Moving In

3 guys and a container were waiting for us at our home when we arrived at 7:45am for our 8am appointment. Germans are on time! And they spoke English! As they brought each box and piece of furniture, Mary pointed. Everything actually fit and we now have room for 4 guests, after we empty the boxes. Our relocation advisor, Uschi, came in to get our passports so she could get us a residence permit, work permit and register us with the city. In Germany, if you switch residences, you have to re-register with the city. Uschi told us "Pete will get a work permit and Mary will NOT." Got it.

After the movers and Uschi left, we both needed caffeine since it was about 1p (6am US). We found the Starbucks, got vente mochas, and asked ourselves again...what are we doing? Pete still doesn't have an answer. Mary returned home to take a nap while Pete got on wireless at our local motel. After a vente mocha, mary unloaded just one box, then another...no nap and soon it was 4:30 and, well, time for the wine we bought at the airport duty free. Pete came home to find mary with a lot of empty boxes and in a good mood. Pete had the half glass of wine that was left.

It was time to get out and find dinner. We tried to find a little italian restaurant we visited the first time here. After going up and down streets, we finally parked and tried to find it on foot. About ready to give up, it suddenly appeared - Da Roberto. Now for the food channel aficionados, mary had tortellini in cream sauce and pete had salmon fettucine... this has now become our favorite place (this changes daily).

We slept in our home for the first time. All the windows have electronic metal blinds on the outside so we close them at night. When the alarm went off it was so dark because of the blinds, and we are still in time warp, we thought it must be a mistake. No mistake, we needed to get going cuz Uschi would be here at 9.45 sharp for meeting with Deutsche Bank. Let's just say there is a fee for everything. Uschi says its because the president is swiss. There's something goin on between the swiss and germans.

When we got back home, the burglar alarm guy was waiting for us and our internet/phone guy showed up. We are now not sure if our internet code will trip the alarm, or the alarm code is our debit card pin #. After they all left, we walked to our local grocery, got canned soup, fresh kaiser rolls and cheese and opened the other bottle of wine. Dinner at home is sometimes the best.

Pictures are coming as soon as we find our camera. Pete is off to Basel, Switzerland tomorrow with his Daktronics colleagues (presumably to find out about the swiss/german thing). Mary will continue unboxing...