3 Days to Go

We're almost done getting the critical pieces together to travel. We booked our flights on Tuesday night. We leave Amsterdam on the 24th at 630pm and arrive in Almaty at 515am on the 25th. Luckily there is a 730 flight to Karaganda. Taking the advice of our coordinator in country (begrudgingly as we'd rather save the money), we booked VIP Service to get us through customs. We didn't think there'd be a ton of people at the airport at 515 in the morning, but better safe than sorry.

Yesterday, I picked up our visas at the Kazakh Embassy in the Hague. Another 2 1/2 hours in the car. I've done more driving this past week than I've done in the last year and a half. Joe usually drives on trips, I sleep. Oh and I failed to mention that Joe's bike (our usual mode of transportation) has a flat tire so I've had to take him to and from work every day too since I've needed our 1 car.

Our last critical piece is original documents that we need to take with us. Reaching Out shipped them to us via FedEx on Tuesday. By yesterday afternoon, I started getting worried and finally tracked the package (novel idea). It was in NL and of course they tried to deliver it when I was picking up our visas. Oddly, there was a note that said "incorrect address." I called Don at RO and verified they sent it to our correct address. This morning, I "patiently" waited at home, still no package. I called FedEx customer service and found out it had been delivered to Vondelstraat 132 (not our address, but my friend Jill's) and someone named Spey signed for it. How did that happen, you ask? Well, yesterday I was supposed to host a coffee for the American Woman's Club but couldn't because I had to get our visas. I left a note on our front door stating "AWCA Coffee has been moved to....". Well, when FedEx came, he thought we moved??? Maybe a language barrier, the note was in English? I quickly called my friend Jill on her cell and home, no answers. When I finally talked to her (really only about 15 minutes later but my anxiety attack from earlier in the week was quickly coming back), she said she was on her way home and she'd check. To make matters worse, none of her neighbors are named Spey. Hmmm.... Luckily, the package was there when she got home and we met for lunch so I could get it.

That's all for now! Moving on to packing!