Berlin: Living it up to Oct. 31, 2012

Guten Tag! I arrived in Berlin on October 25th. After my last post, it was undecided whether I was really going to go to Berlin or to Bonn. I had a really good job offer in Bonn as well, still freelance, but the guy offered me a room in is family's home for 1-3 months for 280 Euros, plus was sending me other possible job offers that he was seeing in advertisements. In Bonn, there are not a lot of Freelancers there and so he was enticing me. I applied to another job and although I didn't get it, the employer sent it to his colleagues in other departments and they are interested in me for next semester which would start in March 2012. It would be teaching English in Applied Sciences to University students in Bonn. I know, what do I know about Applied Sciences but included in that is Business Administration. That job pays 32 Euros/hour. I have an interview in February if I want to apply. So, things were looking equally good in Bonn and I was tired of living in a city and wanted a smaller city, with less people, so I was seriously considering Bonn instead but when I actually made a decision on Thurs. I had this horrible feeling again. Berlin, I had no feeling either way. On Tues. I received an email from the Berlin company saying, "Barbara, are you sure that you will be able to teach with little or no experience to 14-16 demanding students." This is what made me question this decision, so I replied back with where I knew I was confident and where I knew I had weakness'. By Friday, I had no response to that email, so I called because I was going to tell him that I am going to Bonn instead. Well, Peter Wegner, the Director, answered and said, "We are going to go with you." haha. I had that horrible feeling about Bonn, so I started to make my plans for Berlin. I left on Monday evening via Eurolines bus. I had a friend, Charles, see me off and help take my luggage to the station. Paris metros have a lot of stairs and thankfully, I met a lot of nice people willing to help me get to where I was meeting my friend. It's usually what happens when you leave a place, suddenly all the good pours out so then you regret your decision to leave. Yet, in this case, I appreciated the gestures and was sad to leave familiarity but was good to be headed towards a place that I was needed. My friend Charles aka CW, would be joining me in Berlin in a week or so. The journey to Berlin was great because I had a female companion for 2 hours and then she switched spots to an empty row at the time...then someone joined her but not me:) So, the rest of the overnight trip was in my own row, I could stretch out yet I did have to use the bus lavatory. Typical, right after I used it, we stopped at a gas station for 20 min. haha. When we entered Germany we had a passport check, which is, the Polizei get on board and look at your passport. There was one guy without a passport and another person with a wrong visa or something. The guy just looked at my passport and handed it back. Seriously? haha. I am so used to Border patrol back home that all the Borders I've been to so far are easy peasy. I also have nothing to hide...thank goodness, probably shows.

I arrived in Berlin and my bags were so heavy that I didn't want to navigate the metro system to get to my hostel - yes, I stayed in a hostel but they aren't bad - and so I took a taxi and the driver looked just like the German lady from Austin Powers. No joke! She even had the same personality haha. Wilkommen to Berlin. I   noticed immediately while driving through the city that it's big, spacious and people know how to drive. My driver was great, she would manoeuver lanes smoothly. In some parts there is a lot of spraypainting but it's more art than just mere vandalism, yet you do see that too. I felt like the city was more like I am used to. Not crazy, low-key, no tourists swarming everywhere - only in key areas and due to the size, you can't notice. Berlin is a beautful city and the people are really friendly here. People will speak english with you, if they even know a little, not grudgingly, and you can ask questions without feeling silly.

I visited my Employer, aka business partner, because I am a Freelance English Teacher, so we work in partnership, he supplies me work and I provide the service, yet give him an invoice once completed. He is very nice and laid-back. Very logical and understanding. He explained the company and how it is a language consulting firm to banks and other companies that require language services for their employees. They employ 80 Freelancers and there are other languages, French, German, Spanish, Italian and English that they deal with. My class is teaching Financial English to Bank employee trainees. In Germany, they train their bank employees for 3 years. I am the one English course they will have in their training - the English portion is only for 6 semesters  = 7 weeks each = 42 weeks of the year. I am teaching 2 classes, back-to-back, 3 hours each and then in December, I'll start another class on Thurs. for 3 hours on 'Trade and Commerce'. Sounds scary, when did I ever know this stuff but the T&C is all about business letters and networking...I've done that, many times. I have books to use and so I can always study the material and anything I am not sure of I can ask my employer or my friend, Charles, who has an MBA and was an investor. I'm not completely alone.

On Thursday, the 27th, I went to the Auslanderbehorde (Foreign Office) and surprise, the lady didn't speak a word of English but she had a paper that had some english on it and pointed to the documents that I still need. I also showed her my Employers, Letter of Intent, on my Blackberry, because I wasn't able to get it printed haha. I know, ridiculous, but she told me to come back with all those remaining doc's - Health Insurance (for the whole time I'll be in Germany - my insurance was only until March 2012 and she wouldn't accept a renewal), Visa application - ya couldn't find that online, so I was hoping to get it from there, Rental agreement. At that moment, before I had gone in to see the lady, I had received a reply to my response to a Craigslist ad, I had sent out many emails to a lot of different sites and this was my first reply:) She had just posted the ad the night before and was looking for a roommate, for a nice 2 bedroom, spacious, well-lit apt. We made an appt for me to come see the place after my Visa interview and so, that's where I went. If I couldn't get anything else done that day, then I was hopefully going to get a place to live. I went to the apt, the area is nice but of course, the building itself was ugly. It is an old Eastern European style building, brown, cement, spray paint on the bottom...I was definitely in East Berlin. It is close to the center and en route to the school where I will be teaching. The apt is situated on the top floor of a 5 story building - no elevator - a small 2 room apartment with kitchen and bathroom. The rooms are really large and are both situated on the corner of the building, so lots of natural light. I met Olya, and she is in her 30's, from Russia, working here as a software designer or developer. She is super laid-back and really nice. She has a boyfriend who is completing his PHD in London and so she visits him or he comes here. We talked, got along and so I was able to get the apt, it's for 2 months, and she helped me fill out a rental agreement form for my Visa and then she left for Russia, the next day to visit her family. The area is surrounded by beautiful trees, buildings and the street is a no-thru traffic street, so very quiet. Yet, you are five min. walk to the metro, 2 main streets and there are parks around here, hotels, hostels, banks, supermarkets, videostores, bakeries, everything...even a Mexican restaurant, who can ask for more:) I love walking around the neighborhood hearing the children playing in the park, walking through the fall leaves on the ground, and it's just a really nice neighborhood.

On Sunday, I went to the Ward that LDS.org said that I belonged to but there were few English speaking people and my German is very poor. Thankfully, the Bishop's wife is from Texas and so she was able to translate for me but she's 8 months pregnant and has a lively 2 year old, so I don't think she could do it every Sunday. Everyone was super welcoming and I loved how I felt like I am at Church. In Paris, I think due to the amount of visitors each week, getting the really warm welcome was too tiring. They were still nice but it was the Church but it felt different. In Berlin, it's the Church and I feel like I am home again. Things are run normally and people tell you about the activities and how to get involved right away. Very nice. I hope to remember this when I go back home and I can be a little more welcoming to those that visit. It really feels nice. Although, this was a nice Ward, I decided to attend a Ward that is in downtown Berlin and has more English speakers. I was able to attend Tiergarten this Sunday, today, and it was sooo great! I met a lot of people and they are so happy to have new people move into the ward. It was nice being able to introduce myself as living in Germany for the year:) I know, skipping ahead. I met a few friends already there and I am going on the Temple trip in a couple of weeks and have made arrangements with a friend (get this, she is Columbian - she thought I was latin - who is in Germany to do her Masters in Public Health - she didn't want to learn in Columbia because she wants to learn how to improve the system and wants to go back to Columbia with new knowledge so she can help. She doesn't know a word of German, she knows English and has been here 3 weeks! Amazing!!) so her and I are going to explore the city together on the weekend. She is very friendly and loves how the people in Germany are like the people from her country. Very welcoming and helpful.

So, Monday - Oct. 31st, I didn't register myself with the Burgeramt - City hall - because it wasn't open on Friday and that was my downfall for my 2nd visit to the Auslanderbehorde. So, before you can even apply for a Visa in Germany, France, Italy, etc., you need to get registered with the city's authorities, with your address and tell them how long you plan to stay. You show them your passport, your tenant/rental agreement, and the anmeldung form - registration form, they input the information in to the computer then print out a document, stamp it and give it you. Once you are in the office, process takes 10 min. I failed to do that and I still didn't have proper Health Insurance but she gave me 4 weeks to get a doc signed. So, I had to go back again. I had arrived at the Foreign office at 5:10 am - another taxi - waited with 12 other people for the gates to open, then every 10 min, I would look back and see that the line grew with another group of people. I was 3rd in line in my area, when 7am came around, I was inside, up the stairs, first in line for a number, first to get called in, she took my doc's immediately, sent me out to wait and then 10 min. later called me back in and said I needed my registration paper:( I was in and out within 15 min. haha.

Tuesday morning, I was exhausted and didn't want to wake up super early anymore. I was going to get to the Burgeramt after 8am...I thought they opened at 8, so I was basically going to have to wait a long time to see them. Yet, when I arrived there, they were closed, and there was 1 other person there. I read the sign and on Tues. they are open at 9am. So, I was still early to get registered. By 9am, there was a line up outside the door and I got the 2nd number, was called in immediately and by 9:15am I was registered in Berlin. I officially had an address and I can get library cards, video cards,...my Visa:) I immediately headed to the Foreign office. They are only open on Mon, Tues and Thurs. I didn't want to wait until Thurs. So, I headed there, took my sweet lovin' time, and arrived there after 10am. I had to go to a room to get a number and explain that this was my 3rd time here and I have the document that was requested. I waited an hour for my number to be called but once it was, I walked into the office and greeted my Visa lady, because it was same one for all my visits and I gave her my documents and then she sent me back out again. After 20 mins. she called back in and voila. She hands me my passport, my doc's back, a funny looking swipe card and a note that says '50 euros' on it. She explains in German and hand gestures to go downstairs, insert the swipe card into the machine and pay 50 euros and then I am done. I thanked her sooo much! I wanted to hug her but she was behind the desk and I think she gets that often, so she stood behind there. Yay!! I had to go to a bank machine to get the cash because no credit cards. I was sooo excited and I love looking at my visa in my passport. I am only allowed to work as a Freelance English Teacher but I think I'll be able to find more Freelance work to fill up my other days.

I have since applied to open up a bank account, paid my Health Insurance, and got a Video card. It's 3 euros for the card and only 1 euro per dvd. Yet, it's a day rental only. I would have to have it back by midnight of the same day or on the weekends, 2 am. So, I'll sort that out later, the store is nearby. The bank I applied to - Deutche Bank - is worldwide and affiliated with Bank of America and Scotiabank, so I won't have any transaction fees if I use those ATM's back in NA. It is open from 10-8 mon-sat. and has a special Branch in Mitte (Centre) of Berlin which has a tea lounge, x-box kinect area, a Harrod's gift shop and a kid's area.  The tellers are behind podiums - and there isn't a formal queue, just people know where to line-up. I was sent to wait for my Customer Service Rep to interview me in the lounge, on leather seats, open area, and they get you a beverage. I opted for the 4 euro bottled water haha. She came over with a laptop and we had a casual conversation as she was getting to know me and input my information in to the computer. I shared with her that I used to be in Banking and also teach Banking English, so if she didn't know a word in English, she would look to me for help when she was explaining the system to me. It was great customer service and just the personal touch alone was enough to have me as a client. It's a 4.99 monthly fee but I'll be okay.

I have bought popcorn, sugar smacks, lactose free milk, pork schnitzels, pasta, rice, eggs, baguettes, cheese, yoghurt, juice, salsa and tortilla chips. You know, the necessities in life. It's really normal living here in Berlin. I hear English on the street just as much as I hear German. The metro is not crowded and the streets are clean, for the most part, just depends on where you are. I feel safe and for the most part happy. I am getting used to the change and remembering that I am in Berlin. I feel homesick sometimes but I know that once I start to get a little busier with activities and work, I will become more integrated with the city and the people and before I know it, a year will have gone by.

Love you all and it feels good to know that I can stay abroad legitimately. It feels good to know that I am looked out for by the people here and back home. I am very blessed and so happy for everything. Now I need to make more money but I know that I am being taken care of and I will never be in want.

Tell me your news and Auf Wiedersehen:)