Robin Meurer, our man in BerlinName: Robin Meurer
Location: Berlin, Germany
Age: 32
The reports from Berlin are directed by Signe Astrup.
What is your favorite spot to be?
In a cinema. Don’t get me wrong, there are many beautiful places in the world, where I’d love to hang out, but a cinema is quite easy to get access to, it’s affordable and it beams me into another world too. I love the moment the lights go out, the place gets quiet and the trailers start. I also love to be there by myself. I never understood people that need to go there with someone else.
If you would be able to export a characteristic of your country, what would it be?
Germany is very organized and on time. I enjoy that very much, although I know that this is a typically German asset, but it’s something that other (’lazy’) countries sometimes can learn from us, I guess. In the end, it if things run smoothly, everybody will profit from it – even the lazy people.
If you could change one thing about your country, what would it be?
Germans shouldn’t be so stiff. They often take even the smallest things very seriously. They are missing a “laissez-faire” attitude. I grew up in Austria – and people there are much more relaxed, and they like to joke about things and other people, they don’t take themselves so serious. So, Germans could improve on that a bit.
What is your image of Holland?
Ok, I admit, it’s quite a shame… I’ve been there only once. In Amsterdam. When I was 17 and doing Interrail. So I was young and quite stupid. Back then for me Amsterdam was wild, full of peep-shows, coffee-shops and red-lights. But people were friendly and easy-going. So, from what I saw, I liked it! Whenever I meet Dutch people they seem quite relaxed and fun. So I want to come back to Holland to see and feel some of the other great things like its rich culture, architecture or tasteful cheese. Hopefully this year!
Who would you support to be the next president of the United States?
As long as it’s a Democrat, I’m happy. Choosing between Clinton and Obama is difficult. Their points-of-view are almost the same. Clinton is more experienced, she has a better team, but Obama is very charismatic and you have the feeling that he really will change something. So, if I really have to choose one, then I would go for Obama because he represents a “new U.S.A.”.
What will you be doing ten years from now?
I hope that I still will be making films. I love this job, that’s what I’m here for. I also hope that I will earn a little bit more money with it and that I can support my own family, which will be there in ten years, of course.
