February has come and gone and I can say that it was probably the worst month so far while in Germany. Not only did I have to heal and get better from my collar bone injury, but the weather has also been horrendous. Luckily February also had a lot of firsts, like starting to work at Lufthansa, and getting my first real pay check.
I'm now settled in the rhythm of getting to work in the mornings. I take the train and it takes about 50 minutes from door to door. Not at all bad. I feel proud walking about at the terminal with my Lufthansa badge. It feels good to be part of such a great airline, and even though Lufthansa has its oddities, like the high percentage of interns doing the work, it's still a great company for all employees.
This month has been turbulent for Lufthansa, as we've been dealing with a lot of front page issues such as our 1 but 4 day Pilot strike, and our negotiations with Fraport, the airport operator in Frankfurt, have been stressful. However, all is in the past, and hopefully the upcoming months will be markedly positive.
I also have recovered from my collar bone injury. I have a pretty large bump on my collar bone as the break has not heeled smoothly together, and one of my bones is higher than the other. I'm more anxious now than ever since I fear that I will break my collar bone again since it sticks out much more prominently now than before. I still have isolated pain, and cannot lift heavy objects. My last appointment is on Wednesday with my orthopedic doctor, and hopefully the x-rays will show improvement.
I celebrated Karnival, a big party most celebrated in Köln but also celebrated in Baden-Würtermberg and Bavaria called Fasching or Fastnacht there. It's celebrated right before the beginning of lent. Paczki's are also eaten here but their called Berliner instead. I went to Düsseldorf and visited with Till.
Lastly the best part of February is all the new friends I've made. After this year I will have new contacts in so many countries. Frankfurt is great in this respect as it is the most multi-cultural city in Germany.
I'm starting to apply for jobs back in the United States for my return. I would ultimately consider staying here as well, and I will have to think carefully. I do think it will be difficult to get permanent work permission in Germany though as one has to jump through a bunch of hoops to get it her or your employer has to vouch for you. We'll see how that goes though.
The weather has surprisingly become much warmer and better, except for the freak storm Europe is experiencing today with gusts of wind over 100mph. This has been quite problematic for Germany as major roads were closed today because of fallen trees and powerlines. Trains are not running and the airport was closed. I do have to say it was incredibly windy and that it was hard to walk outside.
That's about it for me now, but I do hope to keep everyone better updated in March and beyond. If you see any job postings in the aviation industry, pass them on to me.
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