That's why I like Switzerland so much, it reminds me of New England!

Tom

I could kill to move to SF! I am so jealous of you right now!!! We still don't know when we go and where we go....

Lucky you!

That site is amazing! There are just so many groups! I've found two or three that sound great. Thank you so much

It is a relief to know that we are moving and that we'll be there for a couple of years at least . Sorry to hear you still dont know where you're going. The waiting drives me insane . I hope you find out soon!

Nic80, if you end up in SF It really will be wonderful. I have spent time in California and I have to say I think it was one of the friendliest nicest places to be in - it could be a culture shock for you - not the enviroment, but the people.
Sf is beautiful and people are sooooooo friendly and open and of course the language is not a problem!!

Especially that it can happen before the birth or just right after.... One or the other one, it will be a very rough time!

Oh crap. I hope you have demanded the most amazing relocations agent and a personal assistant! I had nightmares about being pregnant and having to move internationally, I'm very grateful that it is not an issue this time. Where might you be moving?

When it will be time to deal, I am going to deal it strong on that, thanks for the tip!

Probably Europe, but no idea at all where. We just know that it will happen between now and June. I really would love to move to SF, you are very lucky. Hubby worked there before and he keeps saying he wants to go back. It is a very very nice place to be with family.

Thanks. I've only been to America once and have had my head filled with images of gun toting, bible bashing scary people by the press and print media. Then I met an elitist snot sorry "gentleman" who was very clear that on the social ladder in America I was lower than low as I am just a wife and don't have a university education (I did degrees and trade certificates). He told me that the only thing I had going for me was that Americans love Australian accents and I am planning on studying. I wasn't able to give him a piece of my mind as he is married to my husbands boss . So yeah, I'm nervous...
We enjoyed our stay in San Francisco but everyone we met was very clear that SF is a bubble in America and that the rest of the country is not nearly as accepting. SF felt a lot like Sydney but louder! We're not used to loud after a year in Switzerland.

You should be really clear with your husbands HR department about what you need for the move (we made that mistake last time and I wont be making it again). And they should take into consideration your condition! Oh and get your husband to stock up on bubble bath/ bath salts its a great way to de-stress during all the bedlam of a move. Shut the door, lock it and relax! Normally I'd suggest a glass of red wine too, but maybe you could substitute your favourite non-alcoholic beverage

What a jerk. And that's all I'll say about him...

You might enjoy this thread - from someone who went to the heart of "gun toting bible bashing" territory and survived!

People right across the country are generally lovely - even the ones who spout bigoted nonsense are usually decent enough in one-to-one interactions. "Foreigners this, gays that - oh, dear no, not you, you're all right!"*

The problem is just that it's a big country and plenty of people in SF don't really know firsthand what it's like elsewhere - only what they get on the news - which is pretty much the same picture you've been getting yourself. (And the same holds true in reverse: SF is commonly acknowledged - by people who've never been there - to be a hotbed of vice and a seething den of iniquity, second only to Las Vegas.)

SF is a bit special but not half so special as it thinks itself.


*You've probably heard the same thing in Switzerland - Swiss people complaining about "all these foreigners" - but of course none of it applies to any of the foreigners they know personally, oh no! Human nature, that is.

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Thank you, thank you, thank you! Thank you for such a rational and honest reply. You've managed to make me laugh and dissipate much of my fear .