First Looks, First Days: Traveling

We've landed in Albania! And only one bag was delayed. :) (The team still declared it a miracle that ALL of our 28 bags were 50.0 lbs or under at the airport and 27 out of 28 bags arrived on time.) 

Things we discovered while traveling: there is a Lego vending machine at the Cincinnati airport. 

A few days before leaving, some of our supporters, who had raised their kids on the field so they get it, handed us some cash and said, "Do something extravagantly fun for your kids with it." Unfortunately, we didn't have time to ride roller coasters or visit the aquarium or anything like that. But there was a Lego Vending machine by our gate at the Cincinnati Airport! And that felt plenty extravagant. :) When we told our kids that a supporter had given money just for something fun for them, they gasped and ran to the Vending machine. They had the best time choosing their Legos and watching the machine click, clack and deliver the box. It also kept the entertained when they woke up jet-lagged and too early the first day here in Albania.

Things we discovered while traveling: Our kids still love to fly! Especially when they can watch Frozen 2 and Despicable Me 4 during the flight. 

Things we discovered while traveling: Neck pillows make excellent seatbelts for your Julie Doll when she falls off your suitcase and you get chased down in Chicago by a lovely lady returning said doll. 

Also, a little girl with a doll strapped to her suitcase by a neck pillow will make even the most sour airport worker or Flight Attendant smile. ;)

Things discovered while traveling: The boys, like their Dad, can sleep anywhere. The girl, like her mom, struggles to sleep on planes. 

Things discovered while traveling: Eventually, everyone is tired enough that their bodies will crash on the final flight from Germany to Albania. And Youngest was so tired that we were the last ones oFf the plane because we could not wake her up and we could not carry her because we were carrying "so much luggage."

Things discovered while traveling: Our kids are super star troopers! The kids were so tired by the time we landed in Albania that A. actually sat down on the floor and cried while we were waiting at Passport Control. But they kept going. D. even pushed a luggage cart all on his own! 

And we were greeted by our team here and they had a friend at the airport who had already loaded most of the 28 bags by the time we were done having our passports checked. 

This is W. He and his family are some of our teammates. Our kids have already spent a lot of time playing with W. and his brother and sister. 

Landing in a new country is always a strange experience. Yes, there is a language barrier (although most of the people who work at the airport and in the main shops speak English). But there are lots of little things that require time and adjustment.... like making that first cup of tea your first morning. (You have to push the knobs on the stove to get them to pop out so you can turn on the burner.) But eventually, you figure it out and then you even figure out how to make breakfast for your family! Then, because you feel so accomplished at learning these new tasks and being able to survive in a new country,  you go back to bed and take a 3-hour nap. ;)