I board my flight home (Hamburg to Munich to Chicago to Des Moines) in 49 hours!  Perhaps it’s because I had some pleasant dreams of home last night, but I am in a very peppy mood about the coming two days.  (Yes, I just said peppy.  This could also possibly be attributed to the fact I’m trying to use up the rest of my instant coffee before I leave.  I still have half a jar left– this day could get interesting, fast.)

Most people in my program met at the Hofbrauhaus in Hamburg on Monday for some last liters of beer and good-byes and photos.  I also now really really really want my parents to redo our basement bar into a Hofbrauhaus theme.  GO WITH ME ON THIS, I think it’ll be great.  Yesterday I spent the better part of the afternoon walking around Luneburg, window shopping, browsing, souvenir-shopping… and came up pretty much empty handed.  I got some panoramic postcards of the place for myself and a new pair of jeans (on sale! 15 Euro!)  Oh and some gelato, but that was really just implied.  I am in no way joking or planning a secret souvenir surprise when I say I am literally empty-handed for all of you readers.  Oh wait, my brother’s getting a t-shirt.  Feel free to send in desperate last-minute e-mails if you were expecting something specific, but there’s nothing I’ve found that screams “Kayla HAS to have that” or “THIS would make a good Mother’s Day gift.”  Really, my presence is all anyone needs, and all anyone will be getting.  I don’t even have anything for NPH, and it’s his birthday in five days.  MY BAD.