The truth is, the fact that I'm moving to Denmark hasn't completely sunk in.
Intellectually, I know it. We've emptied our apartment. I've picked up my new passport with my married name on it. We've checked in for our flights online. My brain has all of the correct information.
And yet... it's a life change that I don't actually have any context for. So, emotionally, it feels like any other move.
Actually, it feels easier, as I wasn't the one packing up all of our things. The movers did that (as is often the case with international moves).
I'm in for a bigger culture shock than my brain is allowing me to comprehend at the moment.
We ship off tomorrow. For tonight, I say...
Farewell, Boston. Farewell, Cambridge.
Farewell, America. Don't make a mess of the place while I'm gone.
Showing posts with label move. Show all posts
Showing posts with label move. Show all posts
Friday, June 29, 2012
Monday, June 11, 2012
Expediting and Carlton Dancing
The timing of this move is insane.
If we didn't have our honeymoon coming up, I could easily get everything done in time, but with the honeymoon, we have a week less to pack and get documentation in order.
But boy, do we need this honeymoon. If we can manage to take our minds off of the move, it'll do us both a lot of good. "If" being the operative word...
So, if you find yourself having to change your name on all of your identification (due to marriage, or whatever else), but are leaving the country within a few weeks, here are a few helpful things that I have learned:
1. The US Passport Agencies not only have the ability to expedite getting you your new passport by mail, but if you're really in a crunch you can make an appointment to talk to them in person at the passport agency. Keep in mind, though, you can't even make the appointment unless you are leaving the country within 14 days (or leaving within 30 days and need a visa as well). Once at the appointment, you and the agent will discuss options, one of which is actually having them issue a new passport with your updated information that very day.
2. The RMV (or DMV depending on your state) also has the ability to issue licenses the same day. Sort of. The woman I spoke to over the phone (after a good half hour on hold listening to music that made me want to do the Carlton dance) told me that, if you pay an extra fee for expediting, and go to another office, they also have a machine that can cut your new license that very day. Trouble is... she tells me the machine breaks a lot. So... there's that.
3. The folks at the Social Security office are surprisingly nice and helpful! I expected it to be a lot like waiting at the RMV. Depressing to sit there, and even more depressing to talk to the agents who obviously hate life and everyone who bothers to show up in theirs. But, no, the social security folks were lovely! Though, I didn't ask if they expedite, as my new card with my updated name should arrive well before we leave.
If we didn't have our honeymoon coming up, I could easily get everything done in time, but with the honeymoon, we have a week less to pack and get documentation in order.
But boy, do we need this honeymoon. If we can manage to take our minds off of the move, it'll do us both a lot of good. "If" being the operative word...
So, if you find yourself having to change your name on all of your identification (due to marriage, or whatever else), but are leaving the country within a few weeks, here are a few helpful things that I have learned:
1. The US Passport Agencies not only have the ability to expedite getting you your new passport by mail, but if you're really in a crunch you can make an appointment to talk to them in person at the passport agency. Keep in mind, though, you can't even make the appointment unless you are leaving the country within 14 days (or leaving within 30 days and need a visa as well). Once at the appointment, you and the agent will discuss options, one of which is actually having them issue a new passport with your updated information that very day.
2. The RMV (or DMV depending on your state) also has the ability to issue licenses the same day. Sort of. The woman I spoke to over the phone (after a good half hour on hold listening to music that made me want to do the Carlton dance) told me that, if you pay an extra fee for expediting, and go to another office, they also have a machine that can cut your new license that very day. Trouble is... she tells me the machine breaks a lot. So... there's that.
3. The folks at the Social Security office are surprisingly nice and helpful! I expected it to be a lot like waiting at the RMV. Depressing to sit there, and even more depressing to talk to the agents who obviously hate life and everyone who bothers to show up in theirs. But, no, the social security folks were lovely! Though, I didn't ask if they expedite, as my new card with my updated name should arrive well before we leave.
Monday, June 4, 2012
Who Designed YOUR Cheese Board?
Vows and rings have been exchanged, glasses have been clinked, dancing has been done until we could barely walk.
And this means: I'm officially a married lady!
Our time in America is winding down, and there's still so much to do before the move.
While we wait for the marriage certificates attesting to my plans to take my husband's (!) last name, we're in a bit of a lull. And since we still don't know when our move date is (it could be a month from now, it could be two months... either way, it's soon), it's tough to know what the next step is.
Looking around our bedroom right now, I find myself looking forward to selling off half (or more) of our stuff. That bulky dresser that I bought on Craigslist, that tiny television that isn't hooked into anything, those many, many chairs...
Oh, wait... Can't sell the chairs. They're Arne Jacobsen replications. Moving to Denmark without them would be a sin!
Truthfully, I don't mind them, but I sill find it amazing how into furniture everyone in Denmark is. The fact that I know the chair designer, as well as the designer of the cheese board and knife set that I got my husband (!) for Christmas (Georg Jensen, for those keeping score) is still really funny to me.
I expect I'll look back after a few years of living in Copenhagen and wonder why I hadn't been addicted to furniture design all along.
And this means: I'm officially a married lady!
Our time in America is winding down, and there's still so much to do before the move.
While we wait for the marriage certificates attesting to my plans to take my husband's (!) last name, we're in a bit of a lull. And since we still don't know when our move date is (it could be a month from now, it could be two months... either way, it's soon), it's tough to know what the next step is.
Looking around our bedroom right now, I find myself looking forward to selling off half (or more) of our stuff. That bulky dresser that I bought on Craigslist, that tiny television that isn't hooked into anything, those many, many chairs...
Oh, wait... Can't sell the chairs. They're Arne Jacobsen replications. Moving to Denmark without them would be a sin!
Truthfully, I don't mind them, but I sill find it amazing how into furniture everyone in Denmark is. The fact that I know the chair designer, as well as the designer of the cheese board and knife set that I got my husband (!) for Christmas (Georg Jensen, for those keeping score) is still really funny to me.
I expect I'll look back after a few years of living in Copenhagen and wonder why I hadn't been addicted to furniture design all along.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)