Guten tag and Merry Christmas from Deutschland

Way to go Germany, for giving me all the feels.

I love my international girls!

We stayed in Dusseldorf and did a day trip to Cologne.

It was my last overnight trip this go round,

it was our first and last trip with the five of us,

and the moment came when we had to say goodbye (actually, 'see you later') to our precious Sophie.

Although it was full of emotion, it was mostly joy!

Christmas markets are good at putting you in the Christmas spirit.

I got a good portion of my Christmas shopping done

(hopefully I can fit everything in my suitcase coming back).

We drank tons of Glühwein, ate too much bratwurst, and had a laugh over crepes. 

It was definitely a magical experience.

I don't know how I'm ever going to do Christmas again without going to Germany first!

I love these beauts!

silly Sophie

Marthar

translation:  "Welcome to the old town!"

massive cathedral in Cologne

cuties

my favorite angle of buildings

crazy stain glass

so cute

oober crowded

literally. so crowded

deer!

(twins)

lights <3

wood-burned art

see?!

cute log cabin

lonely christmas tree

giant gingerbread house

cause you're a sky, you're a (tree) full of stars...

we <3 bratwurst 

the whole gang

and a second one because we're beautiful 

cathedral shaped waffle

apparently I can't get enough of these two

what's funny is girls in angel costumes took these

but I think we can all agree we're the real angels here

Soph-bug

and another, just because I love her so

yes, we paid for this photo. but how could we resist?

these are not allowed in the States

because they come with a toy, which is not edible or safe according to the FDA

Well you guys, 

my semester abroad is soon coming to an end.

I have less than two weeks left in this second home of mine.

It's definitely a bittersweet feeling.

I can't wait to be home for the holidays and hug everyone,

but I know I will miss this lovely place so much.

But Europe has not seen the last of me!

I can assure you that.

xo

English Lingo

So as you know, I am studying in the Netherlands for the semester.
You would think I should have picked up a few Dutch words to bring home with me.
The truth is that I think I've learned more English than anything.
Yes, I know that is the (only) language I am fluent in, but a lot of my friends are from the UK.
And if you know anything about Great Britain, you know that they use a few different words than us Americans.
It's been fun learning (and giving each other a hard time) about these different words.
I thought it would be cool to compile a list of them to share.
So that's what I've done!
These are all the words I could think of that I have heard since I've been here:
(you have to read in a British accent of course)

Also, I've excluded curse words, though I've learned a few new ones.

BRITISH:  //  AMERICAN:

loo or toilet  /  restroom

bin  /  trash can

rubbish  /  trash, garbage

zed  /  z

tea  /  dinner

trainers  /  tennis shoes

jumper  /  sweater

sick  /  vomit

lift  /  elevator

flat  /  apartment

lead  /  leash

trousers  /  pants 

knickers  /  underwear

biscuits  /  cookies or crackers 

chips  /  fries

crisps  /  chips

wool  /  yarn

mum  /  mom

purse  /  wallet

fringe  /  bangs

fairy lights  /  twinkly lights

waterproof  /  rain jacket

football  /  soccer

bap  /  bread roll

primary school  /  elementary school

secondary school  /  high school

uni or university  /  college

mate  /  friend

lads  /  guys

film  /  movie

"give me a shout"  /  "holla at me" (haha)

minced meat  /  ground beef

dodgy  /  sketchy

bobble  /  hair tie

candy floss  /  cotton candy

mental  /  crazy

trolley  /  "buggy" or shopping cart

tram  /  trolley

bit  /  part

cash point  /  ATM

wee  /  pee

plait  /  braid

bauble  /  ornament

pudding  /  dessert

braces  /  suspenders

advert  / commercial
lecture  /  class

There are a few words that they just use more often or sayings that we just don't say at all.  Here are a few (with definitions):

• lush:  nice
• mint:  nice
• grim:  a situation that sucks
• posh:  fancy
• quid:  slang term for pounds (money); equivalent to "bucks" for dollars
• half eight:  another way of saying "eight thirty" (could be any hour, obviously)
• fortnight:  two weeks
• oi:  hey
• "freshies week":  one of the first few weeks of college where everyone goes ham
• "give it a miss":  bailing
• "I need a wee": I think you can guess..
• massive
• lovely
• nightmare; as in "what a nightmare":  bad situation
• soz:  slang for sorry

And of course, there are words we all pronounce differently:

Margarine

-American: mar-jar-in

-British:  mar-jar-een

H

-American:  ach (long a)

-British:  hach (long a)

Oregano

-American:  or-egg-an-o

-British:  or-e-gone-o

Tomato

-American:  "you say tomato" (long a)

-British:  "I say tomato" (short a)

Gouda

-American:  goood-uh

-British:  gow-duh

Via

-American:  vee-uh

-British:  vigh-uh

Route

-American:  r-ow-t

-British:  root

Vitamin

-American:  vigh-ta-men

-British:  vit-a-men

Buddha

-American:  boo-duh

-British:  bud-uh

I literally discover a new word or phrase that's different every day that I'm with these lads, but that's what makes it interesting.

So forgive me if I come home using a few new words! 

xo