My First Week at “Zum Goldenen Hirsch” – And Why “Pünktlich” Is My New Mantra

Okay, deep breaths. Moving to Berlin was… a lot. The sheer noise of it all, the language, the feeling of being utterly, completely lost. I’d pictured myself immediately thriving, effortlessly charming everyone with my polite German, but the reality has been a lot more humbling. I’m working as a kitchen assistant at a small traditional restaurant called “Zum Goldenen Hirsch” (The Golden Deer) – it’s cute, it’s busy, and it’s… exhausting. But it’s also where I’m actually learning, and I wanted to share what I’ve discovered, particularly about how to talk about my work routine in German.

The Initial Chaos: “Was machen Sie?”

The first few days were just a blur of frantic “Entschuldigung!”, dropped plates, and desperately trying to understand what Herr Schmidt, the head chef, was yelling. He’s a lovely man, really, but his German is incredibly fast. The first question I kept getting asked, and instinctively answering with a confused shrug, was “Was machen Sie?” (What are you doing?). I’d mumble something like, “Ich… äh… helfe,” (I… uh… help), which, while technically correct, sounded incredibly awkward.

I quickly realized I needed to actually describe what I was doing, not just state that I was helping.

Mastering “Jeden Morgen” and “Um … Uhr”

This is where the temporal expressions came in. They’re essential, right? Because just saying “Ich helfe” doesn’t really tell anyone much. I started hearing phrases like “Jeden Morgen” (Every morning) and “Um … Uhr” (At … o’clock).

For example, Herr Schmidt asked me, “Kommst du um 8 Uhr?” (Are you coming at 8 o’clock?). I panicked slightly, but I managed to say, “Ja, ich komme um 8 Uhr. Jeden Morgen.” (Yes, I come at 8 o’clock. Every morning.) It felt much more natural.

Another time, I was prepping vegetables, and he asked, “Was machst du gerade?” (What are you doing right now?). I responded, “Ich schneide Zwiebeln. Jeden Morgen.” (I’m chopping onions. Every morning.) It’s a ridiculously simple sentence, but it made him understand my routine and he seemed genuinely pleased.

Small Mistakes, Big Lessons

Let’s be honest, I’ve made plenty of mistakes. I accidentally said “Jeden Abend” (Every evening) when describing my shift – it caused a small, confused debate about whether I was a night owl! And I completely butchered the pronunciation of “um” several times. I was so embarrassed, but Herr Schmidt just laughed and said, “Keine Sorge!” (Don’t worry!). He corrected me gently, and I slowly started to get the hang of it.

Useful Phrases for Work – And How to Respond

Here are some phrases I’m actually using now, and how I’ve learned to respond:

• “Ich beginne um … Uhr.” (I start at … o’clock.) – Response: “Gut!” (Good!) or “Danke, Herr Schmidt.”
• “Danach mache ich ….” (After that, I do …) – Response: This opens up opportunities to ask you questions and direct your tasks.
• “Dann helfe ich mit ….” (Then I help with …) – Response: Used when someone asks you what you’re currently doing.
• “Ich arbeite bis … Uhr.” (I work until … o’clock.) – Response: Often followed by “Und dann bin ich fertig.” (And then I’m finished.)

A Little Bit of Reality: The Lunch Rush

Today was particularly hectic – the “Mittagspause” (Lunch rush) is insane. I was frantically washing dishes, taking orders, and trying to keep up with Herr Schmidt’s rapid-fire instructions. “Mehr Teller!” (More plates!), he shouted. “Schneller!” (Faster!). I just nodded, desperately trying to remember “Ich helfe schnell!” (I help quickly!). I dropped a plate (again!), and he just sighed and said, “Okay, okay. Ruhig bleiben!” (Okay, okay. Stay calm!).

My Progress (And My Goals)

Despite the chaos and the mistakes, I’m actually starting to feel a little more comfortable. I’m still stumbling over my German, but I can now confidently describe my basic work routine. My goal is to move beyond just repeating phrases and to actually understand what people are saying. And, more importantly, to be able to communicate effectively, even when I’m covered in flour and desperately trying to prevent a kitchen disaster.

Anyone have any tips for surviving the Mittagspause? “Bitte um Rat!” (Please ask for advice!)