Getting to know my surroundings

Well I am exhausted to say the least. I think I am used to the time zones now, its just sensory overload 24/7. Trying to learn a new language, how to drive on the wrong side of the road, learning the layout of the town and routes to schools and activities, meeting new people all seem too much at the moment. But once things become familiar I will be fine.

I am still keeping tabs on NZ as I still check the Gizzy and NZ Herald almost daily. I have to organise to meet Hauke in the next few days, so looking forward to that. I went to the 'Aliens' office today to register - what a bloody joke. I thought the Germans were supposed to be efficient!! I wonder if I still need to tell the NZ Embassy that I am here? Who knows!! The staff do not speak English and role their eyes at you when you say you don’t speak any German – but then they start talking in German anyway, only faster and louder. You have to wait in very long queues. Then back to another building, get one thing ticked and told to go back, then back agin to be told ‘Okay see you in two weeks’ - infuriating to say the least. Especially when all the paper work was done back in NZ months ago.

Went out to a Greek restaurant on Sunday night, in the city across the river from Wiesbaden to meet Crystals friends. (She met them all at the Gym.) A very wide mix of people. All lovely people and pretty much all of them spoke English. They have taken me under their wings already and have said they will take me to a Wine festival held a few hours away, where they have a boat and will go out into the middle of the Rhine river, where it is surrounded by Castles and watch a mega fireworks show. So I am really looking forward to that as you can imagine. Everyone else has to watch it from the river banks, but I'll get to be right in the centre. It was really difficult for Crystal to see me with her friends as we were making a whole lot of plans. She was awfully upset to be leaving. But she knows she is ready for a change. She left this morning and so I have moved into her room.

These old German houses know a thing or two about storage. I will never run out of room I don’t think. My bedroom is on the third floor on the left, hidden behind the branches. The boys found it really hard and I think it'll be a matter of weeks and not days before they settle. The housecleaner here doesn’t speak a word of English and swears all of the time. Apparently she’s says 'Lick my arsehole' most often. But she’s fanaticly in love with the family.

Weird German things:

People will say ‘No’ and leave it at that when you ask them if they want to do anything. They’re not being rude, just don’t understand any need to justify why they can’t or don’t want to. So for example – we would say ‘No sorry, I have no money and I have to work in the morning – but thank you for asking’ is instead ‘No’.

Road directions are confusing. Whatever you think it is, it probably isn’t. It will always be the exact opposite of what it looks like.

You must give way to the right even on Main roads. Thought it would be the opposite to home, but no.

You have to put tokens into the trolleys to get them to work. If you do not have the stores token, then a Euro coin will do. You get this back when you return the trolley correctly. Good way to cut back on staff!!

Their recycling is fanatical. A bin for everything!! Plastic bottles get taken to the supermarket and money is reimbursed. If you sell batteries you have to accept old ones.

It is light until 11pm at the moment.

Church bells seem to ring nonstop from about 7am Sunday morning.

Well back to the grindstone, and up another flight of stairs! There’s four storeys by the way, not three. The Cellar is indeed an entirely different floor and is gigantic. I’ve counted up to 6 toilets so far, I’ll probably find another hiding in a cupboard!!