How many Euros does a straightjacket cost?

 

This is Grace's Wee Skein Super Stripey Sock.  It's 5 different colorways of Vesper sock yarn.  And I begin the post with this sock because it's kind of a metaphor.  Imagine that each stripe represents a freakout I have had over moving to Germany.  This sock would cover about 2 hours of the last couple days.

Yeah, it's been keeee-razy.  Especially today, when DH made some calls over to Germany and was told, "Huh...I don't think we have a job for you here, but I understand they need an SGM in Italy.  Maybe that's where you are going."  GAH!  You know, I really just need to know which country to aim my freakouts toward, that's all.  Someone else at branch in DC told DH that he was indeed going to Germany, but we'd have a final answer on Tuesday.

Really, they need to prescribe anti-psychotics along with these assignments.

Now we've been overseas before, but it was 1992-1994.  There was no internet for us then.  Thank God for the internet now.  Not only so that I can stay in touch with my family more easily, but we can get so much information about Germany in minutes.  I won't go into all the things that I've been thinking, because thoughts are just crashing about my head.  Yesterday morning, DH woke up and looked over to see me staring at the ceiling.  "You're thinking so hard you woke me up", he said.  So let me give you a basic Good Stuff/Bad Stuff list.

Good Stuff about moving to Germany

- hello, Wollmeise!!

- 6 hours from Paris!

- 8 hours from Venice!

- 7 hours from the original Legoland in Denmark.

- really good french fries

- actual weather!  I can knit socks that will get worn daily and scarves!

- DH is very excited about the assignment. He has no desire to try and trade it off, so I'm trying to keep my freakouts at a manageable level.  This is the 1st time in a while that he's been more enthusiastic about moving than I am.

- skiing!

- German Christmas markets.  We'll be an hour from the biggest one in Germany.

- castles!

Bad Stuff about moving to Germany

- We are only authorized to ship one vehicle so DH must sell his big old truck.  He'll probably buy a small car once he's in country, but he loves this truck.  If he were to try and store the truck somewhere for 3 years, we couldn't afford for him to get a car for Germany.  Not to mention letting a vehicle sit for 3 years isn't great.

- Europe runs on a different electrical system than the US.  That means selling my washer and dryer and microwave.  We don't feel like it's a good idea for them to sit in storage for 3 years either.

- Bookstores.  I will miss Barnes & Nobles and Borders very much. 

- actual weather!  I'm going to freeze.  I remember visiting Germany in July in 1992 and having to buy sweat pants at the PX because I was so cold.

- Very small housing.  The army gives me this great big house with a huge kitchen, then I have to adjust to a tiny apartment.  Let's not even discuss going from 3 bathrooms down to one.

- small or no closets.

- the challenges of keeping my job while overseas.  My dad/boss is more than willing to work it out because most everything I do is online.  But the time difference and the cost will likely prohibit phone calls which will be more complicated.

- not having as many other home schoolers in the community.  I just hope we won't be the only ones.

- getting our poor, little, nervous doggie overseas on an airplane.  She's going to be a wreck.

- living out of suitcases for weeks/months until our stuff crosses the ocean.

I told DH that while the good stuff is indeed good, it's all kind of vague and hard to imagine.  The bad stuff is very vivid and concrete.  As much as I love the idea of seeing Europe again, the reality is that I'm kind of a homebody.  A homebody who likes to know exactly where and when and what.  So this move has pushed me so far out of my comfort zone that I can't even see my comfort zone anymore.

But I'm learning.  I'm working on German and a trip to the library and the bookstore provided me with learning material.  I'd like to ask the Germans to please use more vowels and stop putting funny marks over them.  Honestly, as difficult and complicated as it is to move overseas, I would rather do it than go to some of the stateside locations that other's have been assigned.  Sure, they get to keep their washer/dryer, but there's nothing but Walmart for an hour's drive at some of these bases.

Each day I get a little more used to the idea and get a little more information.  It's interesting that on our corner of the neighborhood, our little 4 house group, 2 people are going to Korea, one is going to Hawaii, and we're going to Germany (or Italy) (probably).  I foresee an excellent corner yard sale this spring. 

Thank you all very much for being excited with me.  Your comments were great to read!

Comments

[Lisa]

Becca, you really need to stay zen. First, I feel it is Germany. My DH had a similar bit of information when he called (much closer to his report date) to say "Hey! I'm coming and I just wanted to say hi." The SSA said "No, you're not. That's a TPU slot." DH's response was "Listen, I've got orders in my hand and I will be walking in your door on this day at this time. What you do with me after that is your prerogative." Turns out it worked out fine. So will it with you. Remember the people on the ground are the last to know.

Regarding the apartments... yeah, they're not great but you will find so much to do that you'll virtually never be in them! Germany is a wonderful place with a special place in my heart.

Don't stress about the vehicle thing. First, public transportation in Europe, as I am sure you remember from Italy, is fantastic. Second, lots of people are leaving so it is quite simple to pick up a used car for an extremely low price. I had the most awesome black VW beetle with a hand cranked moon roof that we got for $500.00 (of course that was 18 years or so ago but I doubt that's changed much). It will all work out. Last, the German language - once you get past the fundamentals - has a lot of words that sound just like English words but look different. Once you're there and you can here it, it gets easier. Also, Germans (well most European countries really) are required to study a second language from about third grade one. Most of them select English. I speak very little German (more now than when I was there) and I got around just fine. Sprechen sie English? gets you pretty far.

Phone calls: Skype! Easy and cheap cheap cheap for regular international calls. Voice chat with webcams = free.

Becca, much love and I'm sorry you're stressed out but you're headed for a fantastic adventure. Enjoy the ride and do what you need to do to manage your stress. I'm here if you need me. Think of the Wollmeise if nothing else. I hear wonderful things about European knitting ;)

[Holly]

Okay, Faith and Tiffany are both in Germany now. If the three of you managed to hook up, you'd be back among your friends from Georgia. Only with castles. And without the really bad humidity.

[Ava]

Ditto what Lisa said about Skype (either that or Vonage). It all comes together in the end, but that doesn't do a whole lot for freak-outs right now . . . breathe deeply and go with the ride.

[Melissa]

Oh wow! The ups and downs and unknowns! (((becca))) I look forward to lots of cool pictures from Germany (let's be positive -- it will be Germany because I am excited for you!) and other places I know I will never see in person.

Hmmm, Wollmeise -- markets-- Ahhhh lovely!

[klaus]

AND, you get to learn German!
Germany is really awesome. Have you been? I took a trip to Munich in April and I LOVED IT. And hey Schweinfurt is only 3 hours from Munich on google maps! It's a really beautiful area. AND THE TRAINS. My god I love the trains.

I understand why you are worrying, but I hope you love it as much as I did. What a great opportunity for your kids. (I grew up in the same place for 23 years and I am jealous of all the military kids who got to live in foreign countries and learn other languages, can you tell?)

[Carolyn in MN]

I triple the 'Skype' suggestion. You don't even need a webcam. A microphone and speakers help, though. You can get a real phone number for your computer (for a cost) that other phones can call if computer-computer calling is too restrictive.

And you can get a phone number that's local to your dad.

[suburbancorrespondent]

Europe! You get to live in Europe with the kids! The transition is rough, but you'll love it once you get there.

[Suna]

I agree with the last poster that it's really good for kids to get a chance to live in another culture--just make sure you get out and in it as much as you can!

I also wanted to say that I always enjoy your blog, so I nominated you for a Kreativ Blogger award. I linked to you on mine, just to let others know I appreciate your writing. Even the angst-filled stuff. :-)

(Believe me, in your situation I'd be jello)

[regina]

so it sounds odd but my mom lives in el paso (i was born and raised there) and if you decide not to sell your truck i can almost guarantee she would let you keep it at her house (though you are unlikely to make it back to el paso once you come back stateside). i bet she would even be willing to start it every once in awhile for you.
r

[Casey]

There are more homeschoolers here than you would think. DODDs is not the popular choice believe it or not!

Finding a used car will be easy! You are coming in PCS season and the lemon lot will be full.

Calling back to the states is easy now. Skype works if you have a fast enough connection, but even if you don't you can use your home phone. We pay an additional 4 euro a month for UNLIMITED calls back to landlines in the states. Easy enough!

And to address the person who mentioned public transportation to answer the car issue, this is not a viable solution. Public transport can't go on base, and clearly that is the place you go the most! :)

[Van Sales]

I visited this blog first time and found it very interesting and informative.. Keep up the good work thanks..