Regardless we woke up and our sponsor drove us to the Support Site. The Support Site is not necessarily considered base, but it does house the NEX, Commissary, Movie Theater, Navy Lodge and Im sure there is more! Well like all bases should do, there is 100% ID check, and I didn't have mine! Crap! I left it in my pant pocket from yesterday! Double Crap! They won't let me on base! Made a quick U-turn to go to Pass and ID which is right beside the gate to get an escort pass, when I go digging through my purse and VIOLA! I find my ID! Let the angels sing!
I learned a lot in AO today, and really want to share with people who were in my shoes last week. So if you not interested in the next couple paragraphs drop down to the bottom to continue reading, but if you are PCSing in the near future here is what you go through in the first day of AO in Napoli:
Sojourners Permit- A permit that allows you to exit and enter Italy. Dependents must have one. Your Visa is good for one year, and after it expires you will not need to renew it, your permit will cover you. So have 4 extra passport photos handy- you can claim these on your travel vouchers.
Drivers License test is 48 Multiple Choice questions based on signage- like my mom said, if it was an actual driving test, I wouldn't pass! And in this town, she's right!
Shuttles are available from base to base and you need a bus pass. They give you a free 30 day pass! Doesn't work if you are out in town, but if you need to get from one base to the other like Capo to SS or JFC.
PSD is arranged bit differently. Instead of going to PSD for all of your needs, they have CPC (Command Pass Coordinators) that is your liaison. They will turn in your TLA receipts and etc. This also cuts back wasting your day traveling to and from PSD and reduces traffic. You will however need to go to PSD in Capodichino (Capo) to renew your ID.
DLA is a Dislocation Allowance that you get one time, and don't have to pay back. It helps with furnishing your new home, but you can't apply for it until you have a new Perm. Address.
COLA (Cost of Living Allowance) is determined by ran, # of years in and dependents. It also fluctuates daily.
BAS- Basic Allowance for Substance is given to everyone because there is not an open/free galley in NSA Naples.
OHA- is your Overseas Housing Allowance (BAH in the states) and is dependent on rank, and dependents. If you make 1,100 Euros but find a home for 900 Euros you will receive 900 Euros not the additional 200. So go for the bigger home, or more negotiations with that extra 200 Euros.
Utility Allowance is money the Navy pays us to pay our utilities! With negotiations we receive pay if we pay 3 our of 5 utilities (meaning the landlord can cover 2 of them if we negotiate it!) Including Electric, AC, Heat, Water and Garbage.
Other Negotiations I have learned about can be anything our hearts can think of. Including; Lawn Service, House Keeping, Electric Meter, Telephone lines for internet (DSL boo!), New Cabinets, Surveillance Cameras, Alarm Systems, and much much more!
So with all of this fun stuff above Marito and I called the realtor that worked with our Sponsor. His name is Peter Abbey and I don't mind dropping his name because he is a great guy! If you are in the area and looking for a place to start, Peter lives int he Lago Partia area (down the street from Hotel Agora) and his number is +39-339-724-7194.
Peter met us 30 minutes after the call at the hotel. We discussed what we are looking for, our price point, and I told him to not take us to places if he wouldn't live there. Well first stop was HIS NEIGHBORHOOD! He took us to a gorgeous house in a quaint neighborhood. The last person that lived there was a Commander and he moved out three days ago! Now a Commander makes a significant amount more money than we do, so the Landlord pushes up the price and offers more negotiations for them. For our price we wont get as many negotiations. BUT! For the amount of our OSH we will be paying more than if an Italian moved in, so it looks good on us. We can see Peter's house from the back patio, and it is just absolutely gorgeous inside!
Off to house number 2! This neighborhood was a little less nice in my opinion. Marito really liked it, but the house is surrounded by neighbors with very loud dogs. The neighborhood has more Americans than the other but that makes me feel like we have a target on our backs to be broken into. Both places are 4 bedrooms with 3 1/2 baths, and just fantastic.
Tomorrow we are going to try and see some more places, if not we will catch up with our sponsor. But Sunday we have an appointment to house hunt all day! I am so thrilled! Things are looking pretty good for us!
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