Question About Moving to Germany

Hey this is C. and i am in the air force stationed at ramstein. It is really awesome to be be station in germany but the weather is crazy, no ac, really small streets, but the food is great and a really nice culture of people. If you ever want to go to church feel free to call me 017660806266. Or even if you have any other quetions i would love to be of assistance. Know lots of people in the army. Oh yeah the houses are really beautiful if you are considering living off base but the euro rate is ever dropping so i'd move on post if at all possible. Take care and God bless you.

Hello L.. My name is N., & I to am an Army spouse that stays at home with her children (by choice). We moved here to Germany last August from Ft. Sill, OK. As far as how much stuff you can bring with you, well it depends on what rank your spouse is that determines the weight. Also, if you have a washer & dryer of your own now (as I did), put it either in storage (as I did at the govmts expense) or sale it. As you will not need it over here. They are provided in most housing units. My housing unit happens to have a German washer & dryer. sure it wasn't what I was used to, but I'm grateful it works & it's brand new. I need to also let you know that the units over here are fairly spacious compared to base housing in the States (or at least what I had lived in in the States). If there's anything else you would like to know feel free to ask again :)
I hope this information has helped you in someway.
N.

L. now is the time to get rid of all the stuff you never use and have been meaning to get rid of.
A lot of people told me not to bring my kitchen appliances and I really regret that because I like to cook and it is possible to use them I just plug them into the converter as needed and store them away when not in use (I left my Foreman grill and miss it greatly). So if you like to cook bring everything that you use regularly things that you don not use leave becuase it is a pain trying to find storage space for kitchen stuff. Leave unecessary dishes there is no storage room for them. If you plan to shop which almost everyone does, now is the time to get rid of that not so nice tv stand or end table because you will accumulate more funiture while you are here in Germany. Bring all your dressers, leave all your curtains in storage, bring patio funiture because most places in the KMC at least have patios or balcony, leave all clothes that you do not wear or need including shoes. That extra couch in the den leave, also make sure you pack all your important paperwork or pictures in your suitcase and bring it with you when you come over (all family members birth certificates, shot records, marriage license, health records, etc.) Bring cherished pictures in your suitcase and the rest pack yourself in waterproof packing material (be creative) I've heard horror stories of some folks stuff being destroyed by mold or water damage!

I'm in K-town but I'd reccomend bringing your own floor rugs. I know none of our housing on or off base is carpeted.Also if there is a specific type of shampoo or product you simply must have pack it.

You can get many things delivered APo though.

AHH and Germany requires child restraints/bossters until 12 yrs or like 4'9 in tall so if you haven't been using them for older kids get one and bring it. the BX selection even here in K-town sucks.

Hi. I am living on base in Heidelberg, Germany. If you don't want to ship all your furniture over here, the army can provide you with all the basic necessities. Tables/chairs, couch, beds, etc. I actually felt we had more space than I expected we would, but we were coming from a very small apartment before.

Hello L.,

Not sure if we spoke before, but my family is also moving to Schweinfurt this MAY 2008, or at least by the end of May. If this is your first move overseas...you should definitely speak to the transition office about the move...Do you guys have USAA?? That have a great book on PCS moves...I use it every time we move.

An overseas move, I think is a little more stressful, only because the time it takes to ship a vehicle and your household goods. Have you ever done a PCS move yet?? The move is about the same...but coming to Germany....MOST miltary housing has duel voltage already set up for you...meaning their are outlets for 220 V and for regular 110 V... BRING lots of fans (NO AIR CONDITIONING)--it does get hot in the summertime...and buying one fan here is about 30-40 dollars (no joke). Coming to Schweinfurt (if you have elementary school kids)Well, I guess not..you said 3 year old and 4 mos...well anyway, the SES is a uniform school...kakis pants, blue, white, lite blue, and red shirts only...I have to buy for TWO KIDS...a whole new wardobe for only one school year....UGH!!!! anyway....

Transportation office will get you clues about waht to bring and what not to bring....The curtain set up is way different from the states...so you'll probably have to buy new curtains here. I think that is the major stuff for me...

Schweinfurt PX and PXtra are small....(SORRY TO SAY) SO---be aware that most items you want and CRAVE for will not be here...So, in the states ---stock up!! (clothing mostly I am talking about) But I do shop online...

We are in Grafenwhor right now...been here only 7 months and moving again...before here we were in Belgium (only one year there) So, needless to say, I am so fed up with MOVING!!! LOL Yeah, I am a little crazy right now...

We have three boys, 10 y/o, 6 y/o, and a 20 month old, and ONE ON THE WAY...praying for a GIRL!!!

If you have any specific question you want to ask please email at ____@____.com...

GOOD LUCK!! Hoped I helped a little..

J.

Hi L.,
I don't live in the Schweinfurt area so I can't help you there. However there were a few things we had problems with the movers packing. They would not allow me to bring any of my candles. They also did not want me to bring any shampoo, conditioner, lotion, body spray etc. However since I had a lot the guy who packed up my room felt bad so he packed it all together in a box. After I got here a neighbor gave me a pointer on candles she told me to hide them in my dresser drawers since they don't unpack your clothes to move your dressers. It was our first army move all our others we packed and moved ourselves. There was a lot more I wasn't allowed to bring as well. I found myself giving stuff away at the last minute. I also wish I would have downsized much more before I moved here because we just don't have the space for everything.
When it comes to getting the things we need here I just have my mom fill a flat rate box and send it. With the new discount boxes to APO addresses she can fit quite a lot. She has even went to Walmart and talked with me over the phone and got stuff for us. We've figured out how to manage. Hopefully all my rambling helped a little bit.

Just moved to Graf from Schweinfurt. The thrift shop on post has fans and the power converters. ALWAYS make sure they work before you buy them. they will plug stuff in there for you. Fans were like 7 bux a piece there. They only sell fans during the summer on the economy, seasonal item. you can get really cheap small appliances (toaster, hand mixer, coffee pot, etc) at the PX that are 220v. also, check things like tvs and such to see if they are dual power before you leave. our camcorder, digital camera, tvs, and a lot of other stuff can be plugged into the 220 outlet with a plug adapter (px, about a dollar). your lamps will work 220 as well, you just need a plug adapter and the 220 litebulbs. btw, in my experience, you have more square footage in housing than you do stateside. don't be too concerned about space, just watch out for the weight limits. the first thing i noticed when we moved here was that stuff that was say, 20 dollars stateside is 20 euros here. with the dollar the way it is, that's a huge difference. there are a lot of home stores in schweinfurt though. hope it helps!

I would recommend not bringing any or most of your applicances. Some of the housing got 110 Volt (US) and 220 Volt (German) but not all do, if you get into government leased housing there is only 220 and I am on Yorktown (which is onpost housing) and I only have 220 V too! Once you get here and get housing you can borrow dishes and stuff for about 1 month from the lending closet in ACS. You can usually buy a good used microwave in the Thrift shop, same goes for other appliances. If you use your 110 stuff make sure that it is multi voltage (like Desktop or Laptop Computers, etc) I do not recommend bringing a hairdryer or even clocks that run off plug-in power. It will ruin your appliances in the long run. Furniture shouldn't be too much of a problem even though I think a waterbed might not be the best thing to bring. you can get loaner furniture for the whole time that you are in Germany, including beds (not sure about baby beds!) Sofa, loveseat, chair, living and diningroom tables, endtables, computer tables, entertainment center! They are all ok (some not really pretty....) Don't expect walk in closets, bring your dressers or get dressers from housing.
If you have more questions, I am in Schweinfurt for the second time, I am from a town about 90 min away from here and been doing the military thing for over 14 years!
You can also privately email me @ ____@____.com
Take care
M.

PS. Make sure your hubby sends a copy of the orders, a copy of his signed leave form and the housing application form which you can get at the housing office where you are stationed at. Best bet is scan it in and email it to ____@____.com she is in the housing office in Schweinfurt and very helpful! If you wish to call housing and speak to mrs Finster dial 011-49-9721-966448
Call ACS to request a Newcomers packet
http://www.schweinfurt.army.mil/sites/local/ (they got a phone book in there for all the phone numbers)
You can get good and chaep clothing even with the nasty exchange rate offpost at stores like "kik", "Takko" and "C&A" - I just bought my daughter 3 dresses and 2 2-piece outfits for about 20 Euro!
If you want to let me know what your hubby's Rank & MOS is and at about what time you are supposed to come over here my hubby should be able to find out exactly where you guys will be going to!