I can't describe the surreal nature of flying into a place that you are going to call home, having never seen it before and having no idea what to expect.
The flight here was great, BA couldn't have been more helpful in terms of helping me with zillions of bags and the kids. As the plane landed I felt a bit overwhelmed by the whole thing but held it together. The bloody baggage people sent the stroller to baggage reclaim so I had to carry H, but thankfully a nice BA man helped me by carrying the car seat. Got into a bit of a mess at immigration as I hadn't filled out the right forms (complicated, when emigrating). They put me in a fast track queue but then I got sent away to do the right forms, they guy wouldn't lend me his pen and I was stuck until someone helped out and lent me theirs, and I sort of wobbled at this point on the edge of meltdown struggling for the sake of the boys to keep it together.
When we finally got through immigration we went down where the BA staff had my bags and were wondering where I had got to. Seattle airport is a disaster zone as you have to get your bags, go through Customs, then put your bags on another conveyor an take a tube train to another bit. We did this, then came out not sure where to go .... felt once more overwhelmed and realised there was no contingency plan in place and if I couldn't find G would be completely lost and stuck in a strange place! Fortunately D spotted him and we managed to get out alive and in one piece.
Driving out of the airport I was struck by how 'West Coast' it looks. I've travelled around Southern California a couple of times and apart from the lack of heat and sunshine there was alot of resemblence in the buildings and the landscaping. Beautiful view of the lake and giant houses along the road as we went up towards our rented place.
Rented place is nice, a semi in a 'corporate housing complex' with 3 bedrooms. Everything we need basically. The only thing slightly wrong with it is that it is near the motorway and you can hear traffic but after a week at dads with low flying aircraft overhead it isn't bothering me too much. I was so tired that I managed only to shower before collapsing with exhaustion last night.
Today I woke up feeling a bit disconnected and out of sorts, a bit overwhelmed by the enormity of being here and having no place else to go or be, and knowing that it is now my home. We went out for a drive around - did a big circle through some of the areas that have been suggested as nice to live. It was good to get oriented and I am thrilled at the beauty of the place - mountains, lakes, trees everywhere, beautiful greenery, fresh air, really pretty indeed. My needs and wants in terms of housing are a mass of contradictions. So far my favourite places have been the more happening / town / city areas which will provide me with something I missed in Canada. But then I worry about not being in a child-friendly environment and think I ought to try. But I don't want to be stuck in sticksville....... so who knows. We saw plenty of both type of area today, all beautiful, all smart, all very nice and I think we'll find something which suits our needs once we begin to narrow it down further. I feel a lot more positive having got a bit of a sense of the place.
All the menfolk are currently sleeping and I think I'm going to go and wake them now before they sleep the day away. The boys are both jet lagged. Me too but I know I'll feel worse if I give in to it now so I have stayed awake!
Posted by katie at July 11, 2005 06:46 PM