I think this is maybe what its like to be married...lolz

Highlights
Playing boardgames with Mark and his family. Hearing Mark play organ. Riding a double-decker bus. Mastering the tube system. That day with the two church services.

Walking down the Champs Elysses in Paris that first night, seeing all the lights, and singing Disney songs. Sitting by the Arc du Triomphe, watching the endless flood of cars. Warm baguette and cheese. Stained glass in Sainte Chapelle church.

That first stroopwaffle we ate in the pouring rain in Amsterdam. All of the bikes. Dinners with Riordin and Justine. Buying and wearing awesome pants. Back to back to back movies in Amsterdam.

So much food with Tessa and her mom! All the pictures on Tessa's wall :) Playing canasta with Tessa and her dad for hours. Eating whatever they ordered us, not really knowing what we were getting... Just loved all the care and hospitality from Tessa and her parents.

Hiking and wandering around outdoors at the foot of the Alps in Austria, and walking back 10 miles in the dark. Cooking a creative dinner.

Spending hours wandering around Venice with no map, not trying to get anywhere in particular. Sitting on the point, watching sunset, and all the boats.

Meeting Cody and Christina that first night in Florence, and just how we clicked right away. Spending time all together on Piazza de Michelangelo, looking over the city and just hanging out.

Arcidosso. Conversations in so many languages! Trekking through fields and under fences.

First night in Rome, when we had no idea where we were staying that night, but we didn't care. Cooking with John, and learning so much about food and how to make it. The Vatican museum. All the ruins in the rain. Eating half a jar of nutella, in the rain. Sunrise on the bridge. Just generally staying with John was pretty awesome.

Free Greek pastries. Sitting up on the Lycabettus hill for hours, just watching the city at night.

Nutella. Open air markets. Good bread. Trains. Singing. Pomegranates. Learning to get along even when we don't.

Things we've learned
Bridget picks up accents more readily than Kirstyn does
Other places in the world don't have graham crackers
Failing to clink glasses with everyone during a toast = 7 years bad sex
But. Rubbing the feet of the animal statues in Bremen = 7 years good luck
"Champignons" in German are mushrooms, not onions
How to make and pronounce bruschetta
Two pairs of pants are better than one
Picking out wine by the color of the cap is a surefire method.
Churches are awesome, and should be open and free all the time. Organs are awesome too.
Couchsurfing is a great way to meet people and actually learn about a city.
We have learned from 3 different people, of 3 different nationalities, in 3 different cities, that the best way to cross a street is to not look left or right, but just to walk, and the cars will stop for you. We are pros at jaywalking now.
If a door doesn't push open, try pulling. And vice versa. Also, we have bad luck with keys and locks.
If you're stranded with no money and no place to go, walk into an Irish pub.
Don't micromanage your time in a city. Wandering is fun too.
Smiling and nodding will get you pretty far in a conversation if you don't know the language.
Weather can greatly affect your impression of a city.

Most commonly uttered phrases
How many shirts are you wearing?
Where's the nutella?
Is it time to eat?
Drink. Drink drink drink drink.
Wow. How pretty!
Where are we going?
Kirstyn, do you actually have any idea where we are?
Ok fine. Can we pray?
For sure. Good call. Absolutely!
Sure do. Sure did.
Do you have the bag? Can I carry the bag now?

Reasons we're excited to go home
Bridget: Dunkin Donuts coffee. More easy communication with family and friends. Next House heating. Bathrooms and water fountains everywhere. Music playing all the time.
Kirstyn: Hugs. Cereal. Heat.

Reasons we are sad to leave
Less communal food... and communal everything... literally everything we have and do is communal right now...
Europe is gorgeous.
Goodbye to 8+ hours of sleep a night
Getting out of the MIT bubble is awesome