Mo’s blog:

We cannot wait to begin our adventures overseas!  As I once read, “Paris is always a good idea.”  I’m excited, Chris is excited, the kids are excited…we’re all excited; but, many of our friends have asked what we had to do to make this happen.  So this is a very practical post!  Disclaimer ….Only read this list if you are interested in the planning or preparation goes into such a move. Some of our colleagues have asked what we needed to do before leaving and here is a list of some of the things we’ve had to do over the past few months. It is not everything, nor is it in order, but I will leave you to imagine both of us teaching full time, writing report cards, emptying our classrooms, and driving kids to sports 4 times a week while trying to do the following (Crazy Days!). Needless to say, it was a juggling act and our extended families haven’t seen much of us lately as a result. This is not meant to dissuade anyone from taking a job overseas, because we know it will be worth the experience of living abroad.  C’est la vie!

*More skype interviews after original one in Boston in January…eventual signing of contract and reading of employee handbook and French law etc.

*Ongoing contact with the new school, which included getting on their email system and giving input on next year’s goals and agenda items; skyping with principals of the school periodically about our role

*Paperwork needed by the school to start visa process, including ‘original’ birth registration for all 4 of us and our parents birth certificates, marriage certificate, ALL transcripts from universities (ie., applications for these needed to be done and paid for of course), OCT certificates, all degrees and previous passports – all scanned and sent over

*New updated passports needed for all 4 of us had to be done (Whitby, ON)

*Children had to apply for acceptance to the school: including 3 past years of every report card, a written application and essay, French placement exam and a media profile introducing them through videos and pictures of what they enjoy doing

*Orthodontist appointments became every other week as both had braces and were due to have them off in July, but this had to be moved up and appointments for retainer molds and more tightenings etc.

*Dentist appointments for all 4 of us and medicals to have paperwork signed saying we are ‘healthy’ enough to go basically…

*Children had to have Polio shots as French law states every 5 years (we were told by the new school) and update DTP vaccines

*Eye exams for all 4 of us and a prescription for Chris needing glasses to fill before leaving

*All 4 of us had to go to the French consulate in Toronto with our employment contract, original and photo – copies of all paperwork needed for VISA originally sent for contract (listed above) and our resumes and copies of everything in French. (France translated them and sent copies back to us earlier)

*I had physio appointments weekly the past 3 months due to a bad shoulder injury that happened at work (hence, WSIB paperwork and phone calls etc.)

*Phoning Revenue Canada to investigate income tax options for the income we make in France and how to avoid being taxed on that income in Canada. Basically researching ‘non-residency’ and all the paperwork and filing we will have to do to claim ourselves non-residents of Canada.

*Renting the house!! Advertising, finding renters and writing a lease for the house ourselves. Yeah! We found renters easily and they’re great!

*Contact Insurance company to change home insurance to a ‘rental dwelling’ as of lease date, and remove insurance on our cars

*Taking a day to show renters how to use pool pump, riding lawnmower, snow blower, furnace/water/well system….etc.

*Phoning BELL to change satellite and internet and home phone billing to renters names. Also phoning HYDRO, Enbridge gas and Netflix to change into renters’ names.

*Researching the area we want to live in France…narrowing it down to the neighborhood of our choice by talking to teachers at the new school and doing virtual tours online of the villages near the school.

*Completing lengthy questionnaire for the ‘relocation agents’ that will help us find an apartment in our first week there.  Also, choosing a hotel for our school to put us up in for 10 days once we arrive.

*Clearing out our house for moving and renting…selling or donating or tossing items not needed and packing some items for shipping to Paris on a crate from Montreal.

*Getting quotes from different shipping companies and then fill out paperwork for one and do inventory sheets on items being shipped, meet shippers on that moving day.

*Preparing for renters: re-caulk around tub, fix a broken shower door (try to find parts), buy a new light fixture, call pool companies to discuss opening and closing for the renters (as per lease agreement)

*Arranging 3 places for our dog to live; a main home with my parents, but then weekends they are away friends will take him and for long periods, another friend will take him – type that info up for my parents * buy food, toys, and tick medicine ahead for the dog.

*Typing up all of the details on how to manage certain things in our house (softener, UV light, pool care) for the renters – contacts for different things (heating and cooling etc.)

*Buying luggage and clothing items needed (we researched kids school trips and those packing lists which are already online)

*Seeing friends and family before moving! (Drink all half bottles of alcohol!)

*Buying a laptop for our 16 year old son because it is required for his program at the school (1:1 MacBook)

*Selling our truck (advertising, cleaning it etc.)… (We still have to sell it!)

This is all I will say for now as this gives some idea of the things involved in this kind of move. I could add more details and explain the time involved, but instead I will thank my colleagues who understood the process and respected the juggling act over the past couple of months. They supported me through the beginning of this journey and are loving, kind and generous friends. I will miss them dearly!

MW