I'm a full-time worker

I have now experienced four days of full-time work. (8-4:30pm) Learning how to go to bed early and get up early has been a tough lesson. It certainly doesn't mesh with a student schedule, but I think it is something I could get used to if necessary. I like work, often when I am sitting at work I wish I had more to do. Since I'm new and have to learn all the ins and outs of the office, I only know how to do a few basic tasks (which apparently will come in very handy as the guy who usually does them goes on vacation on Tuesday and I am expected to fill in for him--luckily I think I can handle it.) However, because my knowledge at this point is limited, I often find myself with nothing I can do and thus end up sitting around in my office waiting for some menial task. Part of this was also due to me waiting for my account login information and still waiting on my badge so that I can swipe myself into various parts of the building.

I think in the next few weeks the work will pick up and I will be busy. I will also have to the opportunity to shadow and observe various parts of the job so that I can get a better idea of what I might be getting myself into in the future. Weather has been crazy. It was nice and warm like summer last weekend and then cold and rainy all week. Now that it's Friday it has started to warm up again, just in time for another three day weekend (gotta love celebrating German and American holidays). I am dog-sitting for a couple this weekend and am super excited that I will have access to internet within the apartment, rather than having to walk over to the fieldhouse to use internet.

Anyways, life is good, I enjoy work and am looking forward to more challenging tasks and hopefully I will be an asset to the office. I think next weekend I will travel outside of Frankfurt, maybe to Karlsruhe or somewhere and visit friends!

Pfingstmontag

Today is Pfingstmontag (or Pentecost Monday -- yesterday the churches celebrated Pentecost and today Germans get a day off work.) So, apparently I brought the nice weather to Frankfurt. For 3 or 4 weeks before I arrived the weather was cold, gloomy and rainy. Since my arrival on Thursday morning the temperature has risen at least 20 degrees and the days are marked by sun, 70+ degree temperatures and beautiful, puffy white clouds. Therefore it must be me who brought this nice change.

Tomorrow will be my first day of work and I am very excited. I ironed all my clothes today so that I will look professional and prepared tomorrow. Over the weekend one of the FSOs took me and the other intern, who arrived Saturday morning, out and showed us Frankfurt, the military base in Wiesbaden and we even went to see a play, The Fox, at the English Theater downtown. I've taken my commitment to German food seriously as my first two dinners were Wiener Schnitzel and I have since also had Doener. Food so far has been delicious and because everyone pities the poor student/intern I have had at least 3 different meals paid for.

I am enjoying my apartment and having my own space, but I do miss having internet available at home and I miss having roommates to socialize with at any hour. Luckily, there is free wifi at the Fieldhouse, a community center for the compound, so that I am not completely without means of communication. I also got a new prepaid Simcard so that I can also use my cell phone again. Nothing else too terribly exciting to report, except that I've eaten Burger King twice since arriving (at the military base) because they gave me a frequent buyer card and I'm determined to get a free meal. I'm currently 40% of the way there. Oh and the base has a Cinnabon, too. They certainly know how to make you feel at home. :-)

Back in Germany!

So I arrived in Germany yesterday morning, Frankfurt to be exact, and I am working this summer at the US Consulate. My apartment is amazing (furnished, two-bedroom, etc. and free!) I'm not sure if there will be another intern sharing the apartment with me, but either way it's awesome. The compound is overrun with bunnies and rumor has it they are diseased. They are still pretty cute though, German version of squirrels I suppose.

I had Wiener Schnitzel for dinner last night. I figured I should get right in to traditional German food. It was delicious! Now I am touring the consulate and meeting all the various people I will be working with. This is going to be an exciting summer! Hopefully the weather will improve in the next few days, apparently it has been overcast and rainy for the past 3-4 weeks.

I will attempt to keep up with my adventures on this blog, but we'll see what my internet situation turns out to be. Auf wiedersehen!