My heart was racing and I couldn't tell if it was nerves, excitement or too much caffeine. Either way I needed to run, I needed to scream, I needed to dance. I needed him to walk through those doors, but mostly I needed to pee. Standing in Terminal 2 waiting for Dustin to walk out of customs was the longest part of his 10 day visit.
Finally, the doors open and it's him! His blood shot eyes gave away his 24 hour sleep deprivation (which was due to his cornering window seat and his narcoleptic neighbors), but he still looked great. Hugs, kisses, tears, blah blah blah I'll spare you the details, but it was all very Nicholas Sparks and I loved it.
The 10 day adventure started as soon as we got home with a wild and crazy nap for Dustin. His goal was to make it until 8 pm, he lasted till about 6 only to wake up to drink or eat, then go back to sleep. I didn't care though, he was with me so I was happy. The next day he was able to sleep more while I went to morning practice, then we cruised Helsinki a little bit and I showed Dustin my keen understanding of the Finnish bus system. It was a quiet night again since Dust was adjusting to the time difference, which he managed to do like a pro. I was very impressed since it took me a solid 2 weeks. It only took him about a day--whatta man!
Sunday I had my game where we won 2-0. I had an assist and a goal and I was lucky to receive the "gold medal" for the match. We have this medal system for every league game where the top 3 players of the game are picked and receive a bronze, silver, or gold, respectively. It was super confusing at first since it is always done in Finnish. I still don't know what's going on unless they say in English, "number nine," then I know it's me. I'm a fast learner, right? Anyway, I was excited to get a win and play well since Dust was here. Poor guy though had to suffer in the sun the whole game and it really wasn't a great game for him to watch. The second half was long, very long. One of those halves that you check the clock, sigh, check again and only 3 miserable minutes have passed. When asked what he thought of the game, Dustin's always creative response was, "I felt bad for the other team. They all had a look on their face like their dog had just died." So eloquent, isn't he? But he summed it up pretty well. At least he got beautiful warm weather and a PK-35 win!It might have been a tad too hot actually because about half way through warm up I looked up to where he was sitting and he had moved up into the shade and taken his jacket off. Whoops- guess I should have checked the weather a little bit better. Which, by the way, does not necessarily help because as Rachel on my team taught me early on "Finnish weather is like women, you never know what you're gonna get." We're mysterious, spontaneous, and always a good time? I think that's what she was trying to say.
We remembered to check the weather that night for Copenhagen since the next day we were leaving for a 3 day trip. Though we knew it was going to be nice it turned out to be much warmer than we thought. By the time we got to the bus stop, Dustin was hot and a little cranky. He so courteously carried the bags though, so I'll give the gentleman a break. (Sidebar in my defense for a later story, note here of Dustin's less than stellar mood when he was physically uncomfortable, thank you. Proceed.)
Airport and flight went smoothly. Dust was so excited that this flight he would be with me and have a companion to talk with, aww...so the two of us shared a riveting conversation about contemporary social issues like how to be beat his latest iPhone game.
I didn't understand it, therefore I was a bad companion. Sorry for my incompetency, Dust.
We land in Copenhagen and first things first, get another Starbucks. You know how I know you're American? You order an iced-coffee then ask for more ice. The drink is an enigma here. However, I still give every coffee shop I go to a chance to redeem the under achieving European performance on iced-coffee making, so of course I order one. I got a relatively satisfying luke-warm iced coffee. And poor, naive Dustin, so new to the coffee world, was persuaded into a Orange-Mocha-Frappuccino! (or something like that) And as the loving with a sometimes cruel sense of humor girlfriend I am, I allowed this persuasion to happen only to see his reaction. He rocked the frap and totes loved it! Obvi.
Coffee in hand we meandered the airport for awhile heading toward the buses, then metro, then finally discover we needed a train. We still must have looked lost even once we were in the right place with the appropriate ticket because a friendly Dane asked if she could help. She directed us onto the right train and told us when to get off, which was not what the map said. Not that we could really read the map anyway, it was all in Danish. We decided to go with her directions. And good thing we did.
Central Station was right down the street from our hotel, Hotel Nebo. So it didn't take long to find where were supposed to be. It was a cross between a hotel and a hostel. So it was cheap, nicer than a hostel, but without the hotel amenities. Our two twin size beds pushed together to create the offered "queen-size" room was perfect!'
We got settled and decided to head out since the night was still young, plus I was getting hungry, which seemed to be a theme throughout the trip/ my life. Giddy to see all the beautiful architecture and sights of Copenhagen we practically skipped onto the side walk hand in hand. A few blocks into our walk and we saw "love shops" everywhere!! The words "erotic" flashed with neon letters in the otherwise blacked-out windows from the storefront of every other door. I heard Copenhagen was liberal and sort of hippie, but this was taking free love to whole new level. Dust held onto my hand tighter as we passed sketchy dive bar after sketchy dive bar after EROTIC, EROTIC, EROTIC. I kept trying to reassure him that the dive bars look great!...Everyone loves a dive bar!... Do as the locals do?... He wasn't buying it.
Red light district. We were staying in the red light district. Think Amsterdam just toned down a few hookers. Of alllllll hotels in allll of amazing Copenhagen, I find us one that is in the red light district, on the out skirts, but nonetheless we were in scary sexyville. Typical. Welp, here we go...
Airport and flight went smoothly. Dust was so excited that this flight he would be with me and have a companion to talk with, aww...so the two of us shared a riveting conversation about contemporary social issues like how to be beat his latest iPhone game.
I didn't understand it, therefore I was a bad companion. Sorry for my incompetency, Dust.
We land in Copenhagen and first things first, get another Starbucks. You know how I know you're American? You order an iced-coffee then ask for more ice. The drink is an enigma here. However, I still give every coffee shop I go to a chance to redeem the under achieving European performance on iced-coffee making, so of course I order one. I got a relatively satisfying luke-warm iced coffee. And poor, naive Dustin, so new to the coffee world, was persuaded into a Orange-Mocha-Frappuccino! (or something like that) And as the loving with a sometimes cruel sense of humor girlfriend I am, I allowed this persuasion to happen only to see his reaction. He rocked the frap and totes loved it! Obvi.
Coffee in hand we meandered the airport for awhile heading toward the buses, then metro, then finally discover we needed a train. We still must have looked lost even once we were in the right place with the appropriate ticket because a friendly Dane asked if she could help. She directed us onto the right train and told us when to get off, which was not what the map said. Not that we could really read the map anyway, it was all in Danish. We decided to go with her directions. And good thing we did.
Central Station was right down the street from our hotel, Hotel Nebo. So it didn't take long to find where were supposed to be. It was a cross between a hotel and a hostel. So it was cheap, nicer than a hostel, but without the hotel amenities. Our two twin size beds pushed together to create the offered "queen-size" room was perfect!'
We got settled and decided to head out since the night was still young, plus I was getting hungry, which seemed to be a theme throughout the trip/ my life. Giddy to see all the beautiful architecture and sights of Copenhagen we practically skipped onto the side walk hand in hand. A few blocks into our walk and we saw "love shops" everywhere!! The words "erotic" flashed with neon letters in the otherwise blacked-out windows from the storefront of every other door. I heard Copenhagen was liberal and sort of hippie, but this was taking free love to whole new level. Dust held onto my hand tighter as we passed sketchy dive bar after sketchy dive bar after EROTIC, EROTIC, EROTIC. I kept trying to reassure him that the dive bars look great!...Everyone loves a dive bar!... Do as the locals do?... He wasn't buying it.
Red light district. We were staying in the red light district. Think Amsterdam just toned down a few hookers. Of alllllll hotels in allll of amazing Copenhagen, I find us one that is in the red light district, on the out skirts, but nonetheless we were in scary sexyville. Typical. Welp, here we go...
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