Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Home sweet home
Get ready for a picture heavy post...finally. I'm just going to introduce you to Waltersdorf, the town I'm currently living in.
Monday, April 4, 2011
First Day
I've made it through my first day of work! It mainly was driving all over the place to become a legitimate resident and legal worker here in Waltersdorf. Yay, I'm official!!
I've started to meet a lot of coworkers; most of which don't speak any English. Language is definitely going to be a bigger barrier than I first anticipated, but it just means I have to work that much harder on my German. Luckily the customer service managers all speak english, as does my roommate Stefie, which makes things a lot easier.
I haven't started on my project yet; this first week is about learning the store as a whole, and then the next month will be about diving into the customer service department. I can already tell how different the customer service world is here compared to how we run in the US. Although there is one thing that's the same - I've already been asked to help in self checkout on the weekend.
Aside from work, I've done some grocery shopping, found a close ATM (no one accepts credit cards here) that doesn't cost me anything to use, and fully unpacked. I definitely feel like I'm settling in quickly. I promise my next post will include pictures, and not so much text, its been rainy here so I haven't taken any photos.
Tschüss!
I've started to meet a lot of coworkers; most of which don't speak any English. Language is definitely going to be a bigger barrier than I first anticipated, but it just means I have to work that much harder on my German. Luckily the customer service managers all speak english, as does my roommate Stefie, which makes things a lot easier.
I haven't started on my project yet; this first week is about learning the store as a whole, and then the next month will be about diving into the customer service department. I can already tell how different the customer service world is here compared to how we run in the US. Although there is one thing that's the same - I've already been asked to help in self checkout on the weekend.
Aside from work, I've done some grocery shopping, found a close ATM (no one accepts credit cards here) that doesn't cost me anything to use, and fully unpacked. I definitely feel like I'm settling in quickly. I promise my next post will include pictures, and not so much text, its been rainy here so I haven't taken any photos.
Tschüss!
The Flight
I am definitely surprised at what I'm about to say, but here it is: travelling for 18.5 hours wasn't awful.
I started on my journey Thursday afternoon at 2pm. My father drove me to the airport (thanks Dad!) and dropped me off at the international terminal, and then the fun began. Waiting in line to check my luggage, waiting in line to pass security, waiting for my flight. But honestly, it went smoothly, I wasn't held up at any point, and I had a good book and music to pass the time.
My first flight was to London, and was just under 7 hours. I left at 6:15 Philly time, and landing 6:00am London time. I didn't end up sleeping at all, but it didn't feel like the flight was that long. They immediately served dinner when we got in the air (with a complimentary tiny wine bottle) then I watched a movie, then we got a snack, then I watched another movie, then breakfast and we were there.
My layover in London was just under 3 hours, which really felt like the longest part of the trip. Then a quick 2 hour flight to Berlin, and I was finally here. Customs was a breeze- no paperwork to fill out, nothing to declare, no security search, just a quick look at my passport and I was done.
I was picked up by Stefu (my new manager), we stopped at the store for my keys, and then finally made it to the company flat. It is a house with 4 bedrooms and a guest room in the basement, and I currently have only one roommate. (pictures to follow, I just haven't gotten that far)
All in all, a very long, tiring day, which when I finally did make it to bed, I slept for about 12 hours straight.
But I'm here, I'm in Waltersdorf. Let the fun begin!
I started on my journey Thursday afternoon at 2pm. My father drove me to the airport (thanks Dad!) and dropped me off at the international terminal, and then the fun began. Waiting in line to check my luggage, waiting in line to pass security, waiting for my flight. But honestly, it went smoothly, I wasn't held up at any point, and I had a good book and music to pass the time.
My first flight was to London, and was just under 7 hours. I left at 6:15 Philly time, and landing 6:00am London time. I didn't end up sleeping at all, but it didn't feel like the flight was that long. They immediately served dinner when we got in the air (with a complimentary tiny wine bottle) then I watched a movie, then we got a snack, then I watched another movie, then breakfast and we were there.
My layover in London was just under 3 hours, which really felt like the longest part of the trip. Then a quick 2 hour flight to Berlin, and I was finally here. Customs was a breeze- no paperwork to fill out, nothing to declare, no security search, just a quick look at my passport and I was done.
I was picked up by Stefu (my new manager), we stopped at the store for my keys, and then finally made it to the company flat. It is a house with 4 bedrooms and a guest room in the basement, and I currently have only one roommate. (pictures to follow, I just haven't gotten that far)
All in all, a very long, tiring day, which when I finally did make it to bed, I slept for about 12 hours straight.
But I'm here, I'm in Waltersdorf. Let the fun begin!
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