Return to Homepage - Last updated: 2 Feb 2005

Homesick? Play the German National Anthem!
Deutschlandlied (instrumental) [MP3]

Conversion of U.S. measurements

This is not always necessary, but if so, it is usually a pain. Get used to the funky stuff like 'btu' (British thermal units, so much for the independence) and don't even ask how many kWh these are, or Joule?

TV system standards

The colour TV system in use is NTSC (short for Never-the-same-colour) with an Audio carrier offset (I believe 3.58 MHz). My imported Grundig Multi-System TV wouldn't work - no audio. Solution: buy a multi system TV here, you can find several models. I use a SONY 20" that runs on 100-240 Volts AC and eats everything except French TV signals (which is fine, unless you plan moving to France - in which case you have bigger problems than TV reception anyway).

Video Cassette Recorders are more challenging. Again, watch for the Audio carrier trap. You can buy multi system equipment at special stores or by mail order, but the prices are steep and selection is poor. The perfect solution is a digital conversion VCR, from Aiwa, Samsung or Panasonic. Stereo units can run at up to $2000, mono at $450. These machines can convert anything to anything (with the possible exception of French TV), so you can watch your genuine Chinese movies with your British TV set. Or copy your NTSC TV shows onto a PAL format tape. These VCRs are all VHS, I think.

In the brave new world, there are now also DVD players. The copyright gods have given us 'regions' in which a DVD player will work. Each region has a number from 1 through 6, and if you have a region 1 (North America) player, it will play only region 1 DVDs. That is, unless you have a so-called CODE-FREE player that ignores the region code. You can find this stuff on the Internet for around $300-$500. Models vary, make sure you have either a multisystem TV that can handle the format your DVDs are in directly, or you need a converter of some sort. You can find some DVD players with built in converters (that will for example play a PAL DVD but deliver an NTSC signal to the TV), or you need an external converter that makes your DVD player's PAL signal into NTSC. A digital conversion VCR can do this for you. Note that you will have the best quality only if you connect the DVD player to the TV directly, using a digital connection or at least S-Video.

Electrical Appliances

Very challenging at first, but actually simple. If you move to the US, don't leave all your good appliances at home. American appliances are very different. The inexpensive stuff is cheap, and the good stuff is very expensive. Bring your trusted Miele or Bosch/Siemens. Don't worry about the voltage for now.

The US system is based on 115V/60 Hz and outlets have typically 15A fuses. This is fine for everything that has a rating of 1600 Watt or less. All devices that need serious power (stationary power tools, Air conditioners, ovens) need more juice. Here lies the solution: you will typically have a second phase in your circuit breaker box somewhere with an ADDITIONAL 115V. Wired correctly, 115+115 = 230V (60Hz). Some places even have special outlets (for AC, stove) that carry 230V. Disassemble your electric stove if nothing else helps. Voila - all you need to do is find it and wire up an imported power strip, and all your big stuff runs. Put this in the kitchen, and your coffee maker and iron are happy. I even have a Raclette grill running on that.

The 60 Hz do not matter for most usages, only an old mechanical record player or an alarm clock won't work too well (running fast). All the electronic stuff (Stereos etc.) is no big deal. Since you don't want to rewire your house for 230V, buy transformers for the smaller applications. You can get inexpensive electromechanical transformers (not the electronic kind, they're suspicious) for ratings up to 1 500W apiece at $75 max. They'll run your bread slicer, hi-fi, battery chargers etc. These transformers are switchable, so they'll transform 230V to 115V should you move back and want to power some of your American acquisitions. Watch out for larger transformers - you can't really load more on an outlet, and they are not really recommended (unsafe).

WARNING: If you are not sure how to rewire things, ask someone who does. Since housing is mostly wood and paper (drywall), and the low voltage requires higher currents, cables can overheat: it is very easy to set the house on fire. This is generally a BAD IDEA and although the fire department is very quick, you will still need a good liability insurance. So, please be careful!

Some devices come with a wide-range rating of 100-240V 50/60 Hz (automatic adaption). Those are the natural choice of the world traveler as they work anywhere, provided you find the right plug. If you buy stuff, try to look for that. Example: PC, Monitor, Fax/Printer, Razor, and Camcorder charger.

All of these specialty items as TVs, transformers, VCRs etc. are not available at a regular department or hardware store. I bought mine from Patel Appliances, Devon Avenue, Chicago, in the Indian neighborhood. In most larger cities with big ethnic groups you will find some that offer this. You can nowadays shop on the Internet (look for MULTISYSTEM VCR on Yahoo) and can get quite a selection.

 Shopping

Food:

Alpine Delikatessen, Oak Mill Mall, Oakton and Milwaukee, Niles - Brot und Wurst, Käse, Schokolade, Marmelade, gängige Biersorten, Obstler, Gewürze, Mondamin, etc.

Meyer's Delikatessen, 4750 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago - http://www.delicatessenmeyer.com/ . Brezel and Brötchen on the weekend!

Kuhn's Delikatessen, Deerbrook Mall, Northbrook - see above (man spricht deutsch)

Treasure Island, several locations, has European foods and decent groceries.

Beer:

Sam's Wine and Liquor, Marcey St. (North and Clybourn), Chicago - carries Warsteiner, KöPi, Bit, Erdinger (incl. Pikantus), etc. - even kegs - selection varies.

Many larger liquor stores carry German beer, mostly Beck's and Warsteiner, but also Spaten, Dinkelacker etc.

Wine:

No decent German wine available in regular stores, only Mosel/Saar/Ruwer and other stuff nobody in their right mind would drink.

Meyer's Delicatessen (see above) has some Franken and Baden wines, like Affentaler Spätburgunder around $12.

French and Italian at Sam's, see above.

There are some delicious American wines, but they aren't cheap either.

Newspapers:

Problem. Borders and Barnes and Noble used to carry the FAZ, Der Spiegel, Focus, but recently discontinued it. There is a small store on Lincoln Avenue (about 4750 N) which carries German magazines. You can subsribe to some magazines for a lot of money, or revert to the good old Internet.

Cars:

Loeber Mercedes-Benz, Lincoln Avenue, Lincolnwood

Perillo BMW, Clark and Maple, Chicago

Jennings VW, Glenview

A word on news, in general
There are a number of good news broadcasts through email mailing lists. Check out their web sites for subscription information:

Deutsche Welle – www.dwelle.de (Audio stream and TV), offers news mailing list in EN and DE

SWR3 – www.swr3.de (Audio Stream)

German Information Center – Send SIGNON GIC-D Command to LISTSERV@LISTSERV.DARTMOUTH.EDU to subscribe to their (German) mailing list

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