Yesterday was plain awful...

My sister loves the musical, Annie. We watched our VHS version of Annie over and over until we knew all of the lines. Early in the musical, Annie sings, "Yesterday was plain awful...you can say that again...yesterday was plain awful, but that's not now, that's then." Yesterday and the day before were truly "plain awful." I spent Tuesday morning doing more paperwork, fingerprinting, etc. at the hospital. Matt went and met with the landlords while I was in a meeting during which I was totally overwhelmed with others saying, "We're so glad you are here. This is a huge job. How are you going to do it all?" Thanks.

In the meantime, Matt was able to open a bank account but the landlords got the painter to come early so they want us to move in Nov. 1 not Nov. 15th. Everything is paid here with bank transfers, but you can't open a bank account until you have an ID (CAC) and you can't have a CAC until you are "in the system." So, we have a bank account with no money in it and we need to give the landlords about $5K to move in (pretty standard in Germany). Ugh. Oh, and the previous tenant told Matt that if we wanted to keep the loaner furniture (closets, refrigerator, washer, dryer, microwave, etc.), we would have to go to the furnishings office before they closed at 2:30. It was then 1:30. Ugh. But we hadn't taken our contract to the housing office yet. So, we get to housing and the line is enormously long. We finally get called in, everything looks good, and we put our names on another list to try to cancel the pick up of the previous tenant's items. Matt has to go back to the apartment to work, so I drive him back (10 minutes away) and returned to be scolded for not being there when my name was called...there had been about 15 people in front of me. The German national who helped me was actually very sweet. She cancelled the pick up and told me where to go grocery shopping off post, given our distaste for the cold on-base, teeny-bopper shopping mall and limited selection, not so fresh produce at the commissary. So, after more online paperwork, we head out to Aldi (similar to the ones in the states). We found lots of bargains! We approaced the checker who said, "Oh, we don't take credit." You can go to the bank and I will hold your groceries. So, we run to the car (Aldi closed in 30 minutes) and I drive frantically through the curvy streets of our new hometown (Ramstein), searching for a bank. Oh, did I mention that we're almost out of gas. So, amidst the frantic running around, we stop to get gas. A kind woman is able to describe in broken English where I can find an ATM. We make it there, grab the cash and return to Aldi. The checker greeted us with a smile and sent us on our way.



YESTERDAY...we were told to be at the driver's orientation and testing facility at 7:15 to ensure that we got a seat in the class, so we left our house at 6:30 to make sure we could get there in time. We arrived at 7:10 and when the window booths opened at 7:30, we were told that we were in the wrong place. So we follow someone to the "right" place, but the facility was closed for a private function. So, after a long time, we are led to a conference room where we waited. The room slowly filled. Finally by 9:30, we were listening to the orientation. Then we registered and Matt got bumped from the class. By this time it was noon. The test was at 12:30, so we grabbed lunch and hurried back. The test didn't start until after 1:00. I passed and we were out of there by 1:45. We raced back to base to deposit the money in our new bank account so that it could be wired to our landlords for our move on Sunday....dropped Matt off and raced to the hospital for my drug test. Then, we spent way too much time at the dreaded mall on base researching internet and phone...nothing is cheap. We came home exhausted and I found out that my doctor doesn't have my vaccination records that I need for my pre-employment physical...ugh. I had a mini-meltdown...."but that's not now...that's then."

Donahue Haus...burgs, dorfs, and strasses, oh my!

Kelly: After a weekend of exploring many ...burgs, ...dorfs, and ...strasses, we saw a military-approved house in the village of Ramstein listed on the housing website. The house was located on a little alley at the edge of town with great walkability to grocery stores and the train, which would eliminate the need for us to purchase a second car. It is about 4 miles from my work if Matt were to drop me at the pedestrian gate and 10 miles going around the big hill to the only gate that allows vehicles to enter. Needless to say, we were in love with it based solely on the location. I called to inquire about the rental this morning and was told to come by between ten and noon for an open house because the landlords had received so many inquiries already. So, Matt and I drove over, parked along the curb outside and waited until 10. We watched one of our competitors move in before us...he was in uniform (strike one against us). The house was completely charming, really big, had two garages and had a lovely garden. The landlords were very nice. It was by far the best we had seen in person or online! I really wanted the house but was trying not to get too excited about it. We reluctantly drove to more ...burgs, ...dorfs, and ...strasses but nothing compared! The owners said that they would call all of the applicants this evening and inform them whether or not they were "the chosen ones."

Fortunately, we were distracted from worrying about it by our trip to a little base about 35 minutes away to procure the cherised ID cards. We missed a turn on the way and had to drive to the next autobahn exit then retrace our route back to the maze of lights and gates before arriving at our destination. We were greeted (if you can call a gruff command: "Two forms of ID" a greeting) by a man who proceeded to tell us that he had been up since 3 AM.... you can see where I'm going with this. After we divulged all of our personal information including fingerprints and blood type (not even kidding), I was given the coveted ID card, and Matt was given a less-flashy but equally priveleged version of the same. This process took way longer than expected and the Travel office we needed to visit was closed by the time that we were free...bummer.

We trekked back home to wait for a call from the landlords. I checked the military-approved housing list, as I had been compulsively doing since I realized how fierce the market was, and was dismayed to find that our beloved house had been removed from the listings. My heart sank. As Matt and I were drowning our sorrows in choclate, the phone rang...you guessed it, we got the house!!! We were both overwhelmed with relief. We will meet them to finish the paperwork tomorrow and then drive it to the housing office for final approval. Move-in date is TBD based on when the house can be painted but will likely be in mid-November. Woo hoo! I am very grateful.

Whirlwind Week

Kelly: What time is it? What day is it? This week was definitely a whirlwind. Everything is time consuming. Yesterday, I spent most of the day trying to track down our household goods and researching places to live and then driving to various towns (with the help of our rented GPS). Old German towns are so charming but confusing. Some interesting differences from the US: driving on the curb is allowed, driving on the pedestrian walks is sometimes allowed, small cars really are necessary for navigating tight turns. We learned that the above sign means "Detour" and should be followed! No harm done.

We've chosen a few favorite towns including downtown Landstuhl, which is just a heart-pumping walk up a steep hill to the hospital. We also like a little village called Atzel, which is on top of the hill, across the road from the hospital. Unfortunately, we found zero prospectice rentals in each of those areas. We're going to check out the nearest big city, Kaiserslautern (K-town), today. We're meeting an "Immobilien" (German realtor) to check out one home on the outskirts of the city. The commute from K-town would be about 25 minutes and I could take a train if necessary.

We finished our day with a trip to the gym. I hadn't had a good workout since the end of September. Once we found the new and beautiful facility, we were impressed with the friendly staff and modern design. It is equipped with plenty of cardio equipment, an enormous weight room that I described as "intimidating" but that Matt termed "motivating," a racquetball court (Matt was happy about that), and a sauna (I was happy about that). Both Matt and I had a great workout and feel more like ourselves...amazing what adding a bit of normalcy will do for my mood!

Day 0

Matthew: I don't and honestly likely won't type often but today (or yesterday-what day is it anyhow?) was "special". "Special" is when you don't sleep for more than 24 hours and spent the better part of the night cramming your 6 foot 5 frame into the washroom of a transatlantic flight either soothing a panicked cat out of its travel bag or ramming meds down its throat to maintain its hazy awareness of the situation.

Ah Germany the land of beer and well known food delicacies for visitors to enjoy and experience......I ate a turkey sub at Subway in front of the Taco Bell while sipping iced tea.....I'll be delaying my investigation of the German diet until another day :) .

We have arrived!

Kelly: The last 24 hours have been a roller coaster of emotions and experiences...saying goodbye to our favorite neighbors...hanging out with my parents and in-laws in our empty house while the new renter and the substitute real estate agent (who mixed up the days) did a pre-rental walk-though....watching Matt try to get xanax into our kitty's throat...saying goodbye to my parents at Dulles...going through security with the cat...the long, sleepless but professional and pleasant flight while Matt intermittently took the cat in her carrier into the oh-so-small bathroom for additional doses of anti-anxiety meds...breezing through customs without a glance at the hours and hours of pet paperwork...arriving at Ramstein to meet my supervisor for the first time...cramming our big bags and cat into my supervisor's beautiful Audi as she shuttled us around...trying to sign in to temporary housing at 10:00 only to find that we couldn't sign in until 2:00pm...trying to keep the cat calm while we grocery shopped with my new boss, ate lunch with my new boss, and received an introduction to housing in which we found out that our options would be "thin"...all on zero sleep.

Considering all of that, we're doing well. The weather was beautiful today, and the leaves covering the rolling hills (reminiscent of Western Maryland) are just beginning to change. When we were finally able to check in to our temporary housing, we were surprised that it isn't as hideous as we imagined. We can walk to the commissary and to wooded trails on base. Mialley seems to be adjusting fairly well. Matt took a short nap and is feeling a bit better. Tomorrow we will get our ID cards which will allow us to move freely on base, to establish bank accounts, to rent a car, etc.

We're in Germany!

Last Minute Details

Kelly: The last minute details have definitely turned into the last hours details. What should've taken 15 minutes, took 1.5 hours...getting Mialley's paperwork in order has been more difficult than arranging ours! After a frustrating experience at the USDA, I think Mialley is ready to go. She is still groggy today, not from her xanax but from her panic episodes on the way to and from the vet. We half-moved in to a hotel for the remainder of our days in Maryland. I didn't want to leave Miles last night, so we slept on the air mattress with Miles at our feet. I love that little furball!

Today has been and will continue to be filled with household chores, address changes, and phone calls. It is hard to imagine that we'll be living in Germany on Tuesday!

Family Travels

Kelly: I just returned from a week of visiting family. I spent two days with my family before Matt joined me for a going away party at my parents' house. I truly enjoyed spending time with my sisters and adorable niece, and I don't think that I would've had this opportunity to spend such dedicated chunks of time with them if I weren't moving to a foreign country. Goodbyes are always tough, but saying goodbye to Ava and my grandpa were definitely the most difficult!

Matt and I then set out for Connecticut. We took a meandering, spontaneous route visiting Ithaca and several scary little towns in Connecticut (yes, I didn't know CT could be scary, but it can!). We had a so-so night (chain restaurant and interstate motel) in Waterbury and then spent the next day in New Haven. What a great time! We took advantage of the free cultural experiences and thoroughly enjoyed the Yale Art Gallery (from classic Monet to contemporary shovel hanging from the ceiling) and the Yale School of Architecture Green Building exhibit. Both were fabulous and the latter stoked Matt's desire to live in a prefab/green home. The serenity of the day came to a screeching halt with the arrival of our niece and nephews. It was a very busy evening of bracelet-making, book reading, and Wii-playing. Mark gave me flowers and Matt a drawing. Meghan gave me lavender scented dryer bags. Despite the hectic evening, it was great to see them, and it made our arrival at the healthy, eco-friendly Green Rocks Inn even sweeter. Set in a very nice area of CT, the quintessential cedar-shake sided home breathed relaxation. I soaked in a wonderful bath, we slept on a comfortable bed, and we chatted with the friendly hostesses. My only complaint was the limited gluten-free breakfast choices despite calling ahead and arranging gluten-free options. We left rejuvenated and ready to tackle the hours of traffic and calls to credit card companies that were ahead of us.

I had a great trip, but saying goodbye highlights how quickly our departure is approaching!

The leak that drained the bank

Kelly: So, we knew that we had a leak in our shower. Matt removed all of the old, nasty grout and re-caulked it. No more problems. One month ago, I noticed a spot on the dining room ceiling (AKA the bathtub is leaking again). We called our contractor who assessed the problem and said it would take 2-3 days max (famous last words) and that he'd call with an estimate of the cost. One day passes...no estimate. Two days pass...no estimate. Five days and many phone calls and emails later...no estimate. So, we contacted another contractor who said the problem was bigger because all of the walls were wet and needed to be torn out and replaced along with the sub floor. Translation... $$$. We have no choice. We leave in two weeks. So, we signed on the dotted line. Yesterday, the manager and the two contractors (Carlos and Julio...I'm not even kidding) worked all day. We returned home at about 8:00 pm, pleased to see everything removed but depressed by the extent of the water damage. We later learned that the toilet seal was broken and had been leaking for who knows how long. Translation... $$$ We returned to the kitchen to make dinner, but when I turned on the faucet...not a drip. So, I guarded the bare pipes and Matt turned on the water.
"Ready?" he said.
"Go ahead," I replied.
"Any problems?" he yelled.
"Seems okay," I returned. So Matt clamored up the steps just as the water began to shoot from the toilet valve in a sprinkler-like pattern and trickle from the pipe near the tub. Matt zoomed to the basement to turn the water off. I attempted to stem the flow of water. Ugh. Matt was done and was ready to dial the Hampton inn's number. I was not having it. I called the neighbors who graciously allowed us the use of their basement bathroom and shower.

Today we waited 4.5 hours for the shower to be delivered to learn that the essential drain piece was not included. Fabulous. Carlos and Julio are now banging away efficiently upstairs. I'm hoping that I'll be able to flush a toilet and boil water tonight. Oh, the simple things we take for granted.

We are appreciating the little things and are convinced that this experience will make moving to a foreign county seem a little easier.

From DINK to SINK

Kelly: Yesterday was my last day of full-time work, which makes Matt and me SINKs (Single Income No Kids) rather than DINKs (Dual Income No Kids). I'm ready to be finished with that job, yet not having a "job," even if just temporarily, feels really strange. I didn't think that I defined myself by what I did, but perhaps there was more ego involved than what appeared on the surface. Given that I would like to be self-employed and pursue a business venture with Matt in the near future, I really need to think about the concept of "employment." My dad has worked for the same company for about 35 years. The idea of going TO work FOR an employer, putting in a standard 40-hour week, is all that I knew. Sure, I have plenty of different models now for nontraditional work, yet there is still a pull to be employed BY someone. I thought that ending my job would be an exciting and freeing experience. Instead, it was anti-climactic and thought-provoking....just the beginning of the education I'm about to receive!