This post goes out to all the things Michael and I have come to love - or raise an eyebrow to - over the last 5 days. We have had many great experiences already and there are definitely some awesome things on the list.
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The train system - This goes without saying for anyone who has travelled in Europe, the UK or Japan. The rail system works like a dream here. Today we got frustrated because we had to wait a whole 7 minutes for our train. Its the longest we have had to wait! But the trains are very clean, the transitions between platforms and train types are easy to manage despite the station upgrades going on in most places, and the tickets, while not cheap, can have great bonus value.
The food - again, can be seen as a good and a bad thing. We are loving the food over here. It is super tasty but the portion sizes are massive, and there is a lot of cheese and salt used.... so I'm already starting to feel guilty for not having a new gym membership yet! But there is also a great variety available. I have already eaten sushi 3 times since we have arrived so I'm not stuck with only schnitzel and dumplings.
My Job - this is truly one of they best things of all. I feel like I have secured my dream job. I met with my new boss at the Akademie on Monday, started work on Thursday, and I am already in love. My classroom is gorgeous, the kids are fantastic, my boss is lovely, all the other staff were so excited to meet me! They have very high hopes for me, I just hope I can fulfill them. However, already I can see that my love for hands on play-based learning and investigations projects is going to be well utilised. They even have a kids kitchen on site, with mini aprons and mits and hats etc so that they can have cooking lessons. All professionalism went out the window when I saw it - I may have squealed just a little!
Also, I am in love with the craft stores over here. Better than any I have seen in Australia. I found a shop dedicated to wool on my very first day! I bought supplies with me for work purposes not knowing if I would find shops easily, but now I'm in heaven every time I venture into these shops!
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The not-so-good things have mostly related to our living arrangements. We were due to move Monday to our new apartment where we would stay for a whole month while we searched for our long term rental. However we got a call from our new landlord lady who said that the previous tenant had left it in such a state, and it would require alot of cleaning, so we could not move in till Wednesday. Now, we of course thought that 2 whole days was a lot for cleaning, so we're not sure just how damaged the apartment was.... but luckily, our landlady had already arranged for us to stay elsewhere while it was being fixed, and it was a lovely upmarket boarding house not too far out of the city, so we weren't too upset. It just meant living out of our suitcase a little longer! Now we have moved in to our month long rental, and its not too bad, but several lights are not working, and we don't have internet so we are a little grumpy about that!
I am also disappointed with the Kinder Surprises. I had previously enjoyed a Kinder Uberashung in Germany, and a Kinder Sopressa in Itally. I was hoping to get a photo of my kinders in every country while we were here. Alas - it is now called Kinder Joy. I am a sad panda.
But I do get Milka chocolate again! And Kinder Happy Hippos!
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The wacky things we've seen though outweigh the rest. We have seen a very scantily clad transvestite walking down the street near our hotel at 11am in the morning, and a man that can only be described as Stalin crossed with Freddie Mercury. His leather pants flared out at the bottom 'ABBA' style with platform boots, the full leather and fur lined jacket and hat!
We are also amazed every day by the dogs. Not because the German dogs look any different to the rest of the world, but just where they are allowed to go! We have had dogs at restaurants, in high end shopping centres, on the trains - everywhere. And what's more, everyone is so accommodating for them. Most restaurants get the dog a bowl of water. Also, the dogs are so used to it, they don't get excited or pull away, its just every day life for them.
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So with all that said, for now I will sign off. I promise to post again soon, with photos.
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