Hoping to have a "brilliant" time in Europe

Traveling is one of my favorite things to do. The last time I was in Europe was 1999. It was the summer between my freshman and sophomore year of college, and I had decided to study abroad for the summer in Lüneburg, Germany. Study abroad after only one semester of German class at UW-La Crosse. I packed two giant suitcases and departed for Germany.

With my German language book in hand, I landed in Hamburg and had to find the train to take me closer to the University. I didn't know how to or where to purchase a ticket for the train, so I just hopped on. I would later find out that if someone had come through to check tickets, I would have received a hefty fine for not having a ticket. The train arrived in Lüneburg, and I grabbed my two giant suitcases and pulled them off. Two flights of stairs awaited me. No elevators. I grabbed one suitcase and lugged it up the stairs.  Then I sprinted down the stairs to get the other one. Ah! I must have looked very American.

I hailed a taxi to the University and arrived early for check in. I didn't know where to go or who to meet. So I just sat outside with my suitcases. I was tired and experiencing major culture shock. I phoned my mother and was in tears. When I got off the phone another student had arrived. We hung out until everyone else had arrived and got our housing assignments. I was going to live with three German students in an apartment. I unpacked and settled in. The summer studying in Germany was amazing. I promised myself I would come back to travel around Europe, and 13 years later I am.

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” – St. Augustine

We are off to London on Sunday, so I decided to brush up on some British slang and phrases. Are we going to have a good time? Absobloodylootely! There will be no taking the piss. Blimey! It is going to be the bee's knee's of a trip. So Bob's your uncle!

1. Cock-up – Screw up
2. Bloody – Damn
3. Give You A Bell – Call you
4. Blimey! – My Goodness
5. Wanker – Idiot
6. Gutted – Devastated
7. Chuffed – Proud
8. Fancy – Like
9. Sod Off – Piss off
10. Lost the Plot – Gone Crazy
11. Fortnight – Two Weeks
12. Sorted – Arranged
13. Kip – Sleep or nap
14. Bee’s Knees – Awesome
15. Know Your Onions – Knowledgeable
16. Dodgy – Suspicious
17. Wonky – Not right
18. Wicked – Cool!
19. Tad – Little bit
20. Skive – Lazy or avoid doing something
21. Quid – £
22. Taking the Piss – Screwing around
23. Pissed – Drunk
24. Loo – Toilet
25. Nutter – Crazy Person
26. Knackered – Tired
27. Gobsmacked – Amazed
28. Dog’s Bollocks – Awesome
29. Chap – Male or friend
30. Bugger – Jerk
31. Bog Roll – Toilet Paper
32. Bob’s Your Uncle – There you go!
33. Anti-Clockwise – We Say Counter Clockwise
34. Throw a Spanner in the Works – Screw up
35. Absobloodylootely – YES!
36. Nosh – Food
37. Shambles – Mess
38. Brilliant! – Great!
39. Dog’s Dinner – Dressed Nicely
40. Easy Peasy – Easy
41. See a Man About a Dog – Do a deal or take a dump
42. Fit – Hot
43. Don’t Get Your Knickers in a Twist – Don’t Get worked up
44. The Telly – Television
45. Cheerio – Goodbye
46. Bits ‘n Bobs – Various things
47. I’m Off to Bedfordshire – Going to bed
48. Plastered – Drunk
49. It`s monkeys outside – it is very cold
50. Ace – Cool!

Stay tuned for more posts and pics from our trip. Cheerio!