The Bureaucratic Run Around

Today has been a bit of a crazy run-around day.  Yesterday I successfully opened a bank account here, although I won't actually get my bank card for a week to 10 days.  The next thing on my list of stuff to do yesterday was to get a cell phone, and I was told that once I had the bank account number (with or without bank card) I could get the phone.  Fast forward to the cell phone store...no bank card...no cell phone.  So a pre-paid phone that does nothing but call and text will have to do for the next week.

This morning we got up and went to the district where I will be living, and I took all my forms to the scary looking government building (picture abandoned elementary school from the 40s or something...blank walls except an old map and a bunch of signs in German with things in red and underlined with lots of exclamation points, no receptionist or anything, just a machine that spits out numbers, and a big scary door that just says "Zimmer 5").  I took a number as instructed and waited until my number flashed up on the screen and opened the big scary door.  Inside there were two guys sitting behind desks, and I explained what I needed.  Of course he wasn't interested in the giant stack of papers I had, he just wanted this one little form with my landlord's signature on it, and a copy of my passport.  I won't have that signature until tomorrow, so I'll be back to the creepy abandoned room.

We came back to the hotel so I'd have internet access, and I emailed around to find more specific information on who I can give this giant packet to so I can legally stay in the country...good information to have :) I think I've got it figured out now.  While I do have to go back to that room, I also have to go to another government office in another district tomorrow morning and get all the proper immigration things taken care of.

I think for the rest of the day we'll just play tourists, since most of the government offices have already closed.  Back to enjoying the pretty buildings and drinking amazing coffee.  I can totally handle that.

We're here!

Nothing like a little extra excitement before I left, I got a call from my bank fraud protection Sunday morning telling me that someone had cloned my debit card and attempted to use it in Florida.  Which means that my debit card has been frozen, and I don't have access to that account while they replace everything.  Quick way to make a customer service person confused...tell them that you're leaving the country that afternoon and won't be back in the country until at least this summer.  No ma'am, I can't go into a bank branch on Monday and get this straightened out...

Anyway. We successfully made it to the airport, I was a little freaked out because United wouldn't let me check in online since I don't have a return ticket booked.  Thankfully the woman at the counter at the airport said no problem, and I think the look of panic on my face when one bag was 2 pounds over freaked her out a bit (and she's apparently super nice), so she didn't charge me any overage fees...whew.

Our flights weren't bad at all, and they had awesome movie choices, so while I might have missed the Oscars, I did watch The Artist and The Descendants on the plane :)

We got into Vienna about 10:30am, but couldn't get into our hotel rooms until 2pm, so we dropped our bags off and set off exploring although we were all crazy tired.  After wandering a bit, we stopped and got some lunch which was so so tasty.

picture by Lexi...spinach dumplings with gorgonzola sauce and coffee

We did take a quick nap, and then got back up for dinner (different place, again amazing) and then took a walk down to the Rathaus to see the giant skating rink they have set up down there now which seems to just go on forever. 

Now we're off to the bank to set up my account and then get a cell phone and all that fun stuff!

Gang's All Here!

We're almost ready!  Granny and I drove down to Virginia on Thursday, and Lexi flew in last night, so we've been running around today getting last minute things done and packing everything.  Thankfully the three of them are all bringing larger than necessary suitcases and allowing me to jam all sorts of clothes and things into their bags so that I don't have to check more than two.  I'm not sure how i'll ever get everything back home, but I suppose I don't have to worry about that for quite a while.

Granny, Lexi and Mom are staying in Vienna until next Sunday, so we should have lots of time to get in some exploring and fun things while also getting everything "official" done that I need to do (residence permit, bank account, cell phone, etc)

The four of us were in Europe together a couple summers ago, including a short visit to Vienna, and we have lots and lots of fun together when we travel, so I'm so excited that we'll all be there together to begin these fun new memories!

See you in Wien!

Packing

Well I'm not actually in Vienna yet, but I thought I'd post something on here to test this out.  The last few weeks have been crazy insane, getting all my paperwork together and properly translated into German, researching bank accounts and cell phone providers, securing my housing, oh and working full time and trying to train my replacement :)

But the last week or so has been filled with wonderful opportunities arranged by great friends to properly close this chapter in NYC as I prepare for the adventures ahead in Austria.  We had a great time at Hi-Def last week, enjoying "Austrian Street Food" and listening to our kids answer trivia questions about Vienna...or at least attempt to.

This past weekend we had a great time enjoying some German food and drinks at the Beer Garden at the Standard Hotel downtown, followed by dinner at Ryan and Teresa's (aka my pied a terre while i've been living in Connecticut these past couple months)

Now i'm finally down to actually packing, and I do have a scary amount of things i'd like to bring.  I suppose this is what happens when you have to put into suitcases several seasons worth of clothes...this is making me thankful that I was able to drive to school in Nashville and never had to fly with everything.  I'm off now to go make sure I can tightly roll this giant pile of clothes into my suitcases.

I'll try to update this once more before I leave, and then more regularly once I'm actually over in Vienna.  It's of to Virginia tomorrow before flying out on Sunday!

Alison