I'm already running out of titles . . .

Well,  still no word on the apartment or cell phone front.  Once I have these two issues resolved, my German lesson program selected, my Allianz sport facility membership in place, my bank account set up (with an EC card), and figure out where and how to buy a converter for my electronics, I should be all set.  That's all. It sounds so easy when I list it out like that especially since most of it has to be done in German.  (Please note the sarcasm.)

Although I'll admit, I was quite proud today when I was able to return some items to a store and get a pair of pants hemmed.  Even the smallest accomplishment is a big deal when done in another language.  Today was also fun because I got to finally meet my other office mate. There are 3 of us in my office and today was the first day since I started (aside from one morning last week) that I wasn't alone.  I share my office with 2 guys named Thorston and Benjamin.  I can already tell that we are going to have fun.  Just to paint a picture, imagine a room where I am not the most talkative person.  Yep, you get the idea.    

Quite the Weekend

So this weekend had quite the fun adventures!  We'll go ahead and do this chronologically.  Friday night I went out with a couple friends to a bar in Munich called Beach 38.  It is exactly what you're thinking.  The entire floor was sand.  Lots of it and rather deep.  The chairs were beach chairs and they have on heat lamps to make it warm.  It was fantastic!  Plus part of the building contains sand volleyball courts to rent so you could watch people play.  I loved it.

Then on Saturday I met David Sheridan (yes, that's right the one from FFIC) and we went to the Deutsches Museum.  It was great, although I'll have to go back at least 4 more time just to see everything.  

Then today I had even more fun.  I met some friends for brunch at this newly remodeled restaurant.  The buffet was great and the nice thing abut Germany is that they don't ever rush you out of a restaurant so we stayed for about 3 hours.  Man do the Germans know how to do a great brunch!

  

Then tonight I was officially inducted into German society.  I attended Starkbierfest!  Starkbier is this beer brewed during lent by the monks.  It is really heavy beer with higher alcohol content and they drank it while fasting.  The festival is sort of like a mini Oktoberfest, except not touristy and for the locals.  It was awesome!!  People dancing on the tables, everyone in lederhosen and derndles, food, and lots of liters of beer.  (Of course a liter is the only size you can get) The great thing is that I knew half the songs the band played because they love American music.  It was great and a perfect step toward Oktoberfest.  I'll post pictures later.  Well, now that I've had daylight savings time for the second time this spring I had better go to bed since it is late.  Hope everyone is doing well.  I miss you lots!   

Prost

Day Something or Other

Well, I haven' written in a while so it is about time for a good old summary.  Today was actually quite interesting.  Not only did I finally get to meet my boss (who is very nice, so it is sad he works from Zurich) but I also started the apartment search.  Don't you hate it how it always seems that the apartment with the great location has the crappier set up and the one with the nice kitchen is on the busy street?!  I guess the important things is that both are better than the hotel.  

Today was also an interesting weather day.  First it was snowing, then it was sunny, then it was snowing again, then it was sunny,  (just imagine a couple more of these and you get the idea). Made me feel like I was in Nebraska again!  Well, I need to go buy my plane ticket to Vienna, so that's all for now. 

Day 2

So today is less interesting than yesterday, and tomorrow could go either way. 

This morning I did my dry run for getting to work. It took 40 minutes, but instead of a wasted 40 minutes, is was about 30 minutes of reading. Needless to say I think I will be able to get through lots of books these next 2 years! Then on my way back I got off at a different stop to find a roll to go with my dinner and I found this cool bakery. Heute habe ich meine erste Brezel gegessen. Und sie war kostlich! (Today I ate my first Pretzel. And it was delicious!) 

Then on my run around the neighborhood I found the longest slide on the side of a hill in a park! I can't wait until things dry off (and there aren't so many kids around) to try it out. 

I think those are the highlights of the day. (The rest of the day was spent wandering around the town, which while it was interesting for me, isn't that interesting in words.)

Day 1 (aka The Flight)

Well, I've had enough requests for updates that I decided a blog of sorts was in order. So here we go, this is post #1:

We will start at the beginning. So I arrive at the airport, on time actually, and I get up to check in my bags. Well, I had done my due diligence and weighed both checked bags before leaving Christi's apartment and they were just under the weight limit. Clear sailing right? Wrong. Lufthansa has a weight limit for your carry-on! And of course my bag was twice the limit. So the wonderful woman behind the counter was very patient with me as I opened my bag and started pulling things out and putting some in my checked bags and putting others in my already stuffed Timbuktu bag. So finally she says it is close enough and lets me go. Luckily this was the only complicated and stressful part of the entire flight. 

On the flight I watched one movie, slept for about 6 hours, then woke-up to eat breakfast, and got off the plane. From there I walked through customs, grabbed my bags, and hopped into a cab. Good first day.

Now for the technical day 1. I got up early to run errands since everything closes at 2 on Saturdays! I bought my ticket for the S-Bahn, which is literally outside the front door of the hotel, and rode it into the city center to shop for the basics. I got what I needed and didn't embarrass myself too badly with the sales people. Then on the way home the S-bahn police started checking for tickets so luckily I had managed to buy the correct one! For some reason I enjoyed that I got checked the first day I was here. I feel like a local. Well, that is enough for now, but I will write more later.