What a whirlwind! Malaysia, China, L.A., Boston, Vermont…all in the same week! After leaving Malaysia we met up
with another squad in China and we all flew home together. Let me
tell you—-70 World Racers on a plane is too much for any flight team to handle.
There was a whole lot of clapping and cheering as we landed…I’m sure everyone
else on the plane was wondering what in the world was going on—why landing a plane would be such a big deal. We hopped off the plane at LAX, made it through customs (the officer was super rude to me and after chastising me about a million random things he said “Welcome to the USA” with a scowl. Right…Thanks, sir.
But as we gathered in
the airport it just felt like our squad was splitting up for another month in a new
country…I just wasn’t sure what country it was! But my friend’s sister has an apartment in L.A. so I spent the weekend there with a group of 7
friends “Team USA” so it didn’t feel quite
like goodbye yet.
As we walked into the
apartment I noticed she had a bowl of Christmas Hershey kisses sitting on the
coffee table. I freaked out… “Guys, I don’t know if you noticed but there is FREE chocolate sitting right
here in the open! No one’s even guarding it!” I realize this is not a normal reaction. I ate about 10 of
them and a few in the middle of the night. I also had to do a little dance of excitement as it dawned on me that it
really is the Christmas season. (It didn’t really feel like it since we were in
90 degree weather the last 4 months). Later I went to use a hair dryer and
couldn’t figure out what adapter I needed to use…”What kind of plug is this?” I
thought. “I don’t even have a converter for this”. DUH! I was seriously
confused. It’s taken a while, but I’m
adapting well over all. With occasional questions like, “Wait, I can drink the
water straight from the sink?”
My body is still
confused from the time change (13 hr. difference) which is why I’m awake at 3
am writing a blog! It sounds like it will take a while to get back to
‘normal’…whatever that looks like for me now.
We had a great weekend
in L.A. and went to a few places we had talked about visiting all year, which
was so much fun…went to church at the L.A. Dream Center, went to the Santa
Monica pier…had MEXICAN food and PIZZA and ICE CREAM. Such wonderful things you
take for granted! We even went to a Panera and I had my first bagel in 11
months. I whispered to my friend, “I can’t believe it’s been over a year since
I’ve been in a Panera!” I knew I couldn’t say it too loudly or everyone would
look at me and wonder, “Where in the world has that girl been for a year?”
Oh, you have no idea.
As my plane landed in
Boston I remembered what it’s like to travel all by yourself. They changed my
flight’s luggage carousel about 6 times so I wandered around Logan airport
wondering how I was going to find my bag and find my family and borrow a cell phone from a friendly looking stranger (I mean, we’re talking Boston— so this is no small task J). Next thing I know my sister runs up to me
and my parents are running behind her with a big “Welcome Home” banner. (They
had been waiting for an hour at the bottom of the escalator. Of course, they
were told the wrong escalator). J It was quite a fun
greeting and as we drove across the border into Vermont it started snowing!
I am so grateful for God’s protection this
year and bringing me back to the United States safely and in one piece. Thanksgiving was wonderful, we had a Christmas decorating party, and I had an incredible time sharing at my home church on Sunday, greeted by so many warm smiles and encouraging words.
I think
Dorothy said it best…
There’s no place like
home. J
