Monday, July 02, 2007

Here...in the USA!!!

We made it! I do not have Internet yet so this will be short as I am at a library.



We left Barquisimeto Friday morning and connected in Caracas to Miami. We checked our passports through the DISIP which is the Venezuelan political police. I held my breath and turned my back on the huge wall photo of Hugo (after I covertly made sneering faces at it!). Made it through ok, my husband kept the conversation on soccer:)



Then I headed over to our gate where we had over 100 people to see us off! The airport people kept coming over to ask if a celebrity or politician or one of the soccer teams was there since there was such a crowd... no, just some gringos. Lots of tears, lots of hugs.



My husband had gone to the Interpol check alone but, sent my brother in law to get me. They wanted to see me. A missionary friend said, "Oh no!! They must read The Jungle Hut and have you on their list!" . LOL!



As we were disembarking the plane in Caracas, a man looked at my daughter and I, and said,

" Yankee, Yankee!!" with a smirk. Oh well, just one bad apple in the crowd!



When we landed in Caracas we found more people had come to say goodbye. From as far away as Valencia!! More Hugs, more tears.



A Chavista worker in the bathroom hogged the only sink with water for ten minutes just to annoy my daughter. The other Venezuelans in line for the sink were embarrassed and gave us apologizing looks. Just imagine the International Airport during the America Cup had no water!!! That's Socialism!!!



In the security check line I met a British reporter from London. He told me that there was nothing to fear from Chavez as he had seen that the Venezuelan people love the American lifestyle too much to be anti-American. I asked him how long he had been here..."8 days", he replied. WELL! Now that is an expert!! So, I had to lecture him a bit. I suggested he had seen only one spectrum of the society, and that there were actually two Venezuelas at this time and he had not seen the reality of more than half of the Venezuelan society. He began to take notes and ask me questions when he discovered I had been here for 20 years. So...anyone in London who reads the Telegraph...maybe he'll print some of my perspective!!I did not get his name.



On to Miami!!! Arrived very tired. As I disembarked the plane, I took a deep breath to see if it smelled of sulfur as Chavez had said of Bush at the UN. It smelled of FREEDOM! In Spanish I said, " No heule a sufre!" Got a few laughs from the Venezuelans and strange looks from others! I am used to that!



NOTE TO SELF: Do not assume that children brought up overseas will understand that moving walkways go in different directions! Jayde tried to step on one going the reverse direction and it was hilarious!!! Well, after the screaming ended and the people realized she was OK and not being abducted or anything!



I hope to have Internet soon!! I can be a little more candid now on some subjects about Venezuela. I am having "blog withdrawal " symptoms. I need to blog about my first trip to the grocery store here!!! So much to say...so little time!!



Thanks for all the prayers!!!

37 comments:

FrazzMom said...

Jungle Mom-

Believe it or not- I just discovered your blog last week... Your family has been heavy in my prayers. Please continue posting and keep us all updated on your goings on in the states!

TO BECOME said...

Oh, Jungle Mom , you are wonderful. WELCOME HOME TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. WE LOVE YOU. Connie from Texas

Brooke said...

Bienvenidos al Estados Unidos!

Avi said...

Good to be home!
P.S. You've been tagged.

Jackie said...

Glad to see you're back! So... it didn't smell like sulfur huh? Odd. :^)

Anonymous said...

Welcome Home!

Liz said...

I know you'll read this much later, but HEY!
YOU MADE IT!!!
You were on my mind all weekend and I looked around the family blogs to see if you guys were OK.

I envy your trip to the supermarket!!!! Publix or Winndixie? ;D

Abrazos, Liz

Glenn B said...

WELCOME HOME. Sure I know how you feel about venezuela, after your having lived there for 20 years, and your kids being born there and all, but the USA is always here for you - so again I say - WELCOME HOME.

Michael said...

Glad to hear you made it back home (from one expat to another, the US will always be a home) OK...

I asked him how long he had been here..."8 days", he replied. WELL! Now that is an expert!! ... He began to take notes and ask me questions when he discovered I had been here for 20 years.

Very funny! I've heard that an expert has been someplace less than 20 days, or more than 20 years, so the two of you must have had a lot of expertise...

I need to blog about my first trip to the grocery store here

That was shock for me, on my last trip to the States. Israeli grocery stores are pale imitations...

Good luck to you, and have a great Fourth!

Ashley said...

I'm so glad you all arrived safely!! I hope to see you all soon!

Smelled like sulfur?? What medicine is HE on? Or what kind does he NEED to be on? détritus stupide de dictateur...

Lisa @ The Preacher's Wife said...

I am sooo glad you made it okay!!! You may have already mentioned before and I missed it, but where are you going to be living?

I can not imagine how emotional these days are for you....Know this girl is praying for you!

Lisa

Anonymous said...

So very good to hear from you!! Glad you made it through ok. Isn't it amazing how someone like that reporter can think they have it all down pat in 8 days! I can just imagine Jayde on that moving walkway! Poor girl! I have a hard time embarking even though I've done it before.

Looking forward to hearing more.

Rhonda in Chile said...

Oh, Jungle Mom! I know exactly how you are feeling! I had to make a quick trip Stateside a few weeks ago. What a shocker after 2 and half years away.
I trust that God will prosper the work y'all left behind in a great way.

Blessings!

R

~~Deby said...

so glad that you are safely HERE...I was praying...now ENJOY...
Deby

Amanda said...

If I had an American flag at my house I'd wave it around in honor of you. It's so awesome that you talked to that reporter. Hopefully he listened to you.

Susan said...

It's SO good to see you again . . . safely on American soil!!! I'm looking forward to reading more about your shopping experiences and all the stuff you have all bottled up in there. Take care, and enjoy your year in the US!

Jane said...

glad you are safe, disappointed that you are not in your beloved country. Home is where the heart is, I understand that your heart is not hear. I'm praying for you guys!

Mizz E said...

Thanksgiving for safe travel.

A Happy Ending to this chapter. Mysteries ahead; unknown encounters; new friends to make and family reunions to attend.

I want to read all about it. You tell a good story.

Anonymous said...

Welcome back! Sorry you left after twenty years...

Donnetta said...

Thankful you made it safe. Continuing to pray as your heart has left so many things back there...

Unknown said...

So glad you got to get a little post in! I guess you didn't have a chance to read mine! It was so good to see you here safe and sound.

Sarah Joy said...

SO GLAD TO 'SEE' YOU BACK!! Hope you get some good rest and recouperation. WE were praying for you!

Abouna said...

Glad to have you home, and that you and the family made it safely. God bless. Another prayer answered.

Theresa's Notes said...

Jungle Mom, I'm happy to know you all got to Miami ok.

For give me but I think I missed something,,, Are you staying in Florida permanently? Or just there for a visit?

Anonymous said...

Yeah!!!!!!!!!You're home! We are so glad you made it! Waiting for all the stories you have to tell us in detail that you couldn't before! God bless you all as you get settled!

Rebecca said...

Ok I rolled with laughter about the moving sidewalk! I am so glad and relieved to know you are safe in my beloved country. Now if only I were there too... Oh well, soon enough.

Panday said...

Welcome home, Jungle Mom.

Deedra said...

I'm so glad you guys are back in the states! I know it must be very emotional for you for many reasons. Maybe it won't take long for everyone to get adjusted!

Deedra

Pen of Jen said...

I am so thankful that you made the trip safely!

I am also glad that our country smells sulfur free, I was nervous after Hugo and the UN all agreed.

I can't wait until things wind down and you are back to posting1
Jen.

Melissa Lea said...

I am sooo glad that you are back! I hope you had a good trip!

Webutante said...

Welcome home, Rita and family! SO glad you're back safely.

Rita Loca said...

We will be in Florida for one year. We will travel through out the USA for conferences and to give missionary reports to the churches who have partnered in our ministry. Then we will be relocated to begin a ministry in Asuncion, Paraguay.

Rita Loca said...

bar kochba, Give me a couple of days and I'll do the tag.

Kate said...

Welcome home, Jungle Mom! I hope you have a great 4th back here in the States!!!

Joe Gringo said...

From one gringo to another.....welcome home!

You need to write a book!

AB5SY said...

Welcome home

Rita Loca said...

Frazzmom, Welcome!!