The Long Trip Home
An unforgettable experience ...31 total reviews
Comment from prettybluebirds
Wow, what an amazing adventure! I can see why your story did so well in the contest. I have never been out of the States and never intend to. You told your story in a marvelous, straightforward manner. Lovely writing.
reply by the author on 23-Aug-2024
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Wow, what an amazing adventure! I can see why your story did so well in the contest. I have never been out of the States and never intend to. You told your story in a marvelous, straightforward manner. Lovely writing.
Comment Written 22-Aug-2024
reply by the author on 23-Aug-2024
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Thank you so much for this great review - I am glad you enjoyed this one. It taught us all resilience. Congratulations to you for your splendid win.
Wendy
Comment from juliaSjames
Congratulations on placing in the contest with this gripping account of evacuation from Saudi Arabia. The invasion of Kuwait and the resultant war took everyone by surprise. You were brave and so were the children but in a way you had no choice but to keep life going as normally as possible. The threat or prospect of war is extremely stressful. I can imagine that your husband and the other men who had to stay behind felt this keenly. Did he have any PTSD symptoms when he got back to Australia? You speak of Joe's emotional crisis but not about your husband's delayed reactions if any.
I thought your depiction of the chaotic evacuation flight was a masterpiece of restrained writing. The images of dirty plates piled on the back seats, a dessert of rotten apples, and stepping around a drunken woman lying in the aisle embedded themselves in my mind.
I know from personal experience how difficult it is for governments to appreciate the degree of danger to their nationals living overseas when difficult circumstances arise. There is a presumption that the potential of such danger is being exaggerated.
Blessings, Julia
reply by the author on 22-Aug-2024
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Congratulations on placing in the contest with this gripping account of evacuation from Saudi Arabia. The invasion of Kuwait and the resultant war took everyone by surprise. You were brave and so were the children but in a way you had no choice but to keep life going as normally as possible. The threat or prospect of war is extremely stressful. I can imagine that your husband and the other men who had to stay behind felt this keenly. Did he have any PTSD symptoms when he got back to Australia? You speak of Joe's emotional crisis but not about your husband's delayed reactions if any.
I thought your depiction of the chaotic evacuation flight was a masterpiece of restrained writing. The images of dirty plates piled on the back seats, a dessert of rotten apples, and stepping around a drunken woman lying in the aisle embedded themselves in my mind.
I know from personal experience how difficult it is for governments to appreciate the degree of danger to their nationals living overseas when difficult circumstances arise. There is a presumption that the potential of such danger is being exaggerated.
Blessings, Julia
Comment Written 21-Aug-2024
reply by the author on 22-Aug-2024
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The only noticeable thing was that my husband kept shushing the children who were excited to see him - he was unused to the sound of three voices all wanting to share at once. He had to readjust to family life after the quietness of nearly five months. Otherwise he seemed to cope pretty well and settled back into life here quite quickly. Thank you for this thoughtful and insightful review. I appreciate it.
Wendy
Comment from zanya
Wow - this is a gripping true life story told with granular detail and engaging the reader as the tension mounts - a well deserved win. What an experience for the little ones!
reply by the author on 21-Aug-2024
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Wow - this is a gripping true life story told with granular detail and engaging the reader as the tension mounts - a well deserved win. What an experience for the little ones!
Comment Written 21-Aug-2024
reply by the author on 21-Aug-2024
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Thank you so much for this super review, and for the congratulations. I am glad you enjoyed the story. It was a difficult time, but perhaps it taught us all resilience.
Wendy
Comment from Esther Brown
What an experience. You told the story with excellence and I hung on every word. Expatriates often fall into the same category as missionary kids. Third culture people. We don't belong where we have citizenship nor to the country we grew up in. Hats off to one amazing mom who held it all together for the family. Worth a six. Esther
reply by the author on 14-Aug-2024
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What an experience. You told the story with excellence and I hung on every word. Expatriates often fall into the same category as missionary kids. Third culture people. We don't belong where we have citizenship nor to the country we grew up in. Hats off to one amazing mom who held it all together for the family. Worth a six. Esther
Comment Written 14-Aug-2024
reply by the author on 14-Aug-2024
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Thank you very much Esther, Yes, missionary kids would also have that lack of sense of fitting in, wherever they are. Thanks so much for reviewing this (now expired) piece. I appreciate it.
Wendy
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I often wander through old offerings in people's portfolios....the whole taking time to review something for stars seems a bit silly. If it isn't interesting I don't bother reading. If the title grabs me I read it. You are a good writer.
Comment from Paul McFarland
That was quite a story, Wendy. Over here in the states, we were quite insulated from the Kuwait invasion. The Middle East is still hotbed of unrest. Iran must be dealt with.
reply by the author on 09-Aug-2024
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That was quite a story, Wendy. Over here in the states, we were quite insulated from the Kuwait invasion. The Middle East is still hotbed of unrest. Iran must be dealt with.
Comment Written 09-Aug-2024
reply by the author on 09-Aug-2024
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Thank you very much Paul. Yes, I think the same was true for Australia and our government and they didn't realise what could happen. But it all ended well. Thank you very much for a super review, and for the six stars! Much appreciated.
Wendy
Comment from lyenochka
I remember this story about your harrowing experience getting out of Saudi Arabia during that emergency evacuation. You gave new information here and I especially liked how you showed your children's emotions during that time. You all were heroic! Best wishes in the contest!
reply by the author on 08-Aug-2024
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I remember this story about your harrowing experience getting out of Saudi Arabia during that emergency evacuation. You gave new information here and I especially liked how you showed your children's emotions during that time. You all were heroic! Best wishes in the contest!
Comment Written 07-Aug-2024
reply by the author on 08-Aug-2024
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Yes, I have mentioned it in passing before, but without all these details. Perhaps we all learnt resilience through it. Thanks so much for your lovely review.
Wendy
Comment from Gypsy Blue Rose
Your Saudi Arabia story reminded me of the time my exhusband and were thinking about moving there. I'm glad we didn't.
What a turbulent experience... it must had been very difficult for you and your family. You are all very strong and brave.
I can't belive the Saudi Arabia government kept your passports and had to wait for exit visas.
I would be scared to flight in an old retired Irish plane.
Excellent entry for the Share Your Story contest. Good luck, Wendy.
reply by the author on 08-Aug-2024
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Your Saudi Arabia story reminded me of the time my exhusband and were thinking about moving there. I'm glad we didn't.
What a turbulent experience... it must had been very difficult for you and your family. You are all very strong and brave.
I can't belive the Saudi Arabia government kept your passports and had to wait for exit visas.
I would be scared to flight in an old retired Irish plane.
Excellent entry for the Share Your Story contest. Good luck, Wendy.
Comment Written 07-Aug-2024
reply by the author on 08-Aug-2024
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Thanks so much Gypsy. I highly value the six stars. It was apparently the normal protocol that the Saudi government retains the passports. They check there are no outstanding traffic or other offences before one can leave. But our government did not know about that aspect. Overall, we had an amazing experience over there. If it wasn't so far I would go back. But the evacuation and ensuing months were quite harrowing. Thank you again for a lovely review.
Wendy
Comment from Debbie D'Arcy
Wendy, I'm so sorry here because this post seems to have got buried in my messages and I've only just come across it. It's deserving of much more than I can give because I was completely engrossed in your very frightening experience leaving Saudi Arabia and, more importantly, leaving your husband behind. What a sweet son, Joe, and how well you described his sadness in dialogue form for his teacher! This is a remarkable story to share and I'll be looking out for it in the contest. Good luck! Debbie
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2024
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Wendy, I'm so sorry here because this post seems to have got buried in my messages and I've only just come across it. It's deserving of much more than I can give because I was completely engrossed in your very frightening experience leaving Saudi Arabia and, more importantly, leaving your husband behind. What a sweet son, Joe, and how well you described his sadness in dialogue form for his teacher! This is a remarkable story to share and I'll be looking out for it in the contest. Good luck! Debbie
Comment Written 06-Aug-2024
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2024
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Thank you for this amazing review. You are very insightful, and understanding. I am glad it was engrossing, because I felt it was long, but there wasn't anything I felt I could leave out.
Thanks so much for your ongoing support and encouragement. It means a lot.
Wendy
Comment from karenina
Fascinating and harrowing account! It is one thing to hear about these situations on cable news--but quite another to read, with trepidation, of you and your family persevering through what had to be a day by day struggle for normalcy amidst chaos!
Nearly five months away from your husband! You are very strong to hold all the pieces together for your young children!
I think I might have locked myself in my room and sobbed!
Karenina
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2024
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Fascinating and harrowing account! It is one thing to hear about these situations on cable news--but quite another to read, with trepidation, of you and your family persevering through what had to be a day by day struggle for normalcy amidst chaos!
Nearly five months away from your husband! You are very strong to hold all the pieces together for your young children!
I think I might have locked myself in my room and sobbed!
Karenina
Comment Written 06-Aug-2024
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2024
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Thank you very much Karenina. It was not an easy time, but we managed, and perhaps it taught the children to be resilient, (and me too). A lovely review. I appreciate your words a lot.
Wendy
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You're welcome! What an incredible experience!
Comment from patcelaw
This is so very well written, and it was a real pleasure to be able to listen to the long trip home. I enjoyed listening to it, and it brings about many memories in my own life about trying to go back and visiting my homeplace. The last time I went back to my homeplace there was nothing standing anymore. The barn was gone. The house was gone. Everything was gone, and I almost did not even recognize the area.
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2024
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This is so very well written, and it was a real pleasure to be able to listen to the long trip home. I enjoyed listening to it, and it brings about many memories in my own life about trying to go back and visiting my homeplace. The last time I went back to my homeplace there was nothing standing anymore. The barn was gone. The house was gone. Everything was gone, and I almost did not even recognize the area.
Comment Written 06-Aug-2024
reply by the author on 07-Aug-2024
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It is sad when everything has changed,and it's the same with my hometown. And certainly, Saudi Arabia has greatly changed since then too. Thank you so much for reviewing.
Wendy