Sunday, October 15, 2006
Things to do...
I was fairly busy during the last weeks here in Germany. I went from government office to government office to get things registered etc. It took me some weeks but I still didn't get most things done. Especially when my wife arrives a lot of things have to be done.
The foreigner's office will need a lot of time - they decide about the residence permission and about the mandatory German language and integration course.
This is fairly new in Germany - as a foreigner you need to attend a German language and integration course. The integration course will explain things like our democracy, human rights, history and so on. We never before had that. The language training is quite difficult when you're new here, because the whole training will be in German.
The three most important things were:
1. Getting my wife to Germany.
- Still not fully done. I went to the consulate in Shanghai with her and finished the application. Then it took three weeks until I got a letter from the foreigners administration office to go there. I had to go there personally (in Germany) to tell them that I really want my wife to join me here (luckily I decided to go back to Germany before my wife can). This was two weeks ago and she still didn't get any notification about the visa. The whole procedure takes at least two months.
2. Rent an apartment which is not too expensive but also not too small.
- Got that done this Friday. It took me ages and I checked many apartments all over the area until I finally got one. I already found one that I liked but I was one of three who wanted it and didn't get it.
Some landlords react a bit nervous when I tell them that we will be three people soon. ;-)
3. Buy a family car to get to work and so on.
- Got that done - took me "only" two weeks and I spent the top end of my planned budget. I nearly lost patience because it is difficult to choose the right one. All used cars had one bad thing and all new ones were too expensive. For the American readers: I bought one with a 1.8 ltr. engine and this is on the higher end of the scale (funny isn't it?). The smallest one for this car is a 1.4 ltr. (too noisy) and the biggest one a 2.0 ltr. Turbo (my father has this one). As soon as Picasa and Blogger manage it I'll upload a picture or two...
The foreigner's office will need a lot of time - they decide about the residence permission and about the mandatory German language and integration course.
This is fairly new in Germany - as a foreigner you need to attend a German language and integration course. The integration course will explain things like our democracy, human rights, history and so on. We never before had that. The language training is quite difficult when you're new here, because the whole training will be in German.
The three most important things were:
1. Getting my wife to Germany.
- Still not fully done. I went to the consulate in Shanghai with her and finished the application. Then it took three weeks until I got a letter from the foreigners administration office to go there. I had to go there personally (in Germany) to tell them that I really want my wife to join me here (luckily I decided to go back to Germany before my wife can). This was two weeks ago and she still didn't get any notification about the visa. The whole procedure takes at least two months.
2. Rent an apartment which is not too expensive but also not too small.
- Got that done this Friday. It took me ages and I checked many apartments all over the area until I finally got one. I already found one that I liked but I was one of three who wanted it and didn't get it.
Some landlords react a bit nervous when I tell them that we will be three people soon. ;-)
3. Buy a family car to get to work and so on.
- Got that done - took me "only" two weeks and I spent the top end of my planned budget. I nearly lost patience because it is difficult to choose the right one. All used cars had one bad thing and all new ones were too expensive. For the American readers: I bought one with a 1.8 ltr. engine and this is on the higher end of the scale (funny isn't it?). The smallest one for this car is a 1.4 ltr. (too noisy) and the biggest one a 2.0 ltr. Turbo (my father has this one). As soon as Picasa and Blogger manage it I'll upload a picture or two...
German countryside at it's best
Some pictures from where I live currently. I rented a vacation house during October. I will move into my real apartment in November. We'll have to get a lot of furniture then.
This is my current view from the living room.
OK this Blogger/Picasa connection doesn't work out well. I give up now and take the full scale resolution in there.
This is my current view from the living room.
OK this Blogger/Picasa connection doesn't work out well. I give up now and take the full scale resolution in there.
