April 2002

Removal. April 2002 is our month of relocation from Schwetzingen to Sydney. In November last year we have learned that our destination overseas will be Down Under and many little and big preparations are completed by this time:

  • Claudia has successfully completed her doctoral degree at the University of Mannheim.
  • Peter has negotiated his working contract for Sydney.
  • The tenancy agreement for Schwetzingen is terminated and our household has been thoroughly screened: unused books are sold, old clothes are given away, and the washing machine is stored with relatives.

On April 9 the removal's van drives by at our Schwetzingen front door and four workers transfer our used-to-be home into an agglomeration of cardboard boxes. Even the matress is packed into cardboard. The wrapping and packing takes four hours, another hour is needed for carrying; at noon everything is over. The only thing remaining in the apartment is an old folding bed for Peter for the last days in Germany (Claudia currently is on a sailing trip in the Mediterranean Sea...).

Harbour Bridge at night

The first days. Peter's flight to Down Under is on April 13. He is accompagnied by his colleague Eric, Sabine (www.eric-bine.de), and a suitcase containing clothes for two weeks. The rest is to be seen.

The first home in Sydney for four weeks is an apartment in the Milsons Point suburb (the picture shows the view from our balcony). It was organised preliminary to our arrival by a consultancy company, which made it very easy to us. Now this apartment is the base for the first "walking trials" in the new surronding. Everything is new:

  • When crossing the streets it now is: "look right!" (actually, more tourists perish due to cars from the unusual "wrong" direction than by the feared snakes' bites, sharks, and crocodiles all together).
  • The supermarkets are assorted differently. Playing cards beneath the washing powder. And what the hell is I-can't-believe-it's-not-butter???
  • Which is the best-value ticket for public transportation? And why is beer that expensive?

Even before Claudia arrives (sun-baked and relaxed) on the 23, Peter is shown through various suburbs of Sydney by a relocation consultant, in order to get an orientation on the quarters' characters – traffic conditions, housing, eating and drinking culture – but as well on available properties. He decides for Balmain/Birchgrove west of the city center CBD (Central Business District).