thank you over-worked german man

I traveled from Prague to Bergen, Norway. Want to know how I got there? Planes, trains, buses and my feet. Over 36 hours worth. This information might be boring, but it's pertinent to the point of my post (say that 5 times fast).

Overnight train from Prague to Frankfurt, Germany. Train to airport shuttle. Shuttle to airport. Feet to bus stop. Bus to another airport 2 hours away from main airport. Plane to Oslo, Norway. Bus to Train. Train to another train. Overnight train to, finally, Bergen. 

I am learning a lot about the actual travel part of traveling. Especially because I am alone. And, that leads me to my next point. I was alone. When I arrived in Frankfurt, Germany (at 4:00am, middle of the dang night), I found myself in a cold dark, empty train station. No one working anywhere, but a couple people sleeping against the walls. With no sleep myself, my awareness quickly got into gear. On the train, I had asked a man behind me to grab my heavy backpack from the shelf for me. I sort-of walked down into the train station with him. I asked him a couple of questions. Questions about a bus I thought I should take to the main airport. He didn't know about a bus, but knew about a train that took you there. Being skeptical of his answer, as one traveling alone should always double check things, I went outside to look at the bus schedules. For some reason this guy followed me out there. I asked him to come over and help me read the schedule. He did. I was kind of wandering, trying to figure out what to do, ended up talking to him some more, and he assured me that the train does take me to the airport. I looked around and he seemed like my best bet. 

Turns out he works at the airport. So, he would know. He took me on the train, then the shuttle (which I wouldn't have been able to figure out by myself, or at least it would have taken me MUCH longer), then he walked me to 'information' to find out where I catch my bus to the other airport 2 hours away. He had to be at work at 6a.m. yet he walked with me the whole way, even offered to hold my backpack. I didn't let him take it, I told him I need to get used to it--which is the truth. If I am doing this whole 'traveling alone' thing I need to know that I can handle it. 

Once the lady at info told me where the bus stop was, he walked me even there. Then, he said we should make sure and look at the time-table to see when the bus comes exactly. He did EVERYTHING for me. Literally.

About this helpful man:

• He is 25, but looks 30

• He hasn't traveled that much because he thinks he needs to get a good start on his career (he teaches airport employees how to use the airport technology)

• He works 12 hours a day. He sleeps 3 hours every night

• He said he works so much because of capitalism

• He's German

After I shook his hand and told him for the 12th time, 'thank you,' we parted ways. I went to the bathroom after that. If I had any inclination that he was helping me only because he thought I was cute, the mirror in the bathroom was quick to tell me 'no.' Mascara was all over my face, and my hair needed a good wash.