Asking directions
Berlin is a huge city. It's a horizontal kind of place, not vertical like Manhattan , and it seems to go on forever. There are dozens of districts and townships and it's very easy to get disoriented and lost, especially when you're new here. But having said that... You should also know that it could be a whole lot worse. You could be disoriented and lost here and then make the mistake of asking a native for directions.
Do not do this. Do not do this ever. They mean well. And that will be your downfall. You see, the natives are fundamentally inhibited, guarded, self-conscious and shy. They are also just dying for someone to release them from this torment. What is worse, they mean well, as I said, and now that you have unchained them from their inner exile by being dumb enough to ask them for directions they will start giving you directions. And they will not stop giving you directions until they are good and ready to do so.
It makes absolutely no difference that they haven't the slightest idea where it is you wish to go. They will give you directions there anyway. But they won't stop there. They will give you directions to two or three other places you are not at all interested in going to. Then they will give you directions to places that they like to go to. And then they will give you directions to places that neither of you has ever heard of before or possibly don't even exist. They will give you directions to Fresno, California if you ask them.
This has happened to me nine times. It will never happen to me again.
