At noon on August 17th, 2018, I stood in front of the Icelandair check-in counter at SeaTac. “And your final destination is Copenhagen, correct?” the lady there asked me. “It sure is,” I replied. I couldn’t believe what I was saying. The only place outside the U.S. I had ever been to was Vancouver, BC. It had always been my dream to go to Europe. I couldn’t believe it was finally happening.
Unfortunately, my first overseas trip did not come without a little chaos. Right after I checked in my bags I realized that I had accidentally packed my new camera in my luggage. I had meant to take it as a carry on to keep it safe, so I started to panic. Its fate remained unknown for another 16 hours (though thankfully it did arrive in Copenhagen unscathed). Right after that, I stepped in the goopiest, squishiest mound of gum in my new boots. Then, once I made it through security I stood in line for more than half an hour to get a bowl of ramen for lunch. It was noisy and hot in the airport. I started slumping from the enormous backpack I was carrying. After lunch I ordered a hot chocolate but was given a mocha instead. When I politely told the cashier that my order was incorrect she did not know how to refund the difference. They made me my hot chocolate but my flight was boarding in 20 minutes so I had no choice but to pay the extra $2 for my drink.
I speed-walked back to my gate with my overpriced drink in hand, my boot sticking to the floor from the gum on my shoe, and my back feeling like it was going to snap from my backpack. I was uncomfortably warm from all of the layers I was wearing. I had decided to wear more clothes to save room in my suitcase. I maneuvered my way around countless people standing in the way. “Excuse me, sorry, excuse me.” All I wanted was to make it to my flight in time.
Pure chaos.
At 3:30pm, Icelandair Flight 682 to Reykjavik took off from SeaTac—my first flight out of the United States! I made it to Iceland 7 hours later and arrived in Copenhagen in the middle of the afternoon the next day.
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Copenhagen,” the Icelandair flight attendant announced after we touched down at Københavns Lufthavne.
I arrived on the same day as everyone in my exchange program. Leaving Baggage Claim, I was instantly met by a sea of enthusiastic Danish families. Kids everywhere were holding up their own painted signs and waving mini Danish flags. “Velkommen på Danmark” (“Welcome to Denmark”) many of the signs read. Everyone was smiling and waving at us. All of the families were so excited to meet their American exchange students!
Good chaos, and that was only the beginning.
That image of the Danish families at the airport will stay with me for the rest of my life.
Seattle native. Graduating Senior. Adventure seeker. Fitness enthusiast. The youngest crazy cat lady you’ve ever met. Lover of all things Scandinavian. Probably out on a run right now.
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