'Bout that time of year again

Well, we are officially in countdown mode.

I haven't written about the hockey season in a while, so I thought I would give you a itsy run down on what we are getting ourselves into this year.

For those of you who are new to the blog or old but really bad at paying attention, we are off to Finland this season for a new hockey adventure! Eeee! I can't tell you how excited I am to be seeing a new part of the world.

Those 12 hour plane rides NEVER get old! (source)

The hubs leaves in a week and a half for the true great white north. I'm talking north. Same latitude as Anchorage, Alaska. Which is great, if hockey was played in summer months. But its not. Weird, right?! Had no idea it was a winter sport! I'm talking 4 hours of sunlight in the dead of winter. Yikes.

Keep repeating: It's an adventure, it's an adventure.

:)

Haha, no, that won't even deter my enthusiasm about this year. But if I seem grouchy by January, then you might just know why!

I'd look guuuud on one of these bad boys! (source)

The hubs usually heads over first. He gets settled into our new place and (hopefully) arranges everything we need in a new country - bank account, insurance, gets to know the lay of the city, etc.

A lot of ya'll had asked questions about our living arrangements. What do you do about an apartment? Do you have to buy furniture? What about a car?

Hockey overseas is set up differently than in the states. Getting to a new team and a new town means that (usually) a furnished apartment and a car are there waiting for you. It just comes with the deal. Which is nice, because I can't even imagine trying to go through the renting process without knowing the language.

As for me, I'm heading back home to Texas for 2 weeks, to see family, friends and to tie up all loose ends, and then it is on to Finland! Actually, I tell the hubs that it is to see friends and family, but really I want one last chance to lay by the pool and shop. Shallow much?!? Haha.

Which, thinking about it, is counter intuitive. Come on, you gotta know that Texas doesn't stock much clothing that would be useful in an Arctic country.

Doesn't hurt to look, right?!

This year will be a little different when I head over. Last year, the hubs got "Hubs of the Year" by making the 7 hour, each way, trip to our old town. Picked up all of our belongings and had them in Ravensburg before I was even overseas.

It will prove a little trickier this year. Not even sure if it is possible to get from Ravensburg to Finland.

Wait, just google mapped it, yes it is possible. And it would only take an estimated 1 day and 1 hour and a measly 2 ferry rides! HA. Yeah right. 

You've got to be kidding me, google maps!

You can see on the map that we were at the southern most point possible in Germany. Just to make things fun for this year, I'm sure. And you don't really realize how far up Finland is, and that it isn't really connected to any route that is useful for a multiple country crossing. 

NBD

We made a pact with ourselves that we would NEVER be that couple that left stuff in one place never to return. This is done in hockey all the time. People just leave boxes and boxes of clothes, kitchen supplies and other miscellaneous items behind. Either they have moved on to another country, retired, or just didn't want to deal with the stuff. Which of course means that someone else has to throw it away or riffle through the shiznit.

Hey, unclaimed stuff left behind is always up for grabs. We've picked up a DVD player, kitchen supplies, throw pillows and curtains this way! haha, trash diggers.

It comes down to that we didn't want to leave that to anyone. PLUS, and a big plus here, all of our winter clothing was left at a friend's house in Germany. All of our winter supplies is left in Germany. I mean really, there isn't much use for a down jacket in Texas in May.

Or January for that matter.

So, in early August, I am flying my butt over to Finland. Getting my feet on the ground and over jet lag. Then flying down to Germany to take care of everything we need to take care of. Packing up boxes to ship, stuffing suitcases to carry with me, and probably making a few trips to the dump. Fun times in Europe, right?!

It simply comes down to the fact that we need this stuff. There is no getting around it. And the cost of buying all new clothing greatly outweighs the (actually reasonable) shipping prices and airplane ticket.

And, to boot, if there is anything that I can't find right away in Finland at the grocery store, I can always pick up supplies in Germany. Wow, never thought I would be excited to go German grocery shopping again! haha.

Oh, and you better believe that I will be visiting these buddies while I am down there :)

So there is a not-so-mini run down, for all you inquiring minds out there. Anyone want to join me in Southern Germany to help me pack?! Come on, doesn't that sound like a blast?!

BTW, I mentioned something last week about the FTLOB Giveaway I am hosting. Well you better get excited for this Sunday, July 17th, my super fun birthday, because the prize package I am giving away is, for lack of better words, awesome. I'll just hint that it will include goodies from all three countries I have blogged in this year. Ooooh yeaaaah!