The First Step(s) Of The Journey PART 2

So, the much anticipated second chapter in our adventure...I believe I left off with the Afghani wedding and arriving home at about 2:30 AM.

We thoroughly enjoyed staying with Afsaneh, and she was such a blessing to us!  After about three weeks there, we were beginning to wonder when I would get a job and when we would be able to move into a flat of our own.  (Afsaneh's flat was between 45 minutes and an hour and a half from Sidonie's school - depending on the time of day and regularity of busses and trains.)  We were praying also that we were not becoming a burden to Afsaneh and her mother having been there much longer than we anticipated - this may sound very familiar to those of you acquainted with our moving to Orlando story - all of this was very difficult to discuss with Afsaneh because our German skills were still at the fledging level, Afsaneh spoke no English, and her German was only so-so.

After about three and a half weeks at Afsaneh's, I was talking with her one night after dinner and before Sidonie had gotten home, and she told me that she was having renovations done to the room we were staying in so as to make it into a room for her mom to stay in.  I asked when we should plan to move, and she said that the painters were coming on Monday (it was Friday night.)  So, needless to say, we prayed quite a bit that weekend!  On Saturday night there was a prayer meeting at the church that we decided to go to so as to focus on praying for something other than ourselves and our situation.  While there, we had many people ask what was going on with our living situation, and several people assured us that we could move in with them if need be.  We were very grateful, and we knew that the right situation would arise at the correct time.  On Sunday morning, after church, we talked with Annie Grace, a member of the church and one of the leaders of the African congregation members, she told us that there was a room in the church that was used for visiting ministers, and that it was free until November.  We were welcome to move in there and have use of the church kitchen and shower as well as a storage closet for our things!  We moved into the church that afternoon and acquired our largest living room ever (the sanctuary - also equipped with our own personal cafe!)

Our cozy bedroom (schlafzimmer) with a futon!

Our wardrobe (shrank) and way cool mirror!

Notice the classy decor: Van Gough, and Patel!

Our largest kitchen EVER!

Yes, that is a separate fridge and freezer!

My brother and Sister-in-law would be pleased - there are enough coffee pots to make three different gourmet flavors at once!

Oh the choices...

The shower closet (yes I do mean closet.)  The water is nice and hot, but it somehow manages to spray in your eyes no matter which way the nozzle is facing...hmm...

Our very own cafe!  Points to whomever translates the phrase on the wall first!

Our living room!!!

We slept in our big big house (I felt like I was in a song by my brother's favorite band from the 90s) on Sunday night.  Monday, I was to meet our friend Beti (from Kenya, who had just married a German man, Rene, about two weeks before that.)  Beti had offered to go with me to get a work permit because the officials wouldn't likely be able to speak English.

Back step a few - while we were living with Afsaneh, we had looked at numerous apts (Wohnungs,) one of which was Rene's.   Because he no longer needed his flat as he and Beti were now married, he was looking for someone to take over the lease.

Back on track.  Beti said that she had heard that we had slept in the church the previous night, and she was sad that we had had to do that.  I assured her that it was no problem and was in fact a blessing as we now had somewhere to stay that was our own and we were certain that we were not disturbing anyone.  She said that nonetheless, she had spoken with Rene that morning and asked what he thought of us moving into his flat in Glinde (a quiet little area closer to town than Rhalstedt.)  He had said that he thought that was a great idea, and that we were welcome to move in that day and stay FOR FREE during the three months that he still had the flat.  When the three months were up, we were welcome to renew the lease, or to find another apt - no obligation! Isn't God good?!!!

Our Bus Stop!

One of the several busses that we can take from the train station the ten stops it takes to get home (to Glinde Markt.)

Our building!!!

The entrance to our apt address (there are about 24 apts at this particular address - several per floor - and there are multiple addresses per building.)

Here's our flat!

This is a view of the living room from the kitchen/dining area - notice the cute little patio outside!

The entertainment center - since Rene still has the flat leased, he still has his TV and cable as well as his VCR/DVD player hooked up - great fun, and good for working on German lessons as well!

The kitchen - not as big as the last one, but great, all the same!

The bar/food preparation area.

The bed - notice how it has doubled in size since Afsaneh's - and we're not complaining! ;)

So, we now live in Glinde, in a beautiful one room flat (einzimmer wohnung) with a several grocery markets near by, our bank, Hamberger Sparkasse (Haspa,) around the corner, and the bus stop on the same block!

This grocery store is in the same building as our flat!

Penny Markt is bigger than Lidl, and offers better prices (they are also open later - 10PM!!!)  Notice than neither (and in fact, no) grocery store is open on Sunday.

Our bank!

Yes, this is a Butcher - it is called a Fleischerei - I thought all of our fellow vegans (and those who like to laugh at us) would get a kick out of the similar sound to flesh-erie - ewww!
A beautiful building overlooking the park behind our flat (not sure exactly what this building is - a huge house?...)
Our ducks - look, we have pets (we don't even have to feed or water these!)
Sidonie in front of our little river (behind our flat in the park.)
Cute little walking area - notice the trees: beautiful!
I thought Dad would get a kick out of this: a "Smart" (or "Dumb" as we have termed them) car parked head on in a parallel parking spot - and NOT in the road!!!
We thought Mom would enjoy the view!  Fall is here!

Since we've been living here in Glinde, another wonderful thing has happened: I got a job!!!  I am an ESL teacher with the English Language Institute.  I teach adults who wish to speak better English than they learn in the public school (or who need additional vocabulary for work, or who want to brush up on their dormant language skills.)  I am also auditioning as projects arise, and I've submitted my headshot and resume to a TV/Film casting agency.

So, that's the update as of now.  I think I'll head out now - I'm going to get a jahrekarte for the public transportation (if you have a year pass, each month is only about 40 Euro, but if you pay each day, it costs 5.10 Euro a day - about  $7.60 per day!)

Love and hugs to all my family and friends!

Ciao!