An Ignorant American's Commentary on Europe

The following are my general observations on various aspects of life in Europe. 

1. The metric system might as well be a foreign language in and of itself. If someone tells me the airport is 100km away I have no idea if I can walk there or if I need to call a taxi or book a plane ticket. No clue. Thus, kiloCALORIES also mean nothing. Haven't looked at a nutrition label in weeks, don't plan on doing so anytime soon. 

2. On a related note, chocolate. With rare exceptions, I have loved most every chocolate I've tried. The Hankamer lobby (at Baylor) keeps the vending machine fully stocked with Extra Crispy Kit Kats. If you've ever had a class with me you can attest to the fact that I probably have one every other day. On a good week. However, the European Kit Kat makers apparently hired a dietician to do their marketing because they settled on calling this same candy bar a "Chunky Kit Kat". Hmm. Flattering, but hard pass. 

3. Despite my above comments, I have yet to see a fat Dutch person. These people literally live on bread, cheese, and alcohol, so I am slightly unclear as to how these two truths balance each other out. 

4. "Asfahrt" means "exit" in German. We learned this on the group trip when we seemed to never reach the town of Asfahrt, but passed a sign for it every couple miles on the Autobahn. Baylor has received roughly a cumulative $1mil for our educations, which are clearly paying off, given that intelligent (delayed) revelation. Sic em bears. 

5. I've deduced that the Dutch language does not include a "th" sound. They live in the NeDerlands and they Fink (think) and talk about Dis (this). I'm by no means criticizing, I think it's fascinating that our tongues are literally developed differently to where we physically cannot pronounce things the same. 

6. Nothing makes me feel more uncultured than meeting 7-year-olds on the train who are fluent in 3 languages. #america

7. Before I leave this continent, I must learn what this letter: 

ß

is and how to say it and why it's the only letter in the German alphabet that's different from English letters and why it can't be capitalized. So bizarre.

8. Stroopwaffles. People. It is heartbreaking to think that some of you reading this will never know the beauty that is stroopwaffles. I can't even compare them to anything, there is no parallel.  It's more or less a soft, small waffle sandwich with caramel in between. Add some Nutella and that's where the 15 extra pounds I'll be bringing home (on myself) will come from. God bless the Dutch.