Tips and Tricks: Volume 1 - Curtains

 
  Welcome back!  Here in "Tips and Tricks" I'm going to be going over some of the small things that can make your time living and studying here in Germany go more smoothly.
     So you've moved into your new Studentenwohnheim, cleared out the dust from the last tenant, put their old mail in the Hausmeisters mailbox, realized in a whole new way that American dorm rooms are essentially closets, and and you've come to the realization that there are no curtains to keep out the light when you are attempting to oversleep on a weekday?  We all know that buying actual curtains is both impractical, as you're going to move out in a few months. and too expensive, as it would cut into the money you could be spending on important things like ice cream.

Going green!

  The first step is to find a cheap cloth, shower curtain (not the plastic kind, for your own heat-related safety), or opaque sheet, which is long enough to reach the entire vertical length of your window; about 120cm should do.  Depending on where in Germany you are, the actual places where you can buy suitable cloths or curtains varies, the discount store Mäc Geiz is a reasonably safe bet to make, but take a look around in your local area before committing to buying something.  Also, be careful of how heavy they are, as the next step can rely heavily on this.

Scarves are also required apparel here.

     At the top of the window, there is a metal curtain bracket, with two tracks cut into it, and a plastic "guard" on the side further from the window.  Here, your personal area and options become the driving factor in how you proceed.  If you are not in Leipzig, stores like Mäc Geiz and other discounters will sell "tablecloth hooks" (on the right in the picture).  If you use these, take the curved end, force the hooks through your cloth or curtain, and clip the alligator end to the plastic guard (they are not terribly strong, but work).  If you are in Leipzig, you are going to want to find the store Allerlei, which is in downtown Leipzig, if you head towards the University from the tram stations at the Hauptbahnhof (central train station).  There, you can buy the rolling hooks (pictured left), for 12 cents each.

Arts and crafts is finally paying off!

     Take the end of the hook with the wheels, and push them through your curtain's existing holes (if you bought something other than a curtain, put 1 inch holes at 6 inch intervals).  Make sure that they are lined up so that the wheels are all on the same side.  Then, slide the wheels into one of the openings for a track in the curtain bracket.  If there is an end which has a piece of metal blocking off the track, open your curtain in that direction, as there is nothing to stop the hooks from falling out of your bracket.

Much better!

     And that's it!  Hopefully this can help to you save a few Euros, and makes life just a tiny bit easier during your time in Germany.  It isn't much, but it is the little things that can make life feel just a little bit more "normal" while so far away from home.  Until next time!

Proverb of the Day:

Pay attention to your surroundings when you are in a city.

Otherwise you'll take the wrong tram and end up on the other end of said city.

*The background music is from a personal music project in progress.