First Impressions

And, after three years in Arlington, we’re back overseas! Leaving DC was by far the most difficult PCS we’ve ever done. For one thing, our car and HHE are still not here. We parted with our car on July 12 and packed out about a week later, and apparently our stuff is taking the scenic tour around the Horn of Africa. As far as we can tell it’s currently vacationing in Greece. Thanks, JK Moving Company. Meanwhile, we shall continue to ration our four spoons and three plates (yes, we broke a welcome kit plate). Although we are all going to be doing a happy dance around the Mazda, I’m sure I’ll be overwhelmed by our stuff whenever it does decide to join us. In the meantime, I’ll continue to stew and keep the kids away from the coffee cups we borrowed from our neighbors.

This is our third overseas tour, and we are very happy with our housing assingment. It is light and spacious and comfortable, and in a great location. This is the first time we have lived out in the community instead of on a compound, and while at first that felt very different I’m already used to it. Other than apparently rampant bike theft, crime is rare in Ljubljana, and Slovenia in general. And our bikes are in Greece so we have no worries.

Which brings me to my first impression of our home for th next three years: this place is insanely calm. The drivers are moderately aggressive and cyclists are EVERYWHERE, but laws are enforced and the infrastructure is as good as any other developed country. Compared to my other experiences of moving to Manila and Albania (and even DC), the calmness has been something I have had to get used to. Now that it’s September and everyone is back from vacation, life is picking up a bit, but in general Ljubljana feels like a “big city” with a small town attitude.

Now that’s not to say that I’M calm. I am of course constantly overwhelmed, mostly by the language. It took me more than a month to figure out how to say “hello” dobra dan and “thank you” hvala. The boys started school a couple of weeks ago, and they have a full schedule of classes all day followed by after school activities, half of which are even inlcuded in our tuition fees. Kyle is of course enrolled in ALL the sports as well as robotics, and Ben is taking yoga (and I will join him!). My first impression of the school and the kids’ teachers is very positive. There are a few adjustments to adapt to, but the most difficult problem so far as that Ben is napping at school and then won’t go to sleep  at his normal bedtime. And yet is somehow still overtired. TBD how that’s going to work itself out.

I have been hired as a rover admin at the embassy, but my security clearance is still 3-6 months out. While it would be nice to have the income to offset Ben’s private school tuition, not working is at least giving me plenty of time to do important things like write this blog and stare at Julie. I could probably do with a little more mental stimulation (which, btw, was not a problem in either of our 20% hardship tours - just an observation of hardship vs non-hardship tours). Having written that, I feel motivated to get off my bum and go join YogaAnytime.com. First 30 days are free with the code ANNIE.