Danny Amor's Online Library/Danny Amor's Online Library - Volume 1.iso/html/faqs/faq/german-faq

Text File | 1995-07-25 | 111.1 KB | 3,124 lines

Subject: FAQ: soc.culture.german Frequently Asked Questions (posted monthly)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.german,soc.answers,news.answers
From: [e-mail] (Ralf Vogelgesang)
Date: Wed, 2 Nov 1994 01:36:43 GMT

Archive-name: german-faq
Last-modified: 1994/11/01
Version: 1.14

  ______________________________________________________________________
  !!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   FAQ for SOC.CULTURE.GERMAN   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~!!
  !!                      -- general remarks --                       !!
  !!                                                                  !!
  !!                                                                  !!
  !!  All new lines are marked with a # sign as first character,      !!
  !!  open questions are marked by '?' as first character.  (Use      !!
  !!  as search string and send/post answers!)                        !!
  !!                                                                  !!
  !!                                                                  !!
  !!      DOWNLOADING the FAQ                                         !!
  !!                                                                  !!
  !!  via EMAIL:  (OK: 6/94)                                          !!
  !!     probably the easiest way to obtain the whole FAQ list is     !!
  !!     to send email                                                !!
  !!                                                                  !!
  !!         To: [e-mail]                             !!
  !!                                                                  !!
  !!     with message body:                                           !!
  !!                                                                  !!
  !!         send usenet/soc.culture.german/FAQ:_soc.culture.german_Fr!!
  !!         equently_Asked_Questions_(posted_monthly)                !!
  !!                                                                  !!
  !!    (make this one line!)                                         !!
  !!                                                                  !!
  !!                                                                  !!
  !!  via FTP:  (OK: 6/94)                                            !!
  !!    rtfm.mit.edu  /pub/usenet-by-group/soc.culture.german/FAQ:_soc!!
  !!       .culture.german_Frequently_Asked_Questions_(posted_monthly)!!
  !!                                                                  !!
  !!                                                                  !!
  !!  via GOPHER:  (OK: 2/94)                                         !!
  !!    == in EUROPE ==                                               !!
  !!    URL: gopher://gopher.win.tue.nl:70/00/internet/archives       !!
  !!         /usenet/news.answers/german-faq                          !!
  !!    == in NORTH-AMERICA ==                                        !!
  !!    URL: gopher://jupiter.sun.csd.unb.ca:70/00/FAQ/soc            !!
  !!         /news.answers.00526                                      !!
  !!                                                                  !!
  !!                                                                  !!
  !!  Ralf Vogelgesang                                                !!
  !!                               West Lafayette,  Tue, Nov  1 1994  !!
  !!                                                                  !!
  !!              Last Month's Contributors  --  Special Thanks to:   !!
  !!                                                                  !!
  !!                                                    Betak Juraj   !!
  !!                                                     Harald Lux   !!
  !!                                                 Rainer Schulze   !!
  !!                                                  Markus Heupel   !!
  !!                                           Rudiger Pfeilsticker   !!
  !!                                                Robert A. Oeser   !!
  !!                                                 Beate Herrmann   !!
  !!                                         Wulf-Burkhard Goehmann   !!
  !!                                               Catherine Senger   !!
  !!__________________________________________________________________!!
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


                _______________________________________
                !!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~!!
                !!                                   !!
                !!    FAQ for SOC.CULTURE.GERMAN     !!
                !!                                   !!
                !!___________________________________!!
                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


         @ ....CITY              !_      __!     __/    @ KOPENHAGEN
         \ ...river                `!   !_\~~~~! !     /~
         # ....lake                !     / `\_ ! `~\   \   o s t s e e
                                 !-!    `!    ~` ___;~'~-
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        n o r d                    `\_        ,-'_ ,-~-~    `~---___--~
                  ..............  /~~~`\ HAMBURG~ ~               !
       s e e   ..',------.!~~~~~U\!     `\@_                       \
             ,'  /        U       !weser    `~-_ elbe          oder/
             /\ !_                 @\           `-_              /'
      AMSTER! ,' _!            BREMEN!             `\    BERLIN  \_
      DAM  /'@`-'                    /  HANNOVER     !       @     !
         /_      rhein              |_   @          /               \___
           ~~~~~----_                 !             \___
              DUESSEL`,  @@ RUHR      !             elbe~`\
                DORF @!@@@@ POTT       !                @  `\
         @             @@                           LEIPZIG  `\
        BRUESSEL       `@KOELN                                 `@ DRESDEN
                    BONN`@_
                          _!   FRANKFURT                          PRAG
                        _- `\___@_     _    _                       @
                 mosel_-      `\  ~!__! `\_! ~~
                               !    main      NUERNBERG
                  SAAR @       `,               @
                   BRUECKEN   ,'  STUTTGART          donau
           NANCY            ,'      @           ___--~~~~-_
              @            /                _-~~           ~~--__
                     rhein'           __--~~                     ~~@--_-_
                        !       ----~~            @              LINZ
                        `\___,-----### boden  MUENCHEN      @
                    BASEL @     @    ### see              SALZBURG
                              ZUERICH            @
                                             INNSBRUCK

  1  Introduction

  2  Geographical Information

  3  Mail Order
  3.1.  Books
# 3.2.  Newspapers
  3.3.  Audio / Video Tapes
  3.4.  Miscellaneous

  4  Addresses / Phone Numbers
# 4.1.  Consulates / Embassies
  4.2.  Goethe Institutes
  4.3.  Universities
  4.4.  Miscellaneous

  5  Short-Wave Radio / Satellite TV
  5.1.  Deutsche Welle
# 5.2.  Regional German Radio Stations via Shortwave
  5.3.  TV via Satellite
  5.4.  Swiss Radio; Radio Austria

  6  Phone System
  6.1.  Public Phones / Phone Cards in Germany
  6.2.  Nation-Wide Phone-Numbers (Emergency, Information)
  6.3.  Getting Phonenumbers via Internet
  6.4.  Adapters
  6.5.  Calling Germany Collect from Abroad?
  6.6.  Using US Phone Cards in Germany?

  7  German zip codes (Postleitzahlen, PLZ)
  7.1.  Finding PLZs on the Net
  7.2.  The New Zip-Code System
  7.3.  The Old Zip-Code System

  8  (Public) Transportation in Germany
  8.1.  Railways
  8.1.1.  Deutsche Bundesbahn AG
  8.1.2.  Which Train to Use
  8.1.3.  Ticket Prices
  8.1.4.  International Addresses for Railway Travelers
  8.1.5.  Timetables; Travel Information
  8.1.6.  Railservers: Free Access to Timetables on the Internet
  8.1.7.  The "Poor Man's Version" of the "Kursbuch"
  8.1.8.  Fly and Ride (a Train)
  8.1.9.  Trains and Bicycles
  8.2.  Country-Wide/Continent-Wide Bus Travel like Greyhound?
  8.3.  Regional Bus Service
  8.4.  Regional Hiking Service ("Mitfahrzentralen")
  8.5.  Local Transport (Within Cities)
  8.6.  You mean I *Can* Get Around On My Bicycle?

  9  Email in Germany
  9.1.  Finding Email Addresses
  9.2.  Getting Email Access
  9.2.1.  Universities
  9.2.2.  Lists of Public Unix Systems
  9.2.3.  Private Networks
# 9.2.4.  Your Local BBS
  9.3.  List of Anonymous FTP Servers in Germany

  10  Electronic Language
  10.1.  Dictionaries (Word Lists from the Net)
  10.2.  Encyclopedias, "Lexika"
  10.3.  Translation Programs; Spell Checkers; Thesauri
  10.4.  Tutorial/Educational Software

  11  Fax Numbers in Germany

  12  German News
  12.1.  Subscription via gopher/email
# 12.2.  on WWW
  12.3.  Searching the Germnews Archive Notebooks

  13  Ich lebe zur Zeit nicht in Deutschland.  Wie kann ich...
  13.1.  ...meinen auslaendischen akademischen Titel uebertragen?
  13.2.  ...mein Wahlrecht wahrnehmen?

  14  What else is on the Net?
  14.1.  "de" Newsgroups
  14.2.  soc.culture.german FAQ List on WWW
  14.3.  World-Wide Weather
  14.4.  German Libraries
  14.5.  German Soccer Results
  14.6.  Text of the Grundgesetz
  14.7.  German History on the Net
  14.8.  German Universities
  14.9.  Tell me about it!  A German Oracle
  14.10.  German teletext (ARD/ZDF)
# 14.11.  German teletext (ARD/ZDF)

  15  Money Talk
# 15.1.  Sending Money To and From Germany
  15.2.  How to get German Stock Data, Exchange Rates?
  15.3.  How much is Gasoline in Germany?
  15.4.  VAT in Germany?

  16  Questions and Answers
  16.1.  How to Write Umlauts in soc.culture.german?
  16.2.  Taking American Electronic Equipment to Germany?
  16.2.1.  Importing Phones to Germany?
  16.2.2.  Video Tapes? -- Different Video Norms!
  16.3.  What presents to take to Germany?
  16.4.  Buying a Car for Short Period instead of EuRail?
# 16.5.  What German Books for Children?
  16.6.  How do I Find Out About my Family Name?

[To skip to a particular question, search for the question number
followed by two blanks.]

  1  Introduction

  This posting contains answers to frequently asked questions in
  soc.culture.german.  The answers are neither complete nor tested by me.
  All information in this FAQ is free and everybody should feel
  encouraged to distribute it.

  Please check this posting first before you ask a question in
  soc.culture.german.

  Input to this FAQ is always welcome.  Please refer to
  [e-mail] if you have questions about the FAQ.

  The FAQ was prepared by collecting different postings and email
  messages.


  2  Geographical Information

  The 16 Federal States

  State                    Area [km^2]      Population         Capital
  Schleswig-Holstein          15731.33         2679575         Kiel
  Hamburg                       755.31         1688785         Hamburg
  Niedersachsen               47363.59         7577520         Hannover
  Bremen                        404.23          685845         Bremen
  Nordrhein-Westfalen         34070.68        17679160         Duesseldorf
  Hessen                      21114.35         5922639         Wiesbaden
  Rheinland-Pfalz             19845.78         3880965         Mainz
  Baden-Wuerttemberg          35751.39        10148708         Stuttgart
  Bayern                      70553.97        11770257         Muenchen
  Saarland                     2570.01         1084007         Saarbruecken
  Berlin                        889.10         3465748         Berlin
  Brandenburg                 29052.53         2548527         Potsdam
  Mecklenburg-Vorpommern      23598.21         1864815         Schwerin
  Sachsen                     18337.74         4640997         Dresden
  Sachsen-Anhalt              20442.92         2796981         Magdeburg
  Thueringen                  16251.36         2545808         Erfurt
  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
  total                      356732.50        80980343         Berlin
  residence of the parliament is still Bonn
  [12/92]


  3  Mail Order

  In this section you will find addresses of mail order stores which sell
  books or tapes either in German or about Germany (or both).  This list
  is not necessarily based on the maintainer's personal experience.  The
  maintainer of this list is not responsible for the accuracy of this
  information.

  You will find general mail order stores below.


  3.1.  Books

  German Information Center
  (see 3.2.!)

  Der Buchwurm
  (German Books, Music Tapes, CD's, Journal Subscriptions, etc.)
  PO.  Box 268
  Templeton, CA  93465
  tel:  [phone]
  fax:  [phone]
  [6/94]

  Mary S.  Rosenberg, Inc.
  1841 Broadway
  New York, NY 10023
  tel:  [phone]
  fax:  [phone]

    Mail order, but no credit cards!  However, checks do not need to
    clear your bank before they send merchandise.
  [6/94]

  Schoenhof's Foreign Books
  76A Mount Auburn Street
  Cambridge, MA  02138
  tel:  [phone]
  fax:  [phone]

    Accepts Visa, MC, and AMEX.
    French, German, Italian, and Spanish books
  [6/94]

  Adler's Foreign Books, Inc.
  8220 N. Christiana Ave
  Skokie, Illinois 60076
  tel:  1-800-ADLERS-1

    Accepts major credit cards,
    no current catalogue!
  [6/94]

  Buch-Brueche
  96 Sweet Road
  Ballston Lake, NY 12019
  Phone and Fax: [phone]
    They have a very good selection of German language
    books, videos, cassette tapes, CD's, and magazines,
    at reasonable prices.  A catalog is available.
  [7/94]

  International Book Import Service, Inc.
  2995 Wall Triana Highway, Suite B4
  Huntsville, Alabama 35824-1532
  [6/94]

  Continental Book Company
  80-00 Cooper Avenue
  Bldg.  #29
  Glendale, NY 11385
  [6/94]

  MAIL ORDER KAISER
  Postfach 401209
  80712 Muenchen
  Germany
  tel:  [phone]

    Mail order bookstore in Germany.
    Delivery worldwide at German domestic prices.
    Monthly newsletters.
  [6/94]

  ATS (Associated Technical Services)
  855 Bloomfield Ave.
  Glen Ridge, NJ 07028

    Technical Dictionaries
  [6/94]

  2001
  Ferdinand-Porsche-Str.  39
  Postfach 61 06 37
  60348 Frankfurt/Main
  tel:  [phone]
  fax:  [phone]

  or:

  Kantstr.  41
  10625 Berlin 12
  tel:  [phone]

    They deliver only to European countries.  A Bill will be included
    on delivery.  The value of an order to abroad must be above 50 DM.
    Only books are delivered abroad, no CDs, tapes or records.
  [6/94]

  Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft
  Hindenburgstrasse 40
  Postfach 11 15 53
  64230 Darmstadt 11
  Germany
  tel:  [phone]
  fax:  [phone]
  [6/94]

  Carl Hanser Verlag
  Postfach 86 04 20
  81631 Muenchen

    Take major credit cars, and offer books from BASIC programming to
    Object-Oriented methods.  Nice little catalog - these are the
    distinctive bright red books with blue trim.
  [6/94]

  "Die Weisse Rose"
  Rozengracht 166
  Amsterdam
  The Netherlands
  tel:  [phone]
  Opening hours:  Tue-Fri 10-18, Sat 11-17
  [6/94]

  Deutsches Komittee fuer elektronische Buecher
  (German Electronic Book Committee GEBC)
  Bertelsmann Electronic Publishing
  Fax: [phone]
  [7/94]

  Bibliographisches Institut & F.A. Brockhaus AG
  Fax: [phone]
  [7/94]

  Langenscheidt KG
  Fax: [phone]
  [7/94]

  dtv (Deutscher Taschenbuch-Verlag)
  Friedrichstrasse 1a
  80801 Muenchen
  [7/94]

  Fischer Taschenbuch Verlag
  Hedderichstrasse 114
  60596 Frankfurt/Main
  [7/94]

  Suhrkamp Verlag
  Lindenstrasse 29-35
  Postfach 10 19 45
  60325 Frankfurt/Main
  [7/94]

  Verlag Philipp Reclam jun. GmbH
  Postfach 1349
  71254 Ditzingen
  [7/94]

  Verlag R.Piper GmbH & Co. KG
  Georgenstrasse 4
  80799 Muenchen
  [7/94]

  Diogenes Verlag AG
  Sprecherstrasse 8
  CH-8032 Zuerich
  [7/94]



# 3.2.  Newspapers


  GLP International (German Language Publications)
  560 Sylvan Avenue   tel. [phone]
  Englewood Cliffs         201 871 1010
  NJ 07632            email: [e-mail]

    You can subscribe to many German publications, daily and
    weekly papers, as well as monthly magazines (altogether more
    than 150.)  Ask for their catalog.  They offer sample copies
    for most of the titles (for a price).


  Deutschland Nachrichten / The Week in Germany

  The German Information Center
  950 Third Ave.
  New York, NY 10022
  tel:  [phone]

    "Deutschland Nachrichten" or its English version "The Week in
    Germany" is a free 8 page flyer.  It features selected articles
    from various German newspapers, soccer results, and the $/DM
    exchange rate.  The German Information Center also distributes
    lots of other information (books, maps, ...)  for free.  They
    are a particularly helpful resource for those who may have to
    prepare a school presentation about Germany.


  Der Spiegel

  (see GLP International above)

    Published weekly, subscription price for the USA is $280 p.a.
#   available via URL:
#     http://www.hamburg.germany.eu.net:80/nda/spiegel/
#   For an excellent index that provides lots of pointers to many
#   online available mags also check out:
#     http://www.hamburg.germany.eu.net/nda/spiegel/medien.html
# [ok 10/94]

  Die Zeit

  Die Zeit
  29 Coldwater Road             PO.  Box 9868
  Toronto, ON                   Englewood, NJ
  M3B 1Y8                       07631-1123
  Canada                        USA

    Costs: $54 for 1 year (52 issues)
    "Die Zeit" is available either via air mail or as international
    edition via surface mail from Canada.  The international edition
    is much cheaper but contains less pages.


  The German Tribune

    does not exist any more ...


  Die Nordamerikanische Wochenpost

  Die Nordamerikanische Wochenpost
  1120 E.  Long Lake Road
  Troy, MI 48098

    3 month trial subscription: $15, one year $42.95

    This is a general interest newspaper.  The front page generally
    features news from/about Germany.  There are special pages for
    regional, domestic American news of interest to German speakers
    (e.g.  Florida, New York, Chicago/Milwaukee, and Detroit).
    Additionally, there's a special page for news from/about
    Austria.  All the major sections that you would expect in any
    newspaper are represented:  politics, sports, the economy,
    fashion, cartoons, features, editorials, etc.  There are also
    several short-stories and a serialized novel.  There's a list of
    German-language radio broadcasts for North America (US and
    Ontario, Canada).  It also contains a list of German-American
    associations.


  Tages-Anzeiger

  Tages-Anzeiger
  Abonnentendienst
  Postfach
  CH-8021 Zuerich
  fax:  [phone]

    prices (Sfr) for all countries, first four issues free.

                air mail    surface mail
    3 months       41.74           33.75
    6 months       78.50           66.50
    1 year        135.00          111.00

    Tages-Anzeiger is one of the major Swiss daily newspapers
    (besides Neue Zuericher Zeitung).  Their international edition
    is published weekly.


  German Life

  Zeitgeist Publishing
  1 Corporate Drive
  Grantsville, MD  21536
  tel:  [phone]
  fax:  [phone]

    Their introductory subscription is 6 issues for $15.95
    It seems commercial but with beautiful slick paper and some
    interesting articles.   An old map of North America all in
    German (Virginien, Pennsylvanien, Kanada, Chikago, ObererSee,
    etc...)  articles about Berlin after WW II (e.g. die
    Truuemmerfrauen),  Berlin in the 20's, etc   [5/94]


  Washington Journal (est. 1859)

  1113 National Press Building
  Washington, DC 20045-1853
  tel. [phone]
  fax. [phone]

    German language weekly with European news, features, sports, ads of
    German clubs etc.
    Yearly subscription cost $32.00 to $34.00 in US; US$40 in Canada
    email for complimentary issue:  [e-mail]



  Others:
    Stern, Hamburg    [e-mail]
    Focus             [e-mail]


  3.3.  Audio / Video Tapes

  VIDEO:

  (For conversion of videotapes (NTSC <-> PAL) see 16.2.2.)

  German Language Video Center
  7625-27 Pendleton Pike
  Indianapolis, Indiana 46226
  tel:  [phone]

    free catalogue


  AUDIO:

  The Olivia and Hill Press
  PO.  Box 7396
  Ann Arbor, Michigan 48107
  tel:  [phone]
  fax:  [phone]

    Selection of German-language cassette recordings of novels,
    plays, and radio plays, e.g.  Duerrenmatt's "Der Richter und sein
    Henker".  Free catalogue.


  Schau ins Land
  PO.  Box 158067
  Nashville, TN 37215-8067
  tel:  [phone]

    Monthly audio magazine of news, stories, music, etc.  Comes with
    a written transcription including a vocabulary glossary.
    Approx.  $120/yr.  in the US.


  3.4.  Miscellaneous

  Quelle:

  W.  Hoeffken
  Representative for QUELLE
  PO.  Box 999
  Oceanside, NY.  11572

    The catalogue is $20, which is refundable with the first order
    (DM 100 minimum).  Payment can be made with a personal check drawn
    on a US.  bank or with a credit card.  English translations of
    the product descriptions are provided.


  4  Addresses / Phone Numbers

# 4.1.  Consulates / Embassies

  The Consulates are very helpful in getting information about anything
  concerning Germany (travel, politics, laws ...)  They're very
  thorough and supply lots of information in response to requests.  The
  German Information Center (see 3.2.) is sponsored by them.

  There is a list of all embassies/consulates in the US.  You get it
  from the Department of State.  Its title is "Foreign Consular Offices
  in the United States" and it contains addresses, names of the staff
  and phone numbers.  You might find the booklet in most public
  libraries.

  Consulate General of the
  Federal Republic of Germany
  One Union Square, Suite 2500
  600 University Street
  Seattle, WA 98101

  The German Embassy
  4645 Reservoir Road NW
  Washington, DC  20007

  Consulate General of the FRG
  2100 Edison Plaza
  660 Plaza Drive
  Detroit, MI 48226-1849
  tel:  [phone]
  fax:  [phone]

  Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany
  460 Park Ave.
  New York, NY
  tel:  [phone]

  Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany
  6222 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 500
  Los Angeles, CA 90048
  tel:  [phone]

  Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany
  Miami, FL
? street, phone


  Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany
  676 N Michigan Ave.
  Chicago
  tel:  [phone]
  Office hours:  Mon-Fri 8.30-12

  Deutsche Botschaft Singapur:
  Far East Shopping Centre
  545 Orchard Road #14-01
  Singapore 9124
  tel:  [phone]
  fax:  [phone]

  Konsulat der Bundesrepublik Deutschland
  Via Solferino 40
  20121 Milano, Italy
  tel:  [phone]
  fax:  [phone]

  Embajada de la Republica Federal de Alemania
  Agustinas 785 Piso 7 y 8
  Casilla 9949
  Santiago de Chile
  tel:  [phone]
  fax:  [phone]
  Office hours:  9-12 am

  Embajada de la Republica Federal de Alemania
  Villanueva 1055
  CC 2979
  Buenos Aires, Argentina
  tel:  [phone]

  Embajada de la Republica Federal de Alemania
  La Cumparsita 1417/1435
  CC 20014
  Montevideo, Uruguay
  tel:  [phone]

  Embajada de la Republica Federal de Alemania
  Av.  Venezuela 241
  CC 471
  Asuncion, Paraguay
  tel:  [phone]

  Honorarkonsulat der Bundesrepublik Dtld.
  Jorge Memmel 631
  Encarnacion, Paraguay
  tel:  [phone]

  Honorarkonsulat der Bundesrepublik Deutschland
  208-310 Donald Street
  Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
  tel: [phone]
  weekdays 9:00-12:00

# Botschaft der Bundesrepublik Deutschland
# 23 Belgrave Square
# SW1, London, UK
# Tel.: [phone]


  4.2.  Goethe Institutes

  The various "Goethe Institutes" are funded by the German government
  to provide an opportunity for people outside Germany to become
  acquainted with German culture.  They offer exhibitions, movies, and
  German classes (of which readers of s.c.g report that they are "intense
  but really make you learn!")  To get more information, call one of the
  following:
    Ann Arbor             [phone]
    Atlanta               [phone]
    Boston                [phone]
    Chicago               [phone]
    Cincinnati            [phone]
    Houston               [phone]
    Los Angeles           [phone]
    New York              [phone]
    San Francisco         [phone]
    Seattle               [phone]
    St. Louis             [phone]
    Washington DC.        [phone]

    Montreal              [phone]
    Toronto               [phone]
    Vancouver             [phone]

    Kyoto                 75 761218-889
    Osaka                 6 3413051-53
    Tokyo                 3 3584-3201 or 3 3584-3267

    Amsterdam             [phone]  (Herengracht 470)

    Singapore             [phone]

    Santiago de Chile     [phone]

    Montevideo, Uruguay   [phone]

    Wien, (Vienna) Austria +43/222/512-39-82/0 (Stallburggasse 2)
    (Goethe-Institut der Oesterr.-Amerikanischen Ges.)

  For those who consider a "total workout" in language training, contact
  one of the Goethe Institutes in Germany for their courses ;-) via the
  central registration at

    Goethe-Institut           tel: [phone]
    Zentrale Einschreibung    fax: [phone]
    Helene-Weber-Allee 1
    Postfach 190419
    D-80604 Muenchen

  Institutes can be found in:

    Berlin       Frankfurt   Muenchen
    Bonn         Freiburg    Purau
    Boppard      Goettingen  Prien
    Bremen       Iserlohn    Rothenburg
    Duesseldorf  Mannheim    Schwaebisch Hall
    [6/94]                   Staufen


  4.3.  Universities

  The most accessible listing of the many German universities is probably
  found in 'The World of Learning', which should be in the reference
  section of the libraries of most unis in the English speaking world.
  It lists Universities, faculties, departments, affiliated organizations,
  as well as academic staff with respective general areas of specialization
  (eg. structural mechanics).  [3/94]

  Online you may find some useful information in gopher: try
    URL: gopher://serversun.mdv.gwdg.de:70
         /11/.UNIVERSITY/Universitaeten in Deutschland
  for an alphabetical list of universities you can further explore.
  [6/94]


  4.4.  Miscellaneous

  Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
  Kennedyallee 40
  53175 Bonn 2

    They are something like the NSF in the USA.

  Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst
  Kennedyallee 50
  53175 Bonn 2
  tel:  [phone]

  German Academic Exchange Office
  950 Third Avenue, NY 10022
  tel: [phone]
  fax: [phone]
  Email: [e-mail]

    Very important for foreign students who want to study in Germany
    and also for German students who want to study in another country.
    They also have an office in New York (check the phonebook for
    German Academic Exchange Service)

  Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes
  Mirbachstr.  7
  53173 Bonn 1
  tel.:  [phone]

    An important source of scholarships for German students abroad and
    in Germany.

  Konferenz der Kultusminister
  Postfach 22 40
  53012 Bonn

    This is the place where they decide about transferability of foreign
    academic degrees.  Maybe they answer questions.
?    Any experience how helpful this address is?

  Representative of German Industry and Trade
  One Farragut Square South
  Washington, DC.  20006
  tel:  [phone]

  Zentralstelle fuer Arbeitsvermittlung
  Feuerbachstrasse 42-46
  60325 Frankfurt/Main
  tel:  [phone]
  fax:  [phone]

    This is an important address for people who want to work in Germany.

  Association for International Practical Training (AIPT)
  217 American City Building
  Columbia, MD 21044-3492
  tel:  [phone]

  Chamber of Commerce (Industrie- und Handelskammer)

  The German-American Chamber of Commerce
  465 California Street, Suite 910
  San Francisco, CA  94104
  tel:  [phone]

  German-American Chamber of Commerce
  104 S.  Michigan Ave.  Suite 600
  Chicago, IL 60603-5978
  tel:  [phone]

  German-American Chamber of Commerce
  909 Fannin Suite 3750
  Suite 3418
  Houston, TX 77010
  tel:  [phone]

  German-American Chamber of Commerce
  3250 Wilshire Blvd.
  Suite 1112
  Los Angeles, CA 90010
  tel:  [phone]

  German-American Chamber of Commerce
  666 Fifth Avenue
  New York, NY 10103
  tel:  [phone]

  German-American Chamber of Commerce
  Peachtree Center Harris Tower
  233 Peachtree Street NE
  Suite 2701
  Atlanta, GA 30303
  tel:  [phone]

  Camera de Comercio Uruguayo-Alemana
  Zamala 1379 Piso 4
  CC 1499
  Montevideo
  tel:  405813

  Deutsch-Paraguayanische Industrie- und Handelskammer
  Camera de la Industria y del Comercio
  Juan O'Leary 409
  Estrella Ed.  Parapito Piso 2 Oficina 201
  CC 201
  Asuncion
  tel:  446594

  Deutsch-Argentinische Industrie- und Handelskammer
  Camera de la Industria y del Comercio
  Florida 547
  Buenos Aires
  tel:  [phone]

    The Chambers of Commerce maintain a list of the German companies
    in the respective countries along with their addresses which you can
    purchase.  The price varies according to how detailed a list you
    wish to have.

  Deutsches Jugendherbergswerk
  Bismarckstrasse 8
  Postfach 1455
  D - 32756 Detmold
  tel: [phone]
  fax: [phone]
  Germnany

    For national and international directories of youth hostels.


  The Conference of Americans of Germanic Heritage
  P.O. Box 20554
  San Jose, CA 95160

  tel: [phone]
  fax: [phone]
  email: [e-mail] [7/94]



  5  Short-Wave Radio / Satellite TV

  5.1.  Deutsche Welle

  The official German short-wave station is the "Deutsche Welle".  It
  broadcasts worldwide in a variety of languages and also TV, using
  various satellites.  It's there not so much for Germans in Germany, but
  for those people abroad (not only Germans) who would like to keep
  in touch with Germany.
  Radio Deutsche Welle gladly sends out a monthly magazine with
  times/frequencies and stories on broadcasts.  If you would like to
  subscribe (for free) contact them at:

    Deutsche Welle
    Oeffentlichkeitsarbeit
    50588 Koeln       tel.  [phone]
    Germany           fax.  [phone]

    Deutsche Welle               Deutsche Welle
    Studio Washington            190 000 Sankt Petersburg
    P.O.B. 50641                 Glawpotschtamt
    Washington, DC 20091-0641,   Abonentnyj jaschtschik 596
    USA                          Nemezkaja Wolna
    tel.  [phone]         Russia
    tel.  [phone]

  TV: "deutsche Welle Nachrichten", News from Germany (not only about
  Germany)
  North-Americans find it on Mind Extension University (you will need
  cable), daily at 5:00pm ET, three blocks of 30 minutes: German-English-
  Spanish.
  DW-TV Berlin is on-line; their internet addresses are
    [e-mail]   [e-mail]
  and for WWW-enthusiasts they provide the following URL:
    http://www-dw.gmd.de:80/deutsch/
  [ok 10/94]

  Radio: Usually Radio Deutsche Welle comes in loud and clear.

     6075 ( 0:00- 6:00)
     6085 ( 4:00- 6:00)
     6100 ( 0:00- 6:00)
     9700 ( 4:00- 6:00)
     9730 (22:00- 2:00)
     9735 ( 2:00- 4:00)
    11795 ( 0:00- 4:00)
    11810 ( 4:00- 8:00)
    13780 (22:00- 2:00)
    13790 (14:00-16:00)
    15270 ( 0:00- 2:00)
    17715 (12:00-19:00)
    17860 (18:00- 0:00)

  All times are UTC.
  [2/94]


# 5.2.  Regional German Radio Stations via Shortwave

  Here are short-wave frequencies for some of Germany's "regional"
  programs.  The stations are nationally operated and mostly serve
  one of the federal states.

  7265 kHz  SWF 3  Suedwestfunk / Rheinland-Pfalz and parts of Baden-
  Wuerttemberg

    Suedwestfunk
    Postfach 820
    76485 Baden-Baden

  6190 kHz  Sender Freies Berlin & Radio Bremen

    Radio Bremen
    Heinrich-Hertz-Str.  13
    28211 Bremen

    Sender Freies Berlin
    Masurenallee 8-14
    14057 Berlin

  6005 kHz  RIAS Berlin (100 kW)

    RIAS has gone together with Deutschlandfunk to become "Deutschland-
    Radio."  There are two stations now; the one that used to be RIAS has
    become "DS-Kultur"  [9/94]
#         Deutschland-Radio
#         Hans-Rosenthal-Platz
#         10825 Berlin
#         Tel.: [phone]

  6030 kHz Sueddeutscher Rundfunk / Baden-Wuerttemberg (20 kW)

    Sueddeutscher Rundfunk
    Neckarstr.  230
    70190 Stuttgart

  6085 kHz Bayerischer Rundfunk (100 kW)

    Bayerischer Rundfunk
    Rundfunkplatz 1
    80335 Muenchen

  Consult the "World Radio and TV Handbook" for a complete listing of all
  short-wave stations.  The book is updated annually and can be found in
  many libraries.


  5.3.  TV via Satellite

  Europe: EUTELSAT II-F1 (13 deg.  East)
          Transponder 27, 11,163 GHz,
          vert.  pol,
          15-05 UTC, PAL.
          sound: 6.65 MHz
  This is a low power satellite; Deutsche Welle broadcasts not for
  Germans in Germany and so it broadcasts not on the hot bird ASTRA
  satellite (see below)

  German TV in Europe / ASTRA

  There is a hot bird ASTRA TV satellite with nearly all German TV
  programs (public or commercial) but not with Deutsche Welle on it.  An
  equipment to get all these German TV programs is much cheaper in many
  areas than an equipment to get Deutsche Welle.  Ask local Germans or
  your satellite dish dealer for ASTRA service.
  [2/94]

  North/South America: INTELSAT-K (21.4 deg.  West)
          Transponder H7, 11,605 GHz,
          North America: hor. pol.
          South America: vert. pol.
          Min. Dish Diameter: 1.3m or 4ft
  DEUTSCHE WELLE tv:
          16-06 UTC, NTSC-M
          Sound: 6.8 MHz
  DEUTSCHE WELLE radio:
          German Program (stereo):   a: 7.38/7.56 Mhz
          Foreign Language Programs: b: 7.74 Mhz

  North America, Caribic: SATCOM C-4 (135 deg.  West)
          Transponder 5V, 3,8 GHz,
          pol. vert.,
  DEUTSCHE WELLE tv
          16-06 UTC, NTSC-M
          Sound: 6.8 MHz
  DEUTSCHE WELLE radio
          German Program (stereo):   a: 7.38/7.56 Mhz
          Foreign Language Programs: b: 7.74 Mhz



  Europlus Satellite TV:

    EUROPLUS is an inexpensive satellite reception system designed to
    receive LIVE! European broadcasting. That broadcasting is mainly
    German and Italian but in the next two years, it is expected to carry
    several other languages.

    Programming is available as video, radio and teletext to all areas of
    the United States (East of the Mississippi), Central and South America
    by the use of spot beams.

    The German programming currently consists of Deutsche Welle, ZDF and
    3SAT. There are also numerous radio broadcasts and the news teletext
    is a 24 hour service. The Italian programming consists mainly of RAI
    (radio & TV) and SWF3. All functions of the system such as changing
    channels, changing languages, audio, video, radio, teletext, volume
    and text control are handily accomplished with a 6 button remote
    control for simplicity. There are currently no subscription charges
    and none are anticipated for at least a year, when they are expected
    to run @ $10 per month or $100 per year, per language received.
    The costs of buying the hardware run around US$900.

    GOOD SHEPHARD MARKETING, a division of:
    Atlanta Antenna, Inc. / PO Box 76247 / Atlanta,  GA  30328
    Cliff Shephard / Compuserve 73667,1502 / FAX [phone]
  [10/94]


  5.4.  Swiss Radio; Radio Austria

  For Information about Switzerland you might want to listen to
  "Schweizer Radio International"

  Swiss Radio International
  PO Box CH-3000
  Bern 15, Switzerland


  For Austria:

  Radio Austria
  A-1136
  Vienna, Austria


  6  Phone System

  More complete information:

  get a copy of the "de-telefon-faq" from
    rtfm.mit.edu  /pub/usenet-by-group/de.comm.misc/d.c.m_F_F_u_A_r_u_T

  The law:

  The German phone system is operated by the German Telecom.  There are
  no private long-distance or local phone companies.  Every phone, fax or
  modem you connect to a phone line needs to be approved by the German
  Telecom.  Approved appliances have a special sticker with a BZT number
  on the back.

  The German Telecom (Deutsche Bundespost Telekom):

  They are a state-owned company which split from the German mail
  (Bundespost) a couple of years ago.  They try to act like a private
  company but don't quite measure up because of lacking competition and
  for various historical reasons.  Changes relating to the introduction
  of European Community laws can be expected.


  6.1.  Public Phones / Phone Cards in Germany

  Public phones in Germany work more or less like everywhere, with a few
  exceptions ("of course"):

  There are now quite a lot of card phones in Germany.  Unlike American
  card phones, they use debit cards.  German phone cards can be bought at
  any post office and most money exchanges at major train stations.  They
  have a given value (12 DM for 40 units or 50 DM for 200 units).  Once
  you have used up this value you must get a new card.  All 0130 numbers
  are toll free.  At public phones you might have to insert 30 Pfennigs
  (the minimum price for a call)...  but you will get your money back.

  At card phones you can't use money.  If you have neither
  change nor a phone card there are nice public phones at post offices.
  You ask to make a call and pay at the counter after you are finished.
  Some of them have a (tiny) desk next to them.

  There is one special phone card which allows you to have the calls you
  make added to your home phone bill.  But you need an account at a
  German bank.  The annual fee for this card is about 15 DM.

  See also 16 for more on international aspects of
  telecommunication in Germany!


  6.2.  Nation-Wide Phone-Numbers (Emergency, Information)

  There are two nation-wide emergency telephone numbers:
    110 -- Police
    112 -- Ambulance and/or the Fire Fighters
  The numbers are toll free; although, in some older payphones you
  may have to insert coins, but they will be returned after the call.
  In many phone booths you will find special emergency switch boxes
  which can be usued by simply pulling a lever.  [5/94]
    19444 -- city-netz (see 8.4.)
    19419 -- Bundesbahn travel information (see 8.1.5.)


  6.3.  Getting Phonenumbers via Internet

  (Sorry to disappoint you!)  Not much to tell: only users of
  Btx/DatexJ may call
    *ETB#
  and do a local search in the German white&yellow pages, as well as
  the Telefax and Datex-J registers.  Current rate: DM 0.20/minute.
  The nation-wide search under *ETV# is currently de-activated
  for legal reason.

  If you are looking for an Austrian phone number, you can use the
  following BTX-gateway:
    http://iicm.tu-graz.ac.at/CBTX
  or
    telnet fiicmds06.tu-graz.ac.at  (login as etb)
  [6/94]


  6.4.  Adapters

  There are cheap(!) adapters available (between 2 and 20 DM.)  To build
  one yourself is most likely not cost efficient.  Be aware of possible
  legal conflicts.  Your phone is more likely to be illegal than the
  homemade adapter.

  connection scheme:

         American plug                     German TAE-F or TAE-N plug
     +-------------                            -----
     |           * yellow      4              /    /
    |            * green       3          4     //    3
    |            * red         2              /    /
     |           * black       1                //    2
     +-------------                           /    /
                                                //    1
    for regular voice service                 /    /
    connect green/red only!                   -----
    connect them to the two wires that come into
    your house (if you can make out which they are)
    yellow/black are for data transmission devices.
    impedance is no problem.


  6.5.  Calling Germany Collect from Abroad?

  The most convenient way for German tourists to call home is the
  'Deutschland direkt' Line.  You can reach it toll-free from the US at
  1-800-292-0049.  A German speaking operator will connect your call.
  Collect calls are possible.  It is also possible to use a special phone
  card and password.  Ask your local 'Telefonladen' for details.

  If you want to call a German '130' number from the US, you need to call
  either the above mentioned service or your long distance operator.
  '130' numbers are Germany's version of the US '800' numbers.  But if
  you call them from another country you will have to pay the usual fee
  for operator asst.  long distance calls.  Some of the German '130'
  numbers are linked to US '800' numbers so you can actually call them
  for free in the US.

  It is also not possible to reach US '800' numbers from Germany.  You
  will have to use an operator.  If you own a US phone card use one of
  the numbers listed (see 6.6.)  Otherwise use the German
  long distance operator.


  6.6.  Using US Phone Cards in Germany?

  If you have an American phone card you can get connected to an English
  speaking operator from any phone by dialing:

  - AT&T Direct:    0130-0010  (operator)
                    0130-0011  (phone cards)
                    0130-850 058  (customer asst.)
  - MCI Direct:     0130-0012
  - US Sprint:      0130-0013
  - Canada Direct:  0130-0014

  The following countries offer an equivalent service by dialing:

  0130-800-### (### is the international access code.  For two digit
                access codes dial 0##.  Example: Australia 0130-800-061)

  Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Iceland,
  Israel, Italy, Japan, Rep.  of Korea, Luxembourg, Malaysia, New
  Zealand, Philippines, Portugal, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey,
  United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Finland, France, Hungary,
  Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Denmark

  Many other international long distance companies provide the same
  service.  Ask your long distance carrier for the right number.


  7  German zip codes (Postleitzahlen, PLZ)

  7.1.  Finding PLZs on the Net

  = ftp =

  You can retrieve the original databases from various sites:
    ftp.germany.eu.net:/pub/packages/plz
    info2.rus.uni-stuttgart.de:/pub/misc/datasets/PLZ

  = gopher =

  The easiest way to get the new zip codes are Gopher servers.
  They are offered at:

  gopher.informatik.tu-muenchen.de
    (there you will also find a map - GIF format - showing the new zip
    code areas)                                             (OK: 02/94)

  gopher.rog.rwth-aachen.de                                  (OK: 01/94)
    (They have also a list of car license plate codes and the phone
    area codes).

  = telnet =

  If you prefer telnet try:
  telnet PLZ.ISR.UNI-Stuttgart.de
  login: PLZ
  password: (not needed)                                     (OK: 01/94)

  = Mailserver =

  Thomas Bullinger has written a very handy mail server.  To get a
  zip code send a mail message
    To: [e-mail]
    Subject: #PLZ# <NAME-OF-TOWN>

  Features:
  - name of town is case-insensitive
  - may be abbreviated
  - no umlauts, hyphens, etc.
  - only one town per email!

  Examples:
    From: [e-mail]
    To: [e-mail]
    Subject: #PLZ# stuttgart
      This extracts all known PLZ's for Stuttgart (sorted according to
      street names) and sends it in 5 pieces of max. 1000 lines each to
      "[e-mail]".

    Subject: #PLZ# aach
      All known PLZ's fuer Aach und Aachen.

    Subject: #PLZ# badhomburg
      All known PLZ's for Bad Homburg


  Another mail server is [e-mail].  This one seems
  particularly suited for numerous address conversions!
  Send a mail that uses the following syntax:
    1st line:  Adresse: <optional identifier>
    2nd line:  <street and number
    3rd line:  <old zip codes> (including the letter O or W) <name of the
               town and old post office number> (for larger cities)
    4th line:  <like 1st line> or QUIT at the end of the mail.
  You don't need the old zip code if there is only one town with this
  name.
  example:
    Adresse: 1
    Hauptstrasse 5
    W-1234 Stadtdorf 5
    Adresse: 2
    Testweg 123
    O-7890 Althausen
    QUIT                                                     (OK: 01/94)

  = telephone =

  The German "POST" also maintains a toll free number (0130-55555) to ask
  for a zip code.  The number is open from 08:00 to 22:00 only.  [2/94]

  = don't know at all =

  The old 4 digit zip codes should still work.  (Even letters with no zip
  code at all "should" -in principle- make it through.)  No guarantee,
  though!!  Letters will definitely take longer compared to those that
  use the new code -- if they arrive at all.  Some people have already
  lost mail because of this.  [3/94]


  7.2.  The New Zip-Code System

  All zip codes have been changed (effective 7/93).  The new zip codes
  have 5 digits.  No more additional numbers following city names.

  There is no easy way to convert between old and new zip codes.

    One CITY might now have more than one zip code.  Then you need the
  name of the STREET to find the zip code, but long streets have more
  than one zip code, you need the HOUSE NUMBER;  Odd numbers or even
  numbers have not the same zip code in many cases.
    In some big towns there are streets with the same name.  So you need
  to know where the street really is, look at the old number of post
  office behind the name of the town.
    The zip codes for POST BOXES are different, still.

    Big COMPANIES (companies with more than 1000 letters every day) get
  their own codes (as in the US zip code system).  If you just look for
  the address of one of these companies you will get the wrong ZIP code.
  It seems that these company zip codes were in fact kept secret at
  first.
  Only after people started collecting their own listings, the "Post"
  published a special phone book.
    An electronic file can be found at some of the ZIP-code gopher sites
  (see 7.1.).

    The German Mail service has distributed a (big!) book containing all
  new zip codes to each German household in May/93.  But this book
  neither contains PO boxes nor the big companies' zip codes...  [2/94]


  7.3.  The Old Zip-Code System

  Every zip code had one letter, a dash and four digits.  The letter was
  a "W" for former West Germany and an "O" for East Germany.

  You can get these zip codes via gopher at the infoserver of the RWTH
  Aachen.  The also have them as a file for FTP.

  Examples:   O-1155 Berlin
              W-1000 Berlin 33

  In many bigger cities in the West had a number following the city name
  for reasons of further differentiation.

  Mail without the O/W letter took/takes significantly longer (weeks!)
  (up-to-date as of: Fall 1993)


  8  (Public) Transportation in Germany

  8.1.  Railways

    The next major change of timetables will be on May/27/1995

    (There will be also a minor change Sep/25/94 and some tiny-teenie
    one throughout the year.)

  Trains play a special role in Germany (and in Europe in general.) In
  terms of traffic they have top priority.  They have right of way before
  any other vehicle.  There are lot's of tunnels and bridges for trains
  and therefore they don't have to stop anywhere between railway stations
  and can go at rather high speeds...  120km/h (75mph) for regular
  trains, up to 250km/h (120mph) for the high speed trains.

  Statistics:
  former Western:
     27,421 km government owned
               12,491 km double track
               11,501 km electrified
      4,022 km non government owned
     31,443 km total;
  former Eastern:
                3,830 km double track
                3,475 km electrified
     14,025 km total;
  (1988)
  On a typical day an average of about 32,000 trains are scheduled.

  The railroad system in Germany is currently under constant change.
  Most important:  there is a program to change the German railroads from
  a government owned and operated system to a free market.

  Private and foreign companies are now free to operate on the German
  railroad net.
  [2/94]

  8.1.1.  Deutsche Bundesbahn AG

  "Deutsche Bundesbahn" (former Western) and "Deutsche Reichsbahn"
  (former Eastern) joined to become "Deutsche Bahn AG".  Despite
  unification there are still price differences between East and West!

  The Deutsche Bahn AG is forced to split into several branches (and
  later into several companies):
    "Fernverkehr" (Long-distance travel) runs all ICE, EC, IC, EN, IR
       and D trains.
    "Nahverkehr" (Short-distance travel) runs all the other trains.
    "Personenbahnhoefe" (Railway stations) runs the railways stations
      for all railway companies; rents shops in railway stations.
      (Remember: It is forbidden by German law to open shops in the
      evening and on Sundays.  But it is legal to sell goods to
      passengers in airports and railway stations....)
    "Ladungsverkehr" (Big freight service)
    "Stueckgutverkehr" (Small freight service)
    "Netz" (Net) sells the right to travel to railroad companies
    "Bahnbau" (Track repair etc)
    "Traktion" (Traction) Rents out locomotives to railways
    "Werke" Repair of rolling stock material
  [2/94]

  8.1.2.  Which Train to Use

  For the last couple years the "Deutsche Bundesbahn" has been
  implementing a new philosophy in train travel.  One very obvious sign
  of its modernization are the new cars, which have defined new colors
  outside and better seats inside.  As this modernization is not quite
  completed, frequently mixed trains of old and new cars can be seen.

  All modern trains have special color codes:
    red-white     = High speed trains (ICE, EC, IC)
    blue-white    = long distance trains (IR, Talgo)
    green-white   = regional trains (RSB, CB, RB)
    orange-white  = urban train (S)
  It is a good idea to use these if possible.  Foreign cars are also
  nice.  Check the label outside!  Only the silver cars ("Silberlinge")
  are real bad.

  Most trains have some cars where smoking is allowed...  There are also
  first class cars in most trains.  You don't really need reservation in
  most trains.  If you found no seat you can ride without a seat or, if
  you think the train is to full, take another train an hour later...
  There is no reservation possible for any short-distance trains.

  Brief overview:

  Long-distance trains

    ICE -- "InterCityExpress"; the German high speed train.  These
        trains are integrated in the IC network, but have higher prices
        than other IC.  Ticket prices depend on ICE speed and the speed
        of other trains at the same distance.
    EC -- "EuroCity"; an international high quality train.  In Germany
        most EC's are integrated in the IC net.
    IC -- "InterCity"; a national high quality train.  Nearly all IC's
        run in the IC net.  On most lines there is one IC every hour.
    ICN -- "InterCityNight"; a high quality night train; more silent
        rolling, "leans" into curves, you can sleep in even after arrival.
    EN -- "EuroNight"; a night train, there were only 4 such trains in
        1994/1995.
    IR -- "Interregio"; similar to IC.  The IR net is much longer and
        IR's stop at more stations IC's.  On most lines there is one IR
        every other hour.
    D -- "Schnellzug"; a long-distance train which is not good enough for
        to be qualified as ICE, EC, IC, EN, IR.  In May 1994 most of them
        will get modernized and become InterRegios.
        Some night trains or trains with foreign destinations will remain
        D trains.

  Short-distance trains

    RSB -- "RegionalSchnellBahn"; a semi-fast train with good material
       like a VT 610 (German pendolinio), VT 628 or other modern cars.
       Some of these trains are as fast as IC, others stop at every
       station.
    E -- "Eilzug"; a semi-fast train not good enough to be classified as
       RSB.  Some of these trains are as fast as IC, others are slower
       and stop at every station.
    RE -- RegionalExpress; an E-train with modern cars, runs periodically.
    SE -- StadtExpress; a local train with modern cars, runs periodically.
    CB -- "CityBahn"; a local train with qualified good rolling material,
       runs periodically.
    S -- "S-Bahn"; an urban train in areas like Hamburg, Berlin,
       Frankfurt, Munich,...
    RB -- "RegionalBahn"; a local train with qualified good rolling
       material.
    () -- (no letter marking) "Nahverkehrszug"; local train with rather
       poor rolling material
  [2/94]

  8.1.3.  Ticket Prices

  2nd class West 0.24 DM/km
  2nd class East 0.17 DM/km
  1st class is 150 percent.
  ICE price is a little more in 2nd and 1st class.
  There are special short-distance prices in many areas.  In that case
  the ticket includes local bus and subway, but you can use all short-
  distance trains with a railroad ticket like Interrail etc or a long-
  distance train ticket.
  [2/94]

  8.1.4.  International Addresses for Railway Travelers

  USA                        Canada
  German Rail/DER TOURS      GERMAN RAIL/DER TOURS
  11933 Wilshire Blvd.       904 The East Mail
  LOS ANGELES, CA 90025      ETOBICOKE, ONT.  M93 6K2
  tel:[phone]         tel:[phone]
  fax:[phone]          fax:[phone]

  England                    Australia
  DER TRAVEL SERVICE         THOMAS COOK LIMITED
  German Rail Sales          Ground Floor
  18 Conduit Street          257 Collins Street
  LONDON W1Y 7PE             MELBOURNE VIC 2000
  tel: [phone] / 0578   tel: [phone]
                             fax:[phone]

  more England...            offers:
  German Rail Distribution   Travel Planner: A 38-pade guide
  18 Chertsey Road           to services and fares to and within
  Woking                     in Germany
  Surrey GU21 5AB

  Continental Rail Agents Consortium (CRAC): A group of retail travel
  c/o 424 Chester Raod       agents thourghout the contry offering a
  Little Sutton              specialist  service for the continental
  Cheshire L98 RB            rail traveller
  051-339 6171

  German Tourist Office
  Nightingale House
  65 Curzon Street
  London W 1Y
  7PE. 071-495 3990
  [6/94]


  8.1.5.  Timetables; Travel Information

  There are many timetables you can buy or get for free in Germany.
  Prices will not be a real problem for travelers, but weight may be a
  concern, unless you are interested in transporting just timetables....

  "Kursbuch Gesamtausgabe"; 15 DM; 3000 g
    All trains in Germany, no subways, no busses.

  "Auslandskursbuch"; 10 DM; 800 g
    A selection of long-distance trains in Europe outside Germany.

  "Fernfahrplan"; 7 DM; 800 g
    All long-distance trains in Germany.

  "Regionalkursbuecher"; 7 DM; 800 g (each)
    12 books with timetables.

  "Regionalfahrplaene"; 5 DM; 300 g (each)
    30 books with all trains and all federal bus.
    (But no local bus etc!)

  "Staedteverbindungen"; 0 DM; 300 g
    Trains from big towns to other big towns.

  "Staedteverbindungen von ...  und nach ..."; 0 DM; 150 g
    160 booklets about trains from the 160 most important stations
    to 60 even more most important stations ;-)  Available only at
    local railway stations.

  "StreckenFahrplan Strecke ..."; 0 DM; 10 g
    Specialized table of all trains on just one line;  hundreds of these
    papers exist.  Available only at local railway stations.  At some
    place also available for street cars and/or busses.

  "Oertlicher Fahrplan";   X DM;  X g
    In all towns you can buy local timetables with all the local bus
    and subway and local trains and all trains from the main local
    station.
    Buy it if you plan on staying any longer than just a few hours in
    an area.

  In every major city you should be able to call the travel information
  service of the Bahn under
    [possible area code prefix to be used] 19419
  [6/94]

  Additionally, electronic timetables for MSDOS/Windows are available.
  There are two versions:
  1. "Elektronische Staedteverbindungen"
    comes on 3HD floppies, requires 7MB of hard disk space, 80386,
    2MB RAM; includes 1000 Stations, 24000 Trains, covers about 90% of
    all inquiries, DM 29,80
  2. "Elektronisches Kursbuch"
    comes on CD-ROM, requires 80386, 4MB RAM; includes ALL trains in
    Germany.  Price is DM 50.

  They can be ordered at
    Deutsche Bahn AG
    Postfach 1157
    53821 Troisdorf
  [6/94]


  8.1.6.  Railservers: Free Access to Timetables on the Internet

  If you are looking for Austrian(!) timetables, you can try the following:
    http://iicm.tu-graz.ac.at/CBTX
  oder
    telnet fiicmds06.tu-graz.ac.at  (login as obb)

  For the German part...
  Frederik Ramm has sedulously and diligently in persuit (yip, I enjoy
  using my thesaurus ;)  set up an access to the electronic timetables
  of the Deutsche Bahn AG.  Vielen Dank, Frederik.
  He offers:

  "The RailServer, a mail server for German railway connections, has
  all German railway stations and connections available, as well as
  about 4.000 other European stations (almost all large cities and
  the trains that run between them an Germany).

  The RailServer is not [not yet :-)] an online service; you have to
  send your queries by mail.  However, there is a WWW gateway that
  not only allows to send requests but also contains lots of info
  on the server and on railroading in Germany in general.

  Use your favorite WWW-browser to look up the RailServer main page:
    http://rzstud1.rz.uni-karlsruhe.de/~ule3/info-trn.html  (English)
    http://rzstud1.rz.uni-karlsruhe.de/~ule3/railserv.html  (German)

  Include this URL in your own HTML documents if you want. I'm not
  going to change it, and I will include a special message there if
  a better service (= an online service) is available.

  The RailServer mail address is
  [e-mail]

  The commands you can use to query the database all begin with a
  number sign (#).  A simple query looks like this:

    #FROM Munich
    #TO Berlin
    #DATE 06-30-94
    #TIME 12:00

  You can also specify more details, time ranges, arrival time, and
  you can order various lists.  But the most important command might
  be

    #HELP

  which sends you the RailServer help file (about 300 lines).

  The RailServer is my (a student's) hobby project and does not have
  commercial goals.  If you have any suggestions for improvement, feel
  free to drop me a line: [e-mail] (Frederik Ramm).

  If you maintain any FAQ's or resource lists or other information
  documents that are traffic-related, I'd be glad to see a note
  about the RailServer included there."  (Frederik Ramm, June/94)
  [6/94]


  8.1.7.  The "Poor Man's Version" of the "Kursbuch"

  The German "Kursbuch" exists on CD-ROM; but even without it one still
  gets along quite well, following these simple basic rules:
  - The service in the West is better than in the East.
  - You can rely on the backbone of the ICE/EC/IC/IR inner net with
  trains running at least every other hour, usually every one!  (In some
  highly frequented areas three times an hour.)
  - Some ICE/EC/IC/IR may also connect to less important cities (outer
  net).
  - They always run at the same minute after the hour and they are very
  punctual.
  - On more than 90 percent of the railway lines there are more than just
  a few trains every day.  Almost certainly there is a service of at
  least one train every other hour, usually there's better service.
  - Missed a train?  You may or may not be well-advised to take the very
  next.  On many lines there are different trains stopping not at the
  same stations.  (Typically one train may stop at many stations and an
  hour later the next train stops at fewer stations and the next train
  after that one stops again *everywhere*...  Because of this mixed
  service it is good advice to check if using a short-distance train is
  an option when you missed a long-distance train.  Check first!  Many
  short-distance trains stop at rural stations and wait to let a long-
  distance train pass.  In that case it would be better to wait for the
  faster long-distance train....
  - Short-distance service is somewhat limited on Saturdays and Sundays
  and public holidays (no rush hour back-up trains; usual trains run less
  frequently.)  Nevertheless, nearly all long-distance trains usually do
  run on these days.  Check before traveling on less important lines on
  weekends!
  [2/94]


  8.1.8.  Fly and Ride (a Train)

  Airports with railway stations near or under the terminals:

    Duesseldorf: S-trains to Duesseldorf und Duisburg and other
                 towns in the area.
    Frankfurt: S-trains to Frankfurt, Mainz and Wiesbaden and other towns
               in the area.  IC/EC Service to many German towns.
    Stuttgart: S-trains to Stuttgart and other towns in the area.
    Muenchen: S-trains to Muenchen.  It is a good advice for travelers to
              the North to check the bus shuttle via Freising

  Be ready to have German coins.  It is not legal to enter an S-train
  without a valid ticket.  So you might want to use the ticket vending
  machines.  Other airports can be reached by local public transport.
  Taxis cost a lot in all areas and may also be time consuming in some
  areas.
  [2/94]

  8.1.9.  Trains and Bicycles

  It costs 8.60 DM to transport a bike in an IR TRAIN with reservation
  and self service, but costs double price without reservation.
  NOTE: It is not possible to transport a bike in 95 percent of all LONG-
  DISTANCE, NON-IR TRAINS!  Only the InterCityNights do carry bicycles.
  It costs 8.60 DM or less to transport a bike in any SHORT-DISTANCE
  train; no reservation necessary (or even possible).
  It is possible to transport a bike in 95 percent of all short-distance
  trains.  Some of the RSB and E trains are real semi-fast trains.  It is
  very easy to take a bike across Germany's border by train.  Take a
  train to the last station before the border.  Than ride across the
  border to the next station...  It might be possible that there is
  another method... :-O  ask! :-)
  In tourist areas it is possible to rent bikes at railway stations or
  from private.
  [2/94]


  8.2.  Country-Wide/Continent-Wide Bus Travel like Greyhound?

  There is no national or private bus company like greyhound.  There are,
  nevertheless, a few lines run by the European railroads or private
  companies.  Some of the lines you can find in the *Kursbuch*.  On many
  lines there is only one bus every day or even week.  Some airport bus
  lines have real service.  A return ticket Hamburg-Paris costs about
  DM 150.
  In towns with many foreign workers there might also be some bus
  services to the South, but you have to be a local to know about it.
  [2/94]


  8.3.  Regional Bus Service

  There are regional bus services run by bus companies of the federal
  railroad.  Ask at a railway station about the service.
  EXCEPTION: In some areas, mostly in the Eastern, there is no regional
  bus service run by any railway related company.  Ask for the local
  transport company.
  [2/94]


  8.4.  Regional Hiking Service ("Mitfahrzentralen")

  Hitch-hiking is not encouraged.  It may or may not be more or
  less dangerous than in other places in the world.  Do it on your
  own risk.
  There is a very reasonable alternative; the network of so-called
  "Mitfahrzentralen" ("centers for getting a ride.")  Based on the
  idea that single drivers and hikers "just need some place where
  they can meet" these centers charge hikers a little fee for a
  successfull "match."  Drivers don't get charged, because these
  centers live on their offers.  The service bureaus usually note down
  the names, addresses, phone numbers and license plate numbers of
  the involved parties -- big plus, compared to conventional hitch-
  hiking!
  The general procedure is:
  - You call them and say what you want
  - They tell you what they've got, with an option to reserve a ride
  - You show up, pay the (modest) fee and get the name, phone # and
    licence # of the driver and the meeting time and place,
    plus a copy of the insurance that is included in the fee.
  - You show up at the rendevouz and pay the driver your share of the
    gas costs after he brought you to your destination.
    In the office they will tell you how much the driver may charge
    at maximum.
  All in all, you pay about 1/3 to 1/2 of the train fare.  [5/94]

  Quite a number of the Mitfahrzentralen are connected by the so-called
  "Citynetz".  The general phone number for all member centers of the
  Citynetz is
    19444
  It is available in the following cities (followed by area code prefix):
  Berlin(030)  Bonn(0228)  Braunschweig(0531)  Bremen(0421)
  Dortmund(0231)  Duesseldorf(0211)  Erlangen(09131)  Frankfurt/Main(069)
  Freiburg(0761)  Goettingen(0551)  Hamburg(040)  Hannover(0511)
  Heidelberg(06221)  Kassel(0561)  Kiel(0431)  Koeln(0221)  Mannheim(0621)
  Muenchen(089)  Muenster(0251)  Nuernberg(0911)  Osnabrueck(0541)
  Wuppertal(0202)
  Your requests are handled on a computer network -> return/continuing trip
  requests can automatically be forwarded; you may pay by "Bankeinzug"
  (only from German accounts)
  examples of price totals (including fee; VAT; gas share)
    Cologne - Paris     DM 46,-
    Munich - Frankfurt  DM 41,-
    Berlin Duesseldorf  DM 51,-
  [from a brochure 3/94]

  There is also an internet address for the Mitfahrzentrale at Stuttgart
  is accessible at
    http://www.uni-stuttgart.de/Mfg/mfg.html
  [10/94]


  8.5.  Local Transport (Within Cities)

  In all German towns there are local bus service or streetcars or
  subways.  To get information about it ask local Germans.  If this is
  not possible call the local railway station and ask them for the name
  and phone number of the local transport company.  Then call the local
  transport.
  If you stay longer than a day in an area, it's a good idea to buy a
  local transport timetable and get a map of their local net.
  [2/94]


  8.6.  You mean I *Can* Get Around On My Bicycle?

  You may or may not be used to cycling at home - in Germany cycling is
  definitely worth considering: for your daily commuting, for
  short-distance errands, for pastime, or for longer vacation tours.
  Bring along your bicycle, or buy one in Germany.  Prices range from under
  100 DM on the fleamarket to several thousand DM.

  Cycling conditions in the cities vary between comfortable (Muenster)
  and horrible (?.)  Ask your German colleagues for advice.

  Cycling is probably more regulated in Germany than in your country -
  which has both advantages and disadvantages.  It's a good idea to know
  about German traffic rules regarding cycling and the required
  equipment of your bicycle!

  All kind of advice on cycling in Germany (among other: cycling maps)
  have the various bicycle clubs and traffic clubs.
  See also: 8.1.9. trains and bicycles, and the newsgroup de.rec.fahrrad
  (see 14.1.) with their very informative FAQ
  (also available via FTP at ftp.umu.se: /pub/doc/bicycle/faq and
  at speckled.mpifr-bonn.mpg.de: /pub/de.rec.fahrrad/de.rec.fahrrad.faq-*).
  [6/94, mw]


  9  Email in Germany

    The pointers and tools described here are mostly of general interest
  in the sense that their scope is not restricted to Germany.


  9.1.  Finding Email Addresses

    Generally speaking, finding an email address is a non-trivial
  undertaking, but it's not impossible.  Several tools exist and you
  ought to try to them first before you resort to posting a personal "I'm
  looking for a friend" - note on the net.
    These tool include: Netfind, X.500, rtfm's usenet-addresses search,
  and WHOIS.
    The more information you know about your associate (name, place of
  business or school, and so on) the better your chances are!

  = INTERNET IN GENERAL =
  read the newsgroup "alt.internet.services"!!!  Get the FAQ-list from
  there.

  = EMAIL BASICS =
  FTP to ftp.sura.net:/pub/nic/network.service.guides/how.to.email.guide
  to learn the basics of email on the internet.

  = From NETWORK to NETWORK =
  If you have trouble navigating from one network to another (buzz-word
  "gateways"!), read the pretty extensive "Inter-Network Mail Guide"
  edited by Scott Yanoff (formerly edited by John J.  Chew.)  Fetch the
  electronic version of this document by anonymous ftp from
  csd4.csd.uwm.edu:/pub/internetwork-mail-guide

  = HOW TO FIND EMAIL ADDRESSES? =
  A very complete answer is the "FAQ: How to find people's E-mail
  addresses", frequently posted in the newsgroup "news.answers" and also
  available by sending email
      To: [e-mail]
  with message body of:
      send usenet/news.answers/finding-addresses

  = COLLEGE STUDENTS' ADDRESSES =
  Anonymous-FTP to
    rtfm.mit.edu:/pub/usenet/soc.college/Student_Email_Addresses
  or send email
    To: [e-mail]
  with message body of:
    send usenet/soc.college/Student_Email_Addresses

  If you have a person's name and their academic location, you may try
  a netfind for the domain name
    uni-stadt.de   for Universitaeten
    fh-stadt.de    for Fachhochschulen
    th-stadt.de    for Technische Hochschulen
  where "stadt" is to be replaced by the name of the town where the
  person lives.  (example: the university of Karlsruhe
  is *.*.uni-karlsruhe.de)
  [4/94]


  9.2.  Getting Email Access

    Public Internet access is (still) nothing you could take for granted.
  Not even at German universities; although the general trend is going
  towards better service.  Some universities provide it and some don't.
  The University of Bonn, for instance, provides public Internet access
  only since August 1993.
    Nevertheless, usually it should be possible to stay on-line in
  Germany.
    Also try reading the newsgroup de.org.sub (see 14.1. for more)
    Finally try to obtain a copy of Vera Heinau's and Heiko Schlichting's
  extensive article in "C'T" magazine, 7/94, p.245 (printed in Hannover,
  Germany.)
  [10/94]


  9.2.1.  Universities

    If the university offers Internet access, you can be sure that the
  services are not very much like what American students are used to.
  For example FTP might be very(!) restricted.
    Usually you'll have to be a student, postdoc, etc.  to be entitled
  for email access at your university.  Ask for email at your local
  "Rechenzentrum".  [3/94]


  9.2.2.  Lists of Public Unix Systems

  Read de.etc.lists !!  (see 14.1. on how)
  Look for Jan Richert's list "publicuucp".

  You may also get Wolfgang Sander-Beuermann's list via ftp
  from
    ftp.rrzn.uni-hannover.de   /pub/special/lists PubUxDe
  (currently 55 unix machines; between 0 and 50 DM/month; generally
  including mail and news service; frequently other services such
  as UUCP, IP, ISDN)
  [10/94]


  9.2.3.  Private Networks

    There are a number of ways besides university connections to stay on-
  line.  Private BBS-based networks like FIDO, MAUS, Z-Netz, Comlink...
  offer cheap connections to Internet and USENET. News and mail service
  should be satisfactory; IRC, WWW, FTP, and such services are usually
  not provided. Be aware; the telephone bills from the German TELEKOM
  could prove to be nasty.  :-(

  = PDIAL =
    One source of pointers to these networks is PDIAL, a list of public
  access providers offering dial-up access to Internet connections (both
  free and pay services.)  I found that this list a very extensive for US
  areas but tells only a few services for Germany.  [3/94]
    It is posted semi-regularly to alt.internet.access.wanted and
  news.answers.  You may also get it by sending email
    To: [e-mail]
    Subject: send PDIAL

  = EUNet =
  EUnet Gemany offers commercial Internet connectivity in Germany at 10
  metropolitan areas in Germany:
    Dortmund Hamburg Berlin Muenchen Bonn/Koeln Aachen Kiel Frankfurt
    Bremen/Oldenburg Stuttgart
  The following services are provided:
    Mail, News, InterEUnet (Internet connection), archive services, database
    interface, traveller service, PersonalEUnet, Virtual Private Network (VPN)
  The current rates are (monthly basis) as follows: (GUUG = german unix
  users group)
                                  non GUUG        GUUG member
                                  ---------------------------
          general subscribtion     75,00 DEM       50,00 DEM
          eunet mail subscr.       35,00 DEM       25,00 DEM
          eunet news subscr.       90,00 DEM       60,00 DEM
          InterEUnet subscr.      330,00 DEM      245,00 DEM
  for more information email: ([e-mail])

  Other commercial networks are:
    NTG GmbH dept. Xlink       ([e-mail])
    MAZ GmbH Internet Services ([e-mail])
    GTN & Contrib.Net          ([e-mail])
  [10/94]

  = MAUS.NET, SUBNET, INDIVIDUAL.NET =
    Getting access through a COMMERCIAL usenet provider is advisable only
  if you want to use the net for business.  They are much more expensive
  than IN and sub.net!
    To get access to a NON COMMERCIAL BBS (like MAUS-NET).  You can only
  read or write messages or use email.  Most of these feed into "SUB.NET"
  or "INDIVIDUAL.NET" (IN) ...  which is why you might want to consider
  getting their services directly; their internet-connection is also
  faster and more complete.

  Sub.Net
    SubNet e.V.
    Geschaeftsstelle c/o Heiko Rupp
    Gerwigstr. 5
    76131 Karlsruhe
    fax: [phone]
    email: [e-mail]
  [10/94]

  INDIVIDUAL NETWORK
    [e-mail]
      40 DM/month for SLIP access
      300k mail and news free.
  or:
    Individual Network e. V.
    Geschaeftsstelle
    Scheideweg 65
    D-26121 Oldenburg
    GERMANY
    tel.: [phone]
    fax:  [phone]
  [6/94]

  MAUS.NET
  If you happen to know the license plate id ("KFZ-Kennzeichen")
  for the area of your interest try the following (note that this
  method is not guaranteed to work!)

    SYSOP@[license plate id].MAUS.DE
    example: [e-mail] for service in the Cologne area.

  In the body of the message ask for the telephone number of your local
  BBS box.  [2/94]

# 9.2.4.  Your Local BBS
#
# If you don't have email access, you might want to pick up the latest issue
# of C'T computer magazine to look up the list of phone numbers of all network
# systems. Then dial into the appropriate BBS and ask the local sysop about
# fees for connection.
# Cost?
# A typical user, reading news from de.* and sci.* might want to expect about
# 20DM connection fee and 30DM in telephone charges (using an off-line reader!)

  9.3.  List of Anonymous FTP Servers in Germany

  This list is maintained by Christian Hettler ([e-mail]).

    FTP    ftp.ask.uni-karlsruhe.de   /pub/info/ftp-list-de

    URL    http://askhp.ask.uni-karlsruhe.de/ftp-list-de.html

    email (leave subject blank)
      To: [e-mail]

      begin
      send /pub/info/ftp-list-de
      end


  10  Electronic Language

  10.1.  Dictionaries (Word Lists from the Net)

  = gopher (OK: 1/94) =

  There are on-line dictionaries available via gopher, e.g.:
    gopher.tu-chemnitz.de
      "Weitere lokale Infos (Woerterbuch)"
    gopher gopher.informatik.tu-muenchen.de 70
      "ISAR Gopher"/  "Services"/  "Englisches Woerterbuch"

  = ftp (OK: 1/94) =

  In general for ftp sites assume the following, unless stated
  otherwise;
    login: anonymous
    password: <your-own-email-address>

  German word lists and German-English dictionary word lists are
  available via FTP from the sites listed below.

  for people in EUROPE ...
  ___site___                     ___directory___
  ftp.informatik.tu-muenchen.de  /pub/doc/dict
  ftp.uni-kl.de                  /pub2/packages/doc.tum/dict
  ftp.th-darmstadt.de            /pub/dicts/German
  ftp.uni-muenster.de            /pub/comp/doc/dict
  mailserv.zdv.uni-tuebingen.de  /public
  nestroy.wu-wien.ac.at          /pub/lib/info/dict
  ftp.vlsivie.tuwien.ac.at       /pub/8bit/dicts/deutsch.tar.gz

  and, for people WEST OF THE ATLANTIC...
  ___site___                     ___directory___
  arthur.cs.purdue.edu    /pub/pcert/dict/German/ftp.informatik.tu-
  meunchen.de

  = WWW (10/94) =

  Langenscheidt's German-English/English-German Dictionary

  German-English: http://www.fmi.uni-passau.de/htbin/lt/ltd
  English-German: http://www.fmi.uni-passau.de/htbin/lt/lte

  = CD-ROM (not verified 6/94) =

  Two companies might have CD-ROM versions of Collins German-English
  Dictionary:

    Bibliographisches Institut & F.A.Brockhaus AG
    Dudenstr. 6
    6800 Mannheim 1
    tel: [phone], fax: -389

    EBP - Electronic Book Publishing
    52 Monmouth Street
    GB-London WC2H 9EP
    tel: [phone], fax: -138


  10.2.  Encyclopedias, "Lexika"

  There is a "Bertelsmann Universal Lexicon" available on CD-ROM, which
  can be ordered one from

      totronik Torsten Droste
      Rotebuehlstrasse 85        tel: [phone]
      D-70178 Stuttgart          fax: [phone]
  or
      Asix Technology GmbH
      Postfach 142               tel: [phone]
      76255 Ettlingen            fax: [phone]

  The cost is about DM 150, and they take major credit cards.  Airmail
  shipment arrived within a week.  They carry a number of other CD-ROM's
  also, and a catalog on 3-1/2" disk is available.
  [1/94]


  10.3.  Translation Programs; Spell Checkers; Thesauri

    Translators

  For MS-DOS you can buy translation programs (German-English).

  "Power Translation" by Global Link Inc.
  "Translation" by Timeworks Inc.
  "German Assistant" by MicroTack
    Sold as a simple translator.  Its real values are the hot key
    bilingual dictionary, verb conjugator and grammar help.  These
    features work with any word processor.  The translations range
    from poetic to horrible.  (about $60) [2/94]

  Translation programs for Macintosh (German-English)

  Power Translator German (Globalink)
  Cost in US: about $135.
  Requires: Mac II or better, 31 MB of disk space, 2 MB RAM, System 7.
  Notes:  There is also a Professional version (untested, about $475) for which
          subject dictionaries are available.

  German Assistant (Microtac Software)
  Cost in US: about $55
  Requires: Mac II or better, 6 MB of disk space, 3 MB free RAM, System 7.
  Note: Comes with 90 day money back guarantee directly from company.

  Power Translator (PT) is designed for producing rough draft translations,
  whereas German Assitant (GA) provides reference tools in addition to
  translation.  PT translates several times faster than GA.  PT can (barely)
  be used as a bilingual dictionary, but GA's dictionary is much, much better.
  PT provides only a single word translation, while GA has multiple definitions
  and phrases as one would find in a real dictionary.  GA also has a useful
  verb conjugation tool.
  [7/94]

    Spell Checkers and Thesauri

  For German on the Mac., look for EXCALIBUR.
  This is a spell-checker designed to work with LaTeX documents, but
  does also handle plain text very well.  Communication with just about
  any editor via clibboard is possible!  There are German, Dutch, French,
  Italian, and many other dictionaries available.  (about $0)
  FTP-sites for that program:
    sumex-aim.stanford.edu
    mac.archive.umich.edu
    wuarchive.wustl.edu


  Word, WordPerfect and the like offer special modules for several
  languages, not only German.  One can get spell checking and thesaurus
  modules for German.  (about $100)
  [2/94]


  Accent 1.0 - Multilingual Word Processor

  Over 30 different languages.  Needs IBM 386 with Windows, 6 to 25MB.
  Spellercheckers: 17 languages
  Thesaurus: 9 languages
  Hyphenation: 12 languages
  Berlitz(R) Interpreter(TM) (5 language translation tool)

  Accent file filters allow you to import and export documents
  to other standard Windows software you are using including:
  Lotus, Ami-Pro, Excel, Word, Wordperfect, RTF, and ASCIII text.
  The accentwm.zip file is 1.2m and is located on CICA:

    ftp.cica.indiana.edu  /pub/pc/win3/demo/accentwm.zip

  For more information send email to: [e-mail] [4/94]


  10.4.  Tutorial/Educational Software

  If you have an MS-DOS platform, an interesting place to look at might
  be the SimTel Software Repository at OAK.OAKLAND.EDU and its mirrors,
  directory:

    SimTel/msdos/langtutr/

  There is free German, Spanish, Afrikaans, and other language software in
  this directory
  * GERM1-23.ZIP and GERM2-23.ZIP cover German language topics (mainly
  verb CONJUGATION and vocabulary exercises).
  * VOCAB217.ZIP has basic VOCABULARY for several different languages.
  * GPLUS30.ZIP German Plus v3.0 is a language tutorial featuring review
  and exercises of over 500 nouns, adjectives, and verbs conjugated in
  the four major tenses.  The program contains a look-up feature for use
  with the database. (about $0)

  You may also want to take a look at the following gopher site:

    gopher://isaac.engr.washington.edu:70/00/software/instruct

  Several German instructional software programs there.  No idea what it
  is, though.  There are text descriptions for each you can read before
  downloading. (about $0)


  Transparent Language version 2.0
    1-800-332-8851
    [e-mail]
  for DOS and MAC

  principle: "don't memorize -- get involved in a story!"
    main window shows story in original language, (French, German,
    Italian, Latin, or Spanish)
    three other windows explain correct meaning
    of word in context, meaning of sentence, and notes on
    grammar/root words/etc.
  You get only three stories for free, additional stories are
  $15 to $35; they have 17 different German stories as of now,
  adding about 4 every year.

  Readers from s.c.g have reported positive experiences, esp. good
  for not absolute beginners.  But the stories tend to be on the
  "serious" side.  (Kafka didn't have much fun, either!)
  List price is $99 -- but mention that you heard of the promotional
  $30 price! A number of s.c.g readers have already saved good bucks
  and paid only $29.95 + $8.00 S&H. [4/94]

  For the early stages I would recommend "The Rosetta Stone".
  I've also seen an interactive program called "Herr Kommissar".
  [10/94]
? (Where do you get these from, though??)


  Berlitz offers a CD-ROM package for conversation practicing.  The
  sound is played through a windows suitable sound card (like a Sound Blaster.)
  After a conversation, it will ask you questions about the conversation you
  just heard.  While this method is good for beginners, it doesn't
  introduce or explain new or difficult grammar points very well.  It
  does give one a good sense of sentence structure as well as some introductory
  grammar/vocabulary.  Even though the package contains almost 17 (!)
  CD-ROMs it doesn't progress very quickly for those who already know
  conversational German.
  [10/94]

  11  Fax Numbers in Germany

  Frederik Ramm generously offers to provide fax numbers of companies and
  institutes in Germany as they are printed in the official books by
  Telecom.
  Send an email like the following to his address:

    To: [e-mail]
    Subject: FAX request

    Name: Firma Tiny
    Ort: Klein-Hoppenstaedt


  12  German News

  12.1.  Subscription via gopher/email

  NOTE: if you read soc.culture.german on a regular basis, please
  disregard this!  The information available at these places is also fed
  into the newsgroup.  You won't be missing anything!

  = gopher = (OK: 2/94)

    gopher://news.gwdg.de

  Under menu point "Verschiedenes" you find *lots* of valuable
  information...  a real gem among gopher services ;-)
  Proceed to "Aktuelle Nachrichten" for news transcripts in German
  These news are provided on a daily basis by a team of volunteers
  around Rainer Mallon.  They take news from radio stations and
  type them in (yip; manually!).

  = email = (OK: 2/94)

  send email        To: [e-mail]
  with body         SUB GERMNEWS

  This will subscribe you to the list.
  DON'T DELETE THE AUTOMATIC REPLY!  You'll need that information if you
  want to get off the list again.

# 12.2.  on WWW
#
# You can also look at URL:
#   http://www.rz.uni-karlsruhe.de/misc/germnews/
# [ok 10/94]


  12.3.  Searching the Germnews Archive Notebooks

  All messages to GERMNEWS are saved or "archived" in units
  called NOTEBOOKS or LOGS each month. You can search these Notebooks
  for references using the powerful database searching function of
  LISTSERV to get the information you want.

  There are two steps to searching the archives.  First put your
  search together and send it to [e-mail] which will
  return as mail an index or list of the messages that meet your
  search criteria, each with a unique item number.  Using this item
  number, you then send another request for the specific messages
  you want, which will be returned as a longer DATABASE OUTPUT
  file.

  To find out more about this process send the following email:

    To: [e-mail]

    //
    Database search DD=Rules
    //Rules DD *
    Search * in GERMNEWS
    Print 112
    /*
  [ok: 6/94]


  13  Ich lebe zur Zeit nicht in Deutschland.  Wie kann ich...

  (Because this is only important for Germans, I write this in German.
  There are just too many special legal terms involved to do it in
  English ...)

  13.1.  ...meinen auslaendischen akademischen Titel uebertragen?

  Es gibt jetzt eine Broschuere, "Anerkennung auslaendischer Studienleistungen
  und auslaendischer Hochschulabschluesse", welche kostenlos vom Bundes-
  ministerium fuer Bildung und Wissenschaft, 53170 Bonn, angefordert
  werden kann.  Dort drin sind dann auch Adressen von verschiedenen Behoerden
  zu finden.

  Generelles zum Thema:
  - Zustaendig ist das Bundesland, in dem man seinen Wohnsitz hat.
  - Die Regelungen der verschiedenen Bundeslaender sind _nicht_
    einheitlich.
  - Das "Fuehren auslaendischer Titel und Grade" ist ohne vorherige
    Genehmigung durch das zustaendige Bundesland _strafbar_ !
  - In Bayern sieht es so aus:
    - Auslaendische Titel duerfen nur in der Originalform gefuehrt werden
    - Eine Konvertierung auslaendischer Titel (also z.B. M.S -> Dipl.-Ing.
      Ph.D. -> Dr. etc.) ist in Bayern lt. Auskunft des Kultusministeriums
      _nicht_ moeglich.
    - Mit der Fuehrungsgenehmigung ist keine Anerkennung verbunden.


  Weitere wichtige Fakten, die ihr wissen solltet.

  Fuer alle Bundeslaender:

  - Um einen auslaendischen akademischen Grad in seiner Originalform
    fuehren zu duerfen, bedarf es einer "Erlaubnis zum Fuehren ..."

  - Diese Erlaubnis erteilt das Kultusministerium des Bundeslandes, in
    welchem der erste Wohnsitz liegt.  Fuer Personen, die nicht in
    Deutschland wohnen, erteilt das Land NRW die Erlaubnis.

  - Die Erlaubnis kostet etwa 100-150 DM Bearbeitungsgebuehr.  Die
    Bearbeitung dauert etwa einen Monat.

  - Die Erlaubnis besagt nichts ueber eine Gleichwertigkeit.  Sie
    stellt lediglich fest, dass der Titel rechtmaessig erworben wurde
    und gibt an, in welcher Form er verwendet werden darf.  Zum
    Beispiel wird aus einem Master of Science, der an der State
    University of New York at Albany erworben wurde, ein "Master of
    Science at State University of New York at Albany".  Gleichzeitig
    werden auch zulaessige Abkuerzungen mitgeteilt (Bsp: M.S.
    (SUNYA)).

  Fuer alle Bundeslaender ausser Bayern:

  Es gibt noch den zweiten Weg (ausser in Bayern): Ihr koennt einen im
  Ausland erworbenen Titel als einem deutschen gleichwertig anerkennen
  lassen.  Die Bearbeitung ist dann im allgemeinen etwas aufwendiger
  (laenger, teurer).  Das Ergebnis ist, dass ihr euch dann statt Ph.D
  Dr.  phil nennen duerft (oder auch Dr.  rer.  nat.).  Die Details
  sind von Bundesland zu Bundesland sehr verschieden.  Diese
  Anerkennung kann auch abgelehnt werden.

  In einem Beispiel (Baden-Wuerttemberg) wurde ein amerikanischer
  Master (in Computer Science) in einen Magister umgewandelt.  Dies
  wurde mit der Studienzeit begruendet, welche kuerzer war als die
  Regelstudienzeit fuer einen Diplom-Informatiker.

  Wer nicht in Deutschland gemeldet ist, muss sich an das
  Kultusministerium von Nordrhein-Westfalen wenden.  Es wird dann ein
  Nachweis verlangt, dass man wirklich im Ausland lebt.  Da es in
  vielen Laendern (speziell USA) keine Meldepflicht gibt, muss
  normalerweise der umgeschriebene Pass vorgelegt werden (Kopie
  reicht).  Andere Nachweise sind zum Beispiel ein Auszug aus der
  DMV-Kartei (im wesentlichen besagt dieser, dass man einen
  amerikanischen Fuehrerschein hat, welcher auf eine amerikanische
  Adresse ausgestellt wurde).

  Die Adresse in NRW:

  Ministerium fuer Wissenschaft und Forschung
  des Landes NRW
  Postfach 101103
  (Voelkinger Str. 49)
  40002 Duesseldorf

  tel:  [phone]
  fax:  [phone]

  Verlangt wird in NRW (wie sonst auch): Beglaubigte Kopie des
  Abiturzeugnisses und der Verleihungsurkunde fuer den amerikanischen
  Grad, Kopie eines Wohnsitznachweises, ausgefuelltes Antragsformular.
  Nach der Bearbeitung wird eine Gebuehr verlangt (war 150 DM).  Ein
  Ph.D.  wird in Dr.  rer.  nat.  (USA) umgewandelt.  Die Bearbeitung
  dauert etwa 3-4 Monate.


  13.2.  ...mein Wahlrecht wahrnehmen?

  Jeder Deutsche im Sinne des Grundgesetzes mit staendigem Aufenthalt
  im Ausland ist wahlberechtigt, wenn er sich nicht laenger als 10
  Jahre im Ausland aufhaelt.  Waehlen darf nur, wer in ein
  Waehlerverzeichnis eingetragen ist.  Da man bei staendigem Aufenthalt
  im Ausland nicht automatisch in ein Waehlerverzeichnis (ueber das
  Einwohnermeldeamt) eingetragen wird, muss man einen foermlichen
  Antrag auf Eintragung in ein Waehlerverzeichnis stellen und
  gleichzeitig eine Versicherung an Eides Statt abgeben, dass man
  Deutscher im Sinne des Grundgesetzes ist, einem das Wahlrecht nicht
  aberkannt wurde usw.

  "Fuer jeden Antragsteller ist ein besonderes Formblatt (in Erst- und
  Zweitausfertigung auszufuellen. Sammelantraege sind nicht moeglich.
  Der Antrag sollte fruehstmoeglich gestellt werden; er muss
  spaetestens bis zum 21. Tage vor der Wahl bei der zustaendigen
  Gemeindebehoerde eingegangen sein.  Die Antragsfrist kann nicht
  verlaengert werden.  In das Waehlerverzeichnis eingetragene
  Wahlberechtigte erhalten ueber die Eintragung keine Benachrichtigung.
  Ihnen werden - bei fruehestmoeglicher Antragstellung - der Wahlschein
  und die Briefwahlunterlagen ca. 1 Monat vor dem Wahltag uebersandt."

  "Zustaendige Gemeindebehoerde, an die der Antrag zu richten ist, ist
  - die Gemeindebehoerde der letzten - gemeldeten - Hauptwohnung in
  der Bundesrepublik Deutschland,
  - der Oberstadtdirektor der Stadt Bonn - Stadthaus, Berliner
  Platz 2, D-53103 Bonn, wenn der Wahlberechtigte noch nie fuer
  eine Wohnung in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland gemeldet war."
  [5/94]


  14  What else is on the Net?

  14.1.  "de" Newsgroups

  If you would like to know more about Germany and you are able to read
  and write German try the newsgroups in the "de" hierarchy.  Those
  newsgroups are available in Germany and at some sites in the US.
  Specifically parts of the hierarchies maus.*, fido.* and cl.* are fed
  into international news channels.  (Note that these groups usually
  converse in German-only mode...)

  = NNTP = (unchecked 2/94)
  You could try "news.fu-berlin.de" for this purpose. But be aware that
  this is a ... let's say ... not very responsible use of the transatlantic
  lines if you read de.*-groups regularly this way. We *do* feed these
  groups to US servers and you may ask your news admin to contact one of
  the following servers to get a feed of de.*:

  = email = (unchecked)
  You can also subscribe to a special service that lets you read those
  newsgroups by email.  Send a mail to [e-mail].  Send a
  mail like:

    To: [e-mail]   (<- you might not have to use 'Bitnet')
    Subj.: CBM
    help

  email to: [e-mail]

  = gopher =

? Does anybody know of gopher sites outside of Europe which carry the
? de.* hierarchy?
  Currently the only remedy is to connect to a news feeder in Germany.  Please
  use these services as little as possible if you are located outside of
  Europe...for sake of satellite bandwidth!
  Note that gopher provides only reading permission.  You cannot post to
  "de" newsgroups.

  "Kleopatra" in Trier has retired...(didn't know, queens were allowed
  to do so)...or simply doesn't talk to anyone anymore (ah, that's it!)
  Instead you may choose to deal with a more obedient example of the
  burrowing rodents (family Geomyidae):

    gopher://gopher.urz.uni-heidelberg.de:4323/1nntp%20ls%20de%20
    gopher://otax.tky.hut.fi:4320/1nntpnntp%20ls%20de%20
  [Ok: 7/94]



  14.2.  soc.culture.german FAQ List on WWW

  Yes it's true... we're going to go on the Web.  For now
  there is only a sort-of test version available, which Martin
  Weichert has painstakingly and meticulously (don't you love big words:)
  put together -- Thanks a bunch for your efforts, Martin!

  Anyone who wants to try it out is warmly and genially affably invited
  (don't you really love big words? ;)  to have a look at:

    http://www.cs.chalmers.se/pub/users/martinw/www/scg-faq.html#8.1.

  Said "anyone" (that is YOU ;-) is also encouraged to send any comments
  to me at [e-mail]!  (Oh, btw, Martin converted the
  previous version of the FAQ, and since I'm not yet able to generate a
  common source for this text-version and the WWW version it will take a
  little while before I can offer the most uptodate version... but it's
  on its way!)
  [6/94]


  14.3.  World-Wide Weather

  For quick international weather reports (including Berlin, Bonn,
  Frankfurt, Munich) look at:
    gopher://wx.atmos.uiuc.edu/
                  00/International/Foreign%20Temp%20and%20Weather

  For weather over Germany you may also try:
    Meteofax Wetterdienste; http://www.meteocon.nl/meteofax/index.html
  [ok 10/94]


  14.4.  German Libraries

    URL  gopher://gopher.cis.yale.edu/
         1/Libraries/by.place/Europe/Germany
  [ok 6/94]


  14.5.  German Soccer Results

  If you ask Thomas Hofmeister ([e-mail]-
  dortmund.de) he will send you the most recent soccer results via email.

  His postings are also archived on a WorldWide-Web-Server:

  URL is  http://ls2-www.informatik.uni-dortmund.de/Buli/Buli.html.
  [2/94]


  14.6.  Text of the Grundgesetz

  URL's
    http://www.informatik.uni-dortmund.de/Vermischtes/GG.html
    http://www.cs.tu-berlin.de/pubdoc/GG
  [ok 6/94]


  14.7.  German History on the Net

  "Guide to German History Resources on the Internet" by Katie McBride
  [e-mail]
    gopher://una.hh.lib.umich.edu:70/00/inetdirsstacks/germanhist%3amcbride

  Historical records about the anti-Nazi resistance group known as "Weisse Rose"
    ftp://RASCAL.ICS.UTEXAS.EDU/misc/gs/The_White_Rose.cpt.hqx
  It's hypercard stack usable only on a Macintosh, created by Brian Thomas.
  It contains leaflets they handed out, court records, and letters, etc.
  written by the Scholls and others.
  [ok 7/94]

  14.8.  German Universities

  "Universitaeten in Deutschland"
    gopher://serversun.mdv.gwdg.de:70/11/.UNIVERSITY
           /Universitaeten%20in%20Deutschland

  "Information Servers in Germany"
    gopher://solaris.rz.tu-clausthal.de:70/11/Gopher-de

  "Info aus Fachbereichen deutscher Universitaeten etc."
    gopher://sun3.urz.uni-heidelberg.de:70/11/extern/fb
  [ok 7/94]

  14.9.  Tell me about it!  A German Oracle

  Just for fun email to:
    [e-mail]

  with subject:
   "sag mir" or "frag mich", depending on whether you want to get a
  question answered or asked, respectively.
  [ok 7/94]

  14.10.  German teletext (ARD/ZDF)

  In late summer '94 the following service was introduced:
    http://info.et-inf.fho-emden.de/cgi-bin/vt/vt.sh
  However, the popularity of this service grew so rapidly
  that it became necessary to cut the line off -- a new
  version is under development.
  [10/94]

# 14.11.  German teletext (ARD/ZDF)
#
# Rumors have it that Compuserve carries "DPA" (which is Deutsche Presse
# Agentur) ...but since I'm not able to sneak into Compuserve, I cannot
? confirm this. Does anybody know more details?


  15  Money Talk

# 15.1.  Sending Money To and From Germany

  = To Germany = (e.g. to mailorder places that don't accept plastic)?

  Ruesch International Financial Services will issue a draft in DM
  (and other currencies) at the current rate of exchange, plus a
  service charge of only $2 per transaction.  Telephone the U.S.
  headquarters (in Washington, DC) at 1-800-424-2923 to set up an account.
  Regional offices:
      Atlanta (404-222-9300)
      Boston (617-482-8600)
      Chicago (312-332-6900)
      Los Angeles (310-277-7800)
      New York (212-977-2700)
      Washington, DC (202-408-1200)
  Switzerland: Ruesch Devisenhandel
      Schipfe 7
      CH-8023 Zuerich
      tel. [phone], fax [phone]
      (They charge 5 sfr for a check.)

  Other ways to get US$ across the ocean are:
  * sending an American personal check
      may or may not work....if you like to gamble then this is your way ;-)
  * branches of German banks abroad
      if you are lucky you find a major German Bank in your City, then you
      may try direct deposit like it is customary in Europe.
  * Eurochecque
      Send one of your own Eurochecques; possibly you can get them from
      a German banks branch.  Catch: Need to have a German bank account.
  * American Express travellers checks
      Go to a local American Express office and purchase DM travellers
      checks.  You can get single checks, 20's and above.  No service fee,
      but a few points off the bank exchange rate.  Make sure to fill out
      the "Pay to the order of:" field for security!
      Problem: You may not get the exact amount you need, like DM 57.89.
  * American Express money orders
      Are well accepted by German banks.
      For long term you might consider opening a Germann bank account and
      depositing a regular payment with American Express money orders.  Then
      you can pay German bills off of that account.
# * international money orders
#     International money orders *are* issued by American post offices, too,
#     but the process is very bureaucratic (surprise!) You pay at the local
#     P.O. in US $$ (you have to guess the conversion), mail your receipt to
#     St. Louis, which office in turn issues the M.O. in foreign currency
#     direct to the party you name. The service fee is supposedly $7.50.
#     [10/94]

  = From Germany =
  * international money orders
      Available at every post office.  Charge is about $5 for small
      amounts.
  * have a credit card withdrawing from your German account.  Try to
      avoid cash advances (extra fee) but buy things with your card (only
      the currency exhcange rate is applied.)


  15.2.  How to get German Stock Data, Exchange Rates?

  For WWW-browsers available...  use URL:

    http://www.wiwi.uni-frankfurt.de/AG/JWGI/JWGIhome.html
  (daily updated info; the data seem to come from www.win.tue.nl)

? when I checked, I didn't find any direct exchange rates
? and what is "mrt" anyway?
  [2/94]

  For exchange rates in Amsterdam:
    http://www.win.tue.nl/cgi/tt2www/nos/tpage/569
  [unchecked 4/94]

  US$ <-> DM exchange rates of the federal reserve bank, New York:
    gopher://una.hh.lib.umich.edu/00/ebb/monetary/tenfx.frb
  [Ok 7/94]



  15.3.  How much is Gasoline in Germany?

  Diesel                                   ~DM 1,15/Liter
  Benzin bleifrei     91 octane unleaded   ~DM 1,49/Liter
  Super bleifrei      95 octane unleaded   ~DM 1,55/Liter
  Super plus bleifrei 98 octane unleaded   ~DM 1,59/Liter
  Super verbleit      98 octane leaded     ~DM 1,68/Liter
  (Assume a range of about 0.10DM more or less throughout Germany.)
  [5/94]


  15.4.  VAT in Germany?

  In Germany every retail price includes 15% (1993 value) Value Added Tax
  (Mehrwehrtsteuer, MwSt).  If you buy goods in Germany and plan to take
  them with you to a foreign country it is possible to get a refund for
  the VAT.  In some places you even get a discount in the shop.  To get
  the VAT refunded you usually need some proof that you life not in
  Germany (Passport ...)  and a special receipt from the store.  It is
  possible for Germans to get a refund if their Passport shows a foreign
  address.  Then ask for your refund at the border or airport (if the
  store did not deduct the tax already).  Please ask the customs people
  for details.  This refund might be not available for residents of
  European Community member states.


  16  Questions and Answers


  16.1.  How to Write Umlauts in soc.culture.german?

  As you may have noted, there are various ways to write umlauts.  There
  is no generally accepted way to do this in soc.culture.german.
  Periodically, therefore, you will observe hard-fought battles on this
  topic in this group.

  Here are the two methods most often used:

    "common" Version   ae  oe  ue  AE  OE  UE  ss or sz
    TeX Version        "a  "o  "u  "A  "O  "O  "s

  Please!  if you have a German-style keyboard with umlauts, and if
  you're using it to, say, post something in soc.culture.german, DON'T
  use the umlauts.  They probably won't get displayed correctly on
  terminals in, say, North America.

  For much more in-depth description of how to handle 8-bit
  characters (not only German umlauts) look at
    ftp.vlsivie.tuwien.ac.at under the file name
    /pub/8bit/FAQ-ISO-8859-1
  [6/94 mg]


  16.2.  Taking American Electronic Equipment to Germany?

  If you wish to use domestic American electronics in Germany you will
  encounter difficulties such as:

  - German plugs have a different shape.
  - The medium wave (AM) frequencies have different spacings (9 kHz vs.
    10 kHz).  This will cause problems with digital receivers.
  - The voltage / frequency in Germany is 220-240 V / 50 Hz and not
    110 V / 60 Hz as in the US.  Improper voltage / frequency could
    result in serious damage.
  - TV uses the PAL norm.  American TV uses the NTSC norm.  These two
    norms are incompatible.  Therefore an American television will
    generally not work in Germany and vice-versa, although multi-norm
    TVs are available in Europe.

  16.2.1.  Importing Phones to Germany?

  You may own any phone but you may not connect it to the public system
  unless it has a BZT number (Old phones: ZZF).  You may not own radios
  or cordless phones which are not approved.  The number is usually found
  on a sticker at the back of the case.
  Pulse dial phones should work in Germany.  Tone dial is not yet available
  in many areas.  This is changing, however.
  If you plan on using a modem, make sure it's 14,400!  (You'll remember
  this advice when you get the next telephone bill ;-)  Soon 28,800 baud
  will be standard...

  Cordless phones are a real problem.  In Germany, cordless phones
  operate on different frequencies (900 MHz) than in most other countries.
  In the bands that many foreign phones use (80 MHz for US-phones) are
  a number of official channels (police, emergencies, radio, TV ...).
  It is punishable to own and use a cordless phone!
  Therefore,
      use only approved cordless phones !!! or they _will_ get you !!!

  Problems are possible with Hong Kong or British pulse dial phones
  because the pulses there are not exactly the same as in Germany.  But
  the phone system is very tolerant and with most of these phones you can
  switch to the other system anyway (same for Modems).

  The wall outlets for phones in Germany have a different shape than the
  usual modular plug.  Adapters are available in Germany (from 2.50 to 20
  DM).  These adapters are no problems with phones.  But legal and
  illegal things might not work together on the same line.

  16.2.2.  Video Tapes? -- Different Video Norms!

  PAL format videotapes will not display properly using an NTSC based VCR
  and vice-versa.

  There are services where video conversion from any format to any other
  format can be made for a fee (VHS, VHS-C and 8 mm types of cassettes.)
  This will allow playback of videotapes made overseas using US TVs and
  VCRs (PAL, SECAM --> NTSC) and vice-versa (NTSC --> PAL, SECAM, etc ...)

  It is also not too expensive to get a VCR which is able to play NTSC
  and PAL tapes.
  Only very few VCRs are able to record and play VHS tapes in NTSC and PAL
  (e.g.  Panasonic AG-W1, about DM 5000).  Cheaper VCRs are able to play
  different formats (NTSC, PAL, SECAM).

  DO IT YOURSELF
    With this setup you can transfer from NTSC to/from PAL at reasonable cost.
  Dont expect studio quality though:
    Akai VS R110EM is a three system unit - PAL, NTSC, SECAM , costs about
  US$200 mailorder (smile video, nyc).
    Or AKAI VSX-560, *HiFi-Stereo*, tuner, features include NTSC
  playback on PAL TV, US$500 (mailorder from 47th St Photo)
    AIWA MG360S also 3 systems, costs about US$450 (mail order,
  j/R music world, nyc, 1 800 221 8180)  [3/94]

    Another VCR that is "reasonably" priced is sold by Radio-Shack.  The
  VCR is available through special order only; and not all Radio Shack
  employees know that this machine even exists.  If they don't, have them
  look in the current catalog for #16-706.  The cost is $600.
  (Need a second VCR for conversions.)  [3/94]


  COMMERCIAL CONVERSION

  International Video Conversion
  520 Harvest Lane
  Raleigh, NC 27606-2217
  tel:  [phone]

  Fees: $25 + $5 S&H
    (Price of a High Grade Cassette Included, 2hrs or less)
  Delivery: Mailed back the next day, express shipping at request.
  Payment: Check, Cash or Money Order mailed with tape.


  [e-mail] does it for $5 per hour + $3 for the blank tape.
  (Formats: NTSC, PAL, NPAL, MPAL, SECAM, MSECAM)


  Soffel VDO
  2250 Monroe St #263
  Santa Clara, CA 95050
  tel:  [phone]

  $20 per tape (up to 2h, each add.  hour $ 10).  Tape, S&H included.
  Mail only, next day shipping, overnight available.  Check, cash, money
  order.  Does: NTSC (8mm, Hi8, VHS) -> PAL (VHS)


  Give your local shops a try!  I found a *Camera Shop* that does PAL <->
  NTCS conversions; a bit expensive, though ($20/h).  But if you need
  something the very next day...
  [1/94]


  16.3.  What presents to take to Germany?

  JEANS: A pair of l...'. is about $30 in the U.S., while you pay
  around DM 150 in Germany...

  T-SHIRTS, sweat-shirts, baseball-caps, mementos from such places as the
  Monterey Sea-Aquarium or the Museum of Modern Arts or the Air & Space
  or Smithsonian museum (or whatever is in your neighborhood)

  COMPUTER: software and paperback books about software and hardware.
  publications by your favorite computer users group (BMUG, BCS,
  whatever)

  BOOKS: paperbacks (non-fictional mostly), cartoons, cooking, travel
  guides, historical, biographies, etc...

  MUSIC: CDs are much cheaper in the US, especially if you do one of those
  mail-order 'buy 8, pay for 1/2' (and what do you mean I forgot to tell
  you about shipping&handling), and some cannot be easily found overseas.
  support your local starving-musicians and buy some of their stuff (CDs,
  Tshirts) at the next gig you in your favorite music hang-out...

  POSTERS: from museums, art boutiques, Natl.  Geo, Smithsonian,

  MAGAZINES: Sunday NYT, last years Natl.  Geo., Air&Space, Smithsonian,
  Architectural Digest, Texas (or whatever is published monthly with your
  state's name on it - with lots of pictures and local lore...)

  RAGS: CACM, IEEE, Foreign Affairs,...
  specialty rags (Private Pilot, Sailing, WoodWorking, Beer and Wine
  Making,...)

  and if you are a photographer, why not make a couple of 8 x 10" prints
  of some of your best (sign them and put them in a frame) ?!?


  16.4.  Buying a Car for Short Period instead of EuRail?
      [Summary of a thread from Fall 1993.]

  The overall tone of the responses was pessimistic.  In particular:
  * REGISTRATION and INSURANCE are difficult to arrange for FOREIGNERS
    without residency
  * GAS is expensive
  * PARKING can be a hassle.

  Here are selected parts of the responses:

  Driving in Germany is not cheap!  A tank of GAS that would cost you
  about $12 (~20 DM) in the USA would cost you about $50 there (~80 DM)
  in Germany (Assuming a rate of 1.60 DM per 1$.)
             ---
  If you don't buy a car from a dealer you do not pay VAT anyway.  For
  that kind of money [DM 2000-2500, USD 1200-1500] don't bother about
  SHIPPING it to the States.  It would be so old that it wouldn't have a
  catalytic converter.
             ---
  Your INSURANCE will be astronomical just because you're a foreigner.
  [...] You've also got to pay property TAXES on the car.  That means you
  must have an address in Germany where you are "angemeldet" [residency].
  There also may be some legal hang-ups against buying a car if you're
  just using it to travel.  In addition to these thoughts, the BUYING
  process is also quite different.  You can't just walk into a car dealer
  and come out with a car -- like you can in America.  There's quite a
  bit of paper work that needs to be done before you can even test drive
  the car.  You'll have to come back a couple of days later to do that
  and then afterwards you can negotiate the transaction.
             ---
  Primarily central parts of the CITIES are closed for cars.
             ---
  PARKING can be a hassle.
             ---
  To my knowledge, you have to be RESIDENT of the Fed.  Rep.  of Germany
  in order to REGISTER a car.  [...] RESELLING the car can be quite a
  hassle.  There are times (not particular seasons, though) when the
  market is not really in favor for sellers.  [...] RENTING a car might
  be worth considering.
             ---
  It should be no problem to get a car which is still running for this
  price.  Make sure it has some state inspection time left, otherwise it
  will not be REGISTERED.  [...] You will need INSURANCE, of course.
  This is based on the hp of the car.  For 40 hp it will be about 100 DM
  per month.  You must also pay car TAX, this is based on the cc of the
  engine.  For 1 liter is it about DM 200 per year.  You get a refund, if
  you sell the car earlier for the unused time.
             ---
  I personally would not recommend buying a very cheap car, because it
  will likely BREAK DOWN.
             ---
  I would look for a REALLY CHEAP CAR (<1000 DM), which will last for the
  time you are in Germany.
             ---
  > Are there Mercedes diesels from the 70s that are reasonably priced?
  They are about DM 2000-6000 [USD 1200-4000] ...  maybe more if in very
  good shape.
             ---
  I lived in Germany for over a year and one of the nicer things [...]
  about living there is the fact that you DON'T NEED a car.

  Addendum: In July/94 the insurance market will become more
  liberal (following an EU guide-line.)  Whatever the consequences --
  probably it's going to be more diverse and less transparent to the
  customers.


# 16.5.  What German Books for Children?

  by Ottfried Preussler
      Die kleine Hexe
      Das kleine Gespenst
      Der starke Wanja
      Krabat
      Der kleine Wassermann
  by Max Kruse
      Urmel aus dem Eis (and more Urmel books)
  by Michael Ende
      Jim Knopf und Lukas, der Lokomotivfuehrer
      Jim Knopf und die Wilde 13
      Die unendliche Geschichte
      Momo
      Der satanoluegenialalkohoellische Wunschpunsch
  by Erich Kaestner
      Das fliegende Klassenzimmer
      Emil und die Detektive
      Puenktchen und Anton
      der kleine Mann
? by ???whom???
?     Der kleine Vampir
  [10/94]


  16.6.  How do I Find Out About my Family Name?

  Read the newsgroup soc.roots and get their FAQ list.
  You may also try to ftp to vm1.nodak.edu, which has a wealth of
  information about genealogy under subdirectory "roots-l".

--
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