Milestones

Milestones have been met in this expat life of ours. Seems we often stumbled upon these milestones, jumping over the hurdles in our way only after we bumped into them first. But that is part of the excitement of life - wherever you are - and sometimes those hurdles are just as important as the milestones themselves, despite the scrapes and bumps.

In February, after waiting nearly 13 months, we were granted our residence permits. Nevermind that they've already expired! Dan graduated with his MBA just a few weeks ago, and around the same time, he obtained his work permit (which we just discovered, doesn't allow him to actually work yet). We are beginning to learn about development work (which is why we are here in the first place) from a Dutch organization that will hopefully help us to establish a viable business in Moldova. Without a car, the office was much too far from Rotterdam, so now we are in the process of moving closer to the office. In the process...because waiting lists for "social" housing are 5 YEARS (as in 16 year olds get on the waiting list in their towns so they can live somewhere when they are 21). In the process...because we are temporarily living in a house much closer to the office so we can be better situated to be at the office and to look for private housing. In the process...because not even the Dutch who are helping us really know how to conquer this hurdle, and by now, all the bumping into it REALLY hurts! But I digress...

So now we wait for the next milestones, like finding a home, really being able to work here, becoming taxpayers, and conquering the healthcare system. And only two of those am I looking forward to!