The adventure begins

4 November 2008

Ok so the real date is September 8-9 2008. The setting is alternatively the MSP airport, Amsterdam and Rome... this is what I wrote in my journal about my first 2 days...

Before I left for the airport I sens some last second e-mails to my friends and said my goodbyes to my family. I am off again for an adventure that will last several months and take me to several places. I am off to Rome and Greece and will have adventures that I am sure I can't even fathom yet. I am eager to see the foundations of western civilization but know that I will miss friends and family dearly.

Before I left my dear sweet wonderful dog Buddy felt like being ever so helpful. He snuck into my suitcase and stole my black socks. He was hiding hem under him under the dining room table trying desperately to be invisible so mom wouldn't find him all the while secretly knowing I wouldn't be able to go to europe without black socks. For afterall, if I ddin't have my black socks I would be able to take him on his favorite walk and maybe we would walk to the gas station but lottery tickets and win millions which would of course be spent on him because after all without him I would never have won. Right Bud? Anyways, luckily, mom found them in time because wouldn't it be embarassing to get all the way to europe after 8 hours of flying only to be told I wasn't allowed in because my scheming dog had stolen my black socks? Sorry Bud but I was supposed to go to europe and mom was supposed to get my socks back for me. I miss you terribly little Buddy.

I said my goodbyes to Jim and headed to the airport. Unfortunately, Jenna has this thing called a job so she was unable to see me off, but maybe it is for the best. I have this annoying habit of pretending that traveling isn't a big deal and that I won't get homesick but in reality it is just an act. I know of course I will miss everyone desperately, even Jenna, even when she thinks she is being funny:) jk Jenna miss you already! So yea good byes are hard because it is always hard to say good bye to someone for a period of months. But luckly it is only for a few months this time. Right mom? Mom and I went to the airport and we met up with Dad. We then went to Ikea to have some nummy swedish food. I left my mom at the security checkpoint and I am not going to lie and say it was not a big deal. I said good bye to her and she was strong and didn't cry this time. Which was good because then I didn't cry either. So I looked resolutely forwward knowing that my composure would collapse the moment I looked back and took off my tennis shoes to prove that I wasn't going to try anything tricky.

I got through security without a problem. James McMillan surprised me in the lounge. He is going to Ireland and was on my flight. There was also a girl going on the Greco-Roman trip. Small world.

Dad came to see me off because he was working and had the time to see me off. I didn't have a ticket for a very long time actually untiul 10 minutes after boarding or at least it seemed this way. I sat next to a Ukraninan man who didn't say 1 word to me and in back of a british man who reclined his seat the entire time! I hate Brits! The flight was long and I watched THE HAPPENING and ANALYZE THAT. Not the best movies...I arrived in Amsterdam at 10:35. I was hoping to catch up to the Katies because there flight was at 10:50, but they left a little early so I missed them.

The vikings were playing when I left and I just saw the news a depressing 14-24 loss to the packers... I have about 6 hours to wait here in Amsterdam. The weather is clear and sunny. I changed my dollars for euros and feel a little sick. The exchange rate isn't good. The gate I am waiting at has people going to Madrid. I hear Spanish and can understand. The next flight now is to iceland and I can kinda understand the people. There is a scottish soccer team next to me and I can't understand a word they say...

I got into the airport at 7:00 and got to the train station at 7:30 and was about to buy my ticket which would have gotten me on the train immediately when a pushy Italian woman cut in line. Welcome to Italy! I took the next train and was met by John. I waited and finally got to my apartment at 11:30. I went to sleep right away vaguely aware that I had been awake for something like 30 hours... Tomorrow we go on a walking tour of Rome.