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Sonntag, 22. Mai 2016
Recap
durhamfamily, 15:58h
May 2nd was our 1-year anniversary of living in Germany. One year is a long time (despite the fact that we have another 20 months before we come back to KY), but it's really short considering how much has changed since day 1.
When we first arrived, we were given a company car (which neither of us knew how to confidently drive - something someone should have considered discussing with us in advance) and a short-term apartment 6 miles from the city. We had no cell phones because both of our previous carriers were being overly difficult with regards to unlocking our phones. The apartment was very small, and it included no oven and (virtually) no freezer. We were only given one set of keys, and the closest grocery store was 3 miles from the apartment... which, added to the fact that we spoke 0 German, basically meant that Liz was confined to the apartment all day long.
We immediately tried to buy furniture, but ran into trouble at every turn. No store wanted to accept our credit card(s) or our Paypal. Instead, they wanted our German bank account information. That was less than ideal because we wouldn't have enough money in that account until one month later.
Those chaotic times did eventually end. We moved into our real apartment in the middle of June and slowly began receiving furniture and appliances. Of course there was not a kitchen yet, but we were on top of it. With the help of friends, we ordered a kitchen from Rieger.
Everyone knows this story already. The kitchen was delayed. Rieger told us 2 months later that they never processed the order (even though we paid 800 euro upfront). And they told us that the contract would be cancelled and rewritten because they didn't charge us enough money. Blah blah blah.
Finally, everything settled down on the homefront, allowing us to relax a little for the first time. Our speaking skills were slightly improving with each class (inside of class only - the teacher speaks extremely differently than everyone else in lower Germany... because no one wants us to learn the language that we need?). We lived close enough to walk to the grocery store and bike to work. We even started taking vacations.
First we visited Weiden, Germany, where I ran my first European marathon, and then on to Prague. Beautiful city. Don't let Liz's anxiety regarding large crowds deter anyone. Next we visited the Netherlands, which was also fantastic. It was there, in Spijkenisse, that I ran my 2nd European marathon. Our third vacation was to Barcelona, Spain, where we saw my old boss and where I ran my 3rd European marathon. And last week we visited Chartres, France for the heck of it. Very enjoyable church light shows at night.
Chartres is also the location of the prayer labyrinth - the same labyrinth that Barry drew on our church parking lot 15 years ago.
We found time to visit KY twice - in December, when we also picked up our cats to join in the Germany fun, and in April, in order to meet our newest nephew and friend babies.
And obviously, we enjoyed ourselves closer to "home". I ran a 25K / 15 mile race in our home town with our friend other Kyle. We watched a giant horse parade in Bart-town. We attended Fruehlingsfest, Oktoberfest, and Weinfest in Stuttgart. And we witnessed 10 or 20 marching bands dressed in matching Halloween costumes parading through the streets (in... January?).
In March I transferred to a new department, underneath an old friend. And tomorrow I physically move to a new office on the other side of town. Liz has just started tutoring individual English students as well as teaching full-sized English classes. We've made new friends, while some old friends joined us in Germany and others have left.
We still have so much time in Germany. With our language classes officially over, I realize now that I will never be able to speak it while I am living here (as an extracurricular student for one year, I'm the equivalent of a first-grader), but that's okay. I can't conceive of how our remaining time in Germany will be a fraction as memorable.
Oh, and also, it's our 2-year wedding anniversary today. So, you know - champagne and ice cream.
Alles in Butter.
When we first arrived, we were given a company car (which neither of us knew how to confidently drive - something someone should have considered discussing with us in advance) and a short-term apartment 6 miles from the city. We had no cell phones because both of our previous carriers were being overly difficult with regards to unlocking our phones. The apartment was very small, and it included no oven and (virtually) no freezer. We were only given one set of keys, and the closest grocery store was 3 miles from the apartment... which, added to the fact that we spoke 0 German, basically meant that Liz was confined to the apartment all day long.
We immediately tried to buy furniture, but ran into trouble at every turn. No store wanted to accept our credit card(s) or our Paypal. Instead, they wanted our German bank account information. That was less than ideal because we wouldn't have enough money in that account until one month later.
Those chaotic times did eventually end. We moved into our real apartment in the middle of June and slowly began receiving furniture and appliances. Of course there was not a kitchen yet, but we were on top of it. With the help of friends, we ordered a kitchen from Rieger.
Everyone knows this story already. The kitchen was delayed. Rieger told us 2 months later that they never processed the order (even though we paid 800 euro upfront). And they told us that the contract would be cancelled and rewritten because they didn't charge us enough money. Blah blah blah.
Finally, everything settled down on the homefront, allowing us to relax a little for the first time. Our speaking skills were slightly improving with each class (inside of class only - the teacher speaks extremely differently than everyone else in lower Germany... because no one wants us to learn the language that we need?). We lived close enough to walk to the grocery store and bike to work. We even started taking vacations.
First we visited Weiden, Germany, where I ran my first European marathon, and then on to Prague. Beautiful city. Don't let Liz's anxiety regarding large crowds deter anyone. Next we visited the Netherlands, which was also fantastic. It was there, in Spijkenisse, that I ran my 2nd European marathon. Our third vacation was to Barcelona, Spain, where we saw my old boss and where I ran my 3rd European marathon. And last week we visited Chartres, France for the heck of it. Very enjoyable church light shows at night.
Chartres is also the location of the prayer labyrinth - the same labyrinth that Barry drew on our church parking lot 15 years ago.
We found time to visit KY twice - in December, when we also picked up our cats to join in the Germany fun, and in April, in order to meet our newest nephew and friend babies.
And obviously, we enjoyed ourselves closer to "home". I ran a 25K / 15 mile race in our home town with our friend other Kyle. We watched a giant horse parade in Bart-town. We attended Fruehlingsfest, Oktoberfest, and Weinfest in Stuttgart. And we witnessed 10 or 20 marching bands dressed in matching Halloween costumes parading through the streets (in... January?).
In March I transferred to a new department, underneath an old friend. And tomorrow I physically move to a new office on the other side of town. Liz has just started tutoring individual English students as well as teaching full-sized English classes. We've made new friends, while some old friends joined us in Germany and others have left.
We still have so much time in Germany. With our language classes officially over, I realize now that I will never be able to speak it while I am living here (as an extracurricular student for one year, I'm the equivalent of a first-grader), but that's okay. I can't conceive of how our remaining time in Germany will be a fraction as memorable.
Oh, and also, it's our 2-year wedding anniversary today. So, you know - champagne and ice cream.
Alles in Butter.
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