When Casey and I first found out we were moving to Germany, we were ecstatic! We immediately popped open some German beers and celebrated by calling all of our friends and family. But then as the excitement settled a bit over the next couple of weeks, anxiety started to set in. This wasn’t just our first BIG move, but this was going to be my very first time in Europe! I had no clue what to expect. So what did I do? I searched every blog I could get my hands on to learn everything I could. Though many of those blogs were super helpful, I still felt like I wasn’t getting all the info (specific for military members/families)… which is what inspired me to write this post.
Here are 5 things I wish we had known before we said goodbye to the USA (for now!).
1. Be prepared for a delayed flight.
Our flight was out of Baltimore, Maryland set to leave that evening. After arriving at the airport, organizing all of our bags and waiting in line for over 2 hours, we found out that our flight was delayed for 24 hours! We were VERY unhappy. They do provide you with a night in a nearby hotel and a couple of meals to get you by, but only after you wait another couple of hours or more for a signed voucher. I felt so bad for those with kiddos and pups. (Hudson joined us later once we were settled in Germany.)
2. Sleep as much as you can on the flight over.
Ok, so I was given this bit of advice before leaving, but I think it’s an important tip to pass along. If your flight is in the evening (most flights leaving from the states are) you will have an easier time with your jet lag if you can sleep on the plane ride over. Wear comfortable clothes, limit screen time, bring earplugs, and whatever you need to make it easier to catch some Z’s. Once you arrive, stay awake as long as you can until bedtime. This was tough for me!
3. One of your first meals in Germany might be fast food.
This was something that I definitely wasn’t expecting! After arriving at Ramstein AFB, we took a bus and settled into an off-post hotel for the night. Jet lag was kicking in strong at that point! In the morning, we hopped on a bus to Grafenwoehr (our duty station). During the drive to your post, you will most likely stop at none other than McDonald’s. I understand that this is convenient and the most simple stops to make when you have a full bus of hungry people, but I was disappointed. I hadn’t had it in over 3 years! I will say, the McDonald’s are a little different here and some different menu items, so that was neat to see.
4. You may not being staying on post while you find housing.
The on-post hotels can only hold so many people and often book up well in advance! My advice, call as soon as you receive orders to make a reservation. If they don’t have room at the on-post hotel, you will be given an off-post option. It’s not the worst of scenarios, but it’s super convenient to be on-post since you most likely won’t have your car or German driver’s license yet. We were lucky (thanks to a friend!) to get a room on post which made in-processing much easier.
5. Relax and enjoy the journey!
This may seem like an obvious “tip”, but it’s so easy to get caught up in all of the paperwork and stress of moving. You will often be overwhelmed and will feel like you are going to break. Especially after little sleep and a loooong journey over. Just remember that no matter what, things will get done and everything will be ok. There are many tools, resources and people to help you along the way also. You won’t be left high and dry. If you need something to help relax you, a good German hefeweizen should do the trick!
For more Germany PCS (Permanent Change of Station) tips, read my article here at www.rightandup.com! Another awesome blog with great tips for military spouses and the like.