So a week has gone by. And it has been my first week living in Germany. Where to begin?
Well the week before the move was spent in Manchester with Sam's mum, and so we had a week with our cats. They are now justover a year old. Sam realised that the date that we got to Manchester to see them was a year to the day when we first got them. They have been living in Sam's old room, and seem very happy with that. They were unsure at first when we arrived, but then caught our scent and were back to their old selves, following us around and as a result, they were more brave and so ventured downstairs more often, with Yamato not bothered by the other two cats that are there. Yamato I think has got slimmer, but that is more than likely due to him being more powerful, as he seems to like running up and down stairs.
That week we got the chance to catch up with family, such as Sam's aunts, my sister and her partner, Sam's brother and his partner, and also Kat and Dave from my year of chemistry at UMIST and PhD at Manchester. It was a hectic week, and flew by, and soon enough we were off to the airport for our flight to Dusseldorf.
The weather that day was shit. We were able to get all our luggage on, with out paying for any excess weight. When we went to the gate to get on board we saw the air strip and well, it as crazy. The wind was blowing rain across the tarmac, and the plane we were flying on was a propeller driven thing. Needless to say it looked a little dodgy, but was in fact quite a good flight. However, take off was bad, with the plane having to wait as the rain and wind made zero visibility.
Arrival at Dusseldorf was fine, and we got a taxi all the way to Bochum. The taxi as fine other than the driver taking the wrong way into the uni, and so this cost time getting the keys. Instead we went straight to the guest house and then I had to walk and get the keys. Not great when it was freezing.
The apartment is pretty good. A nice big corner sofa, a fully kitted out kitchen area, a coffee filter machine (that made me happy), and a good bed (I've slept well on it, must be a firmer mattress). We should have the rest of our luggage arriving Friday, along with a new TV. We have internet and so we have been able to skype, but of course we have no new mobile number as it takes, and costs Orange, a lot to unlock my phone ust so I can use a different SIM card. Sigh.
Anyway, Saturday we went to Dusseldorf, which was very busy and and found a nice tea shop there, and on the way back got stung on the train fare. We didn't get our tickets stamped properly. :( Oh well the money lost we have got back on our power bills from the old flat (we were in credit).
Sunday of course was quiet. With everything shut we had little food in the flat. It's been a bit hard to know where to go shopping, more so when your phone is useless and has no access to google maps.
Monday we went into the office, and from there were taken by one of my boss's students to register as living in Bochum, get our tax card started, get health care organised, and of course open a bank account. Fun day.
So Tuesday was quiet as Sam has had a cold, which is a bit strange for her. We later went to the department Xmas party, where we met some of the others of the Theoretical Chemistry department, and today I had my induction at the department. Looks like I need to learn how to use LaTeX and so forth. Fun!
So tomorrow is the start of my new job.
Other things to look forward to are joining a new RP group, and of course James is coming to stay over Xmas.
Expect a few photos soon and more as I stumble through the German language.
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