It's been a week since we left for Hong Kong and the tears were surely flowing at the airport!
My parents couldn't be there because they moved my sister from Ottawa and had to sign the lease at 2pm right smack down in the middle of our departure. I can't even imagine how much stress it musta been trying to find a place for my sister, and for them to help me and Jen move out of our place at the same time... so there are definately no hard feelings on all the amazing efforts they made. This week really showed me how great our family is when we all work together! I felt completely loved as both sets of Jen's parents came together to ensure that we were sent off in the sweetest way possible. With tears and hugs, jokes and cards, we all embraced as one big happy family. It's incredible how big life events bring people together, no matter what their past. It reminds me of how lucky we all are to have people rooting us on, no matter how far they might be physically. I knew I appreciated Jen's family when I saw both of her parents carrying different items of mine, they truly made me feel like I am another one of their kids. At no moment did they try to replace my parents, but instead they did remind me of how well we can treat eachother!
My parents couldn't be there because they moved my sister from Ottawa and had to sign the lease at 2pm right smack down in the middle of our departure. I can't even imagine how much stress it musta been trying to find a place for my sister, and for them to help me and Jen move out of our place at the same time... so there are definately no hard feelings on all the amazing efforts they made. This week really showed me how great our family is when we all work together! I felt completely loved as both sets of Jen's parents came together to ensure that we were sent off in the sweetest way possible. With tears and hugs, jokes and cards, we all embraced as one big happy family. It's incredible how big life events bring people together, no matter what their past. It reminds me of how lucky we all are to have people rooting us on, no matter how far they might be physically. I knew I appreciated Jen's family when I saw both of her parents carrying different items of mine, they truly made me feel like I am another one of their kids. At no moment did they try to replace my parents, but instead they did remind me of how well we can treat eachother!
As we got onto the plane, we knew it was going to be a long one as everyone started nestling up into blankets and pillows. They served us so much food on the flight it was crazy! Too bad Jen couldn't eat alot of the stuff, and what she could eat, was pretty plain: white rice and boiled veggies eww! The videos on Hainan Air are hilarious though, you gotta check them out. They did it in the fashion of olden day chinese epics, but with safety tips. Just seems completely and ridiculously out of place, but man was it entertaining! One of the characters was can-canning across the ground and they put a huge X over that action DO NOT DO THIS! Then he transforms into a purse and goes under a seat hahaha
Another thing I noticed was that they sprayed air freshener whenever they thought someone was taking a poo... dropping a deuce... pushing a panda? (I thought it'd be appropriate for China) But it was even weirder when it was a half-way, uncertain if the person poo'd situation cause they would just smell to see. I thought that stewardesses had great jobs with the travel and all, but no way they're getting paid enough for a job that was this crappy! These are the people who have to poo this! Wonder where you get this instink...
So we end up arriving in Beijing and I definately didn't get enough sleep. I felt like a zombie with Jen asking me on multiple occasions if I was OK. I was saying yes, but holy I was passing out all over the place. We grabbed some food, and forgot we'd gotten some chinese money, the Yuan, from Mike and Sharon, Jen's wonderful family members who also gave me the best tea ever! So when we finished eating I stumbled downstairs to a random shop that was selling chopsticks and other expensive items, did a little bit of browsing (totally messed up by the time difference) and then zonked right out on the benches beside the store. We woke up by 11pm to check into our 1AM, 4 hour flight from Beijing to Hong Kong. This is us trying to stay awake!
We finally arrived! It was such a great marathon of a trip but we're so fortunate to have such an amazing send-off. I always found that whenever I was coming overseas, people would always open themselves up to me before I departed and this was no different. I am so thankful for my family and friends and all we've already encountered!
When we got into Tuen Mun (another hour on the bus from the airport) we got off the bus and we had 2 bags we checked (MONSTERS), 2 backpacks (HUGE), 2 carry-ons(semi-huge) and our purses(I'm a man I swear), and we got dropped off at the closest stop. There was no sidewalks so we flagged down a taxi. We didn't realize the place we are staying at (Thank you Aunt Connie & Uncle Steven, we're so lucky to have your place!) was right around the corner. So the guy drove in a circle for a while before he's like uhh I think I have to just let you off here. We had to walk up a huge flight of stairs onto an overpass then down another set of stairs with all this luggage. I was hesitant to ask for help cause my parents really made it out that people in Hong Kong are gonna find my hairy face weird, but instead there was a lady who came over to offer us assistance. She showed me where to get internet if I needed to look up where we were going, and found one of her co-workers who could help cause she had no idea what building I was talking about. We finally found it, and got into the building, where our key didn't work... but the front desk lady came up to help us. The amount of support and kindness has been amazing! It was such a beautiful way to be welcomed into the country, and I know that we're supposed to be here together.
A year ago, after an 8 year layoff and dating for about 4 months I asked Jen if she wanted to smooch on a different continent... she said YES! Then after 9 months of planning, my darling and I are finally here giving birth to our overseas adventure! YAY! :)
A year ago, after an 8 year layoff and dating for about 4 months I asked Jen if she wanted to smooch on a different continent... she said YES! Then after 9 months of planning, my darling and I are finally here giving birth to our overseas adventure! YAY! :)