And then 4 hours became 6 ½ hours…a slight delay to my flight to Chicago. I am still in Denmark. It’s not really a problem as such (apart from a great risk of getting very bored), but it’s a shame that I now have to try to get in touch with the people who are picking me up at the airport to say I’m going to be very late- in fact I will probably not get to Kansas City till Wednesday morning. The joys of travelling.
I found a little bar/café where I could plug in my laptop and even connect to the internet for free! Jippi! Which means I can sit on the internet and do some emails, and of course get these scribbles (if you can call something typed a scribble) posted. I am also feeling less stuffy, although my voice is still of questionable quality…the journey continues- literally.
On my way: Copenhagen airport
I am sat here writing this with my soundproof headphones in my ears which makes this a bit of a surreal experience as what I hear is music being transported from my laptop into my ears, but what I see is an airport alive with people walking to and fro, all on their way to somewhere or simply going through yet another day at work. I am now thoroughly on my way.
My head is stuffy and my voice is not at it’s best. Thankfully I managed to say enough to get a chicken and bacon sandwich at the Café Ritazzo (something like that) with a cup of creamy hot chocolate. I figured something warm would make me feel better and it did. I do hope my voice is restored by the time I get to the US immigration or it’s going to be a bit tricky answering their questions there.
So, what it is like to be on my way? Well, I don’t know really. I don’t think I’ve really completely got it yet. I’ve been doing so many smaller journeys in the last few months it seems like it could be just another one of those, except it isn’t. I am excited. It is going to be good to get to where I’m headed, but right now I feel a bit sad. Sad because I don’t know when I’ll see my family again. I managed to not cry when I said goodbye to my wee niece yesterday (it probably helped that I wasn’t feeling 100%, my senses were a bit numbed). She is just the most gorgeous girl in the world. And I did hold my tears back as I hugged my mum goodbye at the airport. It’s a funny thing, as many times as I’ve travelled to far off places, I still feel sad when I have to leave people behind. You’d think I’d be a hardened traveller by now, but in some ways I think I’ve become even softer. Maybe it’s the age….who knows.
So here I’m sat. I tried to get online, but it’s not important enough to pay lots of money for it. I did get my hopes up when my computer detected 3 unsecured wireless networks, but then I realised that they are unsecured, yet secured unless you pay, and that I didn’t. I’m hoping I might find more favourable conditions at Chicago airport.
I think I need to join the people wandering around the airport now…they’re my people, at least for a few hours. Maybe I’ll find some exciting shop I can look in, or maybe I’ll even find a comfortable chair I can sink into and chill for a few hours. And then I’ll have to have a cup of tea and maybe cake a bit later on. My theory is that travelling is so much more enjoyable if you think of fun activities to fill the time with, and cake and Earl Grey tea is always enjoyable
Written Sunday 5 October 2008:
Soon it’s time to leave…
It is getting seriously close to the day of departure. Two days now. Less really as I am writing this on Sunday evening and I leave Tuesday morning. Butterflies are fluttering around in my stomach. I am excited, but also I can feel that change and travel are not my favourite things in the world. I do see God’s goodness even now. A good friend of mine is going to pick me up at the airport, which makes me feel so blessed! It feels like I’m coming to something familiar.
The “leaving” activities have taken place. On Thursday I met up with some friends for our customary “Macao” dessert at a restaurant called Phileas Fogg in Stavanger. This particular dessert is a chocolate fondant with ice cream and it’s delicious, if quite rich. In all honesty, as much as we do love the dessert, it’s most of all an excuse to meet up and it was great to see them and have a final meet-up before I move away again.
Today I had my last time in church before leaving, and I had the opportunity to share a bit in the service about what I’m heading off to now. It was nice to be able to share and also be sent out with a blessing.
And this afternoon we celebrated my niece’s first birthday. Her real birthday is tomorrow, but it was celebrated in style today. She is such a cutie, and as always was the centre of everyone’s attention. I am glad to see her again tomorrow when I head out for lunch with my mum, sister-in-law, and of course wee Miriam. Hopefully shopping and lunch will motivate me to get my packing done in an efficient manner in the morning (although I wouldn’t be surprised if I ended up packing in the evening as well).
I found a little bar/café where I could plug in my laptop and even connect to the internet for free! Jippi! Which means I can sit on the internet and do some emails, and of course get these scribbles (if you can call something typed a scribble) posted. I am also feeling less stuffy, although my voice is still of questionable quality…the journey continues- literally.
On my way: Copenhagen airport
I am sat here writing this with my soundproof headphones in my ears which makes this a bit of a surreal experience as what I hear is music being transported from my laptop into my ears, but what I see is an airport alive with people walking to and fro, all on their way to somewhere or simply going through yet another day at work. I am now thoroughly on my way.
My head is stuffy and my voice is not at it’s best. Thankfully I managed to say enough to get a chicken and bacon sandwich at the Café Ritazzo (something like that) with a cup of creamy hot chocolate. I figured something warm would make me feel better and it did. I do hope my voice is restored by the time I get to the US immigration or it’s going to be a bit tricky answering their questions there.
So, what it is like to be on my way? Well, I don’t know really. I don’t think I’ve really completely got it yet. I’ve been doing so many smaller journeys in the last few months it seems like it could be just another one of those, except it isn’t. I am excited. It is going to be good to get to where I’m headed, but right now I feel a bit sad. Sad because I don’t know when I’ll see my family again. I managed to not cry when I said goodbye to my wee niece yesterday (it probably helped that I wasn’t feeling 100%, my senses were a bit numbed). She is just the most gorgeous girl in the world. And I did hold my tears back as I hugged my mum goodbye at the airport. It’s a funny thing, as many times as I’ve travelled to far off places, I still feel sad when I have to leave people behind. You’d think I’d be a hardened traveller by now, but in some ways I think I’ve become even softer. Maybe it’s the age….who knows.
So here I’m sat. I tried to get online, but it’s not important enough to pay lots of money for it. I did get my hopes up when my computer detected 3 unsecured wireless networks, but then I realised that they are unsecured, yet secured unless you pay, and that I didn’t. I’m hoping I might find more favourable conditions at Chicago airport.
I think I need to join the people wandering around the airport now…they’re my people, at least for a few hours. Maybe I’ll find some exciting shop I can look in, or maybe I’ll even find a comfortable chair I can sink into and chill for a few hours. And then I’ll have to have a cup of tea and maybe cake a bit later on. My theory is that travelling is so much more enjoyable if you think of fun activities to fill the time with, and cake and Earl Grey tea is always enjoyable
Written Sunday 5 October 2008:
Soon it’s time to leave…
It is getting seriously close to the day of departure. Two days now. Less really as I am writing this on Sunday evening and I leave Tuesday morning. Butterflies are fluttering around in my stomach. I am excited, but also I can feel that change and travel are not my favourite things in the world. I do see God’s goodness even now. A good friend of mine is going to pick me up at the airport, which makes me feel so blessed! It feels like I’m coming to something familiar.
The “leaving” activities have taken place. On Thursday I met up with some friends for our customary “Macao” dessert at a restaurant called Phileas Fogg in Stavanger. This particular dessert is a chocolate fondant with ice cream and it’s delicious, if quite rich. In all honesty, as much as we do love the dessert, it’s most of all an excuse to meet up and it was great to see them and have a final meet-up before I move away again.
Today I had my last time in church before leaving, and I had the opportunity to share a bit in the service about what I’m heading off to now. It was nice to be able to share and also be sent out with a blessing.
And this afternoon we celebrated my niece’s first birthday. Her real birthday is tomorrow, but it was celebrated in style today. She is such a cutie, and as always was the centre of everyone’s attention. I am glad to see her again tomorrow when I head out for lunch with my mum, sister-in-law, and of course wee Miriam. Hopefully shopping and lunch will motivate me to get my packing done in an efficient manner in the morning (although I wouldn’t be surprised if I ended up packing in the evening as well).
It is very strange to think that on Wednesday when I wake up I’ll be in Kansas City again, ready to get started on what lies ahead. It’s strange to think that this that I have been waiting for and working towards for so long is actually becoming real. Now I just need to keep leaving everything in God’s hands and take things one step at a time. It seems to be the best strategy. But before getting there I do have a long journey ahead of me, and will have ample opportunity to get to know the airports in Copenhagen and Chicago well. I guess it’s better then having to run from gate to gate and have the pressure of potentially missing flights should I have delays.