One day we will get good news, just not today!

A few days ago, Saturday the 11th, I moved the kids and I up to my brother's house. My parents are also living here as my dad works for the U.S. State Department and they are currently in our same situation. He was asked to work full time in Panama so they sold their house. They still haven't head back about when they need to move down there. So, my brother and sister in law have so graciously taken us all in until the government gets on the ball. It's been really nice being here. My daughter is constantly entertained by the farm (15 acres and tons of animals) and her cousins. My son seems to be a lot less stressed too. I have been given my own room and Max has his own room as well. Harper sleeps with her cousins. So, at least I've been allowed more sleep now. That's positive.

On another note, I checked my husband's email again yesterday to see if there are any updates on our status. It seems to be never ending bad news. There was an email from the lady at BOLC who has supposedly been helping them. I say supposedly because she is the one who has been hindering this whole process for all 6 dentists who are going to Korea. She wrote back and said Korea isn't giving in to processing sponsorship because it was "4 days late." Well, come to find out, the paperwork was late because she sent it in late due to the 4th of July holiday. If she would've sent it in before she went on break for the holiday, it probably would've been fine. BUT, she told Matt, from what I remember, something along the lines of "They are on holiday break right now so I'll send it in on Monday."

She also has told them all not to do anything about shipping their household goods or anything yet. Also a mistake. When we tried to make that appointment, they have to know 30 days in advance. That means, even if we got all the applications in today for that appointment, the earliest our goods could be shipped would be August 15th. That's 2 1/2 weeks after Matt has to be in Korea. It also takes up to 3 months or so to receive it all. I was so frustrated yesterday with it all that I told Matt it seems almost easier for him to go unaccompanied and have it last a year and then get all the paperwork done in time for us to go with him to his next post. Of course, that's not the best solution as we all need to be together. The kids miss their dad, I miss their dad and he misses all of us.

Also, after reading emails from his sponsor, it seems we may be stuck living off post. That is the last thing I wanted. I was/am looking forward to having places for my kids to play, and for friends to live near who are in the same situation as us. I didn't want to live off post. His emails said that moving time is July/beginning of August so the on post housing availability fills up quickly. Since Matt won't even have command sponsorship by then, I'm having doubts we will live on post. His sponsor lives off post and preferred that. I wouldn't mind getting into the culture, but the options for living there are mostly high rise apartments. I've been ready to be finished with apartments for a long time now, especially because my high energy kids need yards and places to play. I need a yard and a place to send my kids to play. Everything we need for our lifestyle is on post and it's going to suck not living there. Don't get me wrong, I want to learn and immerse ourselves in the Korean culture, but I also want to have access to the gym, child care, pre school, parks, commissary, exchange and all those other perks. We will of course have access, but will have to travel for it now. This is just me assuming we won't have availability to live on post though. It would be amazing if we do. We will put ourselves on a waiting list for when something becomes available regardless of where we first live.

SO, for any future HPSP students who are PCSing overseas here is what you can learn from this:

• Get command sponsorship done asap. That means, as soon as possible, get your family medical stuff done so that as soon as you are down at BOLC you can send the paperwork in immediately. I'm sure you'd be able to find a military approved facility to get that all done before going to BOLC.
• Know that the process takes time, and time is not on your side. If there is anyone telling you to wait to do something, don't listen to them. 
• As soon as you can, get the appointments necessary to ship HHG and unaccompanied baggage. They have to have notice 30 days in advance before they will set an appointment. It's DOD policy I guess. 
• If possible, get no fee passports, medical and shipping stuff all done at the same time, on a post somewhere. Doing it over the phone is a pain in the butt!!
• Research all the possibilities that can happen with housing. 
• Expect things not to go right all the time. 

Since finding more out yesterday, Matt took some time to go talk to the Col's and others over him in the field at BOLC. They were the ones who realized that the lady who's telling them what to do is at fault for all of this. They are doing what they can to fix the situation. They are also giving him Monday off so he can go to the moving office and set everything up to get all of our stuff shipped in his name as if he's going solo. That is the one benefit of selling the majority of our furniture and stuff before moving. All if it should fit within the weight limit of him going unaccompanied. Also, someone quite a bit higher up will be meeting with the dental students on Saturday. He commissioned Matt to the office of Captain and said if we ever need anything to contact him. Matt plans on talking to him about all of this in hopes he can do something about it. If someone in his position can't do it, then nobody can. He's in the highest position a dentist can be in in the army dental corp. We will see what happens.