Fußgängerzonen

1. Many Germany cities include a virtual tour of their city on their web sites. Here are a few city home page addresses to get you started. From the home page of Balingen (http://www.balingen.de/), you can click on "Tourismus" (http://www.balingen.de/tourist/bilder.htm) and see a beautiful series of pictures of this town in Swabia. In German. Korbach's home page (http://www.korbach.de) opens with a variety of pictures of this historic town. Click on "Unsere Stadt" (http://www.korbach.de/gaeste/gaeste.htm). In German. Weimar (http://www.weimar.de) offers a web cam, a virtual tour, and much more about this culturally and historically important city. In German and English.

Die Deutschen in Amerika

1. The home page of the German-American History and Heritage Organization (http://www.GermanHeritage.com/) is a text-based compilation of biographies of German-Americans, lists of publications, and descriptions of postage stamps issued to commemorate German-Americans. In English.

Freunde vs. Bekannte

1. Maybe you can find a new friend who wants to practice German or your native language. The Goethe Institute (http://www.goethe.de/) has a page for people who are looking for email-pals or who just want to ask questions about German (http://www.goethe.de/z/forum/50jetztlerner/deindex.htm). Another source for email-pals is the page sponsored by Juma, a magazine for learners of German (http://www.juma.de/). On Juma's Brieffreunde page (http://www.juma.de/dynamic/bf/schueler/new.php), high school and college students looking for pen pals can fill out a questionnaire which they can e-mail to find someone to correspond with.

Häuser und Wohnungen

1. Take a look at a dormitory in Augsburg. At the home page of the Studentenwohnheim an der Lechbrücke (http://www.lechbruecke.com/home.html) you can look at the rooms, and find out more about dorm life and the lifestyle of German students in general. In German.

2. You can find the perfect apartment in Berlin by filling out an application at Immobilienmarkt (http://www.BerlinOnline.de/markt/immobilien
/.html/index_wm.html), a part of the Berlin online site (http://www.BerlinOnline.de/). After you have filled in your requirements for an apartment, you'll get a list of available places. In German.

3. Moving to Bonn? Umzug nach Bonn.de (http://www.BerlinOnline.de/markt/immobilien/.html/index_wm.html) can help you find the best place. Pictures give a nice impression of the areas in and around Bonn. In German.

Geschlossene Türen

1. Once you find an apartment, you'll need furniture. Visit IKEA's web site (http://www.ikea.de/), and have a look at the IKEA catalogue (http://www.ikea.de/ms/de_DE/virtual_catalogue/main.html) to get ideas. In German.

2. If you prefer a different style of furniture, visit the home page of Rösrather Möbelzentrum (http://www.roesrather.de/), which offers a huge selection of more traditional furniture. In German.