Newsletter – February 2021 English-language on-line resource expat-ka.com • [email protected]

Statue of Karl Friedrich von Baden (Charles Frederick, Grand Duke of Baden) in front of the Karlsruhe Palace (Dec. 2020). Dear Expats,

Another month has passed — and not much has changed. The current COVID-19-related rules and regulations are in effect until at least February 14th, 2021. Schools have Fasching (Carnival) holidays from February 13-21, so the earliest that schools can reopen is on February 22nd.

In Karlsruhe, the infection numbers are going down, but the current concern is the spread of the COVID-19 mutations already rampant in some countries. The other priority is to get as many people vaccinated as possible, but there are difficulties and currently just a bit more than 2% of the population has had one shot and only 0.6% of the population has had two shots (Source: Die Zeit, February 1, 2021). The current prognosis is that vaccination will continue throughout the fall of 2021, so in the meantime we must remain cautious and diligent. Check our website for current COVID-19 information.

The curfew in Baden-Württemberg between 8 pm and 5 am is still in effect. Please see Lockdown on our website for more details.

On a positive note, since December 21st, the days are getting longer.

Although the shops are closed, Click and Collect is available throughout Karlsruhe as well as in the surrounding towns. This includes, among others, large furniture stores, hardware stores and florists. If you need to purchase something, check on the shop website or call the shop to see if they have what you need in stock. A time can be arranged to pick up the goods — some stores even offer delivery service within the city. Contactless payment is requested, so you can either pay online or with an EC card at the shop. The City Library System (Stadtbibliothek Karlsruhe) including the branch libraries (e.g. the American Library) is also offering this service to check out books, DVDs and other media.

Elections 2021 is a big election year in Germany. Elections for the German state parliament (Landtag) are being held in 5 states and the Federal elections are on September 26th. The main political discussion on a national level is that Angela Merkel is no longer running for office leaving a void. She has been the Chancellor of Germany since 2005. Newsletter – February 2021 English-language on-line resource expat-ka.com • [email protected]

You may have noticed political posters springing up all over the city — it's also election time in Baden-Württemberg. Official campaigning begins 6 weeks prior to the election and posters are only allowed to be displayed during this time. You are not allowed to remove the posters, even if you disagree with the politics. The elections themselves are on March 14th. At the moment, the state is run by a coalition of the Green Party (Grünen) and the Christian Democrats (CDU). Only German citizens may vote in this election.

By the way, the local Karlsruhe election at the beginning of December was a good one for the past and newly re-elected mayor Dr. Frank Mentrup, who remains in office for another 8 years.

Important dates in February Fasching (or Carnival) is the yearly highlight for many in Germany and is sometimes also called the 5th season. The Fasching celebrations one year ago are thought to be one of the main super spreaders of the first wave of the virus. Needless to say, this year there are no festivities. However, if you would like some background information about the German version of Carnival, please see our website here.

Valentine’s Day on February 14th is not a big deal in Germany, but the restaurants and florists like it. It falls on a Sunday this year, so if you would like to buy flowers or have a special meal, plan ahead. Many restaurants are offering packages of partially finished dishes – with instruction sheets of how to complete the preparations at home.

What to do in Karlsruhe in February If not cancelled events have moved online including:

• Storytime for Kids 6 & Up and Teen Time at the American Library – more info here. • Karlsruhe Toastmasters in English – more info here. • The deadline for the Strasbourg Short Story Competition is February 12th. More info here. • International Come Together is a social event offering international professionals and students an opportunity to exchange ideas and make valuable contacts. The Welcome Center of the Technology Region Karlsruhe and the Rotary Club Karlsruhe-Fächerstadt are your hosts. Participation is free of charge. RSVP at welcome@technologieregion- karlsruhe.de. The next meeting is on Thursday, February 25, 2021. Keynote: “What kindness and handshake connects: equality and hierarchy in companies. Is punctuality really that important? How do I make my first impression?” by Rainer Wälde, Gutshof- Academy.

Relocation Service move-in With almost 20 years of experience in the region, Relocation Service move-in can help with your move to Karlsruhe, your move from Karlsruhe and with all those day-to-day problems expats experience.

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