I promised you to tell you more about my job soon and so here we go. After two weeks of work I kind of get used to what it’s like to work over here and thought this was a good time to write this post. First I have to say that it actually surprised me that I got this job. It was a huge coincidence and at the same time the best thing that could have happened to me. I don’t want to name the company and my exact position on this blog, but I can tell you this much: I work for a huge fashion company located in the Fashion District in Downtown Los Angeles.

This is not only great, because it takes us a reasonable 20 minutes to get their by car, but also because I started my career in fashion. I didn’t work a lot for fashion related companies in the last years, so it now feels really good to me to be back in business. But let’s start at the beginning:

I had actually applied to that company back when I was still in Germany, got as far as a phone interview, but in the end didn’t get the job for more than one reason. Through this I met a german girl who moved out here a few years ago and works for that company, which I think got at least one of my little toes in there. So two weeks after we arrived in Los Angeles I found an ad of that company which said that they were looking for a german person to work for them. I applied, got invited to an interview a week later and got an offer 2 days after that. The interview (as all my other ones, too) was very short, which may be due to the little time my supervisor had and to me not being a very outgoing person at first.

When she actually called me back to tell me that I would get an offer per E-Mail at the same day, I was more than thrilled. Thrilled and scared at the same time. The german girl who works there already told me that the first weeks or even months will be super exhausting, because of everything being new. And that totally came true. It began with the “contract” you get here, which actually is not existing. Over here you will get an offer per E-Mail, accept that by answering and than you are employed. Incomes are not discussable here. The company offers you one and you say yes or no. Also in most cases you don’t get insurance until you have worked for 3 months for the company. At my company it is the same with paid off days (called PTO).

I was pretty scared on my first day of work. Will I be able to tour the enormous factory I am working at and will I be able to understand everything they tell me? That were the questions that drove me nuts the whole week before my actual starting date. As always, everything turned out to be different than I imagined it to be. Not for the worse, but still different.

I don’t want to bore you, so these are the short facts of things that are different over here (or at least at my work):

- You arrive and work! No lazy first days of strolling around. You are expected to start working immediately
- People don’t talk! Don’t expect anyone to say Hi or Goodbye! Bring your headphones, put them on and work!
- Don’t even think about a german bonus! Noone talks slow to me, asks if I understand everything or asks me a lot about my home-country!
- Breaks are whenever you want them!
- Come in any time before 12 and stay as long as you need to but at least 8 hours!

I have to admit that my first week wasn’t challenging to me, because of the work, but because of everything else. I so have to get used to ask for everything I need to know (no one will tell you where to get lunch without you asking for example) and to just work and spend the day by myself – even when about 30 people are sitting in an office with me and 6000 are working somewhere in my building.

So far I have to say that this job is perfect for me, because I learn so many words every day, I can work on my own and I have fun while doing so. And still a daily routine hasn’t arrived. I am not sure how long it will take till it will hit. But now: Everything is new, exciting and still a hell of a journey for us!

For this is our last official holiday before the big move, we decided to relax most of the time and just take little baby steps regarding our actual move. One thing we definetely wanted to get done over here is applying for the Social Security number. We actually thought about doing it in Germany, but you have to do it at the consulate in Frankfurt. For me this wouldn’t have been a huge problem, because I work in Frankfurt. But Flo would have had to take a whole day off from work to do it. And: If you apply for the Social Security number in Germany it takes them up to eight weeks to send it to you.

So we decided to take the chance of being in the US now and applied for the SSN on Tuesday. We got up early, because we had no appointment and arrived at the Social Security Administration Office at 9 am when they opened. We only had to wait about ten minutes to get called up by an officer. She actually scared us first, because she looked like a tough officer, but turned out to be really nice. We only had to hand her our passports, Greencards and the filled out application forms and she began typing.

Flo went first and was kind of shocked when she announced that he had to answer all questions of the upcoming interview clear and truthfully. Interview? We actually didn’t know about an interview at all. But don’t get too scared right now: It is kind of basic questions and not that bad. I actually understood the woman very good and Flo guessed some of the questions and sticked answering “no”.

After our interviews the officer handed us two letters saying that we applied for the SSN on Tuesday and told us that it would take Flo’s number two weeks to arrive and mine a bit longer.

So, in a few days we both will be proud owners of our very first Social Security numbers. This is a baby step in the whole process, but feels pretty big and good!

This is for everyone who is a winner of the DV-2011 and is right now nervously waiting for his or her interview date at the US consualte in Frankfurt. Our date there was nearly exactly one year ago and now Flo and I can laugh about it! I already told you that our interview wasn’t very nice, but hey – it all worked out positive in the end and we now are proud owners of our very own Greencards.

You shouldn’t let yourself get freaked out by that date. The most time of it you will be sitting there and wait anyways! But there are a few things that you can do to prevent the worst. First you should have all certificates, passports and other stuff required with you and more important organized and by hand all the time! Make sure to have the money in cash, to have pictures of yourself and to have copies of everything as well! If you are well prepared you are on the safe side I would say! You should also bring some money, something to drink, something to eat and perhaps a book to read. You are not allowed to bring a mobile phone, a laptop or any other electronic devices with you so make sure to leave those things at home or in your car!

If your english is not very good, you should ask for a person to translate everything to you. This is your right! Even if the consulate staff doesn’t recommend it! If you aren’t very secure with speaking english, you should print out some sentences and learn them. You will be asked after your education, your work situation and your plans for everything regarding the US. Make sure you are able to answer questions about that topics!

As you know I didn’t win the Greencard myself – my husband did. At the consulate I wasn’t treated as a actual winner, but only as the wife of my husband. I wasn’t allowed to speak, if I weren’t addressed specifically be the consulate staff. So if you are not the Greencard winner but “only” a spouse, try to keep yourself low profile. If anyone wants to know anything from you, he’ll ask!

I don’t want to scare anyone away or make you insecure about your interview, but always have in mind: The US doesn’t give away those Greencards for fun! They only want to give them to people who are serious about an emmigration and who will follow their dreams in the near future! So even if that may be the case don’t act insecure about your emmigration at the consulate or even come up with your doubts about the whole thing! Because this will not help you at all!

If anyone has any questions, please feel free to ask and I’ll try to answer them! You also may check the American Dream winner forum, which actually helped us a lot with our questions!

I wish everyone with an upcoming interview the best of luck, I keep my fingers crossed for you guys and am looking forward to meet you all in the US one day!