Last summer, well, Spring of 2013, we went home to Kansas and there spent time with my parents. Somehow we got into conversation into overseas moving. Eric and I want to move overseas. My dad was strongly encouraging us to ask for Germany and to basically carpe diem. As far as we know, a lot of bases are closing down in Germany. It seemed like a hopeless situation to be able to move to Germany, but we would try.
Then October 2013 finally came. We requested Germany and immediately was told there wasn't anything for us. After much thinking, we felt impressed to try to get out of the Army. We had a whole year to get ready.
Then....we tried to get ready to get out. I wasn't ready for it. Neither was Eric. There was so much to do! The worst part is Eric tried to get education the last 4 years, but training and deployment took a lot of time. And the Army isn't that supportive about him getting an education as they like to say haha. We are realizing more and more that a lot of places require a college degree. So we got to thinking about staying in the Army and focusing on getting education...somehow.
Then April rolled around. We visited a friend and talked to them. We found out they were stationed at Germany. After hearing their stories, my heart yearned for Germany.
I grew up hearing my mom and dad talk fondly of Germany. To them, it was the greatest adventure (probably after parenting, though). They LOVED living in Germany. It was truly their best 4 years. My family has a very strong German tie. After all, my mom's original maiden name is Koerber. So I have always wanted to go to Germany.
Then in 2009, I had to stay behind since I had school and absolutely no money when I watched my sister go to Germany and she took my parents with them. Then they came back with even more German stories. Just seeing them recall Germany with fondness is enough to make my heart explode.Not in a jealous way, just a deep yearning.
So when we left the friend's house, I told Eric, "Let's ask one more time." He agreed and said he wanted Germany badly too. Then there was silence as we looked ahead sadly, thinking we will never get Germany. But we had to try....just in case. So that's what we did.
After a while, he told me he put in request for Germany. I nodded and said, "Okay." I didn't think we would get it, but I was still hopeful. That was in late April.
After two long weeks, Eric came home, gave Hyrum a hug and then looked at me. He said, "Well....we got slots for Germany!" I was about to say, "Really??? But...." because he didn't say "We GOT Germany." He said that my EFMP has to go through first. I got really worried. I know a lot of people with deafness didn't get to go to Germany.
A week later, I got the answer from Eric.
We didn't get Germany.
I was so heartbroken. I really was. I'll admit I cried a little. I was hating myself, my deafness, and was just so heartbroken. Then Eric came home and said it wasn't all hopeless like he thought. He had explained that the EFMP looked at my expiration date and said it needed to be updated. Mine expires in April 2015. So we can give up and try for Fort Benning, Georgia or we can go ahead and try to update my EFMP.
Here's the problem: the slots are only available until someone snatches it. So we had to hurry. And here's another problem. Fort Carson Evans Hospital is the WORST Army hospital I have ever been to. I HATE it there!!!! It's a disaster.
We tried booking same day appointment. We tried talking to many different people. I booked an appointment three weeks later just in case. During this 3 weeks, we fought to get an appointment sooner. By the time my appointment was coming up, we had no choice but wait a few days. I am working on it, but I'm still so mad they are incompetent, so uneducated, and don't know how to do their job! We received 10 different information and we demanded to be seen sooner. We tried calling through the phone and we tried booking appointment online. I have to say getting up at 6 am, waiting for a LONG time for someone to answer, only to be told to call another line at 9, and then calling that line, only to be told they can't do anything was the worst. Ahh that was the most frustrating month! It just made me hate Evans even more. I miss my Fort Riley where they were amazing.
So I saw my PCM. He worked with me and then he said he'll have it ready on Tuesday. It was Memorial Day weekend. On Tuesday, he had it ready and then Eric submitted it to EFMP. He told them he was in a hurry and this time, someone FINALLY listened. This person put a note that we are trying to get Germany.
A week later, we were told my EFMP was updated. So we waited.
After we submitted my EFMP on May 26, a week later we submitted the request again (since the other one was no longer available), it wasn't until June 18 we got the news....by then Eric and I were ready to give up and just ask for Georgia haha. We waited for THREE weeks to hear the news! And we started it in April. It had been almost 2 months of nightmare.
Eric surprised me and came home about an hour before lunchtime started. Hyrum ran to him so he went ahead and picked him up. While holding Hyrum, he handed me a small piece of paper.
I looked at him confused and looked at it.
Nothing was making sense.
Until I read "Camp Vilseck."
I knew it was a place in Germany. I looked at him and said, "We got Germany?????"
He smiled and said yes.
I screamed, then said, "Are you sure? Absolutely sure? Nothing else we have to do????" He kept saying yes, yes, yes I'm sure, etc.
I don't think anyone was more surprised than I was. Partly because I'm deaf and I thought they wouldn't allow it. And how many people get to move to Germany????
I'm so thrilled. So thankful. So excited!!!!!!!
Two weeks later and I'm still in shock. We will get to move to Germany for SIX years! YES!
We report to Vilseck, Germany in early 2015. We are so thrilled and grateful for this opportunities, and for prayers.
