First Day on the Job, 25 Mai 2010

Oh my god, the first day of work what I’m here for, finally! If only it had been that exciting.

I woke up at 7 20am, got ready in good time, which means a mixture of rushing and taking my time. I missed the American concept of a breakfast today, where I can just eat very fast (for me) and not worry about talking to anyone. But I am here to learn about other cultures. Frau Brause takes some children to kindergarten every morning, so she was gone for about half an hour than picked me up to go to the train station to buy my ticket. We got there about eight-twenty and the ticket counter was not yet open. So we waited for ten minutes.

After waiting, we learned there was a discount I could get, at least for the monthly ticket. But for now I would pay for a weekly ticket, even though I’ll only use it today through Friday. But that’s all right, though it was surprisingly more expensive than the ones in Vienna. Compare 16.20 Euros to 14.00 or something. Oh well, that student discount should be nice once we get it.

I guess I hadn’t paid very close attention at some point, but I did not end up taking the train on the first day of work. The train to Villingen only comes every hour, which means I’d get to the city and then have to walk ten minutes and be late to work. But, Frau Brause drove me, which was very very nice of her. But I’m taking the train tomorrow, and I did take it home today.

I found my work place, which was across from the museum, and not my actual work place. I told the secretary what I was here for, and then I was introduced to Helen. I don’t think I saw anyone older than 25 at that office. Helen explained to me that I was to stuff envelopes with informational pamphlets about Villingen. I think I used up almost 800 pamphlets to fill those envelopes. Some envelopes only had one pamphlet, and others five, ten or even twenty (one had thirty). A lot of these were being sent to hair dressers. But, I finished it all, with some help at the end which I did not ask for, by 11:15 am.

The girl who helped me at the end and had said, (“you work too fast”) I could now go to Frau Auer. When she realized I didn’t know where she was, she called her for me. With no answer, she called someone else and learned that today Frau Auer (my boss at the museum) was at home. So I should also go home. So there ends my first day of work. Though, I did figure out why I wasn’t at the museum for the first day, well, sort of. The office I was at, the Kulturamt, needed some extra help with those envelopes and had asked the museum if they had anyone to spare. So it was prearranged that I was to be sent there on my first day, and then be with Frau Auer. But that second part obviously didn’t happen.

With 6 extra hours on my hands, I decided to explore the inner city a bit more and take some pictures. It was very hot and my most black outfit was not the best choice, but I had anticipated being inside for most of the day in my defense. But I walked around for a bit, honestly in search of some WiFi. But to no avail. Which is a little frustrating, because I want to be able to use my computer sometimes for accessing the internet. I did however visit two book stores and buy two books.

I figured I’d do myself a better service by reading a German book, instead of my English ones. I couldn’t find the first Harry Potter book (I will by the time I leave), but I did find a copy of “Lord of the Rings,” with all three books, and a children’s copy of “1001 Nights” at a secondhand book shop. This book shop also featured a small section of English books, which seemed to be mostly romance novels. Unfortunately I could not find any of my German/English dictionaries before I came, so I might have to buy one here. I had found one for quite cheap, but it was humongous. I was tempted, but I do need to keep in mind the baggage weight limit for going home.

After the book shops, I found a Mueller, which is like a very cool Walgreens. I still had yet to buy conditioner. And I picked up a loofah, since washrags don’t really work for me. Once out of Mueller I located an ATM, which I made my second withdrawl. I figured it was best to do it while the exchange rate was more in my favor and because I’ll have to buy a monatskarte next week. All my purchasing done, I walked around for a little longer, then decided I might as well find the train station.

I did, then waited for about 20 minutes for the train to come. I had to figure out first, which platform to get on, and then I triple checked it during my wait time. I didn’t really want to end up in the wrong town, or miss my train. Especially since then I’d have to wait another hour. While waiting, I drank some water and began reading the introduction of “Lord of the Rings.” I’m doing pretty well so far, I’d say. Finally the train came, which it was actually a passenger train, not like a metrolink.

Something was funny with the train, I couldn’t catch what exactly, but we sat there for about fifteen extra minute before it left. I didn’t mind so much, because it had AC. And there were two guys behind me from Argentina talking in English, so I was nosy and paid attention. I believe they were talking about music, especially one artist who was actually born in Peru, and had released some album about living in a 3^rd world country.

The ride to St. Georgan was very short, less than ten minutes. However, once in the city, I had some difficulty. I apparently had overestimated my attention to how to get from the house to the train station and back. I was pretty confidant, but suddenly I found myself in the middle of town, which is opposite the house and up the other hill. So I went back down (sweaty by now, those hills are steep!) and went up the street next to the one I’d originally gone up.

To better explain my mistake, There are two roads that V out from a cross road across from the train station. I needed to take the further right one, and instead took the more left one. The streets curve so much, that even though I originally thought my direction was all right, they end up going in opposite directions. So, I went up the other one, climbing a hill again. These hills are like the one from Rock Hill to Webster on North Rock Hill rode, but steeper, windier, and about three times as long. And mostly in full sun.

Once I was a little more than half way up, I did stop a man who was walking to ask for directions, just in case I was really lost. He gave me some, first in German and then in English, and I went on my way again. So, I finally got home and met Frau Brause outside (she was gardening). I was very hot, had to pee, and needed more water. But after changing, taking care of myself, napping for 25 minutes, eating ¾ of a chocolate bar, I feel pretty refreshed. So, I end this with one question and one conclusion:

What will I be doing tomorrow at my Internship?

These hills are a workout.