Day 1 - Househunting

Typically, air travel is a bear these days unless you’re flying first class. Because Max’s company offered to fly me first class to Germany for my house-hunting trip, I enjoyed the best Lufthansa air had to offer-- fresh scented towelettes, a massaging passenger seat, and, of course, unlimited alcohol. I even managed to get about 4 hours sleep during the trip over, making it easier for me to adjust to the time difference.

Max isn’t with me for this part of the voyage because of an important business meeting, but he arranged for a driver to pick me up at the airport, as well as a paten to take me around to see apartments. I’m not exactly sure what the definition of “paten” is, but mine’s name is Roswitha. She’s a lovely German woman who spent many years living in India. She knows from experience how difficult it can be for foreigners to settle in a new place, so she decided to set up a business and serve as a personal assistant to ex-patriots during the moving process. Based on our preferences, she’s been scouring apartments and has reserved four full days to take me around town. Unfortunately, she hasn’t been successful in finding a flat in the heart of Mannheim that accepts pets. And, so I have expanded my search to include smaller towns such as Speyer and Neudstadt. Leaving my dog Charlie behind is NOT an option.

Roswitha will also be our guide for 6 weeks after we move—helping us to register with the city, set up bank accounts, call to have our utilities switched on, and purchase a car. I cannot imagine what this experience would be like without this support, and I am grateful the company is willing to pay for us to have her.

Thursday night, I met up with some of Max’s co-workers. Thavvy, an American who also works in Germany, invited me to join a group for a champagne tasting in Heidelberg. The club, called the Print Media club, was amazing. A local band playing R &B classics from Earth Wind and Fire to the Black-eyed Peas, blew me away. Had I closed my eyes, I wouldn’t have thought I was in a foreign country.

Still, I was--partying with people from all over the globe including Italy, Brazil, Holland, Mexico, Bulgaria. I also met several Americans, who were very open in sharing their experiences as life as an ex-pat in Germany. Even though I know it’s going to be have its ups and downs, I think I can handle it.