Being a student in Berlin is tough, they say it’s “poor and sexy” but the prices have been going up and getting a reasonable apartment to rent isn’t easy. Luckily for me the students’ union had just the place for me, it is a little far in a former Soviet satellite town, heck it wasn’t even part of Berlin before the war, but it’s cheap. At just €250 a month, the 25 square meter apartment with a private toilet, a kitchenette, and free parking was a steal. It was so far from the city center that I could drive to Poland in the same time it took the tram to get me downtown.
Though this year’s winter has been relatively mild, East Berlin is cold as ever. It’s been cold ever since the Soviets occupied this place and though they’ve left for more than two decades, the cold decided to stay behind. I guess I’m just lucky that the Soviets at least had the basic decency to mandate that all homes be fitted with gas heaters. Hot and cold water came standard, as did the terrible scent of sulfur in the water that came from decades of disrepair.
The refrigerator was standard equipment with a five level selector knob, the first setting turned it off, the motor wouldn’t respond to two, three, or four, but the compressor would kick in at five and freeze the milk. Much like the Soviets they’d give you the illusion of choice, but in the end it’s either rotten meat at one or frozen milk at five during the summer months– take your pick. Winter is a little easier on food preservation, the meat goes in the fridge and the milk goes by the drafty windows to stay fresh. Not like I can afford a lot of meat or milk on a student budget anyways.
The drafty doors and leaky windows were a whole other story. Shakey, my cat, existed for the sole purpose of warmth. When I’m working at my desk I’d have her sit by the window sill to stop the whistling wind, when I’m cooking in the kitchen I’d have her sit by the door to stop the draft, and when I’m in bed I’d have her with me under my thin covers to keep me company.
Experience Soviet life with the wonders of capitalism before its gentrified, there are shiny new bourgeoisie condominiums popping up just two blocks away. Proletarian for life.
