Arrival

On By StevenIn Life In Germany8 Comments

I got in earlier today, after being awake for nearly 24 hours.  I’m too tired to write a substantial entry right now, but I wanted to jot down a few thoughts.

  • I really profoundly dislike the Dusseldorf airport.  Lots and lots and lots of stairs.  No ATMs or other means of getting Euros inside of the secured area.  And I had to go through security *again* there after clearing passport control.  (Still less annoying than Miami International though.)
  • I had no idea just how much of the land between Munich and Regensburg is farmland.  According to the shuttle driver, much of it is hops.  For Bavarian beer.  I approve.
  • The cold isn’t what’s bugging me about the climate, it’s the absolute zero humidity.  My skin has already dried out and I’ve been in country less than twelve hours.  I’ll have to hunt down some moisturizing stuff tomorrow; I can’t stand this papery dry feeling on my hands.
  • I’m tickled to death at television here.  I put on a station this afternoon and it’s played Big Bang Theory, Scrubs, How I Met Your Mother, The Simpsons, and Futurama- all in German.  (And the voices in the German dub on Scrubs were spot on!)
  • I am ashamed to admit that my first meal in Germany was Burger King.  I was tired and just wanted to grab food and get back to the hotel room, so I went with vaguely-familiar-and-easy.  I’ll try to experiment more later, I promise.
  • I feel like I had a lot more to say here, but I’ve been awake for a looooooong time and I’m not thinking too clearly.  Stay tuned for more!

Eleven Eleven Eleven.

On By StevenIn International Travel - Europe, Life In Germany4 Comments

One week from right now, I’ll be on a plane that is nearing its final approach into Dusseldorf.  I’ll land in Germany at around 7 AM local time, and I’ll have a nice breakfast in my new country while I wait for my connecting flight to Munich.  I didn’t realize that I was starting my journey to Germany on 11/11/11 until somebody else pointed that out to me; it’s kind of interesting though.  It’s an auspicious date to begin a new adventure.

In my mind’s eye, I picture that first weekend.  I’ll get to the hotel in Regensburg on Saturday afternoon.  I’ll check in, drop off my stuff, change to clothing that hasn’t seen three airports and two continents, and then go back outside.  I’ll walk toward the downtown area or whatever strike’s my fancy, and I’ll explore.  Finding an apartment is very high on my to-do list, but I won’t push that until the Monday after I arrive.  On that Monday, I’ll get my bank account sorted out.  I’ll go into the office and meet my new team.  I’ll check out my desk, set up my new computer, get situated there.

This blog has been very quiet from the last post on the third of October.  That isn’t a sign that nothing has been going on, it’s a sign that everything has been going on.  I’ve inventoried my stuff, and sent it on its way.  Eleven boxes of my clothing, linens, and kitchen goods are currently sitting in the Port of Miami.  They’ll leave before me and arrive to Germany after me, probably clearing customs right around my birthday.

A pasta boat in a box in a crate on a boat. Yeah.

I’ve also done some basic cold weather gear shopping.  I’ve lived my entire life in Florida, and I haven’t really ever experienced a true winter, let alone snow for more than a day.  Luckily, there’s a ski shop nearby- yes, a ski shop in South Florida.  They’re very knowledgable and very helpful.  Over the last month, I’ve acquired a heavy multi-layer jacket, a pair of boots capable of handling snow and ice, some gloves, a pair of scarves, and some inner layer clothing for especially cold days.  I don’t know what this cold is going to feel like, but I suspect I’ll need to buy a little bit more cold weather gear once I get into the thick of it.  At least I’ve got a starter set of warm stuff though.

One week from right now, I’ll be arriving in Germany.

Whoa.