I CAN SEE SWEDEN FROM MY HOUSE. and other news.

So I can't EXACTLY see Sweden, but if I trek a few blocks into town, then it's right there. "6 kilometers across the sea."
But lemme start from the beginning of my travels...

I finish packing my obscene amount of life into two large suitcases, a small carry on, and a backpack around 1:30am on Saturday morning.
My phone attempts to wake me up at 9am.
I wake up at 9:30am.
Leave the house for the airport at 12:30pm.
Return to house at 12:33pm for my computer charger.
Arrive at the international departure terminal for Delta.

I think parents are bred with the innate ability to hug you just right when you're holding it together that makes you want to break down and have that emotional goodbye.

Commence awkward goodbye. [i.e. hug the brother as quickly as is socially acceptable without seeming unfeeling and when dad prolongs the hug chuckle awkwardly, avoid eye contact, and waddle off with vast amounts of luggage.]

Pay for my second 40lb bag of luggage. 

The kindly check-in lady briefly mentions her own sisters horrific time studying abroad, assures me my experience will be much better. 

Attempt to let a woman using the Delta-Sky-High-my-money's-better-than-your-money security line step in front of me as she is supposed to have the right of way, Madame Security sees this as me trying to do her job and acts offended. "I've been working here 5 whole years. I know what I'm doing." 

Acquire good karma for TRYING to do the right thing. 

To the in airport express tram  snack station  gate!

Meet a delightful 3 year old girl who speaks Italian because of her mother, Greek because of her father, and English because neither parent can speak their spouse's language. 

Attempt to take a picture of an elderly Asian man sleeping with his mouth wide open. Fail to achieve picture of anything other than his shirt because I do not want to be THAT girl in the airport. 

I am now sky high. 

I watch a lil "Moneyball." Brilliant. 

A little "Friends with Benefits." Hysterically sexy. 

The entire "Hangover II." Disappointing. 

And start "What's Your Number?" And wish I'd had more time to finish it. 

I do not sleep. 

We land. 

The time is now 11pm USA, 5am Amsterdam. 

And I get my passport stamped bitches! 

I give mad props to foreign exchange students who go to a country where they absolutely cannot speak the language. 

The Amsterdam airport confused me and every sign was in English and....whatever guttural language it is that the speak in the land of weed and the red light district. disclaimer: I am now on my 24th hour of no sleep and by no means aim to offend the inhabitants of Amsterdam by being culturally unaware of what their language is. I blame my upbringing. Or the American public school system. 

I engage in my first LANGUAGE BARRIER BATTTLLLLEEEE [to be read as the announcer of a game show. thus the unnecessarily elongation of 'battle']. A custodian at the airport asks me to move in (I think?) two different languages. Asks me if I speak English, and then asks the "pretty girl to please move for the reasons of security"....and then he changes the lightbulb that was above my head. 

A brief trip to the clouds where I watch the sunrise out the window across the aisle. 

Welcome to Denmark! 

I exit the airport which looks eerily like a mall with planes sitting outside of the windows and enter baggage claim, where I, a novice at traveling alone, realize after staring at the luggage carts for 5 minutes that the carts are free for the using! 

To the bus! 

To the hotel! 

Paperwork. 

Baby orientation. 

MEET MY HOST FAMILY! 

I am jet lagged, and I was hungry, and coming down the stairs and having them introduce themselves with huge grins on their faces and hugs from each of them puts an absolute grin on my face that I'm sure makes me look semi-psychotic from the exhaustion and the fact that I can't stop smiling. 

I am going to like living here. 

They give my a brief tour of the city by car and there is not ONE moment of awkward silence. 

And coming from a family at home that doesn't stop talking and then there is my family at school where there are at least 3 conversations going on at once on top of each other at all times-- the lack of silence is appreciated. 

Denmark is seriously beautiful. 

If Michigan looked like this when it was gray and snowy, then people might stop diagnosing themselves with seasonal depression. 

I gawk at the enormously beautiful houses on the water. 

I gawk at the Queen's palace. 

And then I pretty much just stare out the window with an open-mouthed grin while I'm fed facts about every place we pass. 

And now, it is naptime. 

I did warn my family that I snore, for those of you concerned, but I am not sure if they took me seriously. 

3:05pm Denmark. 

9:05am USA.