We are here in South America

So we arrived late last night.  The trip itself is where the adventure begins.  First thing is first, we have to thank Happi and Brian whom took us in after our household goods had moved.  They were our upstairs neighbors and without them letting us stay with them I am sure things would not have gone very well at all.  But we managed to get out the door with a total of 16 baggage type items and the whole family.  

When we arrived at the airport with a full load, I overheard people gasping at the sheer mass of luggage.  It took us over 30 minutes to get everything checked in and I thought for a moment, there is no way all of the luggage is going to make it there (one bag was sure to get lost).  We moved on to security, and thanks to another friend we had a heads up that we would have to remove the cats from their carrier  and walk them through the metal detector and send their carriers through the xray machine.  Ray got selected for advanced screening while holding our littlest cat, and Trifon had already made it through security as well.  He was unattended as Ray stood in the glass cage holding a cat waiting on someone to get to him.  I stood on the other end, waiting on Ray to get done to take Georgia so I could get the big cat out of the carrier.  The TSA, was very helpful though and we all got through and too our gate with time to spare.  

Trifon had a major meltdown on the plane to Atlanta and once on the ground had to be taken into the bathroom to calm down.  Ray said that he just cried on his shoulder for a while and then felt better.  I guess we forget how stressful this can be on kids and I think all the upheaval in Trifon's life just caught up to him.  We have been much more patient with him since and it is helping.  

Now the interesting thing I found was that the Bogota flight was at the very end of the international terminal in Atlanta.  There wasn't a shop or restaurant in sight.  I might be guessing that the South American flights are like the ugly stepchild of international travel.   But then again it could have just been that way this time!

We arrived into Bogota at 9pm, we had to exit the plane via steps and board a bus.  The airport was very busy and there were trams and cars and gas trucks going every which way.  There wasn't the organized lines on the tarmac for the bus that I am familiar with in other state side airports where you have to de-board this way and our bus made several close calls with tankers driving jet fuel to this plane or that.  

I love foreign airports, and it never takes you long to realize you aren't in America anymore once you get off that plane.  But this was for sure one of the most surreal experiences I've had.  Maybe it was because we had our whole family with us and it just isn't some other vacation.  The lines for immigration were long but we got to go into the special services line so it wasn't too bad.  They pretty much let us right through.  We had to pay a small fee for the cats and when we exited the airport for the outside there were barricades holding back a mass of people waiting for other passengers to exit.  John Heaton (the man Ray is replacing) and his assistant Adrianna where both waiting for us.  

Two huge Suburbans pulled up and we loaded them up and drove to the hotel.  Everything was set up for us when we arrived, it was heavenly to be escorted up to my room immediately with the kids and cats while Ray took care of a few things.  

Once we got the kids in bed and the cats set up, Ray handed me my cell phone that the embassy provided for me.  So I got to call my mom this morning and tell her this story already!  

Our room overlooks a park and you can see the hills (probably more accurately mountains, as Bogota already sits at close to 8,000 feet above sea level).  There is a playground in the park and Trifon ventured out there this morning and played.  He realizes that people don't speak English and he has already picked up a few things and is really trying to process it.  Georgia, though not mentioned much here, is doing great and happy as always.  I think it is easier in some ways for her, just happy to be with mommy and daddy than it is for Trifon.  

Other than that, our hotel is perfect.  Almost a small apartment with 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, a kitchen and living and eating areas.  The cats are totally settled in and it should be a good place to base our search for permanent housing as the weeks go on.

We went to the grocery store a little big ago.  Prices seem to be about the same as the states.  Though there are some ridiculous taxes on the bill.  We got some diapers and beer and other things and the bill came to about 160,000 pesos (about 90 dollars).  They don't have prepackaged lunch meats so I had to order at the deli.  I find myself saying gracias and si a lot...I think I need to learn more spanish. 

But this is the way you learn.  The maid came to the room today to bring a trash can for the kitchen.  I went online and figured out how to ask her that and I did.  But as always that is a mistake cause she comes up and starts going on about something and we just couldn't figure it out.  I know I will have so many more occasions when that happens.  Hopefully I will get settled enough to start taking some classes.

Ray is off to the embassy now and the kids are napping.  So thank you again to everyone who has kept us in their thoughts and prayers.  Our adventure has begun!