Long time no see

[Cicero]

After two years back in the US I'll be rejoining you guys next week when we move to Tanzania. I'm starting to freak out slightly. We've had two kids since leaving Asia and have never had to do this with kids in tow before. It's like a whole different ballgame.

[mrsukyankee]

Best of luck with your move! I look forward to hearing about it all.

[dorothyinAus]

Good luck with the move! I'd love to hear more about Tanzania. What brings you there? I have a friend who is working with there, setting up a girls' home and a school.

[origami]

Yay!!! So excited for you. I would also love to read more posts (or your blog?) about your experience there. I've never been to Africa but Tanzania is on my travel bucket list.

Re: the kids. I joke all the time how much easier my life would be here without kids, and frankly it would be in many ways, but really I'm so glad they are here with me. It's awesome to watch your kids grow in another culture, travel to places most adults never see in their lifetimes, become immersed in another language, get to attend foreign schools, etc. Also my DH works horrific hours and I would get pretty lonely if it were just me. (I think his hours would be even worse without kids bc he would eat dinner at work. Now he gets a pass on some late night work.) The kids keep me busy and plugged in to the community. While it's challenging I think you will enjoy having them there. Highly highly highly recommend getting a nanny/household helper.

[rupertpenny]

That is exciting! So many great travel opportunities.

I moved abroad with a 6 month old, and it was a challenge to some extent. And I do think about how it would be easier if we were still childless. But then I also remember how much help I have! I have no clue what the child care norm is in Tanzania, but I'm confident that it is probably more affordable and flexible than the US. Having the extra help is so amazing and it makes me nervous to ever move to Europe or back to the US where I know it will be a lot different.

[Cicero]

Jan 24, 2016 13:25:56 GMT -5 RockNVoll said:

I saw your post about this somewhere else--super exciting, and what an expat adventure that will be! I have no doubt you'll figure it all out given your extensive experience as a citizen of the world You must post about your experiences, I'm super interested in what it's like to live there as an expat. We've only been there on safari and visited a couple of local villages.

I'm dying to go back to Africa a few more times while we're living in London since the travel will be a little easier from here. In fact, I just picked up a few travel guides from the library for a couple of countries today!

From our house hunting trip it seems like the expat community is pretty vibrant and concentrated in one area of town. We will see if that holds true. It definitely seems like it is going to be different than it was living in Europe and Asia.

Where are you thinking of going?

[Cicero]

Jan 24, 2016 18:21:12 GMT -5 dorothyinAus said:

Good luck with the move! I'd love to hear more about Tanzania. What brings you there? I have a friend who is working with there, setting up a girls' home and a school.

H's job is moving us again.

[Cicero]

Jan 25, 2016 4:42:09 GMT -5 RockNVoll said:

Re-reading now and, wow, you move next week? How much time have you had to prepare?

Three weeks from signing the contract to the move date with a week long house hunting trip thrown in there. It's been crazy.

[Cicero]

Jan 28, 2016 5:03:20 GMT -5 RockNVoll said:

Cicero --holy short timeline! Good thing you guys are old hat at this, but I still can't wrap my brain around the logistics of moving to a new country that fast.  I assume your H's company provides a lot of moving support?

The books I took out are for Morocco and Kenya.  The most likely next African trip though will be to Rwanda for gorilla trekking and an as-yet-to-be-determined second location to add on to that.  Mauritius? Botswana? Namibia? South Africa?  So many options!

to be fair H was offered the job six weeks ago but the contract didn't come through until 3. We've known about for a month and a half but we're not about to do anything to prepare until the contract was signed.