Already International

So it is around 6 pm eastern time and I am in the Toronto Pearson airport with about 60 minutes to kill.  My next flight is over (8) hours long and will take me from here to Frankfurt, Germany.  The flight from Indianapolis to here was uneventful.  It took off on time and though the plane was one of the smallest craft I have ever flown on (something my wife definitely did not know or else she might have forbade me to come) all went well.  I was in seat 2C so that put me in the very front of the plane and I was seated next to a Canadian lady who was married to a man from Indiana.  We spoke off and on during the hour long flight and I learned that fifteen years ago she lived in Ecuador for a year and a half with her husband and children.  No special reason was given other than they thought it would be a good experience.  From what I good gather, they rented their house out in Canada and from the profits could live nicely in Ecuador.  The flight ended quickly and we wished each other well.  She still had another flight within Canada and so we parted ways where the local and international flight paths split.

One thing I remember about being in Argentina (and even Chile at the airport) 4 years ago was feeling very out of place due to others not speaking English around me.  I somewhat remember feeling very helpless and slightly embarrassed that I could not even speak simple phrases in Spanish.  I assumed this feeling would return when I hit Germany and eventually Romania.  What I did not figure was that it would start in Canada.  The instructions on the plane were spoken both in French and English and the tv blaring over my head at this moment in the terminal is also part French.  Since I am flying to Germany where many connecting flights to other countries will depart, my fellow passengers could be from anywhere and I do not recognize some of the languages all around me.  That helpless feeling is beginning even in Canada, so close to the US.

The wifi here in Toronto (unlike in Indianapolis) is free so I am able to post my blog written from Indy and also this one.  Not much has happened since that blog so I guess I will wrap this up for now.  I will chat with you all in Europe.

Jon