The Guam Chapters.

A while back I wrote that Glenn had a job interview with the University of Guam. I wrote about the fear and anxiety that just the interview brought me, and the heartache that was sure to come with living so far away from our families. Well, Glenn was offered the job. We woke up on day two of our journey back West this summer to an offer and a five day timeline to decide. Good thing we were in the middle of a five day car trip to agonize over this decision. For the first time in our two years of marriage we were split on our choice. Not just an I don’t really care, I could go either way, you choose, kind of split either. Like, I was an adamant this move terrifies me. Glenn really wanted the job, the only thing holding him back was me. Ultimately Glenn accepted the job, and we are now in Guam. It broke my heart not to be unified on this decision and have to admit created a rift between us. I know in my heart why Glenn accepted this position. I understand that it was more than chasing his career dreams, but wanting to be a good provider for his wife and baby. I trust that Guam could be a really good thing for us, I just so wished another closer job surfaced instead.

All summer I never really relaxed about the move. I was confident that the Universe was fighting against us and all the preparations we needed to make. There are so many complications that come with moving to another country! And we still have loose ends in California. For starters we needed to figure out what to do with all our stuff. What to bring, what to sell, what to store? We tried having two garage sales. My parents live directly across the street from a very popular soccer park, and the two Saturdays we sit outside, empty! Sign? We also had two cars that we were trying to sell and some larger furniture items on Craigslist. I swear every time we were in talks with someone and they were for sure coming with money to pick it up disaster strikes. These are some of my favorite excuses for why people never showed. I lost my phone. My car was stolen that morning. My daughter was in a car accident and lost her spleen. What the heck?!

The most difficult preparation came with trying to get our dogs to Guam. There is a vast checklist of shots, blood work, and paperwork that needs to be done, and a lot of money. We made the difficult decision to leave Lexi with my Grandma, who we knew would do nothing but sit there and give her attention 24/7. We did all the necessary vet work with Rocky and thought we were good to go. I stayed in California an additional two weeks after Glenn already left for Guam so that we could wait out the processing times on Rocky’s blood work and avoid a long quarantine when we arrived in Guam. The next hurdle came with the airlines. We were told by the airlines that Rocky wasn’t allowed to fly in cabin and would need to fly with their Petsafe program. This made me very nervous! I hated the idea of my dog flying in cargo and worried about the trauma that might cause him. When it came time to make his reservation I found out that Rocky wouldn’t be on any of the same flights as me. First off I was on an express flight, and dogs flying internationally with Petsafe aren’t allowed on express flights. Second, Rocky would need a quarantine in Hawaii. Meaning, Rocky would miss my flight to Guam and need to fly out on a different flight. Also, lots more money! I hate United Airlines! I hate that they made it virtually impossible to bring my dog with me. It broke my heart to leave Rocky with my parents. It broke my heart when my Dad told me that Rocky sat outside the door to the room we stayed in all summer just waiting for us. It makes my eyes watery just thinking about it. I’m grateful my parents love him too, and know they will take care of him. I just miss him a lot!

The most difficult aspect of moving to Guam was Deliah. Not just the fact that United Airlines once again made me their enemy. I had to pay an ‘infant tax’ just to bring my baby with me. The woman on the phone seriously posed it to me like this, ‘well if you want to bring your baby you need to pay’. Like it was actually a choice. United Airlines is a bunch of heartless people! What tore me up inside were the feelings that I was taking this beautiful baby away from so many that love her. I love my family and want them to have a relationship with Deliah. She is growing so fast and will be so different when they get to see her again. All summer I felt like I was on borrowed time. I view the two months we spent in CA as a gift. A way that everyone we love could meet our baby and bond with her. But, it was always in the back of my mind that this was all temporary. I know I will never be able to send enough pictures and Skype long enough to satisfy my families desire to see her.

Finally, I make it to the airport, accompanied by my entire family. After a really sad goodbye Deliah and I arrive at our gate. Flight delayed an unknown amount of time. Really, why did everything about this move have to be so gosh dang stressful?! I only had a 1 ½ hour layover so the woman at the counter set about booking me backup flights. She wanted to put me on a one way to Honolulu, skipping San Francisco all together. I was rejected by Hawaiian Airlines for this flight because I didn’t have a passport. A passport to fly to Hawaii? Why even consider it one of the 50 states? Anyway, my flight to SF departs exactly 1 ½ late. I make it to my gate for my next flight literally as the doors are closing. When I arrived in SF and asked what gate I needed to be at, a nice man escorted me all the way there when he learned it was already boarding. He began swiftly walking and then quickly turned into a brisk jog. Him pushing my stroller and me jogging besides carrying my baby in the Bjorn. I made my flight, and honestly from here on out traveling was easy. Deliah was a travel delight. In three flights she never cried, not even a whimper. I was worried the air pressure would bother her and she would be fussy. I was worried she would have a massive poop blowout, because such is my luck. Nope. She was a gem! I think I deserved this because the idea of traveling alone for almost a full day, with a newborn, all alone, made me a little nervous. I had to laugh because after three flights with a happy baby, she screamed the second we got in the car leaving the Guam airport.

Now the real adventures begin. All summer I felt like we were sacrificing so much, and waiting impatiently for things to get easier. All summer I hated anytime someone said the word adventure to me. All summer I was so unenthusiastic about this move. Don’t get me wrong, I am not planning on being miserable while I’m here. I am hopeful that this will be a positive experience for us. I am excited about traveling somewhere new. I am hopeful that when we look back on these Guam chapters one day they will be filled with wonderful new friends and fun stories. Stay tuned.

 

Deliah's first time on an airplane!

Perfect travel baby!

Deliah watching Free Willy on the Kindle during one of our flights.

A Daddy happy to see his baby again after two long weeks.



Fox's together again!