Expating to Germany early next year. I need all the experience and wisdom I can get my hands on!

[blondeatlast]

We expected the news for a while and the final word came on Monday. I'm very excited, I want to do this, but it's gonna be tough leaving my family and my beautifl home behind (we'll probably have to rent it out which scares me as much as the move!).

My son's 11 and he's aware of it already--not thrilled about changing schools (he's had to change twice in 2 years due to a move and building a new school) but he's ready as he can be and looking forward to the adventure (mostly).

Any advice on how to prepare? Good sites to get info? Mr. @Last's employer will be handling the technicalities--but they can't help with the emotions and social anxiety!

I can't stand the irony, either--finally we get that miserable runtlike creature out of the WH and NOW the @Last's are leaving the country...

[lizziegrace]

1. Miss Honeychurch lives there

and LynzM has lived there. I'd ask them both.

Good luck!

[blondeatlast]

2. Thank you! I'm a very delighted, but very nervous wreck... nt

[lizziegrace]

4. When I was in elementary school

my father planned to move us to Paris with GE. We were all for it, but my mother absolutely refused. Even though there were thousands of employees there with american schools and all, she wanted no part of learning the language and dealing with a new culture. So, he didn't take the job and we moved to Dallas for 2 years, then to Memphis until I got married.

It should be quite an adventure. :)

[SarahB]

10. I'd second on LynzM especially.

I know her and her husband were tentatively planning a move there again for awhile. One of my friend's husbands is German, but he's nto a DUer.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

3. where does 48percenter (is that right?) live?

She is in Europe, I am thinking Germany. She is friends with MissHoneychurch. Good Luck :hug:

[blondeatlast]

5. Sounds like I have friends already! We visited in 2006

(Berlin, dresden, and Glasshutte) and loved it.

It was that or Prague and we got our first wish!

[mnhtnbb]

6. Where in Germany are you going? My son participated in a

German student exchange program two years ago; we hosted a student for three weeks and my son
lived with that boy's family for three weeks.

It's an ongoing program that the German teacher in our high school participates in every other year.
She has counterparts in Germany that might be helpful to you, if they're located near where you will be.

[blondeatlast]

7. Cologne/Bonn area. Thanks. nt

[mnhtnbb]

9. He was near Koblenz, which is only about 40 miles from Bonn.

If you'd like, I can contact the German teacher (she adored my son)and see if she has any
connections in the area.

[blondeatlast]

11. Let me talk to my son; I think it would be great for him to get to know someone via

the net before he goes but he's NOT a self-starter (or finisher!) :rofl:

[JVS]

8. Tell your son that the German schoolday is shorter than the US one.

[blondeatlast]

12. That will help immensely!

:rofl:

[XemaSab]

13. You're 8 years too late on that one

:hide:

[blondeatlast]

14. Trust me, the irony was KILLING me. I told Mr. @L when he told me that

I KNEW Obama would win; I guaranteed him that!

We visited Dresden in 2006 and had to buy train tickets that were lost. We went to a travel agancy just around the corner from the hotel and the woman flat out told us "I won't help Americans. I hate your George Bush." I couldn't help but laugh and tell her she could not possibly hate him worse than I!

Fortunately, a much nicer woman came over and took it from there--and apologized profusely. Still, it kinda hurt!