The exhausting wrapping up is complete. Not a small task even though only the two younger girls are going down with me initially. Kier will come in a few weeks after her high school exams are over. Paul’s coming for a number of longer visits because he can’t put his feet up for that long, he’d go squirrely.
I continue to underestimate how much closure has to happen when we leave for half a year, even for one person. Then we get to multiply it by 4. Take our 7 year old, for example. She has a collections of cards like it’s Valentine’s Day. She had to say good-bye to all her teachers, classmates, her bus driver, everyone on the bus, the teams she is on (they made sweet cards for her), her coach, dance teachers, had a sending prayer at church, had good-bye sleepovers with her friends, a goodbye dinner with Grandma and Grandpa with all her favorite foods, and topped it off with an epic night scene, wailing with a snowman in the front yard to say good-bye to the snow in a volume that made neighbors come outside to see if they should be calling child services. I stopped trying to coax her in and instead sat on the front porch as she draped her sobbing body over big boulders of snow. It’s her process and she needed to say good bye to winter. Who was I to diminish her feelings by saying, “But winter is cold and windy and I have to scrape my car, and did I mention cold?” Eventually she was done and we went in and had hot chocolate, but she made it clear she didn’t want to talk about it. So we didn’t.
Since we only started packing for our hiatus a day and a half before we left, so I’m thinking it went rather well. It had become an ongoing joke at my work, people asking me if I’d started packing for the trip or bought our plane tickets. It’s true that last time we did this trip I had a bit more anxiety about the unknown, so started gathering things in July. I had no idea if we were going to an empty house, so I packed inflatable beds, sheets, some basic kitchen necessaties like a sharp knife and a rice cooker (Asian genes, remember?). Basically in a few hockey bags I could have set up a homestead anywhere as long as we had a roof and occasional electricity.
Type A moms are curious how one packs for half a year in a developing country with three kids. We pack toned down clothes, comfortable shoes, a mini over-the-counter pharmacy, and compact games. We take our girl supplies with us. From experience we have learned that unfamiliarity in this area does not foster cultural tolerance but rather feelings that range from mild grumpiness to open hostility about the limited product choices. We know our limits.
This time around we packed much lighter, Cali’s jr. hockey bag and another smaller bag. Everyone is entitled to one non-scrutinized item, regardless of practicality. Cali (age 7) packed a backpack of teddy bear accessories for Pinky, who goes everywhere with her. Madi (12) chose a small dvd player. Kier’s (16) non-negotiable is her guitar and a whack of music books. The most significant entertainment item is that they’ll each bring their ipods for music and apps. I can still beat the 7 year old at Scoops and Snail Mail, but my days are numbered.
Due to Paul’s finely honed hotwire skills, we are in a sweeeet hotel. We have lotion described as, “A warm blend of sparkling bergamot and fresh ginger, clean musk notes of white tea, amid spicy nuances of vetiver and nutmeg.” Do we as a people really demand that much decadence from one once of lotion? Staying in these hotels prior to departure makes the contrast of where we are going that much more pronounced.
The girls are swimming. Paul gave the youngest two the choice of anything they’d like for lunch, and they both requested McDonalds. That’s right, I said it. I’ve always wanted to be one of those snooty cougar moms who could say in the tone, “Oh, my child won’t eat that crap at McDonalds,” but alas, that’s just not in the cards for me. My claim to fame is that my kids will eat crappy food with smiles on their faces.
The girls have also taken their last shower where they can swallow the water, thrown their last bit of tp into the toilet, brushed their teeth with tap water, and taken a bucket of ice for granted…at least for a few months.
Thanks to the fellow who strapped baggies of chemicals into his briefs a few days ago, we’ll be going to the airport extra early tomorrow. We’re up at three, so I’m to bed.
Thanks to everyone for the kind words and wishing us well. We’re finally on our way.
Random kid’s quotes of the day:
Kier: I am not a Whack-a-Mole.
Cali, referring to herself: Step away from the masterpiece.
Kier: Is this what they refer to as a ‘What would Jesus do moment?’
The Italian dinner before leaving for Guate early the next morning.
