I am looking forward to visiting family and friends this December when we visit the United States. However, this trip is not without some hesitation. We have been living in Ecuador now for about fourteen months and have settled into our pretty busy routine. Going back to the US for a family wedding and the holidays means missing out on special events here. It’s a heavy investment of time and finances, and transcontinental travel with a three year old is less fun than jet-setting alone. Perhaps heaviest in the air is the outcome of the upcoming midterm election. What version of the US will we be stepping into?
The flights are booked, and as of right now I have no intention of losing that investment. However, my reluctance to visit is becoming palpable and my anxiety is rising. I also feel a deep level of sadness that my three year old daughter will not get to participate in special events such as her school Christmas performance or the ballet recital with her dance school. She is also going to miss celebrating her birthday with all her friends here in Ecuador (fortunately she gets to spend it with her cousins at a Paw Patrol Party instead). We will make the best of our time in the US making special memories with our family, but I still feel like a bad mom for pulling my daughter out of her special events.
Because we are traveling so far and for so long, we made the decision to stay a few weeks before returning home. That means that on top of the costs of the travel (not inexpensive with the war in Iran driving up jet fuel prices), we will also be paying substantially more than we are used to for basic things like food and gas. I am trying to prepare myself for the sticker shock and impact on my checking account. With the last year of massive inflation in the United States with the ongoing fuel price crisis, I am nervous about filling up a gas tank!
The trip to our first destination will be difficult. A four hour drive to a major city, three flights to get to our first destination with an overnight layover at JFK. I am usually all for taking crazy flights for 30+ hours when I am by myself, but I am nervous to take my three year old and my husband who needs consistent sleep on this journey. I am just imagining schlepping my very large, almost four year old daughter through JFK after she has fallen asleep on the plane or, worse, oversleeping at JFK and missing our next flight.
But that is all just logistics. I can handle that. What I am most nervous about is what happens in just a few short weeks. A contentious midterm election. Will the election be free and fair? The election observers have been turned away by the current administration, so it is far from guaranteed. What will be the outcome and will either side fight against it? Will immigration and customs be more difficult to pass through come December? These are all questions on my mind building more and more anxiety.
Regardless of these anxieties, I will fight through it and be holiday ready come December. It has been a long time since we have seen much of our family, and we need to make this trip. However, due to the cost and our ever growing schedule in Ecuador, this might be our last visit for quite a while.
Leave a Reply