Okay, okay, I'm not storming the Bastille, here.

The above has become my mantra for the past couple of days as I navigate the intricacies of living, getting a job, getting a bank account, and getting a cellphone, and dealing with various bureaucracies- all in German, if possible. Not to mention the German keyboard is all different and confusing, with the Z where the Y ought to be... but now I'm just whining. Actually, things are going pretty well for me here. I have so far managed to register my address with the local authorities, so that I can get a bank account (tomorrow, hopefully), look into cellphone plans and generally understand what is going on, and find a few job opportunities.

My absolutely WONDERFUL hosts, Johanna and Theresa, have helped me correct my CV and letter of introduction to Inlingua, a language school... so that hopefully I can get at least an interview for a job as an English teacher. I have also had some success with inquiries into jobs at a couple of restaurants, but I'm planning on telling one I'm not interested- in general, I just get a kind of bad feeling about the place- like I would really hate working there. The other is a Vegan restaurant, and I will hopefully go for an interview sometime in the next couple of days.

So... for two full days in town, I'd say that's not so bad. It's a strange feeling- I keep having to remind myself that that I actually live here. I think once I put down a few more roots, it will feel less strange. I REALLY need a place to practice. On Sunday, I am planning to go play in a pick-up Frisbee game in the English Gardens.

Altogether, I'm happy to be here, and my German is actually better than I thought it was. I just really want to feel settled. I don't miss my life in America much, but I do miss good friends, practice rooms, the irresponsibility of University life, and Home Grown Cafe.