Waiting for mUm.

My mother-in-law is coming today, mUm. Yay. She has been traveling all over Europe visiting relatives... not sure exactly where so I'll have to report back about that one. She and her travel partner, her cousin from Australia, will be here for only a couple nights but at least she'll get to see little Andrea and the rest of our herd.

mUm will get to live some typical days with us. She and Canada Papa were here last summer for two weeks so they have seen the sights already; although we may need to take her cousin out. But now mUm will get to go grocery shopping, watch swimming lessons, try to pay our gymnastics bill, go to Andrea's doctor's appointment, and other fun activities! I think I'll also take her on a bus ride to Park Alle and buy her a Danish cup of the. :) I think it's hilarious that tea is called "the". I have no idea how it's pronounced... probably tea.

Speaking of pronouncing, I learned a new Danish phrase. "no cash back" Po BaLuBut I'll try it out tomorrow and impress mUm. I hat buying my groceries because... ugh it's complicated. Okay - Pay attention:

- When you buy something at Safeway they sometimes ask if you want cash back and it would typically be "Would you like cask back?" Five wonderful, distinct words. Here when I buy my groceries they always say "boboluuluubutt" to me. I had no idea what it was but eventually figured out they were asking about getting cash back, so I would say "No". (Assuming they were asking if I wanted cash back). After I said No then they would just stare at me for a long time... Sometimes they would say something else and I'd stammer though my "Oh, I'm sorry, I only speak English." and they would just move on.

HAHA - Turns out that here they ask "Do you want to only pay the amount.", opposed to "Do you want cash back?"... So if you don't want cash back you should say "Yes." But I was saying "No" and they were waiting to hear how many kroners I wanted back. UGH. So I eventually started saying Yes and felt really proud of myself. BUT sometimes they didn't say the bolulubutt word... they would just look at me... For a while I tried to ignore them of become involved with a conversation with Scotty so they would know I'm a no-Danish speaking American.

THEN I learned I am supposed to say the bolulubutt word first and then they will continue on with the transaction. SO I enlisted the help of some Danish speakers and 10 minutes later I can say Po BaLuBut. WHEEEEE... it means "on amount"

I also have another phrase that I've known for a while - it means "I think you speak very good Danish." I said it to Michaela the other day and she knew I was said the words: I, speak, good, and Danish! I was impressed she knew it. I guess I should be impressed I said it good enough for her to understand!

Okay - I'm off to re-tape our Welcome signs... for the 30th time!