Starting over

I'm reading this fiction book right now and one of the characters has a couple of lines that really struck me...."You can boil your life down to a single suitcase, if you desperately have to. It turns out what's important is not everything you've accumulated all these years, but those few things you can carry with you." Well, I didn't really have to pack my whole life into a single suitcase, but it kind of felt that way. I have to check on the air freight today and I don't expect my sea freight for several weeks, still. So I'm living out of the two suitcases I brought with me. Oh, and so are the cats. That's my excuse for not being able to pack everything into one suitcase, I guess....It's interesting, though, how little you actually "need." It's been two weeks that I've now been living out of these two suitcases and I really don't feel like anything is missing.

It's been a busy couple of days, but good. Monday, I saw five apartments. The difference in the standard of living here was not a surprise to me. I knew going in that I would have much less space then at home. But what was a surprise was how most people seem to think that I'm looking for too much space because I want a two bedroom apartment. They're suprised that I'm looking at two bedrooms when they find out that I'm single (you basically have to tell the landlord all about yourself, because not only do you have to want the apartment, they have to want to let you have the apartment). That, and it's difficult to find a landlord who will accept the cats. Even without front claws, people are nervous that they'll be destructive or a nuisance.

Of those five apartments, there were two that I really liked. One was in Stuttgart West, which is a really popular area for young people. The downsides - no reserved parking in an area where it's really hard to find a spot and it's up like six or so flights of stairs with no elevator. Can you imagine me hauling my suitcases up? I think it might take me an hour. Or when the cats need to go to the vet, then carrying them down?? So that's not good....
The other was in Stuttgart-Feuerbach, the same city that I'll be working in (you can see the pictures here if you want: Feuerbach). So it's like five minutes to work when there's not traffic (by the way, I've decided that we only think we have traffic in Michigan!! On Monday, a drive that normally takes me 35 minutes took 90 just because of Monday morning traffic - no accidents or anything!) This apartment has four rooms, which is really a lot! And a balcony, a garage, and an attic! It's a top floor apartment, which is only the third floor, but that means it has slanted walls. Which is okay, just interesting. Downside - it's a little more than Bosch budgets for rent, so I'm not sure about that.

Yesterday, I saw two more apartments. One I didn't like at all and the other was okay, but not really in the area that I want to be in, although it's just down the street from Porsche.....I also opened a bank account. That was interesting - they have these machines in the lobby like ATMs where you can print your statement. And you have to print it every 90 days or else they mail it to you. If they have to mail it to you, though, they charge you for the postage....

I now have my work permit and I've also registered. You have to go to the town hall and notify them of your presence. And if you move, you have to change your address. It's like the Secretary of State, only stricter. And it has nothing to do with the driver's license. You should see the photo on my work permit - you can't smile, you have to look very serious. So it's like a photo on a "Wanted" poster. Very cute! ;)

Yesterday, we also went to the grocery store. Even though I've been before with different people, it's the first time I went knowing that I'd be doing this on a regular basis on my own. And I was happy to be shown a grocery store that's similar to Meijer (but not as big) and Walmart (but not as cheap) in that it has clothing, toiletries, groceries and even electronics. And while it's still closed on Sundays, it's open until 8 during the week, which is great for us working folks!! We also went to Ikea - yep, it's just like the one at home. I didn't buy anything, but I'm sure I'll be back. If you don't already know, most German homes don't have closets. So you know those wardrobes you see at Ikea? I'm definitely going to need at least one!

Today the weather is rainy and cool, a nice change from the heat of Sunday and Monday! Simi's mom is working today, but tonight or tomorrow she'll show me how to use the washing machine so that I can do some laundry. It's funny to me - I took it totally for granted that I knew how to handle things at home - how cell phone plans worked, how to operate the washing machine, what got recycled and what didn't, driving rules, how insurance works, leasing a car vs. buying. All familiar things. And here, nothing is the same. So I have to constantly ask questions and everything is a learning experience. Part of my job at home was to help people with these questions. And now I'm on the other end - the one that needs help and is asking all of these questions. So, I feel like I'm starting over.....