The first week we were living in our new apartment, I took a trip to the grocery store three days in a row carrying bags of groceries for about 6 blocks. But we have food, sort of. It seems like a never ending errand. The small containers go empty fast and one can carry oh so much stuff in one trip. With a bag of potatoes, a bag of onions (since buying one onion is not seen in this particular store), two boxes of milk (yes boxes), a bottle of wine to celebrate our new place (that cost the average amount of $3) and a bunch of other oddments, it gets heavy! The first trip was the mother loads of three heavy bags in hand and a back pack on the back. A couple days ago, we now find a grocery store across the street!! And this store has everything you can think of besides food. A fan, a garbage bucket, things I looked everywhere in Garching for. This is my new favorite store!
I cleaned and am still cleaning two weeks later, another never ending chore. We went to Ikea for a computer desk and some other things we needed. It was a long trip. With a train ride and a long walk, we got there. We chose the cheaper table not because it was cheaper but that it weighed so much less and we could carry it home! The long walk back was tough. We both were feeling it the next day.
The day after that strenuous trip to Ikea, we went to Nuremburg. It is another larger city about a 2 hour train ride north of Munich. It was nice to go somewhere. This place is beautiful. The buildings look older, mainly because they probably lasted through the war, whereas Munich is all rebuilt. There were a lot less people when we showed up, but somehow doubled in size when we were leaving. It was nice to walk around even though a lot of the stores were closed due to it was Sunday. At least the tourist stores were open and the couple museums we walked through. We went to an artist's home and a toy museum, which I liked, but Chris found it okay. Check out our photos on our photos' page.
I bought a bike! It is a little small for me but figured it would work for the short trip to work and back on those days that is not too cold. I rode it for 5 miles home. Thought it would be nice to ride it back home and see how it is to ride through the streets. Only to find that it is soooo sluggish that I want to return it. Everyone was passing me and I was pushing so hard. I was sweating so much by the time I got home. I passed my work on the way. It took 15 minutes but I walked part of it because I couldn't handle the bike any longer. So much for that, right! However, Chris, my hero, took a look at it and found that the brake was on the whole time. He is getting tools from work to fix it. So hopefully it will be much better and I don't regret buying it so much.
We had a house warming party Thursday night. 5 of Chris' work friends came. It was great. We had wine and Chris' Thai dinner. I even made homemade chocolate chip cookies. They turned out good, different but good. They were soft cookies, which you do not find in Germany. The cookies here are always hard and crunchy. They even asked how I made it so soft. Figured out that it is probably how much butter I used. We even used the fine china and the nice wine glasses she has. It is the only stuff we have to use, and it is there to be used, so why not? It was nice to have a group to socialize with.
I am starting work on Monday. I went in Friday to work with Melanie (the German teacher) to get set up some for our first day. The kindergarten place is unfortunately not ready. We are going to have to make due for a week or two. There is no furniture except some chairs and four book shelves. The bathrooms are about done at least. The walls are completely white but I think will stay that way. The furiture is coming on Wednesday next week and the kitchen is getting put in on the 8th or so. There are a few books and a few toys to play with. I am curious to see it on Monday! I am getting excited though. Melanie and I work well together. We have similar work ethics and understanding of kids. A nice change from my old job where I had to tell people to do their jobs!
I can't believe summer is ending!
1 comment:
fun to hear about the bike :) I can totally picture you!
Yeah over each time Tara and I have moved over the last few years, I swear we must have bought like 50 garbage cans... they always seem to dissapear or get left behind or you're unable to travel with them.
Groceries - you should just spring for a taxi home once! When you're getting set up, it's worth it... Think of all the heavy things you could get!
In places where many people don't have cars, it's pretty common to see a taxi pulling up to the grocery store :)
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