who knew...
/Who knew moving to a foreign country would require so much work?! People have been asking me if I'm excited, and I am, but honestly, right now, I'm just in survival mode. I thought planning our last move from Pennsylvania to North Carolina was a headache, but coordinating an international move is a whole new ballgame...
Figuring out how to manage our money overseas without losing all of it to foreign transaction fees. Hobo doesn't look good on me.
The emotional roller coaster that preparing to uproot your life causes. One second, I'm mapping out weekend trips to Paris and yelling "peace out u.s.a."... the next, I'm in a corner rocking back and forth mourning the loss of our first home (which isn't even for sale yet, BTW) and imagining that I'll never make new friends.
Apartment hunting online. Learning that German apartments don't include kitchens... you have to buy them yourself just like furniture. Thank Scandinavia for Ikea.
Drowning in a puddle of tears because you have the best pals ever who send you "OMG YOU'RE MOVING TO GERMANY!" packages when said emotional amusement ride gets the best of you. My BFFs are better than yours.
When you have a friend who's a pro artist, you get amazing handmade cards like this. You're awesome, A.Trest.
Megan knows the way to my heart... coffee and chocolate. Lots of chocolate. Thanks for letting me use your lunch break to have a nervous breakdown :)
Thanking my lucky stars that most apartments we've looked at online have a proper bathroom with a real shower not created exclusively for use by children and hobbits. I'd nearly worked myself into a frenzy after watching years of House Hunters International and seeing so many places with bathrooms I wouldn't even wish on my worst enemy.
Trying to learn a new language. Newsflash: This is WAY more difficult as an adult - it was far easier in the second grade before I had useless information like the words to Chumbawumba's Tubthumping taking up valuable mindspace. So far I know wasser (water) and apfel (apple), so obviously, I'm going to have NO problems communicating in a foreign land.
Figuring out how to get our Scottish terrier over there. He's never flown, and he HATES being near people and not being able to love on them. Like any good parent, I thought sedation would be the best option, but apparently, that's a no-no for airborne pets. Any recommendations on whether it's best to carry on or send as cargo and the safest way to do either is welcome.
Trying to resist buying all new clothes so that I have a new wardrobe to wear to buy new clothes when I arrive in Europe. What? I can't look like an American slob while shopping.
Getting our house ready to put on the market. Rearranging your furniture and cursing yourself because you haven't been enjoying it this way all along.
Deciding what to ship and what to store. Oh, KitchenAid mixer, I'm going to miss you like woah. Seriously though, I might cry.
In case you haven't gathered from my lack of knowledge on all fronts regarding expatriation, we don't know that many people who have moved internationally (other than studying abroad or military moves), so any and all tips are welcome!
xoxo,
