A quick update, so as not to leave you all hanging...

Today, I pounded the pavement and the tracks and streets of Düsseldorf, searching for a suitable apartment into which I could move. The short version of the story (as I am tired, have a cold, and need to leave for Cologne for nearly four intensive days of orientation training tomorrow) is as follows:

1) 12:00 noon: walked to first showing, very near where I am currently a guest. Cool young guy, very small place. Only a few chairs for furniture. Very cheap, but very far from my work.

2) 2:00 pm: too a bus and a train to second showing, met landlord; great guy. Beautiful place in an old building with some gorgeous renovations happening. Two male roommates, one of whom I met. He is awesome and is a English and Spanish teacher of sorts. Very friendly. VERY expensive rent. In the Japanese quarter of Düsseldorf; cool area.

3) 3:30 pm: took a train way the arse up into the middle of nowhere in northern Düsseldorf. (Ironically, very near my school's suburb.) Met creepy old dude who wanted to rent me a room in a house that smelled like onions. Entire part of the city was beautiful, but very suburban and old-peopley. Guy was creepy. House smelled like onions. I'll pass, thanks.

4) 6:00 pm: come back to Esther's in the middle of rush hour, decide to check e-mail. Received an e-mail from a girl in a 4-person, all-girl apartment that had very much interested me. Encouraged me to come check it out. Called her sister, got an answer, set up a viewing for 7:30.

5) 6:30 pm: rush back out the door to catch a bus and a train to the next place.

6) 7:30 pm: AWESOME apartment. AMAZING roommates. Two sisters from Bolivia, a girl from Germany. Wonderful people. Talkative, my age, fun. Great rent. A deposit that's going to destroy me and leave me with a total bank account sum of $41 to live on until I receive my first paycheck in 6-8 weeks.

***SHAMELESS PLUG***
If anyone out there wants to send me an early birthday (October 2) or Christmas (December 25) gift of money or food or money and food, I would certainly be incredibly grateful and bring you back something awesome.
***END SHAMELESS PLUG***
***IS EMBARRASSED BY SHAMELESS PLUG BUT POOR ENOUGH TO LEAVE IT POSTED***
(I have PayPal, and, as of tomorrow, I will have a mailing address.)

7) 8:10 pm: leave awesome apartment with incredible tenants and head home. Exit train to see that I'd have to wait 40 minutes for a bus. Decide to walk rest of way back to Esther's. Get somewhat lost, but nice Germans help me when I ask for directions.

8) 8:30 pm: Gaga rings forth from my telephone. Awesome Bolivian sister calls me to inform me that they would like me to move in. Arrange lease signing for tomorrow, before I leave for Köln for orientation.

9) Since then: life is good.

10) Apparent to me: Felix's habit of making everything into lists has rubbed off on me.

I likely won't be updating until Thursday again, when I am back in Düsseldorf... getting ready to move into my AWESOME apartment! Until then, dear Readers, I love you all, comments are highly encouraged and rewarded, and have a good night.