Our first international adventure: part I

Jamaica was our first international trip together. This was my second time and it was so much more fun. Different resort, different person, different adventure.

Boy, if a 4 hour international flight, going through customs and airport security doesn't test a relationship, I don't know what will. We could have completely ripped each other's heads off, but alas, we survived. Pfew!

Tuesday night we took the train into Chicago to visit his cousin, Andy, in the city for dinner.

Andy let us crash at his place, so we could catch the train to the airport at 5:30am Wednesday morning. Yes, 5:30AM. No coffee. Eek!

Made it to O'Hare (after I finally got a coffee) around 7:15am, Wednesday. Ready for Jamaica.

The flight to Jamaica seemed to go much faster than on the way back. When we landed, it was an hour and a half drive from the airport to the resort. We stayed at Sandals Whitehouse - a newer, smaller and more secluded resort. 

I thought we were going to die on the drive there. The roads are very narrow, full of pot holes and they drive on the left side. The differences in the people in Jamaica is very apparent along the roads. The homes are different sizes and quality. We learned that there is no type of government assistance for those who lose their job. They are to fend for themselves and survive on their own. 

It was very eye-opening and it made me thankful for what I have and realized not to take anything for granted. 

My brother and sis-in-law greeted us with hugs and smiles when we arrived and met them for lunch on the resort. It had seemed like forever since we last saw each other. The four of us really get along great and I feel we learn a lot of from each other too in our own relationships. 

The first two days were wedding prep and celebration. The wedding ceremony was beautiful and I had to fight back the tears throughout. I know my brother's dad would have been so proud of him and would have liked to be there. I am happy and honored that I could be there for Mark and Amanda and stand by them on their special day. I have never seen my brother so happy and in love with someone. What I really love and admire about the two of them, is that they have fun with each other with little play fights/flirting. They turn those small things that many couples bicker about and then make the best of it and laugh with each other. I love them both. 

The next two days of our trip will have to be for another post. Jamaica just has to be a two part blog post. Haha! More pictures to come! Stay tuned for part II this week.