Settling in...

I had every intention of writing yesterday...but I was too tired. :)
So, I'm going to try my best to recap what was probably one of the craziest days of my life.
If you want the short summary...My flight schedule was totally messed up, I almost never found my flight TO Portugal, and after arriving...I almost died...eight times.
For more details, let me start at the beginning.
Before my flight I went out to eat with my parents. Being the incredibly punctual people they are, they decided to get me to the airport at 12:00 p.m. (for the record, my flight wasn't leaving until 2:47 p.m. AND it was from Des Moines International Airport...not exactly a buzzing or busy place. However, the Lord used their desire to be there with plenty of time.
As I unloaded my four bags and went to check them at the counter, the man informed me that due to delays I wouldn't be able to connect in Boston. He very graciously spent the next forty minutes trying to figure out how to best help me. Due to the way my ticket was purchased, he could not give me a boarding pass for my Boston to Lisbon flight. He explained what to do when I arrived in Boston and what papers they would need to see there. Because of the delay, he bumped me to a departure from Des Moines at 12:55 instead of 2:47 p.m. I quickly prayed with Pastor, Ronette, and my mom and dad, said good-bye, and hustled to my gate. I made it without any problems to Chicago, and then from Chicago to Boston. When I arrived in Boston, I hustled to the screen to find my gate...lo, and behold...there was no flight to Portugal listed. I kept going to different screens hoping I would find it. Finally, I decided that asking someone might be quicker. I walked up to a counter and asked them to tell me what gate TAP Portugal flew from. The agent replied, "Hmmm, well I know it's no where here...I think it's terminal E." So I headed to Terminal E.
Oh, terminal E... as I began walking and following the signs, I started to think that this was probably not going to be the easiest thing to find. The signs led me to the baggage claim area...and ended.
I stood in baggage claim for a while and finally asked someone in a uniform where the mysterious terminal E was. He said I was heading in the right direction and to continue walking past baggage claim to the right. Well, to the right I went.
As I began walking, I realized I was now completely alone in a very dark hallway with no signs except signs on doors that said, "Restricted Access: Only authorized personnel." There were no signs pointing to Terminal E. I felt as if I was definitely someplace I should NOT be. Thankfully God provided two incredibly kind men. I saw them quite a distance from me so I ran to where they were to ask them.
I said, "Excuse me, but am I heading to terminal E?"
"Yup, just keep following us. By the way, what flight are you looking for?"
I responded, "Tap Portugal."
"We haven't flown that in years here in Boston...you sure?"
I frantically pulled out my ticket and showed him
"Hmm...I wonder if it is actually a different company," he said.
I am praising the Lord for these two men. They led me through more of the dark hallway, outside the building across the little street into a brand new building, up a stairwell, and around the corner. There is no way I ever would have found terminal E.
After locating Laura, terminal E, then finally boarding...I decided I would never fly through Boston again. :)
Thankfully, once our flights landed, all my lugguage arrived. Unfortunately, only one of Laura's bags arrived. Pray that they are able to find the rest!
After we arrived we were greeted by Cal and Joyce. Joyce, Laura, and I took a taxi back to our apartment because Cal had to leave to meet someone. Little did we know that this taxi ride could have potentially been our first and last moment in Portugal.
From the moment we got in the taxi, we knew we were in for it. The driver completely gunned out of the parking spot and started honking and raising his hand at the other drivers. He careened into a roundabout cutting off a few drivers already in the roundabout and then proceeded to gun the accelerator even though there was a vehicle coming to a stop in front of us. He proceeded to try to manipulate his way through two cars that only had about two feet between them. I have never been so sure I was going to die so many times!! Really...I'm not exaggerating.
My favorite part of the ride, however, was watching Joyce. :) She would speak to him in Portuguese, apologize to us in English, and sign to him to slow down. I loved it. Due to an accident, he took us to districts Joyce had never seen...it was quite an adventure...one I pray I never have to repeat. I counted at least eight times he came within centimeters of hitting someone. Joyce said she'd never been in a ride quite like this. The whole time all I could think was, "Now THIS is a Bourne ride." :)
Today we conquered the grocery store...and........I DROVE!!! :)
Ok, not very far...but I did it none the less. You'd be happy to know I went the right way in all the round-a-bouts. My only problem, however, was parking. Our apartment is difficult for me to park in. I'll get it though. :)