The BEST Travel Agent!

I have the absolute best travel agent.   Hands down, no questions asked, not in the running, not almost, but THE best.  I love him.  I mean I really, really love him.  Over the past four years my travel agent has booked our family vacations to over 16 different countries.  He has put us on buses, trains, segways, bobsleds, skis, and boats.  He knows how to keep a family with three teenagers happy, even when looking at pottery in Poland.  Yup...he is the best.  Sorry though, he is exclusively mine.  My travel agent is Jim, my awesome husband!

Four years ago when Jim asked us if we wanted to move overseas, we were all so excited for the opportunity to be able to travel, see the world, or as many parts of it as our time and budget would allow.  As our expat adventure is coming to an end, we have been spending lots of time reliving our favorite trips.  We are laughing about our favorite and not-so-favorite hotels, restaurants, and outdoor adventures.  Not one trip would any of us describe as bad.  Not one trip would we wish we would have skipped.  Amazingly enough we all agree that we have been very blessed and are very fortunate to have seen so much.  We also agree that Daddy is an amazing trip planner.

This blog contains lots and lots of pictures.  It is my own personal record of the wheres and whens, just in case time sneaks in and tries to make me forget.

August 2008 -  Arrive in Holland.  We lived in a small town, Wassenaar.  It was just outside of Den Haag.

During our October break in 2008, Jim took us to London, Stonehenge, and Cornwall.  We took the Harry Potter Tour, celebrated Sarah's birthday at Longleat and went up in the London Eye.

For Christmas break, 2008, Jim thought it would be great for the kids to learn how to ski and/or snowboard.  We headed to the French Alps (where else?)!  

In February we took a quick trip to Brugge, Belgium.  It was a short ride from home and beautiful.  We had a great time in their ice village. 

 

Spring break in April took us to Normandy.  Sarah and I did NOT want to go; I mean it was all going to be war stuff, right?  Jim pushed through the plans and assured us we would have a great time.  Hate to admit it (ever!), but he was right!  We loved Normandy. 

After our two summer months in the US, we were back in Holland, excited to see what dad had planned next!  For our October break, we headed to Prague.  It was awesome!  We went on segway tours of the city, went bobsledding, and took a detour over to Poland for mom to buy some pottery!  

 Christmas break took us to Rome.  It was just amazing.  This trip definitely ranks in the top three of the Chew family vacations!

 For spring break in April, we headed to Paris.  Jim took a small detour back to Holland for business, so the kids and I forced ourselves to take in EuroDisney!  We LOVE Mickey!

We took another whirlwind summer trip  home, Chicago, Rhode Island, and of course, Texas.  When we returned to Holland, we had just a few short weeks to get the house in order and head east - Middle East that is.  We moved to Dubai in August, 2010.   The summer was hot and it was Eid, so we really could not do that much exploring.  The kids and I took diving lessons and all became certified divers.  We could now add one more activity to the list of things we could do with Daddy!

We had a sudden change in the school calendar and found ourselves with a free week in November.  Jim announced we would be heading to Kenya.  I can not even begin to describe this trip.  We stayed in the most amazing resort with individual cabins (I can't think of a better word) built right into the hillside.  We went on several game drives and our own driver was amazed that we saw so much.  Animals he hadn't seen in months came out for us.  Not sure how Jim arranged that!  

In December we took a trip to Jordan.  It was amazing!  We walked through Petra for hours, floated in the Dead Sea and were able to stand on the very spot where Jesus was baptized.   Perfect Christmas holiday.

Sarah, Brian, and I toured Dubai over our spring break while Jim was working and Kevin was in Sri Lanka with the Habitat for Humanity.  After our two month holiday in the States, we stopped in Barcelona for some much needed family time.  Felt like we hadn't been together on a trip in SO long!   Barcelona was great, although the image of the naked old man on the beach has been burned into Sarah's memory forever! 

Our next school break was at Christmas.  We loaded up the cars, gave Kevin some 'road time' behind the wheel, and headed to Oman.  It was beautiful.  Kevin met up with an old friend he knew in Holland who now lives in Oman.  The rest of us took an amazing dolphin watching boat ride.  Beautiful resort and wonderful family time once again.

Our final expat vacation will be to Edinburgh, Scotland.  When we board the plane after that, the final stop will be Houston, Texas; more commonly called Home.  

While my wonderful travel agent has truly shown us so many amazing places, through school sports, field trips (yes, field trips - Week Without Walls they are called), and a few side trips, one or more of us have had the opportunity to visit Norway, Sweden, Denmark,  Luxembourg, Germany, India, Tanzania, Croatia, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Qatar, Portugal, Lebanon, and Singapore.

Thank you to my sweet husband and awesome travel agent.  What a gift you have given to your family.  We can't wait to see what is next....no pressure!!! 

Love Always....

    

It Almost Happened...

This past weekend was Kevin's Senior Prom.  I can write that, say that, look at pictures, and hear all his stories without shedding a tear...but it was close! 

I have some wonderful friends here.  When you are an expat, you automatically have a common bond with so many people.  Making friends is really easy.  You can walk into a room full of people and strike up a conversation because you always have an opening line - "How long have you lived in Dubai?".  Of course there are many other questions that follow quite easily;   "Where are you from?"; "Where did you move from?", and "How long will you be here?".  It is a quick and easy list, but that common bond of being an expat makes friendships grow rapidly.    

I didn't know that I was also entering another realm of friendships this year.  It is the bond of the Senior Mom.  We have spent several months now doing everything we can to make the last year of our childs' primary education a fun and exciting experience.  We have counted down the days till graduation; we have proudly worn T-shirts at school functions that define us as "Senior Moms", we have met monthly to pass out special treats to our kids, and have shared the college application cheers and tears.   It is a friendship bond that I didn't expect.  It has been an incredibly pleasant surprise. 

For months now I have heard my Senior Mom friends talk about happenings that have brought them to tears.  There was the first and then the last soccer game (or volleyball game, baseball game, or race).  There was the UCC - Ultimate Class Competition - a field day competition for the 9th-12th grades.  The musical, the final school carnival, and then the first college acceptance.  There have been so many events that have brought my dear friends to tears.  There also have been a variety of songs that seem to have the same effect.  We share all of these moments through facebook status updates, and discuss them thoroughly at lunch.    So I have to admit that nothing this year has made me cry...yet.  No song, no final event or final school celebration.  Not even decorating the hallway for the seniors brought a tear.  But, then we came to the Senior Prom.

This past weekend Kevin put on his new suit, picked up the corsage he had ordered for his date, and made plans for his night out on the town with his peers.  I was great with all the plans; told him how great he looked; took pictures.  Then, the drive to the Pre-Prom happened.  Every year an ASD family hosts a party for all the Seniors, their dates, and their families.  On the way to pre-prom it hit me.  This was Kevin's SENIOR PROM!  Seriously!   I looked at Kevin and just said, "This is your Senior Prom!".  He answered, "yea, I know".  No big deal to him.  I felt like I just had my breath taken away.  Kevin kept staring at me while I was driving and asking if I was OK.  Of course I was, but this was Senior Prom.  We arrived at the Pre-Prom party, went inside where I found all my Senior Mom friends.  I immediately informed them this was "Senior Prom!"  They laughed, said they knew, and just kept snapping pictures of these amazingly beautiful young ladies and young men.

I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes.  A tear never hit my cheek, but it was pretty darn close.  Kevin seemed to take great pleasure in telling his friends that I was finally crying.  No song, no other event, no college planning has made me cry.  But the Senior Prom.  That just about did it!    I think Kevin wants me to cry.  He keeps asking me if I'll cry at graduation.  I just don't know.  I am so happy for him, for all he has become, and for the marvelous future that lies before him.   Cry at graduation?  I just don't know...is that something I have to plan now?  I'll work on it!

Kevin and all of the Class of 2012 graduates.  Enjoy these final days, these final moments.  Know the tears that have been shed all year are truly tears of happiness and joy.  They are tears of pride for who you have become and tears of joyful anticipation for all that you will be. 
   

 

3,840 Lunches

I have packed 3,840 school lunches - so far.  I started thinking about my kids lunches last week when I realized that Kevin will be going off to college soon and I would only pull out two brown paper bags every morning instead of three.  OK, I know, I am thinking about weird things as I prepare myself for Kevin's departure to the far away world of university living, but I think that is what "senior moms" (as we call ourselves) do.

There are an estimated 180 school days every year.  This is broken down over a 36 week period.  My kids were always allowed to buy lunch one day a week.  On the occasional week, two days.  There are also the special days when I would bring in McDonalds or they would have a pizza party in the room.  So. I have averaged 128 lunches a year for Kevin's 12 years, Sarah's 10 years, and Brian's 8.  Total:  3, 840 lunches! 

So the lunchtime adventure began.  My kids grew up in the world of half-day kindergarten.  This was before the 5 year olds spent an entire day at school, without a nap but with an IPad!  How old fashioned that seems right now.  When Kevin started 1st grade at Cline Elementary in Friendswood, Texas, he wanted the same thing for lunch EVERY SINGLE DAY!  I know your mind is quickly jumping to PB&J right?  That is what all kids want.  But no, not Kevin.  Kevin wanted a tuna fish sandwich on white bread.  Tuna - right from the can.  No mixing with celery, mayo, and onion.  No mixing with anything.  Just a can of tuna on bread.  I would go to Sam's Club - warehouse shop - and buy the tuna in bulk!  My pantry was stacked with those little Starkist cans.  It was quick and easy - but a little odd! 

As Kevin grew his palate expanded, Sarah and Brian's lunch were put in the mix, and we progressed through the land of ham and cheese, turkey and cheese, just cheese, chicken quesadillas (yes, really), salads, grilled cheese, and Luchables.  This year, as an 18 year old high school senior, and 12 years later, Kevin has finally arrived at the world renowed PB&J for lunch.  It took years to get here, but he has arrived!  

These are pretty odd things to think about I guess.  Some people also think it is odd that I still pack my kids' lunches, but it is just what I do.  It is a mom thing!  I remember when they were little and I would cut their sandwiches into shapes.  I had quite the collection of really big cookie cutters.  I would send in hearts, stars, diamonds, flowers.  It was so darn cute!  AND it was the best way to take the crusts off their bread.  (BTW - the old wives tale is true; if you don't eat your crusts you will never be able to whistle!)  I would also put little notes in the bags or boxes.  The simple "I love you" or "have a great day" or just a smiley face note was always a hit.

I began with one lunch bag, then two years later, two bags and yet another two years later, three bags.  They have lined the kitchen counter in five different houses every morning, left to right, oldest child to youngest child for years.  Next year will be odd.  I will only pack two bags.  I only have 768 lunches left to pack.  We will be at another new school - this is school number 7 for us.  Will those kids bring lunch or buy?  The burning question awaits!  I can hardly wait to find out.