Departures and Arrivals

It's almost 10:20 PM Glasgow-time, and way too many hours since I had proper sleep. I wish it didn't come off as so much of an excuse, but hopefully the notes I took over the course of my travels will be coherent enough to counteract the brevity of my introduction.

(Literally transcribed from my notebook, with exception of annotations in italics):

Leaving for Glasgow today, via NWA flight to Amsterdam. Flight was almost an hour late departing, but served both Club Crackers and Oreos with dinner, so clearly this is a good omen. Sat next to young man, possibly from Netherlands, reading book (in Dutch?) about what I assume are great/controversial leaders in world history. Socrates, Napoleon, Gandhi, MLK Jr., Churchill, Hitler and G. W. Bush made the list.

Slept a little, though now I feel kinda gross, plus I spilled powered non-dairy creamer down my leg. Also, I always feel very awkward about the amount of trash I have to hold onto on airplanes. I'm one of those people who prefers to eat in a clearn, uncluttered space. The fact that I have to wait for the attendants to come by and offer me a trash bag is disconcerting. Same with dirty plates at buffets. Can't just put is somewhere myself, and avoid the hassle? Or at least, my own mental hassle?

Also, sat across aisle from girl who looks like she could be related to Carly (Daucher). Turns out the guy was from Turkey.

Ate a Danish mmm and a smoothie at Schiphol (sp) Airport (I discovered later that I had spelled it right all by myself). Amazing how many signs in English only.

Public restrooms very nice -- stalls more like little rooms (full length, floor to ceiling door), would have taken a pic, but had some reservations about taking photo of restroom (maybe I'll get over that). After each call I make, cell phone has a little message "please wait" instead of date/time -- any ideas on why?

Met Katonah randomly taking same KLM flight to Glasgow. (Katonah is the only other Penn student studying at Glasgow this semester)

Delayed one hour!!

Forgot WebSurf!! But emailed them, called Mom, cross your fingers. (Mom was a hero and scanned in the letter, and it all worked out)

Scottish football players sitting behind us in boarding area. I can't understand a word. This doesn't bode well.

Coming through wisps of clouds, seeing all this beautiful green countryside, farms and villages and hamlets -- so much green ... and a field of windmills! Lots of trees. Gliding in towards the city. This is going to be home for the next four months ... everything is rich colors. Last time I was more interested in Legoland than the real land.

So much unmarred countryside -- lots of isolated houses. Suddenly this sprawling city emerges, very different.

And right before we land -- a field of cows grazing! (We flew right over them, but the cows were completely unperturbed by the noise ... probably used to it by now, I guess).