Life in Germany is quite different from life in Spain and at times during this adjustment I have found myself homesick for both my homes in Philadelphia and Barcelona. Yes, there is still the café lifestyle, the historic center of the city, the regional beers, the governmental red tape, and the comparably fantastic public transportation system. However, there are many areas where Germany, in particular Nuremberg, that differ from my life in Barcelona. First and foremost, the temperature. Less than a week ago it was 9 degrees C. That’s 48 degrees F. In August. I honestly don’t know how I’m going to make it through October, much less the winter here. Already I know to ask Mom and Dad to bring some warmer clothes when they come in September for Oktoberfest. I’m going to need as many layers as I can find. I thought I’d be OK until at least my October trip home, but I’m sorely mistaken…. I really am missing the Barcelona weather right now. The shorts, the dresses, the bathing suits…. Instead I’m in pants, sweaters and late fall jackets. Not one of the better sides of Germany. This confirms once again that I am a warm weather girl. In addition to the cold temperatures, it rains almost every day. I feel like I’m in Singapore once again, only it’s 9 degrees C instead of 29 degrees C.
Luckily though, the weather has still been nice enough 50% of the time that I can go for a run outside. Granted I’m already in the running gear I wore during the winter in Barcelona, but hey, I’m still outside…until I find a suitable gym. My new trail is about as long as my BCN run, but instead of running through city streets, I am running along side castle walls and into a quaint park in a neighborhood just outside the old city (the Aldstadt) called Johannis. There is a great running trail that I see a lot of people on daily… it’s nice to be in a town where people are so active and taking part in activities outside. But it’s also an opportunity to scout out the competition. Nuremberg is truly an adidas-Puma town (as the 2 companies are literally across the street from each other in Herzogenaurach. Adidas was started by 2 brothers, but then they had an argument, one left and started up Puma and the rivalry exists today between employees). Not only should you wear adidas gear at the office (NEVER EVER wear anything from Nike or Puma, you will get an email from Management; the other competitors like North Face, Under Armour are not encouraged, but accepted. If you are working out—adidas gear all the way. I actually felt even more like an outsider my first week because I wasn’t wearing anything addias. Made the shopping trip to the outlet stores necessary, but a lot of fun…. I was like a kid in a candy store and can’t wait for the next Sample Sale to go really crazy!) but when working out in Nuremberg, it’s necessary to wear your colors while you work out as well. I have been given the “up-down” by numerous people to find out what “team” I am on. I now make sure I have at least one thing on from adidas and hide the logos of my other gear as much as possible.
So anyway, a bit more background….I moved here on August 11th after stopping by Barcelona to pick up my bags… all 5 of them. Plus a carry on and a camera bag…. Dad will never let me forget that it cost more to bring my things here than me. After arriving in Munich, we drove to Nuremberg (about 1.5-2 hours give or take). It’s a good thing Dad upgraded the car to a larger one. Over the course of the next 3 days before Dad left on Sunday, we took care of some necessary things to set up life here. One thing was settling on the apartment and filling it with odds and ends that weren’t part of the “furnished” apt. All in all, it wasn’t as bad as I thought. The only major thing we bought was a microwave. Everything else was smaller… more suited to a temporary life here in Nuremberg. Things I won’t care to leave behind if I leave after 6 months. We also took care of some government paperwork to register myself and my apartment, then a bank account, then apply for my visa and get my work permit. There was enough of a run around to get this all accomplished that even Spain was looking efficient. To open a bank account, I had to request an appointment; then when we returned the following day, we couldn’t open it up because I didn’t have my work permit in my passport. But I couldn’t get my permit because my paperwork was sent to the wrong town. My permit was sent to Erlangen, 2 towns over, and when Dad and I went to pick it up, they told us that we couldn’t because I lived in Nuremberg. They would send the paperwork to Nuremberg, but that it would take a couple of days. We show up to the Town Hall in Nuremberg to register and here we wait an hour after attempting to fill out a form all in German. Then we head off to the bank and go through that whole debacle. I end up getting my work permit and visa the following week after I sit with HR for 1.5 hours as they help me fill out the form needed for my permit. Then I had to go back to the town hall for the 3rd time for a 7:30am appt with the person in charge of permits to receive the necessary documents to only find out that because my passport expires during my internship, I can only have a permit good for the length of my passport and I will have to go through the process again to get a permit for the remainder of my internship. ARGH!!!! Oh and I shouldn’t smile for my next ID photo.
Outside of all the mind-numbing, frustrating paperwork, Dad and I had a nice time wandering around Nuremberg and trying an assortment of restaurants. While he never did get his schnitzel, we did try some good German restaurants and ended his trip at an Italian restaurant overlooking the Haupmarkt. Our first night we spoke with a man who was on vacation from the US Army who was at the base close to Nuremberg. Very chatty guy, but it was a nice night to be sitting outside so the conversation was entertaining. During the days we would walk around town (when not shopping for things or taking care of paperwork) and Dad had fun taking pictures with his iPhone.
Around Nuremberg
Hauptmarkt-- Location of the Christmas Market
Bar Barcelona... Oh I miss you Barcelona
Wandering around Nuremberg on a Sunday... Nice and Empty
Jakobsplatz
Lorenzplatz
Street Performers in Lorenzplatz
Nuremberg's Attempt at the Beach...
Hauptmarkt at Night
Me and Dad at the Castle
View from the Castle
Dad in Action
After Dad left on Sunday, I checked out of the hotel and crossed town to my new apartment to finally unpack my bags from Barcelona.
My Neighborhood
My Apartment
After finding some more surprises in my apartment, like there was a TV & DVD player, a dishwasher and the washer & dryer were not coin operated as originally listed (Whoopee!) I headed out for a walk around my new neighborhood and town. I had my 3rd Nuremberger Sandwich (3 mini sausages on a roll, a specialty for this area—and I am slowly checking off places that sell them “to go” to find my favorite place) and kept walking. Being a Sunday only food places are open…that and the train station (for emergency shopping purposes only) so there wasn’t too much to do. I headed back to my place and watched a movie before calling it a night. I knew my first day was going to be quite an adventure. Even though they said not to come in until 11, I knew it was going to take 1.5 hours by public transport to get there, so I would need to get moving relatively early. Hopefully I would not have to take public transport too many times as those who don’t have cars are usually able to join a carpool and chip in on gas when asked. While I do miss having a car (a lot right now!) it doesn’t make sense if I end up being here for only 6 months; plus I don’t know how to drive manual; plus I would have to drive in snow eventually. UGH. So while inconvenient not having a car, it is a way to meet people and everyone has been surprisingly generous in providing lifts.
Luckily, my first day was even better than I could imagine. I was met by Milka, the girl who would be training me before she left for her new post as Category Manager of Neo in Bratislava. She was an amazing teacher and helper and I think a true representative of adidas. She showed me the ropes and answered all of my crazy questions over the course of 1.5 weeks. Then my boss, John came back from Paternity Leave (German law requires new fathers to take 6 weeks of vacation in addition to normal 4-5 weeks vacation, another reason to love working in Europe—heck I get 2 weeks vacation on an Intern’s 6-month contract… I only had 5 days during my first year at M!) and showed me more of the company and my duties. It has been an intense couple of weeks, trying to learn names, faces, jobs, positions, hierarchies, tasks/duties, and then all of the little details that come with experience. My position focuses more on the macro level of the Key Account relationship between adidas and Foot Locker Europe, but I’ve also been given some of the Brand Marketing projects (different area of marketing) like 2 Window campaigns so I understand other aspects of the relationship. It’s been fun walking by the Foot Locker store here in Nuremberg and seeing the campaigns my teams has been talking about.
It’s crazy to think we’re already discussing 2012 plans and it’s August 2010. After being in school for 2 years, I forgot the need for planning in the “long term”. So the past 3 weeks have been good and I’m looking forward to the upcoming months. There seems to be a very good work-life balance at the company—from working hours, to project work, to athletic endeavors either on a team or during lunch—people seem genuinely happy and motivated to be a part of the adidas family. It makes it really exciting to be a part of. Everyone has been so nice on my team at ADP (adidas campus is divided into 2 places—ADP and WOS. WOS is larger, more social while ADP is smaller and in downtown Herzogenaurach and they are connected by a shuttle service that runs every 15 minutes. Oh and the factory outlet is right in between where I get 30-44% off of merchandise as an employee). The food has been good, but I have also brought my lunch a couple of times each week, much to the surprise of my coworkers. They’re not used to the American-style of small sandwich lunch. The food at ADP is good, but it is heavy German food at times (that and a lot of pasta) and I can’t keep eating like that if I want to be able to fit into my clothes in the long run. Luckily there is also a fantastic coffee machine…. My new best friend.
Food has been an interesting adventure here in Germany—of course there are the beers and bratwursts that Germany is known for, but is it looking for other types of food that has been interesting. I’ve been surprised at the number of Asian restaurants (I’ve already had sushi once and Thai twice) and the number of pizza places around town.
Camille, Me, Yingjia, Milka and Sonia at Sushi for Milka's Goodbye
There is also the debate on who has the better pretzel—Philadelphia or Bavaria? Also, there are different levels of still water and water with gas. The water with hard bubbles is actually quite harsh but I think I finally figured out which bottle to buy. Beyond eating out, it has been a feat at times trying to figure out what I am buying at the grocery store. As I remember, the Spanish were far better about using pictures on their labels… the Germans need to work on that a bit more. But one benefit is that there is more baking mixes available and more access to American condiments. I have 7 grocery stores in the vicinity of my apartment, the furthest one being across town just outside the city walls. And they all vary in terms of quality of product and experience. As Dad noted while he was here, one reminded him of a tired ACME and another, a brand new Wegmen’s. There is definitely a range of options and I have finally figured out which are the ones to go to for specific goods and for general shopping. Unfortunately, because none are very close, if I have to do a major shopping trip, I have to drag along my shopping cart. It’s a lovely mess of blue and green that shudders every time I drag it across the cobblestones.
And oh the cobblestones… they make my neighborhood particularly quaint, but are murder for me when I want to wear heels. I was already a klutz on flat road, so you can only imagine how I am now with cobblestones all over the place...
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