"I don't want to fake it, I just want to make it"
CKGaither Posted on Thursday, May 24, 2012 at 09:25AM ;)
The biggest issue is that we still aren't in our permanent flat. It's vacant, painted, clean, and I've had the keys for over a week. Venus and I have even been stopping by every other day to offload groceries, cleaning supplies, toilet paper and towels; slowly filling the cupboards so that when we the move does happen, we can at least eat, clean and shower while unpacking boxes. I took the kids to see the compound and the flat for the first time and they were over the moon at the pool and play area. They already know some of the kids that live there and we saw some of their friends playing a massive game of tag across the grassy grounds.
It's unclear what the hold up is which just adds to my frustration. Last week we were told that our container - the 40 foot shipping container that holds the contents of our entire house had actually cleared customs which is usually the most torturous wait in the whole process. We finally got our passports back from the Embassy and since we need the passports to secure the container, those were by far the biggest pieces of the puzzle. On Monday we were told they were waiting to secure a truck. (It takes a very large truck to haul a container that size). On Tuesday we were told there was no truck available and on Wednesday we were told there was some piece of missing paperwork. The missing paperwork is not one we can provide either, it has something to do with getting the container out of the port itself.
I am trying very hard not to assume what everyone here tells us; that someone is just looking for a bribe and if we pay it, then suddenly the red tape disappears as quickly as it appeared. The Company that sponsors us will of course not give in to bribery so we have to play the waiting game. I am not very good at waiting. I am especially poor at waiting when I know there is no good reason to do so.
Like anyone else, I want my stuff. But my angst over our container issue is driven by so many factors it is making my head spin. The kids only have 2 more weeks of school and then, like most of the expats here, we are leaving on holiday - for Denmark and Norway and to the US thereafter - no hardship there. But I was really hoping to give the kids a few weeks of normalcy before then. And by normalcy, I mean, sleeping in their own beds even if the room is still filled with boxes. (Not to mention all of our cold weather adventure gear is in the shipment). It would be nice if they could have a few friends over - or I could, if that isn't too much to ask. I really want my clothes. And my kitchen items and my brand new living room couch. Our drab little temporary flat has become even more depressing now that I have moved half the contents to the new flat. I find myself mentally decorating our new place and dreaming about my tempurpedic mattress. Just knowing the container has been sitting in a hot shipping yard for over 6 weeks fills me with a feeling of dread. The kids constantly ask when we are moving and K has told me that our flat doesn't feel much like home. And everytime Venus suggests we buy a pie plate, a lasagna pan, or extra sheets, I just sigh and tell her, "I actually have a lemon zester - in the shipment."
She is just as tired of hearing me say it as I am.
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