My First Month in Berlin: Talking About Healthy Routines (and Almost Setting My Kitchen on Fire!)

Okay, so let me tell you, moving to Berlin was… a lot. The sheer size of the city is overwhelming, and the bureaucracy? Don’t even get me started. But amidst the chaos, I’m slowly settling in, and one of the things I’ve realized I desperately needed was a routine. Not a rigid, military-style one, obviously. Just… something to give me a little bit of control. And, of course, to talk about my health with the people I meet.

The Initial Awkwardness – “Ich bin gesund”

The first few weeks were hilarious. I kept trying to explain my “healthy lifestyle” to everyone, and it just wasn’t translating. I’d say, “Ich bin gesund! Ich gehe viel!” (I’m healthy! I go for a lot of walks!). And people would look at me strangely. Turns out, “Ich bin gesund” isn’t quite the same as saying you’re taking care of yourself. It’s like saying “I’m well” – a little bit vague.

I learned that quickly though. A better approach is to be more specific. I started with simple phrases like:

• “Ich versuche, gesund zu essen.” (I’m trying to eat healthily.) – Much less intimidating.
• “Ich gehe morgens joggen.” (I go for a jog in the mornings.) – This one got a lot of curious glances, but it’s perfectly understandable.

Ordering Breakfast – “Ein Müsli, bitte, ohne Zucker.”

My attempts at breakfast were… interesting. I wanted to impress my new colleague, Sarah, at the café near my apartment. I confidently ordered: “Ich hätte gerne ein Müsli, bitte, mit Früchten.” (I’d like a muesli, please, with fruit.) The barista, a wonderfully grumpy man named Klaus, looked at me like I was completely mad. Apparently, every muesli in Berlin comes with a mountain of sugar.

He patiently explained, “Nein, nein, nein! Das ist hier sehr süß! Müsli hier ist normalerweise mit viel Zucker.” (No, no, no! This is very sweet here! Muesli here is usually very sugary.) I sheepishly replied, “Oh… ohne Zucker, bitte?” (Oh… without sugar, please?) Lesson learned – always clarify! Now I always say, “Ein Müsli, bitte, ohne Zucker.” (A muesli, please, without sugar.)

Talking About Exercise – “Ich mache Sport?”

Then there’s the whole “Sport” thing. I told my neighbor, Herr Schmidt, that I was trying to get more exercise. I said, “Ich mache Sport!” (I do sport!). He raised an eyebrow and said, “Ach, was für Sport?” (Oh, what kind of sport?). I panicked and blurted out, “Ich gehe ins Fitnessstudio!” (I go to the gym!).

He chuckled and said, “Das ist gut! Aber vielleicht lieber einen Spaziergang?” (That’s good! But maybe a walk instead?). It highlights how German people perceive sport – it’s not always about intense workouts. It’s more about movement, like a walk or cycling.

Daily Routine Phrases – Essential Vocabulary

Here are a few phrases that have been really helpful:

• “Ich stehe um… Uhr auf.” (I wake up at… o’clock.) – Example: “Ich stehe um 7 Uhr auf.” (I wake up at 7 o’clock.)
• “Ich frühstücke um… Uhr.” (I have breakfast at… o’clock.) – Example: “Ich frühstücke um 8 Uhr.” (I have breakfast at 8 o’clock.)
• “Ich gehe um… Uhr arbeiten/lernen.” (I go to work/study at… o’clock.) – Example: “Ich gehe um 9 Uhr arbeiten.” (I go to work at 9 o’clock.)
• “Ich esse Abendessen um… Uhr.” (I eat dinner at… o’clock.) – Example: “Ich esse Abendessen um 6 Uhr.” (I eat dinner at 6 o’clock.)

A Small Victory – My First Healthy Meal

Finally, last week, I managed to cook a relatively healthy meal. I followed a recipe for “Linsen mit Gemüse” (lentils with vegetables) – surprisingly easy! I invited Sarah over, and we talked about our daily routines while eating. It felt really good to share a meal that wasn’t dripping with sugar, and even better to have a genuine conversation.

“Das Essen ist sehr lecker!” (The food is very tasty!) she said. I just smiled and said, “Ja, ich versuche, gesund zu kochen.” (Yes, I’m trying to cook healthily.)

It’s still early days, and I’m definitely making mistakes. But slowly, I’m learning how to talk about my healthy routines in a way that makes sense to people here. And that, I think, is a really important part of settling into a new life. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off for a walk! “Los geht’s!” (Let’s go!)