March 23, 3:02 AM ET
Amsterdam Airport, Netherlands.
Currently crossing off an accomplishment on the annual bucket list, and a lifelong dream. “Leaving the country”. I am currently sitting in the Amsterdam airport in the Netherlands. It’s 3:00AM in Ohio right now, and about 8AM here in the Netherlands. We hopped on a plane from CMH to DET at 3:30 yesterday afternoon, and the 8 hour flight was my first international. Watching movies and not sleeping was the overall summary of the experience. I need to bash on some melatonin on the next flight so I don’t pass out. Right now, I think I am riding the morning rush and thrill of all of this travel. I was exhausted yesterday, so I anticipate that catching up. While on the flight I watched a small baby, probably about 2 years old, in front of me. It’s pretty awesome to think that she will travel the world at such a young age. I was all over America as a young tot, but never outside of the States. That is certainly an opportunity I want my future family to embrace. The world is full of new people, stories, opportunities, and places to see
Everyone talked about the craziness of Amsterdam and how you could “get just about anything you wanted while in the mall.” When we walked around, I was pretty impressed with the fancy chandeliers hanging all around the stores, furniture which seemed to be the prototypes for all of the IKEA we see in the states, and assortment of coffee and chocolate. Although I must say, the countless shops filled with whiskey and cognac is a bit overwhelming.
Meeting the rest of the team has been a fun experience so far. All of us seem to have a different story, and I look forward to finding those out. It’s powerful to consider that we will be serving next to each other, and in the last day we were simply strangers. It’s not everyday someone walks into your life and ends up experiencing one of the most dynamic and shaping parts of your journey.
If I could share one thing with everyone else here in Amsterdam, it’d definitely be what’s in my ears. Explosions in the Sky. I will listen to them in any country that I travel too.
Love.