Island Time

I am sitting in the Miami airport - returning from the Dominican Republic.  We have a site there for work and I went to do an audit.  What an adventure in just two days!!!!

Since I started back with DTV almost a year ago (how is that even possible?!?!) going there for an audit has been out of scope.  It became required to go there, and while I didn't explicitly volunteer, I certainly didn't say no!  I have wanted a new stamp on my passport for a while!

AT&T has a lot of information on the safety and landscape of foreign countries, and on a scale of 1-5, the DR was a level 3 for safety.  In my research, I learned it is very poor so there is a lot of theft, the zika virus is a big deal, and while there is no terrorist activity, there is still much crime.  I was told "if you're okay with it being stolen, go ahead and bring it".  Which is basically everything I own!  LOL

So, for the first time in YEARS, it took me longer to pack for a 2-day trip than it did for a 3-month trip!  I didn't take my purse, I didn't check a bag so left home most of my liquids as they all wouldn't fit in the quart sized baggie, and I didn't even take my debit card.  I really learned a lesson in "stuff" during this process.  And many more lessons:

1. One *can* survive while traveling without their purse.
2. Having only carry on has it's benefits.  Time being one of them.
3. Hire a driver.  To take you everywhere.  Even the 3 blocks from the hotel to your destination.
4. If said driver says he's going to get the coffee that you want, don't believe him.  At least I didn't give him my cash to pay for it.  I was going to give him a big tip, too!  His loss.
5. Just because it's a Hilton 5* hotel (I mean - just check out the photos!), it doesn't mean you can assume it's the same as a Hilton from home:
1. They won't always post that the water isn't safe to drink.
2. If there are water bottles in the bathroom, that is the universal sign for "don't drink the water".
3. If you're raised on a pig farm, you have an amazing immune system and upon drinking said water, won't get sick (hallelujah!)
4. It may have the most amazing service you've ever experienced.
5. It may have the best breakfast offered by a hotel, and it might be included for free.
6. They won't leave your hotel bill under your door - plan extra time to check out!
6. Travel in groups.
7. Understand Island Time.
1. Everything is S.L.O.W.  Dinner took THREE hours and we cooked the meat ourselves!
2. Checking out took TEN minutes.  And upon observation of the previous guest, I even chose to decline my bill be folded and put in a fancy envelope or it would have taken longer!
3. Agendas are mere suggestions.
8. So are traffic signs. No one follows them.  Traffic was unlike anything I've ever seen before.  People drive their vehicles into places that seem impossible from the passenger seat (see #3 above) and you can drive the wrong way down a one way and people will just move for you.  Travis would have passed out completely.  Though, I wish he was there so he could appreciate that Denver traffic really isn't that bad ... by comparison.
9. You need the customs paperwork when entering and departing a country.  I had to stand in the security line twice for this little piece of information that was unknown.
10. Travel with someone who speaks the language.
11. When at the airport of a foreign country - where you don't speak the language - it's even more wild to hear your name on the loud speaker.  I hear blah blah blah (something in Spanish) Laura Jones (with rolled "r"s).  I went to the customer service desk at my gate.  She takes my boarding pass, looks at my passport and says, "follow him" to a security officer.  
12. Ask questions later.  My co-worker that spoke Spanish wasn't with me (she had to check a bag and wasn't to the gate yet - see #2 above) so I had no idea what was going on.  I followed the officer back out of the gate area and asked where we were going.  In broken English and a lot of hand gestures later, I found out I was part of a random audit and my boarding pass was missing a required stamp.  I was escorted back through the airport, customs, security and back to the check in area to get my stamp.  I was escorted back to my gate and boarded with no other consequences but a long walk in the humid/stuffy airport where I got in more steps!

I have a really long lay over - I did try for a sooner flight.  The line for that was the worst I was in this whole trip.  Even though I didn't get a better trip (another option would have me another layover and only home an hour earlier) I did get my TSA precheck added and an aisle row for the upcoming 4 hour flight I have back to Denver.  The time in line was worth it!  It's been a good trip - time - and I'm very blessed to travel for work!  Here are a few pictures I took:

Outside my hotel window

Another view from hotel room.  I was surprised at how many signs were in English.

View at dinner.  We went to Samurai Japanese Restaurant and this was the back yard.

They bring you a plate of raw meat - cut so thin you could almost see through it.

And you cook it on this.  It was heaven for this "I'll have it burnt" meat-eater!

View from the window when the two passengers next to me got up and left their seats.  I helped myself to the Kodak moment.

Ocean and sky - hard to tell which is which.

I also realized that the last time I sat down to write in my journal was 21 days of prayer at church.  We're in another time of 21 days of prayer - I missed a couple days this week due to my trip and boy am I feeling it!  I really need to carry that habit wherever I go.  And while I type this, I realize that I need to go tomorrow at 9am even though I'm getting home SUPER late tonight.  

And I haven't been writing in my online journal as much because I've been writing in my journal ... with a pen.  Either at prayer (we go most Saturdays all year) or with Emrie when I have the honor of spending time with her - which was twice this year! 

At church this January, our pastor did a series on "Best Year of Your Life" (you can hear it from our website at summitchurch.co) and the point was it will be the best year of your life if it's the best year of your life spiritually.  SO true!  Travis and I are both leading teams at church (me the First Impressions Team - greeters, ushers, etc. and him the Life Safety Team, I also schedule for the Prayer Force team).  We've made some amazing friends, spend a lot of time with friends we've known in Denver for a long time, and really enjoy our time.  We've been to concerts, seen the Yankees play, traveled, and found some amazing restaurants.  Travis has guided more trips this season than the last couple combined and I am so proud of him.  I mean ... just look at this smile!  

Well, that's it for now.  I'm going to find some dinner and head to my gate.  I'm looking forward to the 2 movies I can watch while on my next flight.  Either that or a nap.

God bless!
La