We got up early to start our roadtrip to Bekah's grandma's house at 9 am. We wanted to stop for lunch in Chicago and see the city, before going straight to Chippewa falls in Wisconsin, which is where the grandma's house is. In the middle of the forest.... where the wolves wait by the main path to lure us away from finding our goal. .. No, but I got caught in a tale (once again).
The part about grandma in the forest is true though, and I couldn't wait to see the place and the rest of the family.
With a car packed with movies to last for 8 hours on the road, left over candy from Christmas, pillows and drinks, we began our trip through 3 states, around Michigan lake through the boarder of Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin. All in one day!
At noon we stopped in Chicago to see the third largest city in the States (after NY and LA).
Chicago ahead!
An amusement park by the bay
The skyscrapers of Chicago
Cute christmas bows hanging from the buildings
This was a very cool wall - it had pieces from
the wall of China, Egyptian pyramids and more!
Macy's :) Inside Macy's there were Disney decorations and snowflakes hanging from the roof top. Very cool :D
American girl place - a store with beautiful expensive dolls... I fell in love with one of the dolls called Rebecca.. she reminded me of me when I was little.. <3
We saw 'The Bean' which is a bean-shaped metallic sculpture that shows your reflection.. it is massive and pretty cool to take pictures of.. it's used in a lot of movies.. I recently thought of 'The vow', that has a scene by this sculpture.. when you stand by it you can also see the whole view of what's behind you, meaning the ice rink here in the winter and a big part of the skyline.. pretty cool!
The reflection of the city in the bean. Pretty cool!
Me, Bekah, Lucy, Donghee and Sarah
We found Chicago's Disney store!! YAYYYY!
Olaf - the snowman from Frozen
We had lunch in the mall where Macy was. The line was ridiculous, but we got to the front of the line in a to-go pizza place and finally had some food, after 5 hours in the car and walking! I tried a pizza Chicago-style. The specialty of pizza in Chicago is a mini deep pan. Gotta try the local! ;)
Sarah chose the same as me!
Pizzaaaa :D
On our way back to the car, we had a Starbucks.. yay!!
Bekah with her latte. <3
American chocolate! Hershey's :)
Here's what I saw on the way too.
- Phantom is on the road!!
Also.. on our way back I was lucky to be one of the pedestrians who was handed over a free gift bag. Here's what Lucy, Bekah's little sister, wrote on facebook this evening:
"Whenever I hear or read about those random acts of kindness I get goosebumps and am moved. Well today I experienced one first hand. Walking downtown Chicago Donghee and Jasmin Maria Fonseca Gauguin both got handed free samples of flat bread peanut butter and humus. As we were walking back to the car there was a homeless man, Jasmin stopped and handed that man her free sample. The man just looked at her shocked. After Jasmin gave it to him she said God Bless you and continued walking. That may not have meant much to her but to the man it may have meant the world."
*
I am driving through the night in the car with the Bartz. I am lying against the window with two pillows below me. Very comfy and warm. For a few minutes I think I even fell int o a deep sleep. It is quiet and peaceful, everyone is asleep..except the driver.And just look at the beautiful sunset. One of the most beautiful I've ever seen - close to the beauty of the African sun!
Being so far away on the road from home in this country, I suddenly get a melancholic feeling. I miss my family. Not mom, dad, Francisco, Zakarias, Clara and Catarina - they are all 7 hours ahead of me now. I don't even know what they are doing.. I know they are alright and growing in love with one another.
I miss my family here, who are only 1 hour ahead of me now. I know what they are doing, and they know where I am and what I'm doing, long before Denmark. I miss coming home to the silly dog that makes disgusting noises in your face and jumps on the couch to snuggle and snore beside you, so no one can hear the TV. I miss the stupid cat, that acts like it's a dog.. and thinks it's a lion, standing on the counter in the kitchen, overlooking the kitchen, while we're cooking. I miss the goofey jokes. I miss the fairy tales and deep talks with tea by the fire. I miss lolling over nothing and learning how the boys talk in NY. I miss the cute face and tiny quiet steps on the stairs. I miss hearing teenage music from closed doors and having a quiet morning, while the younger sleep in. I miss the laughs and girly talks. I miss the tucking me to bed at night and almost falling asleep on a lap, while watching movies till late.I miss the silence, when that's all we need in each other's company - the silence that's only comfortable when you really know each other.
But this missing is not one that prevents me from growing here and enjoying myself here. I wish I could have been more with them for Christmas, I guess.. but I am glad that I always choose the brave and spontaneous, over the safe and usual.
I have seen so much - of places, people, traditions and love - over these past few days.
I guess this just means that I have a place to come home to. It's heartwarming to know that there are arms to come home to, and not a room I have to warm up alone.
....
But for a second I also thought.. they are not really my family.I will never be a part of their family, but I will be a place in their heart. This makes us different when we choose who to be with over the holidays. This differs when emergency comes or just plain priority. And it made me think, that no matter how many hearts I am in, I don't have a family here. I have myself.
If you think you are who you are from your family, you will never be able to move out of those walls.
So your home better be in your heart. You should make home in who you are.
Then you can make a home in whatever family you step into. Not just for yourself, but for them.
You need to represent YOUR home to the world.
I am glad I figured this out at this age.
Make your heart your home.
*
Lying in bed, finishing off my blog, Bekah just came into the room, dressing ready for bed.The grandma has 4 different bedrooms with different themes: the grandparent's bedroom - which is basically just classic comfy with a large dream bed, the African bedroom - it is filled with things from Malawi, red/jazz room - with a theme of red colors and a jazzy touch with a poster, the house on the prairie room - with brown colors, cottage-like blankets, idyllic paintings, straw hats hanging over the mirror, a tiny desk, a painted chair, dried flowers as decoration in a bag, a cute bed side lamp... that's the room I'm in with Bekah. ;)
I love it. I read all the 'House on the Prairie' books when I was little, and I loved them. The books are set in this area in the state Wisconsin. I think that's pretty magical to think about.
"Oh, Jasmin. I am so glad you could come to my favorite place in the world"
I really do cherish this time with Bekah, and I am grateful I can see what her world and home is. :)
X
Lovely moments made and not forgotten. So special.
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