It Can't Be All Smooth Sailing

Next week I will have been living in Germany for six months, at which point my driver's license is no longer valid.  Since I plan to live here for more than a year, and at some point I'd like to rent a car, I need to get a German license.  I am one of the lucky ones whose state has a reciprocity agreement with Germany, so I can get a German license without taking any classes, or even a driving exam. All I need is:

• my Texas driver's license  + a photocopy
• an official translation of my license
• copy of my passport
• copy of my registration from the local city hall (yes, you have to register when you move here!)
• application, completed and signed
• 35 Euros

...or so I thought, until I went to the driver's license office Tuesday. Co-workers of mine from other states with reciprocity agreements left the office without a hitch, and then I went in. "Hmmm, Texas. Sie brauchen einen Sehtest".   I need an eye exam, because I am from Texas.  I didn't see that coming (ha), but okay. I wasn't that disappointed or surprised, really. When you live in another country, you come to expect these things.  What I didn't expect was that somewhere between that office and my classroom (in a span of about 20 minutes) I would lose my driver's license.  I've NEVER lost my license; the only time I had to replace one was when it was stolen.  How is it that I managed to lose it at this critical moment?

I felt physically ill.  By the next day, though, I was resigned to the fact that I wouldn't have a license--any license--until July, when I would go home again.  Then I would have to start the whole process all over again, except it would be longer (more paperwork!) and more expensive, because it would be after the first six months.

Today my license appeared. Someone had found it and turned it in. I never actually doubted someone would turn it in--I have found people here to be very honest.  My concern was, to whom would they turn it in? If it were to the reception desk of a different office, how would I know? How would they let me know? They can't just drop it in the mail; it's from Texas.  A super-nice lady from the HR department at my school called another office in the same building as the driver's license office, and there it was!

It turned out to be my lucky day.  I passed my eye exam, picked up my old driver's license, and turned in all the paperwork for my new Führerschein.  It should arrive in about two weeks, at which time I have to give up my old one.  Until then, I'll be keeping my license in a safe place. :-)

Sag's auf Deutsch!

I'm trying to get back into learning German, and so lately I have been watching more TV.  I was recently watching an afternoon soap, Alles was zählt, when I saw this commercial featuring celebrities in Germany who are not of German descent:

It's a great public service announcement that encourages people to learn German.  At least, that's what I gathered from my limited language ability.  You see, the problem with this commercial is that it's ALL IN GERMAN.  The people this announcement is trying to reach aren't going to understand it.

Thank goodness for YouTube. Someone thought to add German and English subtitles*! It's too bad this version is not the one you'll see on the RTL channel.

   *You may have to watch it on YouTube to see the subtitles.

Seasons

It finally snowed this morning! It's not much by German standards, but it's enough to cover the ground and to make me feel that winter has arrived.

Seeing true changes in seasons is a new thing for this Texas girl.

view from the balcony in August

November

January

I love fresh snow!  I quickly took some pictures this morning because I knew the snow wouldn't last.  On my walk to the grocery store, it started raining.  On the way back, then, I carried groceries uphill for half a mile in the snow while it rained. Jealous? ;)

New Year's Resolutions

Exactly one month ago today I flew home for Christmas.  During those two weeks at home I reverted back to my old self--you know, the one that never remembers to take her camera anywhere. So, I did a lot in those two weeks, but I don't have a lot to show for it (except for maybe a couple of extra pounds!).

I usually make new year's resolutions, but I like mine to be fun--they are more likely to be accomplished that way. I think I am also more likely to accomplish them if I tell everyone my resolutions, so here they are:

1. Learn more German!  (Specifically, by the end of 2012 I want to be at or surpass a B2 level.)
2. Visit at least 10 cities/towns on my list of "German Places I Haven't Been Yet".

What cities/towns are on the list?

1. Aachen
2.  Bamberg
3.  Berchtesgaden
4.  Eisenach
5.  Freiburg
6.  Garmisch
7.  Köln
8.  Nuremberg
9.  Quedlinburg
10.  Rüdesheim
11.  Sylt
12. Trier

If you are wondering why Berlin, Dresden, Hamburg, Munich, and Oldenburg (among others) aren't on the list, it's because they used to be on it. :)  I am sure the list will grow as the year goes on. Are there any others that need to be on there?