Hey all,
So I've spent a few more days here, started getting acclimated. My one big thing is that I keep wanting to use the little spanish that I learned last year.
Thursday was more of the in-processing, signing up for my computer accounts (unclassified and classified, and not that I've had a chance to log in yet), and signing up for the process of getting an apartment (I spent nearly two hours in the office, most of it waiting). I've found a couple that I would like to look at, but I have to make an appointment to get an appointment to see the apartments (you just have to love the Army).
Friday started with a 45 minute trip to another base on the local shuttle, then I had a three hour class that was basic introduction to life in Stuttgart. Some real good information and more to come over the next week. After that, I went to the Exchange on base, and I am scratching my head as to why they sell nothing but 110 volt lamps; and no the housing on base doesn't use 110. Stupid exchange system. I looked at various electronics that I will be looking at if I want to listen to the stereo or watch TV. I talked to the cellphone place here on base, then walked over to the college office to get some more information on a Master's degree in International Relations. A quick stop by the USO on some of the trips they offer (there is Italy during Labor Day weekend, Scotland during Columbus Day weekend, and London during Thanksgiving weekend) and they have some longer trips available. I though the Italy and London trips were particularly reasonably priced. Then the 45 minute trip back to the local base.
Today was a day off, started with the breakfast buffet here in the hotel (it starts too late for use during the week) and then a slight exploration of the tram line, then I walked to base and caught the shuttle to another base, my goal being to get to a shopping mall over in that area and talk to the T-mobile store about my iPhone. After the 45 minute bus ride, I started asking and the best option I could come up with was to walk to the mall, that was a 50 minute walk (I was wearing sandals) but fortunately it was all downhill. I knew I didn't want to use the same option for the return trip. At the mall I explored, bought some update maps, walked around a grocery store figuring out what is flour and what is sugar (they have these really neat plastic bottles with muffin mix in them, you pour milk into the bottle, shake to mix, and the pour into the muffin tin and bake).
I've been issued "ration" cards for cigarettes, alcohol, coffee, and other consumables. But I have to say that I was surprised by how inexpensive alcohol was out in town, even factoring for the exchange rate. When I talked to the T-mobile folks I found their prices to be 10 Euro cheaper than on base. Then I had to find my way home. I talked to the mall info kiosk and took a bus to the train station, then thanks to a couple of helpful Germans, I took the train back to the hotel, total travel time, 40 minutes, as opposed to the 95 minutes getting there. Just for fun I've attached a picture of the train ticket above.
Tomorrow is Sunday, I plan to explore downtown. There is an Orthodox church somewhere here in town, I'm not sure where, their website is in German and Russian. I wrote an e-mail to ask their location, but haven't hear back yet. Finally I have two pictures below, the first is of a cigarette machine in the mall, just a striking sight given how long ago they were banned back home, second is of a urinal, yes a urinal, but just about every urinal I have seen here has a fly emblazoned down in there, I'm not sure why, but I have three years to figure it out.
