The journey

The realization of leaving hit me for the first time as I stood by the security line to say goodbye to mom. I had said so many goodbyes the last week but in that moment I felt the fullness of what I was taking on. Even though it terrified me I also felt that small part inside me telling me that this was the perfect time. I am ready for this. I definitely fought back the tears as I walked away by myself. Some of me was thrilled to be on my own and some of me was sad to be leaving that chapter of my life behind. Change is hard but I am running into it with an open heart. The minute I got past security and to my gate I was surrounded by foreign people all speaking different languages to each other. I sat down by myself and pulled out my current book, Grapes of Wrath (John Steinbeck) so I would have a distraction. I already had a headache and didn't want any more tears to come! A man came and sat down next to me, clutching his passport. I glanced nonchalantly over my book to see where he was from and it read 'Italy'. I smiled. An airline attendant began speaking about the flight in German. For the first time, I had to wait to hear English second. I tried to remember words so I could pair them with the English. It was hard. I was almost at the end of the plane, and it was big but cramped. There were 3 sets of chairs per row and I was stuck in the middle set. I knew I had 9 hours ahead of me in that wretched chair. A young girl with her mom were next to me. I was too tired to talk to them. I walked to the back of the plane to ask an attendant where to put my big suitcase because it wouldn't fit in the luggage racks. The man didn't speak English very well and eventually handed me a label and said, "very important." My bag was gone. I tried not to freak out and took my seat, hoping I'd get to see my bag in Dusseldorf. They fed me 2 entire meals and about 5 rounds of drinks. It was awesome. The flight was treacherously long and I got basically no sleep. The tv on the plane showed where we were flying throughout the flight and I went over Greenland and right by Paris and a few other places. After finally arriving in Frankfurt I was really excited. I walked for a few hours around the airport. (it is HUGE!!!) I was soaked in sweat, and the bands of my pack were wet from being against my back. I had never needed water so badly in my life. I wandered for another 30 minutes trying to find a bank to convert my travelers checks into Euros so I could get water. It was very strange not having access to something so simple as water. Finally I found a bank and once I got my water bottle, guzzled it in a few seconds. I know I needed it badly because I drank so much and hardly had to go to the bathroom. Crazy!!! After a lot of waiting, I stepped into the bus to take me to my next flight. Then it started raining. Once the rain came, lightning and thunder followed and I loved it at first but then had a change of heart when we were taken back up to the airport because they had shut down all flights. I waited some more. I could barely keep my eyes open. At long last, I got to the plane. I got a window seat! Too bad the flight was a short and sweet 30 minutes. I stared out the window at Germany the entire way. The mountains are not Alaska mountains. But the trees are beyond comparison! Once I arrived, I knew Kerstin must have been waiting for a long time already, so I hurried to the baggage claim only to find that they baggage was delayed as well. I bought a cart and waited for 15 minutes to get my bags. 2 of them arrived but my small pink bag was nowhere to be found. Trying not to freak out, I pushed my cart to the help desk and filled out paperwork so I could have my bag eventually sent to my Germany address. Thank the Lord that I had the information written down in my notebook. Unfortunately, my laptop is close to dying and the european outlet I bought is in the suitcase I do not have. After filling out the paperwork and talking to a nice lady who had nannied in Canada, I walked out and looked for my new family, assuming she had left by now and that I'd have to sleep at the airport. I must've looked very american because a teenage girl walked up to me and asked, "are you the Au Pair from Alaska?" A wave of relief rushed over me and she led me over towards a big group of people. Suddenly, she comes sprinting over and gives me a huge hug, grabs my cart and keeps running as she tells me, "Oh, I'm so glad you're here Karly, we have no time! I locked my keys in the house and I have a parking ticket and the children are in the car." I laughed at how crazily I was entering into my new life. At least it is memorable, we both agreed. We made it out to the car and we quickly hauled my luggage into her car and I jumped into the front seat. The 3 children (my first though was, "Oh good. They're real.") were all sitting in the back speaking rapid German to her. I turned around in my seat and said, "Hallo!" They replied the same. I had a perpetual smile on my face, though I tried to hide it since she was stressed. The little boy had already melted my heart. Once we arrived at her house (We got there so fast, it was insane.) we had to wait about an hour for the guys to unlock the door. There is a gate that has to be opened to drive into where they live. It's so green and quaint looking. The middle girl gave me a house tour. The level you walk into has a dining room, kitchen, living room and a study. If you walk downstairs, that's my level where I have my own room and bathroom. There is also an exercise room, a spare bedroom, a bathroom and a sauna. The 3rd level is the parents room, a washroom, and a laundry room, and the 4th level is a bathroom and the kid's rooms. The styling is spectacular throughout the house. I will take pictures! I got to see their backyard which is spectacular! They have a plum tree with a ladder, a swing set, trampoline, chairs and a table, a porch, and their house is 4 stories high! The stairs wind up. I love it. I showed the kids my necklace from Boogie which they really liked and they laughed at her name. They loved my passport, I.D., and visa. They had already started teaching me some German words. I let them try one of my reeses chocolates. They had never had one. They said, "Mmm, chocolate!" (Imagine that in an accent...it makes a difference.) After touching base with my family, and putting my bags in my room, I talked with the mom for a tiny bit, drank some water and went right to bed! I am still very tired. I didn't want to sleep...technically it was the start of a new day in Alaska, and it was hard falling asleep. My toothbrush is in my lost bag and I really miss it at this moment. But if that's the least of my travel worries, I am blessed beyond what I deserve. I have no idea what is in store for me but I've decided that's what makes it so wonderful. Tis an adventure for sure. Thus concludes my first blog in the history of my life! I rest assured that you are all praying for me and I thank you for your support. It warms my heart. All the best, and I will tell of the adventures to come in my next entry. Tschüss!