Dom,

I read your post with interest. I'm an American and I will be moving this summer with my husband and two boys (ages 11 & 14) to Poland. We have been wondering some of these very questions you asked and trying to decide what are the best decisions we can make.

As for the furniture and electronics... We are lucky that my husband's company will be paying to ship over some of our things. I found several website where we can buy converters for everything. It is expensive but if it works for us, I can't see spending more money buying new things. That said, I'm still unsure if this is the best way to do it but it would be cheaper for us in the long run. As for all the furniture, I'm leery of shipping everything over. A lot of what I have is my grandmother's old pieces which is very special to me and I'm afraid of damaging or losing it somewhere along the way so a lot will get stored. In the end, I think we will be shipping a bit of stuff but will end up buying furniture in Warsaw also. It will be something like a 50-50 split for us.

As for a doctor... We will have to find a doctor in Warsaw that speaks English for those unforeseen needs, etc. I won't be able to just fly home specifically for an appointment; but I will go ahead and schedule annual doctor and dentist needs for the summers when we will be back in the states anyway visiting family. However, I also assume that at some point our Polish will be rather good and maybe the language thing won't be such an issue.

Part of the difficulties of moving overseas is trying to figure out how to still have some of the things that we are used to and enjoy while at the same time trying to assimilate into another culture. I don't want to stick out for being "American" and stubbornly hold to my American way of life. Hopefully, we'll find a way to enjoy all the things Poland has to offer while at the same time holding on to a few little things that remind us of home.

Erin