ALL the luggage stayed with me at every checkpoint, and into the DRC! Never think prayers don’t accomplish anything.(is that a 'double negatives' problem?? Oh well, I am transitioning)
Usually, the grueling journey leaves me feeling disoriented, making poor decisions, and foolish choices.......not this time......I was doing great!
We spent an overnight in Rwanda before taking the last leg of our journey into DRC. I had a great sleep and got up at 6:00 a.m. to shower in preparation for the day ahead. The shower was one of those corner showers with a curved slider door. I struggled for some time, trying to slide the door closed before I realized that I was using great force by gripping the frame firmly with both hands.....right through where there is supposed to be glass!........no glass.......so......why close the door?........no reason! OK, one problem dispensed with. Next, turn on the hot water......turning on the hot water.......turning on the hot water.......OK.......no hot water! Problem 2 taken care of. Nothing like a bracing cool shower to kick off the day! After my shower, I headed back to my room. Uh oh......it was locked! Well, I can wait until Raha will get up and see if he has a key. I waited.....and he did! Continuing to get ready, there was a knock at my door, and Raha was there with a clock....”it is too early to get ready........it is only 2:30 a.m.”! I showed him that my clock said 6:30, however, we opted to go with his time (perhaps because all Rwanda and Congo do too?) He went back to his room and I played computer games and read for a few hours.
Funny how jet-lag just creeps up on you and catches you completely by surprise, isn’t it?!
Entering the Congo left me feeling celebratory and thankful. Luggage still all accounted for. The expedition did no favours to the appearance of my luggage, but then, in all fairness, a mirror may have revealed a similar problem with MY appearance! I’m pretty sure I was frayed on the edges as well!
Yesterday felt upside down and inside out.....today feels terrific! ( = 2 hours.....fading quickly)
That brings you up to date, so far, I have done nothing useful yet. It is a great gift to me that I have family here to care for me until I can collect myself.
Oh, by the way, crossing the customs in Rwanda, the border guard said “You have come back again!!”
Friday, January 27, 2012
I made it!
ALL the luggage stayed with me at every checkpoint, and into the DRC! Never think prayers don’t accomplish anything.(is that a 'double negatives' problem?? Oh well, I am transitioning)
Usually, the grueling journey leaves me feeling disoriented, making poor decisions, and foolish choices.......not this time......I was doing great!
We spent an overnight in Rwanda before taking the last leg of our journey into DRC. I had a great sleep and got up at 6:00 a.m. to shower in preparation for the day ahead. The shower was one of those corner showers with a curved slider door. I struggled for some time, trying to slide the door closed before I realized that I was using great force by gripping the frame firmly with both hands.....right through where there is supposed to be glass!........no glass.......so......why close the door?........no reason! OK, one problem dispensed with. Next, turn on the hot water......turning on the hot water.......turning on the hot water.......OK.......no hot water! Problem 2 taken care of. Nothing like a bracing cool shower to kick off the day! After my shower, I headed back to my room. Uh oh......it was locked! Well, I can wait until Raha will get up and see if he has a key. I waited.....and he did! Continuing to get ready, there was a knock at my door, and Raha was there with a clock....”it is too early to get ready........it is only 2:30 a.m.”! I showed him that my clock said 6:30, however, we opted to go with his time (perhaps because all Rwanda and Congo do too?) He went back to his room and I played computer games and read for a few hours.
Funny how jet-lag just creeps up on you and catches you completely by surprise, isn’t it?!
Entering the Congo left me feeling celebratory and thankful. Luggage still all accounted for. The expedition did no favours to the appearance of my luggage, but then, in all fairness, a mirror may have revealed a similar problem with MY appearance! I’m pretty sure I was frayed on the edges as well!
Yesterday felt upside down and inside out.....today feels terrific! ( = 2 hours.....fading quickly)
That brings you up to date, so far, I have done nothing useful yet. It is a great gift to me that I have family here to care for me until I can collect myself.
Oh, by the way, crossing the customs in Rwanda, the border guard said “You have come back again!!”
Usually, the grueling journey leaves me feeling disoriented, making poor decisions, and foolish choices.......not this time......I was doing great!
We spent an overnight in Rwanda before taking the last leg of our journey into DRC. I had a great sleep and got up at 6:00 a.m. to shower in preparation for the day ahead. The shower was one of those corner showers with a curved slider door. I struggled for some time, trying to slide the door closed before I realized that I was using great force by gripping the frame firmly with both hands.....right through where there is supposed to be glass!........no glass.......so......why close the door?........no reason! OK, one problem dispensed with. Next, turn on the hot water......turning on the hot water.......turning on the hot water.......OK.......no hot water! Problem 2 taken care of. Nothing like a bracing cool shower to kick off the day! After my shower, I headed back to my room. Uh oh......it was locked! Well, I can wait until Raha will get up and see if he has a key. I waited.....and he did! Continuing to get ready, there was a knock at my door, and Raha was there with a clock....”it is too early to get ready........it is only 2:30 a.m.”! I showed him that my clock said 6:30, however, we opted to go with his time (perhaps because all Rwanda and Congo do too?) He went back to his room and I played computer games and read for a few hours.
Funny how jet-lag just creeps up on you and catches you completely by surprise, isn’t it?!
Entering the Congo left me feeling celebratory and thankful. Luggage still all accounted for. The expedition did no favours to the appearance of my luggage, but then, in all fairness, a mirror may have revealed a similar problem with MY appearance! I’m pretty sure I was frayed on the edges as well!
Yesterday felt upside down and inside out.....today feels terrific! ( = 2 hours.....fading quickly)
That brings you up to date, so far, I have done nothing useful yet. It is a great gift to me that I have family here to care for me until I can collect myself.
Oh, by the way, crossing the customs in Rwanda, the border guard said “You have come back again!!”
Monday, January 23, 2012
from here to there;
the big test in the morning is............do I have all the necessary documents in order to cross all the borders with all the donations????
Then board planes and 5 ups and 5 downs, and I'm there, sounds simple right?
There is usually something to make the trip a little more interesting. Last year, the customs desk dropped my boarding pass into a pile on the floor. When they picked it up, I was headed for Australia! Noooooooo.....I was honest and confessed it wasn't my ticket. However, if they had offered a ticket to Hawaii..................???
Then board planes and 5 ups and 5 downs, and I'm there, sounds simple right?
There is usually something to make the trip a little more interesting. Last year, the customs desk dropped my boarding pass into a pile on the floor. When they picked it up, I was headed for Australia! Noooooooo.....I was honest and confessed it wasn't my ticket. However, if they had offered a ticket to Hawaii..................???
from here to there;
the big test in the morning is............do I have all the necessary documents in order to cross all the borders with all the donations????
Then board planes and 5 ups and 5 downs, and I'm there, sounds simple right?
There is usually something to make the trip a little more interesting. Last year, the customs desk dropped my boarding pass into a pile on the floor. When they picked it up, I was headed for Australia! Noooooooo.....I was honest and confessed it wasn't my ticket. However, if they had offered a ticket to Hawaii..................???
Then board planes and 5 ups and 5 downs, and I'm there, sounds simple right?
There is usually something to make the trip a little more interesting. Last year, the customs desk dropped my boarding pass into a pile on the floor. When they picked it up, I was headed for Australia! Noooooooo.....I was honest and confessed it wasn't my ticket. However, if they had offered a ticket to Hawaii..................???
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Saying farewell to church family this morning, and final hugs to family :( , then off to Winnipeg. Tomorrow is the last chance to do final preparation....pick up converter plugs etc.....then Tueasday, off to the airport. By the time my husband returns home on Tuesday, after his music lessons, I will be in Amsterdam! I am so old that this is amazing to me!!
Stay tuned and I will try to keep you updated as the trip progresses. Last year it took 8 hours to leave Winnipeg (blizzard, and also mechanical difficulties....the plane, not me!)
Stay tuned and I will try to keep you updated as the trip progresses. Last year it took 8 hours to leave Winnipeg (blizzard, and also mechanical difficulties....the plane, not me!)
Saying farewell to church family this morning, and final hugs to family :( , then off to Winnipeg. Tomorrow is the last chance to do final preparation....pick up converter plugs etc.....then Tueasday, off to the airport. By the time my husband returns home on Tuesday, after his music lessons, I will be in Amsterdam! I am so old that this is amazing to me!!
Stay tuned and I will try to keep you updated as the trip progresses. Last year it took 8 hours to leave Winnipeg (blizzard, and also mechanical difficulties....the plane, not me!)
Stay tuned and I will try to keep you updated as the trip progresses. Last year it took 8 hours to leave Winnipeg (blizzard, and also mechanical difficulties....the plane, not me!)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)