Kyle’s European Adventure

Holy crap, kids. Stuff is happening quick here, in large part thanks to my friends Carsten and Marcos. Let’s see, where to start….

I got my phone sorted out, but it took an entire day, with Carsten doing a whole lot of translating. I got me a SIM card, not from one of the big name cellular joints, but from some half-assed little phone-hut on the street. Shady? Perhaps, but since I’m not signing up for a plan, it was the cheapest per-minute rate I could find. And, after a scare of it not activating, it turned itself on and has worked like a charm, so far. (If any of you yokels want or need my digits, just drop me an email!)

The apartment hunt was short and sweet. There’s a website here for students and other folks who are looking for a sublet, and I answered a few of the adds. I went to see two of them on monday, and wouldn’t you know, I fell in love with the first apartment I saw. (They had Matthew Barney DVDs on their desk – I took that as an Omen.) I checked out the second place for coverage, but I realized that I’d hit the nail on the head the first time out of the gate. That seems to be the way EVERYTHING has worked for me so far on this trip. I called them back, and asked if I could have the place. They happily agreed. I went over today, signed the contract, and I move in a week from tomorrow.

I also found the language school I’m going to study at – they do immersive courses, and they agreed that I’m not a total beginner, so I’m taking the level two class. I just have some brushing up to do before that starts on August 4th. (I hope that bumming around Berlin and attempting to use my sad and broken german counts as a “level one review’!)

Lastly, Marcos took me to see his gym today. It’s a slight hike from where I’m living, but I hope to get a bike to make the commute easier. This gym was a perfect example of what is weird about Germany. They usually require new customers to sign a year contract, but they have a special deal for travelers. They’ll sell you a three month pass, if you can prove that you’re not from Germany – passport and plane ticket, or job contract. Something of that nature.

ANYHOW, I tell them that it’s no problem I can bring in a copy of my passport and plane ticket. “Great!” they tell me, “now you just need a German bank account to wire us the money to pay for the pass.”

“Wait, what? Do you take credit cards?”

“No”, she calmly replied. 

“Oh, well, then can I just bring you cash?”

“No. German bank account wire transfer only.”

“So, this thing that you sell specifically to people who are not from this country, can only be payed for with a german bank account?”

“Ja! Alles klar?”

Anyhow, Stuff is a little different, here. But I’m adjusting. Carsten leaves on for work tomorrow, and then I’m really on my own. I’m actually really excited – I’ve been looking forward to this. Time alone, in Berlin, with nothing to worry about other than what I’m going to go see, do, and eat.