My First Month of Talking About Home in Germany

Okay, so, this is going to sound a little crazy, but I’ve only been in Berlin for a month, and I’m already completely lost in the sheer… everything-ness of it. The language, the pace of life, the food… it’s overwhelming, but in a good way, I think. I’m trying to focus on small victories, and honestly, one of the biggest ones so far has been trying to actually talk about my daily routine. It’s proving to be way harder than I thought.

The Initial Panic: “Ich? Was mache ich?”

The first few days, I just nodded and smiled when people asked me, “Und was machst du?” (And what do you do?). My brain short-circuited. I genuinely didn’t know how to answer! It felt so… vulnerable, admitting I had a routine. Like I was supposed to have some incredibly organised life. I just mumbled something about “Arbeiten” (working) and quickly changed the subject.

I realized quickly that Germans do talk about routines. It’s a normal part of conversation. And, crucially, it’s not just about ticking off tasks; it’s about sharing your life a little.

Learning the Basics: “Am Morgen…”

I started with the absolute basics. I learned phrases like:

• “Am Morgen mache ich…” (In the morning I do…)
• “Am Abend mache ich…” (In the evening I do…)
• “Nachmittags mache ich…” (In the afternoon I do…)

I wrote them down, practiced them in front of my mirror (embarrassing, I know!), and even used them with my flatmate, Lena.

Lena is brilliant, by the way. She’s patiently corrected my stumbling attempts. The other day, I tried to say, “Ich mache Kaffee und toast am Morgen.” (I make coffee and toast in the morning.) Lena gently corrected me: “Nein, nein! Sagst du ‘Ich trinke Kaffee und esse Toast am Morgen.’” (No, no! You say ‘I drink coffee and eat toast in the morning’.) The difference is subtle, but it makes a huge difference in how natural it sounds.

Real-Life Scenarios: The Breakfast Conversation

Yesterday, I was making breakfast – a simple bowl of Müsli with Milch (milk) and Früchte (fruit – I’m trying to eat healthy!) – and Lena asked me, “Was machst du gerade?” (What are you doing right now?).

I wanted to sound confident, so I blurted out, “Ich mache Müsli am Morgen!” (I’m making muesli in the morning!)

Lena laughed and said, “Ja, aber sag lieber: ‘Ich bereite Müsli zu.’” (Yes, but you should say: ‘I’m preparing muesli’.) She explained that “zubereiten” is more common when talking about making food. It felt a little silly, but I understood.

We then had a mini-conversation about our favourite fruits. She likes Bananen (bananas), and I was trying to explain that I preferred Apfel (apples), and she said, “Ach, Äpfel sind gut! Aber Bananen sind süßer!” (Oh, apples are good! But bananas are sweeter!) – I think I managed to express that I liked them both!

Common Phrases and Vocabulary

Here are a few other phrases I’ve picked up that are really useful:

• “Ich gehe zur Arbeit um…Uhr.” (I go to work at… o’clock.)
• “Ich komme nach Hause um…Uhr.” (I get home at… o’clock.)
• “Ich gehe ins Fitnessstudio um…Uhr.” (I go to the gym at… o’clock.)
• “Ich koche Abendessen um…Uhr.” (I cook dinner at… o’clock.)

I’ve also started noticing how important punctuality is. When I was late for dinner last week – only by 15 minutes – Lena gave me a slightly disapproving look! It’s making me more aware of keeping my promises to myself about sticking to a routine.

My Own Little Routine (and My Mistakes!)

Okay, so here’s a rough outline of my routine (and I’m being very generous with “rough”):

• 7:00 Uhr: Aufwachen (Wake up) – usually with a huge coffee.
• 7:30 Uhr: Duschen (Shower) – I still haven’t figured out the shower temperature yet!
• 8:00 Uhr: Frühstück (Breakfast) – Müsli, usually.
• 8:30 Uhr: Arbeiten (Work) – I’m a freelance translator.
• 12:30 Uhr: Mittagessen (Lunch) – Often just a sandwich from the supermarket.
• 14:00 Uhr: Arbeiten (Work) – Back to the translations.
• 17:00 Uhr: Fitnessstudio (Gym) – Trying to be healthy!
• 19:00 Uhr: Abendessen (Dinner) – Sometimes I cook, sometimes I order Takeout (Pizza is a weakness!).
• 20:00 Uhr: Entspannen (Relax) – Watching TV or reading.
• 22:00 Uhr: Schlafenszeit (Bedtime) – Ideally…

I’m sure I’ll make more mistakes and say things completely wrong, but that’s okay, right? It’s all part of learning. I’m slowly feeling more comfortable talking about my life here, and that’s a huge step. Next week, I’m going to try and really nail that “Ich bereite Müsli zu” phrase! Wish me luck!