So. Wow.
We’re here.
It seems like forever ago that Mom and I boarded the long flight with two kids who, like their mother, can’t sleep on planes. And wouldn’t you know it…nothing that we brought for entertainment was interesting to keep them entertained.
Elena didn’t want to be contained and L was slightly afraid of his headphones, so he wouldn’t sit still to watch Surf’s Up. He didn’t really even want to watch Cars on the DVD player without headphones.
Fortunately we had almost the entire section of the plane to ourselves. People were at least two rows ahead of us and we had three empty rows behind. We had crap spread out all over the place.
Needless to say, it was a looong flight. I wouldn’t want to do it alone (thank you, Mom) or on a full flight. People were pretty good to us considering the fussing and constant moving in and out of our row. I even had a woman offer to entertain one of them if we needed help. And ya know? If my mom hadn’t been there to help, I totally would have taken her up on it.
We got in a little late and had to track down a couple of pieces of missing luggage. Evidently the luggage didn’t run as fast as we did to catch the flight and it got left behind.
We flew through passport control - thanks to the stroller - and walked through customs without so much as a glance. Mom and Liam pushed the bags and I pushed E with all of the carry-ons loaded in L’s spot on the stroller. I’m sure people thought we were totally over packed. But I don’t think anyone would have guessed we were moving here. We really didn’t have that much stuff.
Anyway, we walked out and I started looking for the dude from the car service with my name written on a dry erase board, but I didn’t see him. I was getting ready to start looking the other direction when A jumped out of the crowd. He’d picked up the car the night before and met us so that we had car seats for the kids (and because our luggage wouldn’t have fit with all four of us in the car service car).
He was happy to see us.
He drove us home and Mom rode with the driver, who’s name was Liam. I wondered why he looked at me strangely when I told L to use his quiet voice.
The drive home was interesting. We live 16 miles from the airport and it took 45+ minutes to get home. I assure you, it had nothing to do with the fact that Aaron was driving on the left side of the rode in rush hour traffic; he maneuvered our Ford Focus Wagon through the traffic circles like a champ. Aside from the noisy brake drum caused by driving with the emergency brake on the previous night, it was smooth sailing…and the car service driver only beat us by a few minutes.
We unloaded, checked out the house and showed the kids their rooms and A took us on a walk to show us the neighborhood.
It’s great. We have a whole bunch of mama-papa (called such in honor of the orthodox Jewish presence in the neighborhood) stores and a mini grocery store nearby. I can’t wait to take a leisurely stroll during the day to check them out. We took a little walk this evening and tried to buy some pastries for AJ, but the guy didn’t have change. I don’t think Panera would have that problem.
Or maybe he just didn’t like us. People aren’t necessarily the friendliest around here. Not sure if it’s being in the city or because we’re the minority. Regardless, it doesn’t really bother me; it’s just not what I’m used to in suburban KC. And actually, it makes life a little more interesting - particularly when Liam says things like, “Look Grammy! That man has round hair.”
No, Liam, it’s not his hair. It’s a shtreimel - a traditional headpiece worn by Hasidic Jews on the Sabbath and religious holidays.
Seriously…it’s one thing to point out every London taxi and bus along with Minis, 300s and Ford Focus Wagons (green), but the innocent observations have to stop somewhere. Round hair? There’s no way in hell we’re going to tell him what a yarmulke is.
Anyhoo, we also have a shopping center nearby - about a 15-20 minute walk. (I have no idea how to get there by car.) Mom and I walked over there one day. They have some typical American stores…Gap, Starbucks, etc., along with the familiar UK stores - H&M - ok, maybe that’s the only one.
I was on a mission to buy Liam shoes because all he had was a pair of sandals and we went from summer to fall in eight hours on Tuesday. Somehow we missed SS/LP and LS/SP weather. The kid needs his toes covered. It’s COLD here when the sun isn’t out.
We did take Mom out on a three-hour tour of some of the sights, but aside from that, we haven’t been out much. I’ve been trying to get things organized and the kids have been enjoying their new favorite occupations.
L watches the washer and dryer
and talks to people via Skype.
E sits on the toddler-size step at the back door and the side door, where L parks his tricycle.
And AJ shops. Here he’s making a virtual trip to the grocery store. They deliver, so we don’t really have to make big trips.
And we can order alcohol online.
I know, I know…sounds like crazy talk, don’t it?
We got some other good news today. No, the house hasn’t sold…but it’s rented for the next six months - to a family who’s company has transferred the husband from Korea to the US for two years or so. And after a lengthy discussion with our lessor’s plumber I found out that the male counterpart of the couple from whom we are renting is an attorney. And he and his wife (we think she’s a doctor) got transferred to the Philippines for a couple of years for one of their jobs.
Strange how the world works, isn’t it?
More later, I promise. I have so many pictures you haven’t seen, and stories you haven’t heard, but tonight isn’t the night. I fear that Elena will wake any moment and I really should try to get some sleep before she does. Because she’s afraid of her room and the minute she wakes up, she wants to get the hell outta there. That means playing down here or sleeping in my bed. Either way, sleep eludes me.
So, have a lovely evening, Americans. Hopefully I won’t see you before midnight your time.
Oh, and if there’s any other nationality reading out there? I didn’t mean to leave you out. Rest assured that Heidi Chronicles is all-inclusive. So you have a lovely [insert time zone appropriate time of day] as well.
g’night.
