Blythe Spirit

Blythe and Jeff are moving to Germany

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why on earth are you going to Germany?
Jeff works for a German company, and he has been offered a new job at their world HQ.

2. Is it a permanent job?
As permanent as any job ever is. It is not a temporary assignment, so we’ll be there as long as we want/as long as they’ll have Jeff.

3. Where in Germany is his job?
In the Nurnberg area, which is located in Bavaria.

4. Is that where you’re going to live? How will you find a place?
We will probably live in one of the nearby towns, depending on housing options. We spent a weekend scoping out the options there in July, and we’re getting some help with relocation logistics from Jeff’s company.

5. Does that mean someone is going to move you over there? Are you going to take all of your stuff?
We (and by “we” I mean “the people who do this sort of thing professionally”) will ship some of our larger possessions in a freight container. We will also sell some of our stuff (watch this space for more information about a rummage sale) and store some of it.

6. Are you going to sell your house?
Most likely, yes. We thought about renting it out, but we figured it would be a big hassle. Let us know if you’d like to buy it, we hear the sellers are motivated.

7. What is Blythe going to do?
First, she plans to sleep off the nervous breakdown caused by dealing with the move. Then, she’ll work on her master’s thesis (see #8 below) and attempt to learn German. She would like to get a job eventually but we hear it’s difficult to obtain a work permit. For now, please do not send her e-mail exclaiming how great it will be for her to become a hausfrau.

8. What about Blythe’s graduate degree?
She plans to finish her MA coursework in nonfiction writing this summer before we leave, then write her thesis during the next year.

9. Wow, it would be a great time to have kids, since Blythe won’t be working.
Yeah, it’s a great idea to make every possible life change all at once, and it should be pretty easy to write a thesis while giving birth in a country where you don’t speak the same language as the doctors.

10. Are you going to be able to come back and visit?
Yes, they’re actually selling tickets on those crazy flying machines these days. Seriously, we do plan to come back and visit. We have signed an agreement in blood that states that we will be in attendance at The Family Christmas 2005, so Lufthansa can count on our travel dollars (euros?) in December.

11. Can we stay with you during World Cup 2006?
We’re planning on instituting a lottery system for our guest room next summer. Please stay tuned for details.

12. No really, can we come and stay with you?
Yes, please visit. We hear that Bavaria is wonderful and beautiful and near the Alps and we hope you will come and see us.

13. No, really, can you get me tickets to the World Cup?
We’ve done a bit of investigating, and it’s not looking good. FIFA is selling the tickets in phases – the next group goes on sale in December – and the demand (not to mention the price!) is high. The good news, however, is that there will be many festive alternatives to watching the matches live, including big screens in city squares and a general celebratory atmosphere all over the country.

14. Do you know German?
No. Not even a little bit. All those years of Spanish class down the drain.

15. What are you going to do with your cars?
2 cars for sale! Low(ish) miles! Great(ish) condition! One smells like a dog (not our dog, we don’t have one) and the other one doesn’t have a working stereo system but they are friendly and good with kids.

16. What do your families think?
We’re not sure, they’ve stopped speaking to us. Actually, they’ve been incredibly supportive and many of them have promised to visit.