What? You mean I have to take Tests? I'm just here for the Gelato!

After falling off of the face of the earth for about a week and a half, I am happy to announce that I survived midterms! My brain was a mish mash of graphs, indifference curves, supply and demand, and trying to wrap my brain around Krugman's economies of scale approach to trade... yeah.


Mixed into that was trying to stuff in Russian vocabulary and grammar (what language needs 6 cases?). Here is an example of the wonderful exceptions and rules we get to contend with while studying the language of the Motherland:

If you are talking about one of something, you use the nominative singular case.

If you are talking about 2,3, or 4 things, you use genitive singular

If you want to discuss 5 or more things, you use genitive plural.

Seriously?

Yana, my Russian language teacher, told us once that maybe big decision makers at various points in history drank too much vodka , fell over, and said things incorrectly but because they're in charge it had to stick. Yep, another exception to the rule! Khorosho!



After completing my last midterm last Wednesday, I rushed home to pack a very small bag so as not to disobey Ryanair's regulations and Thursday afternoon, I flew to beautiful Germany!

As I landed, I could not get a rediculous grin off of my face. The cold air and falling rain were completely lost on me. I simply love that country and being surrounded by the old familliar things I had forgotten how much I adore... Apfelschorle, bars that serve each kind of beer in its own glass, bakeries around every corner, people who walk everywhere (and for fun!), things running on time, oh it goes on. I ran around the airport talking to everyone who would speak w' me. I was happy that my language skills, while horribly deteorated, still exist somewhere in the back hollows of my brain (trying to distinguish itself from the terrible Italian and Russian concepts that muddle my thoughts).



Perhaps the ticket is cheap, but it lands a passenger at Frankfurt Hahn's airport, about a zillion miles from anything but other Ryanair planes. To get anywhere, hop on a bus. Mine took me to Frankfurt's main train station (which is an hour and a half from Hahn... indicating that perhaps the first part of the airport's name is a bit of a stretch...). My bus ride was enhanced by the lady sitting next to me, a Mexican Mormon who had actually done her LDS mission work in Allentown, Pennsylvania... needless to say she had an interesting story to tell :)

Add a train ride to the mix, and finally I was in Stuttgart, walking down the train platform. People around me broke off from the herd as they found their friends and family and hugged them. I knew my hug was waiting at the end of the platform... yep, there it was! Aunt Mary was a willing provider. We took the S Bahn to her car and she drove me to her lovely place outside of the city.

That day, I rode in: A taxi, plane, underground, bus, train, and privately owned vehicle. Put John Candy and Steve Martin to shame ;)

The next day, I got the supreme honor of going onto the base and getting to experience the commisary! Oh the peanut butter! The beef jerkey! The concept that salads don't have to ALWAYS have balsalmic vinegar on them... wonders to be beheld. Dr. Pepper!

We had a lovely evening prepping for the next day, which was dominated (save a run and a trip to the Ritter Sport outlet- holla at ya Knusperkeks!) by getting ready for our Thanksgiving Day, observed. Snow joined us in afternoon and decorated the landscape, enhancing the festive nature even if we didn't have a parade to watch.

I made my first ever pumpkin pies (which I added some secret ingredients to, much to Aunt Mary's chagrin). Three guests joined us for a wonderful dinner party. Our gracious hostess made a champagne punch, and we began with pumpkin soup, followed by salads, followed by a very traditional meal... Turkey, mashed taters, cranberries, stuffing- cornbread and regular, green beans, and just to mix it up, some roasted veggies, Italian style with a balsalmic reduction (wonder who made that...). Oh it was fantastic and the company was wonderful.

The next day brought snow and a return trip, this time on Air France. I returned to Bologna refreshed and ready to take on another half of a semester. This Thanksgiving day, I am shirking tradition with friends... two of my girlies are hosting a middle-eastern themed dinner party. Not to worry, Student Government will be hosting a HUGE thanksgiving dinner on Saturday that will dominate the day... after of course I am out of Russian Politics class. Multi Cultural Thanksgivings! I am grateful to be here and have this opportunity.

I am thinking of each of you and wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving day filled with TOO MUCH of everything: Family, football, food, pie, ice cream, walks, laughs, trivial persuit, parades, and naps!

Cheers and love to you!