Friday, May 15, 2009
I didn't intend to write a blog tonight because it was my first day of work and I even tho' I am energized, I expected my mind to be too full of facts that it would interfere with creativity. However, I remind myself that this is a blog of information sharing and not necessarily one of journalistic publication (or correct spelling) and I will proceed as such.
Lt.Col.Snyder and I have immediately connected in both a professional and personal way. Conversation is easy, real, informative and not defensive. It is strange to me on many levels that I feel relaxed and sense no tension or competitiveness in a work place after feeling only the negatives for over 5 years. And, this is the MILITARY for crying out loud. Also strange for me is the comfort and joy I felt when walking across base. This is the most beautiful environment, verdant, beautifully manicured, quiet, friendly, organized and most like an elite collage campus. My office is very large and I share with no one because they respect that I will be dealing with distraught families and will need not only privacy for the client, but a place to recharge my own emotional batteries. Imagine.
Jennifer, I only have to include her title when in public places, is 45 and has an artist husband who stays at home with a 15 y/o son and 17 y/o daughter. She will retire in 2 years and I am already sorry that she will leave. She is lively, petite, has a wonderful sense of humor, and balances being in charge with a very caring nature. Today was mostly walking to building to building, completing forms that had been previously filled out, taking pictures, getting yet another security badge, trying to set up a post box for me. I have my choice of 2 large gyms which she suggested I use at lunch hour so as not to prolong my day (AGAIN, IMAGINE such a concept!) but we didn't have time to tour them.
Tomorrow morning she will pick me up at 9am and drive me around to look at apts/houses. I suggested that we spend the time looking at villages rather than actual apartments so I can get a feel for where I want to live. I keep thinking of Landstuhl and met a woman who lives there and takes the bus in every morning, but I'm also thinking of KaiserSlautern (a colleague lives there in city square and would consider nothing else.) KaiserSlautern is around 100,000 and Landstuhl is about half the population. The first is 30 minutes away and the latter 10-15. The largest train hub is in Landstuhl and the "ice train" is 2h 28 m to the center of Paris. There is a huge beer/circus/fair in KaiserSlautern this weekend (7 days to be exact) and I have the telephne number of the woman who lives there with her 16 y/o daughter and am committed to finding the train station in Ramstein, navigating the system and spending the day with her on sunday,
Tomorrow evening I have been invited to a going away party at "Schnapps Resturant" for a person I have not met but will gladly go. I am being picked up at Hotel Europa from another someone I don't know. When i inquired as to the appropriate dress I was told " I will be wearing what you wore when you got off the plane. jeans." I hope hers are clean!
This was my first workday in Ramstein, Germany and I eagerly await more.
Lt.Col.Snyder and I have immediately connected in both a professional and personal way. Conversation is easy, real, informative and not defensive. It is strange to me on many levels that I feel relaxed and sense no tension or competitiveness in a work place after feeling only the negatives for over 5 years. And, this is the MILITARY for crying out loud. Also strange for me is the comfort and joy I felt when walking across base. This is the most beautiful environment, verdant, beautifully manicured, quiet, friendly, organized and most like an elite collage campus. My office is very large and I share with no one because they respect that I will be dealing with distraught families and will need not only privacy for the client, but a place to recharge my own emotional batteries. Imagine.
Jennifer, I only have to include her title when in public places, is 45 and has an artist husband who stays at home with a 15 y/o son and 17 y/o daughter. She will retire in 2 years and I am already sorry that she will leave. She is lively, petite, has a wonderful sense of humor, and balances being in charge with a very caring nature. Today was mostly walking to building to building, completing forms that had been previously filled out, taking pictures, getting yet another security badge, trying to set up a post box for me. I have my choice of 2 large gyms which she suggested I use at lunch hour so as not to prolong my day (AGAIN, IMAGINE such a concept!) but we didn't have time to tour them.
Tomorrow morning she will pick me up at 9am and drive me around to look at apts/houses. I suggested that we spend the time looking at villages rather than actual apartments so I can get a feel for where I want to live. I keep thinking of Landstuhl and met a woman who lives there and takes the bus in every morning, but I'm also thinking of KaiserSlautern (a colleague lives there in city square and would consider nothing else.) KaiserSlautern is around 100,000 and Landstuhl is about half the population. The first is 30 minutes away and the latter 10-15. The largest train hub is in Landstuhl and the "ice train" is 2h 28 m to the center of Paris. There is a huge beer/circus/fair in KaiserSlautern this weekend (7 days to be exact) and I have the telephne number of the woman who lives there with her 16 y/o daughter and am committed to finding the train station in Ramstein, navigating the system and spending the day with her on sunday,
Tomorrow evening I have been invited to a going away party at "Schnapps Resturant" for a person I have not met but will gladly go. I am being picked up at Hotel Europa from another someone I don't know. When i inquired as to the appropriate dress I was told " I will be wearing what you wore when you got off the plane. jeans." I hope hers are clean!
This was my first workday in Ramstein, Germany and I eagerly await more.
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2 comments:
It sounds so civilized and the people sound so embracing. This is going to be good. I love that they are so inclusive. Check out one of my favorite blogs, Paris Breakfasts, to see how she documents her trips to Paris with photographs. So charming -- you can get the link from my blog. This isn't to pressure you, just ideas -- understand?
People are civilized here. Not that they aren't elsewhere, but there is an inclusiveness that I have found lacking elsewhere. Maybe it's because no one is "from" here. No high school friends in the office here! I'll check out the Paris blog. I don't really know how to proceed with the writing of this thing yet. It seems more like a personal journal...feelings, etc. and maybe it should be more of a travelogue. I keep forgetting my camera but tonight I have it charging and will take it out with me tomorrow. I wish I had had it tonight when I went to dinner at the distillary!!! Another blog coming. I sure miss you, Connie.
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