It was in Munich that I finally started to see some wares in the holiday markets that I wanted to purchase. We had already been in the Kaufhof (department store) and I got some chocolate. Now I was ready to try my hand at the markets.
Some of you know that I speak a little German, and I was determined to practice as much as I could that day. I stumbled through the purchase of some lace crocheted ornaments, forgetting the word for Christmas tree of all things, but I got my ornaments, and paid with dreissig euro (30 euro) for the bill of acht-und-zwanzig euro (28 euro). Then I happened upon a booth with intricately painted metal ornaments.
I was able to tell the lady that I wanted the representation of the wooden carousels throughout the markets. She told me that would be 12 euro. I handed her 20 and she handed me the ornament. I put the ornament in my bag and walked away, very smug about being able to communicate in German.
I was two booths down before I realized I forgot my change. I scrambled back to the booth and composed a sentence in my head "Ich habe mein zuruckgeld vergessen" which is literally I've forgotten my back money. There's another word for change, but I haven't the faintest idea what it is.
Those ladies had a good laugh at the American, but they gave me my 8 euros back. It's tough being a stranger in a strange land.
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