"Your World Is As Big As You Make It"

Georgia Douglas Johnson once said, "Your world is as big as you make it."  I love that quote and have it sitting in my kitchen window in Germany.   Since we have officially been here for 12 days.....I wanted to update you on our progress to this point.  The blizzard of 2009 hit the airwaves on Saturday, December 19th. (The day we were to leave)  It sounded like this could be it.....we could be snowed in for weeks...let's hope we have enough provisions....with those warnings we knew there was no way of departing out of JFK as we had planned.  I was ready.  The tearful good-byes had taken place.....and the Schmidts were ready to take off for Germany.  But as we've heard before..the best laid plans oft go astray.  We got a bonus day in Connecticut to spend with friends.  We left for the airport about 5:00pm on Sunday, December 20th...with a one-way ticket to Frankfurt and 5 spankin new passports and colorful passport covers ( I just had to) in hand.  The Newtown tree in the center of town started to fade in the distance and for just a moment the whole clan was silent.  Our driver put on Alvin and the Chipmunks for the ride to the airport...and you know we weren't in the best state of mind as we all cried through the whole movie.  Now today if I were to hear those squeaky voices of Alvin, Simon or Theodore I may still cry! 
Once we arrived at the airport - with two vans full of luggage in tow....the picture says it all - you can see Tim in the background letting everyone know that they must be responsible for their own 3 or 4 bags (yea, right).

We made it through the ticket line and I had my notebook in hand describing each bag in detail so we could remember them as we arrive jet-lagged and overwhelmed in Frankfurt.  We figured we would get all different colored luggage to make it really easy (ha ha)!  The board said Singapore Air flight to Frankfurt on time......hooray!  We would take off at 9pm....I would kick back with a little glass of (or two) of wine and all would be good.....think again!  We also knew that since we had to take off a day late....our sea crate from Connecticut full of our home goods was arriving before we could get there.....it will all work out -remember that quote I mentioned earlier.  We had some time after we tagged all the luggage to hook up the good old slingbox......(I'll talk about that later) for a little Green Bay action........

After the crushing defeat by the Steelers...it was time to go through security.  How hard can that be?  3 kids, 5 passports, 7 carry-ons, a violin, 5 one-way tickets...no biggie!  It was a bit eerie at security....there were no lines....something must be up! We are told that flights are running about 4 hours late and the bags are so back logged from the 'blizzard of 09' that we knew we were in for a long night!  So....a picture says a thousand words......

And yes......that is the airport terminal floor where Caleb is sound asleep.....but we all remain in good spirits.



.....even the cute German girl sitting with us.......oh well.....we made it to Frankfurt safe and sound....each and every bag checked off on the list!  We were off with a van full of luggage to our new house!  Phew!

So, they call me an expat?

I've been called a lot of things over the last 40 years of my life, but an expat is new to my vocabulary.  I've heard the term many times...but quite honestly don't have a clue to it's actual definition.  So here goes: an expat, short for expatriate is someone who lives outside of their home country.  So - I am an American Expat in Deutschland - aka - Germany.  As you know, Tim's job has brought us abroad.  I am looking at it as an amazing adventure...with three kids in tow!  I do have to admit - I did hear "what an amazing opportunity" a few too many times...but what do you say?  My new normal will be "Deutschland" normal....and I'm up to the challenge.  Heck, with a name like Schmidt what better place to be.  
I have been preparing for this move for about 3 months.  I have moved (as a family) 9 times prior to this international assignment....so how hard can this be?  Well..think again Frau Schmidt....it has been a roller coaster, and I think I'm actually to the end of this first ride......just picturing those friendly men in ears at Disney World when I got off Space Mountain the first time....I made it!  
So...I won't bore you with all the preparation details....my friends and family have been there with me....all the details....all the purging....all the planning!  
Now - before you read on.....I promise to not make this one of those boring...let me tell you everything about myself types of blogs...but I have had several requests to write a little something.....so I'm running with it!  I am keeping a journal that I write in each day....but along with that I plan on keeping this little blogsite going with some of the interesting 'goings on' that are happening along this journey.  So pour yourself a cup of coffee...or maybe a stiff drink (since I tend to be a little long-winded) and enjoy!  
Before I begin...just a big, huge thank you to my faithful friends and family who have helped me get this far on this abenteuer (adventure).