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August 06, 2004
The Wonders of Technology
I hope that the person who created the "UPS tracking number" technology is a millionaire right now. It's pure genius! Ever since I discovered this marvel of technology during an Amazon.com order last year, I have become addicted. I love logging in every couple hours (now that I think about it, this probably contributed to my low productivity at work) and seeing if my package had made any progress. Genius, I say, genius! For example, right now my new laptop computer is "in transit" with an estimated delivery date of tomorrow. Or today, I suppose, seeing as how it is 3 a.m. and well into Friday.
I just sent out a mass email to everyone in my hotmail address book with my new contact information in Sweden. It's kind of weird sharing that information with a large circle of people--up until now the whole Sweden thing has mainly existed in my head. Yes, I knew I was going (I mean, I quit my job, sold my condo, and everything else), but it didn't seem REAL. I suppose it will only really hit me when I step off the plane in Copenhagen and realize I don't have a clue how to get to the train station which will supposedly take me to Karlskrona.
Speaking of which, I'm getting a little nervous about the whole "arrival" thing. I'm taking an overnight, nonstop flight from D.C. to Copenhagen, arriving at 7:30 a.m. in the morning. I have until 4 p.m. to:
- gather my luggage,
- get through customs,
- make my way to the train station,
- buy a ticket to Sweden,
- take the 4 hour ride to Karlskrona,
- find my way to the university,
- figure out where the International Office is, and
- meet my student volunteer--who will assign me an apartment and take me to get registered.
If I can't make it to the International Office by 4 p.m., I'll have to get a hotel for the night and try again the next day. All of this while carrying 2 gigantic suitcases, 1 maximum-size carry-on, and a briefcase for my laptop.
Sure that no one wants to join me on this adventure??
Still no word from the Swedish Embassy. Tick, tick, tick.
