tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551977354338403876.post5194459126882185262..comments2024-02-28T22:43:49.960+00:00Comments on Asia Vu: Ask MsCaroline: Expat Life: Home LeaveMsCarolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03623997911568143459noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551977354338403876.post-54320956418623796512012-08-08T03:24:47.802+01:002012-08-08T03:24:47.802+01:00Stacy - It does seem like I keep ruining your morn...Stacy - It does seem like I keep ruining your morning coffee, doesn't it? Maybe I should consider a disclaimer of some sort..MsCarolinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03623997911568143459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551977354338403876.post-30295950990461204802012-08-07T08:25:25.669+01:002012-08-07T08:25:25.669+01:00Spot on as usual, Caroline! Your final photo almos...Spot on as usual, Caroline! Your final photo almost made me snort coffee out of my nose. I feel like I have said that to you before. Maybe I need to stop reading your posts when I am enjoying my morning coffee. Anyway, thanks for the laugh and baring our expat lives for the world to enjoy! :)<br /><br />StacyStacyhttp://www.foodlustpeoplelove.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551977354338403876.post-81072155489650895082012-08-06T23:37:00.459+01:002012-08-06T23:37:00.459+01:00NVG- ha - so was I! For years I had a little colle...NVG- ha - so was I! For years I had a little collection of Pan Am and TWA bags and pins that were always handed out to the child passengers - no idea where all that got to - it's probably worth a fortune on eBay now!MsCarolinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03623997911568143459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551977354338403876.post-55826293682093180022012-08-06T23:29:05.554+01:002012-08-06T23:29:05.554+01:00Outbound - Wow, that's a great deal! We always...Outbound - Wow, that's a great deal! We always find ourselves in the bathroom the night before the flight trying to figure out how much the bags weigh - 70# sounds like heaven! We have also found that it's much cheaper to go ahead and pay for an extra bag or two than it is to pay overweight fees - live and learn!<br />I don't know if Korea has a special line for families with small kids, since mine are teenagers. It seems like a wonderful (and very humane!) idea, though!MsCarolinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03623997911568143459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551977354338403876.post-36787135755616919362012-08-06T23:25:34.874+01:002012-08-06T23:25:34.874+01:00Emma - Yes, it was wonderful to see everyone, but ...Emma - Yes, it was wonderful to see everyone, but I was very grateful to get home to my own bed by the end of the 6 weeks! It was actually pretty funny on the last flight home - you could pick out the expat families immediately, and watching them unload their boxes at the baggage claim confirmed my suspicions!MsCarolinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03623997911568143459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551977354338403876.post-34211987430534883602012-08-06T23:20:29.017+01:002012-08-06T23:20:29.017+01:00Trish - yes, kids who travel frequently (for whate...Trish - yes, kids who travel frequently (for whatever reason)are definitely easy to spot. Son#2 got pulled from the queue in Japan for a patdown and extra search on the way home and it was a bit surprising how casually he took it in stride - probably much better than most adults would have! As far as the family bosoms go - it was wonderful to see everyone, and we really did have a great time, but living out of a suitcase for 6 weeks can take the shine off just about any trip, I think!MsCarolinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03623997911568143459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551977354338403876.post-88847359676714850872012-08-06T23:19:16.458+01:002012-08-06T23:19:16.458+01:00Totally agree, you can spot the expat kids a mile ...Totally agree, you can spot the expat kids a mile off. My sister and I were like that once -we used to recite the captain's greeting and safety instructions on the plane.....nappy valley girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10788949037047084412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551977354338403876.post-18462104944118375242012-08-06T21:35:07.296+01:002012-08-06T21:35:07.296+01:00Brazil has go to be one of the most friendly home ...Brazil has go to be one of the most friendly home leave countries ever. For some crazy reason, when traveling to or from Brazil (when flying American or Brazilian airlines) the rules for luggage are much more generous than if you were flying the same airline to a country other than the US. Instead of the 50 lb restriction, you get two checked bags up to 70 pounds. With four of us traveling, I took full advantage of the 560 pounds of luggage that we were allowed plus our carry on allowance (much to my husband's dismay) But everything is super expensive here so I stock up on EVERYTHING in the US! <br /><br />The other benefit of traveling to Brazil with two little kids is that I get to deboard the plane at my leisure because they have a special line at customs for families with small kids. Even if I am the last one off the plane and the last to arrive at customs, I get to go straight to the family express lane and am out of there in seconds. Brazilians understand that small kids and long lines just don't mix well :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551977354338403876.post-265755534622105512012-08-06T20:28:45.381+01:002012-08-06T20:28:45.381+01:00Welcome "home"!! Love all the tips, you...Welcome "home"!! Love all the tips, you have them all completely and utterly correct! I hope you had a wonderful time, apart from sleeping on various couches and the like! :)BavarianSojournhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12701272367912860549noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4551977354338403876.post-2899841258457634832012-08-06T09:31:37.469+01:002012-08-06T09:31:37.469+01:00Although I don't do Home Leave, as frequent tr...Although I don't do Home Leave, as frequent travellers I can certainly nod my head at much of this, particularly the point about our kids being so used to security arrangements.<br />I can see how spending time between all those family bosoms must take its toll on you. It is lovely and warm and pillowy but even bosoms can suffocate after a time ;-)))Trishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00119443727504215312noreply@blogger.com