Normally we try to personalize our websites, but the initial WordPress blog title is actually perfect! Hello! We are happy that you decided to check out this brief website which shares some of our overseas story.

We did have a different site which you might recall – blackforestjourney.de. Sadly, the webhosting deal with which we were hosting that ended, so we decided to start with this new site.

That is, in a nutshell, a good synopsis of our overseas life – adapting and changing to new situations and dynamics. If it wasn’t teammates coming, or going, it was visa regulations changing. If it wasn’ our favourite local restaurant closing down suddenly, then it was the shocking appearance of a Burger King!

I recall this one time while we were in XJ. We had been trying to register a business there, and had scouted out office locations, good neighbourhoods, friendly and helpful officials. We were making progress. Suddenly… word went out that new businesses would not be getting registered due to the upcoming Beijing Olympics. What!? We were so close. And then the door shut. What were we to do?

Well, we went back to a university at which I had studied language years earlier. Our hope was that we could register as students again. We got to the office, and that official was very happy to see me. I think the last time we had met I had been single – now I had a wife and 2 kids! After getting caught up about our lives, I asked… “Is it possible for me to study here again, with a family?” This officials face lit! YES! What a relief. Even as were sitting there happy and relieved, we were thinking about where to live; actually, more like how were we going to find a place to live?? Unexpectedly the official asks me – do you need a place to live? We said yes. They said, “Come with me!”, and all 5 of us left to office.

Along the way they told us that just yesterday a local teacher had come by asking this official is there were any foreigners who wanted to rent on-campus. Terrific timing. We went over, met the landlord, saw the place, and decided it could work. (We ended up there for 3 years, the longest we’ve ever been in one place). It was decided we could move in tomorrow. Perfect – our currrent rental contract was ending soon. So, just like that, we went from a closed door to one of the most blessed family times overseas we’ve ever had!