Today's agenda:

1. Finish professional CV (most important!)
2. Find out how to get to private German language coarse (starts tomorrow, in-person).
3. Trip to appartment from hotel with backpack (slowly bringing stuff over. I overencombered myself)
4. Eat out! (food! Get ur mind out of the gutter! Lol)

Im delaying being a tourist. I found out about the Köln-karte, a tourist 1-2 day pass that lets you do stuff. I dont nessisarily WANT to delay being a tourist... But shit has to get done. Ya know? Its different when I'm trying to establish a foothold.

Plus it'll be good to do it in the week. Im in Köln M-Th for classes at 16:00-18:00. Meaning I could spend the best portion of the day outside

Know what didnt make the cut? What i had to nix? My fucking drawing tablet! It was an old Galaxy Book (wacam digitizer). But I really wanna draw! Thats how I want to visit Germany. Go to random place. Sketch. People watch. Sketch. Sure... Paper... But have you USED a digital canvas? Lol. Maybe Ill buy a used ipad.

I now have a German telefonnummer! Exciting!

That travel sim I bought did help bridge the gap, but the service was horrendous and relied on roaming. I was also under the impression it could dial out, which it could not. I already needed to call a German number.

The SIM salesperson was also an expat (not american) and I had the nicest conversation! He wanted tips with learning programming*, and I asked how long to learn German and he was super inspiring! Saying that those who must learn—like for work—learn much more and faster! He encouraged me to keep with it and in 3 months I should be fine .

I will try to keep my numver when I inevitably switch. I chose this from convenience. Being that he didnt even require me an address, only an ID to activate.

Aside: no, I didnt think D-Netz was a Deez Nuts reference... Ofc not xD. You're silly for even thinking that haha

(*hes starting in Python! Which I think is the MOST fun, even if someone has to unlearn bad habits. I think its a valuable litmus test for those to see if programming is for them)

I got my keys! Sweaty, hot, and went through an ordeal getting the keys from skeevy old man neighbor-building landlord who was totally hitting on me. Ugh. Sometimes it sucks being cute.

Do i pass or something?! Or does he not care? XD

I meet my landlord on Monday for anmeldung registration paper, mailbox name, contract (that I asked for) and the like. Ive been told having the keys bestows some tennant-rights/protections so we good.

Appartment rental for 3-months though! Lets gooo

EDIT: Reposted with keys erased

I got my keys! Sweaty, hot, and went through an ordeal getting the keys from skeevy old man neighbor-building landlord who was totally hitting on me. Ugh. Sometimes it sucks being cute.

Do i pass or something?! Or does he not care? XD

I meet my landlord on Monday for anmeldung registration paper, mailbox name, contract (that I asked for) and the like. Ive been told having the keys bestows some tennant-rights/protections so we good.

Appartment rental for 3-months though! Lets gooo

@Nyx
I started my career in a great med school in the American South. When I moved out of the USA in 2015, I worried I would be moving away from the cutting-edge data that had fueled my #bioinformatics career up to that point. Having lived in South Africa, France, and now the Netherlands since that time, I am happy to say that great science and challenging research problems can be found everywhere!
#Expat