Gemutlicheit, yo

We drove to Germany (crazy huh), to a town called Lindau. It was totally German, and by totally German, I mean it was sortof a lot like Austria. Though we did hear a thing on the radio that said Germans were giving Austrians some trouble for “alledgedly” charging them too much to go skiing on the beautiful Austrian mountains, and that mad Doris mad. I sense a leeeetle bit of rivalry betwixt the Austrians and the Germans.

Austrians call Germans some ridiculously awesome nonsense word and it totally drives the Germans crazy b/c they’re always asking what it means, when in fact it means absolutely nothing, other than, you’re a german and I’m calling you a goofy name that is something like Piffkie.

Don’t call Germans this, word to the wise.

However, if you meet an Austrian, complain about piffkies and they will love you.

Also, apparently, if you tell Austrians you are from California, they will buy you a drink…this I learned from Europe on a shoestring, and though an Austrian did buy me a drink, I don't think i told him I was from California, unless I nodded a yes to an incomprehensible, "are you from california?"… from Europe on a Shoestring I also learned that Austrians are grumpy, which is so not true.

Gemutlicheit! Look into it, Europe on a Shoestring!

They even have a drinking song about Gemutlicheit.

I learned about this lovely word from Rick Steves of BackDoor Europe - he's my travel Guru.

There’s no Canada like French Canada

Thanks to Emilie, my south park ambassador, I now have the south park episode, Christmas In Canada, on my computer. Me and Doris watched it (she is amazing at English, and only needed me to translate Cartman’s crazy English every once in a while) and we agreed that the best part is when the French Canadian guy asks, “Would you like a mooo-stache?”

Air Force water polo california dude and other Austrians for dinner

I came home from wherever I was on Friday evening to find doris’ 2 friends and their cool water polo player friend, who was from California! How exciting!

He’s some air force academy drop-out, who plays water polo but really wants to be a writer or something…I can dig it. I remember saying specifically that when I was talking to him, “I dig” I think is what I said – and Doris was like, what’s that mean? And I felt sortof lame/awesome for unconsciously using the verb “dig” in everyday conversation with another American. I use weird words. Anyway, we had some lovely noodles, and some lovely pink wine drinks, and we were off to see the light show.

I personally was like, wow to the lights, but I wasn't super impressed. Agnes, my awesome teacher friend (that's her official title), says 4,000 or something people come (maybe it was million, but thats crazay) to see the lights and that this year she wasn't so impressed. I just thought I wasn't european enough to appreciate them, but apparently they were just not that appreciable this year. This is good, b/c I felt bad not being impressed!