Moving to Germany from Canada

I am in the process of getting a job in Germany near Frankfurt. I currently live in Toronto, Canada. I would like ot know what I should bring or what I should be prepaired for when I finally make the move? Please help, post your suggestions

ooops, sorry about the spelling mistake in the title. I was typing too fast!!

Have you discovered the SEARCH function?

Hold a garage sale and sell whatever you can (all electrical appliances, bed sheets since they won't fit, other accumulated detritus of life, etc). Buy a heavy duty trunk or two (I bought a couple from Sears) and pack whatever you don't want to let go of and can live without for 6 weeks, and prepare to ship it over. I used a company called Brytor International, which gave a good phone quote and offers door-to-door delivery (they hand off the goods to Britannia shipping company in the UK, which brings it to Germany). I have no complaints about their service, but you will need to provide a contact name and number on the German end if you don't have accommodation already sorted. Keep your Canadian credit cards and bank accounts and make sure you have a good amount of accessible Euros since getting a bank account up and running in Germany will take a couple of weeks. You can always transfer money to your Canadian bank to pay off your card debt. Consider opening a Scotiabank account before you leave and use your parents' address for mailings, since Scotiabank has an agreement with Deutsche Bank such that you can transfer funds between the two using a web interface for little to no service charge. Most other banks here make international transfers a real nightmare and it's better to retain complete control yourself. I wish I knew that before I came. Some things I always bring back from Canada when I visit, which you might consider adding to the trunk if you might also miss them: maple syrup, Bounce dryer sheets, graham cracker crumbs, real vanilla extract.

Make sure you get professional tax advice before you go. If you still have too many ties to Canada, you still might be a deemed resident and certain tax liabilities might apply when you go back, depending of course on how long you're gone.

You can find out if you are a deemed resident by completing the form "Determination of Residency Status (Leaving Canada)" on the Guvmint of Canada web site. It just so happens that I downloaded the pdf a couple of weeks ago and have it with me. PM me if you would like a copy.

finding and renting apartments here in Germany will come as a shock -- do a search of Toytown so that you are prepared. Things like huge agent fees to find a place, having to supply your own kitchen... Health insurance is another unpleasant fact of life here, search and learn about that too. Be aware and careful when entering into any kind of contract, consumer laws here are not what we are used to and you may find contracts extremely difficult to get out of. Many companies, even reputable ones, have been known to use this to their advantage. Be informed. Oh, and if you hang out on Toytown you will learn that there are a lot of great people here, and also a lot of jackasses (a la post #2 above). It's a wonderful resource, but enter at your own risk