Saturday, June 24 - 1 week before

A LOT has happened since the last post...
The House was on the market for five hours before one couple made their offer: our asking price, paid in cash; they requested closing early, but we can live in the house until we leave for Prague..."Umm, okay." Almost too good to be true, but we indeed closed 3 days ago.

Jeff's working permit is approved, the short term visa will take 2 trips to the Czech Embassy in New York -one to submit and a week later to pick-up.

A few words about our incredibly brave and amazing friends, Sarita and Caesar Ekya. Two brilliant engineers who decide to uproot themselves to New York City. Not 3 months there, they then decide they want to open their own restaurant. Not just any restaurant, but a specialty Mac & Cheese place (Sarita being the "cheese snob" that she is...). Here we are, just one year after they moved to NYC, and S'MAC is hugely popular!! During the quick visa appt visits, May and I were just amazed with the sheer number of fans and press coming in --it's already got a cult following! Sarita & Caesar - you two are amazing!

May 31st - the countdown is one month.
There are just a few things on our mind. Here is the status of those things so far:
Paperwork: Today, PriceWaterhouseCoopers told me they just finished my work permit package and submitted it to the Czech Republic's Labour Office ... an important step toward approval.
We also just learned that when the work permit is approved, I then must travel to New York...twice... for our short-term visa application. First time to submit it, then return to pick it up five days later. All has to be done in person at the Czech Embassy (and New York is closest).
The long-term visa is more fun: both Maylia and I must apply in person to the Czech embassy (and one of us does so for Ella, too). For the long-term visas, we file while living in Prague, so we must travel outside the country to a nearby embassy, likely Milan, Italy or Munich, Germany. Yes, again, twice.
The house: Went on the market today. With all fixer-up projects finished, the house is officially available (and more beautiful then when we bought it).
Packing: In a word, overwhelming. Friends have been incredibly generous in offering their time, but we still feel buried by boxes and decisions. Ella compounds the feeling since, at 10 months old, the only thing she packs are diapers.
Work: Maylia gave her notice 2 weeks ago and had her last day a few days ago. I gave my notice 1 week ago and have my last day on Friday, June 9th. Of course, that last week I'll be "working remote" ...apt. shopping in Prague.
Future Apartment: I am going to Prague next week to land our apartment. An exciting adventure, but made more exciting with Jeff Klein deciding to come along! We should have fun together and I hope to come home with a real-life Prague mailing address.