Preparation 1

Ah started preparing for relocation. Do not have a checklist of what needs to be done, because I feel when it is time, everything will be sorted out and relocation will be smooth (haha hopefully this is not merely wishful thinking). Maybe I'll have a checklist in a little.

Visa- my firm has a relocation agent to help out with visa. It seems easy- I send relocation agent all the required documents (copies of), and relocation agent will forward these copies of important documents to expat center (Amsterdam has this expat center for knowledge workers from US (?) so that visa for this group will be suuuuper fast, hopefully). Expat center will book an appointment for me (the date will be after I am actually in Amsterdam) to go in in person and show them the originals of these docs. My understanding is that at the end of this process, they will give me a stamp in my passport (?) saying that I can live and work in NL. Not sure though. After this, I think I'll be able get my residency card (?). Lots of question marks, but that's pretty much the status of life at this point of time LOL.

Shopping- TC kindly brought up that I'll need rain gears, so... I try to shop things in this category, but always get side tracked by other wonderful things- I've bought all random things- napkins, smiley face washcloth holder, fancy candle holders (expecting romantic nights in NL (?)), kitchen knives, a soup spoon, a plant cup (plan to pant a tulip in a big cup...dont know how that would work)....you got the idea- all random things. Rain gears? Yea, still need to buy. TC also said I should bring some good smell detergent with me~ in terms of clothes, just doing my regular shopping- don't think i need more suits, thanks to the lehman brothers engagement haha

Car- contacted NL office for an automatic transmission car. Please NL office!!! Work your magic~

That's pretty much how much I've gone through... trying to figure out bank situation- do I need to bring loads of cash with me when i go (if you are a thief, please ignore this paragraph and don't follow me arround in NL)?? I think only after I start working, I'll have a direct deposit account with a required bank (?), but before that I plan to find my own appartment which requires 3 months rent (security deposit etc)...