Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Munich

Here am I again sitting in Barajas Airport getting ready to go on another adventure!  By the time I go home for the summer I will have become very familiar with this airport…I am getting ready to go to Munich Germany for the weekend!  Eric has a friend from school who is studying abroad in Munich and I have met Vlad several times on my weekends in Raleigh visiting.  So naturally I had to take the opportunity to go to Germany!  I really don’t know what our plans are, but I know he will be an excellent tour guide and am looking forward to it immensely. 



On my way back from Munich now!  Had a very nice time seeing the city and enjoying what little bit of Germany I got to see.  Vlad picked me up at the airport and I met some of his friends at *, starting the evening with huge beers, pretzels and drunken singing by some overly happy British fellows.  We walked around the streets all bundled up, watching the snow and enjoyed another European city.  The next day we woke up and went to “BMW World.”  Vlad is here in Germany as an intern working at the BMW plant which is pretty cool, Munich is the headquarters.  Breakfast was at a café inside where we had *.  I was skeptical when I saw a steaming bowel of water with white sausages inside served with a pretzel and, my favorite, mustard.  (Side note: For those who don’t know I am not a fan or sausage or mustard and was a little horrified when this dish came out for breakfast).  Vlad assured me that this was quite German and that it was tastier than it looked.  I tried it.  It isn’t my dish of choice but it wasn’t nearly as bad as I feared.  A cultural eating experience for sure…



                We went to the famous Munich Christmas Markets and walked around the streets trying a crepe and hot chocolate along the way.  A side note about hot chocolate; it’s not created equally everywhere!  In the US we have heated milk with a packet of chocolate thrown in, it’s generally very sugary and not think (unless you decide to use whole milk, in which case I applaud you).  In Spain and France, hot chocolate is like drinking a melted chocolate bar.  It’s rich, thick and delicious!  I asked how they make it and it’s the same way, powder in milk, but this powder must be magically melted chocolate.  When I make it I will let you know the amazing way this hot chocolate is made!  In Germany, it is similar to that of the US, but less sweet.  Still perfect for when you’re walking around on a cold day!  Except they give it to you in an actual mug that you have to return.  Like the Gluhwein we drank as well, which is really warm, cheap wine that you pay about 4 euros for.  If you return the mug, they give you 2 euros back, otherwise you get to keep the cup!  Naturally I decided to keep it…
I bought a couple of Christmas presents and some chocolate and had an enjoyable experience despite the fact that I ended up getting sick -_-  poor Vlad.  He immediately gave me some tea and medicine but it was something I ate.  Hopefully that is the only terrible plane trip I have and wish I had my Mom with me.  I’m not too proud to admit that!  It was my Mom’s birthday so I extra missed her……..

18 days, 19 hours and 58 minutes until I see them!! 

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Dia de Accion de Gracia

Yesterday was Thanksgiving!!!  Don’t worry my fellow Americans, I did indeed get to have turkey.  The day started off at school, where my students enthusiastically told me “Happy Thanksgiving!”  During English class, I answered questions they had about our day of Thanks and how it came to be.  I started off the class by asking, “What can some of you tell me about Thanksgiving that you’ve seen from T.V?”  They all pretty much immediately responded with, “You eat turkey!”  I had to laugh as they used their hands to show how big they think the turkey is that we eat.  The gestures would make you think that we eat a small cow, which was quite exaggerated.    




I explained the Pilgrims coming over to the United States and the students all had a fun time talking with me about it.  They asked why Spain didn’t celebrate Thanksgiving and were pretty amused by my elated description of my favorite Thanksgiving food, Stuffing.  I make my grandmother’s recipe and this year it turned out pretty well!  I found all the spices I needed and enjoyed making it very much. 



Many American’s who I had been talking too were worried about finding the proper ingredients to make the delicious food we’ve grown accustom too.  Those who had been living in Madrid for a couple of years, shared insight on how to have a proper thanksgiving and also a store called “Taste of America.”  This store is full of imported items from America and had canned pumpkin, bread crumbs, Duncan Hines baked goods and PEANUT BUTTER!!!  Everything was completely overpriced and I won’t be able to make it a regular part of my grocery shopping, but for the holidays it was nice to know. 




Speaking of which, Christmas is coming up around the corner!  How did this happen so fast?  I’m looking forward to it and seeing my family……as of right now, there are 22 days, 18 hours and 39 minutes until they are in Spain with me….no I don’t have a countdown on my phone that I check regularly………