PCSing OCONUS with a Vehicle

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July 3, 2014 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

When we PCSed to Hawaii, we didn’t ship a personal vehicle.
We sold both our cars since we needed a larger one for our growing family and we figured we’d only need one vehicle while living on base.

When we PCSed to Germany, we shipped our van at the latest possible moment.

The email said 20 June as the latest possible date for the arrival of my minivan in Germany.

We had waited as patiently as possible for almost a month, renting a car for Memorial Day weekend to find a house.

We prayed fervently and quickly purchased a second vehicle for Aaron to drive to and from work. It’s a 5-seater Audi A6 – and we crammed those kids in the back to go to church on base for a couple Sundays.

Of course the website for the POV shipment was down all month so we couldn’t check the status. Did the boat sink? When would I get my van?

Thursday afternoon, my husband emailed the contract carrier, asking for a status report.

Nothing.

Nothing all day Friday.

What’s the point of a due date if it just passes us by?

Saturday, we went to the library so I could use the wi-fi and the kids could get their weekly reading prizes.

When my husband checked his email, there was one alerting us about the arrival of our van. Sent at 5:30 on Friday.

It wouldn’t have mattered if we had received that email immediately. The offices were closed by 4 or 5 on Friday.

Monday morning, we were up bright and early (way early for me – 0600!) and headed out to begin the paperwork to get my van.

We proceeded to jump through all sorts of hoops in order to get my minivan. (We’re thankful it’s paid for. It’s a 2007 Dodge Caravan. We bought it new in Hawaii and it’s served us well. We pray it lasts through this tour here in Germany.)

Because it’s really my T.A.R.D.I.S., remember?

Three different buildings, luckily for us, they were all back to back to back. We were worried we’d have to drive all over base to get all the paperwork completed.

At the vehicle registration office, we had to show proof of ownership, the shipping documents, my military dependent ID, German USAREUR driver’s license. I expected them to ask for a pint of blood and rights to my firstborn. Forms were filled out and payment was made.

We were issued temporary license plates. We had to go to the shipment office to verify ownership and check it over for damage. One back taillight was chipped.

Then we had to drive to the next building over for vehicle inspection. We had heard horror stories of how picky they could be and would often fail vehicles for very minor cosmetic damage. I have a tiny chip in the windshield and the corner of the rear bumper has a little rust and dent. And that chipped tail light. We prayed.

They checked over the exterior, they drove it to check the brakes, lights, and horn. They viewed the undercarriage.

They informed us we had to remove all stickers (we still had an inspection sticker and base ID label from Hawaii) and to monitor that chip in the windshield. If it gets more than 1/2 inch, we have to replace the windshield.

They provided us with a razor blade, and we gladly scraped off those stickers in a hurry.

We passed. Whew!

On to the vehicle registration office (a different one beside the inspection building) to get our permanent license plates. We paid and then drove off to get our gasoline ration card.

At the Shoppette, we showed the registration to a clerk and received an Esso gas ration card (that only works for us in Germany) – it looks like a debit card and allows us to buy gasoline tax-free. We are allotted 400-600 ℓ each month. Each time we buy gas, we have to take this card from the pump into the Shoppette to pay with our ration card. Unleaded gas this week on base is about $3.92/gallon. Off base, it’s about E1.67/ℓ. We also can load the card with Euro to purchase at Esso stations throughout Europe for tax-free, but we still must remain under the ration amount.

The Vogelweh Shoppette has regular unleaded for about $3.92/g but the Ramstein Shoppette has only mid-grade and premium.

Guess where I get my gas?

So, we’re ready to roll now!

Now to become an expert in backing into tight parking spots and maneuvering my big American vehicle on these narrow German roads.

Resources:

Third Culture Kids 3rd Edition: Growing up among worlds by Ruth E. Van Reken, Michael V. Pollock, David C. Pollock
This Is Where You Belong: Finding Home Wherever You Are by Melody Warnick
Almost There: Searching for Home in a Life on the Move by Bekah DiFelice
God Strong: The Military Wife’s Spiritual Survival Guide by Sara Horn
Tour of Duty: Preparing Our Hearts for Deployment: A Bible Study for Military Wives by Sara Horn
Chicken Soup for the Military Wife’s Soul: 101 Stories to Touch the Heart and Rekindle the Spirit by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, and Charles Preston
Faith Deployed: Daily Encouragement for Military Wives by Jocelyn Green
Faith Deployed…Again: More Daily Encouragement for Military Wives by Jocelyn Green
Faith, Hope, Love, & Deployment: 40 Devotions for Military Couples by Heather Gray

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What to Do with Clothes in Germany

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July 1, 2014 By Jennifer Lambert 1 Comment

Most German houses don’t have closets. They have to buy Schränken – wardrobes. Some are simple cabinets with a shelf and rod to hang clothes. Others are monstrous wall units with drawers, shelves, cabinets, and a place to hang clothes.

We are allotted seven wardrobes from FMO (Furniture Management Office) during our stay here in Germany. We are more than lucky that our master bedroom has this huge walk-in closet. But I am allotted seven, so you know I found use for every single one of them. Two in the girls’ room, one in Alex’s room, one in Liz’s room, one in the hallway for coats, one in the laundry area for towels and whatnot, and one in the schoolroom to cram everything I can out of sight and out of reach of little hands.

I had to come all the way to Germany for the awesome washer and dryer of my dreams.

These lovely brand-spanking-new laundry units are mine on loan from FMO (Furniture Management Office) for three years.

They sing to me when they’ve completed a cycle. They’re sweet like that. All the settings are in German, so I just play with it until it feels right. Google Translate is our friend. I do know the difference between wool and cotton. I seldom wear wool (Wolle), so that’s easy.

The washer has to drain water into a sink since there’s no connection for a drain hose. So that’s special.

The dryer is a condenser which means that it collects all the water from the wet clothes and has to be emptied after each load. There is no big metal vent that connects to the wall like with American dryers. I just use it to water plants.

These units are just plug and go. It seems simpler and efficient.

This is a Flügeltrockner. It means “winged dryer.” It folds up flat for storage. It has two “wings” that unfold to hang clothes to dry. All utilities are more expensive here, so if we don’t have to use the dryer, the better. I basically just use the dryer for underwear and towels.

And, just so you know, that’s my band name. Flügeltrockner.

My bathroom is like a greenhouse. I can’t wait to stock it full of orchids and plants.

It’s huge and has a toilet, two pedestal sinks, a shower, a jetted tub, urinal, and bidet. No storage! No cabinets. No shelves.

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Nature Trail

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June 25, 2014 By Jennifer Lambert 2 Comments

I discovered a trail that circles our German village. It’s about 3 miles at its shortest. It meanders through the forest, with wild strawberry and blackberry patches offering up their fruit to hungry hikers.

The canopy of trees overhead all but blocks out the bright sun and makes the temperature feel much cooler.

Horses and riders, cyclists, runners, and walkers share the wide path. A few couples must have thought I am that crazy American taking pictures of every odd wildflower and lizard I came across.

Apparently, everyone in the village knows who we are, what our names are, that we live over the GetränkeShop.

So, I don’t want the villagers to think ill of us. With all the windows open all the time, I constantly urge the kids to be quieter. I know their squeals and singing carries down the street.

In the woods, it was quiet except for birdsong and bees and the occasional squirrel running along branches or lizard scurrying through the underbrush.

I love the views from the trail of the village rooftops.

I was taken with the various wildflowers.

I absolutely love these!

These little black beetles are everywhere.

I caressed the mossy old trees.

I felt like I was in a fairy tale. Magic could happen in this forest.

Towards the end of the trail there is a little babbling brook.

I look forward to the changing seasons here. Early summer is gorgeous, cool and sweet in the morning and warm in the afternoon sunshine, and promising to bring wild blackberries soon!

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Learning to Be Quiet

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June 23, 2014 By Jennifer Lambert 1 Comment

I know I’m critical and judgmental. I don’t sugar coat nothing and my husband complains that he can do no right.

During times of stress, it gets worse.

Like on a day when I’ve unpacked the whole house, cooked meals, cleaned the kitchen and floors, bathed the children, and he’s lying on the sofa playing his iPod.

I’m working through this. Breathe in. Breathe out.

It’s gotta be beer thirty or wine o’clock already.

But I try really hard to appear supportive in public.

I don’t want to be that wife. The one who the Army Sergeant Majors cringe about and are embarrassed for the husband.

They confided to my husband: “Our wives criticize us in private. They give us The Look and we know we’re gonna get it when we’re alone. But she berates him in public, in front of everybody and anybody. It’s sad.”

During a shopping on the German economy class, a lady who has lived here for many years informed me that everyone knows who the Americans are when they yell at their kids in public.

So I’ve been observant. Germans gently pull their kids aside (in a store, at the park, wherever) and speak quietly and firmly to their child. German parents are present, close, quiet, calm.

I’m practicing this.

I’m learning to be quiet.

I think being quiet is scarier.

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Being Still

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June 19, 2014 By Jennifer Lambert 1 Comment

Being without a phone, Internet, mobile, my minivan, or a washer and dryer makes one reevaluate what’s really important.

Obviously, it’s not laundry.

So, while I refuse to walk past that basket with the growing mounds of laundry eagerly awaiting the delivery of our washer and dryer…

I spend more time:

really listening to my children as they prattle on
reading to my children and discussing
making healthy meals from scratch (We don’t have a microwave! yay!)
going on walks and hikes to explore our new home
helping the kids with their chores (it goes much more quickly with many hands)
teaching Bible lessons every morning
singing while Liz plays piano
listening to the birds outside my window
taking the kids to the backerei on the corner and letting them pick out something new and fun and delicious
having homemade ice cream with coffee

This summer is teaching me many lessons in being still and patient and present with my babies. Being stuck in hotels and living out of suitcases for a couple months and then having no vehicle or even the ability to drive – being without the luxuries we come to expect as convenient is helping me slow down and appreciate my family more.

We purged a great deal before we moved and we’re realizing as we can’t find a place for some things that we don’t really need them that much.

I plan to continue with these positive changes after we get more organized and back on the grid. I refuse to let my mobile phone or the Internet control me like it once did.

I will be present for my family and only use the computer and phone during set office hours.

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New Routine

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June 18, 2014 By Jennifer Lambert 2 Comments

Our first Monday in our new house in Germany.

I have the school room unpacked but not organized.

I have no desk. My desk items are in a pile in the corner.

For breakfast, I made French toast with the cool griddle we got Aaron for Father’s Day.

Homeschooling is legal for us in Germany because we are an American family on SOFA status since my husband works for the Air Force. He works at Landstuhl Hospital.

We began with Bible reading in my sitting room. Then the kids went off to their desks to complete their Bible notebooking.

They got distracted and had to play an art game. Of course.

I herded them back. We completed our other read alouds.

They completed their math lessons.

We had ham sandwiches and fruit for lunch. The ham is from the backerei on the corner. And somehow, there was Nutella too. Because I think Nutella is mandatory in all of Europe.

Liz set up The Lion King as recommended from our Bible lesson. We watched up to the point when Rafiki exclaims “Simba is alive!”

Then the kids walked down to the darling village park with all their sand toys. They met two new friends – one German boy and one American boy.

It’s a cool, cloudy day. The birds sing. We live in the middle of a forest.

So far, I am pleased with our lifestyle changes.

How is it different?

The kids have no closets. The bathrooms have no cabinets. There is nowhere to put coats. There is no storage!

Luckily, we get seven wardrobes allotted and they will be delivered this week with our washer and dryer. Just to find the space to put them…

We have no microwave (I chose not to have one and well I did since there is no counter space). I am eliminating our use of plastic in the kitchen (the kids are desperately hanging onto a few cups).

We have no crackers or junk food or American snacky things. The money I save from buying those things makes up for the higher cost of the amazingly better quality food I want to buy for meals.

Even though we have a German refrigerator in the kitchen and honking huge American fridge/freezer combo in the dining room, I am loving shopping and eating like the locals do. Every couple days, we go to the store to shop for the next couple days. We eat everything fresh. There’s no room to stockpile or store extra anything! On the odd days, we eat leftovers or the few items I have in the freezer “just in case.”

On Saturdays, we have a little farmers market directly across the street – year round! We bought grapes, a watermelon, fresh peas, and white asparagus. I could have bought so much more, but there was no way we could eat it all in a couple days.

The kids were ecstatic to get fresh peas.

Just look at that pork chop. I am so loving the food.

Every afternoon during the week and on Saturday mornings, there is a little drink shop open by our house, in our same building.

The shop owner is kind and gave my kids Italian ices the day we moved in.

I baked muffins our first morning and took the shopkeeper and our downstairs neighbor some with our names on a card.

I love the simplicity of no waste and everything in its place.

So, what do I dislike?

The tile floors (while super easy to keep clean) bruise my feet so I must wear slippers for padding. And they’re cold.

The lack of storage. We don’t have a garage or carport, just two parking spaces across the street. We have a cellar and shed that we piled all our stuff into.

No garden! We have no front yard, just a courtyard shared with the shopkeeper and the house next door – that is vacant and for sale. Our back yard is teeny tiny.

The garbage situation is confusing. There is a book to help us make sense of it. A BOOK. We must separate paper and glass from other recyclables that go in the gold bags. Organic compost waste from rubbish. Paper is picked up monthly. Rubbish is every two weeks. And they’re picky. We could be fined for making a mistake. We get Euro credit for most bottle returns. Non-exchange bottles go in marked containers depending on the color of the glass: green, brown, or white. We’re lucky that we have a compartmented garbage can built in under the kitchen sink. And all the waste cans are in a little shed across the street.

But these are small inconveniences for the lovely experience of living here.

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New Nature Studies

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June 12, 2014 By Jennifer Lambert 1 Comment

The kids and I are excited to explore our new home and the huge forest we’re going to live in.

We have hats (ticks) and homemade bug spray (with essential oils) and we’re anxious to get settled and go hiking. I hear there’s a gorgeous lake not too far from our village. We shall find it.

We stopped at one of the makeshift parking spots by the roadside and had a snack and saw some lovely flowers and critters.

I’m thinking this is Queen Anne’s Lace or some wild parsley.

These lavender flowers (probably common speedwell) are by the roadside everywhere. And red-orange poppies. Gorgeous. And the dog roses and clover smell so sweet.

I’ve been trying to identify the birds around here. We have sparrows, crows, blackbirds, starlings, swallows darting all over – and some darling black and white tufted guys (I think it’s a crested tit).

I do loved the blackbirds when they chatter. They sound like an old typewriter.

This one is a type of robin, probably a redstart.

We stood watching this guy on a blade of grass for quite some time.

We are enraptured by the red tufted squirrels. They are the cutest things! I need to snap a photo. They’re not real shy but I haven’t had my camera on our walks around base.

Luckily, the base library has some nifty nature guides to tide us over for a while.

The kids are loving collecting the seedpods from all the trees around here. Sweetgum, maples, beech, oaks…and all the magnificent evergreens.

I can’t wait to print some notebooking pages for our new studies and for all our art supplies and notebooks to arrive this week!

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Chance of a Lifetime: Living in Germany

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May 27, 2014 By Jennifer Lambert 7 Comments

Wondering what we’ve been up to?

You seriously need to follow me on social media if you don’t know we’ve been in the process of moving to Germany.

We arrived at last week.

Here are our adventures moving to Germany…

I had some creative packing and planning to do these last couple months, beginning in mid-April.

Traveling with pets is not cheap or fun, but they’re part of our family. We flew the cats out to my parents so we could pack up and not have to worry about them with the movers there. There was no way they were traveling in the van with us and meowing the whole way!

We stayed in TLF at Hill AFB for a couple weeks until my husband was released from base.

We road-tripped from Utah to Georgia in a very cramped minivan.

We stayed a couple weeks with my parents. I think they were tired of us after a week.

We flew from Atlanta to Baltimore to Germany with two cats and four kids, nine suitcases and twelve carryons.

We’re now in TLF in Germany until we can move into our house. Our cats are staying with one of my husband’s co-workers until we can get settled. They didn’t have anymore room at the pet TLF.

The cats were the most expensive part of our move.

We had vet fees – twice for each cat – to receive travel certificates. One set of travel certificates for the plane ride from Utah to Georgia and another set of travel certificates, certified by the USDA ($76!), for travel from Atlanta to Baltimore to Germany. We had to pay for their plane tickets to Atlanta and then to Baltimore and then to Germany. We had to pay fees (about for their entrance into Germany. Altogether, the fees totaled out at about $1500!

Last week?

We flew out of Atlanta mid-morning and spent the afternoon in Baltimore. The USO at BWI was rather disappointing. We flew out about 5:30 PM. We arrived in Germany about 7:30 AM.

Aaron’s sponsor and co-worker met us and helped us store our luggage and get checked in to TLF. We ate a quick breakfast (at JR Rockers – yuck!) and even looked at a German house that was adorable but way too small. He then took us by the commissary for some supplies. He picked up Aaron the next couple days to drop him off at his in-processing appointments.

That’s kinda the last we saw of sponsors.

The kids and I walked around the base to get familiar with the library and BX. We could only bring back what we could carry. Apparently, we can carry quite a lot.

I attended an OSC welcome breakfast and had brunch at a darling coffeeshop and met a new friend. She took me to a German grocery store, Globus, that will sure become a favorite shopping place.

For Memorial Day weekend, we were gonna be stuck indoors with rainy weather, no transportation, and nothing to do.

So we rented a neato Audi wagon and found a house in a picturesque village. It’s perfect and we’re excited.

On Monday, we opened a local checking account, ran some errands, had an amazing German lunch (in the BX no less!), and I was pretty exhausted by afternoon.

Memorial Day has special meaning here in Europe.

If we had a car and I had planned better, we would have gone to see some of the events for Memorial Day.

We are tired of cooking our meals in our little TLF apartment with two pans. We are tired of being in a cramped space not our own. The kids are acting out from not having chores or a regular schedule.

You know your kids are getting spoiled when the boy asks: “When is the maid coming?”

And, yes, I do make my kids make their beds and keep their space clean, even in TLF.

We are so thankful to live here and experience a different culture and it’s coming together as only God could orchestrate.

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