Dear readers, I need your advice!
I have a problem with my tags. They're stupid.
Let's start with public transport, which is only a small part of what I'm trying to label under it. I mean moving about in Berlin in general, whether it is with a tram or a taxi. The point is moving from point A to point B, not exclusively public transport (to which I could of course dedicate a tag of its own, but it's not what I'm after now). "Moving about in Berlin" sounds as if you're just wandering around in Berlin without any sort of plan whatsoever. "Moving in Berlin" for its part sounds as in moving residence from one flat to another, or, alternatively, things in Berlin that get you all emotional. Well, I do feel all warm and fuzzy inside at the very thought of public transport that runs all night long, not to mention clubs and bars being open non-stop all weekend, but still... You get the drift.
Update: Alex came up with "getting around", which was exactly what I was looking for! Thanks!! ^___^
Then there's living in Berlin, which evokes the reaction "... DUH? Yeah? That's what the whole blog is about?" But contrary to the previous case, I don't mean it as generically as the first impression would be; as in just being alive. I mean quite concrete things that have to do with being a resident in Berlin. Primarily, all sorts of basic things and curiosities regarding the flats here (hence "living"); but also e.g. diverse bureaucracy; owning/rental structure, customs and the like; the very lively "Kiez" (neighbourhood) culture; and so on. So anything that has to do with very concretely living everyday life somewhere. As I mentioned, plain "living" is somewhat amusing in its universality, but then again e.g. "residence" has an all too formal sound to it, narrowing it to plain bureaucracy.
I've been racking my brains, but my imagination and creativity have once again proven themselves to be near to non-extistent.
PLZ HALP
How about "getting around"? Like here: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround/default.aspx
ReplyDeleteYess, exactly something like that was what I was looking for! Thanks a million :)
ReplyDeleteAs for the other one, if you don't think "residency" fits (I think it's fine), how about: habitation! ("Inhabiting Berlin" maybe?)
ReplyDeleteHmm, "habitation" and "inhabiting" sound to me more like someone/something making a place habited, i.e. not deserted (not really describing everyday life), just the concrete place one lives in, i.e. a flat or house, or then a settlement or a colony.
ReplyDelete"Archaeologists have found signs of human habitation."
"The valley was inhabited as late as in the 20th century."
Well, I wouldn't say that's the dictionary definition of it but of course what it sounds to you matters here :)
ReplyDeleteIf you don't agree with the colloquial "Berlin life" or "Life in Berlin" or some such, I think "residency" might be the only term which literally means what you're getting at.
I started doubting my understanding of the words and had to check, and at least Merriam-Webster's definitions are pretty much how I interpret them.
ReplyDeleteWell, at the end of the day dictionary definitions and even my own are secondary, the most important thing would of course be that others understand what I'm trying to say, and that's what I'm having my doubts about :)
It's not exactly that I _disagree_ with "life in Berlin" or "living in Berlin", it's just that they're much broader than what I'm after. Earlier the tag actually was just "living". I thought it odd to specify that the location was Berlin, as it is quite obvious. But I quite quickly gave in to adding the "in Berlin", as "living" by itself is about as generic a tag as "everything" :)
Oh well, I guess it'll just stay as it is for now. Or could also give "residence"/"residency" a second thought and try to deal with its narrowness :D Oh the great dilemmas a person can have!