Staying in Germany...Visa Related

I've been gathering so much information lately that I feel like its time to write it all down. What better place to put it than here ;) weeks have gone by it seems since I wrote and I've done a lot of research.
In doing all of this I've also learned from some of my German friends some things about dealing with German people.Its definitely a different bunch and adjusting to their thinking has been a challenge for me. I'm used to seeing Germans on holiday, so its completely different!!

I started the job hunting process officially, I made that decision when I was at the Bodensee in Lindau sitting there staring at the Alps thinking 'yeah, I'd LOVE to stay here'. So I put travel on hold and have put my nose to the grind stone so to speak.

At the registration office she said (I found a nice English speaking one) that I am supposed to find work and get a job offer as soon as I can. That way I can go back to the office with the letter of intent and they begin the process of securing my visa. So all this time I thought I was supposed to wait three months then they would say okay was a TOTAL misunderstanding. When you do this, get here, go straight to work looking for a job! So far it seems it could be any job. They have a thing here called a 400 Euro job. Means that's all you get paid, its part time and they give you all the money without withholding taxes etc. Which for me would be ideal assuming I had English tours set up already. I could do both. (Karensworld=karen's own reality~usually :)
I have a list of a few more questions to ask the people just to make sure I'm covered. I did ask her about working somewhere besides where I'm registered. For example I'm registered for the residence permit in Esslingen but I could get a job in Tuebingen as long as I go back to Esslingen with the job offer. All paperwork through the same place otherwise doesn't matter the region. 
My next question will be about working on a river boat, those are contracts for a period of time and I'd want to stay here after that.

Another thing I did was I walked into the Tourist Information office and asked about walking tours (this was in Tuebingen). She says "we offer a walking tour of the city every day but not in English" so I of course say, "well how about English tours"? She looks at me and says " there is alot to learn and the people we recommend take a training class". I said "well I can learn the information, that's not a problem" but she was already not too interested. At any rate what it told me was that I'd have to really prove I was worthy for them to recommend me and also that they may not recommend me at all because I'm not high enough caliber. Sheesh. The lady in Esslingen TI was alot more friendly about the whole thing but I'd still have to learn it and then 'sell' it to them. Which I could do with time and effort and will continue to work on those ideas but I'll have to get a job in order to stay and work on that.
I will be asking the registration lady about starting a business and that counting for my visa/residence permit requirement. I'll find out and get back to  you.

I'm sorry but that's funny

I've applied for many jobs and have sent inquiry emails to a lot of other people. Since the straightforward approach seems to be too much my friends thought it would be better to write and ask if they were hiring, would they be interested, here's my quick story etc. seems to be working, they do respond to that. Rolf seemed to think that since Germans (not all) see the problem first that I should present them with their problem (example-you don't have English tours) and then give them the solution. Dani doesn't see it quite like that. She says just be specific and honest about what you're interested in and they will respond.

Either way you need to be specific. I live with big generalizations all the time. If not this, than this. That doesn't work out, oh well, moving on. Its not quite that easy for some people here. And even my being that way stresses them out. Ha! Its not their problem ya know? :)

After all was said and done I had been working on fun and unique tours in Tuebingen (because that's where I was at the time, why not start there) and then my living arrangement changed there so I had to abandon my efforts for the time being . I had a great idea to get in touch with the people at the German American Institute (not that helpful a place other than for networking) and offer to help Germans practice English if they'd follow me around and help me practice my tour. Mutually beneficial.

So most of these notes are specific to the area I'm in. Stuttgart is a big place and I don't really care much for it at this point, not in a touring perspective anyways. Its not a bad town really. But the little villages on the outskirts are where there is a lack of English tours. I think even in Esslingen if they didn't have much demand my other idea is to offer tours so that local Germans can practice English also. I mean, why not? Make it a fun event every now and then and let the people come talk to an American.

So that about sums it up. I've got an interview coming up in Cologne on June 18th. I'm really excited about it. Otherwise I'm still sending out inquiry emails to everyone I can think of. Tomorrow I'll go visit the local hostels and see if anyone is hiring. I think I'm in the wrong town for that kind of busy summer action. Stuttgart isn't top of peoples lists much.

Friedrichshafen in Circles

I walked alot today. Turned out after all that hassle getting here yesterday the walk to the island is a total

piece of cake, I'm not paying for the bus again!
I went into town by way of the train bridge and saw a new part of the island this morning. Once I'd made it around to the harbor side of town I decided to sit down and have breakfast. Americanisch style.
People that serve breakfast have options. Small Medium Large. American, Bavarian, Mediterranean etc. its fun. When I ate breakfast with Sabine and Marcus in Limburg (a blog entry I've yet to make) we ate the
large breakfast. Scrambled eggs, bread, spreads, meat and cheese. Today I debated...the Bavarian breakfast consists of pretzel, weisswurst (sausage) and .5L beer. No joke. I knew I'd be sleeping in my chair after that so I went with the American Breakfast today. Eggs sunny side up, covered in a crisscross of bacon and hotdogs, a side of bread and some butter and jam. It was so good! Gotta say, I love bacon, so finally having some american style bacon really made my day.
After that massive meal I walked around a bit and realized that since its a holiday in Germany NONE of the shops were open. I mean, why make money on a day when thousands of additional visitors were in town? Call me crazy! So after only being able to window shop I sat down and thought about what to do next. I'd seen the island almost entirely. I'd paid money to see Bregenz Austria so I headed back to the train station and found I could go visit another little village by train for really cheap so off I went for 4.25 Euro to Friedrichshafen. Cute place. So busy there today! Its another town on the lake. Also closed for the holiday (restaurants are still open, don't get me wrong) so before I realized that attractions like castles were closed also i walked to the far end of the harbor to go see the Schloss there. Yep, gated up tight. Ugh. Nice walk along the lake though. Lots of crazy people in that town.
I circled back around to the staircase that you can climb up and have a view out from. It was really cool, kinda swayed in the breeze, which was a little weird feeling, but hey, could have been I was swaying from having climbed those stairs too, hehe.
I made another lap around the town trying to find the train station, I needed to get on the train at a different station than i got off of so it was a struggle. Especially as the tourist office was also closed. I mean, why help thousands of extra tourists get around  your city? Weird! I guess they deserve a holiday too? Not if it means wandering around an extra hour on my part it doesn't. ;)
By the time I got back to Lindau I had food on my mind again (don't worry this was HOURS later) so I found a cheap Thai place that made really good food fresh to order and was cheap too! Fun. Its kinda scary Asian restaurant style from the outside so people don't give it a chance but the meal was really good.

I bought a cheap beer at a snack shack and sat at the harbor and watched the people. That is a lot of fun, there are some crazy people wandering around Lindau!
Just as I walked back to the hostel (hell on earth) the thunder came and then the rain. I literally walked in just in time for it to start pouring rain! Phew!
Tomorrow I head back to Tubingen to have more of an official wander around the city according to their guide. Maybe beg for a job...I really want to stay in Germany!

Flashing at Lindau

Well, I am so far behind! Today is Wednesday May 8th. I took the train this morning to a place called Lindau, which is on the German side of the Lake Constance. Bodensee is what they all call it. Its a humungous lake!

I bought my ticket today and then noticed that the connection time was only 4 minutes. And as you all know I am TERRIBLE at trains/connections/trains...haha so as we approached the station I needed, I got ready to jump off. I noticed the track I wanted had no train on it so there was hope. (either that or disappointment because it could have left already) so I ran off my train, down the stairs, up the other side to the track I needed just in time for the next train to roll up. Phew! That was close.
I arrived at Lindau around 2 pm and because I knew my hostel wasn't on the island (its small but still) I chucked my (now much smaller) bag into a little locker and chose to wander around the old city a while. I'm so glad I did. The sun was out, it was a beautiful day!! I got a map with a suggested walking route on it and then I meandered as I do around the city. I had forgotten they have ferries going all over the lake so after I'd wandered for a while I decided I'd take my chances and hop on a ferry to Bregenz Austria. The weather is supposed to turn cloudy/rainy tomorrow so I thought better go now. You

Harbor at Lindau

could see the Alps in the distance!! So cool. It was a nice trip. I had a couple of hours to walk around Bregenz so I saw as much as I could in that time. I didn't have time for the funicular up the mountain unfortunately but that's okay. I walked over and saw the famous floating stage. They are doing the Magic Flute this year, which would be awesome but it doesn't start until July.
My real adventure today came when it was time to head to the hostel. I hadn't eaten by this point (it was 7 pm) because I knew the hostel reception closed at 9 pm and I was certain there was food near the hostel.
So in my hungry angry delirium state I walked out to the bus area without having even picked up my bag from the locker...haha oops! I went back for it and then hopped on the bus as they suggested in the directions for this place. I got off the bus and proceeded to wander aimlessly around in circles because the directions were pretty unclear (okay, they were exact but I went east instead of west)
I arrived at the hostel totally pissed off, tired and hungry, which is never good. I got checked into my room and went to have a look and forgot that it was a co-ed dorm room so I took off my shirt and was standing there in my bra when a poor young fella came in. Ha! I didn't even think about it! I'd been staying in female dorms mostly so I wasn't thinking. Anyways, he ran out and has still not returned. I really must have impressed him.
Okay so I'm now tired angry hungry and embarrassed, I go upstairs to take care of that situation when the guy tells me there isn't food nearby and that I'd need to go back onto the island for it. Seriously?! I bought a single ride bus ticket because I thought they had some special deal on tickets here.I paid 2 euro when I could have bought a 5 euro 24 hour ticket. I was so mad.
The only thing that saved that reception man from my fists of fury was that he sold beer (which is always like a meal here) so I had one of those and am now about to call it a night.
Tomorrow who knows. The weather seemed to hold today but I'll see what I wake up to. Maybe a bike ride around the lake or maybe I'll just sit and watch the mayhem at the harbor in Lindau.
This place is so beautiful. The lake is huge as I said, the Alps are right there. Now all I need to do is try some local cuisine and I'll really have it made!

Crazy for Cologne

Rub for good luck

I'm having such a good time I'm neglecting my blog duties. After such a stressful few weeks I finally hit my stride in Cologne. I LOVE this place. There is just enough crazy to keep you on your toes but not too much to discourage you from walking out the hostel door.
I arrived here Weds afternoon. I sat next to a man who was older but spoke really good English. He had lived in Dallas Texas of all places. He had plenty of suggestions for my visit to this area. It isn't hard to find things to do though really. I got checked into the hostel, showered and cleaned up and then headed out for a walk and some food. On the other side of the train station (which is huge!) I found the Dom (Cathedral) its huge! Really cool.
The train station here is so big, has everything you need. Food all types, clothes, accessories, souvenirs, Burger King and McDonalds, outside on the one side is a curry wurst stand if you're hungry for cheap street meat. Its great. I like to go there and just watch the insanity as people change platforms and figure out their next move, and do they go this way or that. Its so crazy.
I walked around the Dom at first but was followed by a guy who wanted to know all the details of my entire life, which made me really uncomfortable so I told him to get lost. Lets see, I didn't get far that evening

because I was tired and hungry and tired. So I went back to the hostel and went to bed.
Thursday though, Oh, I should mention I bought a city map at the train station and studied it...preparation!! Yeah!
I got up eventually and made my way out the door to see as many sights as I could manage. Eight hours roughly I saw a lot of stuff!! This place is great. I walked to the river and found every tour group in Cologne there starting their city tour...wow. I wandered along taking photos, circling the blocks trying to find things they recommend I see etc and had such a great time. That was bout 9/9:30am and nothing was open, no one

was around, I had the place to myself. I went back later and found it FULL of people!
I'm trying to think what else that day but it was full of amazing things and I took tons of photos of course. I paid to climb the steps up to the 'top' of the cathedral for the view. Awesome. 533 steps altogether. It wasn't so bad until coming down when all those tour groups (think Washington DC in May~nightmare) coming up the stair case built for barely one...it wasn't fun. But I did it and then I went back to my favorite part of town and had a few beers....oh another thing! I went to a place called Bier Esel, its supposed to famous for its mussels (according to my map) I get there and the waitress says "its finished". Well, what does that even mean?! She brings me a menu in English after that and it says mussels are in season September to February. Ugh. So I ordered "Kolsch fast food" which was bread, cheese, onion rings. I get a plate with a hard rye roll, cheese and actual slices of red onion (typical American thinking onion rings was fried onion rings, haha) so I graciously ate it and left. Fail.
Thursday night I bought some food at the grocery store for dinner and talked with some people in the hostel. One kid from Croatia had a ton to say about every place. He was really entertaining! Lots of advice.
This morning (Friday May 3) I got up wondering what to do as I'd done most of the things on my list. So I walked back to the Roman tower because I took a picture of something I thought was it Thursday and then realized it wasn't it so had to go back. I also visited the Eau de Cologne 4711 building. Cool place. Love the

fragrance.
I did finally give up and go back to the Rhine Garden (area at the river) my favorite place. Grassy area near the beer gardens. I had come prepared today and brought my shawl for sitting on the grass. I ended up taking a nap, it was awesome! I layed there and thought about nothing.
This afternoon I got stopped by a man who wanted to know where I was from and then take a photo of my shoes. I mean really? I was in flip flops which people think is just the weirdest thing! Why is that so weird. Today I wore, shorts flip flops strapless top. It was enough to put people over the edge. Like its cold here? Its not! Sheesh!
I finally went back to the hostel and changed tonight. Sheesh. I wanted to go back to Fruh (U with two dots) they have a cool cellar area. Turns out its really the place to be so there was a huge group of people waiting for tables. I had no idea! So I sat there all alone, had a few tiny beers (why do they only serve Kolsch in .2L glasses there? Seriously, lame. But the waiter was really nice and the atmosphere was worth it, I guess.

3 little marks are for keeping track...

Eventually the pressure to give up a mostly empty table to the waiting masses was too much! So on the way back to the hostel I pass through the train station (its enroute to everywhere from here) I bought a Fruh .5L size for way less than I'd bought my three little ones...but hey experience right?!
Tomorrow I pack up and head out to new places. Yeah.

North Friesland Gap

Just noticed there is a missing day in the blog lineup. I mentioned going to Flensburg with Niklas but then skipped ahead. By the way that looks like Fry's land, like the french fry but its "Freezeland".

We did go Flensburg, intent on doing a brewery tour of the Flensburg Pilsner but they require reservations. So we went to Hansen's brewery by the harbor and had a great time tasting the brew there, they literally brew it then it's poured out of the container directly, so fresh! I'll show you.

After that we headed to North Friesland. I'd name the villages but there were so many and I was pretty certain Niklas was driving in circles. Ha! We caught up with a bunch of his friends there and they had a party at someones house (someone not living with their parents...I totally get it) it was fun. I was the oldest one there of course but they all guessed I was 26 years old so they are my friends for life now hehe.
Saturday we got up and drove up to Tonder which is across the border in Denmark. Really cool town but everything closes early in the afternoons there so the town was deserted. We drove to a place called Dagebull (u has the two dots, but I don't have the button) and had fresh shrimp straight from the North Sea.

It was totally amazing, they serve them straight on a bread with some mayo! Really fishy tasting but not ocean fishy, it was hard to describe. Not quite as salty but definitely fishy. Yum!
After that we headed back to Kiel and then you see my post for the time after this...hell.

Tonder Denmark

Kill me in Kiel

Wow, morbid title, but appropriate. Having no internet is so difficult! And the internet I had was not strong enough to do blogging etc. Plus I was having a pretty miserable time so writing about my days was just depressing. Actually come to think of it there is NOTHING to report about Saturday afternoon, Sunday, Monday and Monday night. Niklas disappeared, leaving me to wander around Kiel which is a totally ugly and boring place. So really you didn't miss much.
I'm in Cologne now. I left Kiel a week early. Wasn't soon enough. But no need to go into it really, its all good now.

American aisle, with squeeze cheese

I did have a great day on Tuesday. I took the train (eventually...because I kept trying to buy tickets but the language would change to German mid way through, then the card machine wouldn't work, trains...aargh!!) So I missed the first 2 and then finally go onto a train headed for Flensburg. I had really liked it on Friday when Niklas had driven me through there so I went back. The train station isn't far from the harbor so I had a great walk around. What a cool town, I really like it there. Even more now. I would recommend going there, staying in a hostel/hotel and just enjoying it. There is plenty to see, good beer, Denmark is right down the road so you can check off another country on the 'master list'. Its great. I'll go back.
While I was there I went back to Hansen's Brewery for more good fresh beer and a meal of red cabbage (saurkraut) potatoes and roast with brown gravy. I also visited one of the rum distillers in Flensburg.

Apparently it was quite the place for that back in the days. They still old a Rum festival each year in the harbor. Nice. I went into St Nikolai church. Its an old one, really cool inside but there was this guy who was

standing still, staring not at the church/alter/pipe organ/stained glass...but at one of the pillars. Weird. Then he moved over a little bit and stared at the benches...I didn't want to be stared at next so I left. Haha

Like I said. Now I'm in Cologne. You'd be proud of me, got a ticket for the ICE, made a seat reservation and managed to get onto the right train car and into the right seat. Minor miracles...haha

Cologne is so cool, you walk towards the doors and BOOM there is the Cathedral staring you in the face. Awesome. I can't wait to go see it tomorrow.