Asia & Chocolate

the ATL

So I've been slow blogging lately. Too many fun things going on in my life - I need to find balance, I think.

Last weekend Josh and I were in Atlanta to see some of my friends from Indonesia who were in town for her husband's job. It's not every day that friends from around the world are a mere 4 hours away. Best thing is that my brother and sister-in-law live there and Josh and I could stay with them.

Saturday was the Georgia Aquarium and the World of Coca Cola. Lots and lots of walking. So tiring, but fun. The aquarium is amazing - I loved it!

And then Saturday night was dinner with brother and sister and then hanging out until the wee hours of the morning. We had such a good time hanging out with them. I love that I have so many siblings in my family, but I especially love the fact that they are so much fun. (This weekend Josh and I got to hang out with my brother Michael and his fiancee, Katie. It'll be so much fun when we get together for holidays - love it!) Anyway, hanging out with Jonathan and Emily was great. Wish they lived closer so we could do it more often, but that's OK. Just gives us a good reason to visit Atlanta.

Sunday morning was Buckhead Church. Josh had never experienced anything like it - and I loved it, as always. Worship with Steve Fee was awesome and my Indonesian friends got to go with us. It was just the best of all worlds: part of my Indonesian family, part of my real family and Josh all at church together. So fun. 

Here are some pictures of the weekend ...

here's to ...

• making it home after 36 hours (one delayed flight, one missed flight, two flights on standby and getting home at 3 a.m.)
• sleeping for 10 solid hours in my own bed
• taking a wonderful hot shower
• drinking Indonesian coffee in the afternoon
• working from home
• updating my blog with all of the fun pictures and stories from my trip (sometime later this afternoon)
• wading through 333 e-mails in my work inbox
• seeing my family
• being able to wash AND DRY my clothes in clean, soapy water
• central A/C
• chatting with friends
• making memories with my favorite people on the other side of the world

I made it!

So, I'm back in the land of Indonesia and it's been sooo good to see old friends. They are such a family to me.

When I arrived, though, I was told that my roommate (whom I am staying with) was having emergency surgery. AGH! We had all these plans and she's the director of the drama department and the play is today. Well, she will not be directing it now, but we're hoping to be able to take her to see it tonight. She is doing well and will hopefully be home tomorrow. Always be flexible, right? :)

Anyway, I am glad she is going to be OK ... hopefully she'll get to feeling better in a couple days and we can have some fun this weekend. There are other friends here for me to hang out with, but we're the closest from when I was here before.

OK, just wanted to give an update. I've got lots to do today and need to get ready for the play.

It's good to be back. :)

Literally, around the world ...

Tips for traveling around the world, literally around the world (trips of 20+ hours and 2+ legs):

1. Pack a converter/adapter kit. You never know what kind of voltage or outlets other places will have.
2. If you travel overseas, invest in certain appliances. For example, I have a straightening iron that works on 220 voltage, so I don’t have to risk blowing up my American straightening iron when I go to other countries.
3. I ALWAYS pack a change of clothes (something cute!) for when I’m on my last leg of the trip. That way I get off the plane on the other side looking like I just spent 5 hours traveling, not 35. This also helps if my bags get lost. I’m not stuck in the same clothes for days. See #7, also.
4. I utilize the transit hotels in international airports. I always check to see if the airports I’m flying through have these. And if I don’t have time to get a room and take a nap/shower, I will at least use the showers and feel refreshed before I get on that last leg of the trip. Once again looking like I’ve just been traveling for five hours and not 35.
5. I take all of my toiletries with me on the plane, of course they must be in 3 oz. containers, or less, and in a gallon Ziploc bag. This can be a little time-consuming because I have to change some containers, but this allows me to take a shower while traveling, and if my bags get lost, I’m not stuck without deodorant or my toothbrush.
6. I always pack some kind of portable alarm. You never know when you’ll get stranded somewhere and need to sleep – and want to make sure you wake up before the next flight. I have done this many times in transit lounges. I’m always thankful for my cell phone alarm.
7. When I leave my house I wear all black lounge-ish clothing. I want to wear the closest thing to pajamas that I can get away with because I’ll be sleeping a lot for the long leg overseas. I wear black because I don’t want to draw attention to myself when traveling as an American through the places I travel. J Maybe I’m a tad paranoid, but it works for me. This plan also helps if my bags get lost. These double as pj’s once I get to my destination, in case my bags don’t show up.
8. I always wear flip flops when traveling for a long time. This cuts down on time at security with removing shoes. It also allows me to kick them off easily once on the plane and relaxing. BUT, do NOT forget to bring socks because some airplanes are cold.
9. I always have a plethora of ipods and reading material. It just helps to pass the time.
10. I wear one of those travel wallet things that go around your neck. This is where I keep my passport, ID’s and some money. I keep it on my person at all times. This cuts down on the risk of having it stolen or losing it. I also keep a stash of cash in another bag, just in case I DO get separated from my wallet. And just in case something happens to my wallet, I keep a copy of my passport in my other bag.
11. Never travel without Kleenex and baby wipes. You never know when you’ll need them. I like to wipe my face and hands periodically while on the plane. And I don’t always want to crawl over my neighbor to go to the bathroom. You also never know what kind of bathroom you’ll meet in other countries.      

 [When this posts I'll be somewhere over the Pacific Ocean ... on my way to JAKARTA!] 

What do you do when you travel?

possibility

I got my new passport today (since the old one expired last month). Kind of felt naked without it - like what if I needed to quickly exit the country?

I'm now free to roam about the world again. Yippee!

thriller ...

What's a night in Berryville without some cosmic bowling? Tonight the whole crew went out to dinner and had some bowling fun, evidenced by the rad t-shirts Seth & I are wearing. Music selections included lots of Michael Jackson and Elvis. Good times.

My game was soooo off. I bowled a 76 and then 100. I miss wii bowling. :)

It's back home tomorrow and I'm ready for the weekend! Nothing much going on this weekend, other than going to run 8 miles on Saturday. Looking forward to that. I'm still enjoying my new shoes and nike+ system. Last weekend we did 11 miles, and I felt pretty good during and after. Bring on the half marathon - only two weeks to go!

out of here ...

Greetings from Berryville, Virginia! I'm hanging out here the rest of the week for a seminar on book manufacturing. I always need to learn more about how books are made since it's a key part of what I do. There are other people here from publishing companies around the country and I'm looking forward to getting to know more of them tonight at dinner. I've got one co-worker with me and we've spent the whole day traveling. Now we've got some down time before dinner - time to catch up on e-mail and relax.

I love to travel and get out of town even if it is for work. :)

Squealing, giggling & glee ...

I spent this past weekend with 14 sixth-grade girls. It was so much fun and so busy! If I wasn't teaching them in one of our sessions, then I was having one-on-one sessions with them. And if we weren't eating, then we were going door-to-door collecting canned foods. And if we weren't running around playing, then we were singing and hanging out at the church. Whew! What a weekend.

It all started for me at 4 a.m. on Friday and finished last night at 9 when I got home. And there was about 2 hours of down time in that whole scenario. But you know what? I loved it! I love meeting new people who have the same passions that I do: sharing Christ with kids. And I met others who have a passion for ministry around the world, which you all know is my other passion. And then I got to spend time with 14 great girls who want to learn more about living in relationship with Christ. It was refreshing in the midst of the crazy busyness.

I've realized once again how important it is for me to get out of the city and do something different. I come back feeling so rejuvenated.

Another perk from the weekend: STARBUCKS in the Nashville airport. We have moved up in the world and I'm so happy! :)

packing ...

I have to wake up at 4 in the morning. WHAT?!?!?

Yep, I'm off to Michigan to play in the snow with 13 six grade girls. Just kidding - we're going to spend the weekend together learning about God and sharing life together. I'm going to lead a Disciple Now group at my former youth pastor's church.

I'm excited to be doing something different this weekend and getting to spend it with kids. I love kids. And I REALLY like sixth graders.

Speaking of kids, one of my best friend's had a baby girl on Monday. She's so cute and her name is Lila. Adorable. I can't wait to see her again when I get back. I get to be Aunt Laura!

I'd better pack - 4 is only 5.5 hours away! AGH!!!!!

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