Being Home

Being home has been wonderful:

• We get to see friends and family again.
• We have a large washing machine and a dryer that actually dries our clothes (and I get to wash AND dry at the same time!)
• We get to be in our own beds again.
• The monitors on our computers (versus our laptops) seem humongous.
• I get to bump into friendly faces when out and about (bumped into one friend at the airport when we returned home and one friend the next day at the market). 
• We get to navigate a health system we are familiar with (no matter how much we like to complain about it). 
• Shopping is faster as we know where items are and what they are called (and we're familiar with the brand names).
• We have much more and don't have to "go without" (ketchup, extra blankets, stockpiles of toilet paper, canned soups, etc.)
• Access to all YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, etc. (no longer getting, "I'm sorry that is not authorised to play in your country" type of errors).
• Ability to understand instructions, websites, answers. Not just in understanding the language, but in the culture of how things are done. 
• Feeling comfortable I'm not going to make a huge embarrassing mistake at all times.

I loved coming home to
see fall in full swing,
we didn't miss all of it!

But, it is amazing to me how much I miss our lifestyle in Berlin:

• Not living in excess (only buying what we really need versus what we want), learning to live a more simple lifestyle.
• Reading more instead of watching so much TV or other media.
• Going out and exploring something new almost every day. Living in an area where we have not gotten "bored" or jaded, but a place that seems to sparkle because it's still fresh and new to us.
• Never having a need for our own car.
• Being able to walk to the market and to dinner whenever we wanted to.
• Having access to new foods all the time.
• Hearing the church bells ring all day.
• Enjoying history (never been a fan of history, but I found living in an area steeped with history brought to life an interest in the past). 
• Feeling freedom. Free to do what we want to do and see and not what *should*. Free from outside pressures and opinions. Just really able to focus on what our family needs at each moment.

I'm sure these are not complete lists. More will come to mind as we get over our jet lag and are able to spend more time reflecting on our experiences. But this is what comes to mind at the moment.

So, as we settle back into our routines here, we will strive to find a way to keep some of these lifestyle changes, when possible. I want to find the compromise between a life of excess and a life of simplicity. I think, for me, the biggest surprise is that I ended up enjoying living in another country way more than I though possible. I definitely enjoyed it more than traveling. I do enjoy traveling, but it's exhausting. Living somewhere new was a bit slower paced and yet filled with so many new experiences. It was truly a fantastic three months. 

Day 95: Traveling Home

Today's the day. We return home.

We originally thought we'd take the Tube to the airport. The cost is way less and yet, only about 5 minutes longer than taking a taxi. However, when faced with taking those large bags up and down all those stairs and hallways, we opted for a taxi instead. Ok, Uber car.

Side note: It actually didn't cost that much. It was well worth it. And, just so you know, it takes about 45 minutes of aggressive driving to get to the open road. Once on the freeway, it's only about 15 minutes to the airport. After this hour, Xander is feeling a bit ill from the stops/starts and tight curves out of the city.

Hello, Heathrow!

Chris digitally checks in. We take our luggage to get tagged... and, well... two of them are over weight. One is REALLY too heavy. We quickly take from one and put into another, re-weighing and re-packing. The gentleman behind the counter wants the bags to be around 24 kg, even though the limit is closer to 22kg. One of them was 27kg, so it was a bit of repositioning to get it working right. We could have left the "as is" but it would have cost us an extra $200, so it's worth it to fix.

Side story: During this time, the clocks turned 11am. The gentleman helping us asked us to please be quiet for the next minute. All counters went quiet, an announcement came over the PA system asking for a moment of silence in support for Paris. After the moment is over, computers restart and business begins again.

Our bags are checked in. We have a little bit of time. I get water for the kids while Chris heads into the Tube station area to turn in our Oyster Cards (you get your deposit per card back and any outstanding balance). Well worth doing.

Time to go through security. As we enter the line, the woman checking tickets looks at Venice on my arm and asks if she's ok. We mention she's a little ill and will be ok. The woman asks if we would like a wheelchair. When we hesitate, the woman informs us that the walk to terminal B is about a 20 minute walk. Uh, yeah, we would LOVE a wheelchair! There is no way Venice can walk that far. Thank you for the suggestion and information on how to get a wheelchair.

This time, everyone makes it through, except me. Well, I make it through no problem, but my bag is sent down another track to be manually checked. Everyone gathers their items back up (putting shoes and belts back on, repacking laptops, and such). I get into line behind a gentleman who is having his bag hand checked as well. While I wait to be checked out, Chris and Venice head off to get a wheelchair.

Security. Good times. First, there was no one working the counter where bags have been flagged. So, we wait. Then finally, someone came to work this line. The gentleman in front of me had left his laptop in his carryon on. WHAT? After the millions of signs that ask you to remove your laptop AND the people working behind the bins and conveyor belts verbally asking for you to remove your laptops, he still leaves it in his bag? Ugh. So, every zipper has to be opened, everything has to be wiped down with the "chemical" tester.  Everything has to be removed from the bag and removed. Some items are sent through the scanners again. Meanwhile, Xander and I are waiting, waiting, waiting. The man is cleared and he slowly puts everything back into his bag. The woman cannot begin with me until this gentleman packs up and leaves. So we wait. She makes a comment that if he wants to avoid this, next time, please take out his laptop. The gentleman replies, "I heard that," with the attitude off the charts. Ugh.

My turn. Similar treatment. Open all the zippers. The woman goes through everything. Unlike the gentleman ahead of me, I get no explanation as to why my bag was flagged. And now, Xander and I rush to meet up with Chris and Venice. We had a lot of time before, and now, we're starting to run out of time.

We find Chris and Venice, eating lunch downstairs. Xander and I grab a quit bite and join them at the table. Chris quickly heads out to find the wheelchair and comes back with a cool purple wheelchair. We're in business and ready for our 20 minute walk to our terminal and gate.

Once we arrive at our gate (we made it with enough time for one last bathroom stop), a gentleman came over to us and said that there is a special wheelchair entrance on the other side of the gate (he already has his wife over there). We thank him and head over to where he's waiting. Minutes later, we are checked in and behind the counters waiting to board the plane before anyone else is even asked to line up at the gate. Kind of cool to not have to board with the hoards. Chris wheels Venice down the jetway and we get on and find our seats. We are ready for our 10+ hour flight home!

Side note: At one point, there were about 5 airplanes coming in for a landing. Their headlights were lined up in the sky and it was a pretty cool sight. Chris went to take a photo and was politely told that photos are not allowed. Hmm. Is that normal or is that heightened security?

The flight is uneventful (yay). And, this airplane is a different style of plane we came over on. This one has a digital screen for every single seat. On the way over, we had to sign into their wifi (which was horrible) to try to watch anything (stilted and undoable). On this flight, we each get our own access to the entertainment and there are no glitches in the streaming capabilities. Yay! I watch Paper Towns and Harry Potter and the Prisoner from Askaban. Side note: Half of the list of available movies are comprised of Harry Potter movies and Bond movies (all of them). I can't help but wonder if it's because we're traveling from London or is it just a coincidence. Anyway, I watch my two movies (and a few Amy Schuler episodes) and the flight goes by quicker than I can imagine.

We all love watching the little graphic airplane make its trip from London to San Francisco,
showing us where we are in our trip. 

Another side note: By the time we arrive in SFO, our bodies think it's after midnight. And yet, we each only slept about 15-30 minutes on the plane. Excitement to get home, feeling sick, not able to get comfortable... not sure, but none of us are feeling rested when we get to SFO and go through Customs. Venice, in particular, had a rough time on the flight and missing out on sleeping. We do get her a wheelchair after disembarking the plane, but we did have to ask and got lucky that they were able to find another one for us. Normally, I guess, you arrange ahead of time for a wheelchair. Sometimes there is an extra one (like now) but they have to be sure that anyone who ordered one gets it (can't give it to us on accident).

welcome to san francisco

As we approach Customs, there are self-check-in kiosks. Chris checks us in, says we have nothing to declare (which doesn't quite match what I put on our paper copy we filled out on the airplane), and we head to a real person behind a counter. We answer a few of the questions that they have to ask to check us out (what were you doing, where did you go, what's your business)... you kind of feel like you're getting to know someone and they're really interested in you, but there is definitely a feel of, "this is serious" and we're asking to be sure you're not a crazy person bringing back contraband. Anyway, the guy never asks for my paper copy (phew), and we had to the next step.

Finally, after three check points, we are in the SFO airport. We pick up our bags and walk them one hallway to a place where we re-check them. We're just doing the manual labor of taking them from one place to another, the bags are not really rec-checked. They have been checked all the way through to Eugene, so no re-weighing or anything like that. Just rolled from point A to point B and we're on our way. Unfortunately, we have to go through SFO's security check now. This time, I sail through. Phew.

We make our way to the American Express lounge (Chris has a card that gives us access to this lounge) and we settle in. Venice lays down on a couch and sleeps. The rest of us eat a bit of food and recharge our digital devices. And then it's time for our flight home.

Haha! Joke's on Customs,
we DID ship a live animal!

We have crappy seats on this flight (we're not all together) due to the fact that we purchased them just a day before. But, Chris talks to a woman behind the counter and we get them changed so that we can sit with the kids (two and two). A short flight. Uneventful (yay). We get another wheelchair (phew) and head to meet our family.

Xander and I head down the escalators and fall into Granny and Jiichan's arms, tears of happiness overwhelming us all. Chris and Venice arrive a minute later from the elevator and it's their turn for more hugs and tears. Funny story: While we're in the midst of our reunion, a friend, who has also been traveling, stops in to say hi! Someone who we saw at the airport when we were leaving for a trip to Montana last spring. Small world! Or, is that just our home town? You're always bound to run into someone you know.

It's a bit surreal to be back. Our bodies feeling like it's about 6am, we are zombies and just wanting to get into our own beds. We'll deal with our emotions... tomorrow.

Day 32: Return to Berlin

We were almost first at the breakfast room today. Just one set of folks ahead of us (and we arrived 1 min before 7, opening time). We were early enough that the tables weren't finished being set, there was no hostess to seat us, but we heard the other folks just sat themselves, and so we did the same. Funny side note: Whenever we eat, the kids often take a million minutes to finish their leisurely meal (not exaggerating at all), and they often nibble. I was worried this morning, being an early-rise, that tummies wouldn't be ready for food. But, the kids ate a ton of food (yay) and in a timely fashion (yay)!

Venice enjoying the elevator seat (left)
The interesting (if spider-like-creepy) lights throughout the hotel (middle)
Another view of the "spider" lights, and the kids (right)

As we took a taxi to the main train station, I reflected over some things I noticed about Prague (from my very limited time here). There seemed to be a lot more smoking visible. I don't know if this is because more people smoke here, or just because it is allowed in restaurants and inside some buildings, so we were more exposed to it? We definitely asked to be seated in the non-smoking area when we went to dinner, but it wasn't always available as a choice and it was weird to go back to asking (felt like it was 30 years ago that we had to ask for non-smoking!)

This observation is weird. But I swear I saw a lot of men in tracksuits. Not modern ones, either. But those terry cloth Adidas tracksuits from the 80s. Ok, maybe they weren't terry cloth, maybe they were shiny, but still. I found it odd. And, no, they weren't start athletes (I could tell), more like middle-aged men. And the women? I saw so many women wearing leggings that were zany designs. I thought they'd be perfect for the kids in circus arts... but not necessarily what I would recommend to go see some old sights in Prague. From what I could tell, these men and women were locals, not tourists. So, interesting clothing choices, for sure.

Also, there are barely any bicycles in Prague. I may get out of practice of looking for bicycles. I'm not sure I can accurately paint a picture of the multitude of bicyclists in the streets of Berlin.

When we arrived at the train station, we went to the departure board to find our train... and it wasn't there! Well, it was there, but there was no assigned track. We were more than 30 minutes ahead of departure time, so we were ok. We waited. And waited. Now it's 20 minutes to departure time. And waited. 15 minutes. We're starting to worry. Other trains are getting their tracks assigned and some of those waiting with us take off at a run to board. A few stayed to wait along with us. A couple, next to us, asked if we knew about the train to Dresden (same train as ours), we said we didn't. They looked as worried as we felt. Chris went to ask a worker (someone who's working a retail counter) and they confirmed what we thought, that a track will be assigned, just wait. So we waited...

The board said the train was 5 min delayed, at one point, but still... no track. Our train was now at the top of the board... waiting. FINALLY, we were assigned a track and about 50 of us rushed to find the platform. We arrived, along with everyone else, just a few minutes before the train arrived. We see cars with 2, 2, 2, and then there's a 1! At the end of the train (like our last one) and we waited to board there. A couple ahead of us started onto the train, but then came back down the steps shaking their heads... not this train, the 1 at the front of the train. Are you kidding me? And the trains here, can stop for just 2 minutes before moving on. Since this is the main station, I think it was set to be here for 10 minutes, but we've already wasted a few, and since it was late, do they make up time leaving sooner? I don't know... but we ran to the other side of the train.

Finally on the platform!

By this time, we were the first (of the "wrong") to get onto the train, but there were already people in the first class car (those that were "right"). It seems like more of these seats are reserved than on the train here, so we search and search for the unreserved seats... there are none! But, a father (of a VERY cute little one) said he thought the one type of ticket in the reserved spot is just a "place holder" and it's not like the other reserved seats with names on them. These are ok. Phew.

BUT, hello JERKY. A man traveling alone decided to sit in the "four seats" area, like the one we traveled down in. So, we had to split up. Chris and Venice took two seats facing each other and Xander and I took two seats facing backwards. That adds up to only one seat facing forwards (which was fought over vigorously, and debated how to split the time). Meanwhile, the single man is just watching us figure things out and separate. Again, JERKY.

Now, I ask you... what would you do? Here are all the things I thought about doing:

1) Ask, "Will you please move?" (Ugh, I figure that he can clearly see that we were splitting up. He never offered, so I feel it's awkward to ask and who knows what language he speaks).
2) I thought about just sitting with him. Show him, "Who cares?" (but then we'd all be uncomfortable).
3) Pray that the toddler ,with the nice father, has some sort of temper tantrum (they were sitting right behind Jerk Man), kicks his chair the whole way, or gets motion sick on his seat.
4) Take is picture and shame him on FB.

But what I end up doing is shooting daggers (with my eyes) through the seat towards him. Chris sends me a "Jerky" text about him. We sure showed him!

Good news, he got off in a few stops (maybe after 1 hour) so we moved and were able to sit together for the rest of the trip. PHEW. Time to sit back and enjoy our coffee, it is pure gold after all (see photo).

And coffee leads to bathroom breaks. On the train, the bathroom is free (I may have mentioned it on the ride down). The last time we were in the last car and we had pretty views as we went to the bathroom. Now we're in the front and that means we just see the meal-car behind us. Boring.

Bear!

And the bathroom is small, like an airplanes. And, it took me several trips to the bathroom, hitting my head each time, before I got the hang of it. When you stand back up, duck your head or move to the side, because there is a small overhang and yet, I did hit my head several times. And don't be scared (I warned the kids) once you hit the flush button, the bowl fills with water (and you think it's clogged because nothing happens), just wait... and then WHOOOSH, it all goes down loudly, like an airplane toilet... but it's kind of surprising as it paused between button pushing, water filling and the actual flushing process. Phew!

More relaxing on the quiet ride home.

Back in Berlin, at the main station there, Chris split from us as it is Monday and he's off to work. We take the bags and head to our apartment. Time for lots of laundry, opening windows, taking food out of the freezer to cook for dinner.

As we relaxed, I remembered how quiet our hotel was in Prague. It was super quiet. You couldn't hear any street noises, nothing from the hallway or the floor above. The bed was comfy. The temperature was perfect. And, again, it was quiet. I don't know the last time we slept in such a quiet place (even our home in Oregon is noisy from our neighbours or the street). Back here in our apartment, it's noises we've gotten somewhat used to, but it's noises.

The end of our day here ends with rain and jungle-bird sounds (these are noises we love). I'll share them with you (sounds only):