Friday, June 20, 2008

The Mysteries and Wonders of a German Breakroom

Last year, when I was in Germany there was a toaster in the Breakroom that boldly announced, “FingerWeg!! Das ist meine!”, or in German “Hands off. This is mine.” Because I’m used to the expression “Hands off” it's not so funny to my ear. Telling someone to keep their “Fingers away” is tantamount in my mind to keeping “your filthy paws off my silky drawers!” That one would find such a sign in a formal corporate office is even funnier.

This year however, the Toaster is gone. Someone, obviously not German, absconded with the toaster using their pesky delinquent fingers.

Common in a German breakroom is a hot water tap that dispenses immediately, hot boiling water. I found this out the hard way. I tried to hold a glass and wash it while pouring scalding water over it. Doh! To the krankhaus (hospital) I nearly went, yes, very cranky.

The other amazing machine is a jet dispenser that converts common Berlin tap water, into either “light” or “classic” sparkling water. It’s like having the Perrier spring (and a jet) here on the 5th floor of a manufacturing plant! Who wouldn't want to shoot pure mountain spring water through their favorite jet engine, I ask you?

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