It probably would have been better to separate the whole "moving into a new place" part of this from the "traveling overseas and not sleeping for a whole day" part because I am exhausted and super emotional. I got to my apartment building to find that the reception person (who presumably speaks some English) was not there and the only person available was a security guard who speaks mostly Basque, some Spanish, and zero English. So she was trying to explain to me all sorts of things about my apartment, etc. but couldn't actually come to show it to me.
Instead I arrived to find a cute studio apartment with boxes of unopened cookware, sheets and towels that have been freshly laundered, a little terrace, a TV that is basically on the floor, a huge entertainment center, a couch that may pull out into a sleeper sofa (still to be determined), a DISHWASHER (hallelujah!!), and a fridge that took me a long time to figure out how to work. Also, I apparently will have free wireless access (possibly in the whole town?) once I get my residence card. For now I'm stuck with a wired connection, meaning my iPad is not so much fun (until I figure out if it's possible to have a cellular connection here with the 3G feature).
What I do not have is toilet paper, hangers, or a trash can. And I'm not totally sure where to buy such things. Nor do I have any idea where to take garbage once I have a trash can. Or where/how I get mail. Or what the big phone on my wall with only four buttons (one of which has a cup of coffee/tea on it and one of which has a key on it).
I said this was going to be an adventure, right? I'm doing a little unpacking and then it's time for some survival shopping for things I need (e.g., toilet paper, food for tonight/tomorrow morning). I'm trying to prioritize by telling myself I don't need hangers immediately, but the stack of increasingly wrinkly clothing in my suitcases begs to differ. I probably don't NEED a trash can today if I can get some plastic bags to put things in for now. I might also do a little exploring.
In other news, Google Voice is awesome. I made FREE phone calls from my computer to Pete and my parents, which was great and helped me calm down a lot from my initial panic walking in the apartment thinking "what the hell have I gotten myself into." I still mostly think that, I've just dialed down the panic a bit. I know I'm just overwhelmed (and exhausted) which makes all of this way crazier.
I'm hoping I can stay up for 5 or so hours today and go to bed at 9 (or later!) so I can be a normal human being tomorrow, since I'm probably going into the office at least for part of the day.
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