We are again online!

Hi friends,

We have Internet and I have time again to write all about our new life in Moscow! This didn’t start when we landed here the 5th of April. It all started in the Netherlands and you (also people from Mexico) made a very important part of this decision. You all, friends and family, supported us and gave us strength to take this step.

We fly to Moscow

We slept at Schiphol but still we had to wake up very early to check in. Fortunately we could seat nicely at the KLM Lounge. We had there breakfast and we could relax before we flew. We had reservations in the Marriot hotel 5 minutes away from our new address. We stayed there for a week. Look at this video you can see how tired Martin looks!

The last night

We had a wonderful last evening. We met Dirk, Victor, Marika, Martijn, Reinier and Anne Marie in Utrecht they organized to have a last dinner together! The rest of the group couldn’t make it but we received also from them a very nice gift. A digital photo frame with a lot of pictures with them of the good times together, so we absolutely not forget them! We also told them this evening that we are expecting twins! I was that day: 10 weeks and 2 days pregnant!! It was fun to tell and we also heard that Victor and Joyce will also become parents soon! Congratulations!!! And thanks to all for the ‘gezellige avond’!

Arcachonhof 6

These days have been weird we have been living in a hotel, we have been going to our house every day, and it is soooo empty! We said goodbye and I had to cry, I couldn’t help it! This house meant a lot to us, it was our first house, we got there married, we partied, we received guests from around the world, we lived difficult and lovely times, we even made the babies there and now… so quiet. All those moments come with us in our hearts, we don’t lose them. Thanks Arcachonhof 6!

The moving company starts packing, Luna to the cat hotel, our 3rd ultrasound and our house now is the Holliday Inn

What a day! We started very early in the morning. The moving guys started packing; they were really working very well. Martin brought Luna to the cat hotel where she would stay until the 17th of April, we really missed her!! We had an appointment with the gynecologist at 14.30 and we saw the babies for the 3rd time! This time they were so clear to see, we saw by each of them a head, two arms, a belly and two legs and everything moving and moving!!! We didn’t expect to see so much! They are the same size and I am 9 weeks and 5 days. It was a unique moment. A moment of peace and love that we both shared among all these busy times!

Hestia

Then it was my turn to go to a course alone. The organization Hestia Expatriate Consultants, organizes a two day course for the expats wives. Yes, only girls! I had to travel to Drie Bergen and stayed there a night. We were a group of 7 women going to Singapore, Boston, Washington, Chili, Jakarta and me: Moscow! So there I met: Judith, Beatrix, Petra, Osira, Maria and Carla.
We learned a lot we talked about themes like:
· Getting ready to leave
· Culture shock
· Work opportunities
· Intercultural communication
· The new living situation
We all also had the opportunity to talk for an evening with somebody who already lived in our destination country. I had the pleasure to meet Betine Tuinstra, who gave me a very positive image of Moscow, a lot of tips, places to go, books to read, how to find a nanny, etc.

The Royal Tropical Institute

We had a course at the RTI in Amsterdam. We slept there for a night and we had an intense program to follow. Both days we had several gests (Alexander Munninghof and Karel Onwijn, among others) presenting the following themes:
· Historical background
· The Russian language, alphabet, grammar and pronunciation
· The effects of living for a long time in a foreign country
· Culture
· Behavior at work and social relationships
· Medical care
It was very interesting and heavy but necessary for this new life!

The farewell party

The tennis club friends, ex neighbors, the international ROC girls group, Philips colleges, and Eindhoven friends, all arrived this evening with drinks, snacks, decorations and original presents!!
We really want to thank you for this ‘unexpected’ surprise! Remi and Chantal thank's for organizing it! We had a lot of fun!!
It was great the moment when we told you all that we are pregnant, I will never forget you reaction, your faces and your big eyes!! That week I was 7 weeks pregnant!
Special thanks to our friend Jordan who made all night unforgettable pictures!

Preparations

Things are picking up speed. The removal company will visit us next week to make an estimation on the amount of stuff we want to take to Russia, we need to undergo a medical check-up, salary calculation will happen tomorrow, we will talk with someone to see if they will sublet our house, etc, etc. Too much too mention. In the meantime Martin will need to go back to Moscow once more before the final departure.

Lots to Do

Last week the Value Agreement was finally approved, which means that the company's Tranfers Services can come into action. Next week Tuesday we'll have a meeting where they will explain all the things we have to do. In the meantime the organization in Russia already requested me to come over once before Martins official start date, which will make it even more challenging to arrange everything. Marielle has now quit her job as a Spanish teacher and is getting ready to leave the Netherlands. In the meantime the contract for the apartment we selected is being drafted. Slowly things are starting to move faster...

Apartment Hunting

So last Friday and Saturday we have been apartment hunting. Never thought that could make you that tired. Friday we saw 9, Saturday 5. We have been able to select 2 that we want to offer for.
Today we walked to the Kremlin and the Red Square, through the old Arbat. Because it had been snowing a lot and the temperature was just a bit higher than 0 Celsius, it was really a big mess on the street with a grey, wet, icy, watery mix. The result was wet and dirty feet when finally arriving in front of the Basilius Cathedral. Bleeehhhhh :-(

The Road to Russia Blog

Hi all! We have decided to start maintaining this blog, so that everybody that's interested can follow our adventures of moving to Moscow and living there. We hope that you find it fun to read and it keeps you updated of what we are going through. This blog start when we are doing our site visit in preparation to the final move that is planned to take place around April 1st.

Martin & Marielle