he travels, and travels, and travels

“I arrived in Berlin yesterday – stayed at a friend’s place last night. A guy called Eric. We used to be partners when I worked at a call center here in Berlin.” It’s René speaking: MC René to be precise. Rapper, author, stand-up comedian – my latest guest on Talking Germany. And René certainly needs plenty of friends like Eric because … he lives on the train.

 

read more

Tedros Teclebhran chose the film that won Adrien Brody an Oscar as best actor (youngest ever, apparently – at 29!). The Pianist. Teddy didn’t say why. But it’s a stern choice, coming from a comedian. Good movie.

I was recently talking to a politician here in Germany who said that, in his opinion, the biggest challenge facing the country is to create an atmosphere of inclusivity. In specific terms, he was talking about the fact that many members of Germany’s immigrant communities say they still can’t and don’t entirely belong. And that’s pretty much how Tedros Teclebrhan, my latest guest on Talking Germany, feels. He was born in Eritrea – but Germany is where he grew up and Germany is home. Still, the ambivalence and absurdities surrounding the issues of immigration and integration were at the heart of his spoof video that went viral on YouTube.

read more