Monday, May 17, 2010

I'm Back!

Just a quick post this morning to let you know I made it home safely. It was a whirlwind trip that didn't begin until Friday, due to inclement weather in Grand Rapids and Chicago on Thursday. So my itinerary looked like this:

Grand Rapids to Chicago on Friday
5 hour layover - transfer to International Terminal and check in at Korean Air
13.5 hour flight to Seoul - 2.5 hour nap (which is pretty good for me!)
Enter South Korea through their customs and try to explain why I can't provide an address where I would be staying, since my stay in Seoul was only 4 hours!
Check back in at Korean Air, go to gate and wait for sister
Reunite with sister and darling daughter and wait for flight home
11 hour flight to LA on which my sister slept 7.5 hours and Nina slept 9 hours - me? 2 good solid hours!
Enter back into America through customs and try to explain to the immigration officer why my passport picture doesn't really look like me
Go through immigration with Kim and new daughter - 45 minutes
Check into United flight for Chicago
Dinner and wait for flight - 3 hours
Fly to Chicago - 4 hour flight - 20 minutes of sleep
Arrive in Chicago, get cab to my sister's condo - arrive at 1:45 a.m. Sunday morning
Sleep until 7:30 a.m., shower, dress, eat breakfast, have my nephews meet their new sister
Drive home at noon - back in Grand Haven by 3:00

All in all, I flew for 29.5 hours, had 13 hours of layovers, slept for nearly 5 hours of flight time and had a good six hours on land...

So, just in case you thought I was suffering, I took this picture to show how nice my "accommodations" were! This picture was of the seat next to me - very nice!




And just so you can see how I could manipulate my comfort level...




And here is little Nina! What a doll - I had such deja vu from my twins adoption - she is spunky most of the time, shy when she meets strangers, has hugs and kisses a plenty (and the occasional lick which she reserves for her mother!) and was quite the trooper on the trip. She oohed and ahhed at the sites in Chicago as we drove through the city to get on the Sky Way home.




Okay, so now you know I made it home - I am running out the door for my next adventure, so I'll catch up with you all later! Thank you for your prayers and concern. God was with me all the way!

8 comments:

  1. Kristen-

    You need to get your passport picture replaced with the picture here on your blog.

    Glad you're back.

    Have fun and stay busy - Luke 19:13

    -The Orange Mailman

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  2. Thanks for the suggestion, Orange. That might help...

    Hey, do you still like church plants? If you ever wander down south, stop by International Aid and say "hi" to Dave. He'll tell you all about it...

    Better wear the prayer shawl so he'll recognize you...

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  3. Aww Nina looks adorable!! Nice accommodations too. Were you riding in an Airbus? :) Just wondering. Glad you're back and that you had a safe trip!

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  4. My sister flew me in business class on Korean Air. I don't think business class or first class is that big of an advantage on intercontinental flights, unless you're really big and tall and need the extra space. But for overseas, it's incredible! You can stretch out and most people sleep the whole time. I watched a few movies and read. When the seat is stretched out like a bed, it angles down a bit, so you feel like you're laying uphill and trying not to slide off...not that I am complaining, really. It was very extravagant! I think Mr. Wisen is in trouble now that I've flown business class...

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  5. I am so bummed. I was really hoping you'd get to experience an earthquake while you were in LA!

    (Nina is a doll!)

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  6. That was a whirlwind trip, but what alittle doll Nina is. Glad you trip was so comfy and safe.

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  7. Wow! What an adventure! And what an adorable face! Her heart os on her sleeve! Glad you are back. Of course, you have to have a few whirlwinds swirling around you here just about now....

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  8. That is a LOT of flying!! wow! My dad and I have both found that on super long flights, a half of Ambien will be the ticket to resting on a flight. I've also found out that if you're on Cypro due to an unfortunate bug from Africa, DON'T TAKE AMBIEN!! ;-). Just a little pharmacological insight into your great post! Glad your trip went well!

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