Advice on moving to Kelley Barracks, Stuttgart - Germany

There is a great likelihood that we will arrive in Stutgart this summer with the dreaded Africom. I say likelihood, because as we all know, with the army, orders are 11th hour and changes are 12th. I am not particularly worried about language or day to day living in Germany--it will be my 5th OCONUS tour in 18 years and the kids have all grown up outside the US. Over the past 8 years, we have had several med visits to Ramstein area and have holidayed across the country twice, so getting around shouldn't be a problem. I do have some questions about details there.

What is the changing situation with the schools? We have kids entering into all levels--ES, MS and HS

Do the schools offer lessons in German for the kids / parents?

Our 5 year old attends the German School here (3rd year) and understands German and sings the songs although she is still hesitant to speak. Any opinions on her going to a German school as opposed to the DoD School?

Are there any bilingual schools?

Should we come with TVs or leave them? I ask this due to set up (we have MS). Is it safe to assume that the best place to buy a TV would be The Power Zone on base?

Is there any type of technology bundling for internet, DSTV, land line and mobile as is available in the US? We have an old DSTV receiver and dish--should we ditch them here and buy new or bring them with? Any suggestions? We know to not get sucked into a mobile phone contract but rather go with pre-pay cards.

Any opinions on the choice of purchasing a car at the base dealers or going to the factory to buy a new one with US specs? We will also ship our Nissan over from the US.

I've read all of the problems with the Housing office. Has anyone documented specific actions and inactions and reported them through the chain of command? What responses have been made?

I've been told that we must have the kids get bicycle licenses. What will we have to do for that? Do adults need bicycle licenses?

Thanks for all of your help.

MACS2008

The schools are crowded here but in my opinion pretty good. Of course others will say they are terrible but I've tried to stay involved with what my MS boy is doing and he seems to like the MS on Panzer. The schools do offer lessons for kids in German and we can take a "conversational" German class that is offered quite often or take one through University of Maryland.

As far as other schools there is an International school near Kellly Barracks and one in Sindelfingen but I don't know much about those two.

TV's: AAFES just opened a nice new exchange here but I wouldn't say they have the best "NEW" selection. They are always a bit behind what is actually new on the market but do have some nice MS plasma and LCD tv's.

As for Internet we went with TKS (through the office on base) for the first 2 years and it is a total ripoff! Go to T-Mobile in Vaihingen (near Patch) and you can get home phone and Internet (16MB) for around 60 euros a month. Cheaper packages do exist but if you go through TKS on base it is more expensive and less bandwidth.

As far as the dish goes you might be able to use it for AFN or SKY if you want English speaking TV when you get here. Here is a contact that can hook your satellite system up for you if you need help when you get here Mac mcloughl_2000@yahoo.com. He is good, reliable and won't rip you off. He does a lot of work for Americans around here.

I bought a new Jeep Grand Cherokee when I got here but if you want a nice BMW or Mercedes there are places right outside the gate that sell US spec cars that everyone goes through.

Good luck with the housing office.

Never heard of the bicycle license issue.

Hope maybe a little of this helps!

I haven't answered all your questions but the ones I know about I can help with.

There is a lot of confusion with the schools. The housing office are trying to steer people to live on the North side of Stuttgart as the ES/MS school at Robinson Barracks is not that crowded and the ones at Patch and Panzer are over full. However there are rumors the school boundaries will change again this summer. So where your child goes to school this year may change next year. Last year the command was bad at informing parents about the changes and did so less than a week before school started. There was uproar, some kids (Mine included) went from a 22 km bus ride (to Boeblingen ES) to a 54km bus ride to Robinson Barracks. All high schoolers go to Patch High school, it is the only HS in the area.

There are high school German classes offered at 3 levels. 2 credits of a foreign language are required to graduate. Kids in the ES/MS have 'Host nation' classes. They don't delve into the language too much, it is more a cultural awareness class. Parents can learn German, there are a few opportunities that you can take advantage of. Check with ACS when you arrive.

There is no reason your 5 year old can't go to German school, however she will have to go to Kindergarten where there are no structured lessons, just learning through play. German 1st grade starts at 7 years of age

There are very few bilingual schools. I believe a Swiss school is opening SY08/09. It is a fee paying school though, as is the International school in Stuttgart (fees of approx $18,000 a year)

There is a mall/power zone on Panzer Kaserne in Boeblingent, they sell multi system TV's and electronics in all shapes and sizes.

The base has Jeeps and Fords mostly, the sticker prices are generally higher than those in the US. You can buy a US spec car new here, but personally I'd buy in the US and ship it over if I had to. You also have the choice of buying a German spec vehicle to use for the time you are here.


Hahahahahah is all I can say to that. It's been going on for years, they are very adept at it and nothing has ever been done in the last 20 years. Seeing it before your very eyes is one thing, proving it when they are all in it together is another.

I've never heard that kids need a bicycle license. A lot of kids take safety classes in Kindergarten with the local police officer but no license is needed.

Thanks for your feedback and advice. It will certainly come in handy. As for housing--sounds like more of the same--Just another beautiful day in paradise.
M

we do have bicyle licenses for kids, but that doesn't mean that your kid isn't allowed to ride a bike if they don't have one. It is more for fun: kids take safety classes at elementary schools which end with a little exam and then they get a paper which looks almost like a driver's license and a pennant to put on their bike. They love it, but you won't need to get them one in advance.

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Thanks for this. I think that my teenager will forego the pennant for bicycling. The youngest, however will love it.

Moving to Stuttgart to work at a US military base was posted by people looking to move either to Patch or Kelly Barracsk & might have some goods tips.
these people are moving to Patch Barracks.