😀From Berlin to Bangkok: Why a German Supermarket’s Tiny Shelf Gap Would Go Viral on Thai Social Media for Being Totally Inconvenient.

The other day, I went to buy some bread at a supermarket near my home in Steglitz. I come here very often, but I always feel curious about a Dead Zone in this shop. It's a bit surprising for me to see how they manage the space.

​If you look at the picture, there's a very narrow gap between the pillar and the shelf. It's so small that nobody can walk inside or even reach the products. I stood there for a while and wondered, "Why do German people do this?"

​I have two ideas. First, maybe it's because of the #planogram system. The staff might have a rule about how many items must be on the shelf. If they move the shelf away from the pillar, maybe some products will disappear from the shop. So, they have to follow the plan strictly.

​Second, it might be an Altbau or a renovated old building. This place wasn't a supermarket before. The old pillars don't match with the standard shelves. The staff had to choose between "missing a shelf" or "having a tiny gap." In the end, we got this gap that even a cat cannot walk through na.

Anyway, I think there must be a reason about architecture or engineering. I don't think it's just a special German way to manage space, but it's really interesting to see. ​I also thought about my country, Thailand. If this happened there, people would surely complain because it's not convenient. They'd take photos and post them on social media or the supermarket’s page to ask for a fix or an explanation.

​I'm not sure if I'm the only one who feels curious about this, or if anyone else thinks the same as me?

Dr.Natthaphon Jarat

Berlin 

Stairs and Silence: Navigating the Cultural Gap Between German Management and Thai Efficiency.

The lift in our apartment building has been out of order for about a month (exactly last month). Naturally, breakdowns happen and repairs are necessary, but what truly shocks me is the German management system.

I can’t understand why it took nearly a month just to put up a notice stating the lift was broken. There was no explanation, and no sign was posted immediately. Even now that the warning sign is up, no repairs have been carried out, and there’s no indication of when they will be finished.

In contrast, if this happened in Thailand, I’m confident the lift would be fixed as soon as possible. We would be given a clear timeline, the cause of the fault, and a polite apology for the inconvenience.

This experience has taught me a lot about the cultural differences in German management. What Germans consider a normal pace of work feels quite abnormal from a Thai perspective. For now, I’ll just have to keep watching to see when this lift finally gets repaired.

Natthaphon Jarat, PhD (Peace Studies) MCU

18.03.2026

Berlin

How the trees themselves "feel", delighted and proud during the festive season.

 While walking through every corner of Berlin these days, I've noticed so many abandoned Christmas trees dumped on the sidewalks.

Before the holidays, Berliners bought them to bring home, decorate, and celebrate the Christmas season with their families. I can't help imagining how happy those trees must have felt while fulfilling their wonderful role; sparkling with lights and ornaments, bringing joy to everyone.

But once Christmas is over, they suddenly become bio-waste, left out on the street.

People often think they're turned into food for the animals at the Berlin Zoo, but actually, that's not quite true for the used trees from homes.

The ones collected by BSR (Berliner Stadtreinigung) are usually shredded and recycled into compost or used in biomass power plants to generate energy, a very eco-friendly end.

Only unsold trees from shops sometimes go to the zoo as a special treat for the animals. I wonder how the trees themselves "feel", delighted and proud during the festive season, but perhaps a little sad or relieved when it's all over? What do you think?

#Christmastree #Berlin