8 weeks in Germany

Please forgive the structure of this blog. These are just random thoughts.

After waiting more than 8 weeks, we finally have internet and furniture.

The internet has been just one example of how things run at a much slower pace here.  If you buy something that needs to be delivered, it will take a minimum of 8 weeks for it to be delivered. We bought a bed on August 6th, and we may actually get it sometime next week. Even if we get the bed, we still need to find somewhere to buy flat sheets. We have discovered that they do not sell flat sheets in Germany. You can buy a fitted sheet and a duvet cover but they do not use any additional flat sheets on the beds.

You can get quick service at any restaurant, but it will take forever to get the check. Sometimes it is nice to not feel like you are being rushed out but there are times that you better ask for the check about 20 minutes before you want it or you might not make it to where you need to be.

These are just minor issues.  We are having a good time. It is completely different. Going to the market to pick up basics is always an issue the first time you are looking for it. I am slowly learning all of the German words for food products as well as other things.

I have completed the first four weeks of the German courses. If you want to try something very difficult, trying learning a new language at the age of 45. The structure is made even more difficult by the fact that every item has completely variations.
To give a small example:
English:                                                    German:
I speak                                                      Ich spreche
You speak                                                 Du sprechst
He,She, It speaks                                       Er,Sie, Es sprecht
We speak                                                  Wir sprechen
They speak                                                Ihr sprecht
You(formal) speak                                      Sie sprechen

You have to change the verb depending on you is performing the action.

Then the second part which is completely different from English is the fact that all nouns are either masculine, feminine or neutral. And depending on whether it is masc., fem. or neutral, you have a completely different pronoun (a or the).
The class has allowed me to be able to read very basic German and to properly figure out how to pronounce most words. But the bottom line at this point is that I do not have to pay attention to people on the streets having random conversations because I still don't have a clue as to what they are saying. It is okay though. We have learned to speak restaurant German. We are not even coming close to going hungry.

We and the cats are settling in nicely. Every day is not great but we are still doing ok. We have plans for the break in a week and we will be able to see Italy for the first time. We are both looking forward to spending a few days in Italy to celebrate our 8th anniversary. We will make sure that we post pictures and share the experience.