Day 2 :) And Some Observations...

Ok, first- I will NOT be writing something every day...probably. I eventually will run out of new things to say. But, until then, I will update this as often as I think of it...or as something "exciting" happens.

Today was a "busy" day...and "day 1" of getting me checked in on base. Because this is an overseas base, there is a bit more than the average "check in" that has to be done in the States. For the most part, Mark takes care of all of that back home, but here I have to go to so many places. So, as I said, today was full of running around. We had hoped to do the following today:

• Register my ID card on base (when you go through a gate to get on one of the "bases", they scan your card and your picture pops up...they look at it and then at you to make sure you are who it says you are...)
• Get a referral to see a doctor...since I am now 31 weeks pregnant and have not been seen for prenatal care since January 3...
• Go to "finance" and get me checked in so we can get paid for my travel...and the rest of Mark's
• Return the rental car
• Go to the PX

Soooo...it seemed like we had a lot to get done, but in the end, not so much got completed. We did go to get my ID registered...first thing this morning. BUT, they needed orders with my name on it...and we didn't have those, so we had to leave there and come back to the apartment to get paperwork. It did eventually get done (cross it off the list...). Now, the referral was really our TOP priority. So, off we go to get me signed up for Tricare here (no issues) and then went upstairs to get my referral. This is where the trouble here happens- it is PACKED. They tell us that the wait will be until after lunch, so we should just come back...the problem here is that Mark has to go to work after lunch. So, we will attempt to do this tomorrow (first thing). The nice Tricare lady did tell us to let them know upstairs that I had not been seen in 2 months and they could push something through for me (great news). We went to finance....but we (again) were missing paperwork, so that will have to be taken care of tomorrow or some other time this week. We DID return the rental car (a Chevy Orlando...I enjoyed riding in it, and if they were sold in the US, I might consider owning one...except they can't haul Mark's trailer, so I guess it is off the list)- look them up, they are nice (and pretty cheap). And (of course...) we went to the PX and got some things that we needed. Overall, it was a busy day...and we DID get things done....

Ok, here are some "observations" that I have made in the past 2 days...nothing tooooo exciting, but anyway...

1. The birds here...are freakishly large. Ever seen the movie Valiant? (The movie about the birds in WW2 with huge pigeons...) These pigeons here are big like them...in fact, all the pigeons in the States are like Valiant sized compared to these guys! I saw one land on a branch earlier, and the branch sagged under it's weight. They also have these HUGE black crow-like birds with white around their beaks...they are also giants. Mark said there are some that are even bigger- but they have white on their wings. the only "normal" sized birds I have seen are little black birds (I have yet to see anything other than black birds and pigeons).
2. All the buildings on post...smell like boiled eggs. Now, Mark says they don't normally, so I am not sure the reasoning behind this. Maybe they had an Easter egg hunt early...and there are hidden eggs in all the buildings...but it is pretty yuck smelling anyway.
3. Now, this one might be a "base" only thing...not sure. All the light switches are backwards. If the lights are turned on, you push the plate down....if they are off, you push it up (I have a strong feeling my papaw had a hand in doing the electrical work here...). I will post a picture of this later!
4. The toilets here...are so odd! Now, please note, German people do not waste things (we are required to recycle everything...it's a rule), and so everything (apparently not just one post, because they were the same at the airport!) has very VERY low flow toilets. I am talking like a cup of water in the bottom of the toilet (which is shaped different than ours too...again, I will post pics of ALL this...). There are signs in all the (women's anyway...Mark says they aren't in the men's...gross boys) public bathrooms that say if you "leave a mess" (ie- poop) to use the toilet brush and clean the toilet after you flush, and then flush again to clean the brush. Also, to flush the toilet, you push a button...not pull a lever or anything like in the states. They also encourage you to clean up the bathroom when you are done (wipe down the sink, etc....again, in the women's room...not sure about then men's lol).

So that is what I have seen so far (along with the fact that I have seen more disrespectful kids on base at the PX and commissary than I have in a LONG time...Mark said yesterday I should just be telling myself that I should be thankful that the 3 or 4 year old who was YELLING at his dad in the PX was not mine...I told him he was wrong, that little boy should be the thankful one...lol). Like I said, it isn't anything too exciting, but different anyway :)