Laowai

Well it’s really happened. Our move has really started. I can hardly believe it. A big truck pulled up at 8:00 this morning. Three guys did all the packing – a dad and a son and a nephew. They were so friendly and they worked so fast. 

Bea sat and watched Charlie and Lola for most of the morning while I showed the movers around and answered questions about what to pack and what not to pack.

Post-its labeled everything: things to pack (green) and things to leave for storage (pink):

Here’s the bedroom almost all boxed up:

Bea inspecting the wrapped up couch:

A rug, Bea’s mattress, a chair and our book shelf all ready to load into the truck:

This little guy and some accessories were found under the couch:

After the boxes were cleared out the sun came in the windows and Bea ran around. She was very interested in the empty closets. Also, if you’re wondering, yes we have pants for her – they weren’t packed up and sent to Zurich. For some reason she has a pants aversion lately. The first thing she does when we come home from an errand is ask me to help her take her pants off – annoying.

The walls and closets are empty except for some nails:

We kept our alarm clock – it looks lonely: 

By 2:00 the truck was pulling away. That shipping container is the very same one that will arrive at our apartment in Zurich. It’s amazing really. I’m going to be thinking of my precious things riding the waves on some big big boat in the middle of the ocean. 

The day was a relief really. I had been looking forward to it for so long. And I felt so scattered and exhausted leading up to it. I am so thankful that the people who arranged the move and did the packing were the most friendly group of guys. Now I’m going to take a breather before I think about all the studying I have to do for my German lessons (more on that later). 

I think Bea and I will take these last few days here to see some of the big sights in Chicago. Maybe we’ll spend a day at the Art Institute or the aquarium. That sounds nice. And we have a little visit from Grandpa and Grandma C to look forward to.

We ended our day with some comforting take-out food: