My Facebook page has a countdown app that shows how many days left till I arrive on Terceira. I'm working my way through the house, organizing what I want to keep and throwing out stuff I no longer want to drag around the world. Lots of paper. Office supplies I've had since 1997. A sweater I started knitting and know I'll never finish. Negatives of photos I don't even have any more.
The date has slipped since I first talked with the AF personnel center. Now there's a reporting date of 25 April, which is the Monday after Easter. The e-mail I got from the center had a link to the site with information about PCS-ing (Permanent Change of Station). After talking with their tech support, I learned the link is broken. Thanks to my innate resourcefulness (aw, shucks), I managed to find the info myself using Google, and sent a good link to the woman in personnel. I found forms there and general info, and Isidro sent me the link to the Lajes newcomers site for info about housing, medical care, driving, pets, and much, much more.
No, this isn't Emma. But it's the XL (40l x 27w x 30h) crate I just ordered for her plane trip. I was pleasantly surprised to find one for less than $100. From reading through the Pets pages for the base, I learned that neither on-base temporary lodging or hotels off base have accommodations for pets. That means either putting her in the kennel on base till I find a place to live and can move in - and who knows how long that will take, including getting household goods there? So, I'll probably fly over without her and have friends take her to BWI for a flight once I have a new home for us.
Here's my Emma, lounging on "her" bed that she generously shares with me. Restrictions for bringing in a pet are pretty routine - current rabies vaccine, microchip - which she already has. Not like going to the UK, with its 6-week quarantine policy.
The other day, I spent some time looking at rental property near the base. Prices range from €750 to €1,100. Lots of variety - some really pretty houses. I was drooling over a couple of them, like the one below, but looks can be deceiving. The house with this view doesn't come with any appliances or hook-ups.This one does, though.
To be honest, these are the exceptions in appearance. Most of the listings are much more, shall we say, unimpressive? Of course, it's early days, and some places look better "on" than they do on the hanger. Some houses are just 220v, but others have 110v, too. The housing site recommends bringing dehumidifiers. None of the houses I've seen have air conditioning or screens, but I hear there's usually a good breeze. Also, closets seem to be minimal, so I might rent a small storage space in VA for cold-weather clothes. More to come on that.
I've been e-mailing back-and-forth with Isidro, the personnel guy handling my move, and he sent forms last week for my personnel office to process so I can get my physical exam. It's a pretty extensive check list (not!): "light lifting/carrying, walking, standing, near vision correctable, ability to distinguish basic colors/shades of colors, hearing, other (unspecified)." Once that's done, and the selecting official has completed his part of the process on line, I should be good to go for the April 25 EOD (enter on duty) date.
That's all for this post.
Aisha
