Closing Ceremonies and Back in the USA!!!

Closing Ceremonies.....Wow, just as great as the opening! However, there was a bit of craziness to start out. You see we took 2 cabs and we got separated. Normally this wouldn't have been a big deal, except that one cab was short one ticket to get in. Not good planning on our part. We did, eventually get everyone in, but it did make for a stressful start.
We made it home safely, but it was a long ordeal. Our flight to Korea was uneventful and we had a 4 hour lay over with Kim and Shane. We all wandered the airport for a bit and then ended up stopping to get something to drink and chat about the trip, David and what we plan to do when we return to the "real world." This was nice and made the lay over go by quickly. So, I have to say thank you to Kim and Shane for that.....it was great to get to know the 2 of you during our adventures in China and even better to debrief in Korea.
The next leg of the flight went on for what seemed like forever and then once we were in Seattle it got worse. One of our bags was delayed....not sure what it is about that bag. We spent over 2 hrs in customs and thought we were going to miss our connecting flight to Portland. Needless to say we were getting very cranky......thank goodness the flight to Portland was behind schedule, by about 10 minutes. We landed safely in Portland and is was so good to breath in clean air....even out on the tarmac the air seemed cleaner than in China.
The jet lag has gotten to me and I think I still am on China time......waking up way too early and wanting to sleep during the day. Hopefully, I will get back on track or this next week will be a long one. It will be nice to share my adventures with my students and staff and show them what an amazing thing the Paralympics are. Maybe in 4 years more people will be aware of what these athletes do and hopefully there will be some TV coverage so everyone can watch and be inspired.
Although there were days with a lot of frustration and confussion, I will never forget this trip, the incredible people I met, and watched who inspired me, as well as the true appreciation of what it means to be an American. It truely was an awe inspiring trip with amazing people.