A Norwegian Ferry Tale

A journal entry from Wednesday, March 31, 2010...

"Well I have done it again...I've signed myself up for another adventure without considering the fact that although I have been enjoying myself so far, traveling alone in other countries scares me to death. I'm scared of being lonely, of being bored, of not knowing what people are saying, of not having anyone to talk to.... I am on the ferry leaving from Copenhagen and heading to Oslo. It is 4:30pm. It is going to take me a little under 24 hours to get to Trysil. I don't know anyone on this boat. I could have taken the quick and easy route and booked a flight which would have taken 45 minutes. Why didn't I just book the flight!? Of course I was completely excited by the idea of sleeping on a boat, of going to bed in Danish waters and waking up in Norway! How cool it would be to wake up on a boat in Norway! And this is the biggest boat I have ever been on! It has bars, restaurants, shops, a water park. It's not a ferry it's a cruise ship!

So now I'm on it. I got to the dock at 3:30pm; was on the boat by 4pm. Found my room, dropped my bags, and walked the entire span of the boat top to bottom by 4:25pm. What to do now!? The boat hasn't even turned on it's engines yet and I am already overwhelmed with dread thinking about how to fill up the next 20 hours of my solo life. What's even more dreadful is thinking about not knowing where I'm going or who I'm meeting in Norway! Time for the bar.

I really wish I had someone to talk to. Looking around everyone is a couple, or family, or older couple with a family. I don't know how to approach people and start a conversation without feeling completely awkward. Plus I don't know if they will know English, or what if they're crazy, or what if they don't want to talk to me, what if I'm interrupting? Where are all the other single girl travelers my age and why aren't they on this boat!? I could go to my room and lay down, read a book, but I feel like that wouldn't be "making the most" of this situation (whatever that means).

I ordered a gin and tonic. I hate, hate, hate gin and tonic. But I feel like I need to punish myself, plus if I dislike what I'm drinking, I won't drink it as fast and that will give me something to do for longer. I don't want to go back to my room. At least I can people watch out here. Although no one is really doing anything worth noting.....hmm, hmm, hmmmm....Postcards!! I've been meaning to write some postcards.....

They are blasting "Born in the USA" over the loud speakers. The people behind me are speaking Danish (or Norwegian?) but I can tell they are talking about Bruce.....kdbiunrevhdbfvjhba Glory Days jhbdvjbhhjbdfvfl Streets of Phildalphia haofaiosdnkjnvfdnbv...

The gin and tonic is done. It lasted an hour. phew.

The boat has left the dock. Time for some duty-free shopping."










Norway: