Top 10 phrases in Germany and the UK

Time to donn your English or German accents. Please note E before the word for English accent, or G for German. Have fun. We did.

10. (E) "Oh bother!" Now really, why don't we Americans say that instead of "darn" or whatever. It's too much fun.

9. (E) "Come on now! I don't have time to play!" Exclaimed by our driver when she couldn't find the entry way to into a Hilton parking lot.

8. (E) "I'll just pop over to the caf for a cup of tea." Pop seems to be their favorite verb in the UK.

7. (E) "Do the lorries drive fast on the motorways in the US?" The only reason we enjoyed this one, was that it was so early in the morning, Schroomie #2 thought the driver meant girls named Lori. She responded, "most everyone drives about the speed limit."

6. (E) "Hob." What's a hob? A stove top.

5. (G) "Schmuck." Yes, that's right, schmuck. I laughed and laughed. It means jewelry. I got even more tickled when I thought, "With this schmuck, I thee wed." Hehehehehe. Can you see what a dork I am? Schmuck.

4. (G) "Schnitzel." For previously named reasons.

3. (E) "There's Windsor castle." Okay...I forgot to say that we saw Windsor Castle from the motorway, and I didn't really have 10 words or phrases, so I figured it ought to fit in somewhere.

2. (E) "Sleeping policeman." What we rather boringly call in the US, a speedbump.

1. (G) "Ausfarht." So I think like an 8 year old boy. But this word for "exit" we saw a gazillion times on the Audubon (which, did I mention, is simply a motorway? Not like the Volkswagen commercials. False advertising). Pronounce it phonetically and see why I giggled like the big dork that I am. =) Sorry if I offended anyone.

Read this post with your best British accent

I only had two days in the UK, but wow! what filled days there were! Upon arrival, I was asked if it was my first time to the UK, to which I responded, "My fifth, actually." No need to drive me through Piccadilly Circus, then...

We "popped" over towards Reading, to an almost non-existent town--between two slightly larger (although still almost non-existent towns) called Stokenchurch and West Wycombe. We wondered where the church was in Stokenchurch, as it seemed to consist of a Fish and Chips Take Away, a One Stop Indian Grocer, a Thai restaurant, and a bar. But so thankful for Stokenchurch I am, for I had a wonderful dinner of fish and chips, bought some Indian Tikka Masala sauce (ahhh...my favorite meal returns), several Dr. Peppers (for 56 pence, thank you very much), and some oddly flavored English crisps. (I have a thing about English potato chips...Flavored like dinner! Beef and Onion, Smoky Bacon, Thai Sweet Chili, Mint Lamb, etc. Yum, and only in England).

West Wycombe was...interesting. It used to be a witch's haven, and the historic Hell Fire Caves are still a main tourist spot. I wasn't really thrilled to be in such a town. But I enjoyed our lunch at a quaint little garden shop/restaurant, and a walk through the old town. The buildings are so old, I was taller than most doorways! I bought a postcard and went back to work. (And obviously avoided the Hell Fire Caves).

Our retreat center where we were conducting our business was on a farm of sorts. It was so pleasant, and we really enjoyed the quiet of being away from the city. But nothing exciting to write about here.

The funniest thing that happened to us in England was during our last few minutes at the airport. I was trying to find a particular kind of tea, and popped my head into one of the duty free shops. The man who worked there ran over, and in his best Hugh Grant voice gushed at us, "Oh! Welcome! Blah blah blah blah blah." It was 8am in the morning, we were exhausted, and he'd had a few too many lattes on his way to work.

"Are you Americans? Oh, I just love Americans! You're all so friendly, always smiling and pleasant. Not like us British, stiff and boring, never polite to anyone. How do you manage to smile as much as you do? Oh, I just think you Americans are so brilliant! Brilliant! I tell you what...my eyes are closed. Take whatever you want! Haha."

We stared at the man on crack, mumbled thank you, and spun and walked away as quickly as possible. Did he really just say, "My eyes are closed, take whatever you want?" He did. As we scurried away, we heard him continue...

"Hahahaha. You Americans! Look at how you polite you are, not taking anything even when I've offered! Haha. Blah blah blah I just love Americans..." We didn't stick around to hear anymore. Beware of the man at the Taste of England Duty Free shop in Terminal 2 of Heathrow.

And by the way...it's still snowing here in the 'Bul.