So you finally decided to take the plunge and join.
If I were you I would go to Berlin by yourself and concentrate on our transition, make some contacts to take your family there on a holiday. If you're coming from the "SA jungle" you're not from SAA or Comair, where are you from SAX,Link....Nationwide. The company are paying you to do a transition course, leave the family at home.......that will be their perspective, keep discovering.
Good luck