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Published: September 18th 2013
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The Malaysian woman who was also staying at the B and B was flying back today, so we went to the airport together. She was a tiny little thing with a huge suitcase and a shopping bag that was twice the typical size. I had my backpack and suitcase. We were quite a sight getting on and off trams as we worked our way to the airport. When we arrived, we went our separate ways, and I checked out the the airport before boarding my 2:00 flight on IcelandAir.
Here are some more tidbits I learned during this trip:
Everyone under the age of 30 and many people over the age of 30 can speak enough English to communicate. They start learning it in Kindergarten.
Nearly all of the music I heard was American with a little British thrown in (Elton John).
I was told that it's not just our music that they want, but it's our “lifestyle” they want to emulate. I didn't realize they really paid any more attention to us than we do to them. Apparently, they do. That worries me, because I feel so much responsibility!
Most people base their impression of Americans on the movies they see. Scary, huh?
Their newspapers carry our stories. For example...the floods in Colorado.
Grady Judd, the sheriff from my county (Polk) in Florida was on CNN International again! He's a hard-nosed guy who has been sheriff for decades and very well liked and respected by all but criminals in our county. We became familiar with him on national news before we ever even moved to Florida. I was sitting in my room in Appenzell, Switzerland, when Grady appeared on the TV telling about a bullying suicide in my local school district where I taught for two years. Keep an eye on him; during the last presidential election I saw more than one bumper sticker that said, “Grady Judd for President.”
Europeans allow nudity on billboards, sides of buses, etc.
I can't tell one beer from another. I don't really like any of them.
The Swiss have spikey things and little fences on their roofs so that a huge chunk of snow/ice won't fall on someone intact. The spikes break it up.
In the countries I visited you can travel anywhere you want by public transportation and a little foot power.
I saw very little ethnic diversity on this trip. Let me repeat...they all looked like the people you see at the Fulton County Fair.
When you meet an American while you're traveling in Europe, they suddenly want to be your Facebook friend!
The US is so far behind these countries on environmental issues.
I knew I could do this trip, but I also knew it might not be easy. Thanks to all of you who encouraged me and had confidence in me. Special thanks to my kids for being encouraging instead of trying to talk me out of it. Thanks to my best friend, Len, for taking me to the airport, staying with my pets, and cleaning the house before my return. Thanks to Amanda and AJ for picking me up at the airport. As I'm writing this, I'm in the air between the UK and Iceland, so I'm just HOPING they're picking me up at the airport! Even though they're not around to realize it, my biggest thanks should go to my parents; my dad for his love of travel and adventurous spirit and my mom for her logic and ability to do many different things. Until next time...
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