Crossing the pond

Departure day is finally here; we're all excited to share some new experiences, make some memories, and learn a few things about European healthcare along the way.  You know the trip is going to be interesting when your first attempt at boarding involves red lights and the words "Uh, oh, someone's in trouble." This was followed hours later by a flight attendant apologizing to everyone for having to reboot the entire flight entertainment system for the for the THIRD time. And finally, it was capped off with a crash of the entire Amsterdam boarding computer system seconds before the last members of our group presented our boarding passes.  (Some things just never change, even when you leave the country).

Scattered about the airplane, many of us got an early glimpse of what lay ahead from our conversations with the person sitting next to us ("What's a snow snake???), and we are finding that there are more similarities than differences.  The journey is long and most of us manage to sleep for only an hour or two.

Descending into Amsterdam we are greeted by a magnificent rainbow.  My new Swedish friend, a middle aged gentleman, nudges me and says, "Ya know what da Swedes say when we see er rainbow don't cha.....day say dares a goldmine at da end."  I smile again, nodding and noting the similarities and subtle differences, and hoping the rainbow is a sign of good things to come.

Kim