Last week at this time I had just arrived via train from Frankfurt. I was hot, tired and disoriented. Today was much different. A colleague from the US arrived last night and she and I had talked last week to arrange me helping her get to the office. She called me when she arrived at the hotel and we agreed on 6:50am for breakfast.
She and I ate breakfast together and talked about her flight over and the fact that this was her first international trip. She explained her very busy schedule for her week in Germany. We left for the train station right around 7:20 which would provide plenty of time to catch the 7:37 train.
I stopped at the kiosk to buy a new weekly pass and we made our way through the throngs of people to our track. We hit the bottom of the steps at 7:37. I was worried we were going to miss our train, as it should have been there already and we were at the wrong end of the platform. Thankfully we climbed the steps and found an empty rail line. As we arrived at the area of the platform I normally stand at the train arrived. It helps to have a watch (set by GPS signal) that is a couple minutes fast AND a train that is a couple minutes late.
We boarded the train and started our short journey to Leverkusen. I pointed out some sights along the way, talked about the rail service and the ChemPark. We (somehow) arrived on time in Leverkusen. As we were exiting the train we met my counterpart from India and another colleague from the Leverkusen office. We all walked to the main gate together to get our security passes.
My colleague from the US was very appreciative of my assistance and went on her way to a different building. She sent me a message later in the day thanking me again. I met the last new German colleague who is also an Incident Manager. Constantin was out on paternity leave for the last two months after the birth of his 2nd child.
He, an expat from the US, Will, and I went out to lunch together. Will took us to a Turkish, Mexican restaurant in his neighborhood. We ate döners which are a cross between a gyro and a burrito. They were AMAZING!
After work I visited the steakhouse around the corner, Madero, for dinner. The steak was good but the dessert, real Apple Strudel, was spectacular.
She and I ate breakfast together and talked about her flight over and the fact that this was her first international trip. She explained her very busy schedule for her week in Germany. We left for the train station right around 7:20 which would provide plenty of time to catch the 7:37 train.
I stopped at the kiosk to buy a new weekly pass and we made our way through the throngs of people to our track. We hit the bottom of the steps at 7:37. I was worried we were going to miss our train, as it should have been there already and we were at the wrong end of the platform. Thankfully we climbed the steps and found an empty rail line. As we arrived at the area of the platform I normally stand at the train arrived. It helps to have a watch (set by GPS signal) that is a couple minutes fast AND a train that is a couple minutes late.
We boarded the train and started our short journey to Leverkusen. I pointed out some sights along the way, talked about the rail service and the ChemPark. We (somehow) arrived on time in Leverkusen. As we were exiting the train we met my counterpart from India and another colleague from the Leverkusen office. We all walked to the main gate together to get our security passes.
My colleague from the US was very appreciative of my assistance and went on her way to a different building. She sent me a message later in the day thanking me again. I met the last new German colleague who is also an Incident Manager. Constantin was out on paternity leave for the last two months after the birth of his 2nd child.
He, an expat from the US, Will, and I went out to lunch together. Will took us to a Turkish, Mexican restaurant in his neighborhood. We ate döners which are a cross between a gyro and a burrito. They were AMAZING!
After work I visited the steakhouse around the corner, Madero, for dinner. The steak was good but the dessert, real Apple Strudel, was spectacular.
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