First my apologies for taking a bit longer than usual to get this post going. We spent 2 weeks on a whirlwind trip to the states and a week trying to recover from it! Some good news that I bet you have already figured out from the title as well. Read on for the details.
For those we have kept in the know, we have been looking for an opportunity to return to the states for the last year. Lyle took a very quick trip to Elko, NV to interview for a job last October that was a good fit, but they pulled it at the last minute due to a company wide hiring freeze. Major disappointment and we would have owed back 1/2 of the moving costs to get us out as it was less than 2 years. But as the saying goes, for every door that closes, a window opens! Very true in this case.
A few months ago Lyle saw an opening in New Mexico at a fertilizer producer that seemed to have been written with exactly him in mind. Process experience, technical know how, supervision of hourly and technical staff, trouble shooting, capital projects, prioritizing projects, etc. You name it, he has done at some point in his career. At the same time, he linked up with a recruitment specialist online who had been contracted to find someone for this job. Match made in heaven! Garry presented Lyle's resume and information to them and the hook was set. Early morning phone calls and Skype calls for us and the interest continued to be mutual. Talk of a trip back to the states to interview in person that just happened to be about the same time frame as our already planned trip home. So, for those we did not get a chance to see, this is why. We arrived on a Friday afternoon, had the family BBQ on Saturday, and left early Sunday (without the kids) to get to New Mexico for a couple of days of interviews and looking over the area. Since we were there, Lyle also got to do the physical and drug screenings. Lots of fun! And the interest continued to be mutual.
So, returning to Boise on Tuesday night after midnight and leaving Wednesday morning to visit family in Oregon. Whirlwind there, then back to Boise, up to Grandjean for a mountain getaway (before the fires got going as it turns out) back to Boise on Thursday, massive laundry to get the campfire smell out and wash out the dirt Australian customs just LOVES to find, and out on Friday. Travel 30+ hours, land, organize for the next day back to work and school, and get caught up on the information coming out of New Mexico. Needless to say, this was not the most relaxing trip we have ever taken! I think a week solid at Disney would have had more down time. Just Sayin!
The first week back we had to organize Lyle's references so they could either be contacted in person or submit their vision of him via online surveys. Very nice system by the way. Once HR had spoken with them and received the information on the surveys, they made a very nice offer both for salary, benefits and relocation. We sorted out the questions and concerns, and Lyle sent the signed forms back in yesterday. Today he put in his 30 days notice and I notified my school as well. Now the immigration countdown can begin!
The lists of things to do are a bit overwhelming, but not unforseen! Nice to have done this before, but we know there will still be surprises. There always are! Selling the car, appliances, some of the furniture if we can, sorting the clothes to be packed vs. those that will be shipped, sorting out the kids' "stuff" so we only take back what we will really be using. The goal is to fit it all into a 20 foot container, but a 40 foot may be more realistic! The relocation company will deal with scheduling the pack and ship, but anticipating 2-3 months before we get our stuff. The real fun will be getting a house in Carlsbad. It is a sellers market, and there simply isn't much of what we are looking for up for sale! 4 Bedroom, 2 1/2 bath and 2000 sq ft really isn't that much, but they don't have much.
So, here is our hoped for schedule. Finish school here for term 3 on Sept 20. Hope the pack can be scheduled that last week of school and we will live on air mattresses, paper plates and plastic utensils. Leave the big bags here and go to New Zealand and Sydney for a week, come back and sign out the house lease, get the fridge/washer/dryer out and get on a plane to get to Boise. We have to get to NM to either start the buying house process or start building a house, then get back to Boise. Buy 2 cars, rent a u-haul and clear the stuff out of the shed at Mom and Dad's place and take the furniture. Organize school registration and school clothes shopping. Alex is torn on the school clothes shopping bit-she likes not having to think about what to wear! Temporary housing either in a hotel or a rental until the house is bought or built. Lots of don't-know-yets, but also lots of flow chart thinking going on. You know the kind-If A then go here, if B then go here. We rock at that!
The first week back here was exhausting! It didn't really hit until Wednesday, which was a public holiday. A nearly whole family nap from 2-5 pm, dinner and baths, and back to bed at 8. Thursday was much better and this week has started out much better. Don't have kids getting up at 4 am ready for the day! On the plus side, it is spring in Australia. We have seen 2 wild koalas in the last 2 weeks and the magpies are starting their annual "attack anyone in their territory swooping at your head" antics. Sunny days and brisk nights. Very nice way to end BEFORE the heat and humidity of summer hit! Did I mention that this part of NM doesn't get much snow? Hooray! We can drive to the mountains when we want to play in it. You can KEEP the snowblower Dad!
For those we have kept in the know, we have been looking for an opportunity to return to the states for the last year. Lyle took a very quick trip to Elko, NV to interview for a job last October that was a good fit, but they pulled it at the last minute due to a company wide hiring freeze. Major disappointment and we would have owed back 1/2 of the moving costs to get us out as it was less than 2 years. But as the saying goes, for every door that closes, a window opens! Very true in this case.
A few months ago Lyle saw an opening in New Mexico at a fertilizer producer that seemed to have been written with exactly him in mind. Process experience, technical know how, supervision of hourly and technical staff, trouble shooting, capital projects, prioritizing projects, etc. You name it, he has done at some point in his career. At the same time, he linked up with a recruitment specialist online who had been contracted to find someone for this job. Match made in heaven! Garry presented Lyle's resume and information to them and the hook was set. Early morning phone calls and Skype calls for us and the interest continued to be mutual. Talk of a trip back to the states to interview in person that just happened to be about the same time frame as our already planned trip home. So, for those we did not get a chance to see, this is why. We arrived on a Friday afternoon, had the family BBQ on Saturday, and left early Sunday (without the kids) to get to New Mexico for a couple of days of interviews and looking over the area. Since we were there, Lyle also got to do the physical and drug screenings. Lots of fun! And the interest continued to be mutual.
So, returning to Boise on Tuesday night after midnight and leaving Wednesday morning to visit family in Oregon. Whirlwind there, then back to Boise, up to Grandjean for a mountain getaway (before the fires got going as it turns out) back to Boise on Thursday, massive laundry to get the campfire smell out and wash out the dirt Australian customs just LOVES to find, and out on Friday. Travel 30+ hours, land, organize for the next day back to work and school, and get caught up on the information coming out of New Mexico. Needless to say, this was not the most relaxing trip we have ever taken! I think a week solid at Disney would have had more down time. Just Sayin!
The first week back we had to organize Lyle's references so they could either be contacted in person or submit their vision of him via online surveys. Very nice system by the way. Once HR had spoken with them and received the information on the surveys, they made a very nice offer both for salary, benefits and relocation. We sorted out the questions and concerns, and Lyle sent the signed forms back in yesterday. Today he put in his 30 days notice and I notified my school as well. Now the immigration countdown can begin!
The lists of things to do are a bit overwhelming, but not unforseen! Nice to have done this before, but we know there will still be surprises. There always are! Selling the car, appliances, some of the furniture if we can, sorting the clothes to be packed vs. those that will be shipped, sorting out the kids' "stuff" so we only take back what we will really be using. The goal is to fit it all into a 20 foot container, but a 40 foot may be more realistic! The relocation company will deal with scheduling the pack and ship, but anticipating 2-3 months before we get our stuff. The real fun will be getting a house in Carlsbad. It is a sellers market, and there simply isn't much of what we are looking for up for sale! 4 Bedroom, 2 1/2 bath and 2000 sq ft really isn't that much, but they don't have much.
So, here is our hoped for schedule. Finish school here for term 3 on Sept 20. Hope the pack can be scheduled that last week of school and we will live on air mattresses, paper plates and plastic utensils. Leave the big bags here and go to New Zealand and Sydney for a week, come back and sign out the house lease, get the fridge/washer/dryer out and get on a plane to get to Boise. We have to get to NM to either start the buying house process or start building a house, then get back to Boise. Buy 2 cars, rent a u-haul and clear the stuff out of the shed at Mom and Dad's place and take the furniture. Organize school registration and school clothes shopping. Alex is torn on the school clothes shopping bit-she likes not having to think about what to wear! Temporary housing either in a hotel or a rental until the house is bought or built. Lots of don't-know-yets, but also lots of flow chart thinking going on. You know the kind-If A then go here, if B then go here. We rock at that!
The first week back here was exhausting! It didn't really hit until Wednesday, which was a public holiday. A nearly whole family nap from 2-5 pm, dinner and baths, and back to bed at 8. Thursday was much better and this week has started out much better. Don't have kids getting up at 4 am ready for the day! On the plus side, it is spring in Australia. We have seen 2 wild koalas in the last 2 weeks and the magpies are starting their annual "attack anyone in their territory swooping at your head" antics. Sunny days and brisk nights. Very nice way to end BEFORE the heat and humidity of summer hit! Did I mention that this part of NM doesn't get much snow? Hooray! We can drive to the mountains when we want to play in it. You can KEEP the snowblower Dad!
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