The Experience of Yet Another Flight Home

It's almost started to be routine, me flying across the Atlantic, but I decided that I wanted to spice it up a bit, and it decided to spice it up a little itself. My journeys are never without a little hint of adventure. Maybe that's why I always look forward to it. It's always a learning experience that I enjoy.

It started off the night before with me figuring everything out on the internet before it went out on me. I spent the night cleaning up the homestead, cleaning up myself, finishing packing, saying bye to a few people, and by that time, the night was well in progress. It was about 2 or 3 in the morning I think and by that time, it almost seemed ridiculous to go to bed because I'm always afraid of going to bed before I fly out due to the fact that I perhaps might sleep through my alarm. So I didn't. I watched a movie on my computer and made sure I had accomplished everythign that I had needed to before leaving at a little before 5am to the train station. It would be the first leg of the journey. Was I going to Prague airport, as I had done every time beforehand? No, this is where I wanted to add a little spice to it. I got on a train heading north. I was going to Dresden. So... could I sleep on the train? No, because that leaves me with the same problem as sleeping the night before. I would be too tired and was afraid of sleeping through and waking up in Western Czech Republic. I waited at the train station for it to get there, and luckily, it wasn't late and I got on the train without a hitch and relaxed, ate my breakfast and after an hour, I had to get off and wait an hour for my transferring train to Dresden. Waiting for an hour at a strange station early in the morning, without sleep doesn't sound so appealing and it really wasn't. It was boring and I felt my life wasting away at this very point. :) But I digress and I pushed on.

I finally got on the train heading to Dresden and it was a nice one, ready for my hour trip to Dresden, so once again, no sleeping. But at this point, exhaustion started setting on and I had to get creative as to not fall asleep. I thought of a few fun things that made the time fun. Maybe hallucination of tiredness set on, so I was able to make it even more fun by setting up interesting scenarios, but for the time being, I was satisfied. I got off the train in Dresden and was in search for some way to get to the airport. After spending approx. 15 minutes working the ticket machine trying to figure out how to buy just one simple normal ticket, I was able to make my way to the train to the airport and I got there without problems. Everything really worked out quite fine. I got my ticket successfully and made it through security with them taking away from me my forgotten juice and my shaving cream. The guy said something in German, and I said, yea, ok, i don't need them. Take them away and motioned for him to take them, and he said, no, and said something. And I was confused. I tried to leave, but he said no. And gave me the stuff and pointed me out back through security. Apparently he wanted me to dispose of them myself. So, one of the guys walked me out and to a color coordinated set of approximately 10 bins with different things written on them. I looked at them in confusion until the guy said something in German which i took to mean, "Throw them in any one, it doesn't matter". I did, he was satisfied and I got my stuff again and left.

The plane from Dresden-Frankfurt was fine. I was able to sleep from take off to set down. It was nice to get this rest. But my next problem I was anticipating was getting to my connecting flight because I only had an hour to make it through Frankfurt airport, which at times has taking me an hour and a half, so I was worried. Luck was on my side because I was close to my gate, and I didn't have to go through a second security control, which was kinda strange I thought. I always have to. Anyways, I made it to my gate in 10 minutes and I was happy. Waiting sucked but it seemed as though there would be no hitches in the travel... and for once... there weren't. It all worked out. Thank God. I looked at my ticket though and saw that I had a B seat, which meant for the 8 hour trip, I'd be in the middle seat. Awesome.

I got on the plane and saw where I was to be. Between a bigger older guy with a mustache and an 70-year old lady. Awesome. This looked promising. I got comfortable and didn't think I'd be talking to either of them. However, I was quite wrong. And they were both really interesting. The guy I started talking to first. He was German, but left over 30 years ago and was going back for the first time to visit his kids, who were all grown up, but had not seen since they were kids. A really sad story, that he didn't explain to me in further detail, which was fine. I really didn't want to hear his problems anyways. It goes to show you that there's always someone who has had a more difficult life than you have.

And then I started talking to the older lady, which I had no idea of talking to, but she was Greek but worked at the embassy in DC. Really nice lady who had lots of advice to offer me about life and about settling down. I really valued her talks and she was such a sweet and nice lady. I wish her a happy life and know that she's had a rough life as well. It was clear.

And then comes the fun moment of ordering a drink. The stewardess came around, asking about drinks. I ordered something with alcohol and she looked at me and asked me how old I was. I was taken aback for a second, but then thought about how old I was and responded to her. She looked at me, wondering if she should believe me, then started making it for me and said that she's supposed to ask. Fine... then I was wondering if she was going by American rules or German. There's no reason for me to think she was going by American, but I really can't believe that she would think I was under 18, as goes German rules for liquor. Anyways. The flight went by smoothly. I slept for over half of it, and was dearly excited about that, and when landing time came, I was ready for it.

I got off, went to customs. And I felt like i was in some kind of Disney film. It was so strange. They have tvs up showing motivational stuff about how amazing America is. They seemed to have very vibrant and awe-inspiring music playing. Imagine yourself waking up in the mountains, with the sun coming up and life starting anew. And that's what it was like. It was so funny coming through it all. So i got through, got my back which was already there, and walked out. I needed to call my friend, but my american sim card broke and I needed to find a way to call him. I was outside scoping out people to ask if i could use their phones when he just pulled up. Everything really worked out so perfectly and it's nice to be back, even though right now I'm in Maryland, a place even more foreign to me than Europe, but it's a nice new adventure. :) Back to home on sunday

Your Move, Pawn

It's go time and I'm going back to America now in a few hours. After almost a full 4 months of relaxing traveling in Eastern Europe, it's time to make the transition back to the States for the time being. I'm looking forward to it and spending time with people that I haven't seen in while and enjoying what is the culture that I was raised in. The last four months have definitely been an experience and I'm leaving with definitely different thoughts as to what I came here with. As to what I thought this time would be.

I came here wanting some closure with a part of my life that was dearly important to the shaping of what I am today. I am leaving with something else. I'm leaving a greater feeling for many relationships. Relationships with my former roommate, relationships with my neighbors, relationships with very close friends have been strengthened. And I've realized what a difficult person I am to get to know, even more so. But to a point to where people have even given up on knowing me at all. It's been interesting.

I have realized that wherever I am, I can never please everyone and though my intentions are always good and never malicious, there's always a few people out there who wanna get me. I realize more now than ever how evil the world is and how your life is always being tried. I've come to know that the easiest way out is never or mostly never the best. Right things are always difficult yet worth fighting for. And I think that once these decisions have been made, it only gets harder. It makes me wonder how these decisions will affect my future. It makes me excited/looking forward to/interested/scared a bit as to what it will look like.

Either way, I know that God is looking out for me and guiding me in every way. I know that I will never stray from what He desires for my life and that although I falter often, He will always be there to make my bad choices good, for the better of His Will. I can't explain how blessed and lucky I feel to have experienced the life He has given me. I hope and strive to not let Him or anyone else down in accordance with His Goodness. Life is good, life is bad, life is life, and I'm living it.

The Raft of Our Destiny

So... it all started the other day when me and Joseph were walking along the river on a trail to this marina on the river bank to play cards and spend a great Easter Day loungin in the sun. I love Easter. We got there and we were standing by the river, and the idea just came to us... We should get an inflatable raft. "We should totally get an inflatable raft."

And then we started talking about it and usually when we get a crazy idea like this, the next day it doesn't seem as cool, but this one still did, and we thought if we could find a cheap one, then we'd go out and be on the river all the time. We talked that we'd go out every day in the summer, spend weeks on rafting trips. We'd do whatever we needed to to be out on the water. It was, as we decided, a much better alternative than just sitting here in the flat watching a movie or something.

So, we continued talking about it, and then i started searching on the internet. Could we really find one for a good enough price? It wouldn't be possible to find one for a reasonable price. The odds were desperately against us. And I searched, and sure enough, I was right. Several thousands of dollars for these things. But it really was never exactly what I was looking for. I continued searching and searching, until I found exactly what we had wanted, and even at a cheaper price than we had expected. Wow! it was great. Now the decision was to actually get it or not. We know where to go, the problem is actually going and shelling out the dough for it. Could we do it? Joseph said yes, and I said, I'll go tomorrow.

The day came and we got excited about the possibility. I had to go to Prague to get the thing. Wasn't totally sure where it was. I went and by metro came to the wrong station. I was looking for this specific street. I finally give up and ask someone where it is, and they point to this highway. Oh.. great, it's the highway... lovely. So... i walk along the highway for a while until I realize that I must be going the wrong way. Not really sure about it, but i decided to turn around and walk in the other direction. I ask a car dealership where this sports shop is. They don't know. It's ok, I'll just keep walking. 15 minutes of walking later, I run into a pub and ask them. They'd of course never heard of the sports shop, but he pointed to the end of the street and said, "You see that big SPORTS sign? Maybe try that. Maybe that's it." So I continued to walk and walk and sure enough, it actually was it. So, after 45 minutes of walking, I made it there. And after conveying to the man the necessary questions I wanted answered, I got the raft and was on my way. But not too fast, because it was a really heavy raft in a big box. about 40 lbs or so and I had to carry it to the metro, about 15 minutes (i found a closer one), to another metro, up to the train, and then 15 minutes walk home from the station. My arms were dead after that.

BUt... after getting home, we pumped it up, and what was suggested as 15 minutes, turned into 45, but in the end... we had accomplished perfection.

The Epic of the Green Beer

We thought the day would never come. We waited in anticipation for weeks, for months (or so it seemed), and as the day grew closer and closer, our hearts started beating faster and faster... well... maybe it wasn't that much of an excitement, but you could imagine if it were. The day had finally come for the "Green Beer". In honor of the Thursday before Easter, which Czechs call "Green Thursday", the local pub next to my place was offering green beer. What an experience. It really drew a lot of customers I think, and it was definitely something that was making everyone excited.

Then we got the green beer finally. Eh... not bad, but the other beer they had was better. So, that was it. One big green beer and the excitement had rushed out of my heart. And back to the normal stuff it was. But you see now, the story doesn't end here. It's almost like a fairy tale actually.

Everytime we went back to the pub, after Green Thursday, we were being pressed to have the green beer. Apparently, they just couldn't get rid of it. I, every time, refused it, but was always offered it first before all others. For weeks, nay, months, after, there was green beer. It was like the green beer that never went away. Everywhere I looked, green beer, green beer, green beer. I couldn't get it out of my thoughts, out of my dreams. It was haunting me! So finally, me and Joseph went in there last night and I was going to conquer my fear. I walked right up to the owner, waiting for him to offer me the green beer... he didn't. He offered me my usual kind... I, perplexed, got up the courage to tell him NO! I want the Greenest beer you have. That's right, the greenest beer you have. He looked up at me, and I swear I saw a tear in his eye. He slowly looked up at me, and it was at that moment I knew. I would never be haunted by the green beer again. The owner's mouth opened, and those fateful words I'll never forget... "We're all out." A little piece of my heart broke right then and there. As I turned around, I walked with my head down to my table. As I passed a table of a couple with green beer, horns grew from their heads and they were mocking me as they finished the last two pints from the green keg.

That's the story and I'm sticking to it. Exaggeration to any part may have been used for theatrical expression ONLY.