( 2.) Upon your arrival in Germany...
From: Helen Dynda (olddad66@runestone.net)
Tue Sep 12 22:33:20 2000
1 B.) UPON YOUR ARRIVAL IN GERMANY : When you arrive in Duisburg, you
will be assisted by an escort from the hospital in purchasing groceries
or other commodities you will need to stock your room.
* * * * *
2 B.) LEARNING AND USING THE GERMAN LANGUAGE : Mary and I have left a
German / English translation hand book, a German / English translator (
hand held unit ), and photos and names of people - who will offer you
assistance while you are in the medical center or in your room. We also
have left a list of names of people who speak English - people whom you
can depend upon for translation at any time...day or night!!
* * * * *
3 B.) ACCOMMODATIONS : Rooms, similar to a hotel room, are offered for
your stay. They are located on the hospital grounds. Each room has
been newly renovated and furnished very nicely by the hospital (
krankenhaus ) to accommodate special patients and staff!! Cost is 80 DM
per night ( a little less than $40 US per night ). These rooms will be
reserved for you - at your request.
You will have the choice of a room with a double bed or with two single
beds. There is a private bath for each room, with a shower; and a TV (
BBC is in English!! ). Only persons associated with the medical center
may use these rooms!! You will share one kitchen per floor and a laundry
in the basement. Private refrigeration units are provided in the
kitchen and you will be given a key to your unit!
Mary and I have left a small coffee pot, 2 coffee mugs, some coffee
packs, an electrical conversion unit, and soap for washing laundry.
We've also left 2 umbrellas, photos and names of people who will offer
you assistance while you are in the medical center or in your room. And
we've left information about a few trips we took when Mary was feeling
better - and they were VERY reasonable.
* * * * *
4 B.) FOOD IN GERMANY : You can elect to eat in the hospital cafeteria.
The ladies there are so nice!! A nice meal in the cafeteria runs about:
6 -10 DM ( $3 - $5 US )
We had some difficulty here!! The German people eat lots of breads and
buns, sliced cheeses, sausages and processed meats. The vegetables and
desserts were great and plentiful! NO eggs at breakfast. Lots of dill
pickles in their food combinations - heavy foods! We didn't like the
food - but that was us!! We could have cooked our own food - but we
didn't!! We did go to a Chinese restaurant once; but that didn't offer
us much help; because the menu was written in GERMAN - what else!!!
Water is served carbonated. Unless you like carbonated water, you will
have to ASK for "wasser" ( out of the faucet!! ). They do not serve ice
cubes readily in Germany. The hospital cafeteria is the only place we
could get ice cubes!!!
There is a kitchen on our apartment floor, which is meant for our use;
but Bev doesn't cook! So Mary wasn't able to have food that she might
have been able to tolerate better. You may be luckier than Mary -
depending upon who you travel with!! Mary adds these words of wisdom:
"Choose a cook to travel with!" ( Bev and Mary laughing here!! )
Please keep in mind that this was OUR interpretation of the food! You
may really like German food and find it to be very tastey! We know that
there are probably good places to eat in Duisburg; but we are leaving
the Gaststätte ( restaurant ) experience for the next person who travels
to Germany to be a patient of Dr. Korell's.
* * * * *
5 B.) PHONE : By placing a deposit of 30 DM at the hospital desk, you
will be able to have the use of a phone your room . You will then get
an outside line assigned to your room...$15 US allowed us to make
several long distance phone calls before we had to put anymore down.
FROM GERMANY TO CANADA AND THE USA: You must use the International
country code when dialing Canada and the USA!! The International country
code number for Canada and the USA is: 001. This number precedes (
comes in front of ) the long distance number, which you are trying to
reach. In other words: To make a long distance call from Germany to
Canada or the United States: The International country code number is
first - followed by the phone number you are trying to reach in either
Canada or the USA.
FROM GERMANY TO OTHER COUNTRIES: If you are from different country - and
want to be able to place a long distance call from Germany to your
country - be sure to find out what the International country code number
is for your country BEFORE you go to Germany!!
* * * * *
6 B.) COMPUTER ACCESS : A computer will be available for your use while
in Germany. Please discuss this with Dr. Korell.
* * * * *
7 B.) SMOKING : Smoking is accepted almost everywhere in Germany! It is
very difficult to find areas set aside for NON-SMOKERS - even in
restaurants! Smoking is allowed in the hospital cafeteria and
immediately outside of the doors; but we did not notice smoking anywhere
else in the hospital.
Smoking is not allowed on buses; but is "big time" on the trains!
A word of caution : Smoking may cause healing problems as well as
anesthesiology problems, etc. This is your life!! Be smart and quit -
or at least cut down - if you possibly can!!!
* * * * *
8 B.) TRANSPORTATION IN AND AROUND DUISBURG...
BICYCLE : A bicycle will be furnished for the use of anyone accompanying
the patient to Germany - or by the patient for exercise. We may be able
to ask Dr. Korell for TWO of them. The housing units for special
patients - us included - is 3 minutes from the main hospital.
BUS : Bus transportation is very accessible - but the bus comes around
only once each hour! If you plan to use the bus, you will need to keep
this in mind - so that when you are ready to return to your "home away
from home" that you will be in time to catch the bus!!
TAXI : Traveling by taxi is NOT cheap!! We were taken advantage of a few
times! If you are going to take a taxi, it is important that you act
like your know where you are going, how far, and long your trip is!!
Once we started speaking a few words of German - and could indicate how
far the trip was by taxi - the rates went down for the same trip!
TRAINS : Trains are used to a very high degree between towns! They are
fun and reasonable!
A trip to Amsterdam, Netherlands takes only 2 hours and costs 41DM round
trip ( $20 US round trip ). Food in Holland is great!! Amsterdam is not
only a fun city but super interesting - and alot of English is spoken
there!We visited the "Annex" of Ann Frank, the church where "Rembrandt"
is buried, and the "Madam Trussuald" wax museum! Lots of history - and
windmills galore!!! We took a bus tour from one end of Holland to the
other - and we stayed overnight. But that was costly!! A day would be
just fine!!
* * * * *
9 B.) THE CITY OF DUISBURG : The City of Duisburg will be providing alot
of local information and also maps for you to use to help you enjoy the
many nice things Duisburg has to offer...sightseeing, restaurants, etc.
And all of this will be in English!! Talk about accommodating us!!
* * * * *
10 B.) TOURS AND SIGHTSEEING TRIPS : The hospital is going to offer the
opportunity for Dr. Korell's patients to schedule mini tours and
sightseeing trips!! This will make your stay in Germany much easier and
more enjoyable for you!!
Beautiful paths wind through a large wooded area across the street from
the hospital. Some cute rows of houses nearby are worthy of a walk down
the street. Out to the front and right - you will find some nice cafes,
a bakery, as well as small grocery stores and shops! NOT tourist shops -
but mom and pop type stores!! There's a nice, quiet, quaint area around
the hospital.
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