Birthday and Friends!!!!

Well, as most of you know, yesterday was my 21st birthday! And.....drumroll..... It was wonderful!

Matthew really went all out on spoiling me. I am so blessed! When I got to class yesterday, Matthew was waiting for me, very nicely dressed, with a small bouquet of coral roses. As the day proceeded, he gave me one huge bar of chocolate. Later, he gave me another huge bar of chocolate accompanied with a bottle of wine. His host mother also gave me a small parcel of chocolates and a Germany flag for my birthday. hehe. My host family gave me nothing for my family but happy birthday wishes. Oh well, it wasn't as if I expected anything.

After class, Matthew and I went out to dinner at a very nice, but inexpensive Italian Restaurant on the Marktplatz. I had a 4 cheese pasta that was very much to my liking and Matthew had a pizza that was not to his liking, but he was very happy that I was satisfied.

After dinner, we went back to my house to get ready for the Germany vs. Austria soccer game for the euro-cup! We got all decked out in German face paint, flags, t-shirts, etc. We looked pretty awesome!!!

Everyone had met at Mambo ( A Bar in Town) at 7:30 to get seats for the game. When we arrived fashionably late, there were not many seats to be had, so for the first half of the game, I sat on Matthew's lap and eventually one girl left and I took her chair. Everyone was set that since it was my birthday, I could't buy my own drinks! So Ihad four drinks, to placate the masses, and I did not pay for a single one!

Well Germany won, 1 to 0, and we went up and down the streets yelling and waving our flags as the Germans drove by in their cars in a victory parade through the town. I am pretty sure that the car caravan went through Mayen 4 times. It was fantastic. Everyone had huge flags and were honking their horns. Everyone was ecstatic to have Germany win!!!! We were too!!!

After all the excitement, Matthew tucked me in for the night, and I had a very pleasant nights sleep!

6-17-08

Today, after classes, Matthew and I went to Cologne to visit tow friends of mine. One who is studying at the Cologne University ( Christof) and the other Ricardo who is staying with friends in Germany because he has a break from his Uni in London.

We got there at about 2:30 this afternoon, they picked us up and we traveled around a bit. We stopped and got something at a cafe and chatted, then we went to a bier garden and chatted, then we went grocery shopping and Ricardo and I made real Kasespatzle without the help of my dear ingreident Maggi. I also made a fine salad of random lettuces, tomatoes, onions, and a salad dressing that I picked up from Germany when I was here last summer!
All in all it was tons of fun to see them again!!!

Mathew and I had to be back in time for the train to Mayen Ost, the last train of the night was leaving at 8:30, the next one would not leave until 3:30 am. So we rushed to the station. Said our goodbyes and made it home at about 10:19 pm.

It was a nice day and I am so thankful to have had the chance to see my friends again!

Tomorrow will be a busy day with class, a wine tasting, shopping for pottery, and then a party for our program head!

Hope you are all doing well and Mathew and I are looking forward to the rest of the week!

Biss Dann!