Bringing your iphone (or android) to Europe

It was inevitable.  Either you are pegged to go on a business trip somewhere in Europe, moving overseas or will be taking a little vacation across the big pond.  I've gotten a bit of mail from folks asking if they should bring their iphone or not and what pitfalls there might be.  First, you might want to read my general article on cell phones overseas in Europe.  There are quite a few differences from being stateside.  The biggest being that we use SIM cards over here, so if your iphone is CDMA technology, you are hosed...partly....although you should still be able to use it in the wi-fi mode, along with any ipod touch you may bring along.  Note to self, in today's global economy, don't bother getting a CDMA cell phone as the Americans are the only major players still using it!  Here are some things on making the transition smooth with your iphone when coming over here.

Check with your provider and find out what the roaming charges are.  If you are only coming over for awhile, then you'll keep your cell phone plan at home....literally.  Most providers have outrageous international roaming charges, but to do your due diligence, just find out what they are.  We've all heard about the lady with the almost $40,000 roaming cell phone charge and don't want to be in her shoes!

• Make sure you TURN OFF the roaming feature before you even begin your journey and get on that plane!  Even if you don't use the phone, you may be still charged data fees (which are higher) when your apps decide to do their updating and background work.
• The next step would be to put it in "Airplane Mode" and only switch that off when you plan to use it.  It's an extra safety net.  It will basically turn your iphone into an itouch and allow you to use any nearby wi-fi networks.
• Turn "Fetch New Data" OFF in all your apps.  You also don't want your email and contacts to constantly try to sync.  To turn off the Auto-Check functionality tap on Settings, then Fetch New Data, change Push to “OFF” and Select to Fetch Manually.
• You might want to reset your Usage Tracker to Zero tap on Settings.  Then General, Usage and then Reset.  This way, you'll be able to track your exact usage.

If for some reason, let's say you are coming from the UK and your carrier has some kind of partnership or lower roaming fees with a certain provider on the mainland, turn off the automatic feature setting when searching for a Carrier, under your iphone Settings Menu.  That way, if there are multiple carriers operating in an area, you can choose which one you want to connect to.

Make sure you have the Free Wi-fi finder app on your iphone and also have the offline database already uploaded on your iphone ahead of time, so you can check it out offline.  It doesn't list all the free wi-fi hotspots in Europe but many of them are there.  More keep getting added from folks like me who discover free wi-fi in our travels.  Also know that many coffee shops, parks in Paris, hotel lobbies and other public places have free wi-fi.  I don't know if it's standard Europe-wide but every McDonald's I've been in has free wi-fi.  Don't discount hospitals and other public buildings either.  I even went to a comedy show in Amsterdam, Boom Chicago...granted, the free wi-fi was for us to use Facebook and Twitter as we were waiting for the show to start...and during the show to make fun of some guy's Facebook page they had singled out of the audience, but hey, I could still check my stuff while I was in there!  I've even found free wi-fi in some stores, especially bookstores.

Most of the US bases or posts, even the NATO bases have wi-fi hotspots. All over Germany, in a pinch, I've paid the $5 for access at the onpost foodcourts, which is good for one week typically at that price (credit card needed).  Many of the USOs will have free wi-fi.  Be sure you note which communities have them (not all do unfortunately).  Here in SHAPE, Belgium you'll find free wi-fi at the SHAPE Library, the Rendezvous Cafe next to the GB Shopping Center and also at the SHAPE Club.  Be sure to also look online at locations you'll be visiting and see if you can locate any that way.  As long as the wi-fi is free, you can use your iphone or itouch for free at those hotspots.  Now what if you want more options when it comes to wi-fi?


There is an alternative out there if you strictly want to use your iphone with wi-fi...ANYWHERE in Europe..anywhere with cell phone tower access that is.  Even if your phone is still locked, you should be able to use it in wi-fi mode.  There's a little device you can rent, and if you are over here for a longer period, it will pay for itself many times over!  It's called Tep Pocket Wifi and provides wireless internet wherever you go.   They can even deliver it to your hotel or wherever you'll be on the mainland.  It works just like a wi-fi hotspot, but it's personal and fits in your pocket. Not only can you use it with your smartphone but also with your laptop and tablet PC.  Up to five devices can share the hotspot and you get reliable 3G coverage where available.  Who said Europe was backwards when it comes to technology?  Hey, we've got the high speed Germans who like to be at or near the forefront, so you know we are going to have good options.

Be sure to download the app TextPlus.  This app will give you a free stateside phone number where you will be able to send and receive FREE text messages.  With the free version, you can send up to 20 free texts a day.  If you want to send more or would like to do group texts (oh that sounds dirty doesn't it?) where you can send one text out to multiple people, then upgrade for around a dollar or so to the Silver or Gold version.  Please remember that many of the apps I'm mentioning are available in the android market too!

When I first bought my iphone, second-hand mind you...I used it for an entire week just via wi-fi while I waited for my SIM card to arrive.  One great thing about being around soldiers...a lot of soldiers have been looking to upgrade to the iphone 4, so want to get rid of their 3s...I can see the same thing happening when the next version comes out....so, if you are near a barracks or some soldiers, get the word out that you have QUICK CASH for their used iphones!

Now, if you are coming over here for a longer time period and would like to use the cell phone part of your iphone or handy as it's called over here, you're going to need it to be unlocked.  If you are under contract in the US with a carrier there, they are obligated by law to unlock your phone at the two year mark.  It's funny, but most cell phones over here, to include the iphone are sold UNLOCKED.  We don't have all these issues of AT&T and other carriers hogging all the prime cell phones and iphones.  We are also a few years ahead of the US in general with cell phone technology.  Why that is, I just don't know.  Maybe one of you can explain it to me, cause I'd sure like to know...it's been that way ever since I can remember...the newest models always come to Europe first...then the US...hmmmmm.

Anyway, SIM cards are sold like candy over here.  You can find them at most electronic stores, bookstores and even convenience stores.  Many of us over here don't have cell phone plans but buy minutes as we need them.  Cell phone plans tend to be a lot more expensive over here and are hard to get out of.  The average European will have whatever cell phone, which they bought unlocked and then buy the SIM card w/minutes separately.  I have SIM cards for every European country I typically travel to (along with their in country cell phone numbers).  Again, you can only exercise this option if your cell phone is UNLOCKED!

I've noticed in Germany, not all carriers reach all towns for some reason, so I always recommend people check their new area as well as what carrier their spouse might have for their military issued cell phone.  Many military units have iphones and blackberries they give to their key leaders.  If you use your own personal cell phone, most folks will then add minutes online through their carrier or buy the little tickets at the checkout.  These tickets will give them a code on their store receipt, which they then punch into their cell phone to reflect the new purchased amount.  You have a whole year to use up those purchased minutes.  These minutes cover voice and text messaging.  Many will even let you upload minutes thru Paypal or your local bank account too.

Now for those who want a bit more, then buy a SIM card through a carrier that offers it with data....usually 2 GB limit per month.  Here in Belgium, I use Mobile Vikings.  How do you know you went over your data limit?  Just by a gentle reminder.  Like everything here in Belgium, things are slow and not taken too seriously.  The only catch with this is that voice calls are more expensive than usual.  In that case, I mostly end up text messaging and using the data portion.  It offers roaming throughout the continent, but since those fees are a bit higher (even when receiving calls which are typically free with options, not data), I end up using my supercheap prepaid regular phone for use outside of Belgium for my voice calls.  Now, I still access free wi-fi on my iphone where available and end up carrying both with me on my travels.  Or, I'll just switch out the SIM card for an in-country one....I hope that makes sense!

If you will be in Germany at least 30 days and want a SIM card (and its respective German cell phone number) that will handle data and the use of your smartphone, check out FYVE and Smartmobil where you can get these services without a contract.  You will need a German address for these choices though and will need an UNLOCKED device.

If you have extra money to throw away and the thought of purchasing a SIM card in a foreign country scares you....or maybe you are one of those people who likes to travel but have everything set in place before you go, then go with Smart Free to purchase a European SIM card.  It's expensive, I'm not going to lie...more than I would pay, but again, it gives peace of mind BEFORE you leave.  That's why I am mentioning it here!  I've also known a few business people who were happy with Telestial.




One more thing...there is one more option for you if you like to fly by the seat of your pants...okay, so the other end of the spectrum then!  As long as you are tech savvy or know someone who is, then this is for you!  I've found yet again, that there are many soldiers out there who have mastered the art of jailbreaking iphones, and just getting the word out that you have one that you want jailbroken, can really free up your choices in Europe if your phone is NOT unlocked.  To indulge in all these goodies, your iphone has to be both UNLOCKED and JAILBROKEN.  Read this article here for the how-to on using your iphone in Europe after the jailbreaking process.

So now what?  Well, there are a whole lot of apps that can be a huge help in your travels throughout Europe.  But, since I'm done for today, I will end here and blog more about those choices later!

Video: Vent day in Europe

Well, I finally went and did it...I vented.  I vented about not being home, in the US of A.  Sure, it's great being over here.  But sometimes, things just get to you and with a slew of late night cookies to make, this is what I had to say.

 

Video: Navigating a Volksmarch (what is it and how do I do one?)

I think my husband holds the record for the most volksmarches in our family...he's done hundreds of events and well over 2,000 kilometers...and that's being conservative.  So what is this volksmarch?  And why can it be so important to you?

Well let me tell you.  I'll explain it all below.  At the end, I've written some tips out in plain English.  If the video moves a bit too fast at that point (I tried to slow it down), pausing it should allow you to read what I wrote at the very end.  Lots of resources and websites to get you started in this great and relaxing sport too!  Come join me as I walk through a forest and the streets and farmpaths of a small town in Belgium.

Memorial Day in Flanders Field

I will make this short and sweet today and want to wish everyone a safe and wonderful Memorial Day!  We took the time to honor our fallen at Flanders Field American Military Cemetery in Belgium.  I had never attended a Memorial Day remembrance at any military cemetery, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect.

I was humbled by the care and precision that went into the ceremony and touched by the local townspeople and even a representative from the King of Belgium (yes, we have one of those) who took time out of their weekend to honor Americans.  Please click on the video below for a short tour of the highlights and consider going to a ceremony in your area today:-)

What I Wish I Knew a Year Ago...

Do you ever wonder like I do....what if I knew a year ago what I know now....what would that be?  Not the "machts nichts" unimportant stuff that goes in one end of your brain and out the other...I'm talking about the good stuff...the stuff that is going to help you again and again....what is that stuff?  Are you willing to share?  Here are some that came to the front of the line in my life at the moment...

Horse sausage has a distinct smell, look and feel to it....and even though I was suckered into eating a donkey sausage and a monkey sausage in Paris....I think I would fall over if I ate a horse sausage...just...can't...do....it.

Realized that European banking is WAY more secure than what we have stateside and I wonder all the time, why our system hasn't changed to the European system.  Not only do I need a username and password on my banking website, but I have to use a little electronic PIN generator for EACH transaction.  The flipside, is that without this PIN generator, that churns out a unique really long number for each transaction you want to complete, your online account is worthless to pay bills.  Don't head back to the US or on a trip without it if you need to pay bills while you are gone (or set up a future payment instead).

That I can survive without buying more Polish pottery.  Yes, I was a junkie.  I used the excuse that my tour job had me going back to Boleslawiec, Poland again and again...and I had to take the free pottery and also buy a few more pieces here and again there.  I haven't bought a piece since last Spring...and haven't missed it.  Moderation in anything is key, and you CAN stop yourself from overspending/buying!

I am glad I did not buy a new car coming to Belgium.  One word, the roads SUCK...okay, they suck badly!  I've never seen so many ruts, potholes and deep ditches in my life.  No wonder most cars (older than a few years) are required to have yearly inspections by the Belgians at their inspection (CT) stations around the country.

Belgium is more expensive than Germany and France.  I love how the hoards of Belgiums cross over into France to do their grocery shopping here.  We are about 20 minutes from the border and 30 minutes from shopping heaven...that is much cheaper than here.  Of course, get stopped by the police, and you could end up paying for the privilege.

As I suspected, being 2-1/2 hours to Paris is a real treat!  I've got it all figured out now....best ways by train and car from this direction and where to stay around the city supercheap:-)  Even day trips can be done very easily.  Or how about taking a ferry or the Chunnel to Dover and shopping at the big favorite, TESCO...the British version of their Walmart.  Who said Belgium was a speedbump?  It is more of a gateway!

I know more about Estonia, Poland, Finland and a few other countries I've never been to.  It's great being stationed here with all the internationals....learning about their home countries...visiting them and their families and getting ideas on lodging and what to see and do that not every tourist knows about!  Ten thumbs up!

Belgian fashion is not known for it's..well...fashion-sense....I've honestly seen some of the dumpiest fashions right here.....I don't know if it's because we don't live in a metropolitan or hip area....or if Belgians just don't like dressing like nonsense?  Maybe I am missing something or our stores don't have much.  I end up shopping at the German and British branded stores we have in the area...C&A and H&M are my favorites:-)  Is H&M British?  I don't know...but I like it.

Like Germans know their crepes and pastries, Belgians know their waffles and pastries.  The pastries are not as good as the Germans'....but they sure are prettier...in fact, the food is prettier...where the Germans go for quantity...the Belgians go for....prettiness.  Just look at all the Michelin starred restaurants Belgium has compared to Germany AND France....hmmm...but I hope you are not a big eater and just like pretty food. It is tasty though.  Just memorize the word for horse, ie "cheval" and you'll be okay.

Do you have any enlightenment you'd like to share?

Feeling the History in Bastogne, Belgium

This post is in honor and remembrance of the fallen.  Please take the time to check out commemorative events in your area to pay your respects and give thanks!

The birds were singing beautifully, and they knew it.  As we observed a moment of silence for the fallen men of the 17th Airborne in WWII, I wished they were here to listen to the sounds too.  This was going to be our first WWII commemorative walk.  Apparently, there are quite a few, the largest in Belgium being the big event in Bastogne held every December.  This particular march, only in its third season, was to remember those who fought so bravely during the Battle of the Bulge with the 17th Airborne, 101st Division.

The mayor of the town of Flamierge, which lies only 20 min from Bastogne, stepped up to thank the Americans for saving the town, and as I scanned the crowd of hikers, walkers, a few families with children and the large number of WWII re-enactors I realized that before the march was over, the men who had fought here were going to leave a mark on all of our lives.  The guest of honor was a veteran of this battle, Robert Patterson, who right before the march, signed autographs like a rockstar and then did a pass and review of the re-enactors; inspecting weapons, uniforms, shaking hands and patting the men on their backs.  Even though I could see he was getting tired, he posed endlessly with anyone who asked and was very gracious and kind to anyone who spoke to him.  A grandson of a veteran, also a US Army soldier, was in attendance.  

After the solemn ceremony and the wreath laying, we lined up for the march.  We were given a sheet of the unit history, a bio of Robert Patterson and a map with our route clearly marked.  Anyone could sign up for the march ahead of time and pay the 5 euro per person fee.  This is what we did via Belgian bank draft.  We also noticed that many participants showed up on site and paid then.  We could go either 6 or 16 km. The fee covered organizer costs, a completion certificate and a drink.

The march started off quickly, as everyone was anxious to get started, especially the three dogs who were pulling at their leashes.  As we settled into a rhythm, the two columns started to spread out and everyone seemed to enjoy the rare Belgian sunshine and blueskies.  We passed by farmers' fields and old stone homes that must have been here during the battle and were showing their age.  As we turned the first corner (and marker) and headed uphill, some of our lot started to slow down, but that was okay.  We had two Army medic re-enactors bringing up the rear.  It was amazing to see the authenticity of the uniforms and equipment and the great care that was put into the details.  One three-man team even carried a 30 caliber machine gun with its tripod and barrel - a real team effort.  There was also a re-enactor who was a military photographer as it said on his helmet, looking the part with his high speed camera.  I personally liked the family of five, fully dressed the part including a different weapon for each person in the family.  This was serious business.

After the walk and feeling exhilarated, we spoke with some of the other walkers.  There was an American family of four that was also stationed in Europe.  I believe we were one of only a few Americans present this year.  Mostly, I talked to French and Belgian families who felt it was important to never forget what the Americans did.  I was humbled when an older man came over wanting to shake my hand and to thank me and my country for what we did for them that day.  In a reflective mood, and with our certificates in hand, we decided to visit some of the other military highlights in the Bastogne area.  

To highlight the ones you absolutely should not miss, read on.  As you travel through nearby Bastogne, you can already see Mardassone Monument, rising out of the trees on the eastside of town.  Standing on top of this five-pointed granite monument, listing all the Allied units that fought, as well as all the US states listed across the top, you have an absolutely expansive view of the town of Bastogne below.  This is the closest the Germans would ever come to capturing the town.  There is also the Bastogne Historical Center right next door, but keep in mind it is closed for the next year and a half for renovations sorry to say.  You can visit the special exhibit "I was 20 in 45" in town if you have time or follow this route below.

Using a map or GPS, follow the small road from the Mardassone monument East towards Bizory.  Once you get to this small hamlet, turn West towards Foy.  About halfway between the two, on this one lane road, slow down.  Right after you cross the bikepath, you will see a monument on the left side of the road, commemorating Easy Company, 506th Infantry Regiment (from "Band of Brothers" fame) and all those who died from the unit during the Battle of the Bulge.  One soldier listed was killed afterwards, but since there is no commemorative plaque, he was included in this one.  This used to be a railroad line and railstop and was a major part of Easy Company's fight.  Continue on towards Foy.  You'll see a forest road off to your left with an open area in front of the trees, probably full of mud.  Stop here and walk into the woods on the westside of the forest road.  Those depressions you see in the earth under the trees are Easy Company's foxholes, or what is left of them after time and scavengers have gotten ahold of them.  You get a real sense of emotion standing in one of these holes and reflecting on the quiet-as-a-church forest with its carpet of pine needles.  

As you drive on towards Foy, you'll see some buildings with pockmarks and bullet holes, and you will swear that nothing here has changed.  This was also a major engagement for Easy Company.  Cross the N30 towards Recogne and turn on the first road to your right.  You'll immediately see the marker that shows where the Allies buried our fallen heroes from the Battle of the Bulge.  

They have all since been relocated to other cemeteries now, but the site is still sacred.  If you go down the road towards Recogne and the interesting bison farm there, you'll see a German military cemetery to your left.  Be sure to stop and take a look.  

Since we absolutely wanted to see more, to include memorabilia and items from the battle to make our visit complete, we traveled the 20 minutes cross-country on forest roads to the wonderful town of La Roche-en-Ardenne, which sits down in a valley, surrounded by cliffs with a river running through it.  There is even an imposing 9th century fortress overlooking the quaint storybook buildings that were all but destroyed by the end of the war.  

Stop at the Battle of the Ardennes Museum which has three floors of wonderful dioramas of both Allied and German soldiers, vehicles and all their belongings tastefully and thoughtfully presented.  Especially popular are the metal artifacts dug up from the battlefield, from both armies, as well as a room filled with weapons and the hard-to-find German Enigma code machine.

Coming home that evening, we certainly had a new insight into the battle and also enjoyed some of the what the Ardennes Region has to offer, only a short two hour drive from SHAPE.  If you like the outdoors and want to experience history beyond the dusty pages of a book, then these commemorative marches  and the Ardennes are for you!  The Stars & Stripes will frequently list these events, as well as the veterans' association pages of the units who fought there.

Visiting Bruges, Belgium

I thought I would share a few tips about visiting Bruges, Belgium, one of the top tourist highlights in Belgium.  Even people outside of Belgium have heard of this beautiful almost untouched Flemish city.  Okay, so wait, in Dutch/Flemish your going to call it Brugge.  Yeah, simple right...the French say it one way, the Flemish another...easy when it sounds and looks almost the same.  Try that with the city we live in, known as Mons in French and Bergen for the Flemish.  It always cracks me up that as soon as you cross the border from Wallonia (French) to Flanders (Flemish), even the billboard governmental highway signs...exact same drunk driving photo or "be careful driving" graphic, immediately have a different language as soon as you cross over.  But I am getting WAY off topic today.  I wanted to share a few easy tips in getting to and getting around this top favorite of mine!

If you're coming from the direction of the SHAPE NATO base near Mons, it'll only take you about 1-1/2 hours, pretty much all highway driving....yes, bumpy....that's Belgium, so watch the potholes and construction.  At this time in April 2011, they were still building that monumental traffic circle right before you hit the city, which caused traffic to back up onto the highway to a standstill.  Please try to arrive at least before 10 on the weekdays and by 9 on the weekends or you will have missed the chance for smooth sailing.  I always take the first turn off that traffic circle into the city....easier to get to the trainstation, which is where we are going.  Watch the video below for tips on where to park for dirt cheap AND how to get free roundtrip bus tickets for everyone in your car.  Now of course, I can't stop you from buying all the neat chocolates, beer and lace....but I can at least save you some in the transportation department.


I'm going to caution you to not go on high peak travel times...Spring and Fall are best, but if you MUST go in the summer, go ahead and go on the weekdays.  The city is just PACKED with tons of tourists on the weekends, and they come from all over, not just Belgium and the surrounding area.  While I was there on a weekend before Easter, I saw tons of river cruise tourist folks walking around....interesting.

I can recommend:

• Just walking around the city center.  There are some cute shops, albeit touristy, but nice things to windowshop.  There are also so many historic buildings, and who ever saw so many buildings dressed in gold except maybe in Istanbul?
• Checking out all the canals.  They make their way in rings around the city....reminds me a lot of Strasbourg, not so much like Venice....very nice.
• Chocostory.  This was a great kid thing.  The story itself wasn't that exciting, except I did enjoy the 18th century hot chocolate pots and appreciated that women were hired just to make hot chocolate for the nobility...it was a noble drink and not for the masses til much later.  The best part is of course sampling the stuff after watching the test kitchen chocolatier explaining what he was doing step-by-step when he made some beautiful and tasty chocolates with hazelnut center.....perfectly understandable in French, English and Dutch.  The best part is that the place smelled of chocolate...not only from the kitchen but also from the larger-than-life chocolate statues adorning the halls....mmmmmm.  Kids gave it a thumbs up.
• Going up in the belfry.  But only if you are not cheap like me.  I had to ask someone else about the view...it's 200+ steps, which would've been okay, but I wasn't paying 5 euro for that, but I encourage you to.  I bet there is  a nice view.
• Lace shops.  Just be careful.  85% of the stuff is Made in China, and the good shopkeepers will tell you which ones...but by the time you hit your second lace shop, you'll know yourself by looking at the price.  If you're not paying 30 euro for a hankie, then it's not genuine Belgian lace.  I'm not knocking the prices....an unGodly amount of hours goes into each piece, so if you were to pay that lacemaker per hour, your are getting her (or him) dirt cheap at that 30 euros.
• Sitting in a Cafe in the mainsquare.  My favorite part....and everyone seems to love those chocolate cubes you get on a stick and then stick it in your hot milk to make chocolate....another mmmmm.  Try to go at an off hour...not at lunch time, and I like the snack place down the side from the old post office...on the end....cheap but good fries and excellent view.
• the City Tour folks.  It's a little bit like a hop on hop off bus but not quite.  It is a large colorful van that makes a circuit in 50 minutes and stops at all the major points...great if you don't or can't walk the distance.  It's priced right also at 14,50 euro for adults and 8,50 euro for kids.
• Favored goodie store.  My husband, the beer expert, almost died when he walked into 2be shop with their 780 types of Belgian beer mind you in their cellar, along with every chocolate, goodie and everything else you can stick in your mouth!

Now why did I not recommend one of the many boatrides?  Cause all it takes is one look at those low-in-the-water overloaded boats where they pack you in like sardines....nope, not for me....it's also cooler and I have a better view sitting on the stone railings.  There is also a french fry museum and a diamond museum that has one demonstration a day around noon.  If your time is limited skip all that.  Diamond museums and demonstrations are a better deal in Amsterdam and Atnwerp...the grandmother and grandfather of them all.

You'll find many guidebooks out there about Bruges.  But Bruges will be bundled together most likely with Brussels and possibly Antwerp.  That's okay....it's hard to fill an entire guidebook with it.  We mostly get done what we want to get done in a half day and then leisurely drive back to Mons with the car packed of chocolates and beer.  If you want to stay, please find something outside the city limits.  Bruges is a prized Flemish possession and the prices to stay overnight inside the city reflect that.  There are PLENTY of nice B&Bs outside the city.....in fact, you are only 20 km or so from the coast at this point, so if you are planning to stay overnight, how about finding something in between Bruges and the coast?  Again, use my favorite lodging planners hostelworld and booking.

Oh, last tip.  My husband always likes to buy beers from pretty much everywhere we go in Europe.  You'll see beer in half the tourist stores in the city and then some.  Take your time on the way home and plug the nearest grocery store into your GPS, as you get away from the city center.  That's where you should buy your beer (and even chocolates, as long as they are not gourmet) from the local grocery store where the locals buy their stuff.  Oh, and the beer labes?  He is working on a huge collection of beer labels, plus he just likes to drink beer.  At a later point, or maybe when we start the project, I'll have to say what we are going to do with those labels....it'll be a fun reminder of our latest European tour I'm sure.

If you have any tips to share on this wonderful city, please be my guest below!

Ask VMW: Uggghh...help with jetlag overseas!

Can you share what you do to get adjusted to time changes below?  I received not one but THREE questions last week addressing jet lag.  I'll share what I do, and then it would be great if my readers shared what they did:-)

"I am pulling my hair out!  I have a 10 year old, a 6 year old and a cat.  The kids are driving me crazy, waking up at night and not getting rest.  I dread every night since we moved to Germany.  How do you handle jet lag??

Ohhh...those time changes and jet lag....you get a taste of what flight attendants go through but worse if you have kids in tow!  Going from West to East is always the worst, as you are going backwards in time.  Most planes arriving in Germany from the West arrive early in the morning between 0600 and 0800...and then you have your whole day ahead of you, fighting the sleep monster.  Your best bet, once you get to your final destination (which usually involves a busride, a car ride where hopefully your sponsor picked you up, or even a train ride) is to STAY AWAKE until early afternoon.  I do this by staying outdoors....walking around to get familiarized....even if it is just on post....fight the urge to go lie down in the bed and "rest" cause in seconds you will be sound asleep and definitely snoring from your exhaustion.  Once you have been up and eaten some lunch, take a 2-3 hour nap at most.  Set your alarm to wake yourself up!  If you let yourself sleep until you wake up naturally, you'll wake up right before bedtime and then fight the vicious cycle for the next few weeks of waking up in the middle of the night...often..., not being able to get yourself to sleep and just generally being in a bad mood from lack of proper sleep.

If you do it this way, you may have only one or two restless nights as opposed to weeks of it!  As for your children, that's a bit harder to control.  Let them take a nap as soon as they fall asleep but don't let them sleep all day.  Take them out to a playground or to the foodcourt play area if it's not nice weather....eat a bunch of small meals and snacks rather than big ones.  Make sure you have a bedtime routine at the usual bedtime, and if they do wake up at night...you can sit with them but make it absolutely BORING and keep lights off and interaction low....this can be difficult but a few nights of difficulty will make many weeks of blissful nighttime sleeping!  Resist the urge to be a nightowl or let them go wild!  As for the cat, if he's like ours, he's nocturnal and will figure it out.  I've actually kept our cat awake during the day by waking him up when he takes his little catnaps...and then playing with him.  That helped us.  Oh, and welcome to Germany!

Ask VMW: How does overseas banking work?

I don't think I've ever walked anyone through the process...the things we take for granted!  Here's the question:

"I LOVE your blog and can't wait to come over.  I don't understand though how we are supposed to do your banking if we get paid in dollars and then have to pay bills in euros?  This is stressing me out!"

Thank-you!  You may have to get a cup of coffee to machete your way through my answer.  Rest assured, once you have been here a few months, this will all become second nature, so bear with me as I try to explain!

I can only tell you how we do it and what I recommend.  Hopefully, some spouses over here will chime in with what they do.  We always keep our stateside bank where my DH's paycheck goes...NEVER mess with that account is my first tidbit of advice as Army Finance is notorious for screwing things up, so try to mess with it the least you can!  How many times has someone told you their pay is screwed up?  It just took us months to get our corrected W-2....that's just the way it is for whatever reason.  Those finance folks work hard but sometimes their systems even they don't like to deal with...or can't....not their fault a lot of the time.

We always open up a local bank account, even in the US...this is mostly for ATM access and having a "friendly face" in the neighborhood where you can do transactions in person (that's just me).  Overseas, you'll deal in euros except on post.  The PX and commissary will be just like stateside with stateside products (and the usual international commissary aisles).  The  PX will have some local candy/chocolate, a German gift section and some 220 volt appliances...don't get me started on that...you can use your US credit cards, checks and cash.  AAFES even has their own credit card, the Military Star Card.  Back at customer service, you can even cash personal checks and get the money in Euros or Dollars.  In Germany, Bank of America (Community Bank, they call it) has the current contract for however many years...meaning, they are the Dept of Defense bank overseas for now...at least in Germany (here in Belgium, on the NATO base, a different bank won the contract and it is a European bank).  Banks bid every few years (5 or 10?) to get that contract to be on our overseas posts and bases.  I've forgotten...anyway, it is NOT the same bank as in the US as my MIL found out.  She still had to pay ATM fees for using her stateside Bank of American ATM card, but somehow went there in person and got the charges taken off...she's like that.    Even though it says Bank of America out front, it is somehow a different bank...maybe someone else can explain it.

But anyway, there is always a credit union on post too, but I've found they have less services and it's not as easy to transfer back and forth euro to dollars and vice versa.  One example is Andrews Federal Credit Union.  As with any credit union, I think their loans are cheaper.  We used Bank of America for ease of use and their online banking choices.  We would write a check from our stateside account and deposit those dollars into our account there.  Then we would pay our German bills from Bank of America.  When I got my bills in the mail from the German company (cable tv/phone, cause we were living in housing, so no rent, but this is also where your rent money should come from)...I would take the little orange payment slip to the bank, fill it out along with a withdrawal slip like any US bank...go to the counter.  They would then tell me what the current $/euro rate is and would say okay for your 60 euro bill, that's x amount of dollars.  I would have them add the fee (think it was $2 per bill to be paid), so I would have ONE transfer out of that account OR one check to write in dollars.  They would do the bill paying for us, which typically took a few days to get to the biller...so don't wait til the due date.  Get it done before that!

Now here in Belgium, since we pay rent, we also chose the bank with the current contract on SHAPE...it's an Italian bank operating in Belgium.  They have online access and a little pin # generating machine....so every month, I write a check from my stateside account, go to the military finance cash cage, get the dollars in cash (for example $3k, which is the max you can cash per week)...hand carry the stupid cash to our Italian bank which is on the other side of the base and deposit it.  We chose this bank because it is NATO friendly and it didn't charge any fees.  Most Belgian banks charge fees for anything they do for you.  You can see it is a bit more of a hassle here, but that's what we chose to do.

Let me remind you NOT to get euros from the military cash cage.  Why?  Because their exchange rate is typically lower than what Belgian banks will give you.  You can deposit dollars at your Belgian bank...they will give you the dollar to euro rate and 100% of the time, it is a better rate than the cash cage.

Then, to pay our bills I go online at my convenience and before it's due and pay from our euro bank account...I can also set up automatic payments and recurring payments.  The European banking system is much more secure than ours and for each transaction, after signing into your account w/your user name and password, you also have to use your electronic pin generator (it looks like a small calculator) to generate a pin for that ONE transaction....you can only use one pin one time.  Without the pin generator, you can't pay bills online, so if you go back stateside on vacation and need to pay a bill, you've got to take that with you...strange huh?  I can also make any payments in any country that is a member of the European Union (EC) with no additional fees.  So, go ahead and book that French villa you've been wanting to book (we did) and pay your deposit with no hassles!  And speaking of fees, I can use ANY bank's ATM in Belgium to access our Euro account with no ATM fees!  So far, in France and Ireland, we also did not have any ATM fees...from either bank.  Don't you wish you could say that for the US too?

So, that's how we do it.  Some people get euros directly from the cash cage and go to the company that generated the bill to pay or the landlord's bank....but, that's even more hassle IMO, plus the local banks have BETTER euro rates than the military cash cage as I mentioned before.

You'll figure out what works best for you...I just didn't want to be tied down to payday and have to pay bills then, cause the lines can be extra long at both the banks on post and the cash cages, so I write my checks and deposit our monthly money whenever I have the time and am going that way...you just can't forget to keep replenishing your local account!  It's easy to check that online of course.

In both Belgium and Germany, there is one other way to pay your bills...the local post office!  Yes, even the post office has accounts you can open and use....or, you can take a copy of the orange billpaying slip and your euros to the post office, and they'll take care of paying the bill for you.

Last note...keep EVERY SINGLE receipt and scrap of paper from your bills and bank!  It is not unheard of before you PCS, while outprocessing, to hear from a biller saying you did not pay such-and-such bill...without that receipt, you might as well have never paid, and you won't be allowed to outprocess without showing proof OR paying it again...uggghhh.

Do you have any banking or bill paying tips to share?

Ask VMW: How many cars can I ship overseas? Fuelcards?

I don't think I've ever gotten a question about shipping cars and fuelcards....definitely something you need to know if you are moving overseas!

 I was wondering does the military ship one or two vehicles and I read something about a fuel card how does that work?


The military will only ship one vehicle on its dime.  Some folks do ship a second vehicle, which would cost anywhere from 500-1000 euro typically.  You have to make all those arrangements on your own though.  Most folks buy a second beater-type car to get around in instead.  Each post usually has a lemon lot, and in the summer it'll be full of vehicles...everything from American cars to European-spec cars that can only be driven in Europe.  Most of the little cars are stick-shift, so if you haven't learned, it's about time that you do:-)  It'll broaden your options.  And no, it's not called a lemon lot because there are lemons there...it's just called that.

You get authorized a certain # of liters of fuel for one vehicle.  This just means that you can buy a special fuelcard at a special price on post.  You can also buy more fuel, but it will be at regular off-post fuel prices.  Fuel in Europe is priced very high (which is why I don't even fret over American fuel prices...they are so low in comparison!).  I believe it is because fuel is taxed very high here.  Here in Belgium on post, you can buy 200 liters of regular unleaded for about 140 euro...actually the prices have gone up since I bought a fuelcard, so it is probably a bit more.  I buy one every few months unless we travel a lot by car.  Remember, in Europe it's priced in liters.  In the US, we pay per gallon, so to figure out the price difference, you have to do a little math.  We also can only use the fuel card at the Belgian Total gas stations.  As I said, you can buy gas anywhere, it's just that we have the contract with Total for our fuel rations. 

You get a fuel ration card, typed up on cardstock paper when you inprocess.  For us, we get 400 liters max a month.  If you have a gas guzzler and use it to drive around a lot...you could run out and then have to buy gas on the economy.  You bring your ration card with you to the rationed items store on post to buy your fuel card...regular, super or diesel is available.  You can also buy these fuel cards from the PX.  If your non-military spouse also works full-time, you can request to get more fuel rations if you need them.  Once you use up that particular fuelcard, you have to buy another one.

If you travel into France and other European countries, your fuelcard is useless, and you will pay regular fuel prices like everyone else.  If you have a leave form, you can visit the MP station in Germany and get a fuelcard to use in Germany....I believe also in the Netherlands and Italy....possibly Spain....all the countries where we have bases.  It's an extra hassle, but if you spend a lot of time in that other country and have the time to stop by one of our bases there, it may save you lots of money.

If you are PCSing to Germany, the process is a bit different, but you will still have a fuelcard.  They don't use fuel coupons anymore.  Your fuelcard is tied to that particular vehicle, so your buddy in another car will not be able to use it.  In Germany, you'll have more rations as well.  I have never run out while stationed there!  Super is the only available gas choice if you buy gas from AAFES, as many AAFES stores have their own gas stations (at the shopette).  You just pay with your regular American dollars.  Diesel is only available off post.  If you get a Military Star card (AAFES version of their credit card), you'll get 5% back on your purchases.  You can obviously also use your own choice of credit card with its own collection of bonuses and incentives.  If you want to gas up off post, you can use your fuelcard at Esso gas stations only IF you put a money advance onto your fuelcard.  So for example, you can put $100 on your fuelcard and then fuel up at Esso.  You won't pay the going rate posted on the pump, but our special discounted rate.  Once you get your receipt, you'll see how many liters you have left to pump on your advance, and you can also check this online.  Add money as needed.  It's kind of a pain to keep track of, and at any time if you pump OVER the amount on your fuelcard, you will pay the full fuel price for your entire transaction.  What I like here in Belgium, is that you can never go OVER what is on your fuelcard. Once it's done, it's done....and you have to buy another fuelcard.

I do want to mention a quick word about American cars over here in Europe.  Most of us do have American brand cars that are not sold in the European market.  You'll see Ford and some others over here, but they'll have model names you never heard of and European car models are much smaller than ours across the board.  Keep this in mind when you are thinking of shipping your extended cab super-size truck over here!

European roads are narrower.  Here in Belgium, they are absolute goatpaths unless you are on a major thoroughfare between major towns and cities.  I have a minivan and frequently have to stop or get over on country roads...and we have some big ditches along our roads!  Parking can be a pain.  Yes, the spots are a bit shorter, but worse, they are narrower.  I've had to squeeze out of my driver's side door, or go out the back and many times, I choose to park farther away so I have no other cars around.  Of course, practice your parallel parking, and when we drive downtown somewhere, we usually take my husband's little European specs car with us that fits in tight spaces.  Some parking garages will also be tight, not only in the spaces, but as you navigate around inside the lanes!

Yes, I've heard Americans say they love the room of a large car and that's fine....just be prepared to deal with a few hiccups.  Be prepared to stand out too as an American.  In light of recent world events, we are no longer allowed to wear military uniforms off post, even if just going home.  A regular sized car would make our footprint not quite as big.  We made the decision to take our van over here because we had a huge dog at the time, kids and had lots of visitors we would take on our travels...that was our choice....and it works fine I think.  Anything bigger I would've felt uncomfortable having over here.  Do what you think is right for your family and your situation!

Ask VMW: I have four dogs & a parrot and want to move overseas, advice?

Today I received a question that deserved a really long answer...read on!

Hi so I don't really know where to begin.  My husband is up for reenlistment and we have heard rumor of there being some openings for his MOS in the Netherlands, I think Schinnen or Germany.  We  have a baby, 4 dogs and a parrot all of which we could not part with.  We are unsure how this tour will affect us financially.  We both really want to go overseas but are not sure how this will affect us bringing our pets and vehicles.  Will I be able to take my pets?  My husband is an E4.

Schinnen is actually a very nice place to be stationed...centrally located and a nice base in the NATO environment (which is a bit different than everyone else over here at US bases).  We are at a NATO base too and just love all the international interaction!

Wow, you have your hands absolutely full and spilling over!  I'm going to be honest with you, as I don't beat around the bush.  I blame my German ancestry...again, there is never any right or wrong answer when I respond to people's requests.  Four dogs and a bird will be a HUGE challenge.

Some things to think about....the flight...you will have to get them all health checked within 10 days of travel, and since only a certain # are allowed per plane, you gotta make sure they are listed in your flight record (I always recommend United Airlines) and if you fly in the summer you could be faced with travel restrictions.  You didn't mention the size of your dogs...you'll need to purchase the correct crate size for EACH dog (that can get pricey if you don't already have them) and look at spending about 100-200 euro PER dog to travel.  You would be flying into Amsterdam (for the Netherlands) and could possibly face more fees, as sometimes people are charged for extra items, such as vet checks and "holding" the pet while they wait for the vet and that kind of thing...plus you could be waiting around all day.  It usually doesn't happen, but I've seen it happen.  The good thing is that if you go to a military vet for the pets 10 day check up, it'll be free...otherwise, you'll pay for that.  Read my article on that whole process.  Also read this quick post on pets and being in the military.

I''m not sure what the lodging facilities are like on Schinnen.  If they have onpost lodging they will probably not have pet rooms or will have limited pet rooms (our lodge only has six I believe and they book up fast).  On post, Army-wide, you are only authorized two pets max....so, if you have anything over that, you'll be looking off post.  The Netherlands is a pricey country...housing is also the smallest out of any of the European countries....plus, just so narrow with steep stairs and small yards.  As an E4, you could face some challenges finding something large enough, close enough to post (the farther out, the cheaper usually) AND finding a landlord that will accept that many pets.  Please visit Head Over Heel's blog.  The author chronicles her journey from Germany to the US in a PCS move with four large dogs.  She shipped three at once I believe and the fourth one at a later date.  She prepared herself as best she could and still hit quite a few roadblocks.  But, I think she was able to finally work something out where she and her dogs...and her soldier husband are happy.  So, it can be done if you are persistent and patient.  The Europeans, particularly the Dutch LOVE their dogs, and you'll see them just about everywhere, so that is a good thing!

As for your parrot, I had a friend who had birds, and she would find a home for her bird before PCSing overseas.  Birds are just so sensitive and many don't handle the stress of going by plane.  Don't even get me started into talking about the baby birds they bring from outside the US to sell as pets...meaning the ones not hatched in the US...it's criminal how many die on the journey.  I personally would not want to take that risk.  Your bird would also need the necessary health certificates, and you'd need to find an airline or pet shipping service that even handles birds.  You'd also have to check what the import requirements are for the Netherlands for birds.  I don't know them.  Obviously you can see I am biased on birds...sorry.

Bottom line, you would have to have a lot of research and paperwork...and money set aside if you plan to take your animals!

As far as being an E4 living overseas....sometimes it can be daunting at NATO bases, because most tend to cater to higher ranking officers and E4s sometimes get lost in the shuffle!  But, that doesn't mean we don't have any.  I have a few friends whose husbands are E4s......one is struggling a bit....one is not.  It is much more difficult to find housing off post in your price range, that is a fact.  Check Schinnen's housing office online and see if E4s can automatically live on post, and if they even have on post housing and also what is the wait time to get into housing.  You need to know this stuff before you and the rest of the family comes over.  Deferred orders may be better.  He could come with half of your animals, while you come later, when he finds a house and gets settled in with the other half as an example.  If you live on post and only have two animals, perhaps there is a trusted friend or relative who could watch the other half while you are overseas.  Overseas assignments don't come as often as they used to, and they can be such an enriching part of your life...I would obviously do it over and over again if given the chance:-)

I just checked and an E4 would get 1250 euro per month max for housing.  Go to ahrn.com and using a .mil email address, see if Schinnen lists their rental housing...I know our area here at SHAPE just went online there.  You will get an idea of what is even out there.  You'll get 613 euro for utilities, which will mostly go to cover gas/oil, water & electric.  That should be enough if you get an energy efficient house.

Sorry I couldn't give you an easy answer, but you are on the right track, researching and asking questions ahead of time!  We need more military spouses willing to take responsibility to look out for themselves and their family!  Good luck in whatever you choose to do!  Talk it over with her hubby, and see what will work best for you!

The Money Hazards of Living in Belgium

On the one hand, Belgium is a land of rules that don't get followed.  Why?  Look at all the different rulers they have had through the years....all with their own set of rules and laws...constantly changing.  They've had Austrians, the Spanish, Germans, the Dutch and the list goes on.  It's no wonder that not until 1967 did you need a driver's license to drive here or that a Belgian official will tell you "it's not possible" and the next day it is.  Today I'd like to talk about how to save yourself thousands of Euros or from making a dumb mistake.

For one thing, Belgium and the US have a different Status of Forces (SOFA) agreement with Belgium than we do with Germany.  Germany is very generous when it comes to exempting us from sales tax, other taxes and giving us certain privileges.  In Germany, you can buy a stack of VAT forms and use them for ANY purchases, which pays off on total purchases over 50 euro.  I used to love getting that tax back in cold hard cash at the Real (like a Super Walmart) customer service counter.  Not so in Belgium.  Remember, Belgium didn't lose like Germany did, so of course they didn't have to give a lot of concessions.  I will touch on a few ways that have lost people money.

As a sidenote, these rules do not apply to all Americans in Belgium or expats.  These rules only apply to American (possibly NATO) military personnel or civilian personnel assigned to NATO or American Forces in Belgium.

For example, only certain items are sales tax exempt, such as furniture.  The process is also a little more complicated, at least on SHAPE, where you have to get a receipt or bill of lading of the item/items you are buying, then take that to the VAT office, and the Community Services Center on SHAPE.  Many stores, like IKEA, don't give you the money back right away, but request that you fill out some paperwork, including providing your local bank account number, and then a few months later, you'll see the amount show up in your bank account.  As in typical Belgian fashion, you may see one person asking for the VAT from the VAT office get tax relief, whereas another person wanting to purchase the same item, does not get it.  I don't have an answer for that one.  I've just seen it happen.  Read here for my step-by-step process of getting your VAT back.

Also, be careful how you register your vehicles!  You have one vehicle that is exempt from Belgian road taxes...only one.  Road taxes can be expensive, depending on how large the engine is in your vehicle.  This is why you should register the vehicle with the largest engine first.  Vehicles with larger engines can run you over 1,000 euro a year.  Vehicles like my husband's little diesel that gets 50 MPG only costs just under 200 euro a year, so you can see the big savings.  We registered our minivan first.  I talked to one person who, while waiting for their vehicle to ship from the States, bought a second vehicle, which they registered first.  Now they are faced with owing roadtax on their larger vehicle that has not yet arrived.  I don't know if they worked it out or not, but I just caution you to check it out.  We received our roadtax bill, through my husband's work address about two months after he purchased the vehicle.  You can then pay the bill at your local Belgian post office or through your local bank account.  I will talk later about recommendations on getting a bank account over here, as most of your bills and purchases will be in Euros and not Dollars.

Be careful about buying a vehicle from a non-Shapian (a person without a SHAPE ID card).  You will end up paying sales tax.  Again, I overheard a person in the inprocessing building lamenting that he had to pay a few thousand euro tax on a vehicle he purchased for 10,000 euro.  He said if he had known this ahead of time, he would've never done it!  I'm guessing that's why you don't see all the car lots around post like you do at any German US Army base or post.

My point with this post is to advise you to be careful and research things thoroughly before you do them....the consequences can be costly!  Please also do not take my advice as the Gospel.  Some of what I have written may be inaccurate, as I have not checked the laws and regulations myself, and like I said, sometimes it is not crystal clear what the law even is.  I am only speaking from my own experience and the experiences of the people around me.  Take it for what it's worth to you!  Do you have any Belgian experiences that are related to this post?

Easily add minutes to your Belgian pre-paid cell phone (any provider)

I know it's easy to run by the grocery store or wherever to "top up" your minutes for your prepaid phone.  You just grab the little papers from your provider at the check-out and get the code on your receipt.  Well, I am constantly forgetting to do that!  I mean, I don't have to add minutes that often, but more often than not, I NEED the minutes at an inopportune time.  So, I've found a way to add minutes online...any provider.

Go to:

Becharge.be

Follow the links for your provider to add minutes and get the code within seconds....very handy...

What you need to know about mail service overseas (APO & local)

Actual customs label listing contents as "unknown"!

Being military overseas or affiliated with the military, allows us to use the services and have a PO box through the Military Postal System (MPS).  This is a HUGE benefit, as we pay the same costs you do in the US, to mail stuff stateside....You walk into an overseas Army Post Office (APO), and it's like walking into a stateside post office...down to the posters on the wall and what we pay for stamps and such.  Yes, we also have a Belgian or local mailbox at our home.  Even if you live on-post, you will still have a local national address where you can get mail through that country's mailing system.  I'll show you how to use both.  You're going to need to use both, so pay attention.

Basically, here in Europe, our mail gets flown (by First Class or Priority) or by goes by ship (all the other methods).  I've gotten letters and Priority packages within a week from the US.  Amazon.com, as an example, is really good at getting things here the fastest out of any of the online retailers.

I sometimes get asked, well, how can you tell online retailers that you are STILL in the US (and with US postal rates) but that the package will go overseas?  Many online retailers have updated their zipcode databases to figure that out.  You see, in the old days, our addresses looked something like this:

14th IAD Box 221
APO, NY 09128

All post coming and going to Europe gets processed in New York somewhere.  This is also where it gets handed off from the USPS to the military.

Nowadays, the addresses look a bit different:

CMR 230 Box 21
APO AE 09128

So now we've got these community mailrooms (CMR) where all the units for that particular post have their mail delivered.  APO still stands for "Army Post Office" in place of the city and then "AE" stands for "Armed Forces Europe"...those bases/posts in the Pacific and other areas will have different designations, such as "AP".

Online retailers should mostly have the new database, where you can actually choose "AE"...if not, you can still choose "NY", and it'll get processed.  The only different handling they will have to do with your package is to make sure it has a customs form attached.  I've rarely had a retailer charge me extra for that.  I have had some retailers though refuse to ship to APO or overseas.  In that case, you can either take your business elsewhere (which I always let them know) or if I REALLY want that thing, then I have it shipped to a relative and then over here (which can sometimes be pricey, especially when you add on insurance) or you can use one of the many secondary shipping services, such as Ship It APO.  They will will give you a pseudo stateside address and then ship you the product for a fee.  They will act as a third party.  I've noticed that Amazon refuses to ship many of their electronics, appliances and household/pet items to APO...something about not being able to guarantee a warranty or something to that effect....or at least that is the excuse.  I once had Dell computers try to tell me the same thing when I ordered online, but when I called their customer service line and got passed through four different people, I finally reached a salesperson who not only gave me a huge discount but also added an additional year warranty (which was required for overseas shipments).  It ended up being cheaper than the online price, even with my beloved coupon code.  They said to call them at anytime in the future, so keep that in mind when trying to order online or even through their government or military sales.  You can probably talk them into a cheaper price by talking to a live body.  The computer took exactly four weeks to get here, but I was VERY happy to finally get a Dell All-in-One!

Some APOs customer mailboxes are co-located with their actual post office...some aren't.  At our previous location, we had to go one place to pick up our mail and another place to actually mail it, which always entailed a kind of ballerina dance as we figured out which one to go to first.  At SHAPE, we have a beautiful modern post office where everything is co-located inside with very generous opening hours for both the actual post office and package/registered mail pick-up...thanks guys!

Mailing letters is the same as in the US....you slap on your postage or have them do it at the window, and it'll shortly be on its way.  As I mentioned before, packages need customs slips.  I try to be as accurate as possible.  I guess retailers don't....I'm sure you saw my photo above...that one said "unknown" on the customs slip!  I had to laugh at that.  They'll also measure your box dimensions and weigh it and each class has certain restrictions...you'll find those on the USPS website.  I have noticed that sometimes, if I pick one of the slower methods (and pay for that), if the box is a smaller size, it'll somehow get sent with the Priority stuff, and it'll get there in a week.  I envision some guy with a truckfull of packages, picking and choosing which ones fit in the aircraft and which don't...I don't know how they do it, but I like to think my package must have looked just right to fit on the aircraft instead of the ship....I also feel they must be pretty generous and accommodating during the holidays, as I once got a fairly large package from the US, in a week, that was paid for to go by ship....hmmmmm.....

The best part about APO mail though is that it is FREE from APO to APO...not only letters but packages too....so if you go to Poland and pick up a bunch of heavy Polish pottery and package it safely...go ahead and send it to your friend (me for instance) in Belgium for FREE.  Send packages downrange FREE.  Just don't send flammables, pork products and pornography downrange...don't laugh...there are certain restrictions as to what you can send downrange to certain countries.  I even sent a huge package from Germany to Australia for FREE via APO....it took about 6 weeks, but it got there eventually!  Now if you want to insure anything, you'll still pay for that extra service.

Now with your local mailbox....don't ignore it!  Yes, you'll get sales circulars and junkmail if you live off post...not so much on-post.  I used to love to sign up for German catalogs to see the latest gadgets and just was curious as to what German housewives were buying in Moderne Hausfrau (Modern Homemaker).  Some of my other favorites were Quelle and Otto...and for some reason I used to like getting the frozen food (and ice cream) delivery catalog, Eismann.  You can find out more about German catalogs, here.   I also ordered things from the German Amazon site (free shipping of course), which were delivered to me onpost (our German mailman knew me by name to the point of him bringing things to my office on post when he knew I wouldn't be at home...I miss him and my doggie loved his dog treats).  If you have any German bills, such as your electric and water bills...they'll come there too.  As a sidenote, the German Amazon also ships to Belgium for free.  Thanks Bro for the torch for my now-authentic Creme Brulee.  He said it was cheaper to buy it from Germany at their  Amazon site than from the US....go figure.

This next part is important.... if you send a letter or something to a place on the German economy or another European country, SEND IT THROUGH THE GERMAN POSTAL SYSTEM (or whatever country's system you are currently in).  Why did I write that in all caps?  Because I can't tell you the number of times I've seen people send important documents through the American APO and have that letter go back to the US and then back over here again, returned to sender or sometimes making it into the German system cause a sympathetic American or German clerk along the way knew what the original intent was.  Only use the APO to send mail back to the US or to other APOS please.

And to wrap this boring but necessary subject up...I don't think I can think of anything else to say.  There was something that was on the tip of my tongue...got interrupted...and there it went...sigh....ah well.  Anyway, I hope that was somewhat helpful!  As always, if you have something to add, please add it below!

Ask VMW: Which electronics to I take overseas (and ALL your electricity questions answered)

Many times, we realize we should have more information before making an informed decision.  Here is one wife who wants a definitive answer:

"I've attended our PCS briefing, and I am still confused.  They told us not to bring alarm clocks overseas.  I think I understand the difference between 220 and 110 but then I talked to this other lady, and she told me she was not going to bring her standmixer and then couldn't explain to me exactly why?  Can you?"

I am absolutely no technical expert, but I will try to explain the best I can.  I think most overseas assignments in Germany have both 110 volt and 220 volt electricity ON POST.  Off post it is still 220 volt as before (and will stay that way as Europeans will tell you it is the superior system).  In government housing you'll see your familiar 110 wall outlets (usually one or two sets per room) and then a few more of the 220 version.

The first thing you have to do is look at your appliance....either on the bottom or if it's an electronic item (and not an appliance) it'll be written on the converter halfway down your powercord...at least I think it's called a converter.  If it gives a range up to 240 volt, then you can use it in Europe.  All you need is an adapter plug to plug it into the round outlet holes.  Pay attention to that outlet...the newer ones will have two holes and a prong to handle the grounding.  Older adapter plugs (which are made out of plastic) will only have two holes and no room for that prong in the outlet.  Sometimes, when you buy them second hand (like the thrift shop on base), they will have the older ones, and then they won't fit in the wall outlet.  You can always make a hole with whatever tool, like my husband did....but you're better off buying the newer ones.  I just feel safer that way!

If your appliance or electric item says up to 120 volt, then you cannot plug it directly into the wall, even with an adapter plug!  You will permanently fry it and ruin it.  You'll hear a loud pop, spark and then some smoke and your thing will be history.  If you have a desktop computer, many of the older ones will have a 110/220 switch on the back.  Make sure it is switched to 220 first!  Rest assured, if you do fry your computer, your hard drive in most instances will still be safe.  I took my hard drive out of a fried computer and used it in this.

  I could've also bought a new computer powersource with a plug for it, but the computer was so old, I just wanted to start over.

Now what about the standmixer?  It has something to do with the cycles...something about the megahertz....even though a transformer will step down the voltage for you to plug in your appliance or electronic item, it still cycles at a different rate.  This could cause your appliance motor to run hotter or less efficient, damaging it in the long run.  You may not notice any problems at first but only later.  This is also why a 110 volt alarm clock will not keep time, even on a transformer.

As a sidenote, I once asked an electrician who was working on something in our government quarters, how they do the 110 outlets, and he said something about actual transformers....obviously larger and more powerful, in our housing...inside the walls or wherever...so technically, anything plugged in there is running on a transformer too....just a much bigger one than you are used to.

If you need to buy transformers, which you probably will if you are off post, be sure to check local wanted ads on post as well as your thrift shop.  People are always moving, and there are always transformers as well as 220 volt appliances to be had.

Yes, the PX has them as well, but you will pay a premium for them there.  They also have all the plugs and such.  Local stores such as Media Markt (like a Best Buy....in Germany and Belgium too) has TONS of different appliances and electronics too and everything to go with it.  Many times items are on sale there.  I like to get my European surge protectors there (I would get them for your computers, TVs and expensive electronics)...yes, the PX has usually one model (European style)...but I like choices.  Also remember that European surge protectors protect at a much higher level than the American ones, so don't just interchange plugs and use your American surge protectors.  They are not strong enough.

I also mentioned in one of my other blogposts, that if you have a USB cord for your item, you can charge it through your computer or laptop.  We do that for all our MP3 players, Kindles, handheld gaming systems and such....a few are not 220 volt adaptable, and it's cheaper (although takes longer) than charging them through transformers.  Transformers take a lot of juice, so when you are not actively using one, actively UNPLUG it completely or else it will still drain electricity.  Electricity is much more expensive in Europe, so I try to cut it down where I can!  I believe the charge through a USB connection is something like 5 volts, so it is safe for just about anything you can find a plug for!

I am sure I have left something out.  If you think of anything else regarding electronics, please add below.

How to I get to Brussels South (Charleroi) Airport for my Ryanair flight?

Many Ryanair Discount flights and a few vacation charter jets leave through Charleroi Airport...which the airline industry calls "Brussels South".  I had to laugh at that...makes it sound like it's just around the corner when in actuality it's about 30 minutes South of Brussels.  It is also 30 minutes East of Mons, which makes it in the middle of nowhere.  So other than driving and paying about 60 euros for a 5 day stay in their outside parking lot, what other choices are there?

My first recommendation is going to be scratch your back if you scratch mine.  Many of us take each other to the airport.  I let people park by my house (hey, I'm not going to go get you in the middle of the night, which is mostly when Ryanair flights leave....so late evening or early morning)....and I'll take them on over...and then go get them again.  I can have someone do that for me too...and watch our cat...nice.

But, if you don't want to deal with the hassle of that or driving yourself...and you don't have a large family that would make it cost prohibitive, cause they charge by the person mostly, then try the service below.

Charleroi Transfers

Unfortunately, there are no train stops at Charleroi Airport...wish there were...you still have to take a city bus from downtown (so that's another alternative).

Do you know of any others?

Living in a World War Battlefield

Sometimes it's easy to get lulled into the daily comings and goings of our routine life.  I do this, until I see the British battlefield tour bus coming down the street or I take a walk by a beautiful commemorative marker in front of our house, always bejeweled with faux wreaths and banners.  You see, our house sits smack dab in the middle of a battlefield.  We didn't even realize it until the day we moved in and saw the first of many British tour buses pull up and a group of elderly gentlemen with matching polo shirts all crowd around our front door as the movers tried to move in our stuff!

We did know that our house was a cafe before the Great War.  The previous renter did tell us that.  I remember walking through the front entry, imagining the tables and cafe chairs that must have been there.  I wondered what those rings and metal things were, sticking out of the bricks in the front...for horses maybe?  I also envisioned how our kitchen building, attached to the side of the house, must have been a bustling place for the lunchtime crowd.

Walking around inside our house, it's hard to envision what it must have looked like though, as it has been totally renovated.  We have freshly painted white walls, gleaming marble tile, parquet floors that don't squeak, modern bathrooms....the only clue of our home's age, other than the outside, are the wonderful architectural details scattered throughout the home and the marble fireplace which we fell in love with from the first moment we stepped into the living room.

So, living in the middle of all this history, I have decided to make myself, especially our children, more aware of what happened around us.  Belgium is not just chocolate, beer and chateaus.  Being such a small country and kind of in between so many others, Belgium many times was a speed bump for conquering armies...or rather armies that just used Belgium as a stepping stone to get somewhere else.  I say Belgium...yeah, I know Belgium has barely been around 100 years...when I say Belgium, I'm talking about this whole Lowland Area.

Once I started reading a bit, I realized that there were soldiers from this area who fought bravely...and often...my God, the Battle of Waterloo that caused Napoleon to race back to Paris with his tail between his legs took place a mere half an hour from our house...and it shames me that we haven't even been there yet.

Although I never did New Year's resolutions...I am doing one now or a semblance thereof.....to visit and honor some of these hallowed places and the men (and sometimes women) who fought there.  Waterloo is already on the calendar.  The kids and I are also signed up to do a commemorative walk near Bastogne to honor the men of the 17th Airborne....looking forward to that one and hoping to meet some veterans as well.  I've got a bead on the battles of Ypres, which we passed on our way to the Belgian beaches last summer....the first place the Germans used poison gas with disastrous results....and of course, thanks Marisa for the wonderful chateau recommendation near Mont St Michel and Normandy for a wonderful trip we have planned there this summer.  I am looking forward to the ghost stories from the duke and just getting a wonderful overview of the area.  The times I've spent in Normandy before were always way too short and filled with Army stuff while I was on active duty.  I'm looking forward to going there as pure tourist!

As a last point, for those of you about to come on your overseas tour...or maybe you are already here.  Use those weekends and just go....go and see the history that surrounds you at every turn.  I've seen many a time, military folks (including myself), scrambling to try to cram in those last few trips before PCSing....start your traveling early....in bits and pieces, so you can get a good cross section of what is out there.  Don't be afraid to explore and just go without a set itinerary.  City and town information bureaus are a great help in finding you a place to stay last minute, or use Booking.com or Hostelworld.com to find something before you go.  Many places can also be reached by daytrip.  Get ideas from the books "Never a Dull Moment" and "All Aboard...Europe!".  The first book is a collection of places to go recommended by tons of military spouses and families....and the other, an account of a military wife who traveled all over Europe with her very young children in tow.

If anyone wants to post their most memorable trip below or wants to share any of their travel tips, please do.  I would love to hear!