A Warm Welcome

Hubbalicious and I had discussed the notion of renting a car upon arrival in Germany and decided that the mobility would be a nice freedom for a couple who was stuck in a hotel and curious about our surroundings. Hubbz’s new command was very accommodating throughout the transition process and had reached out a multitude of times via email to make sure that he (we) was getting his questions answered. In the days leading up to our departure from the US, they emailed offering a ride from the airport and an escort directly to base to get the check in process started. We demurred, since we already had the car reserved, and figured we’d be pretty fried upon arrival. It would be nice to be fresh and clean and rested before we attempted to put our collective best foot forward with the new command.

Hubbz and I were flabbergasted, as we pushed our ridiculously loaded luggage cart out of customs, to discover a sign with our names on it and two smiling faces to greet us at the Stuttgart Airport. Two of the staffers from Hubbz’s new office were there waiting to welcome us and get us familiarized with the base and surrounding area. They loaded our luggage into their car (barely making it fit!!) and took us off to the base to get us checked in.

Security at the new digs is tighter than our old base. Each person in an arriving car is ID’ed, and badges are scanned to verify that we are who we say we are, and that we’re currently cleared to enter the base. First stop was the base office to get our ID’s into the system. This involved having our pictures taken. So, with oily face and rumpled hair and clothing, I posed for my new ID picture – looking quite the part of the refugee in my new home country!!

The command staff also took us to check Hubbz in at his new command (so he wouldn’t have any leave charged against him). They showed us the Exchange building and the building where the bank, post office and our indoctrination classes would be held. They had made us a binder with maps and directions to the military installations from our hotel, and hours and locations of all of the base buildings. They even had a bag of snacks and German beer at the ready to welcome us to our new community. We were so touched and so impressed with their thoroughness and kindness. What a warm welcome to our new home!!

After our new friends dropped us off at our hotel, we spent an hour freshening up and grabbing a bite to eat – and then took a taxi back to the airport to pick up our car. We rented a wagon in anticipation of the numerous suitcases we’d need to move. Ironically, we got a Ford. But in the rental place’s defense…they also offered us two Korean cars also.

Since we were now cleared to enter the base without an escort, our first stop was the post exchange – to purchase our new GPS unit. In the past, I’ve shunned the idea of having an all knowing entity directing me from one place to another. But, given that we’d be navigating new road signs, new road rules, and a hundred different roads that all sound like “Farfignugen strasse” to our untrained ears – we figured it was actually an investment in our well being and the safety of others.

It was a big, busy day for a couple of weary travelers – but we were filled with excitement and adventure and the promise of an interesting next few years!