First Images and Temporary Housing

Well, David has been in Germany for 3 days now, and the guy has been busy!  Aside from walking an average of 5 miles per day, he has also worked two days, started making some good contacts at work (knock wood), sent in our application for the International School, and (and here is the kicker) lined us up some temporary housing!  Oh, and he has even taken a few moments to satisfy my intense need for photographs.  So, here we go, let me share what he has shared so far!

First, here is his hotel and the local town:

(Click on each photo for a larger, more detailed version.)

This is David's hotel, Hotel Europa.  It is getting  a face lift and has good breakfasts.

The local shopping zone/ mini-mall.  About a mile from his hotel.

German signs, just in case you weren't convinced of his location!

All the comforts of home.  Yes, soda is served with ice.  The burgers taste different.  And Diet Coke is "Coke Light".

The train station

Somewhat blurry, but this sign at the train station says that Freud fled through Kehl on his way out of Germany.

Next up, Work and the walk to it:

David says the default here is "pretty".

Rhine River on the walk to work.

Industrial zone, Germany style.  Near work.

Spellbound

David's desk.  He is in a smaller room with the other 3 "special projects" guys....

... who apparently appreciate Tarantino

Ok, now on to the temporary house!  One of David's co-workers had a neighbor looking for someone to rent this house short-term.  David went with her to check it out and was so impressed that he agreed on the spot.  He says the neighborhood is full of kids and that the landlady has kids almost the same ages as ours.  He will move in on Monday.  It is in the next town up, so he won't be able to walk anymore.  He will carpool with his co-worker, Sanja (Said Sahn-yah) and then take a bus home (as he has different hours than she does).  Here are some photos.  I wish he had taken one of the kitchen, but that will come on Monday, I guess!

View of the neighborhood from the (somewhat scary) deck.

The smaller bedroom.  Bright and yellow!

Dining area.  Nice hutch!

Living room (attached to dining) with a wood stove and working TV.

Landlady and stairs.  She doesn't speak English but David says she is very nice.

And a view of the neighbor's yard with bouncing kids.

So, I think that is it for now!  David plans to do more exploring tomorrow, since it is weekend.  We are hoping the paperwork comes through REALLY SOON NOW.  Please keep good thoughts on that one for us!  If I had a camera I could also show you all the growing pile of boxes in the living room and the diminishing of everything everywhere else!  Oh speaking of There and Here- it has been 80ish in Kehl since he arrived.  Here, we had a storm pass through today that dropped rain, hail and even a tiny amount of snow on us over the course of 1/2 hour!  Go figure!

The Demon has Landed

Bridge across Rhine linking Kehl and Strasbourg

Ever engage in some action or interaction that brought you back to a time and place in your past?  Perhaps seeing your parents makes you feel like a little kid or seeing your high school sweetheart makes you feel like a teenager.  This whole experience makes me feel like college again.  And why not?  We are essentially doing away with all the trappings of past success and whatever modicum of respectability we may have earned in order to start fresh in an unknown place with a learning curve the size of a 4 year degree ahead of us!  In any case, here are David's adventures so far.

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Once upon a time the internet was a series of picture-less tubes and David was account demon@ucscb....

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The airport was easy.  No one blinked an eye at his hefty supply of insulin needles or other diabetic necessities.  His huge pullman bag was over weight, but the staff took pity on him and didn't make him pay for the discrepancy.  The 20 lb portable computer (could this be the heaviest "laptop" ever?) tugged at his shoulder and the Disney-swag backpack weighed down his steps.  But at this point the difference in his gait was imperceptible.   The adrenaline was flowing. 

Alas, no "cuddle class" for us.

The plane was a study in progressions.  The roomy first class seats were clearly not for him.  But the business class beckoned.  Alas, his seat was yet to come.  The cheap seats were 8 across.  2-4-2.  Nestled in the middle of the center row with little leg room to speak of, he was just thankful that his 3 row-mates were not especially large people.  The 10 hour 30 minute flight was pleasant enough.  He watched 3 movies and tried unsuccessfully to sleep.  The cabin pressure changed frequently, sending his ears into an uncomfortable lack of equilibrium.  

In London, of course, everyone spoke English.  But, the food was just as poor as you might expect.  They even managed to ruin eggs, he mused.  And he was unprepared for the transition of "bacon" into fatty ham.  3 hours in the airport before the next flight was ready to leave.

Lufthansa.  Still everyone spoke English.  1.5 hour quick hop to Frankfurt.  His luggage was late.  Very late.  Apparently the victim of his early arrival in London.  A lone woman waited with him but her bags never arrived.  She grew discouraged and left.  Then David's single black pullman dropped unceremoniously down the carousel.  Next, on to the train!

He remembered a sign directing him to the long distance trains upstairs and followed his instincts.  Luckily they were good because English was becoming more rare.  It took him three tries to get his ticket information entered correctly.  He had already been traveling 15 hours by now.  His day had begun 23 hours ago.

The luggage delay had cost him the more direct route to Kehl.  He would need to make 2 transfers.  At one train he tried to embark at the 1rst class car and was redirected to the other end of the platform. Blocking commuters with the moving black obstacle of his luggage, he hurried all the way down past car after car.  He was unconvinced that he ever arrived at the proper area, but he did manage to hop on and get situated.  A woman requested assistance in English and was given the evil eye by an attendant.  David struggled through in German. A passenger told him jovially that his bag should have a seat of its own! 

Once he got to Kehl, he looked for his contact.  But, no one was there to meet him.  The area of the train station was a bit seedy at night, with only a few bars open in the vicinity.  He wandered into one and asked for a pay phone.  The hard-looking female barkeeper motioned him down the block, so off he went dragging the black Trifecta of Heaviness: the pullman, the backpack and the 20lb laptop.  

The next challenge was to get the phone to work.  It took credit and debit cards.  Just not his, apparently.  One credit card seemed to work at first, but then the phone shut down and wouldn't come back.  He trudged back to the bar and somehow pantomime to the barkeep that he wanted coins.  She smiled when she finally understood.  Back to the phone.  But, now he needed to figure out which numbers to use.  The 12 digit number we had was apparently just for international calls.  Some trial and error let him realize he only needed the final 6.  

Vladimir pedaled over on his bike!  Luckily, he had not been awake for over a day.  So the younger, fresher man grabbed the pullman and off the two of them went.  Dinner was on Spellbound at a local pizzaria.  But, Vladimir's housemate had nixed their original lodging plans.  Apparently he felt that their apartment was not yet fit for a guest of David's stature.  "It is more like student housing" his would-be host explained.  David said that he hadn't expected anything else.  They would put him in a hotel until Monday in order to give the two young gentlemen time to adjust (clean) their apartment into a state fitting so prominent at visitor.  

Vladimir and David wandered downtown Kehl a bit looking for the right hotel.  Once they found it, they got him signed in and settled.  They took the extra time to get the internet set up right away so David would be able to call his family and tell them of his day's travels.  Then Vladimir took his leave and David kerplunked into the chair at his hotel desk and set up skype.  It was almost midnight and he was due to start work the next morning at 10.  He had been awake for nearly 30 hours.  Still, he wouldn't be able to sleep properly until he had seen the faces of his wife and children and recounted his day's adventures.  The internet is a wonderful thing!

On his way!

David's plane took off around 4:30.  That seems like a real thing, doesn't it?  We should hear from him on skype tomorrow morning our time when he arrives.

Everyone keeps asking how I am doing.  Honestly, I think we are all doing OK.  But, I am a little numb today.  Emotionally numb, I mean.  My back and feet  and fingers are letting me know just how many boxes I have been packing!  Emo-wise, I am still processing, I think.  On one hand, I am greatly relieved that we have gotten to this next step in the process.  There has been so much unsurity all the way through that having something concrete to point to- like David actually being on a plane on his way to Germany, for instance- seems like something I can hang my hat on.  It is comforting.

On the other hand, I am still a little in denial about being separated from David and about how much work there is still to do! The house is a bloomin' mess, and we are getting down to more of the stuff that we either use all the time or have no clue what to do with.  There is no denial about the changes that have occurred at this point, though.  The Craigslisting and garage sale last weekend had significant impact.  Our dining room table and chairs are gone.  Couch and bookshelves will go Saturday morning. David's car left last week.  All the household surfaces that aren't the box-&-sorting-strewn-floor are almost entirely empty.  The garage is downright unrecognizable.  Oh, and our bank account is, at least temporarily, looking better, too!

He actually sold a space ship and pilot

Speaking of which, here is a fun one- David sold some virtual property (from a game) for as much as we are getting for one of the cars!  That may seem odd to non-gamers, but in reality it makes a lot of sense.  He spent years working on the game that allowed him to have the virtual property and developing a reputation that would make someone else feel comfortable doing that kind of business with him.  The property itself will allow someone else to engage in game play at a level they couldn't without it.  It gives them some of the prestige David invested his time in creating- a fair trade for all.  So, Props to David!

For some reason I don't quite understand, I have gained 5 lbs over the last week and my hands are swollen.  All I can figure is that because we have been eating out a lot my sodium intake must be really high and I may be holding water?  Honestly, I am snacking less and expending more energy than usual so the sudden weight gain seems unlikely to be related to that.  I suppose it could be the stress/cortisol factor.  But, whatever the case I am going to concentrate on more meals at home now that David is off and going.  Hopefully that will help me arrive in Germany shaped like me and not a sloshy bowling ball!

One use for a sloshy bowling ball....

Interestingly, while we were at the pharmacy trying to chase down one of David's prescriptions before he left, we each took one of those blood pressure tests.  Mine was 116/69 and his was 108/70.  Not bad given the circumstances, I think!  (suggested optimal is around 120/80, so quite good for both of us!)

Once again, my hats off to all those military, merchant marine, and other kinds of families who routinely must spend significant time apart.  Not really the way I am wired!  Insecure control freak that I am, I like having my husband and kids within shouting distance at all times. 

Alright, well I sent David with my camera, so hopefully we will start getting some images and reports from him, soon!  Tschau for now!

What I Learned Today

WILT 

(Or at least WILR- What I Learned Recently)

• People from Craigslist are pretty much just as flaky as I thought they might be.
• Most of those files that I kept in my over-stuffed filing cabinet were not actually Important Documents.  They were, instead, useless crap.
• It is always good to double-check travel arrangements.  David's train ticket from Frankfurt to Kehl was for the day before he would actually arrive!
• While some keepsakes are truly special and evoke wonderful memories, others are just... well, being kept for the sake of keeping them....
• Recycling is my friend.
• People really don't seem to like the Frankfurt airport. 
• Travel adapters are confusing to people from all different nationalities.  The guys from England and Italy (who joined us in scratching their heads over the plug adapter display at Fry's) both agreed that the international community really needs to get on a standardization protocol and pronto! 
• Some combination of work, stress and weather seems to make my hands swell up.
• Apple cider vinegar and honey doesn't taste 1/2 bad!
• No matter how crappy you think something is, there is someone out there who wants it.... Only, they may not be willing to be bothered to come pick it up.
• No matter how great you think something is, there is someone out there who will beg you for it- only they still may not be willing to be bothered to pick it up.
• "I'll call you tomorrow when I have a truck and come pick that up" means "Nevermind"
• "I get paid tomorrow, I will call you when I have the money" means "Nevermind"
• "I will paypal that money tonight" means "Nevermind", as well.
• Those vacuumable travel/storage zip-locked things are actually pretty fun!
• Every teen-aged store-clerk has a secret fantasy about visiting Germany.  Also, they can't believe we are going, but they are SOOOO happy for (us) guys, nonetheless.
• Whether sincere or not, that last thing is actually pretty sweet.