So Your Sponsor Sucks...

When you move the military assigns you a "Sponsor"...someone who already lives in the location you're moving to who is there to answer any questions you may have. In some cases this person is awesome. In our case, I think we got screwed! I'm not saying our sponsor is a bad person or that she didn't try, I'm sure she answered every question we had. The problem was, we didn't know WHAT questions to ask. Also, we are civilians so some rules don't apply to us. Moving overseas is not like any other move you've had before. There are so many things you need to do BEFORE you get here and if you wait it can push dates, causes issues when you get here and can make the transition extremely painful. The web can be very helpful in many ways but it doesn't answer those questions you may not think to ask.

Many common questions answered on the Ramstein webpage. Just click "PCSing to Germany" Ramstein AB Website

My neighbor was recently asked to sponsor a family. I was over at her house and saw this letter she was working on. My jaw dropped! She was going into grave detail about the painful processes this family will encounter and I begged her to send me the letter so I could post it on my blog. She was more than willing to share it because that's the kind of person she is...giving, caring and always willing to help others.

So here is the letter:

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Hallo aus Deutschland! Germany is great, and Ramstein is a wonderful assignment.   The base is centrally located and provides numerous opportunities for traveling.  Once you settle in, the fun can begin!  However, be prepared for a stressful PCS.  We have been told that the 1^st six months are for adjusting, and really believe it.  We have been here for 9 now and feel this is pretty accurate.  It takes time to learn the culture, rules, life, etc. These are just a few “tidbits” that we have learned.  Please, ask any questions you may have!!    

Vehicles:   we drive an 8 passenger Honda Pilot.   On base, we are fine.   Sometimes, it is hard to fit it into parking spaces, but not impossible.   Off base, the parking spots are very tight, parking garages don’t have enough clearance in a lot of cases.   We have to park in open-parking areas instead.   It can mean more of a walk, or harder to find a place to park, but nothing too bad (thus far).   On the flip side, the roads (especially the smaller villages) are not designed for larger American vehicles.    There are some very tight squeezes that have to be made.   We also bought a used BMW car once we got here for like $3K.    It gets Jon back and forth to work, and we could use it for local traveling if we want.   (If you have a second vehicle that you choose to ship, it will be your expense out of pocket.   Our friends shipped their Nissan Pathfinder from California last summer and it cost them around $3,000 to ship.)

Biggest piece of advice:  ship your vehicle as soon as you can!   The sooner the better!  It is MUCH cheaper to be inconvenienced in the states, and even have to rent one there if needed.    We shipped our Honda about six weeks prior to arrival (from SC) and it actually arrived a few days before we did, and it made for a much easier time looking for homes.

License:   Chuck can take the German driving test on-line before you arrive.    It is such a help because you cannot drive at all once you arrive on orders until you have the German license.    Rhianna, you probably can’t take it until you arrive (but double check, we heard some bases are changing this).    The test isn’t too hard if you study the link below, and take the practice tests.

USAREURpracticeTest.com

You both can get your International Driver’s License before you get here.  We highly recommend you do this, but wait until right before you PCS (the license is good for 1 year).  All you have to do is go to your local AAA office and take 2 small photos (passport size) with you.    You fill out a paper, give them $15 (or so) and you have it.   One less thing to do when you get here J

Passports:  If you don’t have them, get your travel passports before you move here.    It is pricy, but you are told to have it (not the official one) to travel outside of Germany.    You can get one here, but I’ve heard the wait time is even longer and can be more frustrating.

German homes:  We did not know this coming here- THEY DON’T HAVE CLOSETS!    Okay, now you see how unexpected that was for us (especially having 3 daughters).    Instead, the military issues each person 1 wardrobe- which is about the size of a smaller coat closet.     They don’t build closets b/c they are taxed for each square inch and feel it is a waste of $ to pay extra for closet space.   The same holds true for bathrooms, no closet or storage space.    Bring lots of storage! J -even the cheap cabinets from Wal-Mart.   I went to the BX to buy a small cabinet for my bathroom towels.   It was almost $40 for cheap particle board cabinet.    Also, if you do have a garage, there will be no storage so bring a couple of shelving units for there as well.   Essentially, bring any cabinets or shelving you have (even if you don’t think you’d want it).   If you don’t use it, you can sell it- no problem!

We moved here in peak PCS season (last June) from Shaw AB, SC and it was a chaotic process to find a house.    Then again, we were looking for specifics to tailor our family (4 bedrooms, fenced in yard), etc.  I am hoping that because you will arrive after that (September, right?) it won’t be as crazy J   Also, your options are much broader because you don’t have to live in a particular school district.    The Germans love animals (especially dogs), so hopefully finding a pet-friendly home is not a problem.    I’m assuming you’ll want a fenced-in yard; they are available you just have to be vigilant.     We actually ended up using a real estate agent (immobilien in German) to get our house.    We didn’t want to when we first got here; but had to and honestly would recommend it if you can and are willing to spend the money.   The one we used is the same one several in Jon’s office used; she charges ½ month’s rent.  Some charge all the way up to 2 months rent for their fee.    We can give you her name, as well as a couple others so they can work for you simultaneously.    The unique situation here is the agents only show their homes (homes rented out by their office) and not homes in other agencies.   There is no MLS system so, while crazy to us, it works.  LOL

Locally, there are 2 websites that you can use to look for houses on your own.  However, there is honestly no reason to search for a house before you arrive in country using the online systems.   I say this because they only advertise homes immediately available and will NOT hold them, etc.    Chuck will also have paperwork with him that the housing office provides and it must be filled out once you find a house you want by both him and the landlords, and then submitted to housing for approval.  I know all this sounds like a lot, and is overwhelming, but it will make more sense once you arrive and he has had his in-process briefing.  We will give you guys more tips and pointers and help when you get here, so don’t worry!  Also, once we know your exact arrival date and what you will be looking for in a house, we can keep an eye out for potential homes that will be available then.

If you are curious to see houses, to get an idea, the websites are:

www.ahrn.com and www.ramsteinyardsales.com    (just go to the housing link)

I do not know much about on base housing, we actually aren’t even on the list.   For us, we wanted to live off base and experience the culture, so it wasn’t an option.    The houses are much smaller on base, often apartment-style homes.      Here is the Ramstein website:  http://www.ramstein.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=13946

TLF

When available, there is pet-friendly TLF on base and I believe they even have a dog park nearby.   We stayed off-base at a wonderful German lady’s apartments; Jon will book you here if there is nothing available on base.   She is also pet-friendly!  J

We had our packers pack us up the first week of May last year (and didn’t leave until Memorial Day weekend).   We own our house there in SC, so we just stayed until the renters moved in.   Then we stayed in TLF on base for a few days.   Once again, I’d recommend packing up your household goods as soon as you can.   You’ll want your own stuff as soon as you can get it once you get a house here.   You’ll be so glad to have something that feels normal and comforting J

Cell phones

We had Verizon Wireless in SC, so neither the plan nor the phone was able to be used here.   Thus, we canceled our service and got an Android phone once we arrived here in Germany ( I keep it J).  This allows me to have access to internet (which is really nice when traveling).   We also purchased a pre-paid cell phone (Jon gets it J, LOL).    They are not allowed to have a cell phone in their building here, so he thought it was a waste of $ to get a smartphone that he’d rarely use.   Obviously, that is up to you all but economically it was what worked best for us.    We will help you all out once you arrive to set this up, no worries!   If you have a smartphone in the states (iphone) I “think” they can be used here by switching out the SIM card.   However, do NOT quote me on that, I am technologically clueless!!!

GPS

If you have a GPS system, make sure updated European maps are loaded on it before you arrive.   If you don’t have one, the BX here sells them but they are pricey.   In short, you must have a good GPS here!  J

I am sure there are lots more you want to know, please ask!!   We will answer any questions, or get you information.    We look forward to meeting you both this fall.  This is truly a dream assignment- getting to live and travel in Europe J

Have a great weekend,

Jon and Tara

P.S.- If you all would like to talk via phone, we could always do that on a weekend.   Just let me know and we’ll set it up.   We have free calling to the states.

Side Note: When you get here your vehicle will go through a rigorous inspection. My van failed for a chip in the windshield (had been repaired) and I needed new tires. Repairs are way more expensive here than in the States so keep that in mind. You may want to have it looked at before you get here. 

Hours for your convenience! And it's run by Germans who take their job very seriously!

**Please feel free to post ANY questions you may have and I'll be more than happy to help out. 

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