Journey of the Magi (or at least a bunch of foreigners)

So in the last week or so places have been visited, wine has been drunk and journeys made (some more successfully than others).

Bodenschnee

Yes, the white powder has arrived and its not been smuggled here from South America in a Condom. 

Münster not Munster

So its been a little while since I've posted an update on my exciting life, so here's a brief overview of what I've been up to:

Google Translate, in human form!

So last week's event was a trip to Stuttgart on Thursday.  Here is a short list of adjectives to describe the day and the city:

Political Animals Are Nocturnal

So in the time since my last blog update nothing of much importance whatsoever has happened anywhere at all.  So that's where I'm going to leave it.

Ha. You should be so lucky...

Die Fresher's Week

So, its been two weeks since I've written anything, which some of you may feel is not nearly a long enough gap, but despite that here goes. 

The First Month:

So the 3^rd of October marked 1 month since I moved to Konstanz.  Its been great fun, with great people, in a great place.  Here are a few of the things I've learned:

Oktoberfest

So after my previous entry with its slightly downcast view of Oktoberfest the time came to have myself well and truly schooled in all things Oktoberfest from the one place that knows them:  The Theresenweise (die Wiesn) in Munich, home of the one, the only, the original Oktoberfest.  I should say now that I went for a day rather than staying overnight or through the night so my view is pretty much of the middle of the day.

Septemberfest.

Those with even a passing interest in Germany and things German will know that they like their beer and they like a good singsong.  The word "Oktoberfest" will probably conjure up images of Munich, tents, lederhosen, women in Dirndls with "viel Holz vor der Hütte" and of course, Beer, lots of beer.  All of these images come to mind because they are, broadly, true.  What people (including my good self) sometimes do not realise is that the majority of the festival occurs in September (The Bürgers of Munich, being practical types, moved it because the weather was better) and that there are Oktoberfest celebrations all over Germany, including (luckily for me) Konstanz.  So, having been told about Oktoberfests every year in school and in Uni and each person pointing out that it was at a very awkward time for us it seemed rude not to stroll on down to the tent which had been erected on the edge of the Bodensee to house the Oktoberfest am See (an international festival as the very near by Switzerland shares this event, along with may others).  

Bu·reauc·ra·cy

noun, plural bu·reauc·ra·cies.

1.government by many bureaus, administrators, and petty officials.

2.the body of officials and administrators, especially of a government or government department.

3.excessive multiplication of, and concentration of power in, administrative bureaus or administrators.

4.administration characterised by excessive red tape and routine.

 

Yes, I've got to that stage where I feel the need to write a blog post not only explaining the empire of the Beamte but also to recount my experiences with them, which hopefully will not turn into too much of a rant and might even serve to forward people yet to arrive in the Bundesländer.  

European Integration

So, after two years of European Studies modules, a few trips abroad and 2 weeks as a (nearly) registered German resident I've been struck by one or two things. 

The most interesting has to do with a european culture, something which many people (including yours truly) are sceptical about and which some people would dearly like to create (broadly, the EU).  Many argue that Europe is too diverse to share a culture and they have a compelling case (which the rest of the time I would probably agree with).  However, I think there are indeed things that are shared between most, if not all, european countries:

• Italian restaurants
• Irish Pubs
• German Beer

There are several things that can be said about this: superficial? - maybe; indicative of how I've been spending my time? - definitely; a potential model for the EU? - well...

Those reading outside of North America will probably be aware that the EU has 3 main branches: 

• The Commission (which writes the rules, enforces them and broadly speaking, does things), 
• the European Parliament (oversight, approval of the Commission, occasional veto, debate and representation)
• the Council (meetings of the ministers of the governments of the member states).  

Now equate these to the above:

• Italian restaurants = the Council - the few getting around a table and working things out and coming to a conclusion
• Irish Pubs = Parliament - a big group of people disagreeing loudly and frequently about what everyone else is doing and whether they agree.  Usually the biggest group wins.
• German Beer = The Commission - everywhere, efficient, high quality with strict rules about production.

Now that sounds like a system that would work.  I'm sure Hollande and Merkel could agree over spaghetti Lady and the Tramp style and the British would be driving their kilograms of potatoes in kph if there was beer in it for them.  And the Parliament? No work needed you say? I couldn't possibly comment...

Top Form

So today is Friday, I arrived in on Monday, that's 5 days.  In that time I'm pretty sure I've filled out a dozen forms, written my address at least once on each of them (the current record is 3 seperate entries) and signed my life away more times that I care to think about. 
Don't worry, this isn't going to turn into an anti beauracracy rant - in fact you could consider it the opposite.  It is in fact going to be "thank goodness for the EU".  That's becuase most of my friends here are from outside the EU and thus need to do about double the paperwork and a special bank account for wich the details need to go to the immigration ministry.  So thanks to the EU not only am I annoying the Daily Mail (which can only be a good thing) I also have a couple more hours free of forms.

Arrival and the learning curve

So after two fantastic weeks in Switzerland getting Sunburned, soaked, up and down some alps and snowed on I did my change around and am now in sunny Konstanz.  I've met a few people and learned quite a bit too.  Here are some of the highlights:

• Beer by the liter is great, more than one however, probably isn't.
• I can impress people with my German
• The accomodation leaving all the crap in in it from the last owner is pretty handy - buying your own pots and pans and odd flavoured teas is a drag
• Just buying a sim card isn't that simple
• Even if you didn't when you went to uni, or to another continent for months it is still possible to get homesick.  I'm not usually one for it but this is quite a different type of 'on your own' than either of those, and its a bit odd.  

Thats all for now, today is the beginning of the long induction course so I'm sure I'll have much more to reflect on.  

First impressions.

Isn't Facebook wonderful?  You can find out who'll be somewhere ahead of time and try and get to know people.  Sometimes you even want to.  The trouble is that you only have a few words in a certain context to form an impression from.  So when the first contact you have with someone is them telling you that the place you're very thankful to be living is "crap" with a comforting "ha ha" it doesn't do much to make you think you want to spend more time getting to know them.
So lesson learnt:  Be unambiguously nice, as taking the risk could put people off you without meaning to.

The pre Deutschalnd to do list:

So with a little over 2 weeks left of preparation time I've finally written myself a list of thing I need to do.  It doesn't seem long but I'm sure that come the 16th of August I won't sleep a wink and will be having a big ol' stress about what I still need to do.
So here it is, as it stands:

• Reclaim my tax from HMRC
• make an appointment to collect my key in Konstanz
• find a German bank account and work out how to get money into it without paying a fortune
• Sew the rest of my badges onto my hoodie for Witan
• print off everything just in case.  
• Book flights
• Probably a stack of other things
• And one small word:  PACK...

Just like living in Paradies

So the last piece of the puzzle has fallen into place in the last week - I have somewhere to live in Konstanz, which will come in handy.  Its called Paradies, which does noting but get my hopes up.  The photos look good, although I hope that I get on with the one person I live with - could bee a bit awkward otherwise.
The challenge is now to work out what I need to take and see which bits I'm using for Witan in Switzerland the two weeks before.  Nice and complicated but I'm sure it'll pan out.  

Konstanz Calling

So I got my confirmation today - by email!  How efficient and hight tech.  It means that I now know that I was safe turning down the job at Amphenol and that hopefully I've given an opportunity to someone else.  It also means that I can start planning and organising.  I've got some more things to get straight before I can move.  Firstly some work experience, which will not only look good but fill my time, then, if I wasn't going to get enough travel and spoken German already, two weeks in Switzerland straight before I move is what I'm spending a lot of my time on at the moment.  Everything's in place now all I'm waiting on is the accommodation...

Das Timing...

So all's well and I'm sitting here waiting for my confirmation letter from Konstanz, except...  I've been offered a job - at Amphenol in Heidelbronn, north of Stuttgart.  No interview, just an email saying they had a place and would I like it?  If they'd one that two weeks earlier it'd be fine.  Now I'm pretty sure I'm tied in so I'll have to turn it down, which is frustrating but I suppose that's life.  I just want that confirmation letter.

Moved the world, or it felt like it.

So after an interesting game of something like 4D tetris (shapes inside shapes, sort of inception for tetris), I've packed up, and moved out of number 45 and am back in sunny (yes, really) Penarth.  Now all the stuff I've accumulated fitted into the car, but will not it in my room, no way, no how.  Makes me wonder how on earth I'll manage getting to Konstanz with what'll probably end up being two bags.  I'll leave that as a challenge for another day, now, what to do with two dozen Worth Ranch t-shirts...

Who uses a fax?

Well apparently if you need a Erasmus application sending off really urgently email just doesn't cut the mustard.  It makes sense actually, as most of the forms are filled in by hand so you'd only have to scan them in anyway.  So it looks like I've been accepted in principle, hopefully the 'Motivationstext' I wrote in a couple of hours this morning and didn't get checked won't put them off too much and I'll be seeing an acceptance letter in the next couple of weeks.  It was also nice to learn that I'm not the only one as in the department office (who are lovley) I waited behind someone who was doing the same for Parma and had a friend who was in the same boat (also Parma).  Now all I have to do is part with about €800... ouch. 

Better late than never

So after a flying visit to the university yesterday and really panicking the nice man who looks after Erasmus there I was told that he would see what gave and who might have space.

Beginning...

So, I had the idea of recording next year's exploints and happenings on a blog partly to let other people I know get a look at what I'm doing and partly so I don't forget what I've done.  I think it will need a bit more work before I start sending links out though.