So the journey begins with a rendezvous at the parking lot of the Airport Hilton Hotel as I discover what an excellent packer I am (or think I am) while comparing my modest suitcase to the monstrosities of those of my friends. The tour company had asked us to keep the weight of the baggage under 44 pounds, and I think mine had only weighed out around thirty-five. Hannah, Brittany, Allie, and Natalie are all there waiting with their parents and everyone is excited with anticipation. From there we all drive to the airport, check baggage (with a little commotion over whether our film should go through the x-ray machines), take a few pictures while we are all Europe virgins, say our goodbyes, and proceed to the gate. The plane ride to Newark (which in fact is in New Jersey ? not New York as we have to explain to Natalie) passes rather quickly thanks in part to the crossword puzzle with which Hannah and I busy ourselves with.

Once in Newark we find the International terminal and go in search of food. Eventually we find a Sabaro and I am satisfied by a stromboli, American style. Behind us in the miniature food court where we eat is an Italian couple and I start to get excited about going to Italy (as if I wasn?t already excited enough). There are also a good number of men with yamakas, which is kind of strange, but maybe there was an Israeli flight around there somewhere. Eventually we walk down to the gate to board the flight to Copenhagen. At security we are held up for about 15 minutes (thanks to the ever pervasive problem of the film in the x-ray machine) while some Hispanic girl checks to make sure our film wont explode mid-way through the flight. We had been putting it off because once you passed the point of security there was no return and no food inside the gate area.

The Scandinavian Airline gate area is a large circular area with flights going to all parts of Scandinavia (go figure). I am surprised by the number of pale blonds in the terminal and feel at home. These are my people! The people waiting for the flight to Stockholm, Sweden are especially interesting. All of the younger one’s are very indie and there is even a band traveling together. I wonder if they were trying to catch a break in NYC and they are returning home. It seems like all of the cool bands come from Sweden anyway

After several hours and many card games later, we are ready to board the plane to Copenhagen. As we board, we are greeted by the flight attendants who all look alike (blond hair and blue eyes). This is beginning to be a pattern with the Scandinavians. Although it is an eight-hour flight, I am lucky enough to have an aisle seat next to Hannah. Across the aisle from me sitting at the window is an older Danish couple (who order quite a bit of alcohol throughout the flight). The older man smells terrible and I have the pleasure of smelling all when he periodically leans across me to remove items from the overhead compartment. In front of the couple is a funny looking man probably in his mid-thirties with a pale face, bug eyes, and a cherub nose. His calves are huge but his skin is so pale I feel like I can see right through to his veins and muscles. Hannah and I find it quite amusing how daintily he eats he food and drinks his tea, but then shoves his yogurt into his face. Behind us ten or so rows back is a Japanese group that could not have been louder if they had tried. I was under the impression that the Japanese were a quiet group, but these guys are the exception to the rule, and the bain of my existence as I try to sleep. The Danish people have apparently decided as an entire nation that it is a good idea to walk barefoot or in socks throughout the cabin, as no one is wearing their shoes.

The airplane food itself is a whole new experience. For dinner we are given the typical salad, bread, and meat combo, but for breakfast we are given sandwiches. And I?m not talking sweet bread, breakfast kind of sandwiches ? if such a thing even exists. These monsters are double layered, hard-core sandwiches with ham, cheese, tomatoes, mustard, peppers, and lettuce. The six of us look at each other with blank stares that would have said, ?What the hell do we do with these??ÿ What?s great is that the Scandinavian people down these babies like they haven?t eaten ? ever. During my wonderful meal (of which I managed to eat some creamy substance that resembled orange yogurt) I watch Tom Cruise?s eyes fall out of his head in Minority Report, one of ten movie selections available from the personal television screens in front of every seat. The super-cool television screens also let you see where you are currently located on a map as well as look at views from cameras located on the belly of the plane and from the cockpit.