Sting Take Europe Day 11

Day 11 is the trip home.  Finally.  It has been a great trip with many new friends and memories - but it is time to return to our own beds and families.


We had an early start to the day with breakfast at the Frankfurt hotel at 0600.  After breakfast a short shuttle bus ride to the airport, we were early and ready for any delays.  After our first experience at the Frankfurt airport - everyone was unsure what would happen this time.  Especially with it being a holiday.  As it turned out, there was nothing to worry about.  Everything went very smoothly and we were through security and waiting at our terminal with lots of time to relax, grab a coffee or shop.


The flight home was also uneventful.  Virtually no turbulance, and we arrived in Calgary on time - after the nine hour flight.  The trip through Canadian customs also went quickly.  There were no line ups and everyone proceeded through after answering the usual questions.  Even all of our baggage arrived on time. It could not have worked better.  Once we were at the airport doors, everyone quickly divided up their ringette gear that was packed in the team bags - and we said our goodbyes.  We all sperated, stretched their legs, took a long deep breath of prairie air and headed home on highway 2.


It is good to be home.  Safely!


This trip went perfectly without any major concerns or problems.  The only hiccup was loosing Meaghan Karas to injury early in the tournament, but together with Meagan Gabert they were a huge part of our success on the bench.  Thanks for the positive energy ladies!


I have spent considerable time on this blog thanking our Finnish hosts, but words cannot express our gratitude for everything that they did for us.  To all of them - a huge heart felt THANK-YOU.  The trip could not have been any better.  Everyone that we met in both Finland and Sweden was terrific and supportive.

• Thanks again to Jessica Kantee for initially getting us in touch with the Nurmijarvi program.  
• To Rob Corrigan for directing us to the Hotel Glo, and all of the Finnish travel advise - thanks.  
• To coach Greg for all of his usual support and assistance on everything - thanks.  Although most of his work on this trip was behind the scenes and not obvious, Jackie and I know how much he really did - Thanks buddy.
• To our parents for their trust and support.  We floated the idea and your trust in us made it happen.  Thanks.
• To the girls who were, as usual, responsible and respectful in all of their actions - Thanks.  
• To all of our sponsors and those who contributed to our trip - Thanks.  You created memories for two teams of great girls on both sides of the world that will last a lifetime.

Two special HUGE Thanks.

• The first is to Jackie Lunn for her work in lining up the tours, flights, hotels, and everything else that went off without one single glitch.  Though many of these booking she did through her Travel Only agency - everything was volunteered and free.  This included a lot of calls and bookings done overseas, at night on her own tab.  Thanks Jackie - you are the best! 
• The second is to my friend, and Nurmijarvi coach, Jari Kauppinen.  From the first day of planning he did everything he could do to make our experience a positive one.  Since my first conversation with him over two years ago, he was all about the positive ringette and cultural experience that our trip would offer both groups.  He really did see the big picture.  He organized our games.  He and his parents offered up the billeting assignments.  He offered guidance and advise on a million questions that I put to him (as silly as I am sure some of them seemed).  Ironically, he had already been to Canada with his girls two years ago - and he recognized the benefits of that trip.  Though he did not have to - he did work very, very hard to ensure our ladies could benefit as much from their ten days in Europe as he could provide them.  Thanks Jari!

Hopefully we can one day repay the hospitality shown to us by the Finns.  I suspect that whenever any of us watch international competition from now on - we will all be cheering for our new second favorite country in the world.  

My observations for the trip.

• For those that are wondering, the word on the bottom of our black jerseys is Pistääkö.  It is a question.  Roughly translated it means "Can you feel the Sting"
• The food in both Helsinki and Stockholm is awesome.  We had been warned before we left that maybe the food was bland or not to our liking - but I'd be surprised if over the ten days anyone had a complaint.
• Anyone planning a trip abroad should book through Travel Only.
• If on a long flight you are going to select a "thriller" movie, ensure that the flight does not end 10 minutes before the scheduled conclusion to your movie.  Ugh!
• An entire lounge full of Finns are probably all on YouTube watching Grover's "Near and Far" routine and trying to figure out why it is so darned funny.  Silly Canadians!
• Though the Finns and Swedes both told us how long their winters were this year - don't believe them.  It is our experience that both countries generally always bask in near perfect 15 -20 degree weather.
• Once his work visa is approved, Jari Lindstrom is to be named the new Sting Program Equipment Manager and Director of European Relations.
• The atmosphere in our Swedish hotel's bar was very unique and one that our Dads will not soon forget.  Not that there is anything wrong with that..............  

Thanks for following everyone!

C.K.