Arrival!

Hallo everyone!

I've been in Cologne a couple hours now. Mostly sleeping to wear off the jetlag, but Caroline took me to Uli's office to drop off my laptop so it could get hooked up. He has a beautiful view of the cathedral from his office, I'll post the pictures I took of it soon.

Some observations I've already made...

-tiny cars. Like, REALLY tiny cars. I knew they drove small cars but it's amazing how their society is built for them too. Caroline has a larger SUV Mercedes and it's very difficult for her to get around certain parts of town, because the roads are just built so small. It's very surprising.

-Caroline's fricadell's are very tasty (sorry, Dad!). Mmmm, I could eat those all day.

-how little Deutsch I know. All day today I've been asking "What am I getting myself into!?!?" But I know things will improve.

Well, I'm going to get off this. There will be more to come!

I'm lovin' it

So I didn't expect to post anything again until I left on Tuesday, but I felt like what better way to kick off my departure to Europe than a very American post. So...

I love McDonalds. Here's the story.

Jeremy and I were starving today and he reminded me that he owed me a McChicken sandwich (mmm!), so we decided to go. After ordering 3 McChicken sandwiches, a large fry, and two waters, we hear over the intercom, "Would you like our new Southern Style Chicken Sandwiches instead for free?"

"For free?!" I gasp.

"Free! F-R-E-E that spells free," repeats the McDonald's worker, to the tune of the CreditReport.com commercial jingle (Erika: you would have definitely appreciated this).

Of course, being a starving college student, I could not pass this offer up. So we got our sandwiches and while receiving the rest of our order I get a HUGE drink, which I assumed they just combined our two waters. Nope, I realize it's something else so I try to hand it back when they tell me to just take it.

Double score! Free sandwiches AND sweet tea. Jeremy and I were ecstatic.

Needless to say, I got a great treat for my last visit to fast food before my trip. So thank you, America, for the send off.

Testing... testing...

Wilkommen! I'll be departing for Cologne, Germany in exactly six days and I just started packing. After planning the trip back in January, it probably won't hit me until I'm on the plane...

So, instead of answering tons of e-mails or questions on how my trip is going, you can take it with me through my blog! I'll try and update as much as possible, I don't know how busy I'll be there since I only have a rough itinerary in my head. Hope you enjoy! Auf Wiedersehen!