Thanksgiving...?

This year there was no Thanksgiving. None what-so-ever. In fact, I didn't even feel like it had been thanksgiving. It was a weird feeling, as I am sure other Canadian holidays will be, that being in a country that doesn't celebrate a holiday (stores have all the decorations, the food, the candy, and whatever else they can convince you that you NEED for this holiday) other holidays you once celebrated, totally bypass you without really realizing it.

Wow, busy, busy week this week (I realize now that it has been more than a week... I have given up all hope of my diary oath I had made...for three strait weeks I wrote, and then nothing. Totally gave up. But I have been writing notes on my calender though...) Okay!

Sunday the 12th, I had my first dance class! It was so great! I am really happy about it, because it is standard (ballroom) dancing! Even though I didn't have a partner, I was told that one guy didn't have a partner, but he didn't show up that day, so I danced with the assistant teacher (who turned out to be a girl that Kimi went to school with, and she was really nice...although, it was a little strange to be dancing with a girl, it was okay, because she knew the guys' steps really well). Anyhow, and we practiced for the dances for Fritz's 60th birthday (which was on Friday). Then when I came home from dance, Edi and Toli, from church asked me if I wanted to go for a drink or something. So they picked me up and we went to Enchiladas and we talked and ate a little and had some drinks (eis kaffee!!). I loved it! It was so great to hang out with them. It was, I believe, the first time that I really felt like I was at home. Hanging out with them really reminded me of hanging out with good friends, and it felt so great. They are really great guys and we talked about all sorts of stuff! It was awesome!

Monday was a rather boring day. I wanted to fall asleep (and I am 100% sure that I did that day). But then I was called out of the class by my second host mom, and I switched classes! So I am now in the 12th grade, not the 11th. And even though the days are longer sometimes, the classes (especially the English class) are much better. And so many more people talked to me within the first two days!! It was such a nice change! And I don't really mind getting to know more people. I have been saying hi to the other girls in the 11th class still, at the bus stop, etc.

Tuesday I got a hair cut. It was a little shorter than I wanted, but I got a good deal, because Heike is a friend and I had it cut at her studio. But I want to grow out my hair again. Although it is easier shorter, I like it longer, I think.

Wednesday: REVOLVERHELD!!!!!!!!!!!! It was so AWESOME! And I was so excited to go!! It was so great! Because the concert was in this bar\disco and was about the same size of A.L.Fortune's gym! We were standing and had tonnes of elbow room, and were about 10 feet away from the band! It was so awesome! And tickets were only, 24€!! Best concert ever! I went with Meike and her best friend Lisa. So it was fun!

Thursday: went out with two girls in my new class; Nadine and Janika. And I love them! They are so great! I want to get to know them more, because I think we have a lot in common, just with being open minded (it is hard to find open minded Germans in this area) and things like that. So I had a great time talking with them, and just hanging out, getting to know them.

Friday: Fritz's 60th Birthday. We left at 3pm and we got back at about 4AM in the MORNING!!! It was insane! And it was good. There were lots of people there and there were other people performing besides us. It was nice. We ate TOO much and danced lots! Surprisingly, I wasn't nervous about going in front of everyone and performing. I somehow had this nonchalant confidence about it. I liked doing the performances. It was nice.

Saturday: Slept in a long time, and was invited by another group of girls from another class to go to this acoustic concert with them in the same town where I have church. It turned out to be a not so great night with those girls (they were drinking before we went and weren't really talking to me) and when we got to the concert, I was talking with Lena and Jessica (girls I went to Stuttgart with) and I turned around and the other girls were gone! So I stuck with Lena and Jessica, and had a much better time with them. The girls that invited me, wanted to go to this house party after the concert ended, but I wanted to go home because of church on Sunday, so I ended up talking with Lena and Jessica, and got a ride home with them, thank goodness they were there! I was not so fond of how the girls took care of me, being their guest to come with them, but a bad night turned into a good one with Lena and Jessica! :)

Sunday: Went to church and dance, and took a night to relax. I was offered to go to small groups at Edi's house, but I was tired, and needed a night to recuperate from the week. (busy, busy!) It was nice to just relax at home. Bebe and Ralf had gone to a birthday party and I watched a movie. Dance went okay...my partner was there this time, but he kind of smelt of stale alcohol and smoke. He was an okay dancer, though. To make up for the lessons that I missed (I have to pay the full price, but I can take practice lessons on Saturday) I am going in on Saturday and I will have a different partner. One of the teachers was going to look for one for me. We shall see how that goes.

Monday: I went to school and came home, went to Aalen for the German course, and when I came home, I asked Ralf if I would be able to go to the Staatsgallerie on Tuesday. (I had only 1 and a half hours of school because 3 hours were taken up by the students doing a German test, so I didn't have to go to school, and I thought that it would be interesting to check out a museum in Stuttgart. So I explained to Ralf what I was thinking and my reasons for thinking this, and he was relatively good about it and considered it calmly. But then Bebe came home and she was yelling at me, and I felt like the biggest, stupidest, thoughtless exchange student in the world. (I'm not and I know that, but it's just the way that she makes me feel when I am around her sometimes and she yells at me for no reason) I tried to explain myself, but it just didn't go well. So I cleared my dinner plate and went down stairs to my room after she was finished and I cried. All homesickness, loneliness, helplessness, feelings of encasement, and lack of independence rushed at me at once and overwhelmed me for a good 15 minutes. After Bebe had talked to my counselor about the situation, she called me upstairs to tell me that I could actually GO! It was so bizzaar, the way that her emotions changed in such a short time. I don't know if she realized the affect of her words and attitude had on me, but I feel that I have to sit down Ralf and Bebe when Ralf gets back home, and I need to have a talk to them about how I am feeling and these issues that have arised.

So today, I went to Stuttgart, alone!!!! It was so great! I felt this exhilarating freedom and independence, it was so great! I took the train there, went to the Staatsgallerie and stayed there for about 3 hours and looked at all the paintings and exhibition then came home by train once again. It was easy to find, once I knew where I was and where I needed to go. I had a map and information, and after asking a passerby for directions, I found the Gallery in no time. There was an exhibition on Matisse, and it wasn't too bad, but I am more of a Romantic period art lover. It was a big gallery, but was easy to maneuver around. It was nice to experience a touristy kind of day. I have been longing to go to museums and art galleries, but I don't think that Bebe and Ralf have time, or necessarily to go with me. So I am glad that I made a decision to go, and that my counselor allowed me to go. It was such a breath of fresh air from the old routine of going to school and sitting at home! A little bit of cultural 'food'. One of the purposes of my coming here; for the culture!!!

Sometimes, just thinking about thanksgiving, it is sometimes hard to think of ways to be thankful during hard times. But I guess everything is for the best. Hopefully things are cleared up, the misunderstandings and the struggles of family differences. I am most thankful for home support though, it is greatly appreciated, and I am loving everyone for all their love that they send! Thank you! And although there was no turkey for me this Thanksgiving, I am confident to say that I hope to think of other, much lest taste-filled things to be thankful for this month.

K