Here goes nothing. My aunt suggested I keep a blog of this journey in order to look back and see how far we have come. I hope that this blog isn't always about how awful I feel about living here and how bad I want to go home, but today it is.
We left all of my family and friends on Tuesday and headed for Seattle. My babies and I cried for a good 30 min to an hour. My heart felt like it was being ripped from my chest. I did not want to take them away from the people that they love and the life that they know, but I had to stay by my husband's side and follow along. We were in Seattle for a day and a half. We had a good time there and saw a lot of interesting sites while we were there. Thursday, at 5:00 am, we were off to the airport again, and the tears started to flow. How do I explain to my 5 year old and my 11 year old the reason that we are leaving our beloved USA and moving to another country? They do not understand the reason. We were on a plane for 10.5 hours and then got off of the plane for 1.5 hours to sit in a hot terminal on a base with nothing for the kids to do. Then back on the plane for another 1.5 hours. I was so glad to land and be done with planes. We went thru customs, gathered our luggage and headed to the hotel room. After we were in the room, reality set in and I cried really hard. We had no phones, no car, no drivers license, no Internet, no bathtub for the baby (only a shower), and no family anywhere close by. Oh and it was very hot and humid, and the people were driving on the wrong side of the road. I knew this before we got here, but once I saw that I was going to have to relearn everything, I became terrified. I wanted to tap my heels and repeat there is no place like home in the hopes that I might wake up back in Texas. I crawled into bed and cried myself to sleep.
That brings us to today. I woke up feeling drained and cried some more. I posted how I was feeling on Facebook and got some amazing, supportive responses. I have to try and stay positive for my kids. I am trying...really I am. We ventured out and got some good laughs at the strange things we saw. A friend who I knew from SC came and took the two older kids and I out into town and to the store. It was exciting to see a new and different culture. I must admit it put a spark under me to want to get out and see some more. Oh, I must also mention that this same friend met us at the airport yesterday and took us to a place to let the kids run for a bit, and she brought me some yummy homemade salsa today (a girl after my own heart.) Our fridge was also stocked with food from Rob's co-workers which was amazing. I am so very grateful for these people.
I know this will get easier, but as I get ready for bed tonight, I still wish I could send us back to Texas with a click of my heels.