Wow, is it September already? Summer goes so fast!
What’s new in Berlin
Berlin events in September
- Musikfest (August 28 to September 23)
- Women’s Basketball World Cup (September 4-13)
- Berlin Art Week (September 9-13)
- Nationwide Warning Day (September 11)
- Open Monument Day (September 12-13)
- Giant kite festival (September 12)
- Berlin Marathon (September 19-20)
- Berlin elections (September 20)
Local elections
On September 20, Berliners must vote in city and district (Bezirk) elections. You will choose your representatives for the next 5 years. These representatives pass laws that affect all of us. German citizens can vote in city and district elections. EU citizens can only vote in district elections. Non-EU citizens can’t vote.
Wahl-O-Mat helps you decide who to vote for.
What’s new in Germany
Nationwide Warning Day
On September 10 from 11:00 to 11:45, Germany will test its warning systems. You might receive test warnings on your phone, TV or radio, and hear alarm sirens. Do not panic, it’s just a test.
These yearly tests are important. The first test in 2020 was an embarrassing failure, and the 2021 test was cancelled. The last 4 tests went a lot better.
Ukrainians can exchange their driving licence
Ukraine is now in the Annex 11 countries. Ukrainians can exchange their driving licence for a German one. No driving lessons or driving exam needed.
Ukrainians can already drive in Germany. Their licence is recognised as long as their refugee status applies. However, having a German driving licence makes it easier to rent a car or use car sharing services.
How to convert your driving licence
On my radar
- Digitalisation
The government is planning to digitalise and centralise information about visas, integration tests and other immigration processes. This has worked really well for Berlin, so it’s good to see some progress at the federal level. - Rent control laws
The planned changes should deal with common tricks landlords use to jack your rent. It is not yet signed into law.
What’s new on All About Berlin
Very little! I have enjoyed a slow month of biking around and lingering in cafés. All About Berlin has lost another 15% of its traffic in August, but I did not want to let AI anxiety ruin my summer.
Nonetheless, I am working on a few interesting things.
Forum
I want to build a proper community around All About Berlin. I believe in support networks, social infrastructure and knowledge sharing. A forum where immigrants help immigrants serves all of those goals.
This project has been on my mind for years, and it’s really important to me. I wrote a blog post about my reasoning and objectives. I would love to hear your thoughts.
A community for All About Berlin – blog post
How to message a landlord
I am subletting my apartment while I travel. I have made a list of mistakes people make when applying for an apartment. Around 1 in 3 messages were good, so refining your pitch can really improve your odds. I will update my flat search guide.
Incorporation guide
I am incorporating All About Berlin and writing a guide about creating a GmbH in Germany. It will be far more thorough than what’s currently out there. I am writing with the generous help from many Berlin entrepreneurs. You can follow my progress here.
What I learned this month
Chalking the door
Have you noticed these “20 + C + M + B + 26” markings over door frames? This is the Christian practice of “chalking the door”. “CMB” is short for “Christus mansionem benedicat”, or “may Christ bless this house”.
Anmeldung gotcha
You can only use the same Anmeldung/Abmeldung form for members of the same family. To register friends, room mates or an unmarried couple, you must use separate forms. I have updated my Anmeldung/Abmeldung guides and form fillers.
Thank you for the tip Katie, and best of luck in Australia!