Sept. 6, 2011

Here is the most-recent update. We've been here exactly 4 days and none if us can believe it as busy as we've been!

Here are some things we've accomplished:

- arrived

- unpacked

- went sight-seeing, riding a train to the top of our town's hill

- ate our first frankfurters (very different!)

- figured out the grocery store (cash only, need a euro for a grocery cart deposit, bring your own bags as they cost 0.05 euros each, weigh your produce yourself and put a label on the bag, etc.)

- found the main train station (which has the only grocery store open on Sunday -- you can figure out for yourself why that might be necessary!)

- routed ourselves after seeing a tram detour

- went to a hardware store via the tram and hauled everything back

- registered with the city

- completed our residency permits

- officially hired at TUG

- setup health insurance

There is a long story involving bureaucratic issues for those last 3, let me tell you!

- opened a bank account

- found a route to someplace without knowing exactly how to get there

- explored the park by our house

- visited Grace's school

- bought flowers and fruit at the farmer's market

- got keys to my office

- convinced Grace to try some new foods (Henry is harder!)

- Ate at Subway :-o (not exactly the same if you ask the kids)

- washed and line dried two loads of laundry (we have a washer, but no dryer)

- and many other things!

And it may not sound like fun, but we must be having some fun because Grace announced today that she wants to live here as an adult. She'd take this apartment, but she said she wants an elevator! Walking to the 4th floor dies get tiring.

Tomorrow I'll have my first meeting with my team back at the UofA via Skype and Sue and the kids will go try to buy school supplies.

Russ