www.german-world.com 15

Franka Potente

Franka Potente in July 2015 at the “The Bridge” press conference in Beverly Hills. Photo: gettyimages/Vera Anderson

FRANKA POTENTE

Photo: Courtesy FX

COVER

Franka Potente with her husband Derek Richardson.

Mein ganz normales Leben in L.A.

My Life in Los Angeles

Von / By Petra Schürmann

„F

ranka rennt nicht mehr” titelte STERN im August 2015 sehr passend, nachdem der Reporter die deutsche Schauspielerin und ihre Familie bei Dreharbeiten auf Island traf. Ihre Familie, das sind Ehemann und Schauspielkollege Derek Richardson sowie ihre beiden Töchter Polly (4) und Georgie (ca. 20 Monate). Kaum zu glauben, aber wahr: aus dem rothaarigen Punk, der als Lola in Tom Tykwers preisgekrönter Komödie „Lola rennt” durch Berlin sauste, ist eine Ehefrau und Mutter geworden, die lieber Serienrollen in L.A. annimmt, als für einen Hollywood Blockbuster wie „Bourne Identity” zu Dreharbeiten durch die Welt zu fliegen.

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“F

ranka Does Not Run Anymore” was the title of an article published by German magazine STERN in August 2015, after the reporter met the German actress and her family at a film location in Iceland. Potente’s family includes her husband and acting colleague Derek Richardson, as well as their daughters Polly (4) and Georgie (about 20 months). It is hard to believe that the red-haired punk girl who ran as Lola in Tom Tykwer’s award-winning 1998 comedy “Run Lola Run” through the streets of Berlin has become a wife and mother, one who prefers to accept roles in local film or TV productions in Los Angeles instead of flying around the world to star in more Hollywood blockbusters.

COVER

Franka Potente ... as an advocate for PETA. ... with Matt Damon in Bourne Identity ...as a blonde .... with Johnny Depp in “Blow” ... in her breakthrough role as “Lola” in “Run Lola Run”

S

eit Franka Potente als Lola 1998 ihren schauspielerischen Durchbruch hatte, wenig später in “Blow” (2001) an der Seite von Johnny Depp spielte und schließlich durch ihre Rolle als „Marie”, Matt Damons Freundin, in „Bourne Identity” (2002) international berühmt wurde, ist sie eine der erfolgreichsten deutschen Schauspielerinnen in der amerikanischen Filmindustrie geworden und hat zeitweise Millionenhonorare verdient. Fast unbemerkt vom deutschen Publikum hat sie sich in Hollywood etabliert, mit Rollen in den U.S.-Serien „Dr. House” und „American Horror Stories” und als „Eleanor Nacht” in der zweiten Staffel von U.S.-Erfolgsserie „The Bridge” – übrigens an der Seite von Diane Krüger, einer anderen deutschen Erfolgsgeschichte in Hollywood.

Bevor sie 2011 Mutter wurde, hat sie auch auch noch viele deutsche Filmangebote angenommen. Jetzt nur noch, sofern es mit dem Familienleben vereinbar ist. So wie die ARD-Produktion “Solveig Karlsdottir” mit Dreharbeiten auf Island. Der Film wird 2016 von der ARD gezeigt. Ehemann Derek spielte darin eine der männlichen Hauptrollen, die Kindern gingen für einige Monate in einen isländischen Kindergarten. „Für mich,” so Franka Potente im STERN Interview, „ist wichtig, dass ich in Los Angeles drehen kann. Dass ich meine Kids morgens sehen kann und sie nachmittags vom Kindergarten abhole.”

Ganz offen packt sie auch das Thema Figur, Idealgewicht, Diät an.

Nach eigener Aussage gönnt sie sich selten eine Pizza oder Spaghetti, da sie leicht zunimmt. Um für ein Fotoshooting besonders fit auszusehen, lässt sie eine Woche vorher auch jeglichen Alkohol und Zucker weg. Außerdem entwickelte sie mit ihrem Fitnesstrainer Karsten Schellenberg ein Programm, das jedermann leicht nachmachen kann, wie sie in ihrem 2009 erschienenen Buch „Kick Ass – Das alternative Workout” beschreibt.

Während der ersten Schwangerschaft schrieb sie dann ihren ersten Roman „Allmählich wird es Tag”, der im Mai 2015 auch als Taschenbuch im Piper Verlag herauskam. Schon 2010 hatte Piper eine Sammlung von zehn Kurzgeschichten von Franka Potente unter dem Titel „Zehn” herausgebracht. Sie alle spielen in Japan, wo Franka beruflich längere Zeit verbrachte und hinterher, fasziniert von Land, Menschen und Kultur, immer wieder hinfuhr. Ihr Held in „Allmählich wird es Tag” ist allerdings ein Amerikaner, Ende 40, der sich plötzlich in einer absoluten Lebenskrise befindet und alles verliert. Die Geschichte spielt in L.A. Sehr treffend beschreibt Franka Potente, die

S

ince Franka Potente had her breakthrough as an actress in “Lola” and later played opposite A-listers like Johnny Depp in “Blow” (2001) and as Matt Damon’s love interest “Marie” in “The Bourne Identity” (2002) and its sequels, she has quietly become one of the most successful German actresses in the American film industry, often earning millions per movie. Almost unnoticed by German audiences, Potente became an established working actress in Hollywood with roles in U.S. TV series like “House, M.D.,”“American Horror Story” and in the second season of FX’s award-winning crime drama “The Bridge” playing the bad-ass Eleanor Nacht and – according to the New York Post – adding a cutting edge to the drama. This was also the first time that Potente and Diane Kruger, another German success story in Hollywood, appeared together in an American production.

Before having her first child in 2011, Franka Potente accepted many offers from Germany. Today, she is only interested if the work is compatible with her family life. That includes the production of “Solveig Karlsdottir” for ARD, Germany’s first public channel, which was shot in Iceland. Potente’s husband Derek was cast in one of the male leading roles, so while the couple worked, their kids attended an Icelandic kindergarten. “For me,” explained Franka Potente in her interview with STERN, “It is important that I can work in L.A., that I can see my kids in the morning and pick them up from kindergarten in the afternoon.”

She demonstrates a similar down-to-earth approach with regards to staying in shape and dieting. According to Potente, she rarely indulges in pizza or pasta since she is prone to gain weight easily.

If she wants to look extra fit for a photo shoot, she does not consume any alcohol or sugar for one week prior to the specific date.

Together with her German fitness coach Karsten Schellenberg, she co-authored a book in 2009 with the title “Kick Ass – Das alternative Workout” (available in German only) that sums up the training methods that worked for her.

During her first pregnancy, Potente also wrote her first novel, “Allmählich wird es Tag” (“Slowly, A New Day Is Dawning”), which was released as paperback in May 2015 by Piper. Back in 2010, Piper also published her ten short stories in a volume called “Zehn Stories.”These all take place in Japan where Potente had spent some extended time for a film production. Fascinated by the country, the

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WINTER 2015 www.german-world.com 17

COVER

Photo: Courtesy FX

Photo: Courtesy ARD/Degeto

FRANKA POTENTE Left: Franka Potente with husband Derek and actress Diane Krueger at the after-party of the “The Bridge” premiere.

Right: Franka in the new German crime series “Solveig Karlsdottir”, shot in Iceland, which will be aired on ARD/Das Erste starting in Spring 2016.

selbst seit fünf Jahren fest in L.A. lebt, das tägliche Leben in der Millionenstadt während der letzten Rezession. Ihre Sprache ist eindringlich, die Sätze sind kurz. Nur langsam enthüllt sie dem Leser die Hintergründe der Krise, in die ihr Romanheld gerät. Wie sie auf das Thema gekommen sei, wird sie oft gefragt. „Ich hatte immer dieses Bild im Kopf eines übergroßen, stark aussehenden Mannes, der aber innerlich völlig fragil und zerbrechlich ist,” erzählt Franka in einem Interview auf piper.de. „Mich hat auch dieser Lebensabschnitt interessiert, in dem sich Tim (der Romanheld) befindet, und in dem ich mich jetzt auch langsam befinde. Und das ist der Abschnitt, von dem man, glaube ich, wenn man jünger ist, immer denkt: Wenn ich mal erwachsen bin, dann will ich dies und jenes haben. (…) Wenn man dann irgendwann soweit ist, die zwei Kinder hat, das Haus, dann betrachtet man sich eigentlich als angekommen und die Frage, die sich dann stellt, ist: Wo geht’s denn jetzt eigentlich hin? Denn man lebt ja noch eine Weile.”

Eine Rückkehr nach Deutschland kommt für sie nicht mehr in Frage, da ihr Mann Amerikaner ist und die Kinder in L.A. aufwachsen. Ob Los Angeles nun ihre Heimat sei? „Man richtet sich ein, “ so Potente.

Sie lebten sehr europäisch, da ihr Mann von der Ostküste stamme.

Heimweh hat sie nicht, weder nach ihrer westfälischen Heimatstadt Dülmen noch nach Berlin, wo sie viele Jahre lebte. „Meine Eltern und Freunde kommen oft zu Besuch,” erzählt sie.

Von einer eigenen Produktionsfirma mit 45 habe sie immer geträumt, so Potente. Jetzt möchte sie lieber als nächstes ein Drehbuch schreiben und Regie führen. Das Romanschreiben interessiert sie zur Zeit nicht. Schade, denn ihr erster Roman ist wirklich lesenswert.

Egal, was Franka Potente als nächstes tun wird, sie wird sicherlich nicht weg von Los Angeles dafür rennen. ¦

Books by Franka Potente (all titles in German only): Los Angeles – Berlin. Ein Jahr.

Co-Autor Max Urlacher. Herder Verlag. 2005.

Kick Ass – Das alternative Workout.

Co-Autor Karsten Schellenberg mit Illustrationen von Jim Rakete.

Mosaik im Goldmann Verlag. 2009.

Zehn Stories. Piper Verlag. 2012 Allmählich wird es Tag. Piper Verlag. 2014.

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people and their culture, she returned to Japan many times. The hero in her novel, though, is an American man in his late ‘40s who suddenly finds himself in the worst crisis of his life and loses everything. Potente takes the reader to L.A., where she has lived permanently for more than five years. Very poignantly, she describes the lifestyle in the metropolis during the last recession. The language of her novel is intense, sentences are kept short. Very slowly, she lets the reader in on the background of the main character’s crisis.

When asked how she came up with this plot, she said in an interview on piper.de: “I always had this picture in my head of a super tall, strong-looking man who, however, is very fragile and sensitive on the inside.” And she continued: “I was interested in a story during this particular period of life in which Tim [the hero in the novel] finds himself and which I have reached as well. When you are young, you have certain ideas of what you want to be or want to have once you are grown up. And when you have suddenly reached that point, you might want to consider yourself as having arrived. However, you will still live for quite a while. So, what comes next?”

For Franka Potente “next” certainly does not mean a return to her native Germany. Her husband is American and their kids are growing up in L.A. When asked if she feels at home in the City of Angels, she simply says, “You adjust.” According to her, they live a pretty European lifestyle, since her husband is from the East Coast. She is not homesick, neither for her native town of Duelmen in Westphalia nor for Berlin, where she lived for many years. “My parents and friends are visiting us frequently,” she says. She has always dreamt of having her own production company by the age of 45. However, she currently feels more inclined to write a script and to direct a movie. Writing another novel is not of any particular interest for her right now. And that’s truly a pity, because her first novel is a really noteworthy debut.

No matter what Franka Potente chooses to do next, one thing is certain – she’s not running far from Los Angeles as she fashions the next chapter in her already fascinating life. ¦

Interview with Franka Potente online on www.piper.de (in German only)

www.piper.de/buecher/allmaehlich-wird-es-tag-isbn-978-3-492-05494-2

Entertainment

NEWS

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS WITH A GERMAN TOUCH By Katja Lau

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Bruno Ganz shines with “Heidi”

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eidi, the orphaned girl from the Swiss Alps invented by Swiss book author Johanna Spyri, has already thrilled millions of children around the world. Now she’s back in cinemas, with Bruno Ganz playing her grandfather, the “Alm-Öhi.”

The movie, which was successfully released in Germany on December 10, is a hit with critics as well. Everyone is raving about newcomer Anuk Steffens, the 10 year old who is playing Heidi.

Bruno Ganz’s performance is celebrated as “heartwarming” and “authentic.”

American audiences have to be patient, though. There is no release date for “Heidi” set in the U.S. quite yet. ¦

Will “Labyrinth of Lies” find its way to the Oscars? n

Michael Fassbender is up for a Golden Globe Award!

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H

is incredible performance as Steve Jobs in “Jobs” has already earned Michael Fassbender shining reviews by film critics around the world. Now his portrayal of the late Apple founder was also recognized by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association with a nomination for Best Actor in a drama. His co-star Kate Winslet is also nominated for her performance. Maybe all the critical acclaim makes up for the fact that the film bombed at the box office and woll stir up some more audience interest for “Jobs.” ¦

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n August German Films announced that Giulio Ricciarelli’s debut feature “Labyrinth of Lies” will be Germany’s official Oscar entry for this year. A good choice it seems, the film was just short listed and is now one of only nine feature films competing for this year’s Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Only five will get nominated.

“Layrinth of Lies” is tells the true story of a young public prosecutor, Johann Radmann, who sets out in the 1950s to expose the full story behind the mass killings at Auschwitz. This led to the first Auschwitz trial in Frankfurt, in the face of great political and social opposition in West Germany. Alexander Fehling plays Radmann, for which he won the Bavarian Film Award for best actor.

Critics believe the gripping drama has a good chance to win the trophy. It’s biggest competitor is “Son of Saul” from Hungary which already won the Grand Prix in Cannes this year. Good luck! ¦

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Elke Sommer celebrates her 75th birthday!

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t is hard to believe when you look at her but Elke Sommer, one of the most successful German Hollywood “imports,” just turned 75! Elke Sommer was actually born as Elke Schletz in Berlin on November 5, 1940. Seven decades later she has quite a life to look back on. Besides her extremely successful on-screen career, she has also had success as a singer, director, producer and painter. For over twenty years, she is been happily married to the German hotel manager Wolf Walther. Elke is still busy and has numerous projects in the works but – as she said recently – one thing will never change: Her personal happiness plays the first fiddle in the symphony of her life. Happy Birthday Fräulein Wunder! ¦ WINTER 2015 www.german-world.com 19

GERMANY IN

California

Northern California January 14 – 20, 2016

Film Festival Berlin & Beyond Turns 20 Thanks to the initiative of former Goethe-Institut director Dr. Ingrid Eggers, the first German film festival on the West Coast was established. Since 1996, Berlin & Beyond has been a cultural gateway for the American public to experience the universal spirit and vision of filmmakers from this global region. Dotted with red carpet premieres, the festival welcomes top talents and films of the year from major hits to award winners to noteworthy discoveries of world cinema’s independent film scenes.

This year, the festival will take place at three locations: From January 14-17, 2016, at the iconic Castro Theatre in San Francisco and from January 18-20, 2016, at the Goethe-Institut San Francisco in Downtown. For the first time ever, the festival will continue in California’s Central Valley at the University of the Pacific’s Janet Leigh Theatre on January 31, 2016.

Don’t miss America’s leading annual showcase of contemporary film productions from Germany, Austria, Switzerland and beyond. This year’s festival will open with “Who Am I - No System Is Safe” (Who am I - Kein System ist sicher) by Baran bo Odar

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starring German heartthrob Thomas Schilling and the talented Hannah Herzsprung. Schilling is expected to be at the opening. The line up further includes the award-winning movie “Jack” by Edward Berger, and “We are young. We are strong.” by Burhan Qurbani.

For more information and updates visit www.berlinbeyond.com

German-language Church Services in San Francisco St. Matthew’s Church

with Pastor Kerstin Weidmann Dec 24, 4PM German Candlelight Christmas Service; 6PM Bilingual Candlelight Christmas Service Regular Schedule: First Sunday: Bilingual GermanEnglish service at 11AM All other Sundays: English service at 9:30AM and German service at AM Other events: The choirs Freundschaft Liederkranz, Golden Gate Men’s Choir and Pacific Saengerbund practice and perform at St. Matthews. KinderHaus San Francisco, a German preschool, meets on Fridays in two sessions from 8.30AM to 5PM Check www.stmatthews-sf.org for more information or call (415) 863-6371 Location: 3281 16th St, San Francisco, CA 94103

GERMANY IN

California

&

Nevada

Inspiring People Elke Miller and Fred Schumacher

This summer, two individuals from very different backgrounds and from opposite regions in Germany

By Petra Schuermann – Bavaria and North-Rhine Westphalia – received official acknowledgement for their dedication to promote German culture in the U.S. They are Elke Miller, the Munich native who founded the Goethe International Charter School (GICS) in L. A. and the trilingual preschool Kigala in Santa Monicia, and Ferdinand (Fred) Schumacher (from Düsseldorf), who helped a Bavarian beer brand succeed in the U.S. What unites them both is their inspiring can-do attitude, their energy and infectious dynamism.

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he Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, May 24, 2015, was an especially memorable day in Elke Miller’s life, as the founder of the first (and only) German-English immersion school in L.A. and the owner and director of the trilingual preschool Kigala was honored by the Federal Republic of Germany. More than 100 people gathered on that beautiful afternoon at Villa Aurora to celebrate as Miller was awarded Germany’s Cross of the Order of Merit, for the establishment of German education and support of German culture and community in Los Angeles. Looking back, Ms. Miller, who not only gathered a dynamic group of dedicated parents to found the GICS in 2004, but also chaired the board for 10 years, simply does not know how she managed to juggle the many challenges that came with this ambitious project throughout the years, while also raising two daughters and working a full-time job. She was moved to tears when Deputy Consul General Stefan Biedermann presented her with the Cross of the Order of Merit.

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of America, LLC, which became the franchisor for all of the Hofbräuhaus locations in the United States and Canada.

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“It was Fred Schumacher,” stated Stefan Gastager, “who built the very foundations for the success of the Hofbräu brand in the United States.”

– gw/ps

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1 Elke Miller with founding parents Renate Craft (l.) and Karin Shaw (3rd f.r.), her daughters and close friends. 2 Vice Consul Biedermann congratulates Elke Miller after the ceremony. 3 Elke Miller with her daughters Jessica (l.) and Stephanie (r.) 4 Fred Schumacher with the certificate from Hofbrau in Munich.

5 Fred Schumacher and Stefan Gastager (r.), CEO of Hofbrauhaus of America

One month later, it was a special moment for Fred Schumacher when he entered the Hofbräuhaus in Las Vegas, Nevada, on June 30, 2015, for it was the day of his official retirement from the Hofbräuhaus of America franchise that he founded in 2005. During the festive retirement dinner, Stefan Gastager, CEO of Hofbräuhaus of America, LLC, presented Schumacher with a special certificate from Hofbräu brewery in Munich, signed by CEO Dr. Michael Möller and Dr. Markus Söder, the Finance Minister of Bavaria, which acknowledges Fred Schumacher’s tireless work in bringing the Hofbräu brand to the United States. Schumacher first imported Hofbräu beer to the U.S. in 1997 and worked hard to grow the import market, which resulted in a well-organized and highly profitable division for Hofbräu beer in the U.S. In 2005, Schumacher founded Hofbräuhaus WINTER 2015 www.german-world.com 21

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GERMANY IN

Florida THE ARTS Discover Works of German Artist Hans Feyerabend Work samples of Hans Feyerabend were shown in cooperation with Gallery Junggeburth at the Spectrum Art Fair Miami from December 3 to December 6. The works “Wave” (Detail), “Railroad Bridge” and “Girl Turquoise” (Detail) were on display. In case you missed the art fair, you can visit the artist’s studio at

Diplomacy German Officers Visit Southern Command in Tampa On October 14, 2015, Honorary Consul Norma Henning welcomed a group of German Youth Officers during their visit to Florida. Discussions on current issues of American culture, life and politics were enhanced by an in-depth briefing on Tampa’s history with Cuba and recent developments in Cuban-American relations from the former and current Chairmen of the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, Jose Vivero and Ronald Cristaldi.

Consul General Juergen Borsch at European Union Center of Excellence FIU

Dr. Lukas Danner, Christine I. Caly-Sanchez, Rocio Pellerano, Consul General Juergen Borsch, Dr. Markus Thiel at the European Union Center of Excellence FIU.

On November 9, Consul General Juergen Borsch gave a speech in honor of 25 years of Germany’s Reunification at the European Union Center of Excellence FIU in front of a group of students and professors.

Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Day of German Unity at the Biltmore Hotel The German Consulate celebrated the 25th Anniversary of German Unity in the Grand Ballroom of the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables.

Iris Kröner, Deputy Consul General Michael Kröner, Iris Borsch, Consul General Juergen Borsch Consul General Juergen Borsch (© Germany.info/Miami) and Mrs. Borsch welcomed about 300 distinguished guests who enjoyed this lovely evening.

Studio Hans Feyerabend, 1942 SW 9th Street in Miami.

Visits by appointment only.

Call (305) 281 -6094 or visit www.hansfeyerabend.com for more information.

Event Tips American German Club of the Palm Beaches Presents: December 19 at 5PM: Annual Christmas Party Special Performance by “Heimatklänge” Tickets incl. Dinner: $35 | Reservations: (561) 294-2770

December 31 at 7PM: New Years Eve Celebration Music by Bob Houston Trio (8PM to 1 AM) Tickets (incl. Dinner, Midnight Champagne): $110/person.

Reservations: (561) 294-2770 Location: 5111 Lantana Road, Lake Worth, FL Information: contact@americangermanclub.org or call: (561) 966-7865 | www.americangermanclub.org

German-American Social Club (GASC) in Cape Coral Presents: Every Friday Night from 5.30PM to 7PM Live Music, German-style Dinner & Dancing.

Open to the public. $4 for non-members

December 18 at 5.30PM Christmas Concert at the GASC

Source: Consulate General of Germany in Miami; www.germany.info/miami

German Church Service in Florida Sunday, December 24, 2015 at 3 PM

German Christmas Eve Church Service in Coral Gables with Pastor Jochen Pajunk Nina as Greta in “Mad Men.” Location: Coral Gables Congregational United Church of Christ, 3010

De Soto Blvd., Coral Gables, FL Meeting Nina for an interview in Culver City.

Contact: deutschekirchemiami@gmail.com 22 www.german-world.com WINTER 2015

December 31, 2105, at 6.30PM New Year’s Eve Celebration with music by “Europa Band”

January 30, 2016, at 5.30PM Maskenball “Wild West” with music by “Alex Meixner Band” Admission: $6 (members). $10 (non-members) Location: GASC Club House, 2101 SW Pine Island Rd., Cape Coral Information: Info@GASC-CapeCoral.com or call (239) 283-1400 www.gasc-capecoral.com

GERMANY IN

Chicago

German - American Friendship Award bestowed upon George Glotzbach, Denny Warta and Fabian Schmahl On October 8, Consul General Quelle officially presented the German-American Friendship Award to two very worthy recipients, George Glotzbach and Denny Warta. Both recipients hail from New Ulm, Minnesota, “the most German town in the U.S.,” where they form a team of German cultural ambassadors.

Mr. Glotzbach’s ancestors arrived in New Ulm from Germany in 1855; Mr. Warta’s family a little bit later, in 1871. Warta spoke German exclusively until he began school at age 5. Both served in the American Armed Forces before beginning their business careers. The two have been active in promoting German-American culture in New Ulm for over a quarter of a century, and the results are evident to anyone who makes the trip to New Ulm! A few days, later, on December 14, Cincinnati resident Fabian Schmahl received the German-American Friendship Award from Deputy Consul General Mario Soos on behalf of Ambassador Wittig at the Consulate General.

Mr. Schmahl is the President and CEO of ThyssenKrupp-Bilstein. He was instrumental in bringing a segment of the Berlin Wall to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, where it is on permanent display. Mr. Schmahl is also very active with the European-American Chamber of Commerce and the Munich Sister Cities Association.

Consul General Quelle (l.) congratulates Mr. Glotzbach.

© germany.info/chicago

© germany.info/chicago

Established by the German Embassy in Washington, D.C. in 1981, the German-American Friendship Award honors people who have rendered outstanding services to German-American relations.

Top: Consul General Quelle welcoming the congregation.

Below: Erich Himmel, Chairman of the Commemoration.

October 4

German-American Day celebrated in Chicago Consul General Quelle addressed a large congregation of German-Americans celebrating German-American Day (Oct 6) at St. Benedict Church, Chicago, on Sunday, October 4th. Twentyfive associations paraded and presented their flags. Erich Himmel, Chairman of the Commemoration, welcomed the guests. Mr. Quelle outlined the chronological sequence of the first proclamation of German-American Day, approved by U.S. Congress in 1987, and the reunification of Germany on October 3, 1990. He concluded, “After 25 years we can proudly state that Germany has truly grown together.”

Events: Exhibition: Pop Art Design (Through March 27, 2016)

Organized by the Vitra Design Museum in Weil am Rhein, Germany Location: Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, 220 East Chicago Ave

January 20, 2015 - 5.30 PM – 7.30 PM

GACC Midwest presents: European Business Networking Location: The Drake Hotel Chicago, 140 E. Walton Pl Information: schmandt@gaccmidwest.org More events at www.gaccmidwest.org

Film Series”Migration”at the Goethe-Institut:

© germany.info/chicago

January 19 at 6 PM: Land in Sight

25 German Unity Day celebrated at Union League Club th

On Thursday, October 1, Consul General Herbert Quelle hosted a reception at the Union League Club of Chicago on the occasion of the 25th cele-bration of German Unity Day (Oct 3, 2015).

The reception was wellattended by members of the German-American community, including representatives of numerous social clubs and cultural organizations, the German International School of Chicago, the Goethe-Institut Chicago and the German-American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest. Representatives of Illinois, Governor Bruce Rauner and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, were on hand to present official proclamations.

Source: Consulate of Germany in Chicago. www.germany.info/chicago

January 26 at 6 PM: New Land February 2 at 6 PM: Turkish Kraut (Rotkohl und Blaukraut) February 9 at 6 PM: Tour Abroad February 16 at 6 PM: Half-Moon Truths February 23 at 6 PM: Color of the Ocean Location: Goethe-Institut Chicago, 150 N. Michigan Ave, #200 Information: (312) 263-0472 More events at www.germany.info/chicago

February 28, 2016 – 2 PM

Concert: Prismatic Memory Spektral Quartet presents “Bagatellen” by Hans Thomalla at the Frequency Festival Location: Art Institute of Chicago, Fullerton Hall, 111 S. Michigan Ave.

WINTER 2015 www.german-world.com 23

GERMANY IN

New York

A.J. Scherman Named GACCs’ Trainee of the Year Trainee of STIHL Inc. Honored at the Annual GermanAmerican Business Outlook

By Jan Vater

O

n December 14, 2015, the German American Chambers of Commerce (GACC) presented the GACC Award for Trainee of the Year to A.J. Scherman of STIHL Inc. The GACC Trainee Award sponsored by FESTO and Lufthansa recognizes outstanding individuals working for German subsidiaries who have demonstrated excellence in their workforce training programs.

A.J. Scherman is currently enrolled in the four-year Mechatronics Technician apprenticeship program at STIHL Inc. in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

STIHL’s apprenticeship program is adapted from the German model of vocational training. In this “dual system,” trainees split their time between hands-on training and classroom education. Scherman was one of only five applicants out of 300 who were offered a spot in the highly sought-after apprenticeship program. He is currently working on a project in STIHL’s Technical Training Center to upgrade and modify their Festo training simulators.

& Greater Washington, DC The jury’s decision was influenced by Scherman’s dedication to work full time and attend college classes, all the while supporting his family and maintaining a 4.0 grade point average.

Scherman said “Mechatronics is the future of the manufacturing world and the gateway to where I ultimately want to end up – which is being an engineer.”

Virginia Beach-based STIHL Inc., one of several manufacturing facilities in the STIHL Group, is the headquarters for their U.S. operations.

More information at www.gaccny.com

Bern E. Deichmann Awarded with Germany’s Cross of the Order of Merit

I

n early September, 2015, Bern E. Deichmann, the President Emeritus of the GermanAmerican Heritage Foundation of the USA®, was awarded the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Ambassador Peter Wittig notified Mr. Deichmann of the decision by the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Joachim Gauck, to bestow on Bern this very high honor in recognition of Deichmann’s “long and distinguished meritorious service to German-American relations.”

Among other achievements, Bern Deichmann was the driving force behind building the first and – so far – only German-American Heritage Museum in the nation’s capital. The “Bundesverdienstkreuz” was presented to Mr. Deichmann, who was surrounded by family, friends and colleagues, at a private reception hosted by Ambassador Wittig at his residence in Washington, D.C.

EVENTS New York:

For upcoming events in Greater New York visit www.german-world.com -> Calendar or Featured Events www.germanyinnyc.org www.germany.info/newyork www.goethe.de/new york www.nyu.edu/deutscheshaus www.neuegalerie.org

Washington, D.C. For upcoming events in Washington D.C. visit www.germany.info -> German Information Center -> Events www.goethe.de/washingtondc www.alpinedancers.org www.internationalclubdc.org 24 www.german-world.com WINTER 2015

Photo © germany.info/houston

German Memorial Day in Fort Reno On November 15, 2015, Germany’s “Volkstrauertag,” German Air Force Liaison Officer for U.S. Army Fires Center of Excellence & Commander of U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery School, Colonel Ingo Kresser, along withConsul Jochen Olbricht and German Honorary Consul in Oklahoma City, Charles Wiggin, as well as Italian Army Liaison Officer Major Mattia Marcotulli and U.S. military personnel and many other participants, gathered to place flowers and flags on the graves of the fallen soldiers at the Fort Reno Post Cemetery in Fort Reno.

All speakers honored the victims of both World Wars and expressed their deepest condolences to the grieving families and to the French people regarding the terrorist attacks in Paris, France. “Volkstrauertag” is Germany’s official annual day of remembrance, a day for mourning the dead that also serves as a reminder of how precious peace is.

On October 31, 2015, Consul Jochen Olbricht had good news for the German Saturday School in Houston. He handed over a check to the principal of the school, Dr. Ute Eisele, Consul Jochen Olbricht and Dr. Ute Eisele and also presented the German Language Diploma to the 45 eligible students who successfully passed the DaF (Deutsch als Fremdsprache) test, a German national language exam.

With this check the German Government acknowledges the excellent work of the German Saturday School in Houston.

More about Deutsche Samstagsschule HousStudents receiving the ton: German Language Diplom www.deutschesamstagsschule.org

25 Years of German Unity at the University of Houston © germany.info/houston

© Bea Binmore

© Bea Binmore

Handover of Language Diploma at the German Saturday School Houston

In cooperation with the German Consulate General in Houston, the University of Houston opened its International Education Week on November 15, 2015, with the poster exhibition “The Path to German Unity.” The exhibition was on display at the Library of the University of Houston through December 18, 2015.

Source: Consulate General of Germany in Houston. - www.germany. info/Houston

Dr. Hildegard F. Glass, German Program Director, Leah Scott, MBA, Global Strategies and Studies and Deputy Consul General Reindl.

Events December 24, 2015 – 4PM

Weihnachtsmesse (German Christmas Mass) With guest preacher Pastor Janning Hoenen

Location: First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1311 Holman Street, Houston, TX 77004

January 14, 2016 – 6PM – 8PM

GACC New Year’s Reception - Houston Office Location: Hotel ZaZa 5701, 5701 Main Street, Houston, TX 77005 Event fee: Free for GACC South members, $35 for non-members Information: contactevents@gaccsouth.com

February 6, 2016 – 5PM – 6.30PM

Bach in the Court of Weimar

Concert of Bach Choir and Orchestra Houston.

Location: Alice Pratt Brown Hall Shepherd School of Music, 6100 Main Street , Houston

Organizations & Businesses: n

AMF Graphics, El Paso, TX | Contact: amfgraphics@aol.com

n German-American Chamber of Commerce 1900 West Loop S., Ste 1550, Houston, TX 77027, (832) 384-1200 1170 Howell Mill Rd, Ste 300, Atlanta, GA 30318, (404) 586-6800 n German

Gift House | www.germangifthouse.com

n German Center Houston, 6510 Sewanee, Houston, TX 77005 www.germancenterhouston.org n German

Language Center Houston | www.glchouston.com

n German-Texan Heritage Society, PO Box 684171, Austin, TX 78768

Information: (512) 467-4569 info@germantexans.org www.germantexans.org n Houston-Leipzig Sister City Association, 2353 Rice Blvd., Houston, Texas 77005 | www.Houstonleipzpig.org

Learn German! n The German School of Dallas, PO Box 610114, Dallas, TX 75261 info@germanschooldallas.org | www.germanschooldallas.org n German International School of Dallas, 12411 Templeton Trail, Farmers Ranch, TX 75234 | www.german-isd.org

German Church Services n Christ

Lutheran Church, 3001 Lovers Lane, Dallas, TX 75225 Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1311 Holman Street, Houston, TX 77004 n First

WINTER 2015 www.german-world.com 25

© Alex Siewert, Fotostudio Spandau

Texas

GERMANY IN

Germany’s Official Representative in Texas: Consul General Ricarda Redeker

LIVING

Real Estate

Tips

& Trends NEWS NewLifestyle Series:

for Buying

Real Estate

The Los Angeles Real-Estate Markets: Where Do You Want to Hang Your Hat? The Culver Hotel in Culver City, close to Santa Monica.

By Tanya Stawski

There are plenty of wonderful places to own a home in Los Angeles; so many, in fact, that it is not easy to choose where to settle. Every neighborhood offers something a bit different, special and appealing.

Do you love the mountains? The beach? The bustling big city life? It’s all here in the City of Angels – even neighborhoods with small town charm. heviot Hills and Rancho Park are both situated within a short drive of Fox Studios and Sony Studios. Cheviot Hills provides excellent views of much of the Los Angeles Basin, and has often been the site for the filming of motion pictures and television shows, including “Laurel and Hardy” in the 1920s and ‘30s, and the hit TV show “Modern Family” from 2009. Cheviot Hills’ gently rolling hills are reminiscent of the Cheviot Hills area of Scotland, which is how the area got its name. Almost all of the area that today is known as Cheviot Hills was within the Spanish land grant of Rancho Rincon de los Bueyes.

From the 1920s to 1953, the streetcar line known as the Santa Monica Air Line of the Pacific Electric Railway ran along the southern edge of Cheviot Hills, and provided passenger service between Cheviot Hills, downtown Los Angeles and downtown Santa Monica. Rancho Park, though a small residential neighborhood in West Los Angeles, is one of the few districts in Los Angeles where fall foliage can be seen. Nestled between Westwood and Cheviot Hills, Rancho Park is mostly filled with single-family homes and tree-lined streets.

Culver City, with its condos and traditional and Spanish-style homes, is a town of galleries, shops, cafes and entrepreneurial businesses. Culver City has been a focal point for motionpicture studios since the 1920s and more recently for television production, having been home to MGM Studios, the Culver Studios and now Sony Pictures Entertainment. Home of the Kirk Douglas Theatre, Helms Bakery and the Culver Hotel, Culver City’s condos, traditional homes and Spanish-style homes offer a combination of urban living and small town charm. The newly built light rail line which will connect Santa Monica and Culver City with Downtown L.A. has added to Culver City’s attractiveness and the value of properties bought here.

Los Feliz is an area richly immersed with history dating back to the 19th century. Los Feliz is located just south of the Santa Monica Mountains and adjacent to Hollywood to the north and east. The area features the Griffith Observatory, the Greek Theatre and the Los Angeles Zoo. Los Feliz homes offer a welcoming and cohesive community recognized for its chic sophistication.

Venice is a beachfront district on the Westside of Los Angeles, known for its bungalows, cottages, condos and oceanfront properties. A short walk from some of the finest and trendiest beachside restaurants and bars in Los Angeles, Venice offers surfing, kayaking, boating, biking, boogie boarding and outdoor summer concerts. The famous Venice Beach Strip and Muscle Beach are a short walk away from most homes. With its variety of bungalows, cottages, condos and oceanfront listings, Venice is an ideal retreat for family, friends or couples, for work or play, and is one of Los Angeles’s most sought-after neighborhoods. ¦ 26 www.german-world.com WINTER 2015

LosAngeles About the Author: Tanya Stawski is a real-estate agent with Sotheby’s International Realty in Beverly Hills, California. Born and raised in Germany, Tanya has lived in Boca Raton, Boston and Chicago prior to moving to Beverly Hills. She speaks German, English and Farsi fluently and is conversant in Spanish. Tanya has a master’s degree in business from the International Business School in Germany and is a member of the Los Angeles Association of Realtors.

Tanya and her clients’ listings have been featured in various media outlets such as the Los Angeles Times and The Wall Street Journal.

Tanya has worked with international buyers and sellers, investors and first-time buyers.

Her current listing portfolio covers homes between $600,000 and $12.5 million.

For more information email us at RealestateCA@german-world.com or call Tanya at 310-801-6033.

Additional information is on www.tanyastawski.com.

All photos: Courtesy Sotheby’s International Realty®

C

Real Estate

German World is very happy to announce that two German-American real estate agents – one in New Lifestyle & Trends York and one in Los Angeles – have joined us to share some of their insights and offer up some hands-on tips to maneuver your way through both of these highly interesting markets.

New York

LIVING NEWS

New York’s Best Buying Option for 2016: The Bronx!

By Denise Thirkill

For individuals and investors who are priced out of Manhattan and Brooklyn, the Bronx might be the last relative affordable market in New York City.

T

he average price per square foot in the Bronx is $268 as compared to $1,497 in Manhattan. Although some experts say that the rest of the City is further along in the economic development cycle, the Bronx is getting very experimental. Residential projects, and some key commercial and retail projects are reshaping the Bronx. Restaurants are opening and we are seeing a renaissance for the borough. n Related Companies, the driving force behind Hudson Yards, has deployed its $300 million equity fund to acquire workforce housing in the borough.

Scott Rechler’s RXR Realty, which paid $1.2 billion for 230 Park Avenue this year, is actively hunting for opportunities in the South Bronx. Even developer Gary Barnett, who sold a $100 million penthouse at One57, appears to be focusing on the neighborhood. n

n Extell Development Company bought the former Whitestone Multiplex Cinemas at 2505 Bruckner Boulevard for $41 million from David Lichtenstein’s Lightstone Group, which paid $30 million for the site in 2012.

There have been indications of urban regeneration in the Bronx for decades, but now that real estate’s big boys are finally discovering the neighborhood, confidence is high that this Bronx About the boom is real. There is a huge amount of infrastructure here that doesn’t exist in other places.

Author: There are 6 subway lines (the 2, 4, 5, 6, D and B trains). The parks are already here, and there are some real institutions in the Bronx that help support it, such as Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx Lebanon Hospital, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Denise Thirkill was born and raised in The Bronx Zoo, Fordham University and the Botanical Garden. Investing in Germany. She speaks English and Gerthe Bronx, Inwood, and Washington Heights can be a good move, especially man fluently and has lived in New York for more than nine years. Denise is a for first-time home buyers, with housing values slowly increasing as interest Licensed Real Estate Associate and rates and home prices remain low.

works as an exclusive buyer’s agent at Elika Associates, which is a premier New York City firm that specializes in exclusive buyers’ representation. Elika Associates is a member of the National Association of Exclusive Buyers Agents (NAEBA). Denise is a member of the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) and has access to all listings in New York City. Whether you are a U.S. citizen or a foreign Investor, Denise caters her service to your specific needs. Denise strives to help buyers achieve their dream home ownership, without unpleasant surprises, and without being over sold on a property.

For more information contact Denise Thirkill at 917-624-5578 or at RealestateNYC@german-world.com. www.denisethirkill.com

The neighborhood is mostly scattered with townhouses and co-op apartments. A spacious three-bedroom, three-bathroom co-op is priced just under $850K. One-bedroom units go as low as $150K. Keep an eye out for apartments in the beautiful Art Deco co-op buildings that line the Grand Concourse. There is also a massive waterfront development planned and a proposed new neighborhood in the works known as the “The Piano District,” similar to the artist district So-Ho, perhaps the new Soho, to be called “Sobro.”

Six residential buildings will rise on a 1.2-million square foot development site, with coffee shops, art galleries and restaurants soon to join, according to the developers Somerset properties and the Chertit Group. This would be the most transformative project in the past 50 years. It might be a good idea to grab an affordable property here right now, before prices become prohibitive. ¦ WINTER 2015 www.german-world.com 27

EDUCATION

Language

FerienspaSS für Deutschlerner & Familien Abenteuerspielshow „Ticket nach Berlin“

S

echs junge Deutschlerner reisten quer durch Deutschland und mussten dabei spannende Aufgaben lösen: Sie fuhren ein Seifenkistenrennen, balancierten auf einem Surfbrett und verschönerten als Guerilla-Gärtner die Innenstadt von Bremen.

In zwei Teams aufgeteilt, machten sich die jungen Leute auf den Weg quer durch Deutschland nach Berlin: Für Eric aus Kamerun, Nichole aus Australien und Almudena aus Spanien begann die Reise im Norden Deutschlands auf der Insel Pellworm. Nasser aus Ägypten, Kristina aus Russland und Jonas aus Norwegen starteten am Fuß der Zugspitze. Auf ihrem Weg mussten Aufgaben gelöst werden, um Tickets zu sammeln und das Spiel zu gewinnen. Teamgeist, Kreativität und Mut waren gefragt. Und natürlich mussten alle ihre Deutschkenntnisse unter Beweis stellen, um erfolgreich zu sein. Die unterhaltsame Abenteuerspielshow „Ticket nach Berlin“, ein Projekt des Goethe-Instituts und der Deutschen Welle gefördert durch das Auswärtige Amt, besteht aus 19 Videofilmen von ca. fünf Minuten Länge und ist ideal für die Ferien, um eine Sprachlern-Tour fernab aller Reiseführer und Lehrbücher zu machen. Die sechs jungen Leute haben während der Dreharbeiten zu „Ticket nach Berlin“ zudem Reisetagebuch geführt und ihre persönlichen Eindrücke von Deutschland dokumentiert. Auch diese Videos stehen zum Herunterladen zur Verfügung.

Die Szenen sind nicht gestellt, die Sprache ist authentisch, die Herausforderung für die jungen Deutschlerner sind echt. Niemand kannte vorher die Städte und die Aufgaben, die dort gelöst werden mussten. Die Show ist auch eine Einladung zum Mitlernen

28 www.german-world.com WINTER 2015

und Entdecken: Sie zeigt, wie das alltägliche Leben in Deutschland aussieht, wie die Deutschen ticken und wie die Fremdsprache angewandt werden kann.

Machen Sie mit! Auf www.dw.de/ticket oder www.goethe.de/ticketnachberlin geht’s los!

Tipp für Deutschlehrer & Selbstlerner: Zu allen 19 Folgen von „Ticket nach Berlin“ wurden Arbeitsblätter, Lehrerhandreichungen und Glossare zum Ausdrucken erstellt, mit denen Grammatik, Wortschatz und landeskundliche Kenntnisse vermittelt werden. Außerdem gibt es zu jedem Video das Manuskript zum Nachlesen als Download. Interaktive Übungen ergänzen die Didaktisierungen und Tipps für Lehrende. Geeignet sind die Sprachlernmaterialien sowohl zum Selbstlernen als auch für den Kursunterricht auf dem Lernniveau B1 und B2.

Source: Cornelsen Verlag Newsletter (www.cornelsen.de/newsletter). Text von Andreas Westhofen, Institut für Internationale Kommunikation Düsseldorf e.V.

10 Reasons to Learn German

a

Business: Knowing the language of your German business partners improves your relations and therefore your chances for effective communication and success.

a Career: Knowledge of German increases

your job opportunities with German and foreign companies in your own country and abroad.

a

Communication: Developments in media, information and communication technology require multilingual communicators. Many important websites are in German. Germany is ranked number 5 in terms of annual publication of new books.

a Cultural

understanding: Learning German provides you with an insight into the way of life, and culture of German speaking countries. It will broaden your horizon.

a Exchange: A wide range of exchange programs like the DAAD and GAPP exists for both school and university students between Germany and many countries in the world.

a Science and Research: German is the

second most commonly used scientific language.

Germany is the third largest contributor to research and development and offers research fellowships to scientists from abroad.

a Study/work in Germany: Germany

awards a generous number of scholarships and other support to study in Germany. Working holiday visas are available for young foreigners, and special visas are offered to skilled workers and professionals.

a The Arts & Philosophy: German is

the language of Goethe, Kafka, Mozart, Bach and Beethoven. Indulge in reading and/or listening to their works in their original language.

2

a

Tourism industry: Tourists from Germanspeaking countries travel wide and far, and are the world’s biggest spenders when on holiday.

They appreciate German-speaking staff and tour guide.

a

4

Travel: Make the most of your travels in many European countries where German is widely spoken, especially in Eastern Europe.

Source: The Goethe-Institut. www.goethe-institut.de

Page 50

WINTER 2015 www.german-world.com 29

EDUCATION

Interview

Deutsch lernen?

Von Petra Schürmann

JA GERN! ABER WO?

V

iele unserer Leser sind Amerikaner, die Deutsch entweder als Kind , für den Beruf gelernt oder durch einen deutsch-muttersprachlichen Partner gelernt haben. Die meisten unserer Leser leben in zweisprachigen Familien und möchten ihr Deutsch gern aktiv halten oder ihre Kinder zu einem deutschen Sprachprogramm anmelden. Welche Möglichkeiten gibt es für die diversen Altersgruppen? German World sprach mit Julia Ibold, Beraterin für den Deutschunterricht in Los Angeles.

The English version of this article can be found on www.german-world.com -> Education

GW: Frau Ibold, viele unserer Leser sind Amerikaner, die einige Jahre in Deutschland stationiert waren, dort teilweise Deutsch gelernt haben und ihre Kinder auf eine deutsche Schule geschickt haben. Welche Möglichkeiten gibt es für ältere Berufstätige (30 - 60) und Pensionäre in USA?

JI: Die Möglichkeiten sind sehr unterschiedlich in den einzelnen Staaten. In einigen großen Städten gibt es Goethe-Institute, die übrigens auch Online-Kurse anbieten. Oft bieten die örtlichen Samstagsschulen auch Erwachsenenkurse an, so z.B. die German School of Dallas, die Deutsche Samstagsschule Houston oder der kalifornische Schulverbund GASA. In einigen Staaten gibt es diese Möglichkeiten leider nicht. Dort sollte man sich an die Community Colleges wenden oder in deutschen Geschäften auf Kontaktsuche gehen.

üben (Deutsche Welle, Step into German, Duolingo, Lingonetz, deutsch-portal, Deutschdrang, pasch-net etc.)

GW: Wo finden junge Eltern, die ihre Kinder zweisprachig erziehen möchten, Rat, um eine passende Schule oder Sprachprogramm zu finden?

JI: Den besten Überblick bezüglich Deutsch über bilinguale Schulen oder Samstagsschulen in den USA haben wohl wir neun BDUs (Berater für den Deutschunterricht).

Sieben Kollegen gehören zur ZfA (Zentralstelle für das Auslandschulwesen), zwei zum Goethe-Institut. Eine genaue Übersicht über die Zuständigkeiten findet man unter http://www.goethe.de/ins/us/lp/lhr/ fab/enindex.htm GW: Gibt es Bücher, die Sie für Kleinkinder, Kinder und Jugendliche empfehlen?

About Julia Ibold Beraterin für den Deutschunterricht in Sükalifornien, New Mexiko, Texas, Arkansa, Oklahoma, Louisiana. Die Berater für den Deutschunterricht (BDU) der Zentralstelle für das Auslandsschulwesen (ZfA) in den USA haben in ihren Regionen einen Überblick über öffentliche Schulen mit Deutschprogrammen und betreuen gleichfalls Samstags-, Teilzeit- sowie Immersionsschulen. Diese Schulen führen in der Regel zum Deutschen Sprachdiplom (DSD) der Kultusministerkonferenz.

ZfA-Fachberater in USA:

Los Angeles, CA / Region Südwest: Julia Ibold - losangeles@auslandsschulwesen.de Olympia, WA / Region Nordwest: Natascha Milde - olympia@auslandsschulwesen.de Chicago, IL / Region Mitte: Anka Fehling - chicago@auslandsschulwesen.de Denver, CO / Moutain States (CO, IA, KS, MO, NE): Irene Mrazek – denver@auslandsschulwesen.de Atlanta, GA / Region Südost: Michael Göttert - atlanta@auslandsschulwesen.de San Francisco, CA / Region Nordwest: Alexander Wildgans - sanfrancisco@auslandsschulwesen.de Richmond, VA / Region Nordost: Friederike Braun - richmond@auslandsschulwesen.de Mehr Informationen unter www.auslandsschulwesen.de

GW: Wie können junge Amerikaner, die als JI: Hier ist die Auswahl riesig. Es kommt auf Kinder in Deutschland waren und jetzt Stu- die Interessen und natürlich die deutschen denten sind, am besten ihre Deutschkenntnisse Sprachkenntnisse an. Für Lerner sind die erhalten?

Mini-Guide to Learning German in the U.S.

JI: Abgesehen davon, dass der persönliche Austausch mit Muttersprachlern natürlich die beste Möglichkeit ist, eine Sprache aufrechtzuerhalten, empfehle ich immer, deutsches Fernsehen zu schauen.

Viele deutsche Fernsehsender haben eine kostenlose Mediathek mit Filmen, Serien und Nachrichten, die man online jederzeit abrufen kann, und deren Sprache aktuell und authentisch ist. Gerade auch die Nachrichten sind interessant, um eine vielleicht andere Sicht auf die Weltgeschehnisse zu bekommen. Ein 24-Stunden Programm von Deutsche Welle mit exzellenten Nachrichtensendungen, Journalen und Dokumentarfilmen ist darüberhinaus über DishNetwork und in vielen Regionen auch über Kabel zu empfangen.

Weiterhin bieten zahlreiche Webseiten, die Möglichkeit, spielerisch oder auch akademisch Deutsch zu lernen und zu

Goethe-Institut Locations: www.goethe.de/atlanta | www.goethe.de/boston www.goethe.de/chicago | www.goethe.de/losangeles www.goethe.de/newyork | www.goethe.de/sanfrancisco www.goethe.de/washingtondc

30 www.german-world.com WINTER 2015

Lektüren der Schulbuchverlagen Klett, Cornelsen, Hueber ideal, da sie auch Vokabelhilfen bieten. Oft lesen Kinder auch gern Bücher, die es in Englisch und Deutsch gibt, wie z.B. Harry Potter oder viele Bücher von Cornelia Funke. Als meine Tochter in der Grundschule war, hat sie die Lola-Reihe von Isabel Abedi verschlungen.

GW: Deutsche Welle bietet exzellente Sprachprogramme gratis auf www.dw.com. Für wen sind diese Programme besonders geeignet?

JI: Die Deutsche Welle bietet unter der Rubrik „Deutsch lernen“ tatsächlich eine wunderbare Auswahl für Jugendliche und Erwachsene für sämtliche Sprachniveaus (A1-C1) an. Hier gibt es Online-Sprachkurse, langsam gesprochene Nachrichten, Podcasts, Spielshows, Telenovelas. aktuelle Musik-Clips von „PopXport“ und auch Materialien für Deutschlehrer, die die Arbeit im Klassenraum oft erleichtern und aufpeppen.

Books & School Material: www.cornelsen.de | www.hueber.de | www.klett.de

Online Classes: www.goethe.de -> Deutsche Sprache www.dw.com >-> Learn German Saturday Schools In Southern California, Arizona & Nevada: GASA: www.germanschool4kids.org In Northern California: GASANC: www.germansaturdayschools.org In the Northeast: GLSC: www.germanschools.org TV: German Mega Package on DISH – www.dish.com DW-TV on PBS, Comcast, Rogers, TimeWarner, Verizon FiOS (Contact your local cable provider for more information) Useful Links: www.aatg.org | www.communitycollegeusa.com | www.germany.info www.concordialanguagevillages.org | www.daad.org www.dank.org www.gacc.com | www.gaba.org www.learngerman.us | www.germanistik.net/universities-us.htm www.germansummerschools.com

Temporary Work Visa Options for German, Austrian & Swiss Citizens: The H-1B Visa Lottery and Beyond

By: Bernard P. Wolfsdorf, Esq. and Joseph J. Shepherd, Esq.

T

he Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 H-1B visa Cap filing season will open on April 1, 2016 and will likely close within five business days. Thus, there will only be one week during which private industry employers are able to file H-1B visa petitions for a start date of October 1, 2016, when the FY 2017 begins. U.S. employers would be wise to identify which employees require H-1B sponsorship, and begin developing their H-1B filing strategies as well as any alternative visa options, as soon as possible.

Each FY, approximately 85,000 H-1B visas become available for what is referred to as the “Cap.” U.S. employers may file a petition requesting a Cap number up to 6 months prior to the beginning of each FY, i.e., April 1. During the first five business days of April 2015, approximately 233,000 H-1B petitions were filed, necessitating a random lottery to select the petitions that would be awarded a Cap number, as has been the case in Cap seasons before.

For FY 2017, the Cap will likely be reached

by April 7, 2016 (a window of 5 business days).

As recent H-1B Cap seasons suggest, we can expect another one-week filing period within which the fate of hundreds of thousands of talented foreign nationals will be left to a luck-of-the-draw lottery. Private employers seeking an H-1B Cap number for a start date on or after October 1, 2016 must file their petition between April 1, 2016 and April 7, 2016. Otherwise, they will have to wait until the next H-1B Cap season opens in April 2017 for a chance to win a Cap number for a start date on or after October 1, 2017 – a long 18-month waiting period.

Alternative Options For those who do not win an H-1B Cap number, or who prefer not to leave things up to chance, there are several alternative U.S. work visa options worth considering.

For example: E-1 (Treaty Trader) or E-2 (Treaty Investor) work visas are available for Swiss, Austrian, and German nationals who seek to direct and develop a Swiss, Austrian, or Germanowned enterprise (respectively) in the U.S., or who will work for one in a managerial, executive, or essential capacity. The U.S. enterprise must have the same nationality (e.g., majority ownership) as the visa applicant. E-1 trading enterprises must have at least 50% of their continuous and ongoing trade between the U.S. and the treaty country. E-2 investment enterprises must already be real, operating businesses when the visa application is submitted.

L-1 (Intracompany Transferee) work visas requires a sponsor, namely a U.S. company that is a branch, affiliate, parent, or subsidiary of a company abroad where the foreign national has been working in a managerial or executive (L-1A) or specialized knowledge (L-1B) position for at least one continuous year in the three year-period prior to transferring to the U.S. O-1 (Extraordinary) work visas are for individuals of extraordinary ability or achievement in sciences, education, business, athletics, the arts, and the motion picture or television industries. A sponsor is required, and can be either a U.S. employer or a U.S. agent. Extensive documentation about the applicant’s accomplishments in the field, such as major awards, high salary, press,

U.S. Visa Update

LEGAL

CALL 1-800-VISA-LAW for more information Mention “German World” for a FREE initial consultation

official rankings, and holding leading or critical positions with high-profile or very successful companies, is required to meet the high standard of proof for this work visa category.

German World readers are invited to call I-800-VISA-LAW, email Joseph J. Shepherd at jshepherd@wolfsdorf.com or Bernard Wolfsdorf at bernard@Wolfsdorf.com.

Mention German World for a free initial consultation. ¦

Ab o u t th e Au th o r s Joseph J. Shepherd is a midlevel associate in the firm’s Santa Monica office. Licensed in Massachusetts, he advises employers, institutions, investors, individuals, and families regarding all aspects of U.S. immigration and nationality law. Mr. Shepherd currently serves as a Member of the 2015 - 2016 AILA National ACES Committee and previously served as a Member of the 2014 - 2015 AILA National LGBT Immigration Issues Working Group.

Mr. Shepherd has authored numerous articles published by AILA and Bender’s Immigration Bulletin, including Immigration Options for Artists & Entertainers, 2nd Ed. and the Inside Immigration Monograph Series.

Bernard Wolfsdorf, Esq., is past president of the 14,000-member American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and is managing partner of the 19-lawyer Wolfsdorf Immigration Law Firm. He has been selected as “Immigration Lawyer of the Year 2013”

by Who’s Who Legal, the official research partner of the American and International Bar Association.

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Winter Time …

Great Reads

GIFT GUIDE

Time for Reading!

B oo k s by H elmut S chmidt n

Men and Powers: A Political Retrospective

Former Federal Chancellor of West Germany Helmut Schmidt writes a candid account of his encounters and confrontations with key leaders from the United States, the Soviet Union and China.

32 pages of photos and 5 maps.

Hardcover, 410 pages | Published in January 1987 second edition in February 1990 | Random House.

Available at www.randomhouse.com

n Außer Dienst: Eine Bilanz

After serving as Federal Chancellor of West Germany, Helmut Schmidt reflects on the years of political upheaval and historic changes there since the end of the Cold War. He ponders the current political situation and speculates on Germany’s future. He also speaks about very personal issues: his experiences during WWII, his decisions, his short-comings, his religious beliefs and about death.

Published in September 2008 | Language: German | Available at www.randomhouse.de n

Helmut Schmidt: Seine besten ZEIT-Artikel | By DIE ZEIT

Helmut Schmidt served as Senator of the Interior in Hamburg, Defense Secretary, Secretary of Finance and Federal Chancellor (1974 – 1982) of the Federal Republic of Germany. He shaped Germany’s politics after WWII more than any other head of state, and remained a discerning critic of politics until the very end. Since 1983, Schmidt was co-publisher of the German weekly “Die Zeit.“ This e-book is a collection of his most important articles from 1983 – 2014, covering topics with regards to politics of the interior, security, Europe and global affairs.

Published December 7, 2015, as an e-book | Language: German | Available at www.amazon.com

n

Allmählich wird es Tag | By Franka Potente

German actress Franka Potente has lived in L.A. permanently since 2010.

After publishing a collection of short stories set in Japan (“Zehn,“ published by Piper Verlag), she released her first novel in 2014 “Allmaehlich wird es Tag“ (“A New Day Is Dawning“ – available only in German). It is the story of a successful man in his late 40s whose life suddenly takes a downturn when his wife leaves him out of the blue. Set in Los Angeles, this psycho-dramatic novel is not only a very gripping coming-of-age story that shows Potente as a very talented writer and sensible observer, but the book also gives great insights into life in Los Angeles.

Published in March 2014 as a hardcover, in May 2015 as paperback by Piper Verlag. Language: German Available at www.piper.de

Expand your German | Expressions from the World of Reading schmökern, in Büchern schmökern (verb) to read with joy, to immerse oneself in reading (of books) Bücherwurm (noun) Literally: book worm; a person who enjoys reading and has little interest in other activities

belesen, eine belesene Person (adj.) well-read, a well-read (educated) person Buchverlag (noun) publisher / publishing company Buchautor (noun) book author Neuerscheinung (noun) new release WINTER 2015 www.german-world.com 37

GIFT GUIDE

Great Finds for Any Occasion

European Favorites

Introduce your American friends to some

Feuerzangenbowle Set (Hot Punch Bowl)

G

that will make any party or celebration special.

F rom A ustria

F rom G ermany

athering with friends around a “Feuerzangenbowle” has been a longtime favorite during the cold winter months in Germany. The tradition gained extra popularity thanks to the famous Heinz-Rühmann movie “Die Feuerzangenbowle.”

A traditional German punch bowl set includes a pot and a fire tong which is placed across the top of the bowl. To make the drink, pour mulled hot wine into the bowl, then dip a sugar cone in rum and place it on the fire tong. Put a little bit of rum on a ladle, put the bottle of rum aside and light the rum in the ladle with a match. Pour it over the sugar cone so that the rum and sugar are slowly dripping into the hot wine. Pour more rum over the cone until cone has melted. The glass bowl can also be used all year long for serving soup, sauces and other hot drinks.

A six-piece set is available at German Deli for $99. www.germandeli.com

By Petra Schürmann

W

Bring Viennese “Kaffeehaus-Kultur” to America

ith coffee from Julius Meinl, coffee mugs from AustriaOnlineshop.com and delicious handmade cookies from Vienna Cookie Company in New York, you are all set for creating an authentic Kaffeehaus experience in the U.S. Julius Meinl’s headquarters in the U.S. is in Illinois, but you can order coffee, gift items and fabulous Austrian chocolates online at www.juliusmeinl.com.

Find the mugs at www.austria-onlineshop.com.

Cookies from Vienna Cookie Company in New York can also be ordered online. The company was started

by Austrian native Heidi Riegler who learned baking from her grandmother using recipes that were passed down through generations. I recently tasted her incredible “Sandbusserl” (Viennese hazelnut-chocolate cookies), Linzer Keks (Linzer cookies) and “Vanille Kipferl” (Vanilla Crescent cookies). All of them are a true delight, almost melting in your mouth. The “Sandbusserl” was voted winner of the WNYC Holiday Cookie Contest by New York Times food columnist Melissa Clark. The price of $35 for a medium-sized cookie gift box seems steep but it comes in a very pretty box, and its content is completely authentic, filled with unique tastes. www.viennacookiecompany.com

F rom S witzerland

Dettling Reserve Cherry Kirsch (Cherry Brandy)

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istilled from only the best types of cherry grown in top locations of Switzerland.

Dettling Reserve Cherry Kirsch is a sophisticated digestive to crown any festive dinner. Its typical mild and soft taste results from storing the Kirsch in demijohn bottles for a period of three to four years.

Available at Duggan’s Distillers in the U.S. www.duggansdist.com

38 www.german-world.com WINTER 2015

Tips for Valentine’s Day

GIFT GUIDE

Diamonds Are AGirl’s Best Friend …

Diamonds were used for engagement rings as early as 1477, when Archduke Maximilian of Austria proposed to Mary of Burgundy. Today, the precious stones are still used as a symbol of lifelong commitment, but cutting and polishing techniques perfected over the centuries have resulted in a vast array of choices that can seem overwhelming. There are four essential qualities that you should consider when shopping for diamond jewelry, known as The Four Cs: Cut – Color – Clarity – Carat (Weight)

…But How to Choose the Right One?

By Edeltrudis Matzak

plus the optional fifth C, the Certificate.

Cut A diamond’s cut has a considerable effect on the stone’s overall apshallow ideal deep pearance. Cut grade (which ranges from Poor to Ideal is a measure of a diamond’s reflective qualities, or what consumers generally perceive as brilliance. When a diamond is cut with the correct proportions, light is returned out of the diamond’s top. If the cut is too shallow or too deep, light escapes out the bottom or flows through the sides.

Tip: Don’t confuse a diamond’s cut with its shape. The term shape refers to the diamond’s outward appearance (e.g., princess, round, or pear).

Carat Weight The weight of a diamond is measured in carats. A carat, which is equal to 0.2 grams, is divided up into 100 points. A diamond with 50 points, for instance, is a 1/2-carat stone. Generally speaking, a higher carat weight corresponds to a larger diamond, but the cut of a stone can also affect how big it appears to be.

Fun fact: The most common engagement-ring sizes are 1/2 carat, 1 carat, and 2 carats.

Tip: Don’t confuse carat with karat, which is the measure of the purity of gold.

Certification

A certificate is a comprehensive report for a diamond, detailing its weight, cut, and overall quality. Certificates can also give buyers Color peace of mind by serving as proof of the diamond’s quality. RepuLess is more when it table grading laboratories that provide reports and documentacolorless near colorless white comes to the color of a tion include GIA, IGL, IGI, and AGSL. diamond. Color actually refers to a diamond’s Certified vs. Uncertified: KLM STUVWXYZ NOPQR lack of color, with grades Certification offers tangible proof of the quality of the diamond signifying the white- you are purchasing. That said, there is no physical difference beness of a diamond. A tween a diamond that is certified and one that is not. very faint yellow light yellow color grade of D (abfaint yellow solutely colorless) is the highest possible, while Z (noticeable color) is the lowest. Since color is a result of the composition of the diamond, it never changes over Diamond time.

DEF

GH

IJ

shallow

Clarity

Nearly every diamond has tiny imperfections or inclusions. A diamond’s clarity measures the size, number, and position of these tiny imperfections. Most inclusions are microscopic and do not affect the diamond’s beauty in any noticeable way. Clarity grades range from flawless (no inclusions) to 13 (inclusions visible under 10x magnification and in some cases to the naked eye).

princess

Shapes

Unlike The Four Cs, a diamond’s shape is evident at first glance. Round and emerald pear oval princess are the most popular diamond shapes; other common shapes include emerald, pear, and oval.

WINTER 2015 www.german-world.com 39

Switzerland © Dollar Photo Club

TRAVEL

Entdecken Sie Engadin St. Moritz

Die größte Wintersportregion der Schweiz Von Jenny Peters

Discover

Engadin St. Moritz

Switzerland’s largest winter sports region

By Jenny Peters

S

chon vor 150 Jahren konnten das Engadin und St. Moritz ihre ersten Winter urlauber begrüßen, eine Tatsache, die diese reizende Schweizer Region ausgiebig in der Saison 2014-2015 gefeiert hat. Und dieses Jahr gibt es für die Region noch mehr Gründe sich zu freuen, denn die Wintersaison begann bereits am 17. Oktober 2015, als Engadin St. Moritz das erste Gebiet im Kanton Graubünden war, das die Skipisten eröffnete und mit der Diavolezza Seilbahn Skifahrer und Snowboarder zu den Gletscherpisten brachte.

Anfang Dezember ging es dann so richtig los mit der Wintersaison in Engadin/St. Moritz, als am 4. und 5. Dezember das legendäre St.-Moritz-Stadtrennen began mit der Corvatsch Schneenacht und dem großen Ski- und Snowboard-Testrennen von Corviglia.

Engadin St. Moritz ist ein spektakulärer Ort mit vier Hauptgipfeln und Schneegarantie auf insgesamt 350 Kilometer Piste. Weitere 150 Kilometer an Wanderwegen und mehr als 220 Kilometer Langlaufstrecke machen diesen riesigen “Freiluftspielplatz” zu einer der größten und abwechslungsreichsten Wintersportgegenden der Schweiz.

Besucher können nicht anders als von der Vielzahl an Sport- und Freizeitangeboten begeistert zu sein. Hinzu kommen noch eine Reihe kultureller Angebote, die herrliche regionale Küche und saisonale Sonderveranstaltungen jeder Art. Die Region profitiert sehr von dem weltberühmten alpinen Luxusort St. Moritz mit seinen eleganten Geschäften, erstklassigen Restaurants und Luxus-hotels. Aber der eigentliche Star der Region ist die Natur selbst. Allein der Blick von den diversen Bergen und Gletschern auf das umliegende Bergmassiv und das Tal ist einfach überwältigend.

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I

t has been 150 years since the Engadin and St. Moritz first welcomed winter tourists, a fact that lovely Swiss region celebrated with gusto throughout the 2014-15 season. And there’s even more to revel in this year, as the new winter season got off to an early start on October 17, as Engadin St. Moritz was the first Graubünden destination to open, with the Diavolezza cable car revving up to bring skiers and snowboarders to the slopes of that icy glacier.

Then things really got going into the Engadin St. Moritz winter season, as the legendary St. Moritz City Race rolled out on December 4 and 5, 2015, complete with Corvatsch Snow Night and the grand ski and snowboard test on Corviglia.

Engadin St. Moritz is a spectacular place, with four major peaks boasting 350 km of pistes with guaranteed snow; 150 km of hiking trails and more than 220 km of cross-country trails. This massive outdoor playground is recognized as one of the biggest and most varied areas for winter sports in Switzerland.

Visitors cannot help but be inspired and enthralled by the wide array of sports and leisure activities on offer, the wealth of cultural activities, the fantastic tastes of its regional cuisine and the multitude of events that happen here every season. The region owes much of its appeal to St. Moritz, that sophisticated alpine destination filled with chic shops and world-class resorts and restaurants.

However, the star of the Engadin region truly is nature itself. Just taking in the views from the mountaintops is an overwhelmingly grand experience.

The 2015-16 winter season is highlighted by one top event after the other. Whether it’s the spectacular races on the St. Moritz-

g

WINTER 2015 www.german-world.com 41

TRAVEL

Switzerland

In der Wintersaison 2015/2016 folgt ein Veranstaltungshöhepunkt dem anderen, so zum Bespiel die spektakulären Wettkämpfe auf den olympischen Bobrennbahnen von St. Moritz-Celerina, Reitsport der Spitzenklasse bei der St. Moritz Schneepolo-Weltmeisterschaft und beim St. Moritz White & Night Turf oder das 2016 St. Moritz Gourmet Festival. In diesem lebendigen Ort ist immer etwas los.

Celerina Olympia Bob Run, top-class equestrian sports at the St. Moritz Snow Polo World Cup and the St. Moritz White Turf (with the newly launched “Night Turf”) or the 2016 St. Moritz Gourmet Festival, there’s always something going on in this bustling town.

Im März 2016 wird St. Moritz das absolute Zentrum der internationalen Skiwelt sein, wenn die besten Ski-Athleten bei der Endrunde der Audi FIS Skiweltmeisterschaft am Corviglia vom16. bis 20. März gegeneinander antreten und um die große Kristalltrophäe kämpfen.

Das Finale der Weltmeisterschaft ist nicht nur der absolute Höhepunkt dieser Wintersaison sondern auch ein Vorgeschmack auf die alpinen FSI Ski-Weltmeisterschaften 2017, deren Gastgeber St. Moritz zum fünften Mal sein wird.

In March 2016, St. Moritz will truly be the center of the skiing universe. For from March 16 to 20, the world’s best alpine skiers will be competing at the AUDI FIS Ski World Cup Finals on Corviglia, going for victory in the World Cup and the win of that large crystal-ball trophy. The World Cup finals are not only regarded as the season’s highlight, but also as the preliminary event leading up to the 2017 World Ski Championships, when St. Moritz will be playing host to the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in 2017 for the fifth time.

Ob Sie nun in naher Zukunft oder später das Engadin und St. Moritz besuchen wollen, Schnee im Winter ist garantiert. Eine Reise in die Schweiz im Winter wird daher auf jeden Fall zu einem coolen Schneeabenteuer, das Sie nie vergessen werden. ¦

So no matter if you chose to visit now or later, one thing is certain in Engadin St. Moritz -- there’s always winter snow! Which makes taking a trip to Switzerland’s winter playground a chilly, non-stop adventure you’ll never forget. ¦

On a Green Note:

Hotel Tips

Bever Lodge***

Hotel Saratz****

Switzerland’s first entirely timber-built modular hotel is due to open in Bever on 11 December 2015. Thanks to its modular design the new hotel was built in only nine months. And with its 41 attractively priced rooms the Bever Lodge has boosted the number of beds in the 3-star hotel segment.

The 4-star superior Hotel Saratz in Pontresina looks back on 150 years of history. The establishment’s history, which began in 1865, is showcased with an exhibition in the hotel grounds that includes wooden carvings by Graubünden artists Maria and Peter Leisinger.

42 www.german-world.com WINTER 2015

Grand Hotel des Bains*****

Badrutt’s Palace Hotel*****

At the Kempinski Grand Hotel des Bains, awardwinning chef Matthias Schmidberger will take charge of the entire catering operations from the start of the 2015/16 winter season.

The Badrutt’s Palace Hotel will be celebrating its 120th anniversary in 2016 and, to mark this occasion, every month it will publish a story from its twelve decades of history, along with package offers and other specials.

On Corviglia the newly built natural reservoir at Lej Alv is to be commissioned for the first time.

With a capacity of just under 400,000 m3 it is filled during the snowmelt without the use of any pumps whatsoever.

The electricity saving is the equivalent of 2,000,000 kWh or a 16% annual reduction in the total electricity needs of the Engadin St. Moritz Mountains AG. For more information visit www.engadin.stmoritz.ch

Airline News n

AIRBERLIN

Atmosfair Ranking 2015: airberlin Shows Best CO2 Efficiency Worldwide

Condor: Winner of Service Champion Award 2015

The environmental protection agency atmosfair recently published its 2015 Airline Index, which compares the greenhouse gas emissions of the 198 largest airlines, evaluating their CO2 efficiency levels. According to atmosfair, airberlin has taken first place for its low CO2 emissions and excellent efficiency. With an average airplane age of just six years, airberlin has one of the youngest fleets in Europe, and has operated a very ambitious “Eco-Efficient Flying Programme” since 2008.

In the consumer survey conducted for “Germany’s largest service ranking” by Service Value GmbH on behalf of the newspaper Die Welt, Condor is one of the few companies that made it to the gold category.

airberlin’s XL Seat

n

airberlin is offering 40 additional XL seats in Economy Class on its entire long-haul fleet (type A330) with 15 cm of extra leg room.

The XL seats are located in the front rows of the cabin, which allows for quick boarding and disembarking. The fee is 79.99 euros or 10,000 TopBonus miles per route (and no charge for FlyFlex fare, Gold or Platinum customers).

Christmas with airberlin airberlin treated its passengers on flights between Germany, Austria and Switzerland to a cup of mulled wine and Aachener Printe cookies every day after 4 p.m. during Advent. To add to the Christmas cheer, airberlin also offered the transportation of a Christmas tree with no extra charge. www.airberlin.com n

Condor

New Nonstop Flights to Frankfurt from Austin

From June 2016 to September 2016, Condor introduces a new nonstop service twice a week from Austin, Texas, to Frankfurt. Condor will also resume its nonstop service to Frankfurt from Baltimore in May (through September, twice a week). Condor continues its six daily nonstop flights from Las Vegas to Frankfurt through October 2016.

Drive-Through Check-In for Condor Passengers in Frankfurt

You can now take advantage of Condor’s new drive-through check-in the night before your flight takes off (from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.). The facility is located off Autobahn A5 near “Cargo City South.” Parking is free. Service fee is 10 euros per passenger.

TRAVEL

www.condor.com

Lufthansa

New Premium Economy Class

Since Summer 2015, the new Premium Economy Class has been offered on Lufthansa routes flown by a Boeing 747-8 (including Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C.) and all routes flown by Lufthansa’s A380s. The new class offers a more comfortable seat, more legroom, double free-baggage allowance, premium meals, access to LH Business Lounges for 25 euros and much more. www.lufthansa.com

n

SWISS

New Fleet Flagship Boeing 777-300 ER in Service Soon The new long-haul twinjet will start service between Zurich and New York from February 2016. SWISS also now offers more frequencies on the Zurich-Miami routes (14/week).

Winner of “Europe’s Leading Airline Business Class” Award

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS), part of the Lufthansa Group, has again been voted “Europe’s Leading Airline Business Class” in the annual World Travel Awards. Lufthansa has also earned two 2015 awards: “Europe’s Leading Airline,” and “Europe’s Leading Airport Lounge” for its First Class Lounges in Frankfurt. www.swiss.com

WINTER 2015 www.german-world.com 43

SPOTLIGHT

Southern California

Have yourself a scary little Christmas...

Krampus Fever

in Los Angeles

By Petra Schuermann

6

A 1

2

3

midst the usual “most magical time of the year” theme that blankets the world during the holiday season, a figure from ancient European folklore has had an unexpected Renaissance across Europe, and has now come into America as well. It’s The Krampus.

Krampus has been famous in the Alpine regions of Germany, 7 and Austria, as well as in parts of Hungary, Slovenia and the Czech Republic for centuries. December 5, the night before St. Nicholas Day, is celebrated there as Krampusnacht (Krampus night). Krampus is a horned beast, a mix between a man, a personified devil and a giant goat, who accompanies St. Nicholas on his way. Tradition has it that St. Nicholas (der Heilige Nikolaus, the historic origin of today’s commercialized Santa Claus), protector of sailors, fishermen, salesmen and – above all – children, rewards kids who have been good with sweets and gifts, while Krampus beats the naughty ones with his branch of twigs and even abducts them to his underworld.

Two Americans can be credited with bringing the folklore of Krampus to the U.S.: Chicagobased graphic designer and book author Monte Beauchamp, and Al Ridenour. Ridenour, from Pasadena, Calif., became fascinated with the figure of Krampus when studying Germanic languages in Berlin. He founded the production company Krampus Los Angeles and initiated the Krampusfest Los Angeles in 2013. This year, he brought 15 members of the Moor Troupe from Maishofen, Austria, and members of the Bay Area group Beast Bay Krampus to L.A. to introduce Angelenos to this fascinating dark side of Christmas. On November 28, at the GoetheInstitut, Ridenour gave a presentation about the historic roots of Krampus with The Krampus and nearly a dozen of his monstrous relatives present, showing off their handmade costumes and beautifully carved scary masks. Next up was a Krampus Ball on December 5, a Krampuslauf (run) with a group of Krampuses roaming noisily through the streets of Downtown L.A. and finally a Nikolausspiel (Nicholas-Krampus Play) on December 13. On December 11, Alpine Village Center in Torrance co-partnered with Al Ridenour and presented a concert with Krammpstein, a Krampus-costume-wearing rock band. Instead of the usual Schuhplattler music, Rammsteinlike sounds erupted in the Alpine Steinhaus, and entertained the crowd for more than three hours moderated by Alpine Village’s John Baumgaertner.

Don’t miss Krampusfest 2016! Visit www.krampuslosangeles.com for details.

4

Captions: 1, 2 Krampuslauf in downtown L.A. | 3 Krammpstein in action 4 Krammpstein Concert at Alpine Village 5 A Krampus at the Krammpstein concert. Photos: Paul Porter 6 Krampus event at the Goethe-Institut. 7 Krampusfest Los Angeles founder Al Ridenour (r.) with his production partner Al Guerrero.

5

Who is Krampus? Explaining the horrific Christmas Devil (National Geographic) http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/12/131217-krampus-christmas-santa-devil/ How Krampus, the Christmas “Devil,” Became Cool (National Geographic) http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/12/151204-krampus-movie-christmas-demon-santa-holiday-folklore/ Krampus by Monte Beauchamp (available on Amazon.com) http://www.amazon.com/Krampus-Devil-Christmas-Monte-Beauchamp/dp/0867197471

Additional Reading

January 15 -1 6, 2015:

Don’t Miss GAMGA’s Karneval Gala in Las Vegas! www.gamga.org

44 www.german-world.com WINTER 2015

Southern California

Santa Claus

SPOTLIGHT

Came in a Trabi, Not a Sled

All photos: Tshombe Sampson

The L.A.-Berlin Sister City Committee commemorated 25 Years of German Reunification in a Very Special Way

By Petra Schuermann

T

1

2

3

he members of the L.A. Berlin Sister City Committee have always been treated to a very nice Christmas party at the beautiful residence of their president, Rosemarie Reisch. This year, however, on December 6, Ms. Reisch had a special surprise for the attending guests: Santa Claus rolled into the courtyard of her residence riding in a Trabi.

L.A. Berlin SCC supporter (and Reisch’s longtime friend) Helmut Bauch steered that iconic East German vehicle bringing Santa Claus to the party. Bauch, who owns the oldest surf school in Germany located on Lake Constance, is also a savvy art collector and a part-time resident of Palm Springs, California. He saved the Trabi a couple of years ago from being demolished, had it fully restored and even smog checked, eventually getting it officially registered in California. He created quite a stir on the roads of California while driving the Trabi all the way from Palm Springs to the vineyards of Napa Valley and finally back to L.A., before giving it as a gift to Ms. Reisch.

She immediately decided to donate this icon of GDR culture to her organization. The plan is to rent out the Trabi for film productions or to individuals, all in order to raise additional funds for the organization.

The L.A. Berlin SCC, whose mission is to foster and further the relationship between the two sister cities of Los Angeles and Berlin, both through cultural exchanges and Berlin-related events and programs in L.A., will celebrate its 50th Anniversary on June 27, 2017, with Mr. Trabi in a leading role.

4

The party on December 6 continued after Santa’s visit on a festive note with music, a singalong with The Caroling Company, and a happy toast to the 25th Anniversary of German reunification, celebrated worldwide on October 3, 2015.

For more information visit www.laberlin.org or for Mr. Bauch’s surf school www.surfbauch.de

1 Santa Claus arriving at the party. 2 Petra Schuermann posing with Mr. Trabi and sponsor Helmut Bauch. 3 Rosemarie Reisch welcoming Helmut Bauch. 4 Berlin-friend Tom LaBonge, former City Councilman of L.A., with H. Bauch. | 6 H. Bauch with Consul General Neumann, Santa Claus, and R. Reisch. | 7 Longtime friends: Dentist Dr. Joseph Goodman and Petra Schuermann. | 8 The Caroling Company delighting the audience. Margitta Luebke on the left. | 9 R. Reisch with Corina Danckwerts (r.) and her family.

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LAST PAGE

READER’s

CORNER

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