Yesterday, I bought a cell phone with a prepaid card. So far, so good. There was nothing special about that, nothing complicated, just a simple device to make a phone call or receive one. The amazing number of people knowing my number amounts to three (including the shop assistant who sold it).

Nevertheless, I was called several times already. One strange guy started talking to me in a language that I could not even identify, one person from the national I-did-not-get-what wanted to remind me of doing something and a female voice invited me for some kind of celebration. This morning, I was contacted again – now by SMS: “Can I see my son?”

What’s going on here? Obviously, none of these people really tried to reach me…

What it good about strange things is that they usually end up having a surprisingly simple explanation. In the above case, a friendly female voice provided it: “Is Monique around?” – “No, I am sorry, I just got this phone number yesterday, I have no idea who Monique is …” – “Ah, ok. Then maybe she had the number before you.”

I am really curious who will call me – or Monique – next. In a way it is interesting to get to know a person by her phone calls.

However, just in case Monique reads this post, perhaps she could tell people where to reach her. It is kind of annoying to have completely unknown people calling and using up your minutes. – Thanks.

Here are a few pics from my trip and my first impressions from St. Louis — sorry for the delay.

Nicht nur, dass sich die zeitliche Dimension nach meiner Landung um sieben Stunden verschoben hat, nein, auch sonst ist hier einiges anders.

Es beginnt schon damit, dass man die Strecken nicht mehr in Kilometern misst, sondern in Meilen. Was psychologisch wohl auch ganz klug ist, immerhin klingen kleinere Zahlen bei Distanzangaben weniger abschreckend – und Distanzen gibt es hier genug. Das liegt mitunter daran, dass einfach alles größer ist: Häuser, Autos, Straßen, Parks, Supermärkte, Unis … sogar die Ampelphasen dauern länger.

Das Klima ist wärmer und feuchter. Es sei kein warmer Tag wurde mir bei meiner Ankunft gesagt – aber es kam mir vor wie heimatlicher Hochsommer bei Gewitterluft. Momentan ist es aber wirklich schön, blauer Himmel und strahlender Sonnenschein bei etwa 80°F – was knappen 27°C entspricht. Und damit hätten wir auch schon den nächsten Wechsel: Maßeinheiten sind natürlich ganz anders und für einen Neuankömmling leicht undurchsichtig. Im Supermarkt fand ich heraus, dass Äpfel beispielsweise 5$ je 2 lb kosten, kleine Getränkeflaschen üblicherweise 591 ml und ein Saftpaket 1,651 l fassen.

In Flora und Fauna setzen sich die Unterschiede fort: Die Ameisen sind deutlich größer und die Grillen so laut, dass ich verwirrt fragte woher denn der Lärm auf der Straße komme.

Apropos fragen: Das alltägliche Floskel-Vokabular fehlt mir noch, und mein Englisch-Parser muss sich noch erst an das Genuschel der einen oder anderen Mitmenschen gewöhnen und sich an ihr Tempo angleichen.

Kommen wir zum Kulinarischen: Dazu kann ich bisher nicht allzu viel sagen, außer dass man als Erdnussbutter-Fan auf seine Kosten kommt. Und wer es süß und fettig mag, der sowieso. Auf den Highways ist an jeder Ausfahrt ausgeschildert welche Fastfood-Ketten dahinter erreichbar sind.

Insgesamt also eigentlich wenig überraschend. Und trotzdem: Aus Erzählung klingt es eben ganz anders als es ist, wenn man tatsächlich hier ist.

No? Then here is a story about what it was like for me yesterday:

03:00 am
got up after a rather short night; the last items need to find their way into the car
03:45 am
we – that’s me and my parents – start our trip to Frankfurt airport
07:00 am
arrival at the airport; now we need to search for the right terminal, get rid of the baggage and check-in
08:00 am
mission successful. Let’s have breakfast.
09:00 am
time to say goodbye and move to the gates
09:30 am
security checks passed
09:45 am
finally reached the right gate, one hour to wait until the plane is going to take off
10:20 am
boarding procedure starts
10:40 am
finally seated, tired but too excited to fall asleep

Eight hours above the clouds – there is a video entertainment system but it’s not really interesting…

01:20 pm
lading in Toronto, Canada (minus 6 hours)
01:40 pm
got all my baggage; after filling in a form, being told it was the wrong one and completing another (which, in the end I did not need because I was supposed to fill in the first one) I moved to the queue for entering the US (Yes, the United States. Not Canada although this is Toronto. Strictly speaking, I have never been to Canada on this trip.)
02:10 pm
interview with an officer
02:30 pm
baggage drop-off and another security check, no queue this time
02:40 pm
a snack in near the gate, then start waiting again
03:10 pm
boarding for the flight to St. Louis
03:30 pm
take off in time

Two hours of flight in a small and narrow aircraft. No entertainment system but a wonderful view of Toronto.

04:10 pm
a first impression of St. Louis (minus one more hour)
04:30 pm
securely landed, leaving the aircraft
04:45 pm
found my suitcases, I can’t believe I am in America!
05:00 pm
discovered by my host who came to pick me up, driving home
05:30 pm
everything brought upstairs, not yet opened a single zipper; Jonah is showing me the house
06:10 pm
dinner is ready – quite a service
06:50 pm
started a quick drive round the neighborhood, just to see where I am – it’s amazing to see the real counterparts to places on a map
07:40 pm
back home, called a friend to make an appointment for tomorrow
08:00 pm
some quick remarks on where to find what and what is going to happen tomorrow
08:40 pm
Where is my bed?