Today I got to think about a curious experience from my childhood. I grew up in Eastern Europe. My parents wanted a better future for us (me and my sister) and decided to immigrate to Sweden in 1980. The process of the actual escape, as one might call it, was extremely adventurous and lasted almost 1 month. It included passages through many western countries, a two day boat trip from Hamburg, Germany to Helsinki in Finland, with an unscheduled stop in Estonia, part of the Sovjet republic at that time (a very scary moment for us) and a roller coaster trip from Helsinki to Stockholm, Sweden on a ship in a raging storm.
But the story I wanted to share has nothing to do with that odyssey of a trip, but with one occasion during our stay in Hamburg before embarking on the ship sailing to Finland. Here I visited a hamburger bar for the first time in my life. I (and the rest of my family) were convinced that the meal we were served was called a hamburger as we were in Hamburg and obviously it had something to do with the city.
Today this still brings a smile to my face and reminds me of my parent’s incredible courage, amazing persistence to never give up and to never be afraid of change and new beginnings.
6 comments:
What a great story, a real adventure!
Hope you liked the hamburger!
Donna
Donna, I recall it was very tasty and I also remember my father spilling the soft drink all over him.;) The trip was truly an adventure to a young girl, such as me at that time.;)
Wow! That makes my migration from New Jersey to Virginia seem very, very dull. Of course, it was :). I, for one, am very glad of your parents' courage, as we never would have 'met' otherwise. So the next time you speak to them, tell them I said 'thank you' :).
That is such a sweet thing to say Diane, I will make sure I tell them. I am so happy you are back again.:)
I love this story!
Thank you Hazel.:)
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