We're currently sitting in the Tokyo Airport. The majority of the trip is over, we've survived both a three hour flight and a thirteen hour flight. Our last flight is from here to Kaohsiung and is estimated to take four hours.
The hardest part has been this last layover. Getting off the plane and realizing that we still had at least eight more hours left of traveling was a bummer. But, it is what it is, and we are glad to be safely here.
I will update more once we get to the dorm.
The dude abides.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
53 hours...
It's amazing how much getting ready for this trip is reminding me of my childhood. Yesterday I talked about burnt cookies. This morning, I went to make the kids some breakfast and found that we are out of milk. Awesome! I can make up some of the powered milk that I have in the cupboard and use that! Sweet.
I made up the milk and tasted it. It was like going on a trip in a time machine. Here's a confession-- when I was little, I used to climb under Jen's crib, steal her bottle, and drink the whole thing. For some reason, Mom only used powdered skim milk in bottles, so tasting the stuff this morning was like sucking on that bottle.
I once took Kristin's bottle, but I didn't drink it. No, instead I sprayed it into her hair and pretended to "style" it. Did you know that when milk dries it has better hold than any gel I've found to date? Boy, I got in trouble for that.
Wait, is that Babs I hear?
I made up the milk and tasted it. It was like going on a trip in a time machine. Here's a confession-- when I was little, I used to climb under Jen's crib, steal her bottle, and drink the whole thing. For some reason, Mom only used powdered skim milk in bottles, so tasting the stuff this morning was like sucking on that bottle.
I once took Kristin's bottle, but I didn't drink it. No, instead I sprayed it into her hair and pretended to "style" it. Did you know that when milk dries it has better hold than any gel I've found to date? Boy, I got in trouble for that.
Wait, is that Babs I hear?
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Three days until we leave. We are slowly but surely packing up and getting ready. Last year we were allowed three bags per person, so we packed up 12 totes and were on our way. Boy, did we learn! This time we are only allowed two bags each. The funny thing is, we only have five that are filled. I guess this is good, it leaves room for more toys for the kids. The two five bags in the front are empty... for now!
One link left. This is it. MOVING WEEK! 
In preparation for the trip, I need to make sure that I leave the cupboards as bare as possible. I am on a mission to use up all of the consumables, which isn't hard with two little ones. This morning, we made chocolate chip cookies. We didn't have any chips, so I guess really really just made cookies.
Lizzie as always was "helping" me. See the butter on her lip? I caught her licking it off of everything. GROSS! The shirt she is wearing is one of her favorites. I got it in Georgia at the second-hand store that Manana and I used to go to. It was 1 lari!
Sidetracked by something else, the house began to fill with a smell that transported me back to my childhood. I burned the second batch of cookies! It seems as if we always burned one batch of cookies as kids. The smell kinda put me in the holiday spirit. :)Thursday, July 23, 2009
Ready, Set...
The FedEx man delivered our passports today, complete with our visas. I feel so much better with them back in my hands! We also received our authenticated marriage license, kids' birth certificates, and driver's licenses. These last few weeks seem to be taking forever. In one week, we will be on the second leg of our trip. We fly from Orlando to Chicago, Chicago to Tokyo, Tokyo to Kaohsiung.
I can't wait!
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Links to Taiwan, 10 days
Same view as last time, chain is much smaller!http://schmidtadventure.blogspot.com/2009/05/links-to-taiwan.html
You can see the writing on the chains. Triple exclamation marks means we're really excited!!!10 days...
Friday, July 17, 2009
It Was Us!
Got word this morning why there is a delay in our work permits. As I said in my previous post, I've provided every document requested of me. The problem is that more documentation is needed! Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea culpa!
Stress. That is what is created when the first thing I see in the morning is an email from Taiwan. We are 12 days from leaving. I just spoke with TECO and our visitor visas and passports should be in the mail either today or Monday. Hopefully I will have them by Thursday, July 23rd.
Packing. I have packed two bags. The first is our winter clothes (jeans, sweaters, long sleeve shirts). The second is our work clothes. After all of that packing, I'm beginning to realize that we really don't have much.
I made the kids pick out seven outfits. I have packed all of their other clothes. This has been especially difficult with Lizzie, considering that she will wear seven different outfits in one day. I wish I knew my Mom's secret in making us wear only one. I don't remember how she did it, but I KNOW we were not allowed to change as much as my daughter does. It gives new meaning to that song line, "You \ change your mind \ like a girl \ changes clothes".
Because we are unsure of our living arrangement when we arrive to Taiwan, we have purchased some small items just to have... forks, spoons, knives, plastic cups, plates and bowls. We have also got new towels and have decided on sheets. Taiwan is not like Georgia, we can get what we need there at Costco, Ikea or Carrefores. But I don't want to get there and not have a clean towel. Oh, and we bought some toilet paper to take with us. Better to be safe than sorry!
Stress. That is what is created when the first thing I see in the morning is an email from Taiwan. We are 12 days from leaving. I just spoke with TECO and our visitor visas and passports should be in the mail either today or Monday. Hopefully I will have them by Thursday, July 23rd.
Packing. I have packed two bags. The first is our winter clothes (jeans, sweaters, long sleeve shirts). The second is our work clothes. After all of that packing, I'm beginning to realize that we really don't have much.
I made the kids pick out seven outfits. I have packed all of their other clothes. This has been especially difficult with Lizzie, considering that she will wear seven different outfits in one day. I wish I knew my Mom's secret in making us wear only one. I don't remember how she did it, but I KNOW we were not allowed to change as much as my daughter does. It gives new meaning to that song line, "You \ change your mind \ like a girl \ changes clothes".
Because we are unsure of our living arrangement when we arrive to Taiwan, we have purchased some small items just to have... forks, spoons, knives, plastic cups, plates and bowls. We have also got new towels and have decided on sheets. Taiwan is not like Georgia, we can get what we need there at Costco, Ikea or Carrefores. But I don't want to get there and not have a clean towel. Oh, and we bought some toilet paper to take with us. Better to be safe than sorry!
Sunday, July 12, 2009
BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Second death near Indonesia mine
BBC NEWS Asia-Pacific Second death near Indonesia mine
Whew! Early in our search for a new school, we found this quaint little school located in the cloud forest on a remote island in Indonesia. We actually made it to the final interviews. Then we decided that it was not for us.
Through research, I had found out about the two people who were killed in 2002. They were both teachers from the USA.
The pay was excellent. We felt that in proportion to the risk, however, it was not nearly enough. We passed on this opportunity.
BOY AM I GLAD!
Whew! Early in our search for a new school, we found this quaint little school located in the cloud forest on a remote island in Indonesia. We actually made it to the final interviews. Then we decided that it was not for us.
Through research, I had found out about the two people who were killed in 2002. They were both teachers from the USA.
The pay was excellent. We felt that in proportion to the risk, however, it was not nearly enough. We passed on this opportunity.
BOY AM I GLAD!
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Life Takes Visa... so does this trip
"Please kindly plan your trip to get your resident visa"
That one line in an email that I received last Friday has sent my world spinning. My resident visa? My trip? What?
Okay, I admit it, I should have seen this coming. I've done a lot of research. I've gotten paperwork for just about everything... just about.
For reasons undisclosed there has been a delay in the processing of all of the new teacher's work permits. None of us realized this until it landed on us. I am glad to say, in pure Bart Simpson style, "I didn't do it". All of my paperwork was in on time. But the school works as one unit and if one person is missing something, we are all missing something. I'm not pointing any fingers, I'm just saying I didn't do it.
With less than three weeks remaining before we leave, we are all charged with the task of securing our visas, a process that takes at least two weeks to accomplish. During that time, we have to surrender our passports. In other words, if there is any delay, we can't go. No passport=no trip.
The nearest TECO (Taipei Economic and Cultural Office) is in Miami. A six hour drive, one-way. The lady at TECO has been nice enough, explaining all that I have to do all three times I have called her. She was very nice to let me know that it is not worth the six hour drive, as it would make no difference in the processing time. I will be using FedEx.
So, fingers crossed, by next Friday our visas should be processed. By next Tuesday, July 21, we should have our passports back in our hands. In plenty of time for our trip... I need to go knock some wood.
That one line in an email that I received last Friday has sent my world spinning. My resident visa? My trip? What?
Okay, I admit it, I should have seen this coming. I've done a lot of research. I've gotten paperwork for just about everything... just about.
For reasons undisclosed there has been a delay in the processing of all of the new teacher's work permits. None of us realized this until it landed on us. I am glad to say, in pure Bart Simpson style, "I didn't do it". All of my paperwork was in on time. But the school works as one unit and if one person is missing something, we are all missing something. I'm not pointing any fingers, I'm just saying I didn't do it.
With less than three weeks remaining before we leave, we are all charged with the task of securing our visas, a process that takes at least two weeks to accomplish. During that time, we have to surrender our passports. In other words, if there is any delay, we can't go. No passport=no trip.
The nearest TECO (Taipei Economic and Cultural Office) is in Miami. A six hour drive, one-way. The lady at TECO has been nice enough, explaining all that I have to do all three times I have called her. She was very nice to let me know that it is not worth the six hour drive, as it would make no difference in the processing time. I will be using FedEx.
So, fingers crossed, by next Friday our visas should be processed. By next Tuesday, July 21, we should have our passports back in our hands. In plenty of time for our trip... I need to go knock some wood.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Packing Emotions
We are now 25 days away from our scheduled trip to Taiwan. I have packed NOTHING. If you know me, you know that this is completely out of character. I always do things as fastidiously as possible. I am a planner. So why the lack of packing?
I've gotten all of our luggage together and have pulled things out to start packing. But something has happened that I was not expecting. Every time I put out the bags and the space bags, I am overwhelmed by anxiety. I'm not scared, it is more like a scab is pulled off of a very deep wound. I am overcome by sadness. I think to myself, "How did we get out?"
What's even more funny is that the sight of the bags don't do it to me, it's the smell of the spacebags. I am flooded with the memories of having to pick what to take and what to leave. We left so much... my grandmother's blankets, the quilts that I made, clothes, shoes, toys. Ugh! Reliving it makes my chest heavy. The only slight relief that I get is in knowing that some of our stuff went to the refugees while others went to my good friend Manana.
There's a sore subject. I am a very reserved person. I have friends, but I am very reserved about making CLOSE friends. I am amazed that in the two months that I was in Georgia I was able to become so close to someone. She is now my family, a sister. In some ways, she is even closer than a sister. We keep in contact, but it is difficult. We were torn apart. Contact opens old wounds. It sucks. I will see her again. I look forward to that day.
So now I'm off to start packing some clothes. I figure it is a safe bet to pack the winter clothes. Floridian winter clothes. Is that an oxymoron?
I've gotten all of our luggage together and have pulled things out to start packing. But something has happened that I was not expecting. Every time I put out the bags and the space bags, I am overwhelmed by anxiety. I'm not scared, it is more like a scab is pulled off of a very deep wound. I am overcome by sadness. I think to myself, "How did we get out?"
What's even more funny is that the sight of the bags don't do it to me, it's the smell of the spacebags. I am flooded with the memories of having to pick what to take and what to leave. We left so much... my grandmother's blankets, the quilts that I made, clothes, shoes, toys. Ugh! Reliving it makes my chest heavy. The only slight relief that I get is in knowing that some of our stuff went to the refugees while others went to my good friend Manana.
There's a sore subject. I am a very reserved person. I have friends, but I am very reserved about making CLOSE friends. I am amazed that in the two months that I was in Georgia I was able to become so close to someone. She is now my family, a sister. In some ways, she is even closer than a sister. We keep in contact, but it is difficult. We were torn apart. Contact opens old wounds. It sucks. I will see her again. I look forward to that day.
So now I'm off to start packing some clothes. I figure it is a safe bet to pack the winter clothes. Floridian winter clothes. Is that an oxymoron?
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