I got to know Kimberley when I attended the PTO (Parent Teachers Organization) Fresh Parents Meeting in 2012. She told me that there was an organization that specifically helped the housewives who had just moved to Cincinnati. She had joined their classes in a local church. She also shared there would be a new session soon and suggested that I should join despite I was not a Christian. Therefore, I began a unique and important experience in my life, becoming a member of After the Boxes Unpacked. 

 
After the Boxes Are Unpacked (ATB) is the name of a book written by Ms. Susan Miller. It is a guide book written from a Christian perspective to help women and their families navigate the overwhelming process of relocating to a new city and keep their marriage, families, relationships, and spiritual well-being intact.

I registered ATB. Susan G. was the coordinator at that time, who gave me great helps. She is a very popular and elegant lady. Each coordinator spends a lot of time and energy on serving ATB members. The session started in the middle of September 2012, which was held at Montgomery Community Church (MCC). It is a very large community church. We had our classes in a room on the ground floor. It was a rectangular one. The students seated by U shape table set along the walls with name cards put in front of each one on the table. The front row were for the teacher of the day. Actually the “teachers” were nearly all the previous student-members of ATB group. The lectures were around the chapters of ATB book. 

 
Relocation in China is unusual thing. It is more usual for Chinese to change a house or an apartment within a city. Even if people need to work or live in another city, most of them still keep the original dwelling with some family members staying behind. However in the U.S., more than 34 million Americans move each year. A lot of families move together from one city to another one. It is usually cross states, even cross countries. Studies show it can be one of the heaviest strains on a marriage. For women especially, relocating can be a traumatic event. With true stories, ingenious insights, and helpful hints, this great book makes transitioning smoother so women can get on with their lives.

In the first lesson, I remembered that Sandy, one of the founders of the ATB Cincinnati welcomed everyone and shared her own experience. Each of us got a lot of information, including photocopied ATB Chapter 1, Cincinnati introduction, where to go shopping, where to visit and eat, as well as where to see doctors and get helps etc. It was not mandatory to purchase the ATB book.  Everything including photocopying materials are provided free of charge. The ATB class, on every Tuesdays 9:30-11:30 am, is held twice a year, in the fall and winter, each session last around two months. The members need complete the ATB book study in one session. 

Once completing the book study, we became an ATB "alumni" who were very welcome as the old students to participate in classroom and other activities. The organization kept growing and changing while people moved in and out Cincinnati. There are a lot useful information on the ATB's Facebook page, such as links for "50 free and cheap things to do in Cincinnati," "365 interesting things in Cincinnati," and even what you can enjoy in Dayton, which is a neighborhood city. 

 
“26 Women at today’s class! 12 new this session! 12 at lunch! It’s awesome to see the mix of ladies God continues to bring to our group. We can learn so much from each other in so many ways. Each of you bring something to contribute (even if it’s shared tears to know you’re not the only one struggling!) Life is better together!!”

It was posted on ATB Facebook page by the coordinator Vikki after the first class of 2015 winter session. Basically it reflects the situation of each class. Usually there are around dozen of ladies join ATB Cincinnati group each session. Most of them come from other states, several ladies like me coming from the foreign countries. There are always some “Alumni” randomly coming back to join each class. On several classes, some ladies were sad or depressed when they shared the confusion or hardship about their relocations. It was painful when they left the hometown for a faraway new city with the cost of losing all close relatives and friends, and everyone jobs. Some of them couldn’t adapt the climate and had no idea about the new living environment. Some of their kids couldn’t find friends, or even got isolated. Adolescent rebellious can become more intense. There are all kinds of other issues. They all felt better after sharing the issues with other ladies. 

The main reason I love this organization is that it brings all kinds of happiness and fulfillment to the students. Americans like social activities. Many women do not work or work as freelance. As housewives, most of them take care of family members’ living, kids’ education and school transportation etc. There are less opportunities for them to know and make new friends when they come to a completely new place. Therefore, there are less social activities to join. However, there are all kinds of interesting activities here at ATB group. First of all, the class is very attractive, in addition to share experience in the classroom, students also to know other’s background including family, work, hobbies, community life etc. With the friends coming from all over the states or even different countries, we can know a lot of fun things, and become friends. There are still opportunities to taste the local snacks (I knew Greater is the most favorite ice cream brand in Cincinnati at the class). After the last class of each session, it’s a tradition to have Potluck lunch. The “alumni” will take the hometown food (usually made by themselves) to entertain the new students. Moreover, every Tuesday after class, we will choose a local specialty restaurant to have lunch together. Every member can participate. ATB students can also attend the weekly Bible Study at MCC. After knowing each other, there are plenty of activities including Monthly Fun Friday. I recalled and summed up our activities can be divided into several categories:

First, volunteer activities: for example, we sorted donated clothing and various daily necessities, making sleeping mats, sorting paint at Mathew 25: Ministries. We listened to children reading, making blankets for children in foster care, wrapping up Christmas gifts at Whiz Kids, The Bair Foundation Child and Family Ministries and A Child's Hope International. There were also events such as Meal Train (when some of ATB members can’t cook at home after having surgery or an emergency, other members will sign up to cook and deliver the meals to them. )

Second, to join in local fun activities: Cincinnati Art Museum, MCC Women's Christmas Brunch, Mad Potter, Art and Unwind, Ride Ducks The Newport and Zip-ring at Ozone, Segway at The Garage OTR, The Cincy St. Patrick's Day Parade, Clifton Mill Christmas Lights, Perfect North etc.

Third, to visit local attractions/go shopping/see movies/have family picnic: Krohn Conservatory, Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum, Greater Cincinnati Holiday Market, Findlay Market, Jungle Jim's International Market Fairfield etc.

Forth, events hosted by individuals at home: Christmas Cookie Exchange, Couples Bunco Night, Game Night, and Playing Euchre, "gal-entine" Pajama Party, Ugly Sweater Party and White Elephant Gift Exchange etc.

There are so many activities to participate in, and so many opportunities to make good friends. All members can find help from the group whenever they encounter difficulties. Therefore, ATB members get to know Cincinnati and their communities very soon. The trouble and hardship of relocation are then much less. 

For the first three years in Cincinnati, as our rented house were near MCC, I tried best to join ATB classes and various activities as more as possible. I also proposed and made a pictorial roster for better knowing and remembering each member as the mobility was relatively high. It was including to take photos for everyone in our group. 

Our members cared me a lot as I moved in from China which is very far away from the US. There were a lot difficulties to overcome, like language communication, cultural difference etc. They explained me very patiently whenever I had a question. At the same time, they were also curious, willing to know more about my situation and Chinese culture. Tara took the initiative to chat with me after class, told me about her family. She and her husband adopted a Chinese girl. They are interested in Chinese culture. 

A few days before the Spring Festival 2013, I invited everyone to celebrate the Chinese New Year at a nearby Chinese restaurant, Johnny Chan 2. With the owner's consent, I decorated our dining area in advance and prepared a “Red Envelope” for everyone. In the ATB class after the 2015 Spring Festival, I also did a video presentation about the Chinese New Year, which was mainly about how 1 billion people move back home for family reunion. At the MCC Christmas Women Brunch event, I served in Vikki’s team and offered the talking panda buckle as Christmas gift. 

 
In the last several years in Cincinnati, due to very frequent business travels together with my husband to another city, I could only learn about the activities from group emails and ATB Facebook. The number of ATB group in Cincinnati has been increasing and activities have become more interesting.  I've met a lot of friends there, I've learned a lot of interesting things, and I've also deeply understand about the message of ATB book and group delivering, "When the relocation status is clear, finding out the solutions, there will be more friends and joy", I feel very lucky to be part of this care, funny and helpful group.

For Your Reference:

After the Boxes are Unpacked in Cincinnati 

https://www.facebook.com/aftertheboxes  

Montgomery Community Church 

https://www.mcc.church/ 

After the Boxes are Unpacked (Book introduction) 

https://justmovedshop.com/products/after-the-boxes-are-unpacked