small update…
I just received my permit to stay in Germany for two more years. I expected five, so I was a bit disappointed. However, this permit allows me to actually take normal contracted work like any other normal person living in Germany. So I will be investigating some leads in that direction.
The only hitch this time was that I needed a declaration of my income from the last six months from a certified tax accountant. The lady I normally have doing my taxes is good, but not certified, so the Ausländerbehörde sent me home and told me to get a proper Steuerberater/in to sign the paper. So watch out for this, if you are going through the procedure.
Another thing to consider: they are not accepting any kind of international travel insurance, so do yourself a favor and do the KSK application now. Bad side: expect to pay 20% of your income for insurance, like every other normal German. Sorry kids, no way around that one. Just think that, combined with the other 20% the KSK or your employer pays, almost half the value of your income goes to health insurance, pension and nursing care (most of which you will never use unless you retire in Germany). This is before income tax is taken, by the way. And the Teabaggers back home thought Obamacare was steep! Welcome to the expensive safetynet of the welfare state…
Currently I am gearing up for a four month stay in Aarhus, Denmark as DIVA artist-in-residence at the Det Jyske Musikkonservatorium. I WILL NOT BE ACCEPTING ANY NEW GIGS OR WORKSHOPS until 2012. The break from travel will be good for creating some sort of daily routine. Wish me luck.
Now Playing
barn owl & the infinite strings ensemble–the headlands[2011 important]
bohren and der club of gore–beileid ep[2011 ipecac]
chief commander ebenezer obey & his international bros.–miliki sound[1973 decca]
fever ray–fever ray[2009 rabid]
joe colley–disasters of self 3xlp[2010 crippled intellect]
hecker–speculative solution[2011 editions mego]
jefre cantu-ledesma–shining skull breath[2011 students of decay]
loscil-coast-range-arc[2011 glacial movements]
townes van zandt–minneapolis mn[1973]