Help! I am moving overseas and have some questions!

Ah, the PCS season is upon us yet again this year! It caught me completely by surprise until I saw a half dozen moving trucks on my street all in the space of a week. My kids are also lamenting the loss of some of their friends. I've also cooked a meal or two, played taxi service and watched a few pets to help out where I could. Isn't it nice how, in a military community, you can rely on others to help out? I've also noticed my inbox is more full than usual, all with questions on peoples' upcoming moves. Please be sure to read my moving articles, as I do answer a lot of your questions there. The two questions I received today are listed below - involving traveling with multiple children and learning the host language after arrival.

Question:

Hi, My husband has been stationed in Hohenfels Germany, he's already there, and I will be flying over with my 2 sons (3 & 1 yr old) by myself. I've read as many tips from everywhere as I can but when it comes to requesting my tickets from TMO - I was wondering if you can tell me what to expect. Can I request a bulk head row? Can I ask for certain flying times? I thought if I could fly out of the international airport at night, it might go better for my kids. Is there anything I should know about flying by myself? Have you done it? I have a dozen questions and no one to ask. Like - Can I take a double stroller? How many carry ons do I get? How many pieces of luggage? HOW AM I GOING TO GO TO THE BATHROOM ON AN AIRPLANE WITH 2 SMALL BOYS!!!??? I've never used one of those cart things, how would I go about asking for one? I read somewhere you can sometimes get a bassinett for the plane ride? Have you heard of that?

Answer:

I have flown with two little ones. I took a stroller with the babycarrier/carseat for the little one. For the older one, I had a boosterseat (airplane approved) which I had in a huge diaperbag with supplies for both. I checked the older one's carseat at the front and got it before we got in the car at our destination. I then also had a backpack for myself and a frontpack baby carrier to carry the little one when my arms got tired and for when I wanted to load up the stroller with my bags. The stroller you can take all the way to the plane. You can gate check it, which means you'll get it back immediately after you arrive at your destination as you walk off the plane.

As far as on the plane, the flight attendants are very helpful if you have to use the bathroom. They always wanted to come by and hold the baby and the little one stayed in his seat with no issues when I flew. I just had his favorite things in his diaper bag...and this was before portable DVDs...didn't need them. The droning sounds of the plane are soothing and as long as the kids don't have ear problems, they should be fine. When you hear a screaming baby on the plane, it is almost always their ears and the pressure....do a google search for relief as it involves hot water and cups to relieve the pressure...sucking helps too, so pacifiers, bottles, breastfeeding, whatever it takes. Mine are 20 months apart, and I flew when the little one was 4 months old.

When you make your travel arrangements, ask about the bassinet. I am not familiar with them myself. Typically airlines keep the bulkhead seats to sell last, as this gives the airline and the flight attendants some flexibility in seating and helps when you have someone who needs more room or whatever. Go ahead and request the bulkhead, considering your situation, they might give it to you. Oh, one thing I almost forgot, at least from the East Coast, overseas flights leave in the early evening, so it fits in with what you are requesting.

You're not going to see those luggage carts until you get to baggage claim. Most have a money slot (so have quarters and 1 euro pieces with you as I have heard a quarter can be used instead of a 1 euro piece)...and then you return them to get your money back (German grocery stores do this with their carts too...the US should do it and maybe there wouldn't be carts all over the parking lots).

I would get one of the skycaps to bring your luggage to the check in. I hope I answered most of your questions.


Question:

My husband and I are from Puerto Rico and he just got his assigment to move in work in Baumholder Germany. Us being from PR and you must know this is a total change for us.

I'm worried about a few things already but I'll be checking some stuff out using your blog information. My husband sent me a program to start learning German, but I find it a little difficult to understand and I read in some part of your blog about German classes. Is this available on Baumholder base for the spouses?

Answer:

You should find that your base has both conversational German classes (typically run by the inprocessing center or the USO or some other entity) and then "real" German classes at the college level which you'll find at the education center. These are more intensive (you learn all the rules, etc) and cost more. The conversational should not cost more than 100 euro per 5 week term.

I think it's great that you'll be learning German. Many don't even bother as English is widely spoken, but it always shows class when you at least try to learn the language of your host language and you'll find the Germans respect you more for it.

Thanks again for your questions and enjoy your weekend!