LETTER TRANSLATION & MAILING
Letter translation is a good way of learning German but in your first few months sometimes legal and financial terms are tricky. If so, bring in your letter to Philippa Kopp during the times of the day she designates to open questions. Also, bring in money and Philippa will mail your letters with the correct postage. Sizing of letters rather than weight alone is tricky to determine the cost of and she can help.
RECYCLING
Germans take recycling very seriously. Your neighborhood will have a pattern of pick up. Blue bins are for paper, yellow bins are for plastic, food cartons, empty tins, aluminum and cardboard. Bio is collected from brown bins. Often you will find glass recycling bins right in your neighborhood. Larger recycling centers exist around town depending on your neighborhood where everything...and we mean everything... has a special skip/bin (electrics/rubble/garden refuse/hard plastic/metal). You can usually find old clothes and shoes drop off here too.
CULTURAL NORMS
● Shops close on Sundays - a day of rest.
● There is great value in road crossing safety - jaywalking is frowned upon especially if you have children with you.
● Quiet Sundays are expected including not running your washer or a dryer if your neighbor can hear them.
● Watch out for bike lanes - this is not just etiquette it may save their or your life or at least some serious injury!
● Pick up after your animals and if they bark or whine during the day and others can hear, expect a complaint.
LEARNING GERMAN
Many Hannovarians do not speak English fluently and will really appreciate you at least trying at the start of an interaction to speak German - even if they switch to broken English. You will find patience and appreciation for trying.
You can get by in Hannover without learning German but you won’t be able to pass the time of day with everyone if you don’t pick up some. Language learning apps exist for your phone. A few of favorites are Babbel and Duolingo. They will only get you so far though.
A great resource that is free that was recently developed for the large number of migrants to the country is https://learngerman.dw.com/en/overview . Is a must go to if you want to develop your German. It allows access at a number of levels if you have some German already.
Alternatively, you can enroll in German language courses at VHS, Bildungsverein. Some of our staff use private providers that we can put you in touch with.
ENGLISH-SPEAKING HAIRDRESSERS
Phantasie is located in the city center near the station cuts a lot of our female staff. 0511 56820597. Lavesstrasse 9, 30159 Hannover.
Lisa at TRIONAUTEN in Nordstadt (Nelkenstrasse). Good prices and they do a great job, however you usually have to wait a long time, as they don’t give appointments: www.trionauten.de
Tom at M3 Frisuren (Altstadt, Knochenhauerstrasse 11). Phone is (0511) 10 533 094.
Elisa at Salloon Sheriff (Oststadt, Lister Meile 48). Phone (0511) 8984 7848
ENGLISH-SPEAKING DOCTORS & DENTISTS
There are many. Ask a staff member who lives in your neighborhood - they will be able to share with you who is near you with a good reputation.
List of English-Speaking Doctors
List of English-Speaking Therapists
PARENTAL LEAVE
German residents are eligible by law for parental leave when a child is born. This is called Elternzeit.
BETRIEBSRAT
The Betriebsrat, or Works Council, is a group, currently made up of 7 staff members which is elected every four years and whose job it is to work with both the employees and employer to ensure the fair, effective and transparent running of the works. In Germany, the Betriebsrat serves not as a union but as a means by which issues pertaining to recruitment, payment, and discipline are discussed and, ideally, resolved.
GERMAN EDUCATION SYSTEM
The following document gives a summary of the German Educational System. ISHR is roughly ‘equivalent’ to a Gymnasium but is classified as a Complementary school “Ergänzungsschule”. Teaching additional courses, despite those that are also offered in the public secondary schools.
“Gymnasium”. Providing intensive and in-depth general education, general knowledge for university studies, and for scientific work. It normally covers schooling years from grade 5-12 or 5-13, leading to an “Allgemeine Hochschulreife” known as “Abitur”.
