So we arrived at LAX around 2.30pm. Our first thought as we landed was whether Freddie had made the flight ok.. I tried to look from the plane to see if we could see him being offloaded.. but couldn't  Anyway we got to Immigration- the queues were enormous - I think about 20 other flights must have landed at the same fecking time!! Anyway we did all that - everything was in order - All we had to do now was get our cases and find out where to get freddie. Our first stop was the rental car place.. that all went smoothly - we had to get a great BIG SUV because of all the cases and Freddies cage too. We got in the car.. by this time really quite knackered.. and headed for Virgin Cargo. We eventually found it and there he was... Bless his heart he didn't seem to know what had happened to him!!! BUT.. they wouldn't let us take him.. we had to go to another place a few miles away to get the paperwork stamp.. ARGHHHHH. The woman wasn't even going to let me take him of his cage until we got the paperwork done - but I did plead with her and that was fine. Daz and Sam went off to the paperwork... 2 and a half hours later they returned!!!!!!!!!!!! I can not even describe how we were feeling at this stage.. tired, emotional, thirsty, dirty.. it was just so horrible. I think this was our first real taster of how backward America can be when it comes to paperwork etc... they love a bit of paperwork.. especially in California i'm told... Great!!!!!
So off we go.. all back together heading for the Hotel. The kids crashed out as soon as we pulled away from the Cargo place.. I think I may have too if i'm honest.. poor Daz! We had booked into a hotel for the 1st month because we were waiting for the furniture to arrive. The company was paying for it and we had chosen one that was fairly close to the House so we could pop up there every now and again. Infact I had been allowed one air shipment of 'supplies' and that was arriving within the next 10 days. It was mostly kitchen stuff.. we kinda thought it would be good to go to the house nad maybe eat and stuff. We knew that eating out constantly for a month was gonna wear thin! Now don't get me wrong if i can get out of cooking I will.. but even I would have been sick of fast food fairly quickly!!!
The hotel was ok.. nowt brillient but it served its purpose and had a pool.. very important.. especially as we had arrived mid July and it was INCREDIBLY hot!! So basically we arrived and crashed.. MY husband in his wisdom was in the office the very next day so he desperately needed sleep!
So we had arrived and got some sleep.. the next few days were mostly spent finding our feet and recouperating! The was one huge hurdle that I had to overcome and that was that Daz was flying back to France on the Sunday for a weeks business trip. I was absolutely dreading it.. it meant that I had to drive for a start! Also just a few days in a strange country and the weight of responsibility on my shoulders felt massive. But looking back it really was a baptism of fire.. I HAD to drive, I had to find my way and gain confidence.. which ofcourse i did. Staying in a hotel helped.. I did feel safer.. I think had I of been in the house on my own I wouldn't have coped nearly as well.
The week went by without hiccups and I was sooo glad to get Daz back! The month was spent sorting finances, getting me a car, getting utilities switched on in the house etc etc.. I spoke to folks back home mostly via MSN because it would have been massively expensive from the hotel. We did get the phone switched on at the house.. but by the time i'd got to the house somedays from the hotel it was too late to call people. I got the kids booked into a soccer camp for a week during that month. That was a massive help to me to be honest. They spent the whole day there so it meant I could crack on and some days I took the opputunity of sittng by the pool... well I had been working hard!! Without doubt the 'trailing spouse' does get a rough deal really. Everyone was sorting themselves out, they would be in school soon.. daz was at work.. for me it was about making sure they were all ok... I wasn;t quite sure how things were supposed to pan out for me. I'm still not really sure!!
Finally we got the call to say that our furniture had arrived and was just being xrayed, it would be with us within a couple of days! YIPEEEEEEEE! If memory serves me right Daz was away again.. I think just a short business trip somewhere and he was getting back the night the furniture arrived. It all arrived ok.. the fellas were very good and put all the beds and tables etc together for me... it was brillient to finally have all our stuff... but I knew I had a huge task ahead of me unpacking boxes!! But to be honest it was going to give me something to do! Daz called and said he thought it would be better to stay in the hotel that night.. which I was surprised about.. but he thought it would be better to get up to a clear head and get the house together.. so thats what we did. It was really lovely to finally be in the house I have to say. We had briefly met our neighbours and they seemed really really nice.. so that was a good start. We checked out of the hotel and was handed a bill for $10,000!!!!!!! OMG!! But that was for the company to worry about..YIKES!
Most of our weekends were tied up buying stuff for the house.. ofcourse we couldn't bring any electrical stuff so all that had to be bought... buying a kettle was a task in itself! I eventually did find one... but most shops hadn;t a clue what I was even talking about!! God i can't go without my tea!!
Chelsea started college mid August.. we all went and dropped her off.. she was really brave.. but then Chelsea isn't easily phased by things!
And that kinda was our first month. As i'm writing this 9 months down the line I writing from memory mostly and so much more has (or in some cases hasn't) happened! The following months consisted of ups and downs of emotions coping with thanksgiving, christmas and a couple of visitors - exploring our area, and venturing slightly further afield. I think my next blogs will be about where we are here and now.. I will talk about some of the stuff thats happened in between, and how we are today. Being an Expat, I have found anyway is a Bizarre and unpredictable experiance. The one saving grace for us without doubt is where we are. California has a lot to offer, obvious (mostly) good weather, and beautiful coastlines and mountains. The down side is how far from home it is, and the time difference I have found hard to cope with. Sometimes I just wanna pick up the phone in that moment - but can't cos everyone is in noddy land! I feel quite hopeless somedays and want to go home and then literally within 5 mins i'll be happy about where we are... its a rollercoaster ride of massive proportions.. no mistaking!!!! | 