Thoughts on long flights, no sleep and small towns.........
I'm flying for SAS - Scandinavian Airlines. I'm sorry, I thought I'd mentioned that, but I guess sitting over here, with only one "real" airline to choose from, it seems so obvious it's hardly worth mentioning...
I spent last night in the middle of no where in Northern Sweden in a town called Östersund. I had a VERY short night stop (6 hours, I managed to squeeze in 2½ hours worth of sleep!). Driving through the town from the airport made me realize how prejudiced I was about Northern Scandinavia, when I was surprised to find that they actually had a McDonald's and a Shell gas station! Why wouldn't they? It's a town just like any other! But I had just imagined basically a hole in the ground, which makes no sense because they DO have an airport... What I had imagined that particular place to be like, or what I thought of it the next day really doesn't matter or has an impact on the world as a whole, but it does make you think about how easily prejudice grabs you, without you even noticing it. And it does explain some of the ways of the world. Now all we need are more eye-opening experiences for all, and more people being able to admit that they were wrong. Because although I only saw it in the dark I think it was a very nice place. Even with snow.
I guess sometimes it takes a little lack of sleep to alter your perspective....
Take care,
