My life in a Suitcase, well 2 really and a carry on....

So I've started packing! Argh! Its that close!!! I have reconfirmed my flight as advised to by Ryaniair! Good thing I did, I had the time wrong!!!

Its sooo weird trying to pack for 6 months, really it is. I've never done this, I've lived away from home and here I am about to leave the country for 6 months. What have I got myself in for?

Well so far with the packing its going well. I have one which I will live out of for the first two days as I'm staying in a hostel, thats the small one in front. The second is all the big stuff. Then my carry on is going to have all my reading material which I will post about later!

Its strange to try and pack your life away. I have a friend who told me he cry's everytime he packs. Now for someone who was raised camping, thats strange cause that would involve me crying every weekend for the summer!!!

Procrastination...
thats what this is. I dont want to pack. I hate packing always have cause i never know what to pack. My lunch was really long today and I think I offered my dad coffee and cake just to delay me having to go back to packing!

I am leaving
I am not regretting taking this opportunity, but I just hate packing, now where do I find a good man servant at short notice :P

Okay I better get back to it before someone notices I'm blogging again....

I'm so sad!!!

Argh! This week on two separate nights out I've cried!!!! What am I like!!! Everyone will be here when I get back. Most people think I'm lucky to be off moving to Germany, and I am genuinely excited but I will miss my friends and family here a lot!

I am I supposed to be sad? I am supposed to be excited? Or is it both?

Though I will not miss Cork as a city, it is still 'home' and I will look forward to coming home. It is a strange feeling, I wonder hoe the economic emigrants felt something similar or was it more urgency and need for them?

I'm reminded of a Poem I did for my Leaving Cert back in 2004 it's 'Mac Eile Ag Imeacht' by Fionnuala Ní Fhlannagáin

Cuirfimidne chun bóthair arís inniu
Chuig aerfort Bhaile Átha Cliath.
Deireadh an tsamhraidh buailte linn
Mac eile ag imeacht.
Eisean féin a thiománfaidh an carr
Tús curtha ar a thuras fada.
Ag mionchomhrá treallach, míloighciúil
Meilfimid an aimsir.

Staidéar ar ríomhtheangacha
A bheidh idir lámha aige.
Béarfaidh sé ar an bhfaill
Faoi spalladh gréine i Houston, Texas.
Tar éis slán a chur leis
Agus greim láimhe againn ar a chéile
Pléifimid na buntáistí a bheadh aige thall
Nach mbeadh ar fáil sa bhaile.

Gealgháireach, fuadrach a bheidh
Na stráinséirí inár dtimpeall.
Ní bhacfaimid le cupán caife
Siúlfaimid go dtí an carr go mall.
Deireadh an tsamhraidh buailte linn
Mac eile ag imeacht.

I suppose it events like this that do inspire poems, but that is one that has sprung to mind.

Staying in Ireland is an option but this is an opportunity I cannot pass up. i suppose Robert Frost's Poem 'The Road not Taken' sums up my attitude to me leaving. I am taking the road less travelled.

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Even after writing this post, I feel very emotional....

We have an answer!!!

Thanks to Joe, I know what I have to do to solve my conundrum!

He kindly left a comment with really handy links!!!

As I'm staying for more then 3 months it is compulsory for me to register my address

There are offices all over Koln (it is a large city!)

The form dosent seam that long or complicated but I dont understand it! Must look for stuff on it in English!

That All Important Card - EHIC

Well as Im going to Germany for 6 months (thats an important fact) I have reapplied for my EEuropean Health Insurance Card which will entitle me to free medical care for the 6 months I am in Germany as I am ordinarily resident in Ireland!

Now I have dealt with these crads in work and they entitle you to free doctors appointments, hospital visits and prescriptions so they are hand if you are visiting any of these countries for 6 months or less.

Other member states of the EU or EEA:

* Austria
* Belgium
* Bulgaria
* Cyprus
* Czech Republic
* Denmark
* Estonia
* Finland
* France
* Germany
* Greece
* Hungary
* Iceland
* Italy
* Latvia
* Lithuania
* Liechtenstien
* Luxembourg
* Malta
* The Netherlands
* Norway
* Portugal
* Poland
* Romania
* Slovakia
* Slovenia
* Spain (including the Canary and Balearic Islands)
* Sweden
* United Kingdom

Other states

* Switzerland

Obviously it wont work in Ireland!

You can now apply and renew your crad online at EHIC.ie which is a great service (pity about the website!)

So this is the information i go about Germany from the website

Germany

Information

Any insurance company, including Allgemeine Ortskrankenkasse (AOK) and the Ersatzkasse (substitute health insurance fund). These companies are generally open from Monday to Friday.

Doctors, dentists and prescriptions

You should present your E111, European Health Insurance Card or Temporary Replacement Certificate to the insurance company to receive the appropriate form. Ask for a list of the doctors contracted to the insurance company and then take your form to one of the doctors on the list. You will receive free treatment from these doctors. If this is not possible, go directly to one of the contracted-in doctors and present your E111, European Health Insurance Card or Temporary Replacement Certificate. You may be required to pay a fee but this can be refunded on production of the required form as issued by the insurance company.
Medicines prescribed by the doctor can be obtained from any pharmacy in exchange for the prescription. You will be liable for a prescription charge depending on the size of the packaging. These costs are non-refundable. For minor drugs and medicines, such as painkillers and cough mixtures, you will be charged the full amount.

Hospital treatment

Hospital treatment is usually provided following consultation with a doctor. If you are admitted to hospital as an emergency and do not have time to approach a doctor or the local insurance company in advance, present your E111, European Health Insurance Card or Temporary Replacement Certificate to the hospital administration and ask them to obtain the required form for you.

So if your going abraod get this card!

(for info on other countries see this page)