Aug. 2, 1997

After several weeks in Scandinavia, I have three things to help me remember the fun I've had: nearly 100 photographs, several good anecdotes, and a great tan. People jump to the conclusion that I've been to a tropical climate when they see me since I've never tanned before. I love explaining that it and the platinum hair came from 10 days on a Danish beach.

I've told my vacation stories to nearly every person willing to sit through them, but I still love telling them. I had the typical experiences (luggage which arrived in Sweden 24 hours after I did, obnoxious travelers sitting behind me on a 9 hour flight), but I also had some unique ones. I still marvel at a rather amazing coincidence which occurred at the beginning of my vacation.

If you look carefully at the index page of my web site, you'll notice a link to Iain Anderson. I borrowed some background textures from him well over a year ago. If you visit his site, you'll discover that he is on a trip around the world. He was advertising his intentions to do this last summer and stated that he'd give a dinner to anyone willing to house him. I wrote and told him that if Seattle was on his route we'd be happy to let him stay at our place.

I really had no other contact with the Australian university student until two days before I left on my trip. Iain updated his travel journal stating that he was going to leave Amsterdam and head to Sweden and points north. I e-mailed him stating that coincidentally I was travelling to Stockholm on the 26th. He e-mailed back and said perhaps we could connect for coffee (he'd check his e- mail each day from an Internet cafe).

As I sat in the Amsterdam airport terminal waiting for my flight to Stockholm, I noticed a young man sitting across the room who looked far more British than Swedish or Dutch. I was afraid my staring must have been rude when he suddenly stood up and approached me.
"Are you by any chance from Seattle?" he said as he stood in front of me.
I can only imagine the shock on my face. I racked my brain, wondering if this was a former student of mine. Finally, I grabbed his boarding pass and saw "I. Anderson" printed on it. "IAIN?????"
"Kind of scary, isn't it?" he grinned.

I had fun meeting the man behind the web site, and now he won't be a stranger when he comes to Seattle.

I never set foot in a hotel during my whole trip, thanks to the generosity of great friends. Not only did I luxuriate on a Danish beach, but I also spent time with university friends in Aarhus, meeting their girlfriends, partying, and feeling rather special. I even spent a day and night with relatives of one of my students from this past school year. I had a girl from Denmark in one of my English classes, and her family became personal friends during the course of the school year. When her grandmother and uncle came to America for a visit, I was fortunate enough to meet them, and I was invited to come to Nibe during my trip. I did, and I only wish that I had spent more time there. I loved it!

Now I'm back home, but I brought a bit of Denmark with me: Danish candy (a strange taste sensation to Americans), a few souvenirs, and my friend Christian who has returned to live at our house for 8 months before going to university. What a way to end the perfect vacation, eh?