(others may find some of this useful as well)
1. Make sure that you deposit money into your German bank account when you open it during your "look see" trip. We were stuck without money to pay for anything when we got over here. It took a very long time (3 weeks after we were already in Germany) for our relocation money from GM to be deposited into our American bank account, and then longer (10 business days) to clear at our bank. The cost to transfer some of it to our Deutsche Bank account was $50. So.... have cash available in Germany when you get there.
2. You can use your US debit card here in Germany if it has a "cirrus" sign on the card and in the automatic teller (with a service fee). However, credit cards are not accepted in most stores or restaurants here. So again have a ready supply of cash.
3. Also keep your American bank account open to handle any deposits and/or expenses while you are overseas. We've used our US checking account to handle these issues and pay any bills remaining in the States while we are here.
4. Have your relocation agent explain the withdrawal and electronic payment functions of your Deutshe Bank account. It is not intuitive how to do this, although it helps that there is a button at the top of the Deutsche Bank page to have the wording in English. That listing of random numbers you get in the mail are needed for electronic transfers.
5. At FIS, most grades have a class trip at the end of August. Find out where your student's class trip is going and make sure you have everything you need in time for the trip and even for future trips while you are here in Germany. We were stuck without anything (hats, gloves, hiking boots, sleeping bag, warm jacket, water proof pants, etc.) because we didn't realize we needed them at the end of August for the 8th grade trip to Switzerland and our sea shipment of household goods hadn't arrived yet.
6. You should get a payment voucher for each of your children. Don't use it for class trips since you can expense them and use the card for athletic trips which you can't expense. The voucher balances carry over to the next year and you get a new one each year--ours was $400 for each child. This was canceled for 2006-2007. Now the class trips are billed to Opel and the athletic trips are your expense.
7. Bring lots of American stamps. You can use them to send letters and bills back through pouch mail at Opel--get this address from your secretary at Opel. Also give everyone in the States your pouch mail address. It is a Michigan address and it will cost them less to send a card or letter.
8. Make sure that you get a car with a navigation system.....it will save you getting lost many times. Insist on it when you get your first rental car and order it on your lease car. Make sure all your visitors also have this.
9. Make sure if you're a man working at Opel that you have at least one suit available to you right on the first day of work, you may need it in the first week. Bill ended up buying a sports coat to tide him over until our sea shipment arrived three weeks later.
10. Bring over American food that you want a supply of for awhile. Most American items are expensive when you buy them here if you can find them. See my list of things to bring.
11. If your child is in sports of any kind, you will often have a sporting event in another town or country on the long vacation weekends.
12. Although checking accounts are not commonly used in Germany, they are available. Order checks when you open your Deutsche bank account. You may need them for certain things, and also you will need them if your EC stops working for some reason.
13. Keep on asking your relocation agent for help. We've been here for seven weeks and I am still asking for help. After one year I am asking my German teacher for help with anything that I still need. Your relocation agent won't be readily available after the first couple of months.
14. Now here is an important one.....If your kids do not seem to be adjusting, realize that it can take some kids up to 6 months to feel "at home". Just be there to listen and be understanding when they find it hard. All the kids I have met after one year here are happy and well adjusted. The majority don't want to leave when it is time to return.
15. Keep an American credit card with an American address if you can. This will allow you to order things on line from the states. Have them shipped to a friend or relative and them you have have them shipped to you.
