Followdear Europe – i miss you but am returning shortly. PS: i’m sure you’ve been holding your breath!
lately i’ve been teased that i’ve spent so much time in Europe that i might just consider relocating and going Euro all the way. perhaps having it as a home base would make more sense in my travel schedule & certainly in my newly formed habits.
don’t make leave you, Europe, sil vous plait
i can tell you this much, it is VERY tempting at times. i LOVE to travel lots of places but i do have a soft spot for Europe. AND after my 30 day tour, i have a kindred feeling with going European more than ever. i’m sure my European counterparts will shudder to read these words but, hey, i’m a chick from the US and these are the things that me make feel like it may be time to make the conversion.
money
that’s right. although i had to go from Czech Crowns, to Euros, to British Pounds and back to Euros, nothing about these changes in currency seemed odd like when i returned home and found the US dollar quite dull. i thought to myself, it really IS odd that they are all the same size and same color. it really IS a confusing currency let alone not very fashionable with its lack of colorfulness.
language
although i speak no foreign language fluently, it was bizarro to me when, at the end of my 30 day stint, i arrived in the UK and everyone was speaking English. can you imagine the culture shock i had when i returned to the States and there wasn’t even any English accent or funny British phrase to confuse me? how about a restaurant menu in a foreign language with the back pages in translated English. yeah, i miss it all.
wine with lunch
i’m not saying that people in the United States don’t drink wine with lunch, it’s just not nearly as common place. when in Europe and surrounded by Europeans having their rose with their baguette mid-day, it makes you feel like less of a lush for just succumbing to their obvious peer pressure.
crazy train rides
although i’d say i’m not the most savvy packer for train travel and while i find some of the rules & regulations a bit wacky over there in Euroland, i do miss all the funny exchanges i’ve had with other passengers and train staff. train travel is a bonding experience and i’m looking forward to hitting the rails again really soon.
airports & Paris flights
ever since the day of my departure from Europe (specifically Paris) i’ve considered repeatedly hopping back on a flight to Paris on a whim.
exhibit A: upon landing in the US at the end of my Eurotour, i heard a final boarding call to Charles de Gaulle, turned myself around and headed in that gate’s direction. only when i arrived at the gate did i remember i was no longer in Europe & sadly back on home turf.
exhibit B: when my traveling buddy, Leah, came to visit me in Boston & i was late to pick her up, she tweeted me saying she was going to jump a flight to Paris if i didn’t hurry up. i promptly replied, not without me. I WASN’T KIDDING.
well, i know you probably really don’t care about my Euro dilemmas that much. i can see your point. thankfully, my whining stops here as i will have a shot-in-the-arm cure-all next week.
that’s right! i’m headed back to Euroland to explore Switzerland & visit Copenhagen. so bring on the long-haul Euro flights, the crazy train rides, all the foreign currencies yet to be fondled, the multiple foreign languages that will confuse & delight me. AND for GODS SAKE, give me the wine with lunch!
