Traveling here and other misc first-day discoveries

my adorable, wonderful children waiting in Chicago

Hello, all! Thank you for prayers and encouragement as we undertook some SERIOUS traveling! We had good, safe travel! The kids and I were just so excited!! What a blessing to have the morning drive and lunch w/ my parents in Chicago!!!! On the drive to Chicago, I thought the speed limit was 70. I was doing about 67 for better gas mileage and staying w/ the group...when suddenly a state trooper overtook us all....and picked me. Apparently the limit is 55 there ;) I wish you could've seen his eyes when he asked where we were flying to out of Ohare when he found that was our destination - ha ha ha ha ha ha! He said "since you obviously can't make a court appearance, this is a warning." Going 55 after that, was really a traffic violation ;) in my very strong opinion! HA!
We had absolutely no problems getting all the bags checked in - a guy took pity on us in Chicago and worked very hard over phone, with a manager to make sure they could get Egypt Air to take our bags for us at JFK! and it WORKED!!
Good thing too, as we onlyhad 27 min to get from domestic terminal 8 to international terminal 4 with 2 VERY tired kids already, 6 heavy back packs and one stroller. We had time to hit a potty but not to eat.
The kids chowed down their beef jerky for supper and frito's for breakfast.
To say the international flight was long, is at best, a horrific understatement! I never ever want to do that again! But I will, to return to my family and the land that we love in 2 yrs....this is our home and our land for now :)
At Cairo Airport, a man had a sign for me but not a Mrs. Captn Rob, I cannot say I was "not" disappointed ;) HA! But when I saw him there, a 2nd burst of energy came (this post a lot of vomitting on the airplane and no sleep for me or Joshua). He spoke no English but we both understood "sign language" ha! ;) and were both very friendly. Not only did he go into the immigration type office (instead of waiting in line) and purchase our visas for us....but he showed his security badge, gave his cell phone to approx 6 different people and got us thru check points customs, etc without EVER stopping w/ the rest of our travel companions on the 767 WOW THANKS GOD!
Then....as we're trapsing out and I'm just looking, taking in the sites of the airport, outside, etc...what do my eyes glimpse? My beloved husband standing in line to get some gov't travel forms completed so he (as the pilot) could leave w/ his passengers for the day! I broke more social laws ;) yelled his name and ran to him!!
Why-el (said quickly like patio in Spanish) not wylie ;) met us (the manservant from my new friends). He and the cart boy I'll call him and my airport rescue man loaded up the small suv inside and top.

I was throwing up more by the time we got home and collapsing..it wasn't pretty and quite embarrassing! The landlord came to greet me and welcome me and I couldn't walk of my own valition - I must seek him out today somehow - NO idea what he looked like - blushing at admission.
If I weren't so insanel ill, I'd have so many photos to post of my capturing Cairo and Maadi - VERY interesting - TRULY! and really the Egyptian people have been SOOO great to us, even on the airplane (staff and other passengers).
Today is cleaning. and then hopefully before a week is out, unpacked and set up! Here's some interesting things about our apartment!!
Thanks for reading! Love from Maadi! Oh and as we say in Egypt..this place is Maya Maya (direction translation is 100%, but basically WAY COOL!). I won't lie and tell you that Joshua and I didn't sleep together all night crying off and on and praying out, reading the Bible at really hard times and vomitting some more just from stress.....but God's mercy is new every day..and as He is faithful...He is restoring us...everyday will prove more joyous and intriguing as we continue to trust in Him! All prayers continue to be grateful!!
Hmmmm...cannot figure out how to post pics...but I **will** no worries! Just I gotta be very careful which mountains I tackle, lest a molehill become one ;) Thx for your patience!! I admit to be diassapointed not to show you what I wanted to this morning! Perhaps by the evening here?
it's our "curtains" and windows, the bathroom and the "garbage dump" I think you'll also enjoy the view from my living room :)

2:15PM - we had gloriou naps! 2 more small rooms to clean now, wanted to get up some pics - takes quite awhile.

how do you take out the garbage? you gather it up, head for the kitchen and open this door.


then you just LEAVE it here on the "landing" and eventually it leaves...still scratching my head over it, but...it IS how it works :-)




this is what "windows" look like and this is the viewfrom the eating area. interesting plants and archictectue. To be honest, a lot of it reminded me of Mexico - especially he ceramic tiled roofs I see.



back to sorting - I'M SO PROUD OF THE KIDS!

and Joshua did nap in his own bed - he is not so upset today and not so afraid. Really the language seems quite "flat" in tone and then giving the "appearance" of aggression. with all the beeping, "flat talking" and etc thru the night, Joshua was quie scared. The sooner this is our "settled home" the sooner we can begin life and get more and more comfortable! God is abundantly gracious!

When my stomach is eased, I'll request a drive around to just "look" as was offered but even today I'm like NOOOOOO! not even an elevator, thank you! Oh, we have an elevator in our 'building' I'll get a post just about our home soon too.

Love,
Wendy