Settling in my new found town.

Above, the place where I will churning out research journals like nobody's business.

Below, the place where Terry currently has been sleeping.
Not very cozy, but the price is right.

So after a week of searching, I think I might have finally found an apartment. Its not big by any means, as it is a one room apartment that measures about 20 x 20 feet square with a small kitchen and bathroom. But after living in my the coop house with centipedes, dripping pipes, and crazed medical students, this will be a something to look forward to. Half the apartments I looked at didnt have a fridge or oven, as you are expected to buy those on your own. So getting the place is only half the battle as furnishing it will be the next time consuming chore. I have to seek out the second hand stores that sell used furniture. I can move into the apartment on March 1st, which leaves me two weeks to find another place to sleep.

So last night I was invited to play texas holdem with the students from our lab. Things were going fine until the Ouzo bottle came out. Never heard of Ouzo? It is a liquor made in Greece and I thought it was quite good and lost count at how many shots were done. The following website gives some interesting info on ouzo:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ouzo

So after the poker game we then went out to a russian bar and sampled the high quality vodka. Terry did what inebriated Terry's do, which was basically make a big fool of himself, but a good time was had by all nevertheless. I thought for sure I might have made a big mistake by doing that when I woke up this morning but everyone was goodhearted and the initiation into the Kissel lab was done with quite the success. So much so that two of the graduate students offered me places to stay this morning until I can move into my apartment. I was touched. One of the offers basically gives me a place to myself, because the graduate student basically lives with his girlfriend and does not live in his apartment. So, I now have to a place to sleep with an actual bed. This is good, as sleeping on the lab cot can be a little awkward, especially when someone comes in the lab early and I have accidently slept in.

I also signed up for german lessons at the Volkshochschile--literally, the people's high school. It is the equivalent of community education in the states. My german class starts March 5th. I took the intensive course and so I have it Monday through Friday from 2-5:30. There are six levels of these courses and I was able to test into the second level. Mainly from what I remembered in high school and me trying to be a quick study while over here. If you complete the sixth level, you get a German Language Diploma, which looks good on the resume.

So this weekend I search out the second hand stores, study alot on my new research project, and finally take a shower. The washcloth and sink cleanup is getting old but has kept me relatively clean. If anything exciting happens, you will be the first to know.

Your world traveling, ouzo drinking, lovable and huggable, post-doctorate working man.