Lapland: The Pregame and The Trip there

Lapand was my first Rotary Youth Exchange Tour. It was to a town called Muonio on the Finnish/Swedish border. It was the trip of a life time

The Arctic

It began the day after Thanksgiving, Liz and Anneke spent the night. Liz and I spend the day cooking more corn bread (we had a lot of leftover ingredients). This resulted in over 6 dozen corn muffins. They were demolished by the end of the first day at Lapland. We spent the day of the departure also watching movies and just packing. 

Packing for the Arctic was a bit more elaborate than I would have expected. 

The bus ride was over 16 hours long. Lucky me my chair was broken, it couldn't lean back. This meant I would spend my time on the aisle floor. This was okay because my flag is a good blanket and every one's coat was a good mattress. I do believe I got the best rest.

Also, I was on the party bus and was in the back. This meant there was little sleep. We danced and talked the whole way there. I think there was only a few hours where there wasn't any Latino music playing. I am not complaining. 

our bus was from the 80's. the floor was cold. it was loud. we were eating corn bread the whole way.

best bus ever

 The photo above was the view I woke up to. There were reindeer out too. I am laughing as I type this because it sounds so unbelievable. But I was there. I saw this. This happened.

 This trip was good for the soul. From the beginning till the end. And even now, as I sit in my room, all packed to switch families, I am still under the Arctic's spell of peace. A whole, complete peace.