Super mABIo

We Americans ask some pretty dumb questions to foreigners. I, for example, have asked Germans if they celebrate Thanksgiving. Because, why not? I don't ever really think of it as the settlers landing on Plymouth Rock or whatever. It's really just an excuse to eat turkey and pie all day while watching the Lions fumble around, right?
Oh wait, you guys like soccer not football. Because they are called football and soccer. Stop trying to confuse the rest of the world with your American football and normal football, phff.

One thing I never assumed though was that other countries have proms. Because that's all American, baby. Well, wrong on both accounts. They do have them, at least in Germany, and they're called Abiballs. An abiture is the German equivilant of a diploma (I'm sorry I'm shortening that definition, German readers, but it's too confusing for us simple folk.) and the abiball is where they hand them out. It's a mixture of prom and graduation ceremony. Yesterday I attended Nick's with a couple of his friends and it was pretty cool. And in a palace.

Staying classy while taking the subway. I'm 90% sure there's a hobo in the background shaking his fist at us.

We did the formal picture things...

This is Nick for all who don't know.

 ...the not so formal pictures...

 This is Falco for anyone who cares.

...ate some awesome food, made a lot of toasts, watched tap dancers, listened to a mini-band sing Johnny Cash, and saw Nick get his abiture to the soundtrack of Kill Bill.

Classic abiball. 
In a palace.

Did I mention the place was a palace? Beautiful, beautiful venue. I could see three monstrous chandeliers from where I was sitting alone, marble pillars, the works. It was straight out of a James Bond movie -- think Roger Moore not Daniel Craig-- I desperately wanted to ask the waiter for something shaken and not stirn....

Champange flutes and tuxedos for everyone!

I couldn't tell you if there was dancing at an abiball, we left just after all the programmed stuff had finished. By left, I mean ran out of the hall as quickly as we could in red pumps because Nick and his friends wanted to make it to another kids birthday party and his parents didn't want to miss the last train home. I opted to go home. Good thing, too as Nick got back at four in the morning.

What makes that great is because today is the dreariest, rainiest day I could imagine. Perfect for not getting up until ten-thirty and then lounging around all day. It was a day for the books, too. Around two I decided to start blogging and Nick looked at me in all earnesty and we had this conversation:

'I'm going to take a nap.'
'Okay...What? Do you need me to show you how?' (I am a napping master.)
'Maybe...'
*minor eye roll* 'Just curl up and go to sleep.'
Two hours later...
'I should have never napped, now I'm just hungry and more tired. ...Will you make me pancakes?'

Classic abiball.