The lights at 37,000 feet

Have you ever flown across the Atlantic? What did you think? I've been across a few times, but yesterday (or really Sunday night into Monday morning) was one of the better flights.

I made it to the airport early enough to be assigned an aisle seat by the emergency exit (a favourite spot for passengers who are willing to put up with the noise and cold in exchange for the extra foot space). After spending an hour with family and friends I lined up to go through security. What a procedure. Fifteen minutes later, after declaring how many litres of fluid and gel I was carrying, unpacking my laptop, taking off my shoes and walking through the metal detector four times (my belt set it off, then my bracelet) I was through. I waved goodbye and off I went.

For once the airline boarded us on time and we took off only 15 minutes behind schedule. Early on into the flight the two passengers behind me started the ever popular, Edmonton vs. Calgary debate - only it wasn't two Albertans debating - it was a Swede and a Hungarian. I listened as they argued in their accented English about location, proximity to events, public transportation and yes, even hockey. It was interesting to hear the different perspectives.

After dinner I wrapped myself in blankets and my winter coat and drifted off to sleep. Around 11:30 p.m. I woke up and looked outside. I blinked. I couldn't believe my eyes. There outside, at an altitude of 37,000 feet I could see a shimmering band of green - the Aurora borealis. Although I've seen it before, this was the clearest and longest display I've ever seen. The ribbon of colour stretched at times right across my window pane and far into the distance. I watched for almost 30 minutes as the lights danced across the sky. Every so often there would be bursts of pinks and purples. It was enough to convince me - when I get back to Canada I'm renting a truck and camper and going up north to watch these lights glide across the night sky.

I tried to capture the beauty on camera, but it isn't the same. I've posted one of the better pictures, however, to fully appreciate the impressiveness and sheer beauty of this natural phenomenon, I'd suggest you try viewing them yourself... at 37,000 feet.

I made it

Just a quick little post to let you all know I'm now in Vienna. The flight to Frankfurt went well and I was able to get some sleep. There's more to the story, but I'll save that for when I am able to upload some photos.

Last night I went to take a look at an apartment. I'd heard about it in Canada but was concerned with how expensive it was. Well now I know why. The place has an understated elegance to it with high ceilings, wooden floors and the typical minimalistic European furniture. My room is large (probably 4x the size of my room at home) and faces east. I'd be sharing the apartment with a couple (their youngest son is off on an exchange in Dublin so they're renting his room). The couple is friendly and reminded one of my girlfriends (I took two with me) of her parents which, from the sound of things is good.

Today the plan is to look around for other apartments and maybe go into downtown. Keep checking in as I plan on doing a number of posts in the next few days and sharing a number of "firsts" you might enjoy reading about.

"Yes."

I woke up refreshed this morning. Somewhere during the course of the night, something triggered in my memory. I remembered what I'd completely forgotten the past few months.

When I was a "little" girl I dreamed of going to study in Europe. I'd go so far as to mentally plan how I'd arrange the furniture in my flat, whether I would walk or take transit to school and even who my classmates would be. For a time I'd dream I was going to study archeology, then it was music, fashion, history, journalism, nursing, even Middle Eastern studies. Countries, schools and programs changed, but ultimately I wanted to go study in Europe.

I'd completely forgotten all this. I'd forgotten that this was something I wanted to do throughout childhood and my teenage years. I had remembered that studying in Europe was something I always wanted to do, but had forgotten the specifics.

It has taken me a while, but this morning I finally remembered. With those memories came a realization: this exchange is my dream come true. It's an answer to a prayer I'd prayed when I was seven, 12, 15, 17 and 20. Somehow in all the business of trying to live life at it's current stage, I'd forgotten about all those prayers and all the plans. I'd remembered that it was something I always wanted to do, but I hadn't remembered the specific memories or the details associated with them. God did. He said "No" when I was seven. He said "No" when I was 12. He said "No" when I was 15, 17 and 20. Now, years after those initial prayers, it looks like He's saying "Yes."

Praise the Lord. Tomorrow, I leave. Tomorrow I'll be en route to completing my dream...studying in Europe.

Traveling via my taste buds

I'm downstairs in the sitting room looking for appartments in Vienna. I can hear dishes clanking as Chris sets the table. Delicious smells are wafting through the house. I'm transported across the ocean to another continent. The sun is beating down on my head. Children are playing in street. Exotic sounds and smells surround me.

Ok. Not quite transported, but it sure smells good. Over the past few months Chris has been coming home with tales of delicious lunches and food so spicy he's been brought to tears. We of course are very curious. What are we missing out on?

Tonight we'll find out. John (one of Chris's friends) is from Liberia. He came over for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner in October and has been offering to cook a traditional West African dinner for us ever since. I was excited. A chance to explore another continent via my taste buds? Woohoo! Sign me up.

So here we have one of the many dishes John and Chris are currently preparing. In this one is a mix of beans, mushrooms, peppers, chicken and a long list of spices. I can hardly wait till they're finished. It smells amazing...care to drop by for supper?

Another day is almost over...great. Now I have even less time to get everything done.

I just finished sending off an inquiry to a pension (for those of you not familiar with term, it's the equivalent of a bed and breakfast). I've decided that my first night in Vienna I'm going to spend with a whole building full of strangers. Why? Because honestly, after the past few days I'm looking forward to getting some peace and quiet. This has nothing to do with my friends but has everything to do with me being stressed out. The last thing I need is to be short-tempered with my friends. So, I think for the best interests of everyone involved I'm going to rent a room somewhere and crash for the first night. Exactly where yet I'm not sure. We'll see who gets back to me first.