Ich Hatte Eine Total Verängstigt

So here is to recap my first two days of the Work Week.

Day 1: It started out pretty well; I got in the shower on time and to the S-Bahn Stop.  I arrived early and saw many friendly faces.  Everyone was nice and greeted me.  I received candy from my boss, but I read the ingredients… and they had nuts!  Oh well, I’m used to it.  Wouldn’t you like to be my roommates?  :D  I spent the day reading books about bridges… and only bridges!  Oh and I filled out many forms that I had the HR explain to me.  Filling out forms in English is one thing, but doing it in another language is sehr schwer (very hard)!  I also have an officemate (if you can say that).  He was really nice to me and was patient when I talked to him in broken German.  He has a son, so I showed him pictures of my brother.  Hopefully I wasn’t too nosy when I asked him questions, but he still likes me, so I would say no.  All in all, my first day was great.  

Here I am on my first day!

Oh and I forgot to tell you I wore the wrong shoes… I had put on 9 bandaids when I came home… it was a struggle coming back, but I made it and here is the picture of my feet!

My room until April 15th and then I move upstairs to a smaller more affordable room.

Day 2:  It started with going to the Durmersheim city hall to register.  I met this lady that was fierce.  She asked me if I came directly from the States and I wrongly stated no.  (I should have just said yes… but how was I to know.)  I said I lived in Koeln for two weeks in a youth hostel.  She gave me a stern look and asked if I had registered there.  I said no as in why would I.  This was the WRONG answer!  She acted as if I had committed a felony and I had messed up.  I tried to explain to her that I just lived in a youth hostel and I didn’t know where I was going to live until a week ago, but she wouldn’t have it.  In the back of my mind I remembered the GIZ lady, Gaby, saying if you have any problems call me immediately, so I did.  Unfortunately, she was not there, however I talked to a nice man that directed me to another lady and that is when I started to explain what was going on.  The stern lady refusing to register me motioned to give her the phone so she could talk plainly instead of it taking me hours to fix the mess.  Then started the friendly chat between the two women, like they had known each other for years!  (I guess that is how it is when you speak the same language… well I should add.)  So they laughed and were good ole pals and then they hung up.  The woman went to her computer and started filling out my paper work.  Whew!!!!!  Never felt so relieved in my life.  So I have my registration… which was the goal.  Now on to other forms.  At least I’m chopping down the list!

After that, work was good and I read more about bridges and filled out forms… maybe the real work will come this week.  Other than that, nothing too exciting happened.  Until next time.