im going around germany, france, england, italy and croatia....... only not so much backpacking as staying with my cousins for a while.
as one of the token ethnics/wogs on this forum, i would recomend croatia and italy as places to go, they have most probably the nicest people and most fun atmosphere of all the european nations.
just as matty said, yes it will be freezing. and if you go to sweeden/norway, remember, it gets very very dark in winter.
i love euope <3 <3
edit/ps: croatia is amazing. if you come over in the summer time and come to the touristy coast bit just between Split and Sibenik known as Rogoznica, i can get you cheap accomodation at my family's appartments. sweetos.