Today I woke up and went to relieve myself, as most people do. What most people don't do when they do this, is have a background track playing of 'plink! plink! plink!'. I looked around and saw that the mat under the bathroom sink was a bit wet, but I didn't see where the dripping was coming from. Also, I was mostly asleep.
I had breakfast and called back to a job agency that was taking care of an ad I'd replied to. They'd called yesterday and I had been 'working' too hard to notice my phone ringing. I was pretty sure I was going to get a thanks-but-no-thanks like, but wonder upon wonder, they wanted an interview. With me. Tomorrow! I'm so excited! I have no idea what I'm going to wear, or what I have to say and they're probably going to say 'you're not what we're looking for', but I'm happy nonetheless.
Then I tried getting Boyfriend up. We had to go to one of the many many 'amt' thingies in Coburg, which hold rather unconventional opening hours. He said he wasn't getting up until he was sure it wasn't closed already. Challenge accepted.
I looked up 'Einwohneramt Coburg' online, scrolled around a bit, and found out it was open til four.
I went back to Boyfriend. He was still not getting up. I asked if he'd get up for the leaking in the bathroom. He was suddenly awake and out of bed like a spear. There were lots of half-finished interesting new German words for me to learn, none of which I should admit to recognising if asked tomorrow. The leak was localised using a flashlight, a tiny bucket was placed under it, and Boyfriend was upset. Calling his dad, who is reponsible for keeping the house in good condition, only met with an 'huh, okay'. In the mean while, we can't do laundry. I don't know enough technical German to find a plumber, explain to him what the problem is and hire him to fix it.
Also, last time a leak went unnoticed, the house below us got extensive water damage in the ceiling. Oh, and the water smelled funny this morning in the shower. We have very little water pressure everywhere we might need some. The water heater takes ages to heat up any liquid. A plumber checking stuff out might not be such a luxury.
Anyway, we'd done what we could and we were still there and of good health. Onwards and upwards. Other and better. I was thinking happy thoughts on account of the job interview, Boyfriend had a gloomy cloud hanging overhead.
We handed off a package, asked about mine (still gone), stopped at the bank and finally made it to the Einwohneramt at around half past two. I was optimistic by the lack of draw-a-number-machines and the efficient letter-based teller system. Two doors were locked. The other had a family waiting. Oh dear.
We waited half an hour, reading every scrap of reading material there was available in the rather bleak waiting room. Integration courses (I don't need one), foreigners being scammed by people impersonating police officers and where the very African man on the Coburg coat of arms comes from. Fascinating stuff. I got so bored I started playing games on my phone, and my phone is so down-to-earth it didn't even come with Snake. In my 90s mind, that makes my Nokia downright bare.
Finally, it was our turn. I explained to the nice lady what I was there for: I was a Belgian looking to officially move to Coburg, could I please have some information on what I needed for this? Sure I could. My questions were answered quickly and efficiently. I can decide how much I earn, provided I don't need German welfare to survive. After living in Germany for five years (or, I'm assuming, marrying a handsome, kind, downright amazing German man I know) I can apply for the right to enjoy German welfare should I ever need it. We were out of there in under ten minutes, for which I'm sure the person waiting after us, who'd been there for only five minutes less than us, was grateful.
Now I know what to do, I'm a bit calmed down. I feel like I can take on the world--provided it's a world that doesn't require me to do plumbing.
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