lately

what I did in the last weeks:

look out the window (ever changing clouds over the city)
plan things and make lots of phone calls
drink lots and lots of tea
and read (I love the design of these books)


this is probably my last post for the next two or three weeks
as today we are moving to a different apartment for the remaining two weeks
before we can move into our new place.
the next place has no internet at all, and I'm not sure how long it will be
before we have internet in the new apartment in march
(experience with deutsche telekom tells me not to expect too much too soon!).

thanks for all you nice comments lately,
and I look forward to being back here soon!

hello stuttgart

these were taken over the last weeks, and although I didin't feel
like I was taking very many pictures, they do sum up the time we've spent here quite well:
apartment-hunting (and by this getting to know the city a little better) and coffee breaks.

the center of stuttgart is surrounded by a u-shape of hills, so whenever you walk out of the center
you have a view over the city, which I like very much.
it also helps understanding where things are located when you're new in town.

1 a tower on top of the killesberg (one of those hills) with a super thin structure, it gives you a great view over the area
2 coffee break in the sunday morning sun
3 these fluffy pompoms grow all over town, I really like them
4 the sun has been shining a lot lately, perfect to take shadow pictures
5 grüß gott - this is how you say "good day" here in the south of germany (I'm not used to that yet).
this is the entrance floor of the house we will be moving into in march - we really did get the apartment!
6 a nice picture from a not so nice part of town
7 the city center, schlossplatz (the main square) reflected in the art museum's glass facade
8 another coffee break in a cute little cafe in heusteigviertel, a new favorite

there's more good news, funny how things don't happen for ages, and then they all happen at the same time:
I accepted a job offer on friday, and I will start work next wednesday.
I'm very relieved after all the hoping and guessing of the last weeks.


thank you so much for all the nice comments on my last post,
and have a great sunday!

almost home

it's time for a little update I think. how have you been?

I'm doing well, things are slowly settling into place here
a little more than a month after we arrived.

we're slowly getting used to the quiet nights without sirens, honking and car alarms,
to trams that make no sound running in their tracks,
to speaking german everywhere (and to being understood everywhere,
which is a little dangerous if you're not used to it!),
to being able to walk most places.
we've been eating insane amounts of sausages and pretzels,
and the excitement of shopping in german bakeries has not worn off yet (oh, I had missed them SO much).
it's nice to be in our friends' and families' time zone again, and to call anytime.

we've been looking at many many apartments in the last weeks,
and while it's not official yet, it looks like one of them might work out this week.
it will be so nice to have our own place again.

a couple of weekends ago we flew up north to see my parents and my grandmother,
and we drove back with the boxes that I stored in my parents' attic five years ago.
I have only unpacked a few things since we are in a temporary apartment right now,
but it was so nice to see a few old friends, like my Tivoli radio.
I can't wait to have our boxes from NY arrive and, for the first time,
have all our belongings in one place.

and while I can't quite call it home just yet
I feel that we've arrived in the right place to stay for a while,
and I know that it will only take a few months (and our own apartment),
until this new city will be home. that's all I want for now.