30th October, 08
We have one hour ‘til landing! I must say, the time change is difficult when you don’t have any timepiece! I’m still not sure what time I actually fell asleep…finally! Jack said she slept in total one hour on the flight…and Mrs. Rienow little more (and she did not sleep at all the night before!) Other than that, the plane ride has been quite smooth and lovely. The service was impeccable. We arrived at the airport 20 minutes before we were supposed to meet. After the usual hassle of checking our baggage, we moved on to the odiously loooong line for the security check point…oh my goodness! I just caught sight of *my first* glimpse of France! The sun has just risen, revealing a hazy, yet enticing view! This is going to be an awesome few days!
But, back to the first leg of our journey…we traveled through the tunnel of lights, enjoying the fun of watching the kids excitement. Finally arriving at our terminal, we found that we had 15 minutes ‘til boarding! We quickly grabbed some food to tide us over until dinner (which actually wasn’t so bad, Rob! More on that later!) from McDonald’s and Quizno’s (and yes, I did get a chicken sandwich though I did not put catsup on it…but did take off the mayo!!! Yuck! J) We boarded…as usual we switched seats with some people…I am now sitting in a (as Pastor Rienow calls it!) “a breadish place” and the McAuleys just arrived.
…the plane ride was gorgeous, even though I was sitting in the middle aisle (the plane was seven seats across). When we arrived in Paris, we unloaded TEN people’s stuff…only lost one item…:P By the way, even in Chicago we were asked if we were one family! And in France…! I think we’re really an oddity! We took a driverless subway tram think from the airport (which seemed quite small, circular, and had many shopes) to the terminal where we were to wait for our train. We waited there for thre hours. I am now on the train, loving the rural countryside. So far, I have seen two cars, many small (Kenton and Anna’s house in big) but beautiful houses, lots of dirt roads, no shopping centers, and much farmland. Maybe it is just the area we are in, but it is beautiful. The fashions I have seen seem nice, no skirts (long, at least!), not horribly immodest (but perhaps this is due to the weather!) buuut…the gentleman across from me is wearing a dark! brown pinstripe suit, a blue on white button down shirt and a verdigren (however you spell that) wool blazer!
More on the towns…I’ve seen anywhere from 10-100 building towns seeming to average 20-30 or so. The coloring of the buildings is browner than we see in the states – most houses have brown roofs and some have brown shutters. The homes seem to be all about the same size, excepting the church and perhaps one larger house. It is truly rural and picturesque. Momma, you would never want to leave. It is exactly what you have always imagined! The terrain is rolling fields and open meadows, pine forests, and orchards, also other trees of green and golden hue. There is no red to shock you J but it is all so harmonious! I don’t think I shall want to leave. And yet, I fear for the people of France. I fear for the lack of belief in God. They also seem in some ways more friendly to strangers.
Yesterday, (Thursday) was a loooong day…we finally got to the camp after missing our second train…trying to find the car rental place…waiting in the cold wondering what happened to Mr. and Mrs. Rienow?! But as we entered the camp, it was a narrow road overhung with snow laden branches…gorgeous! We have around 8 inches…so the kids are having an awesome time! And that’s all I have time for today!
ttyl, Amber J
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