Epic day!!!

This week has been a roller coaster. Every day I want to write a post I said to myself: maybe tomorrow when this is fixed. I’m happy that things sorted out and the week needed up in an extremely high note.

The struggles and plan changes.

I had a panic moment when the shipping company told me our documents had issues for shipment, which may involve either me coming back from Brasilia 7-10 days before our final departure or skip the trip to Bangkok for girls swimming competition. None is good option and I almost asked husband to take them alone. As I walked to the office to discuss options with the admin, I decided that I would go to Bangkok for their first international swim meet up, no matter what. Once decided, I was at peace with whatever I had to do to make it happen. Fortunately we found another solution which wouldn’t change our original plans. Finger crossed it will work.

Next, I told the pet export person that we would travel with Cookie on the last days of March. He told me that’s not possible because between 3/27-4/5 his office will be closed for the Eid al-Fitr. I could either travel before that or after, but during those days he can’t and none other pet export company would be open. It’s the most important holiday for Indonesia, so there’s really no way. I panicked 😱. We can’t travel before 3/27 and after 4/5 will be too late (technically we can but sooo not ideal). I told husband to be ready to stay with cookie until she can travel.

Then an idea came to me. What if I take cookie to Brasilia on March 10? That means I need to:

• Ensure the flight can take her (not all flights allow for pet transport)
• Find another hotel that accepts pet
• Find a pet hotel for the days I’ll be back to Jakarta

The hardest of the 3 items was to ensure flights can take her. When I tried to book her on my original flights, I realized that the domestic flight between Sao Paolo to Brasilia is operated by LATAM so Qatar can’t make the request. When I called LATAM they informed me that they don’t accept pet from international connection flights. They only accept if it’s booked directly with them. Crap! I had to call my local agency to cancel my current booking, re book my flights to Sao Paolo only. Then call US agent to make LATAM booking for Sao Paolo to Brazilian (Jakarta agent can’t book LATAM directly). Once both flights were rebooked separately, I called the two airlines to request bringing Cookie. It was only by Friday morning that I got it all confirmed. Cookie needs to be checked at the airport 3 days before my departure date, when we are not here as we will be in Bangkok. Fortunately our helper agreed to come on a weekend and let the person to take Cookie to do the health check up.

Finger crossed all these steps to come through and our 36 hrs journey is smooth. I’ll have to take Cookie out in Sao Paolo, transfer airports and re check her again for the domestic flight. I already bought foldable litter box to let her do her necessities during that transit time.

EPIC news

Friday 6am, my alarm went off as I set it to get to Ticketmaster to buy tickets for BlackPINK world tour. I logged in 6:02, there were already 79000+ before me so I was on the queue. I didn’t know how long it will take to get to me but I was determined to wait as long as needed. 7:28am, it was my turn to book the tickets. I clicked for 3 tickets, the first option that appeared, added them to the cart just to see that they are no longer available! It went like that over 20 times, almost giving up as it may never come through. Sofia was already saying that maybe we need to buy from resellers. Then one of the transactions went through and I miraculously got 3 tickets!!! I was jumping around and screaming out of excitement. Sofia was just smiling out of excitement and seeing my over-excitement. I asked her: how come that you are not as excited as I am? She said: I am happy but I don’t need to scream and jump. I said to her, semi-jokingly, “that’s why you are chinese and I am Argentinian“. hahahah

So we are going to LA for July 12 concert! I am really really excited to go to our favorite group.

Lizzy got into the same school as Sofia. Until last time I checked, they didn’t have a spot for Lizzy until next school year. So our original plan is to enroll her to the British school for two months, and then switch. Now she’ll do only one transition. YAY!!!

Last weekend in Jakarta is about to start! 😀