So, last week I started fleshing out all the logistical plans on package, moving, and gettting the family from Angola to Indonesia.  I picked out flights and itineraries going both east to west, and west to east, so that I would be "ready to go" once I got the clarification from our Expat Center which direction we needed to travel.  Bet you can guess what happened .... here's the story ...

Given that schooling for Chely/Thasya is "important" it was the first thing I started working when I heard about the move.  Our first choice was Jakarta International School (JIS).  In May, we filled out and submitted the paperwork (hundreds of pages when you include transcripts). After being told in May there were no vacancies, we found an alternative school (Australian International School, AIS) ... and we started the enrollment process there too ... filled out and submitted more paperwork in May ... so ... we were progressing both AIS and JIS at the same time ... just in case, for contingency planning.  BTW, had to pay $150 application for each of the girls at both schools ... 4x$150 = $600 ... easy come / easy go. 

And ... we started making plans for a late August departure.

Now, late Friday, I learned that JIS has openings, subject to the girls passing entrance exams (not a guarantee but things should work out).  Here's the catch ... school starts 9-Aug ... my ETA there is 1-Sep .... looks like we have a gap.  Of course, if the girls don't get into JIS ... then they go to AIS .... nothing like uncertainty ... and BTW AIS is on a Jan-Dec school year so they would likely be in their current grades another 4 months ....

So, on Friday out went a flurry of emails.  I need to see if I can get approval to send the family out a month early.  If I get approval then we have just compressed our preparation time from 10 weeks to 6 weeks.  Yikes !!!! so much to do.

If I can't get the early departure approval, I'm not sure what I will do as I cannot leave Angola before 19-August.

Worse part is, if Decy and the girls leave early, then I will be here alone for 4 weeks (which I can handle), but then I will have to work with packers (who don't speak english) by myself.  Packing is scheduled for 21-22 August; as I was hoping to enjoy the weekend of 19-20 Aug with my friends, then begin the final push to move.

Ciao ciao