We just got our Internet going at our apartment (temporary apartment until September); it is 5:16am and can't sleep for the jet lag, so here is my quick update. Please attribute any miss spellings to the early hour.
We arrived after a very smooth flight in Zurich Tuesday afternoon. Our director, Diana del Rio, met us at the airport and did an admirable job keeping us awake until about 10pm the first day. We got to our temporary apartment - a very nice 1st floor (2nd floor in US) apartment with three bedrooms, kitchen, bath and terrace. This apartment will be for the single educators after they arrive and we get moved into our permanent apartment next month.
To an American, the practice of registering with the government is a bit strange. Sure, we do a change of address form at the post office, change utilities and stuff like that. In Germany, our first full day after arriving we were at the Weil am Rhein Rathaus (city hall), registering our presence, pursuing our work Visa paperwork and getting our all important garbage card. The next big item was to open a German bank account. Another small difference is the use of checks in Germany - very seldom does one write a check. We didn't even get a check book... Instead, when we do something that in the states would take a check, it is either done on-line or a direct transfer is made.
Anyway, we also viewed two apartments for rent and will make a choice tomorrow (today actually). We will update very soon with more on the new apartment, the school, shopping, the media center/library (my domain), etc. I will try to get another couple hours sleep before Thursday (we will be working at school today to clear out the main atrium).
We arrived after a very smooth flight in Zurich Tuesday afternoon. Our director, Diana del Rio, met us at the airport and did an admirable job keeping us awake until about 10pm the first day. We got to our temporary apartment - a very nice 1st floor (2nd floor in US) apartment with three bedrooms, kitchen, bath and terrace. This apartment will be for the single educators after they arrive and we get moved into our permanent apartment next month.
To an American, the practice of registering with the government is a bit strange. Sure, we do a change of address form at the post office, change utilities and stuff like that. In Germany, our first full day after arriving we were at the Weil am Rhein Rathaus (city hall), registering our presence, pursuing our work Visa paperwork and getting our all important garbage card. The next big item was to open a German bank account. Another small difference is the use of checks in Germany - very seldom does one write a check. We didn't even get a check book... Instead, when we do something that in the states would take a check, it is either done on-line or a direct transfer is made.
Anyway, we also viewed two apartments for rent and will make a choice tomorrow (today actually). We will update very soon with more on the new apartment, the school, shopping, the media center/library (my domain), etc. I will try to get another couple hours sleep before Thursday (we will be working at school today to clear out the main atrium).
Updated 4 Aug: I added a picture from our plane ride. This is Mt. Rainier out of our window just a bit after leaving Portland.
Peace and grace to all who read this entry.
Peace and grace to all who read this entry.
1 comment:
Hi Delynn and Michael. So glad to hear you have arrived and are settling in. Please post a phone number as soon as you have one. I'm waiting to delete your US numbers from my cell phone until I have new one I can replace it with. We're back in Wellesley and are still in our jammies at noon and having a lazy day again (jet lag you know). Take care and eat some apple strudel for me. Lots of love to you both.
Delissa
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