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Vinz, where were you when I needed you? (via Film Junk)
For all the similarities I can find between Germany and the US, there is one small difference that makes a big impact. Doorknobs operate a bit differently in Deutschland. One side has the standard turnable handle to open the door, but the other side’s handle doesn’t turn. A key is needed to open the door from the outside (unless you flip a secret switch in some doors that allows you to simply push the door open).
Needless to say, ever since I moved into my apartment I’ve been paranoid of forgetting my keys inside. I never got too upset about it though because I figured I could just buzz one of my neighbors and they could call the super and he’d bring his keys and we’d be all set. It was always a constant fear but never a big problem.
And then it happened.
While running in and out of my apartment working on my motorcycle I left my keys in the apartment. Luckily my neighbor was on her balcony and I asked if she could call the super ’cause I locked myself out. No big deal.
Until she told me that the super doesn’t have any keys to the apartments.
Apparently in Germany if you want the Hausmeister to have your keys, you need to request it and it needs to be in your rent contract. Otherwise, the super isn’t allowed to have any apartment keys. I continually mentioned how crazy and unbelievable I found this.
My neighbor got out her phone book and called a locksmith. I explained that my already tight budget was even tighter because I’m trying to save up for a trip to the States at the end of summer. Unfortunately, attempts to pick the lock or jimmy the door open with a credit card failed. I had no choice.
The locksmith arrived and revealed that the cost would be almost three times what we were quoted on the phone. This did not sit well with me and things looked bleak (there was no way I could afford to pay what he wanted and still have money left to feed myself). It also didn’t sit well with my neighbor who proceeded to have an argument with the locksmith. After a call back to the dispatcher and an offer of a “special price” of more than twice what we were quoted, we thanked the locksmith for his time and sent him on his way. Luckily we were able to find a reasonably priced locksmith who came by fairly quickly, quoted a price less than the first, didn’t surprise us with any extra “emergency” charges, and opened the door in about 3 seconds.
The entire experience was very frustrating and humiliating for me. I found myself in a situation that is not very complicated and would totally be reported to the Better Business Bureau back in the States. What made it extremely difficult and upsetting is that it all occurred in a language that I don’t have a very good command of. A simple problem blown into huge proportions simply by a lack of language skill.
I could use the experience as motivation to develop my lacking language skill, but I’m not going to. What I take away from the ordeal is a better understanding as much as we don’t want to be or think we aren’t, we are very dependent on everyone around us. It’s not just our friends, but our neighbors, and even people who don’t know. The world is interconnected whether we see it or not and we’re never truly alone. When we need help, it’s there for us.
Pay it forward.
German efficiency?
jknitt
