The majority of our belongings are being shipped to us in the UK by air or sea. AJ's company permits each individual moving to take three checked bags. The airlines then allow a carry-on and a personal item. So, if you do the math, we had a total of ten bags with us!
All ten "bags" on two luggage carts!
Previous expats gave us some great advice about using Rubbermaid totes for the bulk of our items. This was a much cheaper and easier packing option than buying four more full-size suitcases that we would probably only use to move.
As we were packing, we both commented that there was not anything that we had to have with us, except the obvious clothing! The bulk of what we took as checked luggage was dictated by what we were not allowed to ship in our air or sea container. We had two suitcases of clothing and basic toiletries to get us through the a few weeks of hotel living. There were a good number of books for me to read, once AJ went to work. We also threw in some television series DVD sets, since we have not yet fully grasped British humor! The rest of the space was occupied by dry goods, and a few home comfort items, like my favorite fluffy blanket! There really is not much, except ice tea and iced coffee, that we cannot get in the UK. With that said, we were just cheap and did not want to throw away our entire pantry! Instead, we packed it up and flew it across the Atlantic ocean!!
With all our "bags" packed and weighing exactly 50 pounds (the airline limit), we headed to the airport the morning of our flight to check it all in! Honestly, it was like the circus had appeared at the airport. Everyone was curious and interested in what we were doing and where we were going with all those "bags". The entire check-in process took about an hour, and the agent gave fantastic customer service!
Once that was completed, we left the airport with our boarding passes in hand to get lunch and finish up some final things. Then, the time came...it was the time I had been dreading, since we started this process. We drove to the airport...this was it! The entire drive was a mix of excitement for what lie ahead, fear of the unknown, and sadness to say goodbye to family.
My parents came to the airport to see us off. There were a lot of tears. While excitement lie ahead, it was extremely difficult for me to say goodbye to my parents not knowing for sure the next time I would see them in person. After that final hug, AJ and I headed up to security to start the next chapter!
Just as I had pulled it together, the plane took off! It hit me like a sack of bricks...this is goodbye to central Illinois...where I am from...what is comfortable...what is familiar...where I feel at home!
Last view of central Illinois!
The rest of the flights went smoothly. All ten of our
"bags" arrived in the UK without a problem. After playing a
short-game of Tetris to get all the "bags" in the car, we headed to
the hotel to get some rest!
First UK photo...just slightly tired!
~W
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