Friend N is in Sweden for a student exchange program. And we all know the drill when it comes to 'friends-studying-abroad'. You make plans. Plans to visit, plans to Skype, plans to write. Plans which most likely end up in 'liking-any-IKEA-related-picture-on-your-facebook-wall'. Which is fine, because you are busy and your friend is busy studying, partying and eating knackebrod. So when N told me about her plans of going on a very educational trip to Lapland with some other international students, and asked me if I wanted to join them, I immediately said yes.
Which made friend R laugh her socks off. "You start freaking Eskimo-mode as soon as the first leaves start falling. If you can't even survive one snowflake in Holland, how are you supposed to survive a whole week of freezing Lapland?" I have to admit, she has a point. But the thing is, I've thought this trough. Because imagine this: if I manage to survive a week in Lapland - how easy is my Dutch winter going to be?! If I slightly can get info the feeling of freezing my hands off, become BFF with some moose, and drink nothing but pure wodka to keep myself warm, I think I'll survive. Oh the relieve once I get back. Holland will feel like a resort on a Caribbean Island. Perfect plan. My 2013-2014 winter is going to be peanuts!
And seriously, who doesn't want to go to a country with this as their national (Wikipedia-told-me-so-therefore-it's-true) symbol?
Things I didn't think through concerning this trip?
How to fit all of my goddamn winter gear including snow boots into one tiny suitcase. Because due to our student-poverty we can only carry one piece of hand luggage each. Also, on my way to the airport I start to realize that suitcases don't necessarily go well with snowy surfaces...
Other than that, I'm beyond excited for this adventure to start. I'm desperately hoping to witness the northern lights, as it seems so magical. I can't wait to get lost on a snow scooter and be dragged around the area on a husky ride.
Besides, when a friend in need asks me: "oh, and if you're coming over Els, do you mind fixing my eyebrows again?", you can count me in. Because if you can't even survive without gloves, you sure as hell can't survive without some decent eyebrows.
Lapland, here I come!
