My Nordic Adventure

Thursday, April 26, 2018 I woke up surrounded by the people I love, snuggled, warm, and the sound of my 4-year-old son saying “mom, mom, mom, mom…” I was happy, I am happy. It was the perfect start to my day. Wednesday, April 25 was my last day of Fleming College. Done. 3 years later, and I woke up completely and utterly happy. (Did I mention I got to sleep in? It was like 9:30 when I woke up, it was glorious) I spent the morning doing what I love, snuggling, watching Power Ranger’s (my son’s choice), and cooking breakfast for my loves. In my eyes, it was perfect, it couldn’t have been any better. After arriving to the Airport, I walked around with my mom, dad, and son, I have never been to the International Airport side, it was huge. For a moment, I was thinking I wouldn’t find my group, but of course, we found each other. After lots of hugs and kisses from my family, (surprisingly, there were no tears) they left. I was there, in the airport, for the first time about to board a plane without them.

 

SO MANY FEELINGS.

 

Everything so far has gone smoothly, for the most part. I mean, going through customs, Samantha and I were selected for a random search. We had the boarding time wrong, our flight changed gates, I packed my glasses in my suitcase, I bought chapstick and someone had cranked it completely up but I didn’t know until after I bought it, I looked at the wrong ticket when I boarded the plane, and I sat in some dude’s seat, (but he acted like it was fine), everyone was wondering why I was sitting at the front and everyone else was at the back, I just assumed I was an outlier. Any who, after discovering I was looking at the boarding pass from Frankfurt to Stockholm, I moved to my actual seat. About 10 minutes later I was asked to move seats as the seat I was in was supposed to be for crew.

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Now, I am currently 39,000 feet in the air, watching the Greatest Showman, sitting in 40G, the 3rd seat I have sat in on this plane. By only turning my head left and right, I can see 5 different ways to sleep on the plane. None of them look comfortable. MOM, I should have brought the other sleeping neck pillow thing… you are always right ya know. And the dude behind me keeps kicking my seat… its almost, ALMOST, like a massage… I should stop putting off sleep, my Nordic Adventure lies 6 hours ahead of my regular time zone… So, ta ta for now, I’m going to finish my beer and attempt to sleep on this plane.

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2 Gravol later and I still can’t sleep, I’ve never been the kind of person to sit sleeping upright. Plus, this woman keeps walking back and forth. It is making me anxious. My feet feel like they are swelling. My head is congested, my back hurts, I hope there is a smoking section in the airport in Frankfurt. HOW ARE PEOPLE SLEEPING?! Also, the washrooms. Super small, high tech, blue light, I almost got locked in – I couldn’t figure out how to flush (which is a terrifying sound btw) and I couldn’t figure out how to get out. Because I couldn't sleep I decided to watch another movie, Mad Max: Fury Road was my choice. Good show, not much talking, but it wasn't necessary. Eventually I fell asleep with my head on my hand, folding similarly like a pretzel, I was woken up by a stranger two seats over shaking me that I had to put my tray up. Dazed and completely out of it, I managed to get it up and figure out where I was. We were landing in Germany. FINALLY

 

Once we were on land again we got off the plan and proceeded to wait in the airport for 2 hours. Did you know Frankfurt has an indoor smoking section? Oh yes. So, we grabbed a coffee and headed to the tiny, "smoking lounge." It was more disgusting than I could have imagined. You could walk into the lounge, not light a smoke and still get a head rush. No ventilation. Needless to say, I didn't even finish the smoke.

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Soon after we were called to board. We passed through boarding and walking a winding corridor and down some stairs to a bus. The bus crammed everyone on and drove off down the tarmac where we boarded from the ground! I got lucky and scored a window seat this time, I passed out before the plane took off and was in and out until we landed in Stockholm, Sweden!!

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Frankfurt, Germany to Stockholm, Sweden

Wakie wakie, we're in Sweden!!

 

Getting out of the airport and meeting up with our guide was quick and painless, I had got another hour of sleep under my belt, a coffee and a smoke, things were great. We made it! We hopped on a bus and headed to our hotel! We had an hour to kill before dinner, we unloaded, showered, got comfy and went for dinner. We had a classic staple of Swedish meatballs and potatoes. So good. Now I'm writing this blog and getting ready for bed. I can't tell if this jet lag will be manageable or if it will destroy me. (Turns out, that jet lag is very real - its more manageable than i thought)

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To navigate through this website. Start by clicking on Sweden's flag. There are buttons on the bottom of each page that will take you to the next. After you have read through each country, feel free to browse the gallery I have created, and read the What's it all About page. Or read it first, however you would like to begin is in your hands.