#1August 2012

# 1

Atlanta Expat Magazine

by Caroline Porsielwww.cpcon.biz

Atlanta ExpatExpat Taxes

RoswellMill

Tips for Expat Managers that need to pay income tax in Germany and the USA.

A historical walk around to Roswell Mill.

First Metro Atlanta Online Magazine for German/ US Expats

Atlanta Expat

by Caroline Porsielwww.cpcon.biz

Welcome to Atlanta! Arriving in Atlanta can be somewhat overwhelming and faci-nating by the city: With al-most 6M people living and

working in Metro Atlanta, the city is ranked the eighth-largest economic center in the U.S. In the first weeks of your arrival Expats need to adjust to several intercultural topics that might be different from their home country such as i.e. driving, renting an apartment, super-markets, products, companies, organisations, restaurants, taxation and social networking. This magazine is addressed to all newly arriving Expats to benefit from the experience and net-work of the German Expat Community in Atlanta.

Published September 2012, Issue #1(c) Caroline Porsiel5445 Peachtree-Dunwoody RdAtlanta, Georgia 30342, USAinfo(at)cpcon.bizPhotos by Caroline Porsiel, Alexander Koloskov Design Template by Erick Ragas

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be transmitted or reproduced in any form or by any means, electronically or mechanically, includ-ing photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system, without prior written permission from the publisher Caroline Porsiel. Request for permission should be addressed to the contact address above.

The publisher makes a great effort to ensure ac-curacy of information contained in this magazine. However, the publisher will not be responsible for errors or omissions or any damages, howsoever caused, which results from its use, and make no warranty of claims as to the qualtiy or competence of business or professionals mentioned. Usersrs are adivised to take care when selecting professionals mentioned.

Readers are advised to use common sense when adjusting to a new life in a new country and to take care when selecting professinal services.

ContentMetro Atlanta Relocation ChecklistMetro Atlanta HousingGerman Expat TaxAtlanta movesLiving Walls Google+ PhotowalkRoswell MillLake AlatoonaRivermont Golf & Country ClubAlong the HoochWild FlowersHelpful addresses

Atlanta runs...

Atlanta is the transportation hub of the Southeastern U.S. via highway, railroad,

and air, with Hartsfield–Jackson Airport being the world’s busiest

airport since 1998. With a gross domestic product of about $270 billion, Atlanta ranks 16th in the worlds’ largest cit-ies and eighth in the nation. Atlanta’s economy is consid-

ered diverse, including logis-tics, business services, media

operations, government, and high-er education. With the establishment

of German car production facilities in the South, Atlanta has become the center of the so called “German Triangle” between South Carolina, Tennessee and Alabama.

Atlanta was officialy established in 1847 at the intersection of two railroad lines. There are conflicting tales about how the city was named. Some believe that the city is named after the god-dess Atalanta, and others came to believe that it was the mid-dle name of Martha Lumpkin Compton.

The reality is much simpler: The name was suggested by J. Edgar Thomson, chief engineer of the Georgia railroad, when he was asked to come up with a name for the city he said: “Eureka—Atlanta, the terminus of the Western and Atlantic Railroad—Atlantic masculine, At-lanta feminine—a coined word, and if you think it will suit, adopt it.”

ATL

Marthasville (today Atlanta) was named after Martha Lumpkin Compton, the daughter of Georgia Gov.

Wilson Lumpkin. According to Thomas H. Martin, one of the builders of Atlanta, the people wanted a “bigger” name than Marthasville.

Atlanta rose from the ashes after being burned to the ground by William T. Sherman’s Union Army at the end

of the Civil War in 1864. Even though more than 70% of At-lanta was destroyed by fire, the city became one of the most important cities in the world.

Historic AtlantaThe city from the ashes

Modern Atlanta Center of the German Business Triangle

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Relocation Checklist

Social Security No.The SSN# can be applied for 10 days after arrival at the closest Social Security office. It lasts normally 1-2 weeks to get a SSN#.

Finding a homeDifferent than in Germany the real estate agents are paid by the seller. Realtors are very helpful in finding the best areas to live in/ best school districts for your budget.

Setting up your homeLandlords/ Homeown-ers normally provide you with the information on gas, electricity and water. Phone, TV and Internet can be chosen in several different packages, one big provider in Metro Atlanta is AT&T.

Explore your areaBasic orientation needs some time: Start with the closest supermarkets, mall, restaurants, laundry service and rental car agency for your basic needs.

1VISA LAW Finding a lawyer of your trust is

important to cover all of your personal VISA and working permit issues for you and your family depending on your needs and independent from your employers viewpoint.

Contact Ms. E. Scofield, Alston & Bird

2BANKING A checking account can be

opened at any bank close. If you plan to buy a house in Metro Atlanta there a few banks that offer a specialized service for Expats.

Contact Mr. A. Porsiel Steuerberater

3TAX Consultancy Expats need to coordinate their

German and U.S. taxation issues with their consultants. Independent if you already are working with conultants in both countries or are looking for a new consultant an additional interface for solving common as well as special Expat taxation issues is needed.

Contact Mr. A. Porsiel Steuerberater

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For outdoor adventurer Georgia is a paradise! Georgia’s borders encompasses a very diverse and beautiful landscapes that offers a variety of eco-friend-ly outdoor adventures for everyone. Exciting outdoor adventures like hiking, hang-gliding, mountain biking, horseback riding and white-water kayaking and with a short driving distance from Altanta.

Georgia has 45 state parks, three state historic parks and 15 historic sites, stretching from the Blue Ridge Moun-tains to the Atlantic Coast. The state has a variety of geo-graphic areas: The coastal Okefenokee National Wildlife

Refuge is one of the oldest freshwater areas in the coun-try as well as a famous swamp in the southern part of the State. In the north Georgia hosts the starting point of the famous Appalachian trail, one of the longest hiking trails in the world, leading its way up to Maine, with approxi-mately 2,184 miles (3,515 km).

The first major golf tournament of each year in the U.S., The Masters, is hosted in Augusta, GA. This tournament is one of the most prestigious in the sport in addition Georgia has more than 400 golfcourses and due to its mild climate golfers can play year round.

Take advantage of our complete relocation service! Not ready to buy? We will be happy to assist you in renting a home while you learn the city.

In today’s competitive real estate market, timing is every-thing. Many good homes are sold before they are ever advertised.

If you have any general questions about buying or sell-ing real estate in Metro Atlanta, please contact us directly by Phone: 678.525.9950 or write an EMail.

Golf Wildlife Hiking TrailsParks

Stone Mountain Park with view to Atlanta

home search?Steve BoyceBoyce Real Estate Group www.BRGP.co

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German Expat TaxesSolutions for Expats that need to pay taxes in Germany and the US

Service ispersonal, fast, fair priced and a direct

contact to your tax consultant/ Steuer-berater/ CPA Germany.

Ask today

The double taxation treaty offers not a solution

for Expats

Located in the Northside of Atlanta in Sandy

Springs, the office can be accessed via GA 400 or I-285/ Exit Glenridge Connector. Parking, in front of the build-ing is available.

Address

5445 Peachtree-Dunwoody Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30342 Phone 404-771-4332 Skpye andreas.porsiel Email

• Least expensive Major City in which to do business in the U.S. (KPMG, 2006)

• Ranked #2 U.S. city for low HQ costs (The Boyd Com-pany, 2007)

• Most Business-Friendly city of North American Cities of the Future (fDi Magazine, 2008)

• Center of the Automotive Triangle (BMW Greenville SC, VW Chattanooga, TN and MBUSI, Vance AL)

Why AtlantaFortune Magazine ranks Atlanta fourth in the number of Fortune 500 Company Headquarters in the U.S. and in the Top 10 for Global 500 Company Headquarters in the world.

Ask today

Receiving a U.S. Greencard effects your

taxation in Germany

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New Atlanta Office!

Andreas-A. Porsiel Steuerberater/ CPA Germany

Metro Atlanta is one of the fastest growing metropolitan ar-eas in the U.S. with a population of almost 6M people with an estimated community of 3,800 - 5,000 German Expats. Due to the close business relationship between Düssel-

dorf and Atlanta, there are many advantages to opening a business in At-lanta. And the market shows German Steuerberater/ Tax experts are rare to find, with most consultants working in international audit firms, few peo-ple are focusing on the specialized needs of the employees working abroad. Andreas-A. Porsiel Steuerberater/ German CPA with more than 20 years of experience in international tax is now filling this gap by opening an office in Atlanta.

German Tax Representation

Self-employedExpats

Advantage package for Expats for a mailing address in Germany

Consulting packages for international

freelancers/ expats

TransportationMovement in Atlanta

MARTA operates a network of bus routes linked to a rapid transit

system. MARTA operates almost exclu-sively in Fulton and DeKalb counties, with bus service to two destinations in Cobb county and a single rail station in Clayton County at Hartsfield-Jack-son Atlanta International Airport.

Routes & schedules: www.itsmarta.com

Driving in the U.S. differs from driving in Germany: i.e. “taking

a red turn on red”, how to behave if a police car stops you (stay in your car, remain calm and put your hands on the steering wheel) or how to behave in case of a car accident.

Rules in Georgia: www.dds.ga.gov

Per Pedes: The 4th of July Celebra-tion in Atlanta, the Peachtree

Road Race is an amazing event in Atlanta that starts in Buckhead near Lenox Square Mall and ends in Pied-mont Park after 6.2 miles. Today it is the world’s largest 10K with 60,000 runners and walkers.

AJC Peachtree Road Race: www.peachtreeroadrace.org

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LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT THROUGH COACHING BY FORMER SENIOR CORPORATE EXECUTIVES

Our mission for International Executive Coaching is to pro-vide your leaders with the skills and training necessary to work more effectively in a multi-cultural environment and assist them to understand and adapt to the U.S. business culture.

Emory Mulling, Author of “The Mulling Factor - Taking Con-trol of Your Career” and host of “Today’s Workplace with Em-ory Mulling, Your at Work Expert”, a weekly Radio Program.

www.mulling.com

Mónica Campana and Blacki Migliozzi founded Living Walls in 2010 to encourage dis-cussion about street art and urbanism in Metro Atlanta. Is Graffiti a vandalism or art and what about murals? How do you draw the line beween the to?

The idea of Living Walls seeks to create a more intimate relationship between the invit-ed artists and the community receiving the art. The intentions of the artists are simple: to intodruce a wide spectrum of ideas about public space, hoping that everyone leaves the event looking differently at the city, its walls, and how we interact with space.

This year the twenty-six artists participating are all women, making the Living Walls 2012 the very first all-female street art conference, ever. More photos of this year artists will follow in November edition. More information online: livingwallsconference.com

Tip!

La Pandilla - a street art duo of Alexis Diaz and

Juan Fernandez from San Juan, Puerto Rico. The two were featured in Complex Magazine’s The 50 Greatest Street Artists Right Now.

Trek Matthews, Wiscon-sin-raised Atlantian

creates murals combining nature topics with geometric forms criticising the destruc-tion of nature by man. His fox is in Cabbagetown, Atl.

ROA Street Artist from Belgium. ROA was

in Atlanta for the Living Walls 2011 Conference. The Belgian artist created this monumental piece with this upside down alligator.

Freddy Sam, South Africa Freddy Sam participated

in the Living Walls 2011 and was featured in Complex Magazine’s The 50 Greatest Street Artists Right Now. His Mural is in Decatur.

SAM3 - Madrid

Archive Photos / Living Walls Conference 2011

International Executive CoachingEmory Mulling, Mulling Corporation

“Living Walls, The City Speaks”is an annjual conference on street art and urbanism in Atlanta since August 2010

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Despite the Atlanta heat on June, 30th, 2012 photogra-phers and photo amateuers gathered to walk together in the Fairlie-Poplar Historic District in downtown Atlan-ta. The walk started at Centennial Olympic Park across from the CNN building and ended after three hours in a get-together in a nearby restaurant.

It was a great experience and it was inspiring to see how the same places can be visualized in many different ways. An online stream of the best photos is on google+.

The “Atlanta Google Plus Anniversary Photowalk” was part of a global google+ event.

Intelligence-Photography and Visual Storytelling is the motto of Alex Koloskov. The Metro Atlanta based photo artist is completely self taught and has an amazing port-folio.

“I don’t follow the herd. I do it my way. That turned out to be invaluable in what I do.” Alex Koloskov ‘s out of the box thinking created a unique and stunning photogra-phy style that is crisp, sharp and crystal clear.

For more information see also www.photigy.com

Photo by Alex Koloskov

Photo by Alex Koloskov

Photo by Alex Koloskov

Photo by Alex Koloskov

google+Photo Walk withAlex Koloskov

www.koloskov.com

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FlatironBuilding1This building was completed

in 1897 and is located at 84 Peachtree Street in down-town Atlanta, Georgia. It was completed five years before the New York’s Flatiron Building, and shares a similar prominent flatiron shape as its famous counterpart.

2Architect Bradford Gilbert, a Chicago school contempo-

rary of Daniel Burnham, was the designer of the building in Atlan-ta as well as the Flatiron Building in New York. The Atlanta building has 11 stories, neo-classical style, and is the city’s second and today oldest standing skyscraper.

3Originally the building was named the “English-Ameri-

can Building”, due to the fact that is was designed for the English-American Loan and Trust Compa-ny. Because of the popularity of the New York’s Flatiron Building, the name Flatiron Building was adopted between 1916 and 1920, and again during the 1980s.

Three interesting facts about an Atlanta historic building in the Fairlie-Poplar district.

CPConBusiness Development& US Market Entry with Caroline Porsiel

Success in the U.S. is based on three main factors. A product that is needed and wanted in the U.S. market, a comprehensive market entry strategy and a strong sales network. “From experience, I know that most companies manage the first two steps but have difficulties to build up a stable sales network in the U.S.” One reason is that they often remain in their “German Networks” and do not lo-calize as fast and as much as needed.

Caroline Porsiel is a sales specialist in Atlanta, GA.

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Also called “Our Granite Mother”. It is a quartz monzonite dome monadnock in Stone Mountain, GA.

The largest bas-relief in the world is encarved on its north face, showing the leaders of the Confederate States of America: Stonewall Jackson, Robert E. Lee, and Jefferson Davis.

Park Entrances:

U.S. Highway 78 East, Exit 8, Stone Mountain, GA 30087

1000 Robert E. Lee Blvd, Stone Mountain, GA 30083

Parking at the Confederate Hall, the trail starts right acroos the railroad tracks on the west side of the mountain. The summit is at 1,686 feet (514 m). Alternatively the summit can be reached by the Skyride aerial tram. The view of the surrounding areas including the skyline of Atlanta, Kennesaw Mountain, and on very clear days even the Appala-chian Mountains are especially beautiful.

The lower slopes of Stone Mountain are wooded. The rare Georgia oak and several other specimens grow along the walking trail and in the woods around the base of the mountain.

The summit used to be encircled by a rock wall which disappeared over time. The wall is believed to have been built by early Native American inhabitants of the Stone Moun-tain area. The purpose of that wall remains unknown.

1Red Moss (Elf –Orphine) The Red Moss is not a

moss at all, but a succulent plant which prefers the sunlight and warmth of the exposed granite at Stone Mountain.

2Prickly Pear Cactus: This plant is found through-

out North American deserts. The cactus spines are modi-fied leaves. Fruits and the green pads are cooked as vegetable.

3The Western Tiger Swal-lowtail, Papilio rutulus

is a common swallowtail butterfly of western North America. It has the “tails” on the hind wings that are found in swallowtails.

4The clear freshwater pools on the summit

are home to unusual clam shrimp and fairy shrimp. The tiny shrimp appear only dur-ing the rainy season.

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Stone Mountain Parkwww.stonemountainpark.com

STONE MOUNTAIN HIKING TRAIL A 1 mile trek to the top of the mountain

Wild Flowers of the Georgia Mountains

Gaywing - Polygala paucifolia is a perennial plant in the family

Polygalaceae. Easily mistaken for an orchid, this little flower is always a de-light to stumble across. Its bloom time is spring to early summer. There are over 60 different kinds of Gaywings in the United States, with the greatest diversity is in the Southeast.

Poison ivy (Toxicodendron radi-cans) is found east of the Rocky

Mountains. It is an adaptable, woody perennial weed. All types of poison ivy have three leaves, two leaflets grow on opposing sides and the third stands by itself at the end of the stalk. It can grow as a shrub or form a vine. It may carpet the ground while other poison ivy climb tree trunks, stone walls, and fences.

Trumpet creeper, Trumpet vine, Common trumpet creeper, Cow

vine, Bignoniaceae. A high-climbing, aggressively colonizing woody vine can gro upto 35 ft high, climbing or scrambling over everything in its path by aerial rootlets. This vine is often cultivated for its attractive, reddish orange flowers. Escaped cultivation, it is colonizing so densely that it is also called Hellvine and Devils Shoestring.

Mountain Laurel - Kalmia latifolia, commonly called Mountain-lau-

rel or Spoonwood, is a species of flow-ering plant in the blueberry family, Ericaceae, that is native to the eastern United States. It is called Spoonwood because native Americans used to make their spoons out of it. The plant is poisonous to several animals such as dogs, cats and cattle. That is why it is also called Lambkill.

Viola pedata (Birdsfoot violet, Bird’s-foot violet) is an ornamen-

tal plant in the Violaceae family. This violet is also known as the “mountain pansy” and is endemic to eastern North America. It is difficult to culti-vate in typical garden environments because of an intolerance to rich, organic garden soils as well as excess to moisture.

Iris verna var. smalliana: Upland Dwarf Violet Iris. It occurs in the

Eastern U.S. from New York south to Georgia. It is deep blue to violet or sometimes a white spring wildflower with a golden yellow signal on the spreading sepals. The flower prefers growing in nutrient poor acid soils and in semi-shaded mesic to dry woodland slopes.

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Hike at Roswell Mill The hiking trails start behind

the mill main buildings. Free park-ing is available. The hike down to the hydropower ruins and the Vickery Creek dam is about 2 miles long. It is little downhill and an “in-and-out trail” but over all easy to walk . Stairs must be taken to visit the hydropower ruins and the dam, the covered bridge is wheel chair accessable.

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Roswell Mill was best known for producing finished tex-tiles originating from raw materials grown on nearby plantations. The mill was part of a series of mills locat-ed along the Vickery Creek in Fulton County, GA.

The original mill was con-structed in 1839 but was burned down by Union Forces in 1864.

Hydropower from Vickery Creek powered the mill also remnants of various build-ings are still visible. The cov-ered bridge spanning the Vickery Creek has been re-built and is part of a hiking trail in the Chattahoochee River Recreation Area.

See also:

Roswell Mill Ruins in Old Mill Park

Roswell founders cemetery

Roswell’s historic cemeteries

Roswell MillFormally the largest cot-ton mill in north Georgia

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The Founders Cemetery of Roswell is located on Sloan Street close to Roswell Mill. Parking is available in front of the cemetrery. The cemetery was used from 1840 to 1860. Among the distinguished dead

who rest here are Roswell s founder, Roswell King; Major James Stephens Bulloch, grandfather of president Theodore Roosevelt and grandson of Archibald Bulloch, first president of Georgia; and

John Dunwoody, Esq., builder of Mimosa Hall and his wife, Jane Bulloch Dunwoody. Slaves of the families were also buried in Founders Cemetery where there are many unmarked graves.

www.allatoonalake.org

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Lake Allatoona

Attractions in-clude fishing,

camping, boat rentals and hiking.

The lake covers more than 12,000 acres and has 270 miles of shoreline

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Hole 1Par 4 Hcp 9

446 yards

Rivermont Golf & Country Club hosts the 2013 Possum Tour, Geor-gia German Golf ClubOpening hole with creek.

Since 1973, Rivermont Country Club has

been challenging both to scratch golfers as well as higher handicap players.

In 2007, after a $3.6 million dollar course renovation

completed by Michael Riley Design, Rivermont hosted sectional qualifying for the USGA’s Womens’ Mid-Ama-teur Championship.

In 2008, Rivermont also hosted the sectional

qualifying for the USGA’s Women’s and Men’s Mid-Amateur Championships as well as the 2008 Atlanta Amateur Championship.

Located in Johns Creek, Georgia, the club was built in 1973 and designed by Joseph L. Lee. The course is a 7,005 yard, par 72 course with a USGA Rating of 74 and USGA Slope of 138. The course has maintained the integ-rity of the natural environment and is designed to be a continuous challenge for all handicaps.

RivermontPrivate Golf & Country Club

Photos by Rivermont Golf Club

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GolfingRivermont Golf & Country Clubwww.rivermontcountryclub.com

Photos by Rivermont Golf Club

Along the “Hooch”An Ancient River in a Modern City

The Chattahoochee offers 48 miles of recreational

area for floating, fishing, hiking or playing. There are picnic areas as well as bike riding trails in Cochran Shoals and horseback riding trails on Bowmans Island.

The annual park pass for $25 is valid for one year

and a great alternative to daily park passes. It admits to the park all persons traveling in a single, private, non-com-mercial vehicle to all park parkings at the river.

The Chattahoochee River starts in the southern Appala-chian Mountains. The native Americans called the river Chattahoochee and is thought to mean “River of Painted Rocks.” The Chattahoochee area was referred to as the Enchanted Land by the Cherokee.Today the river attracts us with 48 miles of recreational area that is north of Metro Atlanta. People float down the river to shoot the “hooch”, as it is called, or to hike the trails, fish in its cold waters, or just simply relax.The Chattahoochee Nature Center offers guided trail hikes and detailed information on the area.

Chattahoochee River Recreation National Park Information Chattahoochee

Chattahoochee RiverNational Recreation Area of Georgia

Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)

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The Varsity Cult The Varsity is the World’s largest Drive-in Restaurant. Since1928 in Downtown Atlanta. On days of Georgia Tech football games up to 30,000 people visit The Varsity.

“What’ll ya have?”

61 North Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308404-881-1706 www.thevarsity.com

FireworksIn Metro Atlanta by law firecrackers, torpedos, skyrockets, Roman candles, bombs,

and sparklers are not allowed for private usage.

Boiled Peanuts are one of the strangest dishes of the South tasting like potatos.

Boiled Peanuts

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Fire/ Police / Ambulance

call 911Poison Control

call 404-616-9000

Railroad Emergencies

call 800-232-0144

Fish & Wildlife Commission

call 770-717-3333

Steve Boys Real Estate

3777 Peachtree Rd. #221, Atlanta, Ga. 30319

678.525.9950

Rivermont Country Club

3130 Rivermont Pkwy Johns Creek GA 30022

770-993-2124

Chattahoochee Nature Center

9135 Willeo Road Roswell, GA 30075

(770) 992-2055

Atlanta Track Club

3097 E Shadowlawn Ave Atlanta, Georgia 30305

404-231-9064

Mulling Corporation

5445 Peachtree-Dunwoody Road

Atlanta, Georgia 30342770-395-3131

Alston & Bird LLP

One Atlantic Center 1201 West Peachtree St. Suite 4200, Atlanta, GA

30309, 404-881-7000

A. Porsiel Steuerberater

5445 Peachtree-Dunwoody Road

Atlanta, Georgia 30342404-771-4332

CPCon Caroline Porsiel

35445 Peachtree-Dunwoody Road

Atlanta, Georgia 30342404-771-4332

Free Online Visitor Guide with lots of addresses for attractions, dining, shopping, sport and events including

maps from the Atlanta Convention & Visitor Bureau: Atlanta NOW Magazine

next edition

November 2012

Buckhead The Beverly Hills of the South

Oktoberfest in Georgia Impressions from the German Community

Portrait Christoph Sander Welcoming the new Genral Consul of Germany

2012 (C) Caroline PorsielAtlantaExpat@cpcon.biz