Christmas Surprise

Since I went home for Thanksgiving, I was telling everyone that they was a 0.5% chance that I would be able to make it back home for Christmas since I would have only been working for 2 weeks after I got back from Abu Dhabi and Mexico City. I said this because I really thought I would not get Christmas off even though I had not have Christmas off since I joined SLB. One of the main reasons that I thought I would not get it off because usually the older engineers get first dibs on which holiday they want off. Plus when I got back I was supposed to be scheduled to go offshore.

One week before Christmas I got the news that I would be having Christmas off! I was so excited and bought my ticket that day. At that time I thought it would be fun to make it a Christmas surprise for the family. I talked with Lizzie about it, and we planned the surprise. I would fly into Raleigh were she would pick me up and then we would go to Wilmington. We did not tell anybody else in the family!! The same day we made the plans I ended up skyping with my parents. They asked me if was going to be able to make it but I told them no because I was going offshore. I was sooo thankful that I did not have my camera that day because they would have seen me with a big grin on my face when I was saying this!

I knew it was going to be a short trip but knew that it was going to be worth it so to help optimize my time at home I bought my tickets to fly out of Merida. I got on a bus after work and rode for 5 hrs to make my 6 am flight back to the US. It ended up working great! When I into Raleigh I met up with Lizzie and Jake. I wanted so badly to get on facebook or online but kept my phone off since I knew my dad would be checking where I was with his app that keeps track of where your friends are!! I did not want to ruin the surprise over facebook!!

The next day Dan, Lizzie, Jake and I drove down to Wilmington. I ended up surprising everyone in 3 parts. The 1st part was the best one! We stopped at my grandparents place first where my mom, dad, other grandma, and uncle were. Again because my dad likes to stalk people, the surprise was almost ruined. I planned on walking through the door but when we arrived at the complex my parents were already outside waiting for us. Thankfully Dan's windows are tinted so they did not see me. I ducked my head and Dan rolled down the window. I then popped up and my Mom was like "oh my gosh" and gave a quick little scream and looked at my Dad in shock. I think my dad was too shocked to do anything!! I wish I had gotten a video when everything went down . . . it was great!

After some time at my grandparents', it was time to go to the next stop. This time it was to the beach house we were staying at. Becca did not know I was coming either and we were going to meet her there. One of the main reasons she was not brought into the loop with Lizzie was because she lives with my parents and it would have been harder to keep the secret!! When she got to the house I hide in another room while she went upstairs to her room. Right when I went up to surprise her, she said that she was happy that she finally did not have to share a bathroom!! Well, I kind of spoiled those plans! When she saw me the first thing that came out of her mouth was "What". It was great as well!

Finally the last stage of the surprise was done. It again was almost ruined because my dad "checked" us in on facebook. We quickly told him to erase it and wait until the last surprise was done. We headed to my uncle and aunt's house for dinner. I first saw my cousin Kate when I walked in the house and she just said "Wait . . . what are you doing here" and then laughed. I then went out back and surprised the rest of the family. It was really nice to feel loved and missed, but most of all it was nice to be with the WHOLE family!!

After the surprises everything went back to normal. We had great time together. There were sooooo many presents . . . though not many for me but it was ok because I was with my entire family!! At one point on Christmas morning I just sat back and thanked the Lord for my great family and the ability to come back home for this time together.

Visa time in Mexico City

On the way back from Abu Dhabi to Carmen I had another quick detour in Mexico City to renew my work visa. I ended up having 4 days there because the office was closed. The first day I pretty much stayed in the hotel because I was exhausted from all the traveling. Me staying in the hotel ended up being quite the adventure!! That night all of a sudden I my room started shaking a little bit. At first I did not think much of it but then it started to get a lot stronger and lasted for a while. I was thinking to myself what should I do. The only thing that came to mind was to hop into the bathtub like it was a tornado coming!! Come to find out it was a 3.6 earthquake!! I was on the 9th floor so come to find out I would not have been able to do much more then hop into a bathtub!!

 The next day I decided to wander around the center of  town. It was the weekend so everybody was out. Plus, the main square had a huge winter wonderland that everyone was going to. While wandering I realized that Mexico City is a very large place with lots of people, and I definitely felt like I was the only white person there which was actually nice!! I did not feel like a tourist, even though I stood out, because I was just immersing myself in the culture and life. I walked around some of the small museums and a street market that was going on. Then I had lunch at one of the street vendors and it was soooo good though probably not the most sanitary but that is part of the experience . . . go where the locals go!

After that I took a tour of the Presidential Palace of Mexico (pretty much the White House of Mexico). It was sooo beautiful and interesting. The President does not live there but has an office and does most important meetings there.

The next day I spent the day with Estef (my roommate from Carmen) and her family. She is from Mexico City and happened to be home for days off so it worked out perfectly! She and her parents took me on a boat ride in the city's canal system. You could rent a boat that could fit about 20 people, bring food and drinks, and have a good ole time! Along the way you can buy flowers or rent Mariachis!! It was great being with her and her family and being on the water. I just love water and being outside!

After a couple of fun days I went and got my visa which only ended up taking 20 minutes to get! It was great because the year before it took 3 hours!! I then headed to the airport and had to start thinking about reality again . . . work!!

Oh just hanging out in Abu Dhabi . . . part 2

After Thanksgiving instead of heading straight back to Mexico to start work I had a little detour! I ended up being chosen to go to another course for work and again it was in Abu Dhabi! Again I never thought I would be going to Abu Dhabi period and now I was going for my 2nd time in 3 months! I went straight from Raleigh to London and then London to Abu Dhabi. It was nice just having a few less hours of traveling!

This time around I was only there for one week. Yes, I had to travel halfway around the world for just one week of class but it was still fun and a good excuse not to be in the office! The course was really interesting and all but 1 person in the class was from my location. We ended up changing MLC (Middle East and Asia Learning Center) to Mexico Learning Center because a lot of Spanish was being spoken and we pretty much all worked there. So many people from my location were there because it was training on how to operate a new unit which we are about to get a bunch of in our base. I was excited to be chosen for this new adventure! Besides being outside in the yard learning how to work the unit, we went out to eat almost every night which was a lot of fun. Eating was the point of my trip this time more than site seeing!!

 Site from working above on the injector head

 Part of the gang

 Having some fun in the CT cabin (all of us but 1)

 

 John picking up his engagement ring at Tiffany's

For a class dinner we went to one of the famous hotels in Abu Dhabi for a really nice buffet. Just our luck there was a theme that night . . . guess what it was?! The theme was Mexican, hahahaha!!! We were all walking down the stairs to the restaurant and heard a familiar sound . . . there were mariachis and traditional mexican dance going on!! There was even traditional Mexican food! Our whole class just laughed since we all pretty much live in Mexico!

Fuad from Indonesia (only person from a non-Mexico base) being converted to a true Mexican!

After a fun week it was time to head back to Mexico :( This time the flight was from Abu Dhabi to London to Mexico City to Carmen. When I was getting on my flight from London to Mexico (the longest part of my trip), I got to the counter to board the plane it took a little longer than usual. Next thing I know the flight attendant said the magic words of "you have been upgraded to business class"!! It was the first time that I ever was placed in business/first class and what a time for that to happen . . . transatlantic! What a great end to a great trip!!