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!
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Friday, April 6, 2012
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!
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!
Saturday, March 17, 2012
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.
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.
Friday, March 9, 2012
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!
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!
Saturday, February 25, 2012
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.
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.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
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
Here's to making the very most of the time I have left here!
Bis später
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
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!
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!
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