Start of Germany

So I received this great idea to start a blog of Josh and I's adventure in order to keep all who are interested updated and since communication is limited at times this was the best way to go about reporting our adventures.

Our travels started out January 3rd at noon in Minneapolis when we got on the plane for Chicago. We actually made it on an earlier flight into Chicago so we had plenty of time to get to our terminal. From there were loaded up on our plane where they put us in Business class (very fancy). We sat in the terminal for about 1 hour and 1/2 before they told us that they were trying to locate a water leak. Finally, they informed us that they were going to switch us to another plane. While Josh and I sat in the terminal waiting to board our 2nd plane, he took out his orders and began to read them for the 6th or so time. To his surprise he found that it said it was STRICTLY forbidden to fly in to Frankfurt Air Base via military orders on a Saturday or Sunday. Before too long we were loaded up on the 2nd plane with a big "opps" stated from both of us:). The plane sat for another 45 mins and than began to pull out to take off when the flight attendent asked over the speaker if a doctor could come to the back of the plane for a medical emergency. Soon enough we were pulling BACK into the terminal where they paramedics took the sick passenger off. Again the plane continued to sit at the terminal for about 30 mins when the pilot announced that they were having an electrical problem that they noticed once they started to drive and they were going to see if they could fix it. After about an hour they told us they were switching us to ANOTHER plane. So we loaded up on the 3rd plane and took off at 9 PM from Chicago, getting us into Frankfurt at 1230 PM January 4th.

We sat next to a Sgt on the plane and he said that the night life was awesome but he was married now so he tamed himself. Josh and I laughed. Josh slept the whole way and even after two benadryl I managed to get very little sleep. However, due to the fact that I could not sleep I got to engage in the 3 course meal with chocolate mouse cake and wine to finish it off. Once we landed it was quite the task to figure out where we had to go. It appeared to me that as soon as Josh told them he was PCS (permanent change of station) on military orders he was good to go. They didn't even open our passport when going through customs. We were directed to the USO office that was a little shack outside of airport. There were about 5 soldiers all there waiting to process in. While Josh was in filling out papers, I waited outside with the 7 bags where I talked to 3 of the soldiers. They explained to me that Baumholder was not the greatest station and they didn't like it here in Germany. So after my heart sank, Josh walked out with a Staff Sargent where he told us to follow him. He lead us to this extremely nice Sheraton where he stored our stuff and gave us a brief on what we would be up to. He said that the past three soldiers that have came in for orders for Baumholder were switched to Italy. Our short time with him made me very optimistic about Germany. He was very enthusiastic and gave us tips and told us about inprocessing. He did say that people will step on you here before saying "excuse me." I laughed. So after the Sgt settled our stuff in storage he went up to the desk and asked where we were going. Baumholder it was! So Josh and I went to have lunch at this place we could not read anything on the menu. I kept it safe and pointed to a piece of pizza in the window:) We than loaded up on a bus where we traveled for 2 hours to Baumholder.

The drive was gorgeous...at least what I saw. We both slept most of the way. But in between Josh and I studied a little German and he told me that all I needed to remember was how to say "Where is the restroom?" So I learned how to say "Wo ist die Toilette?"

The bus dropped us right off infront of the Lagerhof Inn where it looks like we will be until we find the perfect place to move into. The base was like a ghosttown when we drove in but the Sgt's that meant us informed us that eveyone was deployed. So we will soon find out what happens to Josh.

I will make sure to keep you all updated!

Much love,

Gretchen and Josh