I packed my bag the night before though I left my backpack until the day of departure in order to back up my laptop, phone and tablet. My luggage weight wasn’t bad – 16.5 kg out of the max 23 kg allowed per checked bag – and I am able to lift it over my head fairly easily. A lot of the departure day was spent trying to insure that I had a relatively clean and tidy home to return to in June. I definitely do not want to find biological experiments in my refrigerator when I come home! The trip to the airport was uneventful as was my journey through Security. Of course, I did forget something at home – the power cord to my computer. I realized that I’d forgotten it while in the Lufthansa lounge – a business class perk which I truly enjoyed!! As something to forget, the power cord was an annoying but not critical item. I knew I’d be able to find one in Europe. A scotch on the rocks, a snack and a quiet room was just what I needed just then.
People have been asking me, “Are you excited?”. My answer has been that I have been too concerned with preparations to feel much excitement: travel clothes, visas, immunizations, meds for over 90 days, bill paying, plants, mail holds etc. In the lounge, all that could be done, had been done. Suddenly, I realized that yes, I am about to travel around the world for 110 days. I got a bit excited, a bit worried (“I’m doing WHAT!!!??”) and a bit zen. I really am curious to see how this trip changes me!
Boston to Zurich then Zurich to Amsterdam on Swiss Air. Unlike Boston area, things are turning green in Zurich. I could see fields covered with that just sprouted green color as we flew into Zurich. I was feeling much better after the 6.5 hour flight in business class than I have ever felt in economy – it REALLY helps to be able to stretch out though I only dozed and did not really sleep. I did the spacey tourist stumble from the plane, the welcome walk to the business lounge in Zurich then the walk to the gate. And yes, it was exciting to hear very few words in English – Russian, German, French, Hebrew and Spanish, yes; English, not so much.
My flight to Amsterdam was spent conversing with the Mutt from Texas – that’s how he described himself on the flight from Zurich. He lives in West Texas, works in the oil and gas industry but grew up in Switzerland. His father was Scandinavian and his mother, South American. He can speak – Norwegian, Spanish, French, German and English. Later I thought, what is it like to think in that many languages? To have headspace for that many languages? He did remind me that international travel for work becomes more of a pain, the more you do it. The conversation with him was exactly the sort of random experience I enjoy in traveling.