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Last Updated: 03. Mai 2000
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Our Introduction to German Living
Finally Online Again
The Second Week
The First Week
The First Days
Finally Online Again
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September 1998
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Well, finally we are online again! After we moved into our apartment, we had to wait until Tuesday, September 8th to get an appointment with Deutsche Telecom. The person who rented the apartment previously kept his phone lines because he was moving his office downstairs, so Deutsche Telecom had to install a new telephone line into the building. After waiting, we then had to find the storage unit where the main phone box was located - unfortunately, due to our disorganized landlord, it was not easy. So, finally by Friday, we had a phone line.
Our other good news is that we have a kitchen with a stove and oven, a sink and a refrigerator (though it is small). Chris still needs to complete the finishing touches but it is workable, so we do not need to eat dinners in a restaurant anymore. Also, we even have a dining room table, a few comfy chairs and carpet for the living room. We still need to hang some artwork - because the walls are "too white". We need more color!
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The Second Week
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19.July 1998
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We look at quite a few places and finally by Friday, we signed a typical German contract for a typical German unfurnished apartment. When the Germans move to a new apartment, they even move their refrigerator, stove (incl oven), kitchen sink and kitchen counters. So, we need to purchase a kitchen but there are stores in this area that sell a basic standard kitchen. At least, the bathroom is pre-installed! We need to buy our own ceiling light fixtures, because the Germans also take their light fixtures with them! So much to learn.... Our apartment is a 100 square meter unfurnished apartment with 4 zimmers (rooms) - one is normally used for a large dining room but we will use this room for our bedroom. Erika will have a large bedroom and play area and then there will be a very small 3rd bedrom for our office. There is a wrap-around balcony with we have 4 entry doors/windows to the balcony. Also, we have a private parking place and a garage (for storing the bikes), so we do not need to carry the bikes down to the kellerraum (celler storage room). It's located in downtown Kaiserslautern, so I quess we are your big city-folk friends.
Because the apartment will not be available until August 15th, we decided to go camping for a few weeks. On Saturday, we headed for the same campgrounds that we used on the previous Friday night. This time it was more enjoyable because it was sunny and we were able to play mini-golf and actually cook on our own vanagon stove.
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The First Week
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12.July 1998
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On Monday, we went to the Auslanderamt to register, only to find out that we needed to register with the city of Kaiserslautern our current address (at the Stadthotel). This, of course, took the entire day because we needed to translate the form and then find someone at the hotel to sign it. And, of course, take the form back to the Rathaus/Buerger Center and find someone who spoke English.
The Auslanderamt clerk told us that only one person needed to register for the entire family for the extended living permit and to arrive by 7AM the next morning, so the waiting line would be short. Chris woke up very early and fortunately, the paper work was in order, so he quickly and successfully completed the registration forms. So, by Tuesday, we got the living/tourist permit - the permit that we need to live in Germany for a year. YEA!!!!
On Thursday, Chris went to pick up the van in Bremerhaven, of course, after after paying some additional fees to the German port authorities which we did not anticipate - but here's another example of German bureaucracy at work! It's more expensive to off-load the van at the German port than to load the van at the Seattle port. At least Chris had the tourist permits, so it was easier to get the van through customs. Again, Chris woke up very early Thursday morning - about 4AM, so he could catch an early train to Bremerhaven. Everything went OK and taking the van through customs was a breeze because the customs agent did not want to unpack the van. Also, fortunately, Erik from the PCA church offered to let us store our books, clothes, and sports equipment in his garage, until we find an apartment. God's blessing are abundant!
While Chris was picking up the van, I had an experience with a German laundromat - or wascheraum. Taking the German language classes through BCC helped but there were a lot of practical words that I still need to understand. Fortunately, there was a older German woman who used a lot of expressive hand signals to help me understand how to use the washer.
On Friday, Chris arrived back at the hotel and really wanted to move out of the hotel. We got a few newspapers that advertised apartments and started to look for a permanent or temporary apartment. We did not find anything so, on Friday night, we foolishly decided to go camping. Friday started out partly sunny but by the time we arrived at the campsite with some milk and other necessary groceries, it started to rain. Chris had to quickly change the electricial system, so our van could use German-style electricity. We also did not have propane gas for our gas stove, so we had a cold dinner and went to bed very late that night but at least we had someplace to sleep.
Saturday dawned sunny but our van was torn apart, because we had too many bags for the camping experience and we still had too many things stored in the van's storage comparments from the overseas shipment. We had to sift through everything in the van - all the bags, books, and papers to find a business card from an immobilien (a German real estate agent) who had an available furnished apartment. We finally contacted the immobilien and arranged the apartment visit. Unfortunately, it was only a one bedroom apartment and it was too small for the three of us. So, we checked into a slightly larger hotel suite, so we would not feel too crowded and we continued our search for an apartment.
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The First Days
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09.July 1998
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When we arrived in Germany on Friday, July 10th we were very, very tired. We accomplished nothing on Friday except driving to Kaiserslautern and getting lost a couple of times - both in the car and on foot. After getting lost trying to find where the hotel was located - it was a small side street, we still could not find the building number - it was not well marked either. Finally, we saw a sign for the Stadthotel but the entrance appeared to be a garage door. So, we walked around the block and there was another sign for the hotel, so we asked someone (in very poor German), and they directed us around the block - the first street where we were looking for the hotel. So, we walked back and then discovered a doorbell with the hotel's name, so we rang the bell. The door that appeared to be a garage door, was actually an opening to an alley that lead to the main door. This was our initiation to our future life in Germany. Things, experiences, or relationships will have a new flavor (or culture) that is distinctly different than American culture. I will be homesick at times during the year and other times- when we return to America, I sure that I will long for a Eruopean style of living in America.
After getting lost looking for the hotel, we decided to look for the Auslanderamt (the office for acquiring a living permit in Germany) but we could not find it - even after asking for directions. On Saturday, we also looked for the office but could not find it. On Sunday, after asking for more directions, we also looked for the office. We walked by the location many times and we still missed the door. The office is on the 2nd floor of a building that is shared with an art gallery. The art gallery had "outside" display windows in a space that would utilize the entire footprint of the building. The doorway for the Auslanderamt was tucked behind one of the display cases. Another case of things having a new and different appearance than what we expect.
Over the weekend, we also drove around the surrounding Kaiserslautern area - into Landstuhl and Ramstein and we went to church in Landstuhl. The Landstuhl PCA church was having a potluck dinner, so we were able to meet and fellowship with some of the people at the church. It seems to be a friendly group of people. Also, we meet some families with children who are Erika's age. So, we should be able to find some playmates for Erika when we settle into an apartment.
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Die Fotogalerie von die Deutschland
You can contact us by email to either Chris or Pat.
We will try to respond as soon as possible.
See you all later.
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