One Week in America

So, I've been back in the States since a week. I have to say, it's kind of a weird feeling. It almost feels as though my exchange never happened, like I was never really in Germany. Or like I was only gone for a few weeks. In retrospect, it all seems to have gone by so quickly.

I'm finally getting over my jetlag and getting readjusted to life here. I'm sure that, like all Germans/Europeans, two things kept catching my attention: the huge cars and the American flags. Both are everywhere! But I'm starting to get used to it again.

Not much has changed here. I finally have my own room (after having to share one with my brothers for years). And I have arranged and decorated it to my likings. One whole wall is filled with various paper items I collected over the year (picture below). My family also has a new addition: a 9-month-old German shepard-black lab mix, who is way too big for his own good. The outside of the house got a new paint job, and the shack has a new roof. Other than that, it's pretty much life as usual here.

I guess you guys might like to hear a bit about my trip back to the US. Three of my friends rode with me on the train to Hamburg, which was nice, because I had three pieces of luggage, and they were happy to help out. Saying goodbye was kind of tough. We all cried. They gave me a book with pictures from my going away party and where each person there wrote a message to me. It made me cry as I was waiting for my first flight.

I had a layover in Dublin, in which I got my passport stamped for no reason (I was confused by the signs and where I had to go next). And I got to the next plane just as they were calling the final time for people to get on board, because we had to go through customs there. I got to meet someone, though, who had also spent the year in Germany, which was kind of neat. He goes to college in Wisconsin.

On the flight to Chicago, I sat next to a girl who had also spent the year abroad, but she had done a semester in England and a semester in Germany. That flight wasn't too bad, except for the fact that I couldn't sleep at all, because my seat was stuck in the up-right position and a kid kept kicking the back of my seat. However, we finally made it to Chicago, where I then had 3 hours to hang out in the airport.

I decided I wanted to surprise my family with the dirndl I bought. So, when I had about an hour left, I changed into and waited for my flight. I got a few strange looks and one lady asked me about it, which led to a nice conversation about my exchange year. I was really excited to get going once we were allowed to board.

The flight to Milwaukee took just about 20 minutes, and they flew by (no pun intended)! I called my mom as soon as we landed. When they opened the doors, I hurried out, grabbed my bag and made my way toward baggage. As soon as I came out of the secure area, my family was there. It was so nice to see them again! We hugged and laughed. My dad told me he's a fan of the dirndl.

On the drive home, I had my first rootbeer in over a year. It was great! We talked and joked and laughed just like it always has been in my family.

At the moment, I guess I'd have to say I'm pretty glad to be back, but that's not to say I don't miss Germany and everyone there terribly. I know I'm going to go back. I just have to figure out when.

I'll be posting once more here, probably in another couple of weeks.

Bis dann!

The Wall of Stuff

Ich Liebe Diese Tage

So, I've got just seven days left in this country. Unbelievable. This year has gone by so fast. I've experienced so much and have really had the best times of my life. Summer has finally come - for this week at least - and I've been to the lake almost every day this week. I've even managed to get a bit of color without turning into a lobster! I also went shopping with a couple of friends today. I wanted to get something for my going-away party on Friday. I found a pretty dress and perfectly matching jewelry all for under 25 Euros. Not bad!

It's just amazing to think that, had I not extended my stay here, I would have never had these experiences. I wouldn't have had the chance to go to the beach with my friends, because the weather was never nice enough. I wouldn't have been able to just hop on my bike and ride into town for a dish of icecream or to go to the town's fair. I wouldn't have been able to have a little campfire on the rivershore late at night. I wouldn't have had the opportunity to go with friends to an XXL restaurant (where everything you order is XXL or bigger) and stuffed myself and laughed myself to tears on the way back. There's just so much I would have missed out on.

There's a German song that fits perfectly to these perfect days. Here's my translation:

Diese Tage - KRIS

I love these days. (2x)

It's 7:30, the sun's shining.
The sky is blue, baby, that's how it should be.
I'll pack my things,
today we're going to the beach.
The time has been going by too quickly
Thoughts, ghosts and black clouds which have followed me,
As of today, they're gone forever
Life's got me again, today's perfect
I listen to my favorite songs on repeat,
Remember the good times.
My life's a party, nothing can bother me now.
It's going to get loud, because no one hears when it's quiet.
Yeah, no one hears when it's quiet.

Refrain (2x)
I love these days.
It doesn't matter how bad it was.
I don't want to complain.
I love these days!

I'm burning my old life in the backyard,
I go running again, get fit,
Now it's getting started.
I won't order fastfood again, only self-made food.
Enjoy the day, stop stressing myself.
I throw out my old lyrics, sit in the studio,
Make everything new, everything better
Raise the roof
No boss, no appointments
Everything works out by itself, the perfect world

Refrain (2x)
Refrain (4x)

And the original:

Ich liebe dies Tage - Kris

So, the next post I make is when I'm already back in America. Crazy thought, huh?

Bis dann

366 Days Ago...

Exactly one year ago today was the last time I saw my home, my family and my friends. In two days, it will be a year since I was in the US.

Crazy how time flies, huh?

Bis Später

Summer Break

The move last week went well. I managed to get all my things here safely, and I've settled in. It's been nice living here so far. I get along with the family quite well, and I don't have anything to complain about here.

Thursday was my last "real" day of school. Today, my class went bowling and then out to lunch together. Next week, I'm taking part in the other half of the Poland exchange. I'll be at school a few times during that week, but I won't be having any real classes.

The weather here still can't make up its mind. A few days ago, it was warm, sunny and humid. Now, it's rainy and chilly. Hopefully, the weather will decide to be warm in the next few weeks so that my last chunk of time here can be spent outdoors.

Bis später!

Cologne, 365 Project, Packing

Last weekend, I visited some German Dheins who live close to Cologne. I arrived at the main station in Cologne at about 8PM on Friday. After we found each other, we went on a little tour of Cologne, seeing the cathedral, the Rhine, the city hall, among other things. At the end, we ate at a typical Cologne pub. Each pub in Cologne has its own special brand of the type of beer from Cologne (Kölsch). This beer is only sold at the pub that brews it. Of course, I had to have a sample to go with my typical Rheinland meal (Sauerbraten). Definitely a good way to end the night!

On Saturday, I went back to Cologne with the daughter who is my age. We first climbed to the top of the Cathedral (533 steps!). The view from there was amazing! Afterwards, we did a little bit of sight-seeing and souvenier shopping. Then we went to the Kaiser-Wilhelm bridge. The entire south side of hte bridge is covered in locks. It's tradition in Cologne for couples to put a lock on the bridge and throw the key into the river to symbolize their unending love. However, it's not unheard of that they will keep one key in order to remove the lock, just in case things don't work out.

Saturday afternoon and evening was spent grilling. The grandparents came to visit. I was given a personalized copy of the book about the history of my family. We spent the time eating, talking, and just enjoying each other's company.

On Sunday, I went with the mother and her boyfriend to Königswinter, where we climbed to the top of huge hill. There, we had an amazing view of the Rhine, Bonn, and even a bit of Cologne way off in the distance. Then we went to the palace a bit lower on the hill before seeing a bit of Königswinter itself and then Bonn. When we finally got back to their house, I needed a bit of rest. I slept for over an hour!

That evening, we watched the finale of the EM. Italy (who beat Germany) was playing against Spain. Spain ended up winning, which I guess is good. I mean, Italy beat out Germany. Why should they also win the title?

On Monday, I slept in as long as I could. I ate breakfast, then packed my bag and went for a walk with the daughter. Afterwards, I rested up a bit, read some of the book I received and later ate lunch. Then, it was time to go.

The weekend was really nice. The weather was great, the Dheins were really friendly (they really felt like family!), and some long-lasting memories were made. I'll definitely be seeing them again some time!



A short while ago, I finished packing my things. On Friday, I'm moving in with a friend for the rest of my time in Germany. It definitely was not an easy process, but just about everything is in a suitcase or bag of some sort. Thankfully, almost the entire contents of one of the suitcases won't be coming back with me. Hopefully, I'll manage to get everything back!



Also, I just wanted to mention I've finished the 365 Project! If you'd like, you can check it out by clicking on the links on the right hand side of the blog. They will take you to that month's photos. Hopefully, they serve as a good overview of this past year!



That's all for now!
Bis später!

Five Weeks

Wow... I've just got a little more than a month (to the day) left in this country, but I don't want to make a post about that just yet.

What I do want to post about is that I am 6 posts away from hitting the 100 mark. So, what I am going to do I make one post a week until I reach that mark.

This is sort of a lame, filler-week, but I also wanted to let you guys know about my up-coming plans for the next couple of days/weeks.

On Friday, I'm going to Cologne to visit distant relatives. I'll be there until Monday.

On the following Friday/Saturday, I'm moving once again. My current hostfamily will be going on vacation, and since they didn't plan on having a hoststudent when they planned the vacation, it would be strange for me to go with. So, I'll be moving in with a friend of mine until my departure date.

Also on that weekend, I'll potentially be meeting my roommate for next year at college. She's currently visiting a friend in Germany, and maybe we'll be able to meet up in Hannover.

Toward the end of July, the Polish students we visited in earlier this year will be coming to our town. We'll be staying in a hostel with them for a week.

After that, I have a little more than a week of summer vacation in Germany before heading back to the US.

Well, that's all I've got for this week!
Bis später!

Berlin... Du bist so wunderbar, Berlin!

I got back yesterday from my trip to Berlin. Let's just say it was amazing!

The hostel we stayed in was about a 5-10 minute walk from Checkpoint Charlie. Which not only means we had a pretty good location in the city, but also that we were right on the border of where the Berlin Wall was. I could see the line of paving stones in the street that marks where the wall stood.

We arrived on Tuesday afternoon and were kept pretty busy the entire time. We first got our rooms and had dinner. Then, it was off for short tour of some of the main sights in Berlin. We went to Checkpoint Charlie, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe (giant cement blocks of various heights covering a block in the city - really incredible), Postdamer Platz and the Brandenburg Gate.

On Wednesday, we took a bus tour of the city, seeing some of the places that were just too far to walk to. We saw the mascots of Berlin, various scale models of the entire city, the largest airport in Germany (and Europe for that matter, I think - it was over a mile long), and various museums and important/old buildings. After dinner, it was time for the highlight of the week (possibly even my exchange): watching the German national team playing against the Netherlands in the Europameisterschaft (European Championship) at Germany's biggest public viewing event.

It was amazing! Before we left, we all dressed ourselves in the national colors. People even used the bit of free time we had beforehand to pick up some shirts, face paint, wigs and flags. Then we all gathered in the courtyard of the hostel and were on our way. Even walking to the Brandenburg Gate was cool. One of the other students had bought a vuvuzela (an annoyingly loud horn sometimes used by fans during the games - not traditionally a European thing), and as we were walking through the city, he would blast the horn and get people to honk their car horns or cheer with us.

When we finally got there, the place was already pretty packed. There were about 500,000 people there, on a Wednesday night. The atmosphere there was awesome. Everyone, except maybe five people, were cheering for the same team. When we scored both goals, everyone flipped out. Everyone sang with whenever we wanted to chant. One of my favorite parts was the various ways to cheer. You could sing with, saying the right words, or you could sing with, only using sounds that sound like the right words. Or, if your voice was too dead for real cheering, shouting out the name of the player on the screen was perfectly acceptable, too.

At the end of the game, the score stood 2-1. People went crazy. My friends and I stayed a couple of minutes after as various party songs were played and people danced like they were at a club. We would have stayed longer, but we had to meet back up with the group. I wasn't in bed until 1:30.

Thursday was spent in various museums. We had a choice of a Jewish museum, a Stasi prison or a tour of the underground bunkers in Berlin. I opted for the bunkers. It was really interesting, but also kind of creepy. The bunkers were made next to the subways. So, every time a subway train went by, the walls would vibrate and the sound echoed all over the place. There were some interesting collections of old items left by the people who used the bunkers - plates, toys, clothing - as well as a collection of old weaponry - guns, bombs and grenades. In one room, there was even a display of old gasmasks.

After the museums and after dinner, we had another choice of activities: watching a cultural movie, going to a ballet, or visiting the TV Tower. I chose the last option. We also had about an hour beforehand to go shopping at the big shopping location called Alexanderplatz. The view from the tower was amazing! We could see the Brandenburg Gate, the airport, approximately where our hostel was, as well as plenty of other major sites in Berlin. The sunset from 203 meters was really pretty!

I ended up having another really long night because I had volunteered to help make the gift we would give to the Bundestag the next day. I was in bed again at 1:30, but we needed to be up at 5:00 AM for the meeting on Friday.

Even though I was really exhausted, visiting the Reichstag was a cool experience. Unfortunately, they didn't allow cameras inside. So, I don't have any pictures from inside the building. We got to sit in and watch the representatives debate among each other, which was pretty cool. Then we met with some representatives and people who work together to organize and ensure the continuation of the CBYX program. We asked questions, gave speeches and presented our gifts. Then, we had lunch and got to hang out with all the other CBYX scholarship recipients (we were about 350 all together).

Afterward, we all went to the American Embassy. It was really interesting being there. The Embassy has a courtyard in the middle with a square of pure, soft grass. We were served American sodas (including Mug rootbeer, but I didn't get any...). There was music playing in the background. The whole thing just sort of felt kind of like a graduation party.

Friday night we played a few games as a big group and then had the opportunity to do pretty much whatever we wanted. I went with a group of friends into the couch room on our floor and watched movies until 2:30.

On Saturday morning, we all met up again for a final round of games and good-byes. Then, it was off to the train station and back to our hostfamilies. It was raining really hard as we left, which fit pretty well to the situation. We had to say good-bye to friends we had made and may never see again. Kind of a bummer. But, hey, I've still got 6 weeks!

Bis später!

P.S. Pictures from my time in Berlin will be added to my 365 Project (which, by the way, is almost done)!

Quickie Update

Just wanted to let you all know I'm still living, and things are still amazing here in Germany!

In a few days, I'll be going to Berlin for a meeting with YFU. All the exchange students who have also received the same scholarship I did will be there (including those from other exchange programs). I'm really looking forward to meeting some new people, and seeing some people I haven't seen since July! (Not to mention getting to tour around the country's capital!)

I've also found a family I can stay with in July (did I mention I needed to find one?). I'll be staying with a good friend of mine. It will be nice to be in relative walking distance from the school. It will save a heck of a lot of trouble when classes are cancelled, and a lot of money I would spend riding the bus. Plus, it will be fun being able to live with this friend for a while!

That's all for this little update. I'll try to post something a little more interesting in the coming days!

Bis später!

Easter, Haircuts and Verlängerungen

I know it's a bit late, but I wanted to post a quick description of Easter in Germany. It really isn't too different from Easter in America. There are Easter baskets (loaded with delicious chocolate), Easter eggs (real or plastic) to look for or that are hung in trees and bushes, and an Easter Bunny who hides the goodies for the kids to look for on Easter Sunday. However, what is different is the Osternfeuer (Easter fire). This is a huge pile of wood which is set on fire. It's an old tradition that is supposed to symbolize the coming of spring and to banish the evil spirits of winter. Mostly, people just go to watch things burn and drink some beer.


 Today, I was adventrous. Today, I walked into a hair salon, alone, and got a haircut (in a foreign language, mind you!!). I think it went pretty well. She understood what I wanted and let me know what she was doing and double-checked if what she was doing was okay. Maybe it's a little bit shorter than I would have liked, but it will grow, and I do think it looks nice. I also had a nice talk with the hairstylist about the fact that I'm an exchange student, where I'm from, where I live now, how long I'll be staying... The usual. She also wanted to know why I even bothered to go to school when I only had two periods (Remember what I wrote a while ago about if the teacher's not there, we just don't have class? Yeah, well that was today. Instead of 4 periods, I was down to two. Some people had no school at all today). Overall, a good experience!


 I now have an official departure date. I'll be leaving here on August 1st. I was supposed to leave on July 6th, but I wanted to stay longer, because my school here goes until July 27th, and I wanted to stay until the end and get a taste of summertime here. To any (future) YFU exchange students reading this page, if you have questions or want help with the extension process, let me know! I'll help you through it!


Also, I've got a 4-day weekend coming up. Tuesday is a holiday (Tag der Arbeit), and since the Germans find it silly to go to school for a day and then have another day off, we get to have Monday off, too. Cool, wa?

Bis später!

People and Pizza

Hey Readers!

Last weekend, one of my favorite people, an exchange student from Michigan, came for a visit. She arrived on Friday and stayed until Monday. During that time, we went to Bremen twice and Bremerhaven once. In Bremen, we shopped, ate tasty food, and had a blast at the Oster Wiese (essentially a festival with rides, games and typical fair foods). Basically, we spent too much money, but it was fun!

In Bremnerhaven, we visited the Deutsche Auswandererhaus (German Emmigrant House). It was really interesting - even if I found the mannequins totally creepy (seriously, I couldn't go near the ones in front of the ship...). You start with an introduction to the whole museum, and then you get to go step-by-step through the emmigration process. You see the ship in the harbor, with people and their luggage waiting to board. Then you can take a look at the passenger information from hundreds of different emmigrants who went through Bremerhaven, who were of many nationalities, not just the German. Next, you board the ship and get to experience what it was like to travel in the different passenger classes. After that, it's on to Ellis Island where you can take a test to see if you qualify to enter the country. At the end, there's a room where you can search your last name or the names of your ancestors to see if and when they came through Bremerhaven, which is really cool for people who don't have much information on their family's background!


Today, I made my first endeavor to treat my hostfamily with my pizza-making skills. Let's just say it was successful! However, next time, I'll need to make sure I make three pizzas, because two were barely enough. Here are the fruits of my labor:

Pizza with pepperoni, sausage, green peppers, onions, mushrooms and tomatoes


BBQ Pizza with BBQ sauce, chicken, cheddar cheese, bacon and onions

Yeah, be jealous!

I hope everyone has a happy Easter! And for those of you who don't celebrate Easter, happy spring!

Bis später!

P.S. Click on the pictures for a larger view!

Post 90: Poland

How many people can say they were a double-dipper exchange student? Well, I know one!

Today, I left Poland after a week-long exchange there with my school. Every year, my school here in Germany sends 12 to 14 students to Poland to work with 12 to 14 Polish students on a project. The project is a little different each year, but the purpose is the same: create lasting friendships that cross national borders, and to build a better understanding between two cultures (like all exchange programs, right?). I have to say, it worked!

We left on Saturday. The trip lasted over 13 hours with a two-hour wait for the connecting train in a random small town in Poland. After we finally got to the last station on our journey, we had yet another two hours by bus to go. At the hotel, there wasn't much time left for more than dinner, getting rooms, showering, and going to bed.

The first few days at the hotel were packed with activity. We began working on our project, which is a calendar and series of presentations highlighting the similarities, differences and peculiarities of both countries/cultures. We also went to the Baltic Sea every morning, learned some Polish phrases, and visited one of the local shops. We had a "Tanzabend" where we learned a dance from the Polish students (imagine the electric slide, but wilder). One night, we had a campfire. Another, a disko party. Almost every night, there were mini-parties going on in the rooms. We were lucky, and the teachers were very tolerant, unless it got too loud.

On Wednesday morning, we took the bus (for another 1.5-2 hours) to Gdańsk. We spent the day there doing a sort of scavenger hunt, touring an amber museum, eating delicious food, and shopping around. Afterward, we took the bus to Kwidzyn (yet another long drive). There, we met our hostfamilies for the rest of the exchange.

Unfortunately, my exchange partner wasn't able to take part in the first phase of the trip, but it was really nice staying with her. She and her sister spoke English really well. Her mother could speak some English, and her brother and father could speak only very little. However, their home was really nice, they were really nice, and I wish I could have spent more time with them.

While we were in Kwidzyn, we spent most of our time with the students who were a part of the project. The rest of us only got to see our exchange partners and hostfamilies in the mornings and evenings. However, it was still a ton of fun. On Thursday, we sat in on a few different classes, went on a tour of Kwidzyn, ate delicious pizza and went to a pub with the exchange partners. Friday, we presented our project to some students at the school as well as the part of the governmental staff in Kwidzyn. Later, we went bowling, ate delicious pizza again, and went to antoher bar.

After showering and packing, I finally got to bed at about 1:30. I then got up at 5AM, and was at the train station by 6:15. At 6:30, we left. It was kind of sad saying good-bye. Some of the Polish students will be coming to finish the project in the summer, but a lot won't. I probably won't see the majority of those people again. I had really gotten to know a few of them, and they had become pretty good friends. It's just a small taste of what it's going to be like for me in a few short months...

Anyway, I unfortunately slacked off on my journaling during this week, so I'm not entirely sure what all happened on which days. However, I can say that week was one of the most strenuous and awesome weeks of my life. I know I'll miss a certain few people, but as they say in Poland, nie płacz (don't cry).



Also, spring has finally sprung! I'm not sure if the week in Poland made me realize the difference (they still have winter-ish conditions, eg. dead, brown grass, ponds freezing over at night). Here, the grass is nice and green, the sun is up in the morning before I am, the birds are singing... It means summer is on it's way, but it's bringing the end of my exchange with it. I'm looking forward to experiencing life in America again, but I'm not looking forward to giving up my life here... Ah, well, I don't have to deal with that for a few months yet. I just have to keep enjoying myself here and making the best of the time I have left!

Bis später!

P.S. Photos from Poland will be posted (eventually) on my 365 Project.

Reisen

So, I'm procrasting packing my suitcase (again)... Why? Well, I'm pretty sure I mentioned it in a previous post, but maybe you're new to my blog (or maybe you just don't pay attention to me anymore!), so, I'll say it again.

Tomorrow, I leave for a week-long trip to Poland. It's a yearly exchange between my school here and a school in Poland. We send students there for a week, and they send students here for a week. We share our cultures, work on a project and just have some plain old fun. We'll be staying in a hotel on the Baltic for the first three days. Then, we'll spend a day in Danzig before finishing up the week in hostfamilies.

I'm really looking forward to it, except for the fact that I have to get up at 4AM tomorrow, and then will be sitting in a train for 12 hours. Luckily, I'll be with some pretty fun/cool people who also happen to be good friends of mine. However, it's currently 7:53PM, and I think I'll finally get my butt moving so I can pack my bag and get some sleep. I don't think I'll really have the chance to sleep in the train (that's the problem with travelling with friends!).

Bis später!

Munich

Yesterday, I got back from my YFU Mid-Stay Seminar in Munich. It was amazing!

I left Sunday, the 19th. The ride down there was several hours (five or six), with only one transfer in Bremen, which meant I could kick back and relax most of the time. I don't think I ever really fell asleep, though, which is good, because I got to see some amazing scenery. When I finally made it to the mainstation in Munich, I found a small group of other exchangers, and we found our way to the next train to take us to the hostel. Once there, we signed in, got nametags, picked rooms and unpacked. We played a few getting-to-know-you games (for example, saying our names, where we're from in the US, where we are living in Germany, and when we got up that morning - 7AM for me). After that, we ate dinner, got into smaller groups to get to know each other, and then had free-time until we wanted to go to bed.

On Monday, we did a few more group activities before heading to the city for a scavenger hunt. We had to answer questions, take pictures (with people dressed for Karneval and of us doing good deeds), as well as collect as many free pens as possible and buy the largest item for 50 cents we could find. After that, we split into three groups: one group went to a circus, one to a ballet, and the third went on a walking tour through Munich. I went on the tour. It was at night, and we didn't have a professional guide (just one of our teamers), so we didn't get to go into museums and such, but it was still a lot of fun. I got to see a bit more of the city and got to know the people in my group a bit better. At the end, we went to a small cafe to warm up before heading back. Then we had more free-time. I was up until 4:30AM talking with some pretty cool exchange students about God and the world.

Tuesday was relatively uneventful. We spent most of the day in small groups talking about our exchange years so far, or playing games together. We did go visit the lake by the hostel, but of course I left my camera in my room. So, no pictures from that. However, I did find it really entertaining to trick a swan into thinking chunks of ice were food. I blame that on the lack of sleep... We also had sort of Olympic competition. We were split into five different groups and had various "event" like placing cities/rivers/lakes on a map of Bavaria, biting a pretzel on a string, and decoding Bayerisch (the dialect of Bavaria). The final event was building something that would protect an egg using only two balloons, string, tape, and three pieces of paper. Our egg survived two falls, and flew the second farthest. My team, Haus der Schmerzen (House of Pain), won the whole thing, and were given prezels covered in glue and gold glitter as medals.

On Wednesday, we were in Munich again. This time to start, we were in two groups: one went to the German Museum, and the other to Dachau. I was in the second group. Dachau was the first concentration camp in Germany, and all others were modeled after it. We were able to wander the camp at our own pace with audio recordings in place of a tour guide. I found it to be a really moving and though-provoking experience. Unlike Buchenwald (which I visited earlier this year), Dachau had a gas chamber in use. The feeling of walking through that building is something I can't describe. I just can't find the words to express what I experienced. Something else I found interesting about Dachau that I didn't see at Buchenwald was a replica of the housing barracks for the prisoners. You are able to go inside the barracks and see what kind of conditions the prisoners lived in on a daily basis. It's also something I can't put to words. I highly recommend a visit to a concentration camp to anyone who has the chance.

After Dachau, we had more free-time in Munich. I went with a couple of friends just sort of touring around. We walked through a part of the Englischer Garten. In winter, it is beautiful. I can only imagine what it's like in summer. We climbed to the top of a large hill with a romanesque gazeebo sitting on top. There, we had an amazing view of the city at sunset. After that, we headed back to the center of town for a bit of souvenier shopping and eating. In the evening, we split up again into two groups: one went to a bar to watch FC Bayern play against Basel, the other went bowling (except the German version "kegeln" which uses only 9 pins and a ball with no holes). I went to the soccer viewing. It was really fun, but FC Bayern unfortunately lost. It would have been an awesome experience to be in Munich, watching one of Munich's teams win, surrounded by native fans. Then it was back to the hostel and shortly after to bed.

Thursday was our Karneval* party. We had a couple of group-meetings first, though. Then we had the day to plan. We made confetti, arranged a playlist, put together a slideshow of photos from the week, and sent a group to buy food and drinks. Shortly before 8PM, we put on our costumes and got everything set up. At 9, things got started. We danced, ate a ton of snack food, laughed at ours pictures and found out which team won the scavenger hunt. They were awarded with BMW's ("Becher mit Wasser" - cup with water). Then, we made waffels. We made a good 15 to 20 waffels. I burned my fingers a couple of times, but it was worth it. We decided we could make "waffeling" a profession.

On Friday, we had breakfast and then one last meeting. We were all together. We played a couple of games, and we given words of wisdom from our teamers. We also did this thing where we each had a piece of paper taped to our backs, and the others wrote messages on them. It was pretty funny to see everyone lined up behind each other. Then, it was time to go.

I was with the first group which left. From Munich until Hannover, I was with a group of the people I had felt the closest to during this seminar. They made the hours fly by. We've already talked about plans for us to meet up later in the year. Here's to hoping they come through!

When I got home, I talked about the highlights of the week, shared photos, and gave my hostfamily the gifts I bought them. I ate dinner, caught up with a couple of friends, and then it was off to bed for me.

In all, it was an amazing week. Even though I spoke more English than I probably should have, I got to know some really cool people, saw some amazing things (like my first mountains!), and had collected a few unforgettable experiences. If I could, I would relive this week in a heartbeat.

Bis später!


*Karneval/Fasching/Fastnacht is Germany's answer to Mardi Gras, mixed with Halloween. People dress in crazy costumes, storm the streets, drink to their heart's content, and just go crazy. However, it's not just one day. Karneval spans a number of days, each with their own little traditions to them. However, don't ask me to explain in any more detail. There's Google for that.

Gonna Miss It

I was alone in Bremen today, doing a bit of last-minute shopping for my trip to Munich, and I kept realizing how much I'm going to miss being here. I've just made such a great life for myself here, and I don't know how I'm going to be able to leave it in the summer. Everything's just become so familiar. I've made such amazing friends, met incredible people. I've found a second home, a second Heimat. I love travelling. So, I'm looking forward to my trip back to the States. However, saying good-bye is only bearable when I know when I'll get to say hello again. That's why I could stand to leave my friends and family in America. I knew I'd be back in a year. I don't know when I'll get the chance to come back to Germany. Leaving here is going to be so difficult. I'm just glad I've got a few more months here before I have to really face that fact.

Here's to making the very most of the time I have left here!

Bis später

Life is Good

Second semester started about a week ago. I ended the first semester with an average grade of 2.5 (on a 1-6 scale, with 1 being the best). I received two 1s, four 2s, four 3s and two 4s. Not bad, I'd say. My schedule this semester is a bit different. I now have a history class in place of geography, and no more music. On Tuesdays, I have class all day until about 4pm, but Mondays and Thursdays make up for it (only four hours, each day). We've gotten a couple of new teachers, because some of ours needed to be teach other classes/grades. We now have a man from Greece teaching us math. We had our first math class with him today. Seems like it will be an interesting semester with him... Our religion teacher is pregnant and will probably be leaving us soon. I'm going to miss her a bit, though. She's a really nice teacher, and fun to have class with.

I feel like I've truly been accepted by my friends here. I showed them how to play the card game "spoons", and now we play it during almost every break (thanks Aunt Mary for the cards!!). We joke around with each other, we have inside jokes, we understand each other with just looks... I've even been told I'm the coolest exchange student, because I understand everything and can even dish out some insults in German. I am so going to miss these people next year...

My hostfamily is just great! We get along so well, it's unbelievable. I really feel like a part of the family here. They even use the same nickname as my family in America. It seems like switching really was the best decision for my exchange, and I'm glad I could do it!

In a little over a week, I'm going to Munich for a five-day, mid-stay seminar. I'm looking forward to reconnecting with people I haven't seen since July/August. Plus, I'm really excited to see a bit of southern Germany. However, the 8-hour train ride down there won't be entirely the greatest... Oh well. I might be making the journey with one or two other exchange students. So, that'll be fun!

I went ice-skating with my sisters and a couple of their friends. The river in the area flooded earlier this winter, and now the whole floodplain is frozen over and perfect for skating. I surprised myself, and was actually able to move around on my own. However, that's not to say I didn't fall. After 10 seconds standing on the ice, I was down. I even have a lovely bruise covering the front of my knee... However, it was so much fun, and so pretty (pictures from that evening will be filling my 365 project for the next few days), and we're going again tomorrow. I can't wait! By the way, Louise, I think I can thank our little ice-skating excursion for my bit of confidence on the ice!

Hmm... I think that's about it for this time.

Bis später!

Update Part Deux

So, I got an e-mail from my mom today. Among other things, she mentioned that she had a moment when she thought about what I'm doing and missed me pretty bad. I wrote a reply to her, and I'm going to post it here, because I think it could be good for other exchange students to read (or not, who knows, but I hope it is).

I sometimes get those sort of moments, too. I stop and realize just exactly where I am, how long I've been here, and how long I've got left, then I get flooded with different emotions. First I kind of freak out; being so far from home, in a whole other country, without family - it's crazy. Then I'm kind of amazed. It's getting close to 7 months that I've been here. Over half a year, but it feels like time's flying. Then I get a mixture of happiness and saddness. I'm happy because in just under 5 months, I'll be on my way home. I'll get to see you guys, my friends, the dogs, my bed... everything that's been familiar to me my whole life. But, 5 months isn't a lot of time in the scheme of things. It's less than half a year, less than half my exchange. At the end of those five months, I'll be leaving this life, this family, my friends - without knowing when I'll get the chance to come back. But that just pushes me to want to make the most of my time here, and that's how I get over it. I talk with friends, I get out and do something, I live my life here.

Also, today in my math class, one of my friends asked when I'm leaving. I told her, and another asked if I'm going to have a going-away party, and he seemed happy that I said yes. Then this first girl and another said they're probably going to cry when I go. I said I would to. A while ago, one of these same girls told me it's weird for her when she thinks about going to school next year, and that I won't be there. It's just a such a great feeling to know I have real friends here who like having me around and who are going to miss me when I'm gone. It's one of those things that makes this whole experience really worth it.


Bis später!

Silvester!!

If there's one thing Germans know how to do, it's celebrating New Years.

In Germany, New Year's Eve is called Silvester (named after Pope Sylvester I who died on 30th December 335). Let's just say it's a pretty big deal here. People party it up from early evening until the clock strikes 12. Then, they go to the street, mountains of firecrackers, sparklers, bottle rockets, and other pretty explosive things, and go light up the sky. It's pretty crazy what you can buy here in Germany (but only around Silvester time).

Also, it seems to be a German tradition to watch a video called "Dinner for One". All my friends find it absolutely histerical.
Dinner for One

So, that was how I spent my New Year's Eve: hanging out with friends, sharing a few drinks, lighting off things that go "boom", getting a taste of German humor, and just generally enjoying the night!

Oh, and on the 1st, my family and I ate home-made waffle cones with whipped cream and warm cherries. For brunch. Love it!

Bis später!