I Am In a Long Distance Relationship
It Happened In Amsterdam... My story goes back over 15 years ago, to a time in my life when I was very young
and working for a Dutch International Airline.
I was stationed at Chicago's O'hare Airport, but the airline insisted that I go to
Amsterdam for extensive training to learn the details of their individual way of
customer service. I made the mistake of delaying the inevitable, until management
finally insisted. This meant I had to leave mid-November and return a couple of days
before Christmas.Not the ideal time to be leaving the people you care about most.
I turned out that I was 1 of 13 agents (employed in every corner of the world) that
would constitute my "group". I found that only 1 other participant (JFK/New York)
spoke English. his name was Peter. Luckily, Peter and I hit it off immediately.We
were staying at the Amsterdam Hilton (a 5star hotel) and were taken by coach to the
training center every morning.
It became our routine every morning to meet in the lobby of the Hilton, to turn in our
passports and room keys (required at all European hotels). It didn't take long for us
to discover that there was 1 young girl that seemed to be "on duty" at the front desk
every single morning. She was strikingly beautiful (in a model sort of way). I found out her name was TINA. We wasted no time in immediately trying to "pitch her".
However, to our disappointment, she was very formal and told us in Dutch "SPREEK
NIET ENGELS" (I don't speak English).
We decided to make the best of the situation, and realized we could joke around
in front of her each day (including lewd comments), and SHE WOULD NEVER
KNOW WHAT WE SAID.
This went on for the next month........
Now Amsterdam at Christmas is like an old-fashioned Xmas card.Snow lightly
falling over cobblestone streets, everything decorated for the season. (the Dutch
practically invented our American Christmas with the delivery of presents by
St. Nicholas [ Sinter Klaus/Santa Claus]
Which brings us to the day before we were all to go home. Over the preceeding
6 weeks, Peter and I became the "ring-leaders" of all 13 participants. They
followed our every direction. Thus, he and I decided to throw a party in our
adjoining rooms.After training that final day, we went shopping for some of those famous Dutch cheeses and cases of Heineken and Amstel. By 11P.M. "a good
time was being had by all". I believe I was out in the hallway (where the party had spilled out into), when the telephone rang inside. Peter answered it and shouted
to me to pick it up.
"who is it?" I inquired
he replied "it's TINA !"
"very funny" I said as I took the phone receiver
As I put it to my ear, I heard a soft familiar voice say my name.
I was shocked to hear that early morning voice of Tina SPEAKING IN ENGLISH !
She explained that English is now taught in all Dutch schools, but the hotel had
strict rules about conversing with guests. She also knew I was leaving the next
day.Therefore, she had arranged in advance to work the evening shift tonight as
well as the morning shift tomorrow so the hotel would provide her a room for free.
"I am in room 626" she said "could you come down so that I could say goodbye?"
Like in a cartoon, the telephone receiver was probably still hanging in the air by
the time I reached the door of room 626.
There she was answering the door in a nightgown, looking more gorgeous than
she had each of those A.M.'s. We sat and talked for awhile as we got to know
each other. She was 18 years old, and had just started working there.
There was an instant attraction between us, that quickly led us to the bed.
The only glitch of that evening was that she had been a virgin before that night.
We still had an incredible experience.
Unfortunately, the next day I was forced to return to Chicago. I will never forget
the long sad glances we exchanged as I stopped at the exit door and she behind
the front desk.
This story stayed with me with mixed emotions for many years...........
until last year 2012.
In June of 2012, I received a cryptic message on my Facebook account.
"are you the ----------- who worked for the Dutch Airlines several years ago"
"and stayed at the Amsterdam Hilton for training ?"
It was Tina. She had been trying to locate me for the last few years. I had left
the airline long ago and had changed addresses as well.
I quickly responded and we started "chatting" online on a daily basis. This led
to me flying back to Holland in late Summer. We had a lot to catch up with, as
we both had married and divorced (she with a child). It is now several months
later, but we still communicate 2 to 3 times a week.
Who knows......the story may continue
.
and working for a Dutch International Airline.
I was stationed at Chicago's O'hare Airport, but the airline insisted that I go to
Amsterdam for extensive training to learn the details of their individual way of
customer service. I made the mistake of delaying the inevitable, until management
finally insisted. This meant I had to leave mid-November and return a couple of days
before Christmas.Not the ideal time to be leaving the people you care about most.
I turned out that I was 1 of 13 agents (employed in every corner of the world) that
would constitute my "group". I found that only 1 other participant (JFK/New York)
spoke English. his name was Peter. Luckily, Peter and I hit it off immediately.We
were staying at the Amsterdam Hilton (a 5star hotel) and were taken by coach to the
training center every morning.
It became our routine every morning to meet in the lobby of the Hilton, to turn in our
passports and room keys (required at all European hotels). It didn't take long for us
to discover that there was 1 young girl that seemed to be "on duty" at the front desk
every single morning. She was strikingly beautiful (in a model sort of way). I found out her name was TINA. We wasted no time in immediately trying to "pitch her".
However, to our disappointment, she was very formal and told us in Dutch "SPREEK
NIET ENGELS" (I don't speak English).
We decided to make the best of the situation, and realized we could joke around
in front of her each day (including lewd comments), and SHE WOULD NEVER
KNOW WHAT WE SAID.
This went on for the next month........
Now Amsterdam at Christmas is like an old-fashioned Xmas card.Snow lightly
falling over cobblestone streets, everything decorated for the season. (the Dutch
practically invented our American Christmas with the delivery of presents by
St. Nicholas [ Sinter Klaus/Santa Claus]
Which brings us to the day before we were all to go home. Over the preceeding
6 weeks, Peter and I became the "ring-leaders" of all 13 participants. They
followed our every direction. Thus, he and I decided to throw a party in our
adjoining rooms.After training that final day, we went shopping for some of those famous Dutch cheeses and cases of Heineken and Amstel. By 11P.M. "a good
time was being had by all". I believe I was out in the hallway (where the party had spilled out into), when the telephone rang inside. Peter answered it and shouted
to me to pick it up.
"who is it?" I inquired
he replied "it's TINA !"
"very funny" I said as I took the phone receiver
As I put it to my ear, I heard a soft familiar voice say my name.
I was shocked to hear that early morning voice of Tina SPEAKING IN ENGLISH !
She explained that English is now taught in all Dutch schools, but the hotel had
strict rules about conversing with guests. She also knew I was leaving the next
day.Therefore, she had arranged in advance to work the evening shift tonight as
well as the morning shift tomorrow so the hotel would provide her a room for free.
"I am in room 626" she said "could you come down so that I could say goodbye?"
Like in a cartoon, the telephone receiver was probably still hanging in the air by
the time I reached the door of room 626.
There she was answering the door in a nightgown, looking more gorgeous than
she had each of those A.M.'s. We sat and talked for awhile as we got to know
each other. She was 18 years old, and had just started working there.
There was an instant attraction between us, that quickly led us to the bed.
The only glitch of that evening was that she had been a virgin before that night.
We still had an incredible experience.
Unfortunately, the next day I was forced to return to Chicago. I will never forget
the long sad glances we exchanged as I stopped at the exit door and she behind
the front desk.
This story stayed with me with mixed emotions for many years...........
until last year 2012.
In June of 2012, I received a cryptic message on my Facebook account.
"are you the ----------- who worked for the Dutch Airlines several years ago"
"and stayed at the Amsterdam Hilton for training ?"
It was Tina. She had been trying to locate me for the last few years. I had left
the airline long ago and had changed addresses as well.
I quickly responded and we started "chatting" online on a daily basis. This led
to me flying back to Holland in late Summer. We had a lot to catch up with, as
we both had married and divorced (she with a child). It is now several months
later, but we still communicate 2 to 3 times a week.
Who knows......the story may continue
.
46-50, M