Finally Here!

Now that I have a computer for a little bit I can finally update this blog! After a few hour delay on the tarmac at Dulles Airport, we finally took off for our trip across the ocean.  We ended up arriving about 2 hours late but made it, sane at that! The kids did really well on the plane and slept more than I thought and were ready to get off that plane! Luckily in Brussels the airline brings animals to you in the baggage area so no other diversion to find them.  I was a little bothered as we walked out of the baggage area that no one bothered to look at all the paper work that cost me some $$$ for the USDA to sign.  Note if you move overseas, all your work is probably for nothing when it comes to the pets. I kept waiting for someone to stop us as we walked out telling us that we forgot something.

After an hour or so ride we dropped the cats off at the kennel and made it to the hotel.  It was a long day to say the least and trying to stay awake with the time difference was a little challenging.  We luckily got a 2 bedroom apartment for our stay which has helped immensely.  It took a couple days to get acclimated but we finally did!

Although there are so many different things you have to do when you get here, you kind of had to do things in order which made it a little stress free actually.  I have slept at night more in the last week than I have in the last 2 months! We are finally at the end of our in processing which feels pretty good! Now just to get into our house and get our HHG's!

A few observations since we have been here:
1. Driving is a little different.  No one is in a hurry and everyone pretty much abides by the speed limits and road signs which is awesome! The fines here are pretty steep so there will be no speeding in my future. Don't even think of talking on your cellphone or even touching it while you drive or you will earn a pretty hefty fine. Also, watch out for people coming from the left! Those damn bikers are crazy and most of the time have the right of way.
2. We are so behind when it comes to banking and credit cards.  The banking system here is awesome! everything is done on internet and it is so much more secure than we do in the states.  The US really needs to get up with the chip and pin technology.  In our area here since we are outside of the main cities, I cannot use any of our credit cards because they don't have the chip in it so I am slowly getting use to cash for everything  (debit card does work in ATM's).
3. The Dutch are the nicest people! They have been so helpful and understanding when I have to ask them to speak English.
4. The US is so behind when it comes to kids learning other languages.  The kids here are required to take a second language in middle school through high school so almost everyone speaks English!

Well, that is it for now.  We get the keys to our house on Thursday and I am so excited to get out of this hotel! I can't wait to get our main computer back so I can get some pictures uploaded from some of the stuff we have done so far.  There is so many things to do within a 30 minute radius it is crazy!  Hopefully in the next 2 weeks our stuff will be here but we will see.