A close call

VANCOUVER, B.C. airport

The day and trip began with near disaster. Our travel agent had told us to check in at the airport at 5:20 a.m. for our 5:50 flight and said no one is even at the airport until 5:30. If you've seen the Lethbridge airport, you could believe this -- it is VERY small. Well, we showed up at 5:18 and find out we should have been there at 4:30! And then the VERY cranky Air Canada ticket agent proceeded to tell us neither our group nor our luggage would likely make the flight. Many scenarios flashed through my head (none of them good). So we just apologized profusely and pleaded and hustled through security and we (just) made the plane. The Air Canada ticket agent came on just as the door was about to close to say our luggage made it too (we'll see... I hope so).

The other surprise was an expensive one... three of our eight bags came in at 53 pounds, and one at 70 (which is the limit for international flights). The Air Canada agent said they were overweight and would be charged a surplus fee. So we had to shell out $400 (!) for the overweight bags... although the Japan Airlines ticket agent said we could probably contest that as they are within international weight limits (and John is at an Air Canada gate trying to do that now). Thank goodness for credit cards -- and I wasn't about to debate with her at that point (although now that we have a four hour layover, there is time to... ).

Anyway.

We made the plane, and the thrill of travel is with us. The kids did great on the short trip to Calgary, but had a harder time on the Calgary-Vancouver leg (Livie and her ears in particular were unhappy). They are exhausted, too -- up at 4:30 and no nap yet (although if they last until we board the Vancouver-Tokyo flight, there is a chance they might get some decent sleep... or else be complete wrecks. One or the other...). We have filled them with food, water, new toys (change purses with yen for their backpacks, little puzzles) and they are now fairly content.

I am so glad we are on the way. All of the build-up and emotional goodbyes would have been hard to have to do all over again (much less trying to make arrangements for pickup, etc., in Sapporo) tomorrow. And despite her crankiness, I am giving great thanks to the grumpy but VERY fast ticket agent in Lethbridge who helped us make our plane, and start our trip.

A taste of things to come, and saying goodbye

Well, I think we got a taste of what tomorrow could look like tonight. We stopped by Bonny's cafe for dinner since the thought of cooking in the chaos of the packing was just too much. The kids are usually great there -- but not tonight. First, Katie refused to wear any bottoms besides underwear (a long story having to do with her ballet tights itching and not having any backup bottoms because I'd cleaned out the car) but Bonny still let her come in. Then she and Liv fought over the high chair with the cup holder, with neither strong willed 3yo willing to bend until John somehow convinced Liv to switch. No one ate anything, and many tantrums followed, and Jack helped by bouncing a bouncy ball all over the restaurant and crawling under couches and tables to retrieve it (I could almost hear Bonny thinking "just get through tonight and you won't see them for 14 weeks"). She left us with hugs, kisses, and good wishes, as she is a better and more patient person than I could ever be, and I think I heard a sigh of relief from her when we got in the car. There was no reasoning with them at all -- and it hit me that this could be true a lot in the next few days.

But tonight the kids are having a blast while I pack -- Lori took them out and they have found a ton of frogs to capture and take down to the pond. As they hunted, a giant jackrabbit ran by them and our own Jack rabbit chased it (nearly giving him a heart attack, according to Lori (the bunny, not the boy). John is back at the office writing his letter for tenure and promotion -- the rest of the file is finished! -- and his bags are all packed. I just have my own to do and we'll be set. We are ONLY taking eight checked bags (six big, two small and full of books and schoolwork). Added to the suitcase of macaroni and diapers are three jars of peanut butter and a stash of granola bars for a homesick day. We will be gone 14 weeks exactly, and the fun starts tomorrow. Oh, let's be honest. It's already started...

10 suitcases

I brought 10 suitcases up from the storage room today and it exhausted me -- and I started wondering how we'll feel lugging all of those to Japan. But with five people and three seasons (it's still warm there now, and will be fall for Oct. and Nov., and apparently will start snowing A LOT in early December), we have a heavy load whatever we do. One suitcase is packed full with diapers (214 as the girls are still diping up at night and we will be gone about 110 nights) and two cases of Annie's macaroni and cheese for those moments when the newness of Japanese food is too much (one box every five days by my figuring). The good news about the diaper and macaroni suitcase is that we can load it full of wonderful finds from our time in Sapporo when we come home. And yes, I know they have diapers in Japan -- but I want to spend my money on items that are unique to our soon-to-be-home, not something I will be disposing of every morning.

The kids are SO excited, but I wonder how much they really understand. We picked up little backpacks for them today at CAA (the Canadian version of AAA) for them to take on the plane, and have shown them where Sapporo is on maps and the globe. Kate and Liv will tell anyone who asks that they are going to "Pan" and we have been going to Japanese restaurants every few weeks to try to expand their culinary horizons. But I still think we're all in for a pretty wild ride!

Hello world!

This is the first post of what I hope will be a collection of great stories of the adventures of our family as we prepare and travel to Sapporo, Japan this fall.