Everything's going well, and I've been kept fairly busy with a combination of school, homework, going out with friends, and spending time with my hostfamily. Don't get me wrong. I have some downtime, too, which is great. I like being able to take a break from it all, but keeping busy helps to keep me from missing America and everyone there too much. So, I'm up for anything!
Last week Sunday, the 18th, I went with my hostparents and hostbrother to Bremen. There was this bike rally to gain support for and encourage more people to bike rather than drive cars. It was pretty cool. There were over 2000 of us, of all ages. We rode through a designated route through Bremen and up and down on-ramps to the highways. The only part I didn't like was when we had to ride really slowly because there were so many of us trying to round a curve or go up a hill. I guess I just don't have quite the skills to be confident riding so slowly! You can find some pictures on my 365 Photo Project.
On this past Saturday, I went with some friends to Bremen to shop. One of them was an exchange student from Spain. She was the first person I talked to at school, and she's really nice. It was fun to spend time with her. We went to this one shop called Die Perlerie im Schnoor. It's this little shop near the old part of Bremen that sells various beads. You can either buy pre-made jewelry, or make your own bracelet. We went for the self-made kind. It was a lot of fun trying to figure out just the perfect combination, and it took a while, but I had fun. After that, we went to Starbucks. It was either the second or third I've seen in all of Germany, and my first time in one since long before I left. It was strange to have everything in German, but it all tasted just as good. Then I went home (after being there for 8 hours), had dinner and baked muffins for Sunday.
On Sunday, there was a fall meeting with YFU. All the exchange students in the Bremen area came and brought a food from their homeland (my muffins had cranberries, which are a product of Wisconsin!). We also had delivery pizza, but everything I had was good! Of course, we didn't just eat while we were there. We also talked about how things are going with our families, school and making friends (in German). Afterward, I had to stay for 2 extra hours. It wasn't too bad because there was a former exchange student who waited there with me. We talked the whole time. In German. Yeah, I'm pretty proud of myself!
Yesterday, after school, my hostmom and I went to Osterholz-Scharmbeck to visit the Herbstmarkt going on. It was like a mini version of a county fair. There were animals (sheep, horses, chickens, etc), rides (merry-go-round, bumper cars), games, foodstands and booths. It was nice and felt familiar. My hostmom and I ate these sort of pancake-ball things with butter and powdered sugar. They come from Holland and were delicous! We also had icecream, which is always good. We weren't there for too long. My hostmom had to go to a parent night at my hostbrother's school, but it was enough. It was a fun thing to see.
In my next post, I'll talk more about school. For now, I think this is enough of an update. Keep making suggestions for what topics I should use for my comparison post!
Bis später!
Thanks so much for sharing this! It is so interesting to read this. At my school right now we have 2 German extange students, so it is interesting to talk to them about their lives and see it thorough their eyes, and then read your blog and see how they all come together. A few questions for you if you have a chance. First what kind of school are you going to? From what I hear there are a few different kinds of schools. Second, where in Germany are you? You must have said this before but I must have missed it.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much!