Photos of our house on packing day

Hi Everyone 

Several days have passed since we packed our house.

Our container (40') is already on it's way to Brussels, and we will be leaving to Brussels in a few days. 

This is how our house looked during packing days. 

    

  Our furnitures are packed in naylons, and tapes

      

  Our belongings are put in boxes

Our house is stuffed into a 40' container 

The container is on it's way to the port 

In each overseas relocation whenever I see the container closed and on the way to port I realize that this is it.

It is the start of a new life in a foreign country. 

How exciting !!!  

Sharon 

I Can't Believe - Packing Day Has Arrived

Hi Everyone

I am sitting in front of my laptop hoping the internet won't be disconnected before I finish my post, and can't believe that today is actually packing day.

The time since December (when we received our new posting) has passed so fast. So many things have happened and we even have a high school graduate in our house :)

The packers have just arrived, and soon the house will be filled with boxes, papers tapes and so on.

We got rid of many things, but there is still a full house to pack. And this time we are taking our appliances.

I am having mixed feelings about our overseas relocation - On one hand I am excited and looking forward to experience life in a new continent - Europe, but on the other hand I am quite sad to leave our house, friends and family, and a little worried about how our boys will adjust to Brussels.

I will upload some photos of our packed house later.

Till next time
Sharon Gilor

Moving and relocating overseas guide

Hi Everyone

Google has such a great tool on Youtube called search stories.

In just five minutes I created my own Video

Thanks to Margarita from the Global Coach Center for introducing this tool to me





Sharon

How to Improve French Language Skills?

Hi Everyone

I believe life in a foreign country is much easier if you know how to speak the local language. So as part of getting ready for our overseas relocation to Brussels I decided to learn French.

A private teacher comes to my house once a week. I know it is not enough, but my schedule is full, and I have no room for additional lessons.

I love the sound of the French language, but I feel so frustrated. I speak 3 languages - English, Hebrew and Spanish. I took 4 years of French in school, and I still don't understand French and certainly can't speak it.

Each time I try to say something in French, I hear myself speaking Spanish. My French teacher knows Spanish so she understands what I am saying, but I don't believe it will work in Brussels and I don't want it to work there.

French is hard not only because of the grammer. It is difficult because when French people speak they tend to combine 2-3 words, and reading French is absolutely impossible, as many letters are not pronounced.

We get French T.V on our cables so I should start to watch some shows, and to listen to French radio stations exactly like Susanna Zareaysky suggested in her book Language is Music

I might also try to use Transparent Language software

If you have any suggestions how to improve my French language skills please share them in here

Sharon

From House to Home: Personalizing Your Overseas Living Space

Hi Everyone

Sarah Novak an American expatraite and a Global Lifestyle Designer is currently living in Manila. Sarah helps accompanying expat spouses in career transition redefine what work looks like for them now and create fulfilling portable careers that will support them wherever they go.

Sara has just finished writing her first e-book titled "House to Home: Personalizing Your Overseas Living Space." It is a free offering that Sarah is giving away at her blog

About the book in Sarah's words:

"Are you tired of your overseas house not feeling like a home? Are you confused about where to start? This brand new, 22 page e-book will guide you through managing the transformation from start to finish. The e-book is a collaboration between myself, A Life Coach, and Mindy Jeppesen, a Professional Organizer and fellow expat.

This e-book is one part workbook, one part tips and tricks and one part action plan! In Part 1, you’ll look back on what you liked about past spaces, assess your current space and create a rich vision for what you want now. In Part 2 we’ll teach you the secrets to organizing your space successfully and creating a home that supports and re-energizes you. Once that learning is done, the only thing left to do is to get on with the implementation. Part 3 is all about getting into action and will take you through step-by-step regarding what you need to do to make your vision a reality.

As Foreign Service spouses ourselves, we have seen that creating a comfortable, energizing living space is one of the biggest factors that guarantees successful integration into a new country. Our hope is that this e-book will give you the structure and tools you need to transform each new space you inhabit!

To receive your free copy of From House to Home: Personalizing Your Overseas Living Space, please go to www.inspiredoverseasliving.com and enter your email address in the top of the right-hand column."


Sharon

Valentine's Day Photo Cards to Family and Friends Back Home

Hi Everyone


Valentine's day is just around the corner, and this is the best time to let your loved one back home know that you think about them.

Sending an e-mail or talking on the phone is nice but nothing beats a personalized gift that comes from the heart.

My mother in law for example loves greeting cards. Every holiday and birthday she send us the most beautiful greeting card and adds a personal touch to it. And when we bring her presents the first thing she opens is the greeting card. The card and what is written in it is the most important thing for her, and shows her that we really care.

A great way to personalize your card and make it special is to send a photo card. Att Tiny Prints you can find stylish Valentines photo cards to choose from; you can add your own touch to the card, choose any photo directly from your computer, change the colors and even add a gift tag or stickers to your Velntines photo cards.

Tiny prints is offering now 10% off Valentine's Day product orders of $25 or more with code VDAY10, which expires 2/14/2010. Make sure you get the discount by including the coupun code VDAY10 on your order page

P.S - Tiny Prints welcomes international orders. They ship to international locations worldwide via UPS and Swiss Post worldwide shipping service

Sharon

A Survey for Trailing Partners

Hi Everyone

Louise Willes an expatriate living on the Island of Madeira, Portugal and an expatriate coach has created a survey for trailing partners to complete.

The survey is called ‘Your Relocation Experience’ and asks people to comment on the issues and challenges they faced when relocating abroad and the type of support that could/would help them.

Louise is hoping to achieve a widespread distribution of the survey as obviously this will then make the findings more valid and therefore valuable for the expats community.

The survey is anonymous and there is a link to a free workbook as a thank you for participating. It should take no more than 10 to 15 minutes to complete.

Click here to enter the survey.

Thank you all for helpig out Louise
Sharon