August 21st -August 24th

August 21st - August 24th

We accomplished a number of things this week.  We now have access to the house.  Our things will arrive on August 28th so we are still in the hotel for the moment.  However, there does seem to be light at the end of the tunnel.  Yesterday, we were able to have the cable man in to set up the cable and the telephone.  Today, our TV was delivered as well as the gas grill I purchased this week.  Of course, none of these delivery men/cable man spoke English.  We used a fair amount of sign language and pointing.  It seems to have worked.

In addition to the numerous deliveries, I got a lesson on the garbage/recycling from the Relocation Agent.  Let me just say, garbage is no easy task.  I have two handouts -- one with an explanation in words and the other in pictures -- as well as a schedule that lists the pick up days for the various colored bins.  Each colored bin is picked up on different days of the week.  There is a blue bin, a black bin and a yellow bin (yellow bags that you can get from your grocer for free if you have no yellow bin).  The blue bin is for paper, cardboard etc. and it is picked up once a month.  The yellow bin/bags are for tin cans and plastic bottles that you would not otherwise return to the grocery store (to get your deposit back) and it is picked up twice a month.  The black bin is for any other garbage that you could not recycle and that bin is picked up once a week (for us on Mondays -- our trash day in Connecticut as well).  In addition to the bins that you put out, there are recycle boxes for white glass and brown glass (there may even be one for green glass) located around Oberursel.  It is your responsibility to deposit the glass in the correct recycle box.

In addition to the trash, I got a lesson on the dishwasher.  The dishwashers in Europe have a built-in water softening system.  In order to prevent the dishwasher from clogging, you must add dishwashing salt (there is a compartment at the bottom of the machine).  There is a light on the front panel that tells you when more salt is needed.  I have to say that I had never heard of dishwashing salt.

Since I had the opportunity, I asked the Relocation Agent why there are no screens on the windows (this is true in France as well as Germany).  She told me that there is no need for screens as there are very few mosquitoes in this area.  She said you only have to worry about an occasional fly.  I have to say that since we have been in Germany none of us have gotten a mosquito bite.  However, we have had our share of company in the hotel room -- numerous flies, moths (one even slept on my toothbrush handle overnight) and beetles.  

We have been picking up some German words:

-- Rechnung (check or bill)
-- Rosinenbrötchen (roll with raisins) -- I can even say this word now!
--Eis Würfel -- (ice cube) -- this is our favorite

You can buy bags of Eis Würfel in the grocery stores and the gas stations.  The bags are 1/3rd of the size and cost 2,99 Euro.