First Day of Work

Well, work started today...I was really nervous, but I survived!!  We started the day being picked up by a relocation services rep, and she took us to get our work/residence permits.  She dropped me off at work afterward and took Ben to a shopping strip close to home to drop him off.  Work was good- the E.ON building is extremely nice and modern, but CONFUSING!  I stopped at the reception desk and my manager came and got me and took me to the office.  The desks aren't private at all, just like tables with everyone sitting really close.  There are these little sitting areas though for meetings with comfy couches and soft carpet and stuff...really neat looking.  Everyone was nice, but I am having trouble learning all the German names!!  They speak english to me, but otherwise they are speaking german...so I need to learn a lot more and quickly!!  I had this "induction training" for most of the day, but then I couldn't even figure out how to get back to my desk once it was over because the hallways are so confusing...I wandered around the 4th floor until I finally saw my coat hanging on my chair.  At the training, I met a cool girl from Australia named Zoe who has worked here about a month now but has been in Düsseldorf for 5 months.  She offered to meet me after work and help me with the trams to get home, which was a God-send!  I never would have made it without her walking me there.  Then on the tram we ran into another E.ON employee and friend of hers who has lived here her whole life, and she was getting off the same stop I was and getting onto the next tram I was too, so she helped me find that one and told me where to get off and everything!  It was unbelievable...thank you, Lord!!  After I got home, me and Ben topped off the day by having a very german dinner complete with sauerkraut (go the the food gallery link at the top left of the blog to see pics!).  Ben will have to post on here what his first day with me at work was like...but I will give you a sneak preview: he walked a ton, was forced to speak a little german, and he found some cool stuff to do this weekend!