In the words of the wise "Dori" in the movie Nemo...we are advised to remember to "Just keep swimming."
Yes...we've arrived at our new "temporary" home. These digs should be ours for the next 20-30 days. It has three bedrooms, one bath and a very samll fridge...but we're going to be just fine.
The trip inland was, as ever, exciting.
There is EXTREMELY HIGHTENED security at the airports here. They confiscated all our shampoo, hairspray and my BRAND NEW "HOODOO VOODOO" OPI Nail Polish! This was an outrage!
We nearly missed the plane. I am not lying when I tell you that we had 5 minutes to spare.
Imagine 7 H family members, 8 carry-on bags, 2 crying children and all of us RUNNING through the airport shouting in our broken dialect...PLEASE EXCUSE...PLEASE EXCUSE!
After arriving here there was an enthusiastic group awaiting us with 3 vehicles for transport. We've now left 10 of our checked bags behind at the "port of entry" city to be shipped inland to us "sometime in a little while."
We do hope to see those things again.
We drove a little over an hour to the new development area of town and found our apartment in a mature, treed community that houses many of our new students' families.
We rushed out immediately (The Tender-heart, Magpie, The Bug, myself and our new Best Friend Ms Yang) to the local super shopping mega-Walmart-styled shop.
We purchased blankets and pillows, sheets (we were really unable to determine if we were even getting the right "size" of sheets,) garbage cans and liners, laundary detergent, towels and plates and forks and spoons...oh my...
It was exhausting...
Oh...sorry, forgot to mention that it was in the high 90's and the airconditioning only really knocks off a bit of the heat...
I was one sweaty Momma!
We also got new cell phones!
Last night a group of parents and kids met us at the local "western-style" restaurant...the "Jeep Bar"...(I kept thinking they were saying "Cheap Bar"...but the jeep parked outside of establishment soon corrected my error.
They allowed us to eat while the waited outside in the HEAT!
Finally they brought a lovely cake in and about 10 families and their kids sang 3 songs to us before we blew out the candles. It was a very warm welcome.
Today we got up, warmed up left overs for breakfast (you just take for granted EVERYTHING you do in a familiar culture...NOTHING is easy or can be expected right now...we're re-learning everything...and did I mention it was HOT?)
Feeling very satisfied with our morning's accomplishment we went out to see the LQ...the building where we'll be living...Building 5, 8th floor, suites 801-802. It is really lovely. Quite a blessing...in fact Ms Yang asked "Is this better than you imagined?"
I should say so...it was marvelous and though everything (including the 8 flights of stairs we climed today) is going to take a great deal of getting used to...we're okay.
Last night when we talked to our Dad as we laid in our bed...the words we used were..."as we crawl before you we ask your mercy upon us."
I have felt numerous times like I am crawling.
This afternoon we went to a very large, Costco-type market some 45 minutes away where we obtained some western-style food! This is good news for the kids...a small box of Bisquick, some jam, some cheese and cereal made us feel encouraged indeed.
A few thoughts on our first few days here:
1) We are in AWE of the national pride here and the great enthusiasm about the games. Every school child has been learning curriculum on peace, harmony and friendship around the world. The TV is full of anthems that have been written about One World One Dream. It is fantastic. You can see why so many of our new friends here feel very hopeful.
2) The heat is serious business. We move from one air-conditioner to the next. We avoid the sun (which by the way we've seen several near-blue skies and the sun itself!) We're learning to pack our water everywhere and to wear our sweat proudly.
3) We have been received with great grace and encouragement. The people are lovely. Even this afternoon some new school-mates of the girls came over and took them swimming in the neighborhood pool. But nothing can explain the bizzare feeling of being totally out of control. Totally. We have benevolent helpers here...or we would be lost.
We hope to sleep another comfortable night. The AC works really well inside.
We have food in the cupboards and I think...enough of the right stuff to cook some of it...
Please ask for patience for us, peace and balm for our hearts as the Engineer and the Tender-heart leave us tomorrow for "funner locales." (BTW, I'm a primary teacher...I know that FUNNER is incorrect!)
Our other reinforcement from the Old Place arrives tomorrow. She's flying now, I expect, and she spent the last year here so hopefully she'll be a real help.
We're trying to take it easy and have a "making camp" mentality. Please know how much we miss you. Our internet is severely limited over these next several weeks...but soon we'll begin responding to personal emails.
We love you...
4 comments:
What a great "wake up" to read your latest posting. I live every episode with you. As I am beginning my day at almost 6 a.m., you on the other side of the earth are probably ready for another night to rest. I'll continue to hope the AC works well so you can get a restful night of sleep.
I'm glad you could sometimes see the sun; I was concerned about the atmosphere.
Oh how I wish I could be there. I'm traveling beside you from a distance. I appreciate your blog updates so much. I know it must be terribly difficult to get to the computer and make the words roll out when you are so very tired and your mind is pulled in so many directions. Thank you so very much for remembering to let all of us know of your experiences.
I think of you constantly. My heart is warmed knowing you are safe.
Amazing! Remember that when swimming seems difficult, floating works too!
We love you and miss you. Wish we were there too.
Dad is sure good!
Wondering right now, how many bottles of "HOODOO VOODOO" OPI Nail Polish you will receive in the mail over the next month or two!
Ha Ha Ha!
RZwade
We love you too!! I just went to weather.com and looked at your 10 day forecast. Here is the funny part...It is almost identical to the 10 day forecast here!! You clearly have been out of the midwest too long. You and the family should have trained here before you left. I am enjoying your posts, cheap entertainment for teachers in the summer!!
i know how you feel about living in a foreign country... when i lived in mexico i tried to have a late night bowl of cereal (not mexican, but i was enjoying the american stuff) and didn't realize (was too tired to understand what they were telling me in spanish) that the bins for the flour and powdered milk had been switched... water, flour and cereal were not the late night snack i was expecting!
the mrs. of the junior Andres fam.
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