Moving to Spain

Stephanie Brande - posted on 06/17/2012

My husband is AF and getting ready to leave for a remote. We are trying to decide between Spain and Germany. Can anyone give me the pros and cons of each? Also, we have a four month old, he will be a year and a half when we move, so, I want somewhere he will enjoy for the next three years!

J'Tiame - posted on 06/24/2010

Thank you so much.... Great advice

Carol - posted on 06/24/2010

As far as medical screening you will meet or not meet with a Dr who will clear you Physiologically they want to be sure you have the proper coping skills for being in a foreign country. Understand that the first few months may not be fun! You will be stressed,you may feel very isolated from family. Europeans do not move as quickly as Americans do, so it may take three weeks or more before you have a phone and internet in your home. Go to family support to get local information and use their computers to stay in touch with friends and family back home. Do find out where the local fresh fruit and vegetable markets and and take full advantage of them! The BX and Commissaries in Europe, do try but they do not always have everything we are used to having access to in the States. Around the time school starts you may want to ask family here to send you some school supplies, they are a hot commodity and can be hard to come by certain things for specific grades. Do have some involvement with the wives group, they can be a real life saver! M.O.P.S mothers of preschoolers can help a lot too! Take advantage of your time there and travel whenever possible! Put a lock on your and your spouses SS# that you are out of the country and no new credit should be opened in your name. Some members have had their id stolen and don't find out about until the get stateside again.
Most importantly--- know that it is OK to say NO! There are a lot of volunteer opportunities at every base! You do not have to say yes to every one of them! It can be over whelming with people asking you to do things, but really learn NO! Practice in the mirror if you have to! They will not hate you!

God, Family,Everybody else! I spent most of my life in Europe and just recently came back from a 4.5 year tour in Germany.
Have fun and enjoy your tour!

J'Tiame - posted on 06/23/2010

we are still waiting to find out when we are leaving and we will be there for 3 yrs. sure we can be first friends

Jodie - posted on 06/22/2010

Crazy!! ME TOO!!!!
Wanna be my first new friend there?!? Haha

My family is getting stationed in Rota in late July!

When are you getting there? / How long will you be stationed there?

...I guess I better read all your responses haha

Charity - posted on 06/22/2010

Rota you must be Navy!!!! It is an awesome area the schools are great and the base is the best try to learn some Spanish before you go it will make going to town a little easier. Though most of the residents there speak some enlish because of the high military concentration. Just go and have a great time

J'Tiame - posted on 06/20/2010

Oh im so excited. I hope we get to go before i have our second child. our third which is on our schedule lol will be born in spain so this is such a great opportunity im grateful to have

Melissa - posted on 06/20/2010

We have just spent the last 3 years in Germany and are getting ready to move to Madrid, Spain! Passports a must, do try to learn some of the language...we are taking Rosetta stone free through AKO, when you get here, you get COLA pay to help offset the exchange rate, so don't do the exchange in your head every time you purchase something, or you won't want to go anywhere! Be open to new adventures! I had two babies in Germany and will have our third in Spain!

J'Tiame - posted on 06/18/2010

Thanks so much ladies... My worries are kinda gone. Now just anxious... My daughter will be 4 in november so depending on when we go she will start school. I'm so pumped lol

Melissa - posted on 06/17/2010

you will love it I was stationed in La Maddalena, an island part of Italy but south of France...I took a trip to Spain, it is beautiful! We tried to get Rota as a Permant duty but no luck! You will love it. I had enrolled my 3 yr old at the local Italian school and she picked up the language well. They start kids early. When you get their ask if they do the same. Its great to be apart of the local community. Also you will love the markets!

Melissa - posted on 06/17/2010

so far, we have to be up to date on all of our shots [or get up to date on them..lol], have a clear bill of health from the dentist [meaning if you need work done, it must be done before you can go], have a physical from the doctor to make sure you're healthy enough to go, and im sure there's more to come.

Heidi - posted on 06/15/2010

Haven't been to Spain but I just came back from being in Germany for 5 yrs. Keep an open mind, learn enough of the language to get around and function. Remember you are a guest in their country so learn their laws as well. And explore like crazy! Don't live your life on post. I lived on post as I was much more comfortable that way but i took my girls off post as much as possible and we went on many trips through our local MWR. Have fun! I hope you will share some pictures with us. :)

J'Tiame - posted on 06/15/2010

wow really? if u dont mind, could u keep me posted on what all you have to do and everything. my hubby put them in and we're going but dont know when yet. im pregnant, so i dont know how much screening i can do

Melissa - posted on 06/15/2010

we have just received orders for rota too! we're currently doing our medical screening process and its a huge pain in the butt. but i'm hoping its worth it!!

J'Tiame - posted on 06/15/2010

thank you so much. that helpeda great deal. im not as nervous anymore... I do plan to get our passports and everything so we can travel. i think im a worry wart bc i keep thinking of he negative things that happen oerseas. thanks for the reassurence

Becky - posted on 06/14/2010

I have not been there but I am stationed overseas and know people who have been there.. Everybody I have talked to say that they LOVED it there and wish they could go back. Enjoy your time there and make sure you get out and travel, travel, and travel.. You can get cheap plane tickets at Ryanair.com to travel everywhere. We are going to Italy in aug. and we just bought our tickets for 30 dollars a person!! Can't get much better then that. Make sure you get out and see everything you can! It's great living overseas as long as you make the best out of it. Good Luck and have a great time!