New Address

Matt and Carissa Knutson
CMR 415 Box 3273
APO AE  09114

This is the address at the base.  We probably won't provide our actual German address because this one will be much more efficient and is cheaper.  It is a US address, so if you want to send something just do it as you normally would (address it the same, use regular stamps).  If mailing a package you have to take it to the Post Office - you can't use UPS, Fedex, etc.  Do not put "Germany" or "Grafenwoehr" anywhere on the letter or package as then it will get put in with the international mail and have to go through customs and will take weeks to get here instead of days.  Not that we expect a lot of packages, but just in case...

The Eagle has landed

Just chatted via email with Carissa a few minutes ago.  She didn't have a great flight, it was delayed 4 hours, most of which on the plane.  After about 3 hours, they started barrelling down the runway full speed and then had to abort the takeoff because there was another plane in the way!  Thankfully, they didn't crash.  I'm hoping my trip goes a little more smoothly.  Once she got in to Frankfurt, Carney picked her up and they went to the base in Bamberg and got her ID card so we she can get on and off the base on her own.  They then drove on to Graf, directly to the dental clinic.  She met her boss and the two other general dentists she'll be working with.  They took her around Graf a little bit and to their houses for some tea and then they all went out to dinner. 

Carissa's Hotel

As far as the town she said what she saw was awesome.  She said the area looks a lot like Minnesota, just more beautiful, with churches and castles off in the distance, more rolling hills, etc.  The hotel is fine.  Sounds like the only thing in the room is a bed.  When I talked to her she had been up for 31 hours straight (she didn't sleep on the plane) so it was a short conversation.  She hopes to get her own phone tomorrow.

Carissa is in the air

Carissa left at 11am this morning.  The kids did great which was nice.  She first flies to Philadelphia and then on to Frankfurt.  The flight arrives at 6am (midnight our time I believe) at which point Carney (the guy who hired her) will pick her up and drive her to Grafenwoehr - I think it's a couple hour drive.  She hits the ground running, and was told to expect to be busy from 6am to 7pm her first two days.  Sounds like she'll be busy getting paperwork done, meeting people, getting her drivers license, visiting the clinic, touring the base, etc.  Not sure how much I'll hear from her since 1.) she doesn't have a phone or internet connection and b.) she'll probably be too tired to talk or type. 

Getting ready

4 days until Carissa leaves - depending on the looming ash cloud from Iceland. I think we are almost packed. We're living out of our house like we're on vacation. We have a weeks worth of clothes and I'll be washing them each week until we leave. We sold our Honda Pilot to raise some money to purchase a car in Germany. That will be Carissa's first task when she gets over there (although she starts work right away). Once she has that she'll be able to start looking for a place to live. In the meantime they will put us up in a hotel for up to 30 days. The plan right now is for me to follow with the kids around the 10th.