We are just finishing up our 7 week homeleave back in the United States and have been so busy that I just haven't had time to blog. But have no fear! I will be "back in action" and home in just five days so I will be back to my blogging self. So sit back. Hold on tight. The show is about to begin. I am sure the next year will be full of adventures and lots of interesting things to share.
More soon!
Showing posts with label homeleave. Show all posts
Showing posts with label homeleave. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 02, 2011
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
American Summer in Review
Well after 8 weeks in the United States, we are back home safe and sound. Well sound is a relative term, right? I mean really how sound can one be after traveling across the world with 3 kids alone with 8 suitcases containing 408 pounds of junk (yes those were exact weights upon boarding the airplane) and 4 carry-ons?
We had a busy, but wonderful summer. I won’t bore you with all the details, but some of the highlights include:
Two weeks in North Carolina (One week at our old house and one week at our annual beach trip with college friends.)
Four and a half weeks in Ohio swimming, shopping, family gatherings, camping, meeting with friends, a little get-a-way for Matt and I, running a 5 mile race and just spending time with our family. We have to make up for the 10 months we have been gone right?
Five days in Illinois spending time with friends, lots of shopping and helping one of my close friend’s pack for their family’s big move to Omaha, Nebraska.
And finally five days in Hawaii, just me and the kids. It was nice to have some downtime from such a crazy and wild summer before heading back to Japan. I hope the last few days were ones my kids will always remember. I know I will.
(Click on any link above to see many more pictures)
Being back with friends, family and American shopping and food was wonderful. But it was different, very different. I didn't realize how much this move has changed my perspective on things until I went back “home”. But that is a totally different blog post.
So bear with me a few days to unpack and get over my jet lag and I will be back in blogging (and reading!) action. I am sure with my rusty Japanese and lack of driving on the left side I will have some great “Yes, Alexis really did that” stories to tell.
We had a busy, but wonderful summer. I won’t bore you with all the details, but some of the highlights include:
Two weeks in North Carolina (One week at our old house and one week at our annual beach trip with college friends.)
Four and a half weeks in Ohio swimming, shopping, family gatherings, camping, meeting with friends, a little get-a-way for Matt and I, running a 5 mile race and just spending time with our family. We have to make up for the 10 months we have been gone right?
Five days in Illinois spending time with friends, lots of shopping and helping one of my close friend’s pack for their family’s big move to Omaha, Nebraska.
And finally five days in Hawaii, just me and the kids. It was nice to have some downtime from such a crazy and wild summer before heading back to Japan. I hope the last few days were ones my kids will always remember. I know I will.
(Click on any link above to see many more pictures)
Being back with friends, family and American shopping and food was wonderful. But it was different, very different. I didn't realize how much this move has changed my perspective on things until I went back “home”. But that is a totally different blog post.
So bear with me a few days to unpack and get over my jet lag and I will be back in blogging (and reading!) action. I am sure with my rusty Japanese and lack of driving on the left side I will have some great “Yes, Alexis really did that” stories to tell.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
On the boat and on the plane... We'e coming to America!
After almost 5 months, we are on our way back to America for 8 weeks of visiting family and friends. I am very excited and also nervous at the same time. Living from house to house out of suitcases will not be easy. Sami is already being the drama queen at why we can’t just stay in our house in North Carolina. I guess renting isn’t fully understandable to a 6 –year-old.
Our flight back to the states isn’t as easy as when we first made our journey to Japan back in January. Northwest has cancelled all flights directly into Osaka (apparently Osaka charges too much for their fees) so we now have to connect through Tokyo. Then we have a 6.5-hour layover in Minneapolis before we finally head to Raleigh. Add on top of that I am by myself with the 3 kids (Matt doesn't join us for another 2 weeks) and you have one heck of a traveling experience.
It’s hard to believe that we have been living in Japan for almost 5 months. Some days I have to pinch myself to really believe that I am living there. Time has sure flown by, but at the same time it feels like we have been living there forever. Many of the other expats have told us to enjoy everyday because time seems to fly by faster than any place else they have been.
I am just amazed when I think about all the things we have experienced in just 5 months–– going to Hong Kong and Thailand, hiking up mountains, climbing the spectacular cliffs that jet out over the Japan Sea, making friends from all over the world, going to our first auction fundraiser (handmade area rugs and floor rugs from the Middle East) learning how to speak a different language, taking trains everywhere and learning how to drive on the other side of the road are just a few. I can only imagine what all we will experience over the next few years. This truly is an experience that the kids, as well as Matt and I, will remember, and learn from, forever.
So the next 8 weeks will be full of visiting friends and family all over North Carolina, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and even Missouri. We have beach trips, camping, sleepovers, shopping and camps for the kid all planned. We can’t wait.
Our flight back to the states isn’t as easy as when we first made our journey to Japan back in January. Northwest has cancelled all flights directly into Osaka (apparently Osaka charges too much for their fees) so we now have to connect through Tokyo. Then we have a 6.5-hour layover in Minneapolis before we finally head to Raleigh. Add on top of that I am by myself with the 3 kids (Matt doesn't join us for another 2 weeks) and you have one heck of a traveling experience.
It’s hard to believe that we have been living in Japan for almost 5 months. Some days I have to pinch myself to really believe that I am living there. Time has sure flown by, but at the same time it feels like we have been living there forever. Many of the other expats have told us to enjoy everyday because time seems to fly by faster than any place else they have been.
I am just amazed when I think about all the things we have experienced in just 5 months–– going to Hong Kong and Thailand, hiking up mountains, climbing the spectacular cliffs that jet out over the Japan Sea, making friends from all over the world, going to our first auction fundraiser (handmade area rugs and floor rugs from the Middle East) learning how to speak a different language, taking trains everywhere and learning how to drive on the other side of the road are just a few. I can only imagine what all we will experience over the next few years. This truly is an experience that the kids, as well as Matt and I, will remember, and learn from, forever.
So the next 8 weeks will be full of visiting friends and family all over North Carolina, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and even Missouri. We have beach trips, camping, sleepovers, shopping and camps for the kid all planned. We can’t wait.
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