It's a strange dichotomy - this Navy life of ours - wanting to do our job, yet feeling the strong tug of the love of family, friends and church; yearning for life at "home" - especially now that most of our family is in one part of the country! We feel it too! Yet, nevertheless, in just a few short weeks we are moving to Naples, Italy, where we will be living for the next three years. "Papa" will be the Command Chaplain at Naval Support Activity Naples [ https://www.cnic.navy.mil/Naples/index.htm ].
Here is a little more of what we have to think about as we prepare for moving to this new country:
"Duty in Italy offers opportunities of a lifetime. This goes for travel, recreation, professional development, education, and a whole lot more. The key to enjoying a successful tour lies in remembering that living in Italy is not like living in the United States. The customs, culture and way of life here are significantly different than what you are accustomed to. Houses and apartments are constructed differently; electric power and utilities are different; shopping, driving and dining are all different. Some people find this adjustment a hard one to make, but embracing the food and the warmth of the people you meet will help you make the transition. Our improvement projects have taken giant steps in improving the quality of life for those assigned here, but remember, the key to a successful tour in Italy lies in your willingness to learn and adapt to the differences you will encounter here.
Any move is filled with stress and distractions, and your move here will be no different. Culture shock, jet lag, and many other things will likely be a part of your PCS experience. Your command and your sponsor will help you adjust and get settled. Coming prepared will minimize your worries. Follow guidelines in the this book, and you can smooth out many of the potential wrinkles in your upcoming move."
Due to the lateness of finding out about this assignment (mid-June), we've been working like crazy to get everything ready for such a big move. And now it's crunch time! Our pack-out (which consists of household goods, long-term storage, and an express shipment - as well as professional books, etc. ), starts a week from today . . . then we move in with Mom and Dad who live just a few miles away. That's another grouping of suitcases and clothing that need to last for about two months or so . . . careful not to let passports, vet records for Sherman, pass-codes to everything, etc. . . get packed . . . and so on! This is military life! The part I don't like very much! Too stressful.
One time a friend of ours living a few doors down on the base in Japan was getting ready to go to the airport for their flight home and discovered all of their passports (hers, her husbands, and their two kids), had just been packed that day in their express shipment! GONE!! It was a terrible feeling! All their plans had to be changed. They had two labrador retrievers scheduled on the flight as well! What a mess! They had to go Tokyo the next day and get expedited passports and visas, then try and get it all done before the paperwork for their dogs expired. It was a disaster!
These kinds of stories "float" (haha) around the Navy all the time, as a warning to those of us who follow after. Be careful to keep your important documents and paperwork away from the movers!!! Usually we try and clear out a bathroom or something and put all the important stuff in there and tape it shut and don't even let the movers walk in to it. Anyway, all of that is happening next week.
We'll stay with Mom and Dad until we leave, Lord willing, at the end of next month, and then off we go, hopefully together! My part (visa, passport, etc.) is very complicated to get worked out in such a short time).
I plan to write more and more often now here on my blog. Lots of pictures and great recipes to follow!!
Love to all my family and friends,
Tamera
