Homesick

    I would like to formally recant my Negative Nancy Prague post a couple of posts back. And since I am the sole author, editor, and, on some days, reader of Conversations, I have the editorial authority to do so. Bestowed by me.

I LOVED Prague. It far exceeded my expectations, and I can't wait to show and tell you guys about it in my next post. Coming...eventually.

I wasn't too cheery in that previous post because, to be completely honest...
I was homesick.


There are definitely a lot of merits to traveling alone. I loved making last minute decisions about what I wanted to do or where I wanted to go (I'm kind of a planner's worst nightmare). I like doing things the way I want, on my own schedule. I don't have to see what someone else wants to see, and I don't have to worry about someone else's situation.

But at the end of the day, when you're sitting alone in a strange hotel in a super foreign land (I assume Germany still counts as foreign, but it feels more like home to me than any other European country), and when the television plays shows in a language you don't understand at all...

you begin to feel homesick.

Not in the way that I miss my own bed...I would sleep on a hardwood floor if that floor was somewhere cool (done it). Not in the way that I miss sweet tea (I do) or English or driving my car or petting my li'l rat-a-tat-tats [and I do miss them, believe it or not].

But in a way where you miss being around those who understand you. Not merely your language, but...just you. As a person. You sit alone in your hotel and think about how nice it would be to have someone who gets your jokes, or knows how to handle you when you're frustrated. Which you are, in a foreign country with a strange currency and not a lot of languages you understand.

Someone to talk to or laugh with or be mad at in a familiar sort of way. You know? Someone who takes the scary out of the whole foreign country situation.

I only get this way once in a blue moon - once at college, occasionally when I've been away for months at a time, in Colorado or Europe or wherever. I have perpetual wanderlust - I generally can't wait to go off and explore new things, even if it's alone. But sometimes, all you want is family or a good friend.

Fortunately, my trip was amazing and so so beautiful and got much better.

But just so you know.

Even those with perpetual wanderlust get a little homesick from time to time.

-bRob

Conversations between B and Cows

I went on a walk today. I went on a jog, but then my mom's dog seemed really antsy, so I decided to take him out for a little stroll after my run/jog.

And the sky was nice and dark and grey, just how I like it, and there was a slightly ominous breeze blowing about..

Walking and grey skies are perfect for contemplating and thinking and pondering and dreaming.

Grey skies
Side note: Germany Other side note: Are we impressed by my Picnik skills?

So the ugly terrible beast and I went out on a walk. I hate taking him anywhere...a) because I genuinely don't like the creature, b) because he is the world's worst dog to walk. He chases after cars, he trots too quickly to walk, his trot is too slow to run, if you try and run with him - he ends up running right under your feet - you might just fall.

Oh, that dog.

And we walked and came across a herd of cows. And since I had nothing better to do, I decided to tell Toby [the beast] about the cows in German.

"Toby, die sind Kuehe! Verstehst du das? Nein, du verstehest nicht. Du kannst kein Deutsch."

Toby, they are cows! Do you understand that? No, you don't understand. You don't speak German.

Then I decided to speak to the cows. I had to yell at them, since they were across the field, but I didn't mind yelling from the middle of the road, because there wasn't really anyone else around.

"Hallo Kuehe! Wie geht es dir? Stehst du in Ruehe?"

Hello, cows. How's it going? Do you stand in peace? [grammar error - I did not use the plural to address the plural cows]

And THEN, I came up with my very first German rhyme.

"Die Kuehe stehen in Ruehe!"

The cows stand in peace.

If I ever write a German nursery rhyme...

Good heavens.

I need to go to Germany already.

Oh, by the way, it ended up pouring on our way back. He and I were soaked all the way through. I wanted to run home, but Toby kept chasing cars. I was too busy pulling him away from the road to run.

Oh, that dog.

PS. I can't wait for my summer freckles to come in. I never hated them, exactly, but now I'm really starting to dig 'em.

Winter Face

Some freckles. Cute hat. But only some freckles.

Summer Face

All those freckles. Bad hair situation. But precious precious freckles.

You know, if my freckles all converged, I would be very very tan. 

-bRob