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Stationed Overseas

Learning to LOVE Belgium

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Happy to have this guest post by Christina on Living in Belgium. Please visit my Duty station guest post page for posts on other locations or more information about how you can write a guest post about where you have been stationed.

Living in Belgium

Learning to LOVE Belgium

Living in Belgium

It’s no secret that any PCS can be an adjustment. I mean you pick up your whole life every couple of years and head off to somewhere new. New friends, new job, new house…basically a whole new life. I was pretty prepared for military life since as a teenager I moved MANY times and then I joined the military before I even graduated high school. At least I thought I was prepared for this life.

I wasn’t prepared for our PCS to Belgium, no matter how much I tried to ensure that I was. I did not have a love at first sight relationship with our new home. I mean, how can I have a love at first sight feeling when the closest Starbucks is an hour away! It took me about a year to get to the point where I felt comfortable here and started to really enjoy our life here.  Once I got to the point that I accepted and adapted to the Belgian customs and lifestyle I started to love it here. It was no longer about “I can’t believe they don’t have rest areas with bathrooms” or “why do I have to insert a coin to use a shopping cart”. Instead, I allowed things that aren’t typically the “American way” to become my new normal. I accepted and started to enjoy the new way of life.

So a little more about the base. Where we are being a GSU base (geographically separated unit), it’s a small community of Air Force members and their dependents. There is no base housing which means we are given BHA (Basic Housing Allowance) and are able to select a house from the approved list. When we arrived, we were taken around by the Belgian Liaison Officer to see about 11 homes. Once we decided which house we wanted to live in, the Belgian Liaison Officer did the paperwork and we moved in a couple of weeks later. There are quite a few villages surrounding the base so we are integrated into them. This allows us to not only experience the true Belgian way of life but also make friends with locals as opposed to only being surrounded by Americans. One of my dearest friends is the Belgian daycare provider that my youngest daughter went to for a few months before starting school. While we are all spread throughout the different villages, the base does a great job in ensuring we don’t isolate ourselves too. There are monthly lady’s night dinners along with monthly reoccurring events on base. One of my favorites is wings day! The small community can be a great thing or a bad thing. It all depends on your mindset. I try to attend at least 1-2 events with people from base. Plus, we are only a few hours from bigger bases like Ramstein so we try to visit there once a quarter to ensure we get a little taste of “home”. I mean it is pretty much little America. Honestly, it’s great to be at a smaller base and having the community of support that we get.

Of course, one of the main benefits of living in Europe is the travel opportunities. I can be in multiple countries within an hour from my house. At one point, we were driving home from a trip and within 30 minutes we had been in 3 different countries. Shockingly, the Belgians do not like to drive places and often do not travel. When we talk about taking a day trip to a place that is a couple of hours away they give us this crazy look. While we often choose to drive (we have two kids under 5 years old), you can definitely catch a train to endless amounts of places.

Here are a few of the travel perks of living in Belgium:

Day Trips We Have Taken

Kinderdijk

This place is pretty amazing. You get to experience 19 windmills from the 18th Century. Since majority of Holland is under sea level, the windmills are vital at keeping the area from flooding. You are able to bike the area, walk or even catch the boat. It was a fun trip for the whole family.

Living in Belgium

Tongeren Antique Market

This is an outdoor (mostly) antique market where you can find anything and everything you could imagine. It’s open every Sunday from early morning until just after noon. They are there rain or shine and you can find some great pieces to add to your home. We of course went when it was cold and rainy but still enjoyed it!

Kuekenhauf Gardens

This place is beyond amazing. It’s a bucket list must and if you are living in Belgium then you will be the odd one out if you don’t check it out.  

 Living in Belgium

Amazing Christmas Markets

If you have never heard about the Christmas Markets in Europe, then you are missing out! Starting just after Thanksgiving, the markets run through the end of December. Each one has its own appeal and if you can brave the cold then visiting each one is a great way to celebrate the season. One of my favorite Christmas Markets is Valkenburg, Holland. Not only is the Christmas Market in a cave but they also have the Magic Sand display. This display is beyond words and is done out of sand. Each year they change the theme too so you get to see new and just as impressive sculptures each year. It’s unlike anything I have ever seen!

Castles

Europe is flood with castles! I can never put into words these massive and beautiful architecture. Of course the girls always have to be princesses if visiting one because you know they live in one (yeah right! LOL).

American History

Many people do not realize the American History that was made over here in Europe. Between the beaches of D-Day to the World War II American Cemetery in Margraten. Not many people get an opportunity to experience these things and the fact that you can do this all while LIVING here is pretty amazing.

Traveling Home to the U.S.

Living in Belgium

Since Ramstein isn’t a far drive, we can catch Space A flights back to the States. Depending on the season, it can be really busy. However, when my grandmother passed and we were not prepared (meaning we hadn’t saved for a trip home) we were able to save THOUSANDS of dollars by catching a Space A flight. It took us two days to get onto a flight and we had a drive once we landed in the States but it’s totally worth the money saved if you are able to have some flexibility in your travel dates.  I’m pretty sure my kids think that flying in the back of a military cargo plane is totally normal.

Traveling is great and all but the area where you live is what’s most important to me. Especially when you have children…you base all of your decisions on what school the kids attend, is there room for their toys, the bedrooms good enough, is there a park nearby, etc. Belgium does not disappoint in this area at all. There are weekly markets in each village where you can get fresh produce right from the farm, fresh flowers and even clothing. While the area we live speaks mostly Dutch & Flemish, as long as you approach the situation correctly then they have no problems speaking what English they do know to you. My rule of thumb is to initially apologize and tell them I do not speak Dutch. Once they see that I am apologetic they will speak English if they know it. Fuel is a little outrageous but we do get gas rations at a cheaper price. Our rations are low but the SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement) dictates that and won’t be changing any time soon. We take trips and have two vehicles yet we only pay the European fuel price a few times in two years. Another thing to consider is that as a spouse, you are not allowed to work under the SOFA. There are a few civilian jobs available on the base but with so many spouses and minimal positions, it’s unlikely you will have a job while here.

However, there are some great benefits to living in Belgium…

Daycare costs are much lower than in the United States. We put our youngest daughter into an at home daycare twice a week with a Dutch provider and she not only was amazing but the hourly rate was much lower than the States. It’s based off of pay but the provider is supplemented by the government for the remaining amount. No worries though, because you only pay daycare (if you use it) up until your kid starts school at age 2 ½! Let me just say, the Dutch school that my kids attend is AMAZING! Our kids speak fluent Dutch and have learned so much along with achieved great social skills.

You will see animals and farms EVERYWHERE! There is not a day that goes by that I am not stuck behind a tractor when taking my kids to school or just running to the store.

Which leads me to the best part….THE FOOD IS DELICIOUS! I have seriously gained ten pounds living here because I can’t refuse the bakery, seafood and THE FRIES! (By the way, Belgians are very proud about their fries and will inform you that fries are NOT French! LOL) They use mayo for their fries here which was already a thing for me so I was golden. Mussels are a Belgian must and of course the waffles with Nutella are heaven.

Living in Belgium

Ultimately, each duty station is what you make of it. That has always been my belief but I noticed that when we first got here I wasn’t trying to make the best of it. It’s important to understand that living OCONUS is an adventure. Your three or four-year tour will pass quicker than you think and the year that I spent adapting is a year of missing out on some great stuff. It will take time to adjust because you are in a different country where they speak a different language and do things differently. However, if you keep an open mind and understand this adjustment and are willing to adapt then you will be comfortable a lot quicker. Live in the moment and cherish the amazing memories you are making while you are here. You will be PCS’ing before you know it!

 

Heart & StripesChristina is currently living in Belgium with her husband and two children, ages 2 and 4. She has always loved writing and has found a home for it on her blog Heart & Stripes. She loves being a stay at home mom, volunteering on base, spending time with her family and upcycling furniture. She was raised in Florida so she heads to the beach and Disney as often as she can.

 

Living in Rota, Spain

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Happy to have this guest post by Lizann on Rota, Spain. Please visit my Duty station guest post page for posts on other locations or more information about how you can write a guest post about where you have been stationed.

rota, spain

I get commissions for purchases made through some of the links in this post.

Naval Station Rota, Spain

If you get orders to Rota, Spain, consider yourself a Golden Unicorn: it is one of the hidden jewels of the Navy. This small base located in the Southwest corner of Spain is home to several ships, and sailors stationed there will get accompanied orders for their families to move with them. There is also one Air Force unit stationed there, and a very small unit of FAST Marines. This base has some of the best features of overseas living: vibrant local culture, welcoming locals, beautiful climate, and tons of sightseeing opportunities! Overseas living can be challenging, and it can take some time to adjust. But once you know your way around, this station has endless opportunities for fun and good food. Last year, I published a book about moving to Rota, getting settled, where to shop and eat, and where to travel. It’s called ‘Welcome to Rota,’ and is available as a paperback or an eBook from Amazon. I will give you the highlights here. The logistical details first, then all the parties and fun travel at the end, so keep on reading to the bottom!

Language and Money:

Of course the local language is Spanish, and the currency is the Euro. While many restaurants offer English menus, few locals speak English fluently, so some basic Spanish is necessary for daily life and finding your way around (especially if you live off base.). On base, everything is conducted in English. There is a Commissary, NEX, Naval Hospital, FFSC, gas station, library, school, etc, all staffed by a mixture of Spanish and Americans, but everyone speaks English and accepts dollars. Brushing up on your high school Spanish will help, or you can buy Rosetta Stone, which is a quick and effective way to learn useful phrases. There are also Spanish classes and tutors available on base.

Housing:

On base housing is available for any family, and will be assigned based on number of children. It is small and somewhat plain, but very comfortable (it has central heat and AC, which is rare off base). The housing is conveniently located so that you can bike or jog to most areas of the small base. On base housing is free, including utilities, and it uses American style electrical outlets and voltage.

Off base housing is also available for any family. There are tons of choices, many near the beach, or with gorgeous backyards and pools. You will receive OHA (Overseas Housing Allowance) for off-base housing, based on the service member’s rank. It is supposed to cover rent and utilities, but you must be attentive to utility usage because energy costs are much higher in Europe! Because the climate is mild, most off base housing does not have heat or AC, so it is common to be very hot in the summer, and very cold in the winter. Off base, the Spanish electrical system uses a different voltage, so you will need to use transformers and converters before plugging in an American appliance (or just buy a Spanish one). You can get these for free through the base housing office.

Schools:

There is one school on base, which serves any American child from Pre-K (Smart Start) through high school. It is called DGF, and the website is here. All teachers are American, and follow an American-style curriculum approved by the DoD. The school has some opportunities for music classes, art classes, sports, and theater. Students also benefit from daily Spanish lessons and weekly Spanish culture classes. There is a separate on-base bi-lingual preschool program offered through the Child Development Center (CDC).

Parents have the option to send children off base to Spanish schools. The Spanish public schools start at age 3, and are basically free to attend (after paying a small fee for supplies). Off base, schools can be a great way for young children to learn the language and immerse themselves in Spanish culture. Older children usually attend on base, unless they are fluent enough to read textbooks and complete writing assignments in Spanish. There are also private bilingual schools, which are expensive and designed to teach English. And there are some private Spanish schools, run by religious organizations. To register for off-base public school, there is a lottery system that begins in March. Registered families will be assigned to a school in their town. Most teachers and school administrators do not speak English, so you will need to know enough Spanish to understand classroom notes and communication. Or just find a friend in the class!

Employment:

Overseas, spouse employment is a challenge. Spain has a SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement) which states that 70% of the work force on base must be Spanish, and only 30% American. So most employment opportunities are limited to the NEX, the Commissary, MWR (Morale Welfare, and Recreation), or the base Child Development Center. And these jobs fill very quickly. The base hospital has a very limited ability to hire civilian nurses or doctors, but you can volunteer there if you need to keep up your medical license. The base school hires teachers through the DoD, but spouses can work as substitutes or transitional teachers. You can run a home-based business such as baking or selling products, once you establish your business through the base Legal Office. If you are finishing a degree, there are 4 online colleges with offices on base: Central Texas College, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, University of Maryland University College, and the University of Oklahoma.

Local towns:

The Naval base is located in between the towns of Rota and El Puerto de Santa Maria. Rota is a tiny sea-side fishing village with two gorgeous beaches and a wide boardwalk paseo.. The streets are very narrow and houses are typically small. This is a good area for young couples, because of the small quarters (mostly apartments and townhouses, rather than stand-alone homes) and the good nightlife. You can walk from the base into Rota, so there are plenty of American bars and nightclubs. During summer, the tourists are up every night, but in winter it is a quiet little town where everyone knows everyone else. It is only a few minutes’ drive to the base gate. Americans have been here for 60 years, and Rota survives on their business, so even though most shopkeepers and restaurant owners don’t speak much English, you will see Americans everywhere. The downtown square has a castle and cathedral from the 13th century, and hosts small celebrations throughout the year.

rota, spain

El Puerto de Santa Maria is a much larger town, with multiple neighborhoods and housing areas, each with its own flavor. There are plenty of restaurants, bars, and large chain stores, including a shopping mall. There are multiple beaches, all very popular in the summer. This is considered a good choice for families, because the houses are typically larger, come with more yard space and parking, and often have swimming pools. Most neighborhoods in Puerto are about 15 minutes from the base gate. It is a popular area for Americans living off-base. Puerto is a great source of Spanish culture, with a bull ring, a Cathedral, and a castle from the 14th century. The town celebrates festivals and parades throughout the year, usually on a larger scale than Rota.

Cultural Events:

Spain has a never-ending calendar of celebrations, fiestas, holidays, and cultural events! Their public events are always for families, and usually involve parades, horses, lots of wine, and the closing of stores and schools. My book gives details about the reasons and traditions behind all the local holidays, but here are some that are unique to Spain:

  • January 6, Three Kings Day, is when the Spanish exchange Christmas gifts.
  • February 28 is Andalusia Day.
  • Carnaval is the colorful parades and celebrations for a week before Ash Wednesday.
  • Semana Santa is the solemn processions for one week before Easter.
  • The Running of the Bulls happens locally on Easter Sunday. (I went once! It was crazy!)
  • Feria is a spring carnival that each town hosts for one week in spring.
  • May 1 is Spanish Labor Day.
  • June 23 is the Feast of San Juan, celebrated with bonfires on the beach.
  • July 15 is the Fiesta del Carmen, with fishing boat flotillas.
  • October 7 is the festival of Our Lady of the Rosary (the local patroness).
  • October 12 is Diá de la Hispanidad, a national holiday.
  • November 1 is All Saints Day.
  • December 6 is Constitution Day.
  • December 8 is the Immaculate Conception,
  • And of course they celebrate Christmas too, on December 25!

Food:

I’m not sure I can summarize Spanish food in a few sentences, but I’ll try! It is NOT Mexican food. It’s more like a Mediterranean diet, with lots of fish, fresh vegetables, eggs, and rice or potatoes. The ingredients are very fresh, and usually only seasoned with salt and pepper. I loved being able to get fresh food from the fish market or the produce stand. Some of the most popular dishes are:

  • tapas (an appetizer, can be any type of cold or hot food in a small portion),
  • paella (a fancy rice and seafood dish),
  • tortilla (a potato and egg ‘cake’),
  • gazpacho (tomato soup, served cold),
  • chorizo (spicy cured sausage),  
  • jamon (cured ham, thinly sliced),
  • churros (sweet fried dough, like a donut or funnel cake),
  • tinto de verrano (which is red wine mixed with Sprite and fruit)

There are recipes for these in my book, along with lots of information on other foods, and translations of common menu items.

And here are some of my favorite restaurants in the surrounding towns:

Restaurants in Rota

Bar Gomez (Spanish Breakfast Sandwiches)

Badulaque (Spanish Food, Beach Views)

100 Montaditos (Sandwiches, Beach Views)

Parilla Los Argentinos (Grilled Meats)

Las Tinajas (Spanish Grilled Specialties)

Bar La Feria (Spanish Food, Flamenco Shows)

Takiko’s (Japanese/Chinese, Base Delivery)

La Dolce Vita (Italian, Harbor Views)

Pizza Y Pasta (Delivery to Base)

Shanza (Indian Dishes, Delivery to Base)

Argos (Seafood at the Port)

Bodegon La Fuente (Paella and Sangria)

El Espadero (Home-Cooked Spanish)

Pink Pepper (Japanese, Mexican, American)

Sedona (Southwestern Specialties)

Slice of New York (Pizza)

The Steakhouse (Steaks and Burgers)

Restaurants in Puerto

Venta El Nene (Tortillas and American Breakfast)

Parilla Bailey’s (Grilled Specialites, Children’s Playground)

El Ultimo (Bar Food, Fuentabravia)

Venta La Rufana (Family Owned Roadhouse)

Crêfondue (Fondue and Crepes, Ocean Views)

Blanco Paloma (Pizza and Pasta with Ocean Views)

Bar Jamon (Upscale Spanish Cuisine)

Venta La Feria (Huge Paella Varieties)

Little Italy (Pizza, Pasta, and Children’s Play Area)

Bamboo Sushi (Great Sushi and Sashimi)

Shamrock (Traditional Irish Pub Food)

El Sitio De Vélez (Upscale Spanish Cuisine)

Daytrips:

Again, wow, this is an entire section of the book, almost 70 pages! But to summarize, there are tons of cool things to see in Southern Spain: Roman ruins, ancient castles, flower festivals, quaint mountainside towns, and gorgeous beaches. You can drive to Portugal or Gibraltar, or take a ferry to Morocco. The book includes GPS coordinates for parking areas, clickable links to websites (in the eBook), and prices for various attractions. Here is just a taste.

Day Trips:

Arcos (City of Arches, with old churches and white walled houses)

Baelo Claudia (Roman ruins from the 1st century!)

Cádiz (3,000 old city, with a Cathedral, old fort, harbor, and art/history museums)

Ceuta (Spanish city in Africa, next to Morocco, reached by a ferry)

Chipiona (local town famous for wine)

El Portal (Horse Ranch with a weekly carriage and riding show)

El Puerto De Santa Maria (local town with a castle, Cathedral, and a French bakery)

Gibraltar (The Rock, with a quaint British town, monkeys, and pillars of Hercules)

Jerez (famous for the Royal Horse Show and also for sherry wine tasting tours)

Medina Sidonia (historical hilltop town with Roman roads and a history museum)

Ronda (famous for bull fighting, and a 1,000 year old bridge that spans a huge chasm)

Sanlucar (site of the annual Horse Races on the beach every August)

Sevilla (Spain’s golden city, former seat of the King. Gorgeous castle and Cathedral)

Tangiers, Morocco (ride camels, visit a bazaar, and sip mint tea)

Ubrique (a quaint mountaintop village famous for its leather artisans and shops)

Vejer de la Frontera (small white-walled village with a famous Moroccan restaurant)

Zahara de la Sierra (located in the mountains, with working olive oil presses and tours)

Weekend Trips within Spain:

Barcelona (Gaudi architecture, a crazy Cathedral, futball (soccer), and a zoo)

Cordoba (Mezquita mosque, beautiful castle gardens, flower festival, pottery shops)

Granada (Alcazar palace is the most beautiful in Spain, historic city and flamenco music)

Lagos, Portugal (quaint beachside town with amazing arches and caves in the cliffs)

Lisbon, Portugal (huge city with history, art, great food, and nearby palaces)

Madrid (Spain’s capital, with tons of art, history, gardens, and a modern castle)

Nerja (quaint Mediterranean seaside town with pebble beaches)

Toledo (medieval city near Madrid with a Cathedral, Greco art, and metal artisans)

And if you think you couldn’t possibly visit all those places with your baby or children, I promise that you can! We have four young children, and the youngest was born in Spain! So strollers and baby backpacks make almost anything possible. If you are looking for more kid-friendly options though, here are the most popular kids’ field trips.

  • Zoos in Jerez or Castellar
  • Aqualandia water park
  • Divertilandia indoor bounce house/play area
  • El Bucharito local goat farm with cheese-making classes
  • Bee Farm in Jerez
  • Aquarium in Sevilla
  • Crocodile Farm in El Portal
  • Las Marias Horse Farm for lessons or beach rides
  • Princelandia dress-ups for girls’ birthday parties
  • La Ciudad de los Ninos y las Ninas playground in Jerez
  • Laser Tag and Go Karting in Jerez
  • Isla Magica Amusement Park in Sevilla
  • Dolphin/Whale Watching Cruises in Tarifa
Rota, Spain

Lizann Lightfoot spent the last 3 years living in Rota, Spain, with her Marine Corps husband and 4 children. While there, she began a travel blog, which turned into a 200-page guidebook called ‘Welcome to Rota.’ The book is a complete resource for military families moving to Southern Spain, with details about the overseas move, base resources, Spanish culture, where to shop and eat, how to cook Spanish food, and where to travel! She hopes it will save military families time and money, so they can adjust quickly, and get to the part where they start enjoying life in Spain. The book is available as a paperback or as an eBook through Amazon.com. Her family now lives in California, where she blogs about military life and deployments at SeasonedSpouse.com.

What To Expect At MCAS Iwakuni, Japan

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Happy to have this guest post by Kelly on MCAS Iwakuni in Japan. Please visit my Duty station guest post page for posts on other locations or more information about how you can write a guest post about where you have been stationed.

Living at Iwakuni, Japan

Finding out your family has orders overseas can be intimidating but if you’re one of the lucky ones that has orders to MCAS Iwakuni, you’ll soon fall in love with this tiny but growing base. There is plenty on base to remind you of home but fun and adventure begins as soon as you exit the gates.

MCAS Iwakuni

While it is small, MCAS Iwakuni offers quite a bit. At Crossroads Mall there is Subway, Pizza Hut, KFC, Burger King, Taco Bell, Baskin Robbins, and Crossroads Café. Currently the Post Office, Commissary, and Sakura Theater are in the process of being moved to larger buildings to accommodate the base’s growing population. There is a bunch of construction going on to building new homes and renovating some of the older homes and towers. There are three types of housing for families: row homes (three story 3 or 4 bedrooms), town homes (two story 2 or 3 bedrooms), and tower apartments (2 or 3 bedrooms). One of the things I can’t seem to get over is how beautiful it is here. The Nishiki River runs past the Sea Wall and a great place to watch to sun set behind the mountains. The Sea Wall runs around most of the base. It is as wide as a small road and paved. A great place to go walking, running, or bike riding. It runs past the Ironworks Gym. The gym is decent sized and offers a variety of fun classes to keep you in shape. The indoor pool is located at Ironworks. There is an outdoor pool with a waterslide located across the street from Crossroads Mall and the Library. The Library just reopened in January after a renovation that included installing a 3D printer that is free to use.

MCAS Iwakuni

Off base there are many options for food, fun, and adventure. There are many restaurants within walking distance. You can try okonomiyaki (savory pancake), yakitori (food on a stick), shabu shabu (cook your food in flavored broths), yakuniku (cook your food on a grill in front of you), and a variety of ramen shops without having to go more than ten minutes from base. While you are and about, it’s highly recommended to go see Kintaikyo Bridge. It is a beautiful stone and wooden bridge built in the 1600’s. It is beautiful on it’s own but stunning when the Nishiki River is lined with cherry blossom trees in full bloom. Just past the Kintaikyo Bridge is Kikko Park where you can find many fountains and statues. You can ride a gondola from Kikko Park to Iwakuni Castle. Iwakuni Castle has been turned into a museum about Iwakuni City. The view from the top of the castle is breathtaking. If you wish to see more of Japan it’s easy to hop on a plane or train or even the bullet train to explore Hiroshima, Kyoto, Osaka, Miyajima Island or even Tokyo. Recently MCAS Iwakuni made the news when President Obama visited the base on his way to see the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima.

Don’t let being in a foreign land intimidate you.  Don’t just stay on base. Actually go out and experience all that Japan has to offer. The memories you’ll make will last a lifetime. Don’t worry about the language barrier. The Google Translate app has helped us get around that. The Nationals are some of the nicest people I have met. Most of the time when we ask directions to a place they will actually walk us to the destination even if it’s a few blocks away. Either way be open to adventure and enjoy your time in Japan.

 

MCAS IwakuniKelly Stillwagon is originally from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. She currently lives in Iwakuni, Japan with her handsome husband, Jeremy. She is the owner of Barking Fabulous Dog Treats, and a blogger for I Do and Adieu. Kelly is also a paranormal investigator with over 10 years of experience. In her free time she loves to read, penpal, bake, paint, and veg out with Netflix with her kittens, Katniss Everpurr and Bagheera.

Social Media Links: Facebook page for “I Do And Adieu”- https://www.facebook.com/idoandadieu Instagram page for Kelly Stillwagon and I Do And Adieu- https://www.instagram.com/stillkelz/

Bloom Where You Are Stationed

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Bloom Where You Are Stationed“I hate it here.”

“We just got orders there and I am scared. I have only heard bad things.”

“I really don’t want to leave here and have to move there. It is the worst place we could go.”

“I really just want the next three years to pass quickly so we can move somewhere else.”

“This place is so boring. There is nothing to do here. I hate it.”

Have you heard people say things like that before? Maybe it was you? I am not going to lie. I was so ready to leave Germany after we had been there a few years. That was hard for me. Very hard. And it was Germany. A place many people would LOVE to go and who never want to leave.

It was the end of 2007. I was standing outside a bookstore with my Mother-in-law in California during our post-deployment vacation. “I don’t want to go back to Germany. I really really don’t” I told her. And I didn’t. I just wasn’t excited about going back. I knew another deployment was coming and didn’t want to be over there anymore. However, my husband still had a few years left before we would move back to the US.

I did what you have to do as a Military Spouse, I sucked it up and got on the airplane and we went back “home” to Germany.

 

A few months later, we moved to a different duty station in Germany. Our housing was a lot better. So much so that I cried happy tears when I walked into our new home. But still, I was missing the United States and just wanted to be back there. I didn’t want to still be in Germany. Then I bought a new camera. I started taking pictures every day and started really noticing where I was. From the trees to the flowers to the old buildings. I was in a magical land. I needed to take advantage of that.

Things being what they were, having two little kids, I wasn’t going to be able to travel every week or even all that often. But I could put them in the stroller and walk around my village. I could walk them around town and into the country a little bit. So that is what I did. One Sunday my husband had to work so I decided to take them for a long walk. It took us five hours there and back but that walk was amazing and one I will never forget. We passed by forests, rivers, fields, apple trees, sheep and old buildings. I still enjoy looking at the photos I took that day.

If you are feeling like you are hating your current duty station, maybe you should try to change things up.

Grab your camera, grab a friend or just go and explore. You never know what you might encounter. Remember that once you leave, you might never be able to return. Try to find the positives in where you live, even if they are well hidden. Of course, some places are easier to do this than others.

When you can bloom where you are stationed, you can have good experiences anywhere you go. You will learn how to find the positives in every situation and figure out creative ways to enjoy yourself even if you are not feeling too happy at first. If you are set to go to a duty station most people don’t like, see if you can talk to people who do like it there. Find out what they have to say and find things about that place to look forward to. Make a list of positives and get ready for your next adventure as a military spouse.

Have you ever lived somewhere you couldn’t stand? How did you figure out how to bloom where you are stationed?

Living in Hohenfels, Germany

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Happy to have this guest post by LeAnna on Hohenfels, Germany. Please visit my Duty station guest post page for posts on other locations or more information about how you can write a guest post about where you have been stationed.

Living in Hohenfels, GermanyHohen-Hells, Germany.  

Oops, I mean, Hohenfels; the Army Post in Nowheresville, Germany where the Commissary is often out of stock of the item you need most (like Pumpkin puree during Thanksgiving!), where it’s 30 minutes to the nearest big city and where you are thousands of miles away from family, friends and the nearest comforts of wandering aimlessly in a Target.

I suppose I can see the point of view of the people that have, not so affectionately, coined USAG Hohenfels as a “Hohen-Hells”. 

After all, the soldiers often work what seems like 24/7, there are the horrible rotation and exercise schedules, it has a small town community atmosphere where it feels like everyone is in everyone’s business and there are grey, dreary, rainy days that can last for months making you believe that the sun has permanently abandoned you.

Yeah, sure, this does sound like a miserable Army Post, doesn’t it??? So, who in their right mind would want to be stationed in a place like that!?

Well, me for one.  

Don’t get me wrong, my husband also has horrible rotation schedules, I miss Netflix and often dream of the conveniences of American life, like 24-hour Walmarts, just as much as the other members of the community here and yet, I often feel like I don’t ever want to leave Hohenfels.

That’s because I CHOOSE to see the positives.  I CHOOSE to realize how fortunate I am to be living in Europe!  I love Hohenfels, for all its faults and flaws, but more importantly for the endless positives it provides and everything that it has given back to me during this very brief period in my life.

The Beauty of Hohenfels and Bavaria

Close your eyes and think of Germany.  What do you see?  

  • Men holding beer steins the size of your head while wearing Liederhosen?

Check

Living in Hohenfels, Germany

  • Pretzels so big you can fit your arm through the loops?

Yup

  • So many Scnitzel varieties that you could eat a new one every day and still try a new one tomorrow?

Uum, do you need to even ask that!?

  • Cobblestoned streets lining the alleys of pastel painted houses so quaint and unique?

Photoshop and Filters not needed here!

Living in Hohenfels, Germany

No, these are not stereotypes of Germany…this is real life in beautiful Bavaria, where beer truly does run freely and fest season provides endless hours of polka music.

And not to mention the actual, physical beauty of Bavaria.  Spring time is like an artists’ dream come true when the canola fields bloom against the patchwork greens of the farm fields as the hills roll in the distance.  

Living in Hohenfels, Germany

Winter is like a picture out of a fairytale book as the soft, white snow drifts down on the castles and Christmas markets.

Living in Hohenfels, Germany

Summer hikes in the Alps or up a castle can leave you breathless, not because of the altitude or physical exertion but because you’ve rarely seen something so beautiful.

Living in Hohenfels, Germany

Sure, I never leave the apartment without an umbrella, but when you look past the clouds and when the sun does pop its head out, there is often nothing more stunningly beautiful than Bavaria.

The Community

The USAG Hohenfels Community:

What small town doesn’t have its nosy neighbors?  If you’ve ever lived in a location where stop lights aren’t needed, you know that you can’t often can’t even change your shirt without the whole world knowing about it.

But honestly, it has been the small community at the Hohenfels Army Garrison that I actually really do love.  For every person that complains about the Busy-Bodies, there are just as many, if not more, that say that they have made some of the best friends of their lives at this duty station.  And it’s clear to see how and why. 

Living in Hohenfels, Germany

Because there aren’t a ton of us here, that means we need to band together.  On winter evenings when black ice is making it dangerous on those steep hills, countless strangers get in their American trucks and SUVs and help out anyone stranded on a snowy incline.  If you are walking out of the mailroom with a box too large to handle, it’s only a matter of seconds before someone steps in to lend you a helping hand.  On the all too common rainy days, it’s not uncommon to see someone stop for a random soldier or spouse walking on Post to see if they need a lift.  It’s this small town feel that makes us feel like we have a tight knit community that sticks together in rain or shine (literally!)

The German and Off- Post Community:

No, not all foreigners love Americans (I know, shocker, right!?) but the German community, for the most part, is amazingly welcoming despite our loud, obnoxious talking in public, our giant SUVs and, what seems to be our inability to learn THEIR language. 

The German/American Kontact Club welcomes locals, ex-pats and military alike.  The schools and sports clubs on the economy almost always accepts any American child looking to learn more German and integrate more into the local culture.  The local farmers market Egg Man loves teaching me a new Bayerisch word every week as I purchase his farm-fresh eggs.

Living in these small Bavarian towns sprinkled around Post is like stepping back 50 years in the US.  You can leave your doors unlocked without fear of intruders.  You can send your small children down to the Backerei on their own for pastries without fear of abductors.  A fellow spouse put living in this idyllic setting so eloquently that I couldn’t have said it more beautifully, “I feel so safe in this little Bavarian Bubble and yet the world has never been more accessible.”  Which brings me to…

Travel

I don’t think it’s a hard concept to consider that the travel opportunities living in Europe are something most people only get to dream of.  Yet, many people choose to stay near the comforts of Post instead of taking advantage of all the amazing things this foreign world has to offer.

I get it, we have horribly bad work schedules here.  Kids’ school breaks don’t always align with the rotation exercises.  Rain forecasts dampen the mood to get out and explore.  The fear of what the world is becoming keeps many people from packing their bags.

But you know what all of these are? EXCUSES! Yes, valid excuses, but excuses none the less.

This is exactly the reason why I teach people in my book, “So You Got Stationed Overseas”  how to overcome those problems, take a positive outlook instead of a “woah is me” attitude, gain the confidence needed to explore a new location and learn to make every minute count of their short PCS abroad!

In the first four years of living in Germany, we were able to visit over 40 new countries, learn about cultures first hand I’d only heard or read about previously and made memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life!!!

Living in Hohenfels, Germany

Not getting out, not traveling while stationed abroad, as scary as it might seem at first, would be doing yourself, your family (and your photo book) a HUGE disservice! 

Living in Hohenfels, Germany

So, is it really a “Hohen-Hell?” here? Maybe.  I suppose it could be pretty miserable here if you choose to dwell on the negatives.   But what city, town or military installation doesn’t have areas to improve on?

Instead, I want to see at as a “Hohen-FULLS”.  Because USAG Hohenfels is actually so FULL of amazing people, full of beauty, full of adventure and travel and full of opportunities that can only come with living abroad and a unique community such as ours.

In fact, forget all the nicknames.  I’ll just simply call it “Home.”

About the Author

LeAnna Brown currently doesn’t know what she wants to be when she grows up, so to delay major life decisions, her and her husband, Andy, have decided to move to Europe and travel the world via Travel Hacking.  After almost 40 countries down in four years and only a few thousand dollars spent a year on travel, they have learned to penny pinch their way to a bare minimalist lifestyle to help them see and appreciate the world.  You can learn how to travel for next to nothing as well at EconomicalExcursionists.com or get your daily dose of travel tips, advice and motivation by “Liking” them on Facebook or following the EconomicalExcursionists on twitter @EconExcursion.

 

When Moving Back To The United States From Overseas Is Hard

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We have been back from Germany a little over six years now. It was quite the change to go from a small village in Germany to Clarksville, Tennessee and the USA. I was so ready to be back in the states after four years. I think I kissed the ground when I got off the plane. I was home.

When moving back to the US from overseas is hard

Being stationed overseas is a dream for a lot of people. A chance to see another part of the world, to explore and to open up to other ways of living. The military can send a family that has never been out of the midwest and allow them the chance of a lifetime. But hardly anyone can stay overseas forever. I have some friends that have been able to stay for five-ten years but most people do come back to the states and have to figure out American life again.

That first week back was like living in a dream. Nothing seemed real. Nothing was familiar. Everything was confusing and it took some time to get used to living back in the United States. I think it took about two years before I stopped asking if a certain place accepted a credit card. “Yes Julie, most places do.”

This can be a challenging time. Some people are able to bounce back rather quickly and others have difficulty doing so. If you are getting ready for a move back home from an overseas location, this is what you might experience:

The Culture

When you live overseas you learn to live in another culture. Even if you live on post and don’t explore as much as you should. It is still all around you. You get used to the slower pace, the way the people are, the things they value. You become a part of it as well. Then you move back and you realize how different it can really be. There is a thing called “reverse culture shock.” This is when you come back from another culture and have trouble getting used to the culture you were raised in. You can also struggle with missing certain things so much that you think they are better than they really are. Once you get home and have them again, there is a bit of a let down because you were expecting something a lot better.

pcs to germany

The Military Community

The military community overseas is very different from the military community stateside. Overseas is more tight-knit. It has to be. People are not going home on the weekends. It is hard to have a life outside of the military. You have to depend on the military for a lot of things like your mail, American food and even education for your children. If you live off-post in the states you don’t have to depend on the military for as much. If there is a deployment, the community really bands together to get through it. It is different in the states. When you move back you will feel that loss and it can be a hard one. You no longer have your community. The one that helped get you through your struggles, the one you had fun with and explored another country with, the one who understood what it was like to be so far from home. That is hard to get over and hard to get back into military life without as tight of a community.

Spending Money

In most places overseas you don’t have as many choices. When I visited California in 2009, I stopped at a grocery store on the way home from the airport. I needed to buy some diapers. I stood in that aisle for about 20 minutes because I had the hardest time with all the choices. Back in Germany, there were only a couple choices for diapers. In the grocery store I was in, there were, at least, ten, maybe more. I couldn’t even wrap my mind around what I was looking at. In the states, you have a lot more choices from where to shop to where to eat. It can feel so overwhelming and it is easy to overspend. You also lose your COLA which is your cost of living allowance that you get while stationed overseas. This can be hard for some families. They say not to depend on that money when you are getting it but most people do anyway.

Feeling too Busy

A lot of overseas living is much slower paced than in the states. Where we were in Bavaria most places were closed on Sundays and they had a lot of holidays. You were not even allowed to wash your car on Sundays. When we moved back to the states life felt so busy. There was always so much more going on. Some of that I think was because my son didn’t start Kindergarten until after we moved back but I think the other part was just how much more relaxed things can be in other places. This can take some time to get used to as well because it is just a different way to live your life. In Germany, if go out to eat you have to hunt down your server when you are ready to pay. In the states, most places want to rush you out as soon as they can. It is all very different.

stationed in germany

Coming back to the states from an overseas tour is going to be complicated. Give yourself some time to adjust. Try to remember that you will find your place even if it takes a while. We have been back for six years and although I miss parts of my time in Germany, I feel used to the US now. It took a while but we got to that point. I am used to living here again. And you will get there too.

Have you struggled coming back from an overseas tour? What was the hardest part for you?

So You Got Stationed Overseas: Why you NEED to make TRAVEL a part of your short PCS abroad

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Thanks so much to LeAnna Brown for this guest post!

stationed overseas

Living in Europe for the past five years as a contractor with the US Army, I have had what most people would call a “Dream Life.”  I’ve learned to budget travel and travel hack, so we get to travel extensively and all over the world, not just Europe!  I’ve danced on the tables at Oktoberfest, I’ve climbed all 1710 step of the Eiffel Tower and I’ve cliff dived into the blue ocean in Croatia, to name a few adventures.

I started shopping at the local grocery store the first week I moved to Germany and I’ve taken advantage of just about every 4-Day Weekend we’ve had to go somewhere new.  So, I’ve learned a thing or two about living life abroad while being stationed overseas.  

However, I found that there were SO many military members, spouses and families that were sitting on Post not ever leaving…and then complaining that life was horrible here in Europe and that they couldn’t wait to move back to the States!

This not only made me sad that they were not seeing the Europe that I was, but was also infuriating me that so many people only DREAM of getting to visit Europe and yet some people that got assigned here were dismissing that opportunity completely.

But then I started to find out WHY some of these people weren’t getting out and exploring

Some were too nervous about buying the wrong items at the store.

Others didn’t like not being able to communicate with the locals.

Many didn’t think that they could afford to travel or site see.

stationed overseas

About the Book: So You Got Stationed Overseas: Why you NEED to make TRAVEL a part of your short PCS abroad

So, I took ALL the experience of the 40 countries and 90 new cities I had seen over the past five years, and combined it with stories from local spouses that I collected through research to create the ultimate How- To book for anyone facing an upcoming PCS to Europe, or those already living there! 

I help the person stepping off the plane learn to get acquainted with life abroad by slowly dipping your toes into the local culture but giving exact tips and advice on how to do so, like navigating the local grocery stores.

I encourage all the nay-sayers with excuses to drop them out of the plane as you cross the ocean.  Therefore, I PROVE how to budget for travel, how to adjust for military schedules and more in order to get out and site-see. But not only do I prove this, I include a workbook with guides that help you do the same.

I then drop resource after resource for people living in Europe looking for ways to budget travel or even those wanting to LEARN how to plan a trip!

This isn’t your typical PCS checklist book and it isn’t your Rick Steves Travel Planning guide either.  It is a resource for you, the military member facing that overwhelming OCONUS PCS! 

And, as if helping active duty service members isn’t enough, 5% of the books proceeds also is donated towards the Wounded Warrior Project!

You Can Order The Book on Amazon HERE. 

Know someone who is PCSing to Europe? Share this invaluable resource with them so that they can take advantage of their time abroad!

Are you facing an OCONUS PCS?  What fears or questions do you have? Sometimes it is just a matter of getting them answered before you can have the time of your life!

stationed overseasAbout the Author

LeAnna Brown currently helps fellow travelers learn how to travel on a tight budget and Travel Hack through her blog EconomicalExcursionists.com.  After almost 40 countries down in four years and only a few thousand dollars spent a year on travel, they have learned to penny pinch their way to a bare minimalist lifestyle to help them see and appreciate the world. 

You can get daily dosages of travel tips and motivation by “Liking” Economical Excrusionists on Facebook or follow her on twitter @EconExcursion.

Other articles written by LeAnna that may interest you:

Travel Hacking for Beginners: http://www.economicalexcursionists.com/travel-hacking-beginners-guide/

15 Ways to Pinch Pennies for Future Travel: http://www.economicalexcursionists.com/save-for-a-vacation/#.VdB0ivmqqko

If you would like to learn more about traveling for FREE through Travel Hacking (using points for free flights and hotels), check out the Free E-Course offered by the Economical Excursionist. 

Amsterdam & The Netherlands

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Amsterdam

While we were overseas we were able to do a little bit of traveling. I am glad we were able to do this.  In May of 2008 I took a USO tour with some friends to visit Amsterdam & The Netherlands. It was a two-day tour but you were supposed to sleep on the bus. I think I was one of the only ones that couldn’t do that but it was still worth it, even though I never got to sleep.

Amsterdam

We were able to go to a cheese farm, a place they made wooden shoes, the Keukenhof where we got to see all of the tulips and beautiful flowers, we took a canal right around Amsterdam and visited a diamond shop. We also had exactly one hour of free time where a friend of mind was able to see the Anne Frank house. The rest of us didn’t think we had enough time to do the tour, although we did get to see the outside. I wish I had been a little more adventurous and done it even if it meant getting on the bus five minutes before we were supposed to be there.

Amsterdam

The USO is a great way to travel if you don’t want to plan the trip yourself. It is good for traveling alone, with your spouse or your friend. You sign up on post, pay the fee and then go where you need to go the day the trip starts. They have day trips, overnight trips and even week-long ones. You can also meet new people on these trips which is a lot of fun. If I didn’t have children when I was in Germany I would have gone on as many trips as I could afford to do but that just wasn’t possible.

Amsterdam

 

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I thought Amsterdam was amazing. I want to go back with my husband and spend a week there. In some ways it reminded me of what New York City would be like, although I have never been there myself. In other ways it reminded me a bit of San Fransisco. It was just big and amazing. Very different from Bavaria and maybe that was why it stood out to me so much. I was used to the German countryside and not a big city.

Amsterdam

I loved looking at the tulips at the Keukenhof.  They were simply amazing and thinking back to that reminds me to look for tulip festivals in the states. I know they probably won’t compare but they would be great to see too.

Amsterdam

When we were in the canal on the boat, I thought it was amazing to think of living on one of those house boats. What a different life that would be from my own. To be that close to water and to have to depend on it. To have a bike and no car. It feels like a different world and I find it fascinating.

That is what I like the most about traveling. Seeing first hand out other people live in different parts of the world. Understanding that my normal is not everyone’s normal and that is a good thing.

Amsterdam

The only part of the trip I would have skipped was the diamond factory. It really wasn’t interesting and they kept us there longer then they normally would have. A diamond went missing and they had to figure out what happened before we could leave.  I wish we could have spent that time in the city, walking around, visiting the Anne Frank house or doing something else more interesting.

Amsterdam

 

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Have you ever been to Amsterdam? What did you think? Have you been on a USO tour?