Want to move to Thailand? How it all began...

It was a topic that had been visited many of times. Josh accepting an OUS (out of the US)assignment to expand the opportunities of his career.  After we married in 2012, the answer was always a quick "no". We were in a fantastic home, both well established in our jobs, financially comfortable, had amazing family and friends nearby... and had our big black fur baby, Jett.  Why would we turn our worlds upside down? 

Fast forward a year and our world turned itself upside down.  We were about to become parents to our amazing little boy, Liam. 

While I was pregnant, a few opportunities of OUS assignments were there, but not even considered.  We had enough going on, not the right time. 

The plan was for me to stay home with Liam, and go back to working part-time nights after my maternity leave.  We weren't going to have to do daycare because Josh could care for Liam while I worked. Maternity leave came and went. Josh and I both KNEW I wasn't ready to go back to work, and Liam wasn't ready to be apart from me for more than 12 minutes at a time, much less 12 hours. I extended my maternity leave a month. And then switched my would-have-been part-time status to "relief" status.  I worked a total of two night shifts after Liam was born. I couldn't do it. Josh couldn't do it. Liam definitely couldn't do it.

Josh was very busy at work, and working long hours.  About every three months he was traveling internationally for a week or so at a time. He went to Thailand, Korea, Beijing, South Africa, India, and Turkey. Around August 2014 a rare opportunity presented itself for us to possibly relocate to Mulan, Italy and/or the Dominican Republic.  WHAT?  That would be AWESOME.  So much better than any of the places he had been traveling to/mentioning relocation to. I felt that since I wasn't working, helping Josh achieve an OUS assignment would be a way for me to contribute.  There wasn't going to be a better time.  We got excited.  Too excited.  Long story short, the job fell through.  Josh and I were actually disappointed we wouldn't be relocating.  However, the silver lining of the disappointment was that I realized I really was ready to accept the RIGHT relocation opportunity.

A couple of months later, Josh casually mentions a job developing in Bangkok, Thailand.  I was skeptical thinking that it was just another "possibility", as he would bring up many and somewhat frequently. But it became a daily conversation.  "Want to move to Thailand?  How about Thailand?  Thailand would be a good place for our family."  With a lot of talking, research, and some convincing from Josh that it would be worth it for our family to accept a relocation assignment... I was on board.  The offer for relocation to Bangkok became real.  We accepted it.  We were relocating to Bangkok, Thailand in early 2015.  Our wonderful families and friends were supportive and excited for us.  Looking back, i'm pretty sure I was in denial it was actually happening.   We found out Josh would begin working in Bangkok February 1, 2015.

We went back and forth about what to do with our house that we had made our home in Olathe.  The house that we came home to after we were married.  The house we brought Liam home to.  The neighborhood that we had amazing friends next door in.  The house where we were SO comfortable. 

We painfully decided that the best decision for our family was to be worry-free while abroad, and to sell this beautiful home.

Our little man turned 1 November 6. Where had that year gone?  He was amazing and so very busy. 

 

Right after his first birthday party (the next day to be exact) we started "cleaning house".  You never know how much stuff you have until you have limited choices of what to do with it all.  The CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT stuff (which I felt was everything) could go to Thailand.  The other choices were sell or store.  Storage is expensive.  Our house went on the market shortly thereafter. It was a nightmare to be quite honest.  Josh was busy at work.  Thanksgiving and Christmas were upon us.  We had too much stuff.  The house had to stay immaculate for showings, and we still had to live there with a toddler and large hairy dog.  Not fun.  Not fun at all.  Probably the most stressful time looking back, although there were a lot of them. 

We were both relieved and a bit sad when we received and accepted an offer on our home shortly before Christmas.  It made our leaving the country seem real.

Christmas came and went and reality really set in on New Years Day.  My parents and sister had come to visit from Wisconsin for the holidays, and it was time to say goodbye to them without being sure when I'd see them next.  Along with them....went many of Liam's newborn/infant toys for his beautiful cousin Abigail to utilize, my car which Matt and Amy (brother and Sister-in-law bought), and our beloved fur baby Jett.  While I KNEW he is in good hands, that was HARD.  I cried for a good three days.  Bangkok is no place for big doggy's that hate hot weather.  Rough day.  Make that a rough week. 

After the first of the year, came the very fun process of home inspections, and wrapping up loose ends.  I won't go into the grueling details.  I will say that I am okay if we never EVER have to do it again.  Every single day was busy and exhausting.  I'm grateful that we had a lot of friends to have last dinners and playdates with, although it was emotionally hard, it gave us breaks from packing. 

We turned over our house on January 24.  Blah.  That's all.

We moved to the Springhill Suites in Overland Park for the next 4 nights with all of our luggage.  There was hardly room for us in the room. We said many more difficult "see-ya-laters" to our friends during this time.  And just like that....it was time for the next chapter of our lives!!!!

(Our last night in the hotel)