Food Diplomacy

After almost 24 hours of travel and very little sleep I made it to Europe and to an actual bed that I will actually get to sleep in tonight. Actually,  I can hardly believe it!

My morning started with a panic attack.  And lots of second guessing whether or not I was doing the right thing.  There have been a lot of obstacles, and only a few days ago I had to completely change my plans for my first week in Europe.

After saying goodbye to my Bogie pup, (we're not even going there.  I can't even look at pictures of him at the moment,) my mom and brother drove me to the airport.  I was freaking out and mostly quiet, which freaked my mom out, so it was good to have my brother there.  When my mom and I were once again discussing the pros and cons of my delaying the trip (read: trying to convince ourselves that this wasn't a completely stupid idea for me to go,) my brother replied in his always clear and even tone; "Do you really want your actions to be dictated by what the chemicals in your brain are telling you to do?" But it was much more succinct and wise than that.  I can never fully replicate the way my always-rational brother talks.  He's like a scientific Buddha.

When I arrived at the terminal I was physically shaking.  I'm afraid my goodbye with my family wasn't the best, because I could hardly focus on anything but not letting my legs collapse underneath me.

The plane ride was hellish.  I got maybe 2 hours of sleep, and was so freaked out that I couldn't eat breakfast.  I actually had to pull out the barf bag at one point.  Luckily it didn't get any use.

Once we landed, I managed to withdraw money, get a phone with a local number, and stumble upon the right train accidentally.  But oh! When I turned the corner from the train station and saw the sign for my hostel I could have done cartwheels.  It's really nice, and clean, and just what I needed.  I'll be sad to depart so soon (tomorrow actually!) but for tonight I'm grateful to have a place to sleep that's not a tiny airplane seat or hunched over my backpack on the train.

Things I learned on Day One:

1. Don't panic pack and bring a huge suitcase even though you promised yourself you wouldn't bring one.  Your back will hate you.  
2. Sometimes it's worth paying a little extra to not have to wait for four hours outdoors on the freezing train platform.  
3. Most people are pretty helpful, even if they are a sketchy looking middle aged German man, smoking outside a bar (Sorry mom! I promise I'm safe!)
4. German 99 cent microwave meals are just as crappy as American ones. 
5. Food breaks down language barriers.  If the half German half Turkish man you're eating dinner with offers you olives out of a plastic bag, you accept.  Even if you don't like olives.  
6. You then offer him a chocolate covered strawberry in return.  Food diplomacy at it's finest.