A Tale of Three Cities

These are a few of the adventures I have already experienced since arriving yesterday. If the next two weeks are like this, I will be able to write a book! 

Yesterday morning I kissed my mom good bye and ran to the check in counter. I was running a little behind because of a slight detour on the way so I didn't get there until 5:40AM.

The line at the AA counter was VERY long and unorganized which led to delay # 1(6:25AM)

The bag Laurie and Retha gave me was .9 lbs over the limit and so they detained me and told me i had to take something out.After 20 minutes of waiting for someone to take the newly shifted bag I finally headed toward security. delay #2 (6:45AM)

At the security check point I remembered RIGHT before I went through I had an old pocket knife in my bag (so glad i remembered otherwise who knew what would have happened). I turned it into the guard and because I even had one, they searched EVERYTHING. After a few minutes of questioning they let me go -one tube of organic toothpaste short- (apparently good for making bombs. Delay # 3 (7:05AM)

I ran to my gate rolling two 50lb duffels behind me. ( I am sure I was a sight to see). I arrived at the gate as the desk attendant spoke "last call for flight 1089 to Miami, FL service to Barbados." That was close. I laughed to myself and thought, "So the adventure begins." 

In Miami I had an hour layover... just enough time to use a rest room that wasn't 36,000 feet in the air, and make it to the other side of the airport in time to board my other flight. I met a facinating woman on the plane. She had just gotten a job as a lawyer and was taking her last vacation for a few years. Her name was Caroline, and she was from Baltimore. She ask me why I was going to Barbados. I tried to explain it to her, but as you all know... i'm not even sure! We had an interesting conversation about the Lord and about different cultures. She asked me why I was drawn to work with counseling and that lead to a conversation on foster kids which was very cool.

I arrived in Bridgetown Barbados around 1:45pm. At the customs check-point I was once again detained because I wasn't given an address for where I would be residing, just the Parish( a small town). so, I sat in a room with a security guard and talked about bananas and bombs (another story) for about 20 minutes while they tried to find out who I was and where I was going. They finally went outside to where the passenger pick-up was and started yelling "is there a Laurie Troublfield here" (Laurie is the Director of Grace Connections the ministry I'm working with). Laurie gave them the address and confirmed I wasn't a bomb threat. a few minutes later, they let me go. As I walked out the door the security guard call out, "Have a nice trip Banana girl!" 

They drive on the left side of the road (so I will probably get a Bajan drivers license so I can learn!) There are tons of round-abouts, and instead of "yield" it says "give way". They listen to a lot of Reggae music, and the street signs are wooden posts.These are the things so far i have noticed that I love... and the abundance of black men with dread locks! lol (just kidding dad!)

I will post some pictures in the next day or so!

Until next time!