A CPA AWAY – WithumSmith+Brown

Day by day it is getting harder to wake up in the morning – and after the late nights on Tuesdays and Thursdays it is hard to fall asleep.

Fortunately the weather turns better (though my cube does not have any windows!)

If you ever come to our office on Saturday you will see accountants dressed up themselves in fancy colors, as animals or NBA fans.

To make tax season more livable, the office makes tax-season fun. One part of this are the special themes on Saturday’s.

At lunch time, everybody is getting dressed up due to this special Saturday theme. It is really fun to see everybody in pink on Valentines’ (Satur)-day, and of course in green for St. Patrick’s (Satur)-day.

Last Friday we had an afternoon off to go bowling with the whole crew! A good chance to relax a little bit from the tax season stress.

The theme of the afternoon was: “The Jersey Shore”. For all my German readers: this is a TV-Show on MTV (That means you can watch it in Germany too!). I never saw it but it seems to me as if everybody watches it.

And again – the most important part was to get dressed up under the motto: “The Jersey Shore”. If you would ask me – Kevin Pultorak and Dave Springsteen were the best!

All in all it was a really fun afternoon – even if the drive to the Bowling Center was really dangerous. It is not clarified why Laura V. missed the right exit to the Bowling Center twice and why she drives like she wants to kill everybody in the car. Maybe she just does not like bowling?

My ability to speak English becomes better week by week. Kimberlee Phelan invited me to see a play in McCarter Theatre Princeton, NJ (Thank you Kimberlee!). During the first act I had some issues to understand the actors but in the third act I did not even realize that I am listening to a foreign language!

What about the real US-Family life? Because I am working a lot, I sometimes only see Jodi, Kevin and Haydon for some minutes in the morning. I really appreciate the everyday cooking of Jodi. A self-made dinner every evening is not self-evident. Thank you for this Jodi!

Jodi and Kevin have their constant time-schedule in the evening:

-          Dinner time

-          Tubby-time (for Haydon)

-          Bed-time (for Haydon)

-          Time for Relaxing

Usually they can keep this schedule but sometimes Haydon likes to do it in another way (but he usually has not much success).

Carole Becker and Debbie Lee-Ho invited me on a trip to Philadelphia last Sunday! The weather was nice, the food was good and Carole’s granddaughter was I a really good mood.

It was a very fun day – thank you Carole and Debbie for taking me there!

What did I learn on this trip? As per Carole and Debbie, George Washington’s mum used the Liberty Bell to call for dinner!

Karin

Four pairs of shoes in only 5 Weeks!
That together with a lot of clothes is the result of many shopping trips and I did not finish shopping yet. The only question is if I will be able to ship all the clothes back to Germany!

The six-working-days a week are starting to make me a little weary (shopping is a good way to regenerate). Also the two late-nights are rough. But nevertheless – Every working day is different. I am learning a lot and so the days go by very fast.

Half of my visit here is already over and if I count the weekends (that means the Sunday’s) that are left for doing Sightseeing, shopping or just something really “American” it seems to me that I will not be able to do everything I want. I will probably have to return for vacation.

On my latest trip to NYC, I visited the Museum of Modern Art. I am not familiar with art but this museum is very famous. That is why I went to find out something about modern art.

My experience is: the MOMA is really different. With the support of the audio guide I was able to understand some of the paintings from artists like Picasso and Miro (Even though I think that you really need much imagination to understand Miro).

Some of the exhibits are very strange to me, and if you would ask me – I would not call them “art” – sometimes even the audio guide was not able to convince me. But a lot of people say that this is art and they would pay a lot of money for this – and can so many people be wrong?

Beneath Football and NASCAR-Races, I had the chance to see a Hockey Game. It is really fun! We also have Hockey in Germany, but it is not that common as it is in the US. The atmosphere is really impressive. You will not find it in Germany like this. But if you ever come to Germany: Soccer Games also have a special atmosphere.

Another experience I had was culinary. For Kevin’s father’s birthday we were out for dinner and we had steak. I really like steak – but because it is expensive in Germany, I do not eat it that often. Jodi commented on this: Do they have no cows in Germany?

What I really miss these times is the German “Carnival”. Last Thursday I thought about cutting the ties of all men in the office – but I was not sure if they would understand what I am doing. The carnival in Germany always starts on a Thursday. On this one day – the women have the regime. Until the next Tuesday a lot of German (especially in Cologne, Düsseldorf or Mainz) disguise themselves as something funny and have a lot of parties inside and on the streets with the Carnival-Parades.

Karin

It’s been almost a month that Karin has been staying with us and it seems she has taken really well to our daily activities.  When she is not working late, we all sit down together for dinner and talk about the day’s events.   She has become a part of the family and Haydon still continues to ask “Where’s Kara” when she’s not around.

Most of the snow has finally melted away and we even experienced a few days of warmer sixty degree weather.  This prompted Karin to go shopping  for a lighter jacket even though the colder temperatures have since returned.  One evening we even lit an outdoor fire in the backyard chimnea.

There have been a few new experiences in the past month such as the “Superbowl” in which we tried to explain the concept of the game during each play.  I think it was a bit confusing for her but she enjoyed the evening regardless.  We also all got a taste of Karin’s tasty German Potato Salad.

We also managed to make it to New York City for the day where we met up with one of Jodi’s close friends for a fabulous lunch at Carmine’s.  Some of the places we managed to see were:   The Hardrock Cafe, Toy’s R Us, Times Square (day and night), Empire State Building, Macy’s and finally a ride to the top of “The Rock” (Rockefeller Center).   The trip was wrapped up with a few cocktails at a local Irish Pub before catching the train back to Princeton Junction.  Which, by the way, is where we finished the leftovers of our awesome lunch;  yes on the train right out of the metal tins with plasticware that Jodi had thought to ask for at the Pub.  Everyone around us was staring but I think they were just jealous and wanted a taste.

There were a few other minor events, but the one that may have really left Karin in a state of confusion is the experience of watching 42 cars go around a 2.5 mile oval track 200 times at a speed of 200 miles per hour.  Yes, the famous annual “Daytona 500″.  This has been a traditional house gathering of mine for at least 10 years now and we probably had the best turnout yet with a record 30 adults/children total in attendance.  There was plenty of food, conversation and yelling at the TV (mainly the last 30 laps) but nonetheless it was something that will be embedded in her memory for a long time I’m sure…

to be continued…

Kevin

Time goes by fast -  I already have been here for four  weeks.

What about my experiences?

The last weeks I tried to acquaint myself with the tax system, the software and the workflow.

I think that I have a first little overview and I am ready to support WS+B during the tax season.

At the end of the day  the work is not that different from Germany: The goal is to achieve as little tax payments as possible for the clients.

Every return that has to be prepared  seems to be unique – that means I have to ask really much.

Thank you all for all the back up – especially to Frank Peterson – who answers all my questions with patience!

The one thing that is really confusing are the state returns. Fortunately there is nothing comparable in Germany.

Many thanks to Kevin Gilmartin for answering all my questions concerning the state taxes.

Because of the very good teamwork at WS+B it is really much fun to work here.

Kimberlee Phelan and Arnold Chr. Stange: Thank you for this experience!

What else?

• I watched my first Football Game – the Superbowl but unfortunately I have no idea what that game is about.
• The second important sport, Kevin Pultorak introduced me to are NASCAR-races. Well, it defiantly was an experience and we had a lot of fun, but I am not going to become a big fan of watching cars driving in circles.
• Jodi and Kevin introduced me to their parents  and last weekend I met most people of the rest of the family.  
  They are all very nice and it is really fun to be with them. But some of them have really crazy dog’s.
• I already had the possibility to taste the US-best Pizza. Thank you Dawn!
• My rental car is called a marshmallow by Kevin’s neighbors (It is a white Nissan Cube).

Because of the six working days a week, only the Sundays left for doing some sight-seeing.

Last Sunday Jodi, Kevin and me visited New York :

Schedule:

• Empire State Building
• Time Square(at day) & different stores
• lunch break at Carmine’s – meeting a friend of Jodi
• Rockefeller center (with a visit of the top of the rock)
• St. Patrick’s Cathedral
• break at any Irish Pub
• Time Square (at night)

Thank you for this very nice day!

The next visit to New York will include:

• China Town
• Little Italy
• Greenwich village

Last But not least:

The word of the week is: cucumber

Until next time

Karin

On Monday, January 24th, my family and I welcomed Karin Horenkamp (a German Tax Associate) into our home as part of a program that WS+B’s Princeton location started last year headed by Kimberlee Phelan, Partner, Tax Services Group.      The program is associated with “HLB International” and allows for a Tax Associate from an HLB Affiliate in Germany to work here in the United States becoming familiar with the US tax code, preparing tax returns as well as taking part in other accounting and tax-related projects.

My wife Jodi and I chose to accommodate Karin during her stay for many reasons.     We thought it would be exciting to learn about her culture, her hobbies and her life and compare it with how our life is in the United States.     But also it would give Karin exposure to our culture and our family life no matter how calm or chaotic it could be on any given day.    Kind of like a family away from her family…

Having never been to the US prior, Karin’s first week proved to be quite interesting to say the least.    After an 8 hour plane ride she sounded like she just wanted a bed to pass-out in;  but not before she was greeted by our 2yr old son as well as our two dogs.   All were happy to greet the new guest (mostly the dogs as Haydon suddenly turned shy).    Since then he has warmed up and constantly asks her whereabouts when she is not in the room.

Then there was the multiple snow storms that moved thru the area that showed her how chaotic the State becomes.   This has delayed her ability to drive and learn the roads due to the road conditions but she has since tested out the GPS and it will prove to be her “Best Friend” during her stay.

Our first week with our new house guest has been a bit adventurous but enjoyable.   We hope to show Karin as much as we possibly can during her 12 weeks stay including a trip to New York City since she has expressed much interest.     Lastly, I can’t wait to sample some of the German meals that her and Jodi have planned.

to be continued…

Kevin

The first five days of my stay are nearly over and my first experience is : everything is almost the same as in Germany (only in English).

During my stay, I am living in Kevin and Jodi Pultorak’s home.  Thank you again for the accommodation.

Haydon, their little cutie son, still is a bit shy.  But since a while he starts to shares his toys with me.

Brady and Angel – their two dogs are very  excited because there is someone new in the house. For Brady this means to jump at all times I enter the room to welcome me.

At work there are a lot of challenges :

1)      I have to do my work in English

2)      The tax-system is completely new for me and differs from the German system.

3)      I have to familiarize with the software and the workflow.

4)      I met a lot of people and I have to remember all the names

I am confident to be able to handle these challenges – I am going to report about my achievements.

Today I just finished the preparation of my first tax-return (Many thanks to Frank and Don – they helped me a lot to work on it)

Another challenge I have to face is driving! First thing is to get an orientation how to drive the way from home to work. The second thing is how to drive to the stores to be able to do some shopping!

There are much more other things that are new to me, for example the huge amount of snow that goes down in just one night –  and the way the people here are handle it.

I am going to stop here and I will write more during my stay. If you have any questions (i.e. about Germany or the German tax law or anything else) – do not hesitate to contact me!

Karin