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Updates:

 

Two weeks' vacation in Germany with a quick break to Belgium meant I was able to use my German skills and even French for a couple of days.  I was blown away by my own German level - able to hold conversations - often simplified, sometimes halting, but nearly always able to convey my point without a word of English for support.  I went clothes shopping in German, chatted about family stories in German, discussed menus in German, and even watched a few TV shows in German. 

 

Every day was a new reward.  Realizing that I could do SO MUCH in another language, which I only started learning two years ago (!) and still had plans to improve on... made me realize that living there would be possible if I wanted to.  I just gotta get a hold on some of those dialects!  First things first: BF's local dialect, Badisch, which practically speaking doesn't use the genitive (the possessive case, and the one I'm most confident with.  Phooey.)

 

Still waiting to find out my German test results from December, but I anticipate I'll be going back to the Goethe starting next week for the C1 (first advanced level) class so I'm not in a big rush to find out.

 

Just minutes ago, I finally got my very own security pass printed at work.  I've been working here since the end of September, but was the first new hire since the computer crashed - and when I say "the" computer, I mean the only one that has the security pass printing software and equipment.  I feel a bit more "permanent," having a personalized pass with my photo on it rather than a "Visitor, Unescorted" badge.  Next step towards permanence is to get my work permit finalized; they're waiting for me in the permit office tomorrow, where I went today forgetting about the application fee I need to submit with the application!

 

I returned from holidays and got ahold of a new phone, which is a quick and shiny gadget but not fundamentally different from my other phone.

 

And finally, my family is visiting!  Aunt, uncle, cousin and cousin's fiance are all staying in our place until Wednesday.  It's a very lucky thing we have so much space at our house.  We're sleeping seven people at the moment, though two are consigned to a mattress in the living room.  The family is a great source of fun.  We're playing Charades tonight: a family tradition.  I wonder if BF or roommate will participate?