Waiting...

And now we wait. We had a big rush over the weekend on on Monday to complete the boys' application for Mont Kiara school. There is currently no wait list for 3rd grade (Caleb) and a wait list of 10 for 2nd grade (Grayson). We were told we could possibly move up on the list if we got our completed application and fees in (as some parents had not paid the application fee). So, we filled out the application, texted Dr. Lisa to get the boys in for physicals, and Blaine stopped by school to get all copies of progress reports. By Monday night (Tuesday morning in Kuala Lumpur) we had everything emailed and Daron was nice enough to go pay our application fees. We're scheduled to see the school on Tuesday morning after our arrival and have a meeting with the head of admissions. For me, this is the most stressful part of the move - making sure my children have a good school to attend.

I LOVE our doctor, Dr. Lisa. Blaine texted her on Sunday and she worked us all into her schedule on Monday. She was totally prepared to see us...got us all caught up on vaccinations and started us on the typhoid vaccine. (Not in a million years did I ever think I would need a typhoid vaccine.) She gave us scrips for cipro, amoxicillin, a z-pack, Ambien, and something else. Also, gave us a list of over-the-counter meds we should carry with us. We've never had a doctor who has given us such personal attention - she will be missed.

And of course, now we wait to leave. I just want to get going! We're booked to stay at the Hilton in Kuala Lumpur - which looks phenomenal!

So the week is DRAGGING! I'm trying to stay busy, but my mind is just not focused! I've got a lot to get done before we leave...just need to find the focus to get it all done!

Doctor's visit...

Um, all I can say is: typhoid vaccine. Yup, typhoid.

School...

So I spoke with Daron last night. (She currently lives in KL and is Jamie's wife.) She seems fabulous via phone and has been extremely helpful. But, after speaking with her last night I am in high panic mode about getting my two munchkins into school. (We want to get our children into Mont Kiara International School.)

 She recommended that we start the application process immediately. So, I spent my Saturday night doing paperwork and figuring out how we could get everything together in the next 48 hours. Blaine sent a frantic text to Dr. Lisa - who so graciously worked the boys in for physicals tomorrow. We will call school tomorrow morning and get copies of all the boys paperwork. And, then hopefully, we can fax it all over and have Daron go over and pay our application fee. Then, from reading online, the boys need to take some sort of assessment, which I hope we can do here in the states and also fax over. Then, we have to wait and hope that there is space in their grade levels - otherwise we get put on a waiting list. Ugh! School is a deal breaker for us. I think once I know the boys have a school to attend I will feel 110% better about things. They are my first concern right now. Blaine is going to call the school this evening and speak with the admissions officer and Daron said we could also call and talk to the headmaster - and drop their name! Fingers crossed!

We told the kids last night that "Mommy and Daddy are taking a business trip to Malaysia." (Not that we were considering a move to KL.) We talked about the weather and the time difference and how they could text us if they needed us. It was cool here yesterday - and Grayson said he would like to live in Malaysia since it's warm all the time! That made me smile inside...his wish may soon come true! Caleb cried and said he would miss us while we are gone. Yes, that's the child I'm worried about.

And, we've slowly started the cleaning/purging/organizing of our house. We did 3 closets today and the garage yesterday. (We donated all of our winter coats to Goodwill! Whoa!) I guess that means we're serious!

Please think good thoughts about schooling for our kids...We could use all the help we can get!

Serious business...

Well, we've pretty much decided - site unseen - that we'll be moving to Malaysia. It's still very surreal right now, but, we've begun the home clean out part of moving. Today we cleaned the garage and took two truckfuls of stuff/junk to the dump. Yup...as much as I hate this part, it is rather liberating. I laughed when Blaine threw away the kids snow boots. No need to think about those for a few years.

I started doing some shopping for life in Malaysia. As I'm not a small person, and my online research has shown that there are not a lot of larger sizes over there, it's time to stock up. Don't get me wrong, I'm not huge. But, I'm a solid XL shirt and XL bottoms. And, I wear a size 9 1/2 shoe. Time for some shorts and tank tops and cute summer dresses. Luckily, online I found a lot of cute things and I hit some of the local stores and scored some good deals. YAY!

Here's what the temps look like in Kuala Lumpur:

Hot and humid...and rainy. But, it looks like it doesn't rain all day most days. Showers and then it seems to clear out. I guess this is to be expected when you live so close to the equator. (Yeah...there's one of those surreal things...I'm going to be living close to the equator.)

Okay...maybe I'll go clean out another closet. Or, maybe that's enough for today!

Ah, flights...

So...today we've spent most of the day on the phone booking flights. Yes, we had flights booked, but then "people" (I won't name names) said we should ask to fly business class. Okay...let's look into this. Um yes, that will be $15,000 per ticket! WTH! No way! I can't in good conscience pay that price or, should I say, let Blaine's company pay that price. So, let's rethink this...we have approval for business class, but flying business class the entire way would be a RIDICULOUS amount of money. Hmmm...can we fly part of the trip business class? Like from London to Kuala Lumpur - because that's 12 hours of flight time. Yeah, the poor guy in corporate travel today has been put through the ringer...He's been on the phone with Blaine for at least 2 hours. Okay...poor little travel dude says if we travel coach through to London and then business class into KL we can get tickets for about $8,000 each. I'm still in "Are you kidding me?!" mode at this price! But, Blaine booked them. Um, okay. Business class it is from London to KL.

Here's what business class looks like like on Malaysia Air:

I'm just going to shut up and enjoy my fully reclining seat!

Other than that, we're working on other paperwork...finding birth certificates, marriage certificate, etc.

Just another day...

Big changes...

I decided I wanted to start a blog because our life is about to go through some big changes...I mean HUGE!

Last night Blaine called (he's currently in Minneapolis) and he's officially been offered a job in Malaysia. Yup - I said M-A-L-A-Y-S-I-A! Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to be specific.

So it was time to brush up on my geography skills last night...as I was totally not sure where Malaysia was located.

Okay...found it! Next question...what's the weather like there? (It's been pouring here for the last 36 hours - 8.5 inches of rain - so the weather was at the forefront of my mind.)Warm and humid...all year round says Accuweather. (Let's take a look at what I know so far. Being so far away from our family and friends is a big negative! But, the weather definitely goes in the "plus" column!)

And then my brain just wouldn't shut down...hours and hours of endless internet searching. Where would my children go to school? Do they have baseball for Caleb? Where will we live? What's the traffic like? What about television?  How the hell am I going to watch "True Blood" and "The Walking Dead" in Malaysia? (Yeah...so minor in the grand scheme of things, but my brain did go there!) What about a gym? (I'm currently the fitness programs manager at my gym - a job I love with people I love - so this is going to be a hard one for me to overcome.) What about Grayson's peanut allergy? I talk to my mom almost everyday - will I be able to do that from Malaysia? What's the time difference? (+13 hours - just a little FYI.) Blaine's boss said Malaysia is very westernized - how westernized? Starbucks on every corner westernized??? Where can I go running? (Yeah...researched that...there's lots of nice paths and parks...with warnings to stay away from the monkeys and watch for pythons. Pythons?!? WTF!!! But, seriously...I just read on the Facebook page of the Cargill family that is currently there that there was a python hanging out at the school pool where their children attend - the same school I'm looking at for me kids! YIKES!)

Needless to say, there was no sleep last night. (And probably won't be until we officially make a decision.) And, in typical Cargill fashion...they want you over there A.S.A.P. to make a decision. So yes, we've booked tickets for Blaine and I to travel to Kuala Lumpur. We're leaving April 28th for a long-ass couple of days of travel. Cedar Rapids to Chicago. Chicago to London. London to Kuala Lumpur. (Just hung up the phone with Blaine again and those flights are official. I believe he said 32 hours of travel time! Holy shit! 32 hours! I thought the flights to France and Spain were long!)

Blaine's parents are coming to watch the kids. And no, we haven't told them yet because we know when we do that they'll be telling everyone. I'm a little nervous about the kids and the move. I honestly think the experience could be INCREDIBLE, but my sensitive son (and those who read this and know me - know who I'm talking about) will most likely struggle with the change. The other one will hit the ground running and probably bring home a Malaysian girlfriend after 48 hours of being there! Ah, the joys of having two kids with such completely different personalities.

I'll be real honest...providing we can get our kids into an American school (which I've already researched) and we can find adequate housing, I would say that beginning in mid-August we'll be living halfway across the globe. Right now I'm just anxious. I'm a planner...likes to have all of her ducks in a row and know what the next step is...and a move like this just doesn't work that way.

So, it's time to step back and try to enjoy the process...

Or maybe have a few drinks...whatever works.