Okay, so we just got connected and Evgueni and I are both catching up on telephone and emails! Well, we actually have a great long distance plan to Canada that kicks in on the 17th of February. So we're holding tight on the gab-fest for another week. For now, we'll let our fingers do the talking (so to speak).
We are settling in now. We received our shipment from France which is about 30% of our stuff and the remaining 70% should arrive mid-next week. I'm actually quite anxious to get the shipment as I have been in a bit of a limbo and I know this will keep me busy for a while. Plus, I packed all that stuff and locked it up in storage over a year ago - I'd like to see if what was important to me then still applies now! In anticipation that not everything will be interesting anymore, I've located a consignment store and a local "goodwill". The only 'down side' is that I walk everywhere here and I'll have to hire a trailer if there is too much junk!! :)
Anyway, other than that, I've been scoping out German classes the old fashioned way (a pied) since we've had no phone. Goethe is very expensive, but sounds really good. I'm meeting with a representative at Berlitz to see if I qualify for their 'integration' course (which is free other than the course materials). It supposedly coinsides with the Youth Mobility Act (YMA) Visa I obtained. We'll see... failing all of that, I'll take a course at a school that Evgueni found that is about 20% the cost of Goethe with the same teaching standards. I figure, even if the teaching quality isn't as good (which I doubt considering the Germans have so much pride in doing a good job)... I'll be putting in a lot of my own personal study time. Really, it's what I make of it...
E's work: From this end, they're getting their money's worth already! He's home pretty late every day, but is still fitting in late dinners, some lunches and coffee with me. :D Very nice indeed!!! He's already travelled to Munich on business, coming home exhausted after a day of commuting and meeting. It sounds like so-far he's on back-up duty and clean-up of projects on the go already, but there are brand new prospects on the horizon - you know, his own projects! It's always nicer to run your own project that's for sure! So week 3 will bring new adventures for certain.
Our daily German life: We are in need of a couch - I didn't ship one... My butt is tired of sitting on hard chairs and the cold floor! (I think we are heating the basement beneath us.....) :) We have done some 'research' aka 'leche-vitrine'... and hope to get one at the end of the month to celebrate pay-day! ;D We are actually quite comfortable though since we purchased some gently loved furniture (IKEA) from the previous owners. We LOVE our apartment, it is already soooo comfortable (like home). So we're sleeping, eating and living well. I've been busy tracking down English-speaking doctors with help from the previous renter here and the American embassy. I got info mailed!!! Who does that nowadays - darn internet!!!
I've been exploring some neighbourhoods and what they have to offer - not to mention, getting lost. Man-oh-man! The shopping is the national pass time here!!! Seriously, when do people work? And it's good!!!! The other national pass time must be baby-making. Because EVERYBODY seems to be pushing porshe-strollers. Maybe there are no kids in there and it is just an elite status thing..... I digress... The only crappy store I found so far is American Outfitters. Did I mention what a crappy store! But Diesel!!! Wow! And there are other shops! Tons and tons of them! And home stuff!! Wowza!! If you ever wish IKEA came in a Posh package - you would fall in love with Segmuller!!! NICE!!!!! But back to locally... the amenities are amazing and all the important stuff (butcher, baker, grocery store, post office, drug store, restaurant, cheepie cleaning products, landlord, Evgueni's work, metro, bus, park, shopping etc etc...) is all very close! All is within a 5-10 minute walk. E's work is about 15-20 by foot, but it's really easy!
People seem really nice ...except when walking along the sidewalk, they really don't seem to want to move! I guess I'm guilty too and the small German part of me is kicking-in-highgear.
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