We left Jakarta around two in the afternoon on Sunday, flew five hours, (mostly north - a bit east) and had about a three and a half hour layover in Taipei.
We left Taipei just before midnight on Sunday, continuing east, crossing the international date line on Monday morning, but suddenly it was back to Sunday morning. Mind you, I don't know exactly what time we crossed because I was squirming around in my seat trying to sleep. But that is how the international date line works, when you cross it going East you stay in the same time zone, but go back a day. So we landed in Vancouver on Sunday evening. How do nineteen hours of travel only add up to five? Strange feeling for someone for whom the numbers always have to add up and make sense or balance.Did you know that when you follow the International date line south it goes right by New Zealand? It somehow surprised me.
Well, as you can see, we're home and if my geography lesson is boring, I'll blame it on jet lag.
I also have to tell you that Vancouver airport is one of the nicest airport to land in!!! Maybe you have never landed in the International Terminal - take a trip and find out how wonderful it is to come home . . . or visit!
I'm done loading my pictures onto my computer and will definitely be posting some more about the great time we had. But for now I will just list some things I'm grateful for in our part of the globe:
- driving on the right side of the road - in orderly fashion
- steps on a stairway all being the same height - with no surprises
- being able to run my toothbrush under the tap water
- blending in with everyone else
- not being taken advantage of or stared at because I'm white
- honest business transactions
- everyone (even if the government has to help) can sleep on a mattress in a dry place
- knowing the eggs you buy in the supermarket will be fresh
- clean streets and garbage removal (no neighbors looking through your trash either)
- knowing that when you head to the grocery store to pick up mayonnaise or butter or whatever you need, it will be there
- no random power outages
- no little lizards (cheechuks) making themselves at home in your house (perfectly harmless -yes, eat bugs - good, but . . .)
- an overall feeling clean, rather than sweaty and clothes stretching and sagging with the humidity
- quiet nights
8 comments:
so glad you're back safe and had an amazing time... looking forward to seeing more pics and hearing more stories soon!
I think you should also say that you're glad there are no lizards in your blender, right?
EWWWWW!!!
Welcome Home! I missed you guys!
Anneliese, what a different life over there eh? I had to think of that song.. .Please don't send me to Africa. . .I was humming it. . but adding in Jakarta instead.
I agree with the terminal in Vancouver it really is lovely.. .otherwise, I have never even been on one missions trip . .but now. .I was thinking that sometime .. us MGCC should go to Jakarta. . you just never know.
Welcome Home Anneliese. I'm looking forward to seeing your pictures! What a gift to be able to travel when your children and grandchildren are on the other side of the International time line! Years ago the cost would have been totally prohibative. We're all thankful you made it back safely.
I always love coming home as well...and agree that YVR is the best airport of them all! Welcome back...and we look forward to more pcitures and stories of your travels.
HI Aunt Lisa,
Glad that you arrived home safely! I loved all the posts about your trip and I look forward to seeing more pics on your future posts. And thanks for the explanation about the time zones - it actually made sense the way you explained it :)
Lv, Bonnie
Wow...the things we take for granted here. I don't give fresh eggs in the grocery store a second thought (but I do check for cracks:)).
Glad you are home safe and had the chance to visit your daughter and her family.
And sometimes this life becomes so normal to me that I wonder if it really is all that different from Canada!!! Thanks for the reality check :-)
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