This afternoon, after about 6 weeks of waiting, I picked up my work permit. I will start work tomorrow as the part-time community manager at an online community for independent and online authors in the US. The company is based in Munich with an established online community in Germany and a fledgling one in the US.
I'll be sure to keep everyone updated as to funny German work habits and interesting stories.
For now, I do have one short German idiosyncracy to share: crazy hair colors. I saw an older lady walking down the street the other day with what looked like a wig.
"Must be a wig," I remember thinking because it was a color that naturally could not live on anyone's head! It's hard to explain it exactly, but it was between lavender and fuschia. But really, I think I've seen just about every hair color under the sun--blue streaks, florescent purple, fire-engine red, neon green. To add to your mental picture, the hair's usually teased up and dry due to the over-dyeing of it.
My hypothesis is that it's a way to exert their devil-may-care attitude in a country where people generally do not stand out that much. Over all, I really enjoy seeing what hair colors I'll come upon that day. It's sort of like a safari in the city.
Showing posts with label work permit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label work permit. Show all posts
November 24, 2009
October 19, 2009
Starting the Week
Greg left this morning to take his 7th grade mentor group on an Outward Bound trip for the week so I'm fending for myself until Friday. I don't envy him though because he'll be out in the Alps and it's gotten a bit chilly.
As a start to my week, I went in with my work permit application. The company who is hiring me for the part-time mini-job of manager for a U.S. online community had to fill out the application. The hardest part for them is to persuade the German government to give an American a work permit rather than a German. Due to high unemployment, this can be difficult, and often work permits are denied because of it. I think because the job requires a native English speaker I have a stronger application though. But we'll see in a couple of weeks.
I thought it would take me all day in the Auslaenderbehoerde office, but it only took an hour and half. Most of that time I was getting lost in the corridors (the signs were not helpful) or waiting for my turn. I feel bad for the people that work there because it was such a drab office and there were so many foreigners like me, messing everything up or getting confused a lot. Maybe I should lead expat volunteers in painting that office or something.
On a good note, my grandma, Safta Tzipi, is coming for a visit tomorrow. I'm going to stay with her and my aunt Na'ama for a few days. I'm not sure what we'll do yet, but a daytrip might be in the works. She'll be here for a couple weeks so Greg'll have time to see her when he gets back, too.
And then next week we're in Istanbul for 4.5 days!!
As a start to my week, I went in with my work permit application. The company who is hiring me for the part-time mini-job of manager for a U.S. online community had to fill out the application. The hardest part for them is to persuade the German government to give an American a work permit rather than a German. Due to high unemployment, this can be difficult, and often work permits are denied because of it. I think because the job requires a native English speaker I have a stronger application though. But we'll see in a couple of weeks.
I thought it would take me all day in the Auslaenderbehoerde office, but it only took an hour and half. Most of that time I was getting lost in the corridors (the signs were not helpful) or waiting for my turn. I feel bad for the people that work there because it was such a drab office and there were so many foreigners like me, messing everything up or getting confused a lot. Maybe I should lead expat volunteers in painting that office or something.
On a good note, my grandma, Safta Tzipi, is coming for a visit tomorrow. I'm going to stay with her and my aunt Na'ama for a few days. I'm not sure what we'll do yet, but a daytrip might be in the works. She'll be here for a couple weeks so Greg'll have time to see her when he gets back, too.
And then next week we're in Istanbul for 4.5 days!!
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