As we are preparing to move from Sweden to Israel (more than likely mid-August) this is the question I get most often. My standard answer now is;"do you get excited when you move?" Moving is a pain in the ass whether it is across the street or across the globe. This will be my third international move in 7 years, and Carl's fifth international move in 14 years. We are not going on vacation, we are relocating so excited is not the word I would use. Nervous, curious and stressed? Yup those might apply.
We move because of a job. Yes it is our choice as we are able to submit our preferences for positions abroad. That job can take us to some far away places and we do have amazing experiences there, I can't deny that. It is however a move, picking up our lives and living it somewhere else. For us it means trying to figure out what to bring and leave behind (or in this instance bring and send back to Canada), getting our dogs to the destination safely, tons of paperwork, updating our inventory, making sure the dogs meet the health requirements of the new country, obtaining new ID's, leaving behind friends, find a new doctor, dentist, veterinarian, barber, gym, learning a new language and in my case if I can't work finding things to do to occupy my day.
At the end of the day, of course I look forward to the adventure of living someplace new. Tel Aviv will be far different from anywhere I have lived before and will present a lot of challenges as well as opportunities, but we need to get there first.
The life of a Diplomat and the family that follows them is far different in reality than what film and television would lead you to believe. It's a job. Every morning you go to an office and perform tasks that are assigned to you. Often times it is easier on the employee as that person steps back into their home country every time they step into the Embassy. The family though are the ones who are immersed in a new language and culture who have to figure out the mundane things like where to shop, can I read labels in this language and where to get gas. Children need to adjust to a new school environment and make friends all over again. For couples with children that is a great network to meet people as all those kids have parents too. As a gay couple it can be more of a challenge.
There are a lot of things to mull over when you make a move like this, so that is what goes through my mind currently. Before we even get there we have to say goodbye to those who we have met here in Sweden. That is always the hardest part, but I've always said if it doesn't hurt when you leave, you didn't do it right.
