I Don't Know Why You Say Goodbye, I Say Hello

Ladies and gentlemen, I did it! Nine months of euros and awkward incidents, Netflix unblockers and carb loading, I survived the year abroad. I can't say it was easy, the brie eating contests and several electrical malfunctions I encountered were numerable and often. the inner monologues of distress were spilled to my mother via Skype several times and with numerous changes occurring back on our lovely British soil, the space between myself and home could feel three times as large. But I came into this whole situation a little bit like Grumpy Cat. "NO, DON'T NEED THIS YEAR ABROAD MALARKEY I'LL HATE IT AND JUST SPEND ALL MY TIME CRYING INTO THE RHONE RIVER OKAY BYE" was the general approach to the idea of spending nearly a year of my life away from friends, family and fish and chips. But of course, my mother was right when she said I'd love it. I revelled in the Alsatian spaetzle, Place Kleber and scamming the Strasbourg tram system! I adored my diet of Milka, Retiro Park and the jingle jangle music on the Cercanias Trains in Madrid! 
It's true, I missed home. I missed how my dad makes tea (not in a microwave, thank God), my friend's Jalfrezi recipe, and the way there is only one way to pronounce hummus. But I did carpe the everloving hell out of the diem (and mainly noctum, thank you Le Rafiot and Trabi). So I'm rather pleased to announce I went out with a bang. A good old knees up, cake, good friends, party hats and successfully sitting every exam needed. So without further ado, I present a list of things I learnt in Europe in nine months. Or "Just a list of ways I grew up", if you like.

I LEARNT GERMAN
Yes, to some degree it was basic, fairly useless and I could only use one tense completely correctly, but if you ever find yourself in Berlin needing to sail a boat, buy a waistcoat or ask for train times, I am your mädchen. 

I LEARNT HOW TO FIND A HOUSE
Do we all remember that time? That excruciating fortnight of dingy hostels, sleepless nights and trips to dodgy Strasbourgoise neighbourhoods? And then the light at the end of the tunnel? The one fluorescent light of my poky studio apartment with no working bathroom door and only a kettle and toaster? If that isn't the beginnings of a good autobiography later in life, I do not know what is.

I LEARNT HOW TO DO ADULT LIKE THINGS AND THE LIKE
I set up a bank account! I set up an electricity account! I paid my own bills! I fixed a broken toilet! I chose salad over Nutella! (okay that last one only once) but I was a fully functional human actual grown up and I am still marvelling in it. And my phone calls in foreign languages. So much maturity! 

I WAS ALRIGHT AT LEARNING FRENCH AND SPANISH
"Alright still" as Lily Allen would say. It was a slow process, but after that time I dreamt in French and blurted out a fluent Spanish apology to a quite clearly British teenager in Stansted Airport, I would go as far as saying I was "alright" at being multilingual. 

I WENT PLACES I DIDN'T THINK I EVER IN MY LIFE WOULD
Mussels in Brussels, lunch in Luxembourg, pain au chocolat in Paris, I actually angled myself into five different countries on my year abroad. Some visits were fleeting, and others were repeated - hello, Germany and your delicious chicken and cheap food. But whoever goes "Ah, I'm just going to drive casually through Luxembourg today!" NOT ME BUT IT HAPPENED ANYWAY.

I ACTUALLY MADE FRIENDS
"Oh good!" I hear you cry "I was worried!" You all proclaim! But fear not my concerned readers, I actually had human interaction that didn't end badly. Several times, in fact. Ah my good old chummies, proving that even with weird anecdotes and weird music taste, I can still have friends. Thanks pallies!

And last but not least...

I ENJOYED IT
How sentimental of me, I almost don't recognise myself. People of Hay Festival might like to listen to the acoustic track that got played on repeat in every tent whilst reading this. People of Spain may blast Adrenalina and if you're in StrazzyB, just play something recorded about sixteen years ago for an authentic soundtrack. Was it hard? Oh yes. Would I do it again? SI CLARO. BIEN SUR. HELL YES. Just don't tell my mum she was right all along.