"Ein herz für Kinder" - Run around the alster lake for 7.5 kms

When one has lived considerable amount of time in Hamburg, one can never forget the beautiful picturesque view of Alster Lake in their life. Recently had a great chance to run along the Aussenalster (Outer Alster) for a distance of 7.4 kms in 51 minutes along with my MBA classmates and my good friend Ratheesh. This event was sponsored by Allianz, the German insurance giant for a good cause “Ein Herz für Kinder” – Love for Children.

Thanks to Northern Institute of Technology Management who initiated us to take part in this event. There is another program running called “One of us”. It’s an initiative taken by all the alumni’s of NIT to sponsor one student from under developed or developing nation enabling him to study at NIT. Part of the contributions of this run goes to this cause as well.

It’s a great experience to run along the banks of Alster with perfect sunshine. The event was organized to perfection with lovely T-shirts, start kits, massages after the run and of course beverages. Hats off to Raghav, three year old kid who ran 200m race along with his counterparts. It was a great day of picnic near the Alster Lake. Thanks to my good friend Prbau who motivated me to practise after the work. It’s a good feeling to run for a good cause and simultaneously keeping an eye on the tummy ;)

Cheers,
Sathish Kumar S

Converting Indian driving license to German driving license

 

There were many questions from my friends of how to convert Indian driving license to German driving license. Hope this article answers some of the common questions which everybody has. When one has Indian driving license, one can use it for the first six months in Germany. But after six months of stay in Germany, one necessarily has to take German driving license. How absurd isn’t it? Does one forget driving after driving for six months? ;)

Mandatorily, one has to take theory exams by memorizing around 1500 odd questions. This exam can be taken in English. Please go to ADAC and make the translation of Indian driving license in German. Submit this translation certificate from ADAC to local transport office issuing driving license (Strasseverkehrsamt). When one has driving license in India, one need not take mandatory driving lessons. One can totally skip those lessons.

Just take maximum of five lessons to get a feel of driving in German roads, learn the rules and try it in Autobahn. After five lessons, register for the exams immediately because registering of the exams takes two weeks. In this meantime, please take five lessons. Make sure, you don’t take more than ten driving lessons. If you are lucky, you clear the exam in the first attempt; otherwise throw the dice till you get your driving license ;) But never miss the chance of driving in Autobahn in your life.

Run for Help - 9 Kms in Lueneburg

Summer is back, need to burn out the calories which I accumulated during the winter, can't find a better opportunity to run through the city of Lueneburg for a helping cause for around 9 Kms. Initially, I was always skeptic about the distance of 9 Kms, but thanks to the motivation of my good friend Prabu with whom I trained twice a week after the work. Special thanks to my colleague Rene, who is my inspiration and motivation for all the sporting activities of running, cycling, swimming etc. 

Thanks to Werum which takes special care to sponsor for many sporting events in and around Hamburg and motivate the employees to do some sports rather than sitting before the computer all the time. It was a great chance to run in and around the streets of Lueneburg along with thousands of people. The registration money from the participants is used for a noble cause. Thank god, the weather stayed absolutely fine and it was not raining. My target was to finish it well with an hour and I could manage it on 59,47 minutes :) But what I felt discrepancy in the race is, my jog tracker application showed just 8.3 kms and my friend also confirmed the same. But who care whether its 8.3 or 9 kms, when the running is for a good cause. It was certainly a day to remember!

Cheers,

Sathish Kumar S