How long will it take to start to feel normal in a new country? It is a bit overwhelming coming to Germany, we haven't been here long, we just arrived on Aug 9, 2010. We have been stuck in a hotel, and when it is all over, we will have been in a hotel for 12 days! We have two boys who are 10 and 7 yrs old, so the hotel seems to get smaller and smaller everyday! At least we will have a house on the 24th of Aug, so there is light at the end of the tunnel!
Thank you for all of your wonderful advice, and help. We did get moved into our house one the 24th of Aug, and it is absolutely a wonderful home! I do agree, we have been blessed for not staying in a hotel nearly as long as some of you, so I really don't have a lot of room to complain, sorry about that, at the time I first wrote my question, I was kinda feeling sorry for myself. I definitely will embrace all that Germany has to offer for me and my family, we are defintely looking forward to exploring for sure! I will keep every one updated as soon as we get internet at our home, in a couple of more days. Thanks again for all of your wonderful responses.
You are so lucky to be in Germany. Take it all in one day at a time. Once you and your family get back into a daily routine your time will go by so fast you would ask to stay longer just to finish out the nice MWR tours so that your children and youself would have nice memories. Please don't stay closed in the house and not enjoy your stay the country is very beautiful.
Instead of trying to feel 'normal' I'd go for confidence in your surroundings, it can be hard with the language barrier, but get out there, explore, don't be afraid to get a little lost, and set up some routines (which you really can't do until you get moved in). enjoy your time there, see as much as you can. the more you get out and experience it, the more you'll get to know the area and feel at home.
Hi J.,
we just arrived in the States not too long ago from 3 years Germany. We (I have also 2 boys--age 10 and almost 6) stayed in the hotel for a whole month and I know how you feel just that in the end we were there almost 3 times as long as you. My husbands career (17.5 years) has have had us stationed longer overseas than stateside. Ok. I am German but we also have lived in Vicenza, Italy like Sos for 3 years.
So now to answer your question how long it will take to feel normal? That answer cannnot be answered at all by anybody but you and not to scare you at all but for me it took 2 years in Italy. And it has to do with you, the country you will live in and all that is part of your life and how you embrace the change. Even my husband who is American needs to adjust when we come back 'home' to the US.
Just a few more days and you will be in a house. This time I felt a lot better from the point that we had our stuff delivered even though after 1 month I'm still dealing with boxes.
You can contact me for any question and I might be able to help you explain the German side. My husband had been stationed in Wurzburg/Schweinfurt area when we dated and were young married, we just left Stuttgart and I am from Stuttgart. Let me know where you are at...
Good luck!
P.S. We are in NC (I have been stationed with my husband in SC) and I do have my difficulties in the South always--The north is always easier for me to handle starting with the weather, we have been stationed twice in the New England area as well.)
Hi J.,
Hang in there. We're here in Vicenza, IT, and I know it is challenging to move especially to another country, but it's almost over. Not sure what base you are at, but Germany is great, there is so much to see. It is also so easy to get to other countries either by car or low budget airlines like easy jet and ryan air. Take a look at your local neighborhood where you'll be living, take some walks through the town. Find a list of local babysitters maybe at the cdc and take some time off with your husband. I have many friends and contacts in Germany, let me know if you need something specific. Take care, Søs
