AND Skyline! I think that's what DH misses most about Ohio.

And I just need to say, not all people who are Republicans hate women. Honestly.

I know, that's why I specified elected Republicans. I'm assuming that the folks who voted for them don't necessarily agree with everything they do once they are in office.

msbelle, I am impressed with your ability to pull out the useful note in a rather hamfisted criticism.

Matilda just lost her first baby tooth.

The who with the what now??

Congrats to your friends, Liese!

Matilda is too young to lose teeth! What did the tooth fairy bring her?

Help me hivemind! mr. flea has been asked to provide an estimate of relocation costs for a company in Germany that is thinking about hiring him. They have never made an international hire before, apparently. What do we need to remember to ask for/about? I have: plane tickets, shipping container for stuff, allowance for temporary housing and help finding same, coverage of immigration and visa fees, assistance of and payment for an immigration lawyer if that is necessary, help finding permanent housing and understanding how it works there, help understanding benefits and our eligibility for them (health insurance and other governmental benefits), help understanding the schooling system and getting our children into public schools (there are some good bilingual public schools, but getting into them, especially on short notice, is another matter), help with language instruction.

What have I forgotten?

Packing/unpacking?

What did the tooth fairy bring her?

Shiny money.

You own your house, right? I remember some sort of contingency for if you can't sell being a big deal for Cash and maybe some others around here when they had a job move.

Oh god, yes.

You most certainly need help navigating the various systems. I would also add, some help simply in dealing with the culture shock. Something like 60% of overseas moves for work fail in the first eighteen months, and the culture shock is a large part of that.

Another issue: will they make any allowance (as in financial) for maintaining ties to America? Such as occasional trips back home (not to mention family emergencies etc). It may simply be covered by mr flea's normal salary, but it's likely to be an additional expense you don't have to deal with currently.

Another likely additional expense is taxation; rates are higher in Germany. (You may get more for it too, but it still may not be what you're used to.) Also on the subject of taxation, as I understand it, the US will still require you to file a tax return, and of course you'll need to file in Germany too, which means you'll need a tax agent (possibly two).

The US and German do have a reciprocal tax agreement. I am not sure what that actually means, in practice. (IIRC Aus and the US don't, or didn't - my Aus friend in graduate school always had terrible double-jeopardy-type tax woes as a result.)