The W curve

Oct. 16th 2007

When we were in our cross cultural training class we were taught about something called the W curve. Basically that you have highs and lows when you are adjusting to a new place. I think I would classify today as a low point on the W curve (it has now been our way of describing days to each other “high” days vs. “low” days). Now, I would say anything bad happened. In fact it was a pretty normal day if you were to just look at it. My mission today was to find a connector USB cable for my camera so that I could upload some of the pictures I have taken as well as pictures of our cars that we took before we left. Someone is interested in Matt’s car but needs pictures hence the need for the cable. The original is currently either on its way here or in storage. But I figured I would just go to the Saturn store I mentioned earlier. I figured I would go in and find the replacement I needed no problem. Wrong. They make every possible USB cord imaginable except the particular one that I needed. Well, normally I would just ask someone for help and see what suggestions they had (I even checked and they carried the camera I had!) but everyone I asked if they spoke English (I even learned how to say it in German so they would respect me more) and of course they didn’t. All of the younger workers who are more likely to know at least basic English, were helping people who wanted to buy Mac computers. So, not to let my one task of the day go unfinished, I went to the local “department” store because I heard they carry everything you could need. I went to each and every floor and finally on the 8th or 9th floor I hit paydirt. It was the electronic section. It was quite a big section so I thought I might have better luck. But again no luck. By that point I realized that I couldn’t just ask anyone and that I really was there by myself. I have heard it is the little things that make you realize that you are not in the U.S. (or wherever your home is). This is definitely true. After that I realized that I had not talked to anyone all day long. By 5:00 I was wishing I had a dog to just talk at! I did hear some English being spoken and was ready to go up and ask if they lived in Germany but realized that they were trying to convert people…… decided to just keep on walking!
Luckily Matt came home early (6:00) with his boss Thijs to try to figure out our cell phone situation. We want to buy prepaid SIM cards for our phones so that we can call locally without paying a dollar a minute. It went well and we should be able to make it work in the next day or so. It was very nice to have a translator with us and we are forever in debt to him.
I talked yesterday about trying the washer/dryer. Well again, Thijs came in very handy. We couldn’t figure out what everything meant on the dial or where to put the detergent. Now I know most of you are just thinking about my lack in domestic ability but trust me, I don’t think many could have figured this out! There were three openings for detergent alone. Not to mention 20 different symbols on the dial! So Thijs came and read the instructions and explained how he thought it worked. Well we tried it tonight and it worked!! Although a few differences that I noticed (besides 80 different options for settings) were the size of the washer, it held two regular size towels and 4 small towels. I could have put a little more but was scared! It also takes about 45 minutes to complete the cycle (and that was with me stopping it a bit early) and spins at a ridiculously high speed. At one point Matt and I actually thought someone was drilling outside. So after starting the dryer on what I assumed was the correct setting we realized it was quite loud and due to the restrictions on quiet hours decided to stop it. So hopefully it works and we can start washing our clothes!
Another big discovery that we made today was that we are able to buy the DVD’s at the german stores because they are also in English! We currently wait eagerly every night for Jay Leno to come on which they have cut down to ½ an hour so we are very excited to have options of watching movies as well.
We are also going to be taken out on Thursday by one of Matt’s coworkers who lives here during the week and goes home on weekends. So needless to say he is bored as well and knows the area someone (and is German) so he will show us some of the local restaurants etc. so hopefully we will be able to check those out and have some favorite places for when people come to visit!