Please return your tray tables to the upright position...

and prepare for landing in Prishtina, Kosovo.

HELLO, WORLD!!

I am currently sitting snuggly warm in my apartment living room with my roommate, Olivia, attempting to stay awake. With tears of hard "see-ya-laters" and excitement beyond what words could explain, on January 1st at 12:30pm EST, Mom, Dad and I drove away from a fabulous farewell crew standing on my front porch, launching me into what would be a 20.5 hour day of traveling to Mitrovicë, Kosovo.

Dayton > Chicago

Aisle seat.

I was blessed to talk with a very experienced traveler of Europe who was ecstatic for this opportunity that I had to travel and teach young minds. I was glad to get to share with her about how I want to be open to what the Lord's will would be for me in the months and years to come. I am thankful for her encouragement to make the most of my time there and for the international travel tips she offered.

Chicago > Vienna

Middle seat.

Ivanka --

The name of the sweet woman I got to share the 9 hour overnight flight with. First, she so kindly helped me find a place to store my carry-on bag. (Those of you have had that moment of panic when you are holding up the rest of the passengers because every compartment you check is filled know what I'm talking about..) After showing her that the USB port was available for charging her phone, we decided "We will be travel buddies. We will look out for each other." From then on for the rest of our flight and beyond, I like to think of our friendship like that of an aunt and niece.

We soon discovered that she is from Mason, Ohio after living and working in Ukraine as a high school math teacher. Instantly, we began sharing family photos, phone numbers, movie suggestions, our personal websites (Hi, Ivanka - if you're reading this!!).

Here's some highlights of the lots of things we did together:

• At the arrival of the lovely airplane dinner, we clinked our breads saying "cheers" together.

• We prayed for the meal together.

• We played brain teaser games on our personalized airplane computers (because that's what math teachers do for fun on a 9 hour flight) together.

• We got up, stretched, and took a walk around the ginormous aircraft together.

• When the plane landed, we exhaled "Praise God!" together.

I am thankful for the friend that God gave to me in Ivanka today. Someone to laugh with in what could have been 9 hours laugh-free, someone to talk with in what could have been 9 hours of no conversation, and someone to know and be known by when at first we were just one of the 400 other strangers on the plane. Out of all those people, He chose to seat two math teachers next to each other.

As we hugged in the airport, we communicated that we look forward to staying in touch and getting together when we are both back in Ohio. (Can't wait to see you again, Ivanka!!)

Vienna > Prishtina

Window seat.

Sooo... I didn't get lots of sleep on the flight to Vienna because Ivanka and I were having too much fun. But before the pane left the strip on this flight, I was OUT. Though, I couldn't miss out on the beautiful topography of Austria and Kosovo, so I woke up every now and then to snap a pic of the breathtaking mountains!! The wheels hit the strip as smooth as silk, I claimed bag one (Praise God!), then immediately after comes bag two (Praise God!!). In what seemed like 'no time' I was breathing in the brisk air, soaking in the beautiful glowing sunshine, and sipping on a cranberry pomegranate Bravo in Kosovo!!! (pinch me, this can't actually be happening)

Prishtina > Mitrovicë

Back seat.

Take a short blink and BOOM, I am riding in the backseat of a car with Nadine (principal), Troy (teacher), and Olivia (roommate & teacher) in the beautiful country of Kosovo. My first meal in Kosovo was nothing short of a taste-bud explosion. I wish you could have tasted it, but instead I will make your taste buds quiver with this picture. ;)

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Just a bit ago, Olivia and I walked through the city to set up my phone and purchase some groceries. I am all unpacked, excited to learn lots about the culture and meet people from our school. Thankfully, I have a week to begin adjusting to all of this "new-ness" before school starts. What's incredible to me is that God is the same amidst all this change. Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever."

Thank you for desiring to hear what's going on and keep up with me via this blog. If you'd like to contact me, you can send a message to me by visiting the "Contact Me" tab on this site, or through Facebook messenger or WhatsApp! (Remember that I am 6 hours ahead of you, so I may respond to you at a seemingly odd time.)

Gotta rest up for my first hike tomorrow afternoon with some teachers!

- All glory be to Christ -