O'Hare

Currently at the airport in Chicago O'Hare after traveling for 38 hours.  I have officially become delusional and my vision has become quite blurred from the lack of sleep and lack of food. Even though I am sitting at an airport food court, I am too exhausted to stand up and carry all my things to get food and then carry everything back to the table.  My flight was delayed two hours and all I want to do right now is shower and sleep. I have a backpack full of four glass boots (Christmas presents), laptop (that is 9 pounds because it's old and useless), two huge books that I thought I would read on the plane, and all these other delicate ornaments that I couldn't risk putting in my checked luggage.  It looks like I have just stepped OUT of a shower because my hair is that greasy and I am pretty sure I smell like a rubbish bin.  People seem to be talking but I cannot really hear anything and it just looks like their mouths are moving and this airport music is way too festive for me right now. BUT what I love is how the entire airport smells like cinnamon apple, even the bathrooms.

I want to shower. So badly. And sleep.

Some updates since the last time I posted: MUDEC Prom, Last days at MUDEC, Christmas markets.

MUDEC Prom

That would be my date and I at Prom, round 2. Hahah This photo always makes me laugh because it is my only legitimate photo from that night.  Oh and I just realized that I have never written about the two greatest guys that I have met at MUDEC.  It's funny how the two guys that I hang out with the most aren't properly described in my travel blog.

Well, hope this isn't too late.
Meet Shugs.  He's the sharp looking gentleman in the photo above.  He's 6'4", business major, and reads ESPN News like it is his job.  He's become my closest male friend while studying abroad and he is just the sweetest, most hilarious guy you will ever meet.  It's funny because when I first met him at the Chicago airport the first day, I thought "oh bother. jock asshole with no heart. doubtful we'll ever become friends" but he is the furthest from that description.  He's just a big cuddly bear who makes random, incredibly inappropriate, remarks all the time (and yes, those inappropriate remarks always comes with inappropriate hand gestures and sound effects).  He says things as they are and he's probably one of the most honest guys I have ever met.  Oh and the best thing about Shugah is that it is impossible to be awkward around him...which is great because as everyone knows, I make everything awkward.  I have traveled to Ireland, London, Nice, and Lyon with this big bear and I think one of the main reasons why I, and everyone else on the trip, enjoyed it so much was because of him.  He's not the craziest partier and it's easier to get to know him in a smaller setting because he won't get wasted, then get naked and dance on tables like some other guys I know. .... Uhm, Ante? Hahahah (just kidding. kind of?) I have nothing but great things to say about Shugs because I honestly believe that he is one of the most kind, thoughtful, and funny guys I have met and there is not ever a dull moment with him.

Anyway, on to his lover, Jrod.

And when I say lover, I don't mean it literally. They are just the perfect set of friends that you could never imagine them without each other. They are absolutely hysterical together and I am slightly, quite obviously, obsessed with them.

Let's get to business now.  Jared is about 5'11'' (I never asked so I really hope that's accurate... ) with dark brown bushy hair and black Burberry plastic framed glasses that make him look like the studious history buff that he is.  What is funny about Jrod is how he could initially be intimidating because of the way he is when he is in the zone--it's all about his ipod and Zoolander facial expression.  But once he opens his mouth and yells "Oh Shugs!" or "Jmoney, let's get real for a second" it's hard not to burst out laughing.  His good humor and pleasant demeanor is so contagious that it is a guaranteed fun time when you're with the Jbomb. In fact, when Tristan (previously described as Mr. Darcy in my older posts), Kens, Jared, and I went to the Christmas markets in Luxembourg City,... Jared and I decided to get some stew.  Jrod made some little twat remark about me and my overeating habits that I ended up laughing so hard that I got a piece of carrot from the stew lodged uncomfortably in the nose.  I know, I do the most attractive things.


Random photo from the Boot after they got their new sign on the windows!

Anyway, I should probably be logical and wait at my gate so that I end up coming home for Christmas. I can't wait to be in my own bed!!!

Oh and a nice little photo for the holidays...

Found a group of festive Santas.  Thought the photo was necessary.

Felix & Marie's

Poulet avec Champignons 

Matching aprons!

The table that Felix and Marie set up!

Going to work with the potatoes

Felix helping Courtney with the tats

B and Adrienne working on the taters

B being a pro and opening the champagne bottle

Anna opening the champagne bottle like a boss

Adrienne and I ready to cook with our matching aprons

Rob going to work

Emily stirring the mushrooms

table set-up

Marie...needs her own tv show on Food Network

A couple of days ago, I got an e-mail from our activities coordinator, Kelley, asking for a replacement for an upcoming cooking class in Luxembourg City.  I jumped on the opportunity like a cougar and got the solo spot available.  It was a group of 10 students who wanted to learn how to cook a traditional Luxembourgish meal.  We all met up at the train station around 6:15pm and headed to this hidden house in the middle of the city.  It's sad that I cannot describe the house properly because it was probably beautiful but it was too dark to see anything.  It was also raining which means I was running for cover like a corpulent child running after an ice cream truck since I am prone to getting sick.

Kelley rings the door bell and the it slowly opens to a smiling European face.  She was about 5'5", light brown hair, blue eyeshadow, with a white button up shirt and black pants.  Marie, that was her name.  Around 55 years old, this woman was probably the most friendly person I had ever met.  I entered her house with my arms open to give this woman a hug and she laughed and said "Oh! We are giving hugs today?!" and gave me the warmest hug amidst the cold wind.  To her right, her husband waited to give me a hug and two European kisses.  Felix.  He was my favorite.  About 5'11", with a checkered blue button up and a periwinkle cashmere sweater on top.  White hair, frameless glasses and a smile that took up half of his face...this man did not know English but somehow I knew everything that he was trying to say.  He would mumble to get your attention and then the rest was charades.

Felix gave us all mathcing lime green aprons to wear for our kitchen adventure. We made potato pancakes, something that resembled a chicken pot pie, and two apple pies.  While I was mincing apples for our pie, Felix would come up next to feed me apples while making sounds similar to Kermit the muppet.  Oh he was great.

Marie would begin to teach us how to create this chicken dish as Felix would be in the background cleaning up the knives, spoons, and bowls.  She would go on about Luxembourg culture and he would randomly come up, look at her, tap his wristwatch and look at us with a big smile and say "I teach time management and organization", implying that she needed to speed up so we could have dessert in time to catch the last train.

We spent four hours having dinner with this phenomenal couple.  There is something that I will miss about Europe--there are no microwaveable meals, instead families and couples cook together and drink together; they can spend hours over a meal, getting to know the ins and outs of a person's life.  It all makes complete sense.  And that would probably be one of the most beautiful things about European culture that I want to bring back to the states.  It's funny how the smallest thing like a cooking class could completely change your outlook on your culture.

Side note:

There will be no more crazy posts about me getting lost in foreign countries or dancing around in 7 story discotechs since I will be coming home in two weeks and finals are in one week.  I have decided to stay in Luxembourg for the next two weekends for two primary reasons 1) I am broke 2) my life is a mess and projects are piling up.  This doesn't mean that my posts will be insipid and grueling to read but the majority of the photos will be around Luxembourg, or neighboring cities in Germany/France, and more analysis on the difference of cultures since this trip is coming to an end.  Pumpkin and I will be going to the Christmas market in Trier, Germany this Saturday for a day trip to purchase some hand-made ornaments and sip on some hard cider. Yay!  I cannot wait until Christmas!

Bottom of the U Curve

I miss routine and normalcy in my life.  There is nothing like sitting in front of the tv and popping in Peppermint Patties into your mouth while watching Elf or Mary Poppins on repeat.  I have reached a point in my trip where I feel the need to immediately find a trip back to America instead grabbing the next train to Belgium.  People wonder why I am being such a sap but the truth is, is that places are not the same if you don't have great people to experience them with.  I have been taking trips with my best friend Kens but we both talked about how there are so many times when we travel, see phenomenal things and the only thing that comes into our minds is "man, i wish mom/dad/sister/brother were here to see this...".  Home is where the heart is.

I cruised photos and I thought I'd have an entry dedicated to things, people, times that I miss.  Ugh.

Doing absolutely nothing with my best friend Steph

My mom and Steph

The parentals

Taking silly photos in stores

My mom giving steph a massage. Standard.

My favorite picture of my dad. This is so him.

My three closest/most amazing friends from home. Ante, Lilli, Steph, Yash

My beautiful parents again... :)

My sister. What a dime piece.

My mom hiking on our trip to Alaska

Just cruising around glaciers... no big deal.

My family doesn't really take "normal" family photos. They're always in the most random places...like on glaciers.

The Grove!!! during CHRISTMASTIME!!!!

Oh I miss you...

Trip to Hawaii with Lilli

I miss creeping on random tanners with you Lilli!!!

The standard pic with Ante

My companion. I miss you. :(

Walking along the beach at night

My two best friends from home :(

Dan man and his solemn self

MY SISTER!!!

Korean food... :(

Hanging out on the deck at my sister's house

Reading with Monster and watching boats pass by

My adorable mom with her precious polka-dot dresses

Dessert/ Cafe hunting around LA. (sorry for the solo shot... I thought it was completely necessary.)

Persian food.

Party Until 6 in the Morninggg

Barcelona, Spain (travel scale: 7)

So take a look at the apartment we snagged right on La Rambla. I mean, no big deal.

Our king sized bed that had some major theta spooning going on

Our kitchen and some more beds

The other side of our apartment

A terrace all to ourselves!

My big being cute and Jared playing an intense session of chess

Popping that bottle of champagne at 10 in the morning

Time for mimosas!!!

Adding more champagne to drown the taste of orange juice.

Starting off the day right

J-rod is such a pimp

Standard best friend picture!

I mean, who doesn't sell roosters on the side of the street?

Outdoor market that I was obsessed with

Nice legs?

I think I just died and came to heaven.

Fresh fruits and veggies!

So much candy.

Anyone need some peppers?

Fresh fish 

The delicious fruit smoothies

The crepe stand

Making his masterpiece

Cookies

Brie and ham on a crepe!

I've missed fresh fruit

Choosing wine for the fam