Our Long Journey

Well, here we go!  We were able to get everything we "think" we need in 5 suitcase, 2 carry-ons, and 2 backpacks!  We said all of our goodbyes Monday night and then finished packing things up.  My parents took us to the airport, and this was the sight they pulled up to bright and early, Tuesday morning. We said our final goodbye to Kaylee, crying the whole time, then loaded up into the truck. 

Moqui and Kona made the drive with us to the airport and they could tell something was off.  They know when the suitcases come out we will be leaving.  At drop off we had to say goodbye to them and that was equally as hard as saying goodbye to Kaylee.  It is amazing how these little ones become part of your family.

We made it to Atlanta, and things were going good.  We had a 4 hour layover so we got some lunch and then waited for our flight...and waited, and waited.  It got delayed 2 1/2  hours. I was able to capture a beautiful sunset from the window.  At this point, it had been 13 hours since we had left our house! The picture of me, tired, with my blanket, was right before we loaded the plane. Side note, the Atlanta airport was FREEZING and I tried to hold out, but I couldn't help myself and I ended up buying a sweatshirt.

 

Here we are, after a 15 hour flight, right before we landed in Johannesburg, South Africa! We spent all day Wednesday in the air!  We were both able to sleep a little bit on the plane, but not much! The sweatshirt I bought ended up being perfect.  I wore it the whole flight and when we got out of the airport, it was 41 degrees!  It is winter down here!

Here is a picture of our hotel room, it was airplane themed, which makes sense, we were right by the airport.  It was nice to be able to shower and sleep in a bed before we started the next leg of our journey! Sad note... I left my blanket at this hotel, in the lobby. 

We boarded our flight to Lubumbashi, and it was a small plane, 2 seats on each side.  It was only a 2 hour and 45 minute flight but they fed us lunch.  Cory got the beef which ended up being corned beef with a pasta salad that had a horseradish dressing.  He ended up eating the crackers and chocolate!

I got the chicken and pasta salad and it was delicious.  Cory had some of my chicken, my crackers and my chocolate!  

Here we are, getting ready to land in Lubumbashi.  The air was filled with smoke and we have learned that is normal here.  They burn everything (garbage, weeds, who knows what) all day and night. When you get off the planes here, you get off on the tarmac and then walk into the airport.  Luckily, we were met right at the door by a Westland employee who is from here and was able to get us quickly through customs and into the car! Driving to our new home away from home was quite the experience.  The road was a 4 lane road (2 each direction) but no one follows the rules.  Sometimes its a 3 lane, sometimes its a 1 lane.  The round abouts here, are different than back home.  The people entering the roundabout have the right of way!  Everyone is honking (hooting) their horns (hooters)lol here but it is to let you know they are near you, not because they are mad at you.