Reflections

 Europe is getting further and further away. I'm getting back into my research, trying to figure out where I left off back in September. I'm picking up the slack in the grad student association, and remembering how to cook for myself (Hannah and Ilonka did a lot of the cooking when we actually had to). Getting caught up on doctor and dentist visits.

I started compiling lists of topics related to Europe...lists help me organize my thoughts. I make lists about everything, from what I need to get at the grocery store to what boys I like (that was in middle school!). So here's my lists about Europe.

WHAT I WILL MISS MOST ABOUT EUROPE:

1. Street food (maybe I have to find the right city?)
2. Walking everywhere and always having something to look at
3. Not knowing what the people on public transit are talking about
4. Getting lost in the alleys and twisty streets and feeling safe doing it
5. Attractive men everywhere (don't worry, I didn't keep a list)
6. Dogs in restaurants

WHAT I WON'T MISS ABOUT EUROPE:

1. The stupid design of their toilets (no, I was not using the bidet by accident)
2. Lack of access to Pandora and Hulu
3. Not knowing the language (but this isn't Europe's fault)
4. Having to air dry everything
5. Undercooked egg whites
6. Dogs that could not care less about me
7. Flip flops in the shower

Obviously these are not things that will keep me away from Europe for very long, and I'm already scheming to get back. There are things about the USA that make me want to go back right now, too.

WHAT I NOW THINK IS STUPID ABOUT THE USA:
1. Train travel options that cost an arm and three days
2. How poorly Americans dress (myself included)
3. Lack of education in a second/third/fourth/etc. language
4. Easy access to heavily processed, fast food--it's so tempting!
5. Few reasons to walk anywhere--Oh look, another 1960's cement box!

Sometimes I feel badly when I talk about going to Europe with people, because it feels like I'm bragging. But Ilonka says if someone asks me about it, it probably doesn't sound like bragging to them. I'm glad that my advisor understands how difficult it is to answer the question "how was your trip?". He has spent a lot of time abroad and knows that it's not an easy question to answer. I'm still trying to digest everything I did and all the things I learned. It's going to take a while!