We’re back home safe and sound after our long, lovely, trip of circumnavigating the world! Throughout our trip we’ve made many memories, tried new things, and had our share of obstacles. So to summarize it for you, we decided to create a “Sabbatical Trip Superlatives” list!
Here’s what we got;
Favorite Food/Meal
- PC: Pierchic restaurant in Dubai
- PB: Whale Steak at the fish market in Bergen, Norway
- Ellie: Street fried Octopus in Xi’an, China
Something we Learned
- PC: How quickly China has changed and has modernized since last visiting
- PB: Midges in Scotland are almost as bad as mosquitoes
- Ellie: How different governments/people work around the world
Favorite Attraction/Activity
- PC: Norway boat rides
- PB: Ski Dubai with Ellie
- Ellie: Dune bashing in Dubai
Favorite Place
- PC: Aurland, Norway (Loved the balcony on the fjord)
- PB: Bo Yang City, China (Loved seeing Mrs. Wu)
- Ellie: Xi’an, China (Loved the bustling pedestrian city and the nightlife)
Best Moment
- PC: Finding our family in a woman’s book at the Sætre farm
- PB: Ellie getting a moped ride with Mrs. Wu at the adoption center
- Ellie: Getting ready to ski with Dad at Ski Dubai
Greatest Obstacle
- PC: The heat in Dubai and China
- PB: Driving in Scotland
- Ellie: Sleeping at Novotel in Dubai
Best Shower
- PC: The Royal Mirage in Dubai
- PB: The Royal Mirage in Dubai
- Ellie: Any cold showers in Dubai
Worst Toilet Experience
- PC: Bo Yang toilet shack at the Bo Yang Lake
- PB: The Hot Pot incident in Chengdu
- Ellie: Accidentally dropping phone into the squatter in Xi’an
Best Bed
- PC: The Royal Mirage (Dubai)
- PB: The White Swan (Guangzhou)
- Ellie: Edinburgh Air B&B (Scotland)
Most Unexpected
- PC: Fish Spa in Xi’an
- PB: The welcome banner at the orphanage that said “Welcome back home Bo Tong” (Ellie’s Chinese name)
- Ellie: That the spicy ox intestine dish in China was delicious
Honorable mentions
- PC: The unexpectedly warm temperature of the Arabian Gulf in Dubai
- PB: Haggis rolls at Stirling Castle, Scotland, were actually good
- Ellie: Fish spas tickle. A lot.
Other Observations/comments
- PC: Person-to-person, most everyone is kind and lovely
- PC: Ellie is our machine operator (including strange microwaves, foreign stovetops, and electric car chargers)
- PB: Ellie has taken my place as the “family sherpa”
- PB: it was crazy to spot a Caribou Coffee in Dubai
- Ellie: Squishy cow toys are amazing
- Ellie: Sheep chins are soft
We appreciate everyone who has been following our updates on our travels. We have learned and experienced so much, and we are so grateful for the opportunity that this grant provided us.
We’ve been home long enough to do laundry, repack, host a dinner party, vacuum a little, and pet the kitties. Today we’re off again. The next post will be from the lake in Minnesota.
In the meantime, today is Ellie’s 18th birthday. (She has already registered to vote, signed up for Zelle and Apple Cash, and has an appointment for her first tattoo. I guess she’s ready for some of the perks…and responsibilities…of being an “adult” in our society.) We’ll stop in Lake County, Illinois tonight to celebrate with three of Ellie’s godmothers.
The adventures continue. Thanks for joining us along the way.
God’s peace and love,
Brad, Caroline, and Ellie
Wander Tales by PC, PB, and Ellie 