If you had the chance

[TLHB70]

We did it. We moved to Venezuela for DH's job. Because we made the move out of the country, he was offered a better job in the states when we returned. We were supposed to be there two years, but due to the political situation DH was only there about 1 1/3 years. DDs and I came home a little sooner; we were there for about a year. DH moved in November 2001. DDs and I moved there for 2002. (DH went before us so he could learn the area, find a place to live, get familiar at work, etc.) We were back in the states for February 2003. (Yes, we lived there during the coupe of Chavez in 2002.) I have to admit that it was a WONDERFUL experience! I am so happy that we did it and had the opportunity. DDs were 6 and 3 when we moved; they turned 7 and 4 while we lived there. I am a teacher, and I homeschooled DD while we lived there. We made so many wonderful friends, and we still keep in contact with them via email and phone calls. One of the friends has since moved to Cameroon, Africa.
I am thankful that my DDs had the experience too. They were young, but they remember a lot of it. Of course, they remember our friends.
I completely agreee with Carys. The offer package is so important. Many of the expats in Venezuela had drivers for their wives. I told DH that I did not need one. The company just got him a car. I stayed home with DDs during the days and did schoolwork. Then we would go out with DH after work for any errands/shopping, etc. I did have friends that took me places at times too. We had a pool at our place, and since it was Venezuela, we were able to swim just about every day. It was a great year!

 

[minkydog]

There was a time when I would have jumped at the chance to move overseas. We already live 400 miles from our families--it takes us 8 hours to drive home. Not a lot different if we lived in Europe, northern South America, or even the U.S. west coast. But now that DD16 is in high school I feel differently. *Her* life is here, with her friends. Although Im sure she would eventually adjust, I would not want to uproot her in 9th grade and then uproot her again in 11th grade. I just wouldn't do it. My DD is a junior this year, highly involved in her school's show choir, theater and dance. To remove her from this very comfortable setting, where she is a moderately big fish in a small pond, and set her down in a completely different culture with no prospects of seeing her dear friends(since 2nd grade!)-- I just wouldn't do it.

DH & I are planning to move to Washington state for the summers, starting in 2012(assuming we're all still here and the sun doesn't explode). We plan to take our RV on the road for about 2-3 months. I would never, never ask my DD16 to give up her life in order to fulfill MY dreams. In 2 years she will be safely away at college and THEN I can do what I want. It's a small sacrifice on our part to give her what she wants and needs now.

 

[AshleyW]

Germany for 2 years?! I'd be on the next plane over. I spent time there in high school and it truly is an AMAZING country. There's so much to do and see, it's incredible. I say go for it!

 

[ZephyrHawk]

YES!!

Although, I don't have kids right now, and I have a DH who's even more into adventure than I am. If I did have kids, I might think twice about it, but would likely come to the same decision in the end. I think any trouble they might experience would be offset by the benefits of living and learning in a foreign place.

 

[wvjules]

I found NHDisneylover's blog and I'm reading it now. I'll keep you all posted. Thanks for the great posts. There is a lot I need to think about, more than I realized actually.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Well, we DID move to Germany (Heidelberg area) in February. Our kids are 10 and 12. There have been rough times but overall it is a great experience for us and we would not change our decision.

We are actaully here on a German contract and likely long term (DH works for a German company and he is now at headquarters), which makes things a little different.

We are not millitray (nor working for it) meaning we do not get to go on base to shop (did you know yo ucannot get canned pumpkin or pie pumpkins here? graham crackers? Corn toritillas? etc.? Oh I am so jealouf of those with base access! Really though Iam gratefull to our soldiers).

The base schools were not an option for us. I hope they will be for you. We did put the kids in a local, private international school which teaches in English when we first arrived. It is the one thing we really regret. The school looks nice and says all the right things but was the worst palce for our kids. No one was learning a thing. Lots of bullying was going on. Never enough teachers on staff resulting in unqualified teachers in tons of classes. Just a terrible enviornment. I do not know a single family there who likes it--most people just feel trapped and as if it is their only option. Now the kids are in a German public school which is a serious challenge with the language but much better for them both.

Things we love:
visiting all the town festivals
living among amaing public transportation
castles and other fascinating things everywhere
learning a new language
enjoying food
all of Europe pretty much at our finger tips

Hard things:
mising family and friends
learning the langauge
missing foods and restruraunts
red tape (getting a German driver's licesence, registering to live in town, etc.)

Feel free to PM me if you want to ask questions (I do not know if you might be looking at one of the bases near Heidelberg)

 

[NHdisneylover]

I found NHDisneylover's blog and I'm reading it now. I'll keep you all posted. Thanks for the great posts. There is a lot I need to think about, more than I realized actually.

you posted that while I was posting I have not updated the blog in forever because the website was having lots of issues and I could not log in. I haven't tried recently (I was getting so frustrated with it) so I will try tonight

 

[golfgal]

I have a good friend that is doing this right now. Her husband took an assignment to Switzerland last year and their then 13 year old DD went with him. She LOVES it over there. They decided to move the rest of the family over this past summer (wife and 10 year old son). They have a great package, including 10 trips back home that they can use or have other family fly over on. The company pays for all their housing expenses over there along with a food allowance and a company car. They kept their house here and their oldest DD (23) is living at their house. They have 2 more years with options to extend. I would jump at a chance to do something like this.

 

[wvjules]

Well, we DID move to Germany (Heidelberg area) in February. Our kids are 10 and 12. There have been rough times but overall it is a great experience for us and we would not change our decision.

We are actaully here on a German contract and likely long term (DH works for a German company and he is now at headquarters), which makes things a little different.

We are not millitray (nor working for it) meaning we do not get to go on base to shop (did you know yo ucannot get canned pumpkin or pie pumpkins here? graham crackers? Corn toritillas? etc.? Oh I am so jealouf of those with base access! Really though Iam gratefull to our soldiers).

The base schools were not an option for us. I hope they will be for you. We did put the kids in a local, private international school which teaches in English when we first arrived. It is the one thing we really regret. The school looks nice and says all the right things but was the worst palce for our kids. No one was learning a thing. Lots of bullying was going on. Never enough teachers on staff resulting in unqualified teachers in tons of classes. Just a terrible enviornment. I do not know a single family there who likes it--most people just feel trapped and as if it is their only option. Now the kids are in a German public school which is a serious challenge with the language but much better for them both.

Things we love:
visiting all the town festivals
living among amaing public transportation
castles and other fascinating things everywhere
learning a new language
enjoying food
all of Europe pretty much at our finger tips

Hard things:
mising family and friends
learning the langauge
missing foods and restruraunts
red tape (getting a German driver's licesence, registering to live in town, etc.)

Feel free to PM me if you want to ask questions (I do not know if you might be looking at one of the bases near Heidelberg)

I'm not sure how far apart Pirmasens and Heidelberg are. But yes, near a base. If I'm not eligible to put DD in an American school then that really changes things. I'm only a contractor so we shall see. So many things to tihnk about...

Does your DH work for SAP?

 

[FireDancer]

I would do it in a second if it were anywhere in Europe. I can live without seeing my family for 2 years. I lived in FL for two years and didn't mind being away for one single minute. Moving permanently would be a different story and would require a little more thought but a temporary move...where do I sign up.

One of my friends from high school actually just signed a two year contract to work as a civilian nurse on a military base in Germany. She'll be there from Summer 2010 to Summer 2012 and I am already planning on going to visit.

 

[BeachGirlFLA]

My mom had a chance to move to New Zealand with her company when I was 10, but I had two dogs at the time and I didn't want to go and have to give them away. We ended up not going, but as an adult I wish that we had gone.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I'm not sure how far apart Pirmasens and Heidelberg are. But yes, near a base. If I'm not eligible to put DD in an American school then that really changes things. I'm only a contractor so we shall see. So many things to tihnk about...

Does your DH work for SAP?

No, he works for Freudenberg. Over half the kids at the international school the kids went to did have parents who work for SAP. There ARE good international schools in Germany (the one in Karlsruh has a great reputation)--but we learned you really have to dig far below what you first see to know which are the best options (the one the kids were at was an IB school which I thought meant something--but really it was ridiculous!). There is another, newer and smaller and not so pretty school that some kids moved to which seems to be a much better fit. My kids are in a public school actually designed for immigrant children so they work with the kids on the language which has been fantastic.
I am not trying to scare you off at all--but with a high schooler it is good to know that a gorgeous 20K Euro a year school can still be a bad thing. We were really blind sided by that.

Okay, I have to look on a map to see where Pirmasens is. The big SAP plant here is near Waldorf.

 

[Uuaww]

I basically am doing it. Sent to a Caribbean island. Let me tell you, it is a lot tougher when you go by yourself without anyone to help.

 

[luvsmickeymouse]

Yes!