A few more German days under my belt

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.

Arrival In Germany

Well I have to say that completing a transfer to a foreign country in less than three months, while carrying the load for an absentee CO is a bit of an accomplishment, if I don’t say so myself.

My journey started interesting, at the MSP airport, trying to check the girls into luggage (see picture above of Bella with the kennels).  It turns out that for having talked to United three times about my travel, they never told me that they kennels were required to have holes on all fours sides (the backs didn’t have holes) because it was an international flight.  Fortunately work was close by and DC1 was able to run over a cordless drill and a 1/2” bit to the terminal and I put 10 holes into each kennel.  One boy standing in line commented that I was willing to do most anything for my cats, I told I was moving to Germany and wanted to take them with me.  

We took off to the west, then north up 35W and the the Mississippi.  It was nice to see the view of the construction project.  I also have to note that Target was strategic when they built their new store at 66th and Cedar, the store’s roof is all white with a bit red bull’s eye on top.

I got to Chicago, headed straight to the gate, got my boarding pass and it was time to board.  After they had closed the doors the captain got on the PA and apologized that the dinner service wouldn’t be what it should be because of a strike in Germany, so the workers wouldn’t be there to unload the stuff.  The guy sitting next to me (a German) opinionated that the strike was ridiculous as the workers had been offered a 7% raise.  He also warned me that I probably wouldn’t have my connecting flight from Frankfurt to Stuttgart.  

He was an interesting fellow, I wish I knew German, because he went off on the purser when they tried serving him the meager meal that they did have onboard.  I didn’t sleep very well, in part because he screamed in his sleep, no kidding.  I mostly listened to podcasts on the iPod.

When we arrived in Frankfurt, I was expecting that I would have to do a paperwork drill arriving with the cats, plus take my bags through customs.  Nope, all I had to do was to go through passport control, then I had 2.5 hours to kill waiting for the next flight as the bags and cats were checked straight through.

I did spend 3.15 euro on a 0.5L bottle of water and 2.5 on a paper.  Prices here are ridiculous.  Finally, I made the hop to Stuttgart, the girl sitting next to me was from Belgium, but she had spent 5 weeks on vacation in Oklahoma, Missouri and Nebraska.  I made a comment that those aren’t normal vacation spots...  She really liked the US compared to Europe, prices are more reasonable, you get refills on beverages, people say hello on the street.

I was met at the airport by my sponsor, we had a few hours to kill until my hotel room was available, so we started the check-in process.  They register everyone’s ID card in their system, then anytime you enter one of the bases (there are 4 or 5 small bases) they scan your card to make sure you are kosher.  I got some VAT forms to use to avoid payment of the Value Added Tax, went to the post office (my address is: CMR 489, Box 727, APO, AE 09751) and a few other miscellaneous items.

I finally settled into the hotel, it’s pretty nice, a big development area of three hotels, restaurants, a couple theaters (they have Blue Man Group and Wicked showing now, Momma Mia will be coming soon).  It’s pretty nice, there should be a picture below from out my window of the MercedesBenz headquarters. 

That’s about it for now, internet is costing about $20 for an hour, so I will probably limit my time until I get my government account and can sign on with that.