As I sit here, waiting for the hours to pass by before the first day back in classes, I read the past entries here and there. Remembering the bittersweet times of old in Germany, trying very hard to recall the feelings, memories, stimulating scents, and overall European chic that nourished my exchange year.
Since being back home, I have finished a semester of college and am now entering my second. I have had ups and downs in the last six months of being back in Canada. Basking in the joys of volunteering at the kids program at the church, singing with the Christmas Choir, learning such interesting things in Geography, and attempting to master Spanish! Among other things, difficulties adjusting to family routines, struggling with social issues (even though it SHOULD be easier - we are speaking the same language - but funny how communication is so key and yet so delicate, even when mastering your native language.), and just being exhausted, trying to find direction in life. God has been ever so faithful in everything - and I have given Him, I am sure, a fair share of gray hairs (if God would have gray hairs) from all the temper-tantrums and melt downs within the last couple months. Nevertheless, I am determined to take all these precious things I have learned in the last year and use them to the best of my ability. I often try to recall the lessons that I have learned - they have become more fainter than ever, the memories of even ever being in Germany. It's quite surreal, the memories seeming vastly like dreams and not like memories at all, but a movie, seen through my eyes. Often I forget my year, I forget the lessons I learned, the person I have become. I very much feel as if I have taken steps backwards. Depressing as that sounds, I know in my heart that that is not true. Life indeed goes on - and so shall I. Reading the blog just now - rekindles my heart and motivation to keep searching for that purpose which I was made for and to put to use those lessons that I indeed did learn.
My German is getting worse and worse every day, I believe, and my memories ever fainter. However, in the midst of my German self slipping away, I have been encouraged by the few, but steadfast friends who send me postcards, emails, and facebook messages. They truly bring such a smile upon my face and I am ever so grateful for them!
Thank you to all whom love me so dearly - you have been such a blessing and an encouragement to my life. Praise God for His unending love!
I am determined upon entering this new semester and year, to reclaim the valuable courage and determination, the confidence and life-experience which gave me such strength this past year. Sometimes I forget all too often, that the exchange year does not end with the coming home - a large part of the exchange IS the coming home and being home too. SO! Let this new year bring on the challenges and difficulties, the rocks to break and the mountains to climb. May I march forth with valor and humble conviction. For, as my dear friend William Wallace proclaims; "Every man dies. Not every man really lives." And really live shall I live indeed! For I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength (Phil 4.13).
SO! Thank you to everyone who has encouraged me in this unending journey of challenges and faith (especially to Jade whom I am eternally grateful for and blessed by) and thank you to God for giving me His unconditional love (though I mess up again and again).
k
p.s. And thank you to Mel Gibson, for making really great and epic movies!
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Monday, September 14, 2009
Settling in
Sorry I didn't write in the last few months. Things have been a bit crazy, and I have gotten out of the habit of blogging. :P I have been settling in rather well...things seem to have been a bit tricky, just getting back into routine and finding my way back into Canadian life. Its definitely been and continues to be a challenge. I am hopeful though, that somehow, God will pull me through and help me to become the woman of God He intends for me to be. :) And for that I am very excited!
I have helped with IPE parking the other weekend and that was great! I am glad to be back into the Club here, and am very grateful to see Rotary in the better light that it should be! :) I have already been to the rebound weekend and that was nice to have the full circle orientation. :) I have also met the new exchange student from Denmark! :) School has had its kickoff already and I am thrusting myself into classes. It is definitely a little strange and confusing and a little stressful, but I am hoping that within the next couple weeks things will be running a bit more smoothly. :) Church has been a blessing, I am getting more involved and meeting more people. It is nice. It is almost starting to feel like more of a home now. :)
The days are getting shorter and a little colder evenings, and the leaves are already turning colours. It is a rather sad, but growing time. I am looking forward to a Canadian winter, but even more anxious to see the spring again! And then summer! I love the changes in the season, representing new seasons of life and the promise of spring! I am awaiting new people, new challenges, new realizations, and just growth in general. Thanks be to God for putting all these blessings and people into my life.
Soon, now, I realize that the foreign home, will not feel so foreign anymore. Thank you, God for being the all of my life! :)
K
I have helped with IPE parking the other weekend and that was great! I am glad to be back into the Club here, and am very grateful to see Rotary in the better light that it should be! :) I have already been to the rebound weekend and that was nice to have the full circle orientation. :) I have also met the new exchange student from Denmark! :) School has had its kickoff already and I am thrusting myself into classes. It is definitely a little strange and confusing and a little stressful, but I am hoping that within the next couple weeks things will be running a bit more smoothly. :) Church has been a blessing, I am getting more involved and meeting more people. It is nice. It is almost starting to feel like more of a home now. :)
The days are getting shorter and a little colder evenings, and the leaves are already turning colours. It is a rather sad, but growing time. I am looking forward to a Canadian winter, but even more anxious to see the spring again! And then summer! I love the changes in the season, representing new seasons of life and the promise of spring! I am awaiting new people, new challenges, new realizations, and just growth in general. Thanks be to God for putting all these blessings and people into my life.
Soon, now, I realize that the foreign home, will not feel so foreign anymore. Thank you, God for being the all of my life! :)
K
Monday, July 6, 2009
Two Weeks Left
Wow!! The last week I was really thinking about this year. It hit me how close I am to being back at home. Now, I am going to be there in two weeks. It always seemed so far off. Now back from Europe tour and with only a couple weeks to go, I believe I have been really living it out like I would have liked to for the whole year since the beginning; being able to speak German fluently enough to express myself and be understood, having a couple of close friends, being involved regularly in dance, youth group and host family, and being in general, happy. :)
Things have changed quite suddenly, knowing that I am going home soon. I have spoken with more people about things other than where I come from, how long I have until I go home, how long I have been here, weather or not we have fruit in Canada, where I have traveled in Europe and who I am currently living with. I have realized the importance and the pressure that is now on to see other exchange students as much as possible and to have those more deeper conversations with the friends that I have made here.
This year has not been a smooth ride, nor has it been a totally horrible one either. I have made the best of it as I could, while going along each problem. Sure there are tonnes of other things that I could have done to make the situations better and have better outcomes, but with that said, I do believe that tried my best and that's what is most important. :)
Thinking back on a lot of things, I feel like my exchange year was in many ways a failure - I have not had the greatest relationship with my host rotary club or my host families, I have not made friends in school or done many community activities, I did not participate in school to the extent that I tought I would have, and I have not learned perfect German. HOWEVER! I have learned many, many things during this year which I could not have learnt otherwise! :) I have indeed learned the German that I can now speak. It is not perfect, but I am able to express myself and have myself be understood by everyone around me. I have learned to deal with difficult people and rumours. I have learned to have a positive atittude, even if it didnt accure to me right away. I have learned to forgive and tolerate people. I have become more appreciative of my own language and am just head-over-heels happy that I can actually TALK English! :P Any among many many other things, I have learned to appreciate everything I have, in Canada and in Germany. :)
I know that I could have done many a things to make my year a better exchange year, and I would do so, haven given another chance, however, I believe for the deep, life changing lessons, I believe that my exchange has hit the hammer on the nail.
I know that things will be different when I come back home, having experienced all I have..and it is very difficult for me to imagine how it will look like.. But, I believe I am ready to take on the next part of my exchange and life with a confident face and a straight step, knowing that anything can happen, and that I want to and will work through the hard times, even if I am discouraged, struck down, or alone.
Rotary, specifically Armstrong Club and district 5060, has given me this opportunity, and I am thankful beyond words can express. I truly believe in this program and am thankful that there is such a program as this youth exchange program. :) It has really changed my life for the good - even (and for the most part) through the hard times. :) I would never want anyone to go through hard times on their exchange, but as it is, they DO occure. And as much as I would never wish such difficult times upon anyone, I DO wish that they would have an opportunity to grow such as I did. And sometimes, going through hard times is the only way to accomplish that.
So, in closing, I am in Hamburg right now, enjoying the company of my mother's friend from highschool for the last time. I will be back in Mögglingen in about three days. From then it is only a week and a bit that I will be in Germany. As much as I wanted to go home the last couple weeks back, now I am second guessing my thoughts, as my year in Germany has also become a very large part of my life. I can not, right now, imagine how it will be when I go back to Canada and leave Germany... for a very long time, maybe for ever, I don't know. It has, although, been a wonderful adventure, in hindsight, and I would not have done anything else with my life this year, haven given the choice. :) I would pick an exchange year, any time, any place, anyhow. :)
Many thanks to my helpful family, the Armstrong Rotary Club, Rotary District 5060, the Kienzles, and all the helpful and friendly people that I have met on my exchange, before, during, and now after! You all mean so much to me!!! :P Thank you also to my hosting district and Rotary club for enabling me to learn from hard stumbling blocks. I am forever greatful.
See you on the other side.
k
Hebrews 10:36
Things have changed quite suddenly, knowing that I am going home soon. I have spoken with more people about things other than where I come from, how long I have until I go home, how long I have been here, weather or not we have fruit in Canada, where I have traveled in Europe and who I am currently living with. I have realized the importance and the pressure that is now on to see other exchange students as much as possible and to have those more deeper conversations with the friends that I have made here.
This year has not been a smooth ride, nor has it been a totally horrible one either. I have made the best of it as I could, while going along each problem. Sure there are tonnes of other things that I could have done to make the situations better and have better outcomes, but with that said, I do believe that tried my best and that's what is most important. :)
Thinking back on a lot of things, I feel like my exchange year was in many ways a failure - I have not had the greatest relationship with my host rotary club or my host families, I have not made friends in school or done many community activities, I did not participate in school to the extent that I tought I would have, and I have not learned perfect German. HOWEVER! I have learned many, many things during this year which I could not have learnt otherwise! :) I have indeed learned the German that I can now speak. It is not perfect, but I am able to express myself and have myself be understood by everyone around me. I have learned to deal with difficult people and rumours. I have learned to have a positive atittude, even if it didnt accure to me right away. I have learned to forgive and tolerate people. I have become more appreciative of my own language and am just head-over-heels happy that I can actually TALK English! :P Any among many many other things, I have learned to appreciate everything I have, in Canada and in Germany. :)
I know that I could have done many a things to make my year a better exchange year, and I would do so, haven given another chance, however, I believe for the deep, life changing lessons, I believe that my exchange has hit the hammer on the nail.
I know that things will be different when I come back home, having experienced all I have..and it is very difficult for me to imagine how it will look like.. But, I believe I am ready to take on the next part of my exchange and life with a confident face and a straight step, knowing that anything can happen, and that I want to and will work through the hard times, even if I am discouraged, struck down, or alone.
Rotary, specifically Armstrong Club and district 5060, has given me this opportunity, and I am thankful beyond words can express. I truly believe in this program and am thankful that there is such a program as this youth exchange program. :) It has really changed my life for the good - even (and for the most part) through the hard times. :) I would never want anyone to go through hard times on their exchange, but as it is, they DO occure. And as much as I would never wish such difficult times upon anyone, I DO wish that they would have an opportunity to grow such as I did. And sometimes, going through hard times is the only way to accomplish that.
So, in closing, I am in Hamburg right now, enjoying the company of my mother's friend from highschool for the last time. I will be back in Mögglingen in about three days. From then it is only a week and a bit that I will be in Germany. As much as I wanted to go home the last couple weeks back, now I am second guessing my thoughts, as my year in Germany has also become a very large part of my life. I can not, right now, imagine how it will be when I go back to Canada and leave Germany... for a very long time, maybe for ever, I don't know. It has, although, been a wonderful adventure, in hindsight, and I would not have done anything else with my life this year, haven given the choice. :) I would pick an exchange year, any time, any place, anyhow. :)
Many thanks to my helpful family, the Armstrong Rotary Club, Rotary District 5060, the Kienzles, and all the helpful and friendly people that I have met on my exchange, before, during, and now after! You all mean so much to me!!! :P Thank you also to my hosting district and Rotary club for enabling me to learn from hard stumbling blocks. I am forever greatful.
See you on the other side.
k
Hebrews 10:36
Saturday, May 9, 2009
The Day Before Mother's Day
Today is the 9th of May. Time has passed quite quickly the last couple months. I don't know where it went. I supposed it's normal for exchange students, so I have been told. :) I have been undergoing a lot of traveling within the past month and have been realizing the end of my exchange is drawing near...very near. It's just about 8 and a half months since I have arrived in Germany. Here are some things that I have learned this year:
- German
- Confidence to meet and talk to new people...in a different language
- Time passes quickly
- Beware of European horse radish
- Importance and impact of friendship
- Languages take time
- Observing how another culter worships God
- Clinging to those who love me
- Standing up for myself
- Remembering that I can always come home
- Not everyone are like Canadians
- Thrills of going 180 down the autobahn
- Perfecting seeing things from retrospect
- I really miss skiing
- Relying on God
- It's not a good idea to leave your H & M shopping bag on the bus
- What to do better next time
- and among many other million things: realizing the person that I want to become.
On the 21st, I went to my first (and most likely last, as I will be gone before the next one) Abschlussball for my dance course. It was a lot of fun. It is this ball at the end of a season of a dance course. There are three every year.
From the 9th of April, we had spring holidays for ten days. During that time, I went to church and hung out with the family for easter. Then easter monday, I went by train to visit Eva and Elisabeth, the neice and great neice of Uncle Otto. It was reallying interesting to live with them for a couple of days. The welcomly with open arms, took me in, showed me all around Austria and fed me way too much! :) It was interesting getting out of the country to go and see how Austrians live, see some of my distant relatives and also just get away from home for a while. :) It was a nice short holiday. After coming back, on the friday, the next day, my host family and I went to a communion up north for the twin cousins. It was interesting, having never beein in a catholic church before. But...it was a little boring. Next thing I know, its monday, the 20th, and Spencer is coming to Stuttgart airport and I have to come and pick him up!!
I was so excited to go! It was a little weird to have Spencer here, only because I have not seen him or any one from home in so long. Also, just that I have changed and grown so much and here I am showing him in real life, my life now. We took off the next day to Switzerland and stayed with one of his host families while he was there on exchange. We toured around Switzerland for 8 days on little day trips, and it was great! Then we headed off to Venice and then Rome, by train! It was great! Everything turned out really well, and went fairly smooth. We got back on Tuesday evening and spent this last week hanging around Germany. I showed Spencer where I am living and what I do and just the round abouts of my daily life. We also did a trip to Dachau concentration camp on thursday. Today, I took him to the airport really early in the morning. It was sad. I got so used to him being here and not having to be alone anymore.
I guess it's only two months until I am home. It wont take long, I am sure. I have two weeks of school, and then there is the Europe tour for three weeks. Then once I get back from that, its only another 5 weeks until I am home. I have mixed feelings about going home. It would be nice to stay here to learn more German of course, because I have TONNES still to learn, and it would be nice to stay longer to develope more stronger friendships, etc. I have also grown to like the idea of being out by myself, without anyone. Mind you, I am glad to go home because then I will be starting school in the fall, I will be off of Rotary eyes, and I can see my friends and family again. It's all so catch 22. :) But, I am looking foward to it, none-the-less....as it is the third part of this exchange adventure. (the preparing, the experiencing, and the readjusting)
Well... I believe that's all for now. I believe that I can say that I am more confindent in my German, and am taking proactive steps (finally!!) to better it by not speaking English, and that I am sure that my bags will definately be over weight when I come back, dispite the load Spence took with him! :P But in the mean, I want to thank everyone, once again for helping me out with this year. I am so utterly greatful! I wish you a most wonderful month and Mom, Happy Mother's Day!! :)
K
- German
- Confidence to meet and talk to new people...in a different language
- Time passes quickly
- Beware of European horse radish
- Importance and impact of friendship
- Languages take time
- Observing how another culter worships God
- Clinging to those who love me
- Standing up for myself
- Remembering that I can always come home
- Not everyone are like Canadians
- Thrills of going 180 down the autobahn
- Perfecting seeing things from retrospect
- I really miss skiing
- Relying on God
- It's not a good idea to leave your H & M shopping bag on the bus
- What to do better next time
- and among many other million things: realizing the person that I want to become.
On the 21st, I went to my first (and most likely last, as I will be gone before the next one) Abschlussball for my dance course. It was a lot of fun. It is this ball at the end of a season of a dance course. There are three every year.
From the 9th of April, we had spring holidays for ten days. During that time, I went to church and hung out with the family for easter. Then easter monday, I went by train to visit Eva and Elisabeth, the neice and great neice of Uncle Otto. It was reallying interesting to live with them for a couple of days. The welcomly with open arms, took me in, showed me all around Austria and fed me way too much! :) It was interesting getting out of the country to go and see how Austrians live, see some of my distant relatives and also just get away from home for a while. :) It was a nice short holiday. After coming back, on the friday, the next day, my host family and I went to a communion up north for the twin cousins. It was interesting, having never beein in a catholic church before. But...it was a little boring. Next thing I know, its monday, the 20th, and Spencer is coming to Stuttgart airport and I have to come and pick him up!!
I was so excited to go! It was a little weird to have Spencer here, only because I have not seen him or any one from home in so long. Also, just that I have changed and grown so much and here I am showing him in real life, my life now. We took off the next day to Switzerland and stayed with one of his host families while he was there on exchange. We toured around Switzerland for 8 days on little day trips, and it was great! Then we headed off to Venice and then Rome, by train! It was great! Everything turned out really well, and went fairly smooth. We got back on Tuesday evening and spent this last week hanging around Germany. I showed Spencer where I am living and what I do and just the round abouts of my daily life. We also did a trip to Dachau concentration camp on thursday. Today, I took him to the airport really early in the morning. It was sad. I got so used to him being here and not having to be alone anymore.
I guess it's only two months until I am home. It wont take long, I am sure. I have two weeks of school, and then there is the Europe tour for three weeks. Then once I get back from that, its only another 5 weeks until I am home. I have mixed feelings about going home. It would be nice to stay here to learn more German of course, because I have TONNES still to learn, and it would be nice to stay longer to develope more stronger friendships, etc. I have also grown to like the idea of being out by myself, without anyone. Mind you, I am glad to go home because then I will be starting school in the fall, I will be off of Rotary eyes, and I can see my friends and family again. It's all so catch 22. :) But, I am looking foward to it, none-the-less....as it is the third part of this exchange adventure. (the preparing, the experiencing, and the readjusting)
Well... I believe that's all for now. I believe that I can say that I am more confindent in my German, and am taking proactive steps (finally!!) to better it by not speaking English, and that I am sure that my bags will definately be over weight when I come back, dispite the load Spence took with him! :P But in the mean, I want to thank everyone, once again for helping me out with this year. I am so utterly greatful! I wish you a most wonderful month and Mom, Happy Mother's Day!! :)
K
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Raining into Spring
Hello all, once again!! It seems the last month has been full of overdue replies to everyone! I am sorry I haven't been a more faithful blog writer!
So for the last two weeks I have been trotting the country of Germany. I was in Hamburg for two weeks visiting some friends of my mother's. We went to Berlin, Lübeck, Timmendorferstrand, and some other places!! It was so great to see the northern part of the country and talk REAL HIGH German with people! So refreshing for my brain and my sanity!! :P
The last week I was in Munich with Edi, a friend of mine, visiting the city. Although it was so rainy!! I think I am coming up with a cold!! Highly contageous, I can tell!! Then we were in Belefeld, which is up in the north again, for this youth conference on Saturday! It was so great! There was a guy from Texas there who did two messages! So nice to hear English sermons!!! :) I definately miss them from home!! Also today, we went to a church service with an American Choir from Liberty University. So great!
I am home now, and so very thankful to be sleeping in my own bed again! I am glad to get back into a bit of routine and rest a little. However, not so thrilled to go back to school tomorrow. Ugh! My German seems to have taken the characteristic of a stalemate and I seem to have gotten in a one step forward, two steps back habit. Not to my liking of course, but just seems to happen that way. Perhaps I am not taking enough effort??? I have my rotary presentation on thursday and I have to say everything in German...that should be interesting!
Anyhow, this is just a short update, and hopefully once I have more time (HAhHAAHAHH!) I will write more next time! I wish you all a very warm thank you and liebe Grüße aus Deutschland! Vielen herzlichen dank für alles!!! Bis bald!
k
So for the last two weeks I have been trotting the country of Germany. I was in Hamburg for two weeks visiting some friends of my mother's. We went to Berlin, Lübeck, Timmendorferstrand, and some other places!! It was so great to see the northern part of the country and talk REAL HIGH German with people! So refreshing for my brain and my sanity!! :P
The last week I was in Munich with Edi, a friend of mine, visiting the city. Although it was so rainy!! I think I am coming up with a cold!! Highly contageous, I can tell!! Then we were in Belefeld, which is up in the north again, for this youth conference on Saturday! It was so great! There was a guy from Texas there who did two messages! So nice to hear English sermons!!! :) I definately miss them from home!! Also today, we went to a church service with an American Choir from Liberty University. So great!
I am home now, and so very thankful to be sleeping in my own bed again! I am glad to get back into a bit of routine and rest a little. However, not so thrilled to go back to school tomorrow. Ugh! My German seems to have taken the characteristic of a stalemate and I seem to have gotten in a one step forward, two steps back habit. Not to my liking of course, but just seems to happen that way. Perhaps I am not taking enough effort??? I have my rotary presentation on thursday and I have to say everything in German...that should be interesting!
Anyhow, this is just a short update, and hopefully once I have more time (HAhHAAHAHH!) I will write more next time! I wish you all a very warm thank you and liebe Grüße aus Deutschland! Vielen herzlichen dank für alles!!! Bis bald!
k
Monday, February 2, 2009
Finally!!
Wow. Just realized that I skipped a whole month!! I have been just too busy. I figure that I am not really going to recall details. But I will just try to keep you up to date. Okay. so!!
Had the best new years ever! went to turn gala with the messners, was this gymnastics show, which was cool! Went to Their house in Müllheim. Took a trip to Freiburg for the day and walked a little in Rotweil, and Basel, Switzerland, but it was Sunday that day. (everything was closed) Also had some nice days without school! yay!!
Things at the Messners were getting a little tensionous. But on the 23rd I switched!!! Yay!! Things are going 100% better now and I am loving my new family! They are so great! I have been talking more English, but its necessary to form the connection of friendship. That is what was lacking at the Messners. The Kienzles have no prejudices against me, and therefore things are going much better! I am able to do more things and I am feeling like part of the family!! I am so very greatful! We went on a skiing weekend just this past weekend. It was nice. We got back yesterday evening. My muscles ache so bad. But thats okay. I have started up dance again, and Daniel is my partner. Oh, yeah and the Weissball is this dance that the Messners invited me to and I invited Daniel to be my partner. It was lots of fun because it was ballroom dancing and even though there were a bunch of old people, it was always fun to dance. :) I borrowed Bärbels dress. It was so nice of her to let me borrow one!! :)
I really missed going skiing! It was so great to get up on the mountain and go skiiing! I was nicknamed 'woody kay' because I kept going on the peanut trails in the trees. It was a lot of fun. I think that perhaps my good side might have finally surfaced to this rock hard Rotary Club. We shall see. Last week I also went to a relaxation Thermal. It was so great! I wish we had more of these in Canada. I wish I could take it back home with me. There were saunas and realxing pools, it was just really nice. So tiring though! I have been eating well these last couple weeks. Bärbel is a Thai cooker! So I have been getting asian food! Therefore, my belly, I believe has been the fullest this whole year this last week! It is somewhat terrifying!!
I have really gotten into the youth group here and have been talking to more people! I went to this girls sleepover last weekend and I really enjoyed that. Although, I am sure it would have been much much better, had I understood more. But it was nice to get to know the girls a little bit more! It was great!
School is same as it always it. Langweilig. Aber es geht. Wish I didnt have to go, but ahh..its only a couple more months! haha!
I am going to Hambourg in a couple of weeks to visit one of my moms friends. I am so very excited! It will be fantastic, I know it! I am really looking forward to going. I will be gone for two and a half weeks. So it will be nice!
Time is passing so quickly now. And now that I am starting to enjoy my time here (finally!! cant believe that it took so long!!) I am sure that I will be home before I know it. :( I am sometimes thinking that I dont want to go home. That I would rather just stay here. Although I know that with Rotary, I CANT. But perhaps afterwards, I will come back. I will miss the Church and youth group and the friends from there, and the Kienzles. I know it. I am so glad that things have finally turned around!
I am so very thankful for everyone that has helped make this exchange possible for me! I have not forgotten your graciousness! I remember it always! I am so very thankful and I just wanted to tell you that things are finally turning around!! Thank yo so much! Until next time...this time I am hoping to reply sooner! Thanks again and bis bald!
k
Had the best new years ever! went to turn gala with the messners, was this gymnastics show, which was cool! Went to Their house in Müllheim. Took a trip to Freiburg for the day and walked a little in Rotweil, and Basel, Switzerland, but it was Sunday that day. (everything was closed) Also had some nice days without school! yay!!
Things at the Messners were getting a little tensionous. But on the 23rd I switched!!! Yay!! Things are going 100% better now and I am loving my new family! They are so great! I have been talking more English, but its necessary to form the connection of friendship. That is what was lacking at the Messners. The Kienzles have no prejudices against me, and therefore things are going much better! I am able to do more things and I am feeling like part of the family!! I am so very greatful! We went on a skiing weekend just this past weekend. It was nice. We got back yesterday evening. My muscles ache so bad. But thats okay. I have started up dance again, and Daniel is my partner. Oh, yeah and the Weissball is this dance that the Messners invited me to and I invited Daniel to be my partner. It was lots of fun because it was ballroom dancing and even though there were a bunch of old people, it was always fun to dance. :) I borrowed Bärbels dress. It was so nice of her to let me borrow one!! :)
I really missed going skiing! It was so great to get up on the mountain and go skiiing! I was nicknamed 'woody kay' because I kept going on the peanut trails in the trees. It was a lot of fun. I think that perhaps my good side might have finally surfaced to this rock hard Rotary Club. We shall see. Last week I also went to a relaxation Thermal. It was so great! I wish we had more of these in Canada. I wish I could take it back home with me. There were saunas and realxing pools, it was just really nice. So tiring though! I have been eating well these last couple weeks. Bärbel is a Thai cooker! So I have been getting asian food! Therefore, my belly, I believe has been the fullest this whole year this last week! It is somewhat terrifying!!
I have really gotten into the youth group here and have been talking to more people! I went to this girls sleepover last weekend and I really enjoyed that. Although, I am sure it would have been much much better, had I understood more. But it was nice to get to know the girls a little bit more! It was great!
School is same as it always it. Langweilig. Aber es geht. Wish I didnt have to go, but ahh..its only a couple more months! haha!
I am going to Hambourg in a couple of weeks to visit one of my moms friends. I am so very excited! It will be fantastic, I know it! I am really looking forward to going. I will be gone for two and a half weeks. So it will be nice!
Time is passing so quickly now. And now that I am starting to enjoy my time here (finally!! cant believe that it took so long!!) I am sure that I will be home before I know it. :( I am sometimes thinking that I dont want to go home. That I would rather just stay here. Although I know that with Rotary, I CANT. But perhaps afterwards, I will come back. I will miss the Church and youth group and the friends from there, and the Kienzles. I know it. I am so glad that things have finally turned around!
I am so very thankful for everyone that has helped make this exchange possible for me! I have not forgotten your graciousness! I remember it always! I am so very thankful and I just wanted to tell you that things are finally turning around!! Thank yo so much! Until next time...this time I am hoping to reply sooner! Thanks again and bis bald!
k
Friday, December 26, 2008
Frohe Weihnachten!
I can't believe that it's over already! It is now the 26th and the time has flown! I have been already contacting Helen for my flight home and can't believe that it will soon be time for me to actually take that flight!
To catch up on the last month!
On the 9th of December, I made cookies with Ursel! Christmas cookies! They were Vanille Kipferl. They are moon shaped cookies with sugar (powder or regular) sprinkled on top and they are good. :) It was good to make them - Germans make many many different kinds of little cookies during Christmas time and Ursel had already made some before. They are so cute!!
On the 10th, my friend Edi was teaching me how to play the guitar!
On the 12th, Friday, it was snowing. Went to small groups Christmas party thingy. Was very nice!
On Saturday, the 13th, went to Nürnberg with the other exchange students. We planned it ourselves and went to the Documentation Centrum (Nazi museum) and the castle on the hill (although it was closed and too dark to take good photos) and the Christkindelsmarkt which is the big Christmas market in Nürnberg. It was really great! I wished we could have stayed at the museum longer, because there was SO much information there, but it was nice to rush around and get stuff done, rather than our usual standing in once place for an hour! :P It was great! After that, Edi and two pastors from the US picked me up from the train station in Gmünd and we walked around the Christmas market there for a bit. It was interesting to talk to the two pastors. They were working on this conference project for next year and I was talking with them while we drove them to their hotel. It was nice!
On Sunday the 14th, the one pastor from the US did an English sermon in church. It was nice to hear an English sermon, and not need anyone to translate. Alfred translated the whole sermon to the other people in church. It was great and I totally sympathized with him - I can imagine, that translating a whole sermon to the whole church is a little strenuous! Then after church, the Messners took me to a castle - Hohenrechberg - in Gmünd. After we came back, we had tea and then went to a Bach concert in Stuttgart (the Messners love Bach) and it was good. It was nice to go somewhere and do things with them!! :D
On the 16th, I showed the Messners some photos from Canada, which was nice. I only had school after lunch so I got to sleep all day, which was great! :D
Wednesday the 17th was the Rotary Christmas meeting. We had it at this old monestary in Lorch. It was really really cold. But interesting. And it was nice to talk with the rotary people again. I realized that I could understand a lot of what people were saying. (My German has been improving a lot!) and there was a small service type thing before we ate, then after we ate, I helped them clean up a little and we got home at about 12.
Thursday, Ursel let me sleep in, because we got home late the night before, and it was also the last real day of classes before the holidays! So it was a nice feeling to look forward to no more school!!! Although I had a really strong sense of homesickness that day, especially at the end of the day. I cleaned my room and sorted Christmas gifts.
On Friday, it was so silly at school. There was this Christmas celebration thing that was supposed to be going on, but it was basically just everyone sitting around and talking. I went home after about an hour and a half. But then! Edi picked me up and we went to Stuttgart! We went shopping on König Str. first and ate Pho! And then we went to The Nutcracker ballet from the St. Petersburger Stadt Ballet! It was really great! I was so excited! It was so great of Edi to come with me! Then we drove to Ludwigsburg to Edi's brothers house and stayed there over night.
Saturday the 20th, Edi, me, Andi and his wife Gini, walked around Ludwigsburg and looked at two of the three castles there. Then at 1:30pm, Edi and I took the English tour of the Residence Castle! It was great! It was a great tour for what you paid and the tour guide was good as well. After that was finished, we went to a Gospel choir concert at a church there in Ludwigsburg! It was nice! The singers were from the US.
On Sunday, the 21st, Daniel, one of the Messners sons came over for Christmas and was here. I went to church and then in the afternoon, I went with Edi to this family Christmas celebration, and then to a youth group event that the youth organize here, called Impulse. It was great, there was a speaker from Austria and the music was great, and there were lots of people. I was amazed to realize that I could understand a lot of what the speaker was saying to me, even without Edi translating for me! It was nice!
On Monday, the 22nd, I went to German school, but the teacher didn't show up. So I was talking to another student that showed up as well and waited until my bus came. Aga and Tobias (the other son of the Messners) were here when I got back, and we spent the evening together. It was nice. Daniel and Tobias and I played 'Risiko' (Risk) which was great. :)
On the 23rd, I wrapped my Christmas gifts and Aga, Tobias and I decorated the Christmas tree. it was a nice tree. It was filled with straw stars that Willy loves to make and real candles. I love the real candles! They are so nice! Of course, you have to be careful, when you light them. We ended up lighting them only when we were opening gifts on the 24th, and you can't leave the room of course, but even though they only last so long, they are really nice to look at in the evening!! :) They are made specially, so that the wax doesnt actually drip over the sides of the candles. They are really cool. I am hoping to bring a set back with me! :D That night, I was invited to a Christmas hang out night with the small groups youth group. It was great. We had these two little cook thingers where you had your own little pan and put different things in the pans, and you made them hot or fried the stuff you put in the little pan. It was great!
On the 24th, it was a family day. We all were really relaxed. Aga made this Polish cake-bread thing, with poppy seeds that was good and we ate that for tea time. We went to church at 4:30pm and after we came back, we had a dinner of Brätwurst and Kartoffelsalad and leaf salad. Then we gathered around the tree and read Luke 2 and opened gifts. It was nice. It was very relaxed and pleasant. It was nice to have some family time all together. We went in a circle and whoever gave the gift, took it from the tree and gave it to the person it was for. But we went around. It was nice.
On the 25th, yesterday, I spent the day with Edi's family. They had invited me to their home after church and for the day to celebrate Christmas with their family. It was really nice. We went to church, came home, ate lunch, sat around, took some pictures, went for a walk, came back, talked, sat around, opened gifts, had tea and coffee, looked at family pictures on a slide prjector, ate somemore! and just sat around, enjoying eachothers company! It was so very nice! I love their family! They are so great! They had all drawn names for Christmas gifts, so that only one person bought something for one other person. And they were all put in a basket with the name of the person, and the person that opened their gift, went up and picked a present, read the name, and then gave it to that person - so that no one would find out who gave the present (although sometimes it was pretty obvious....haha). It was really really nice! :D
Today, I was a little sick in the stomach, so even though we were planning to go look at other towns, we didn't end up going because I went to sleep. I had a dizzy episode and actually threw up, but everything is much better now. I think tomorrow we are going to tour around a little bit, which will be nice. :) I am glad that I am in the Messner family for Christmas! It was also very nice to get a feel of two different families Christmas'. Edi is such a great friend and his family is so great to me! I am so blessed to know them! :D
I missed my family during this family time of the year, but not as much as I thought I would. I guess I didn't think about it too much, so it wasn't as bad as I thought. But I phoned home and everything was better when I did. So, things are good.
I have been told by many people that the second part of the year is the best part of the year! Well, I am looking forward to it with all my heart and am excited to get to know what more this year has to offer! I truely believe that I am over the hardest parts of the exchange year and am anticipating what this next part will hold! I am so very thankful for all the Christmas wishes and new year encouragements and every other kind of support and encouragement that I have recieved! I am thankful for the cards and gifts that were send my way, through email and post! Thank you all so very much! It has been so great knowing that I have loving people to come back to in Canada!! I pray that your Christmas celebrations were also lovely and that you have much joy and happiness in this coming new year! Jesus is awesome and I am so thankful for His birth! May He bless each and everyone of you!
Thank you! And have a very wonderful holiday!
k
To catch up on the last month!
On the 9th of December, I made cookies with Ursel! Christmas cookies! They were Vanille Kipferl. They are moon shaped cookies with sugar (powder or regular) sprinkled on top and they are good. :) It was good to make them - Germans make many many different kinds of little cookies during Christmas time and Ursel had already made some before. They are so cute!!
On the 10th, my friend Edi was teaching me how to play the guitar!
On the 12th, Friday, it was snowing. Went to small groups Christmas party thingy. Was very nice!
On Saturday, the 13th, went to Nürnberg with the other exchange students. We planned it ourselves and went to the Documentation Centrum (Nazi museum) and the castle on the hill (although it was closed and too dark to take good photos) and the Christkindelsmarkt which is the big Christmas market in Nürnberg. It was really great! I wished we could have stayed at the museum longer, because there was SO much information there, but it was nice to rush around and get stuff done, rather than our usual standing in once place for an hour! :P It was great! After that, Edi and two pastors from the US picked me up from the train station in Gmünd and we walked around the Christmas market there for a bit. It was interesting to talk to the two pastors. They were working on this conference project for next year and I was talking with them while we drove them to their hotel. It was nice!
On Sunday the 14th, the one pastor from the US did an English sermon in church. It was nice to hear an English sermon, and not need anyone to translate. Alfred translated the whole sermon to the other people in church. It was great and I totally sympathized with him - I can imagine, that translating a whole sermon to the whole church is a little strenuous! Then after church, the Messners took me to a castle - Hohenrechberg - in Gmünd. After we came back, we had tea and then went to a Bach concert in Stuttgart (the Messners love Bach) and it was good. It was nice to go somewhere and do things with them!! :D
On the 16th, I showed the Messners some photos from Canada, which was nice. I only had school after lunch so I got to sleep all day, which was great! :D
Wednesday the 17th was the Rotary Christmas meeting. We had it at this old monestary in Lorch. It was really really cold. But interesting. And it was nice to talk with the rotary people again. I realized that I could understand a lot of what people were saying. (My German has been improving a lot!) and there was a small service type thing before we ate, then after we ate, I helped them clean up a little and we got home at about 12.
Thursday, Ursel let me sleep in, because we got home late the night before, and it was also the last real day of classes before the holidays! So it was a nice feeling to look forward to no more school!!! Although I had a really strong sense of homesickness that day, especially at the end of the day. I cleaned my room and sorted Christmas gifts.
On Friday, it was so silly at school. There was this Christmas celebration thing that was supposed to be going on, but it was basically just everyone sitting around and talking. I went home after about an hour and a half. But then! Edi picked me up and we went to Stuttgart! We went shopping on König Str. first and ate Pho! And then we went to The Nutcracker ballet from the St. Petersburger Stadt Ballet! It was really great! I was so excited! It was so great of Edi to come with me! Then we drove to Ludwigsburg to Edi's brothers house and stayed there over night.
Saturday the 20th, Edi, me, Andi and his wife Gini, walked around Ludwigsburg and looked at two of the three castles there. Then at 1:30pm, Edi and I took the English tour of the Residence Castle! It was great! It was a great tour for what you paid and the tour guide was good as well. After that was finished, we went to a Gospel choir concert at a church there in Ludwigsburg! It was nice! The singers were from the US.
On Sunday, the 21st, Daniel, one of the Messners sons came over for Christmas and was here. I went to church and then in the afternoon, I went with Edi to this family Christmas celebration, and then to a youth group event that the youth organize here, called Impulse. It was great, there was a speaker from Austria and the music was great, and there were lots of people. I was amazed to realize that I could understand a lot of what the speaker was saying to me, even without Edi translating for me! It was nice!
On Monday, the 22nd, I went to German school, but the teacher didn't show up. So I was talking to another student that showed up as well and waited until my bus came. Aga and Tobias (the other son of the Messners) were here when I got back, and we spent the evening together. It was nice. Daniel and Tobias and I played 'Risiko' (Risk) which was great. :)
On the 23rd, I wrapped my Christmas gifts and Aga, Tobias and I decorated the Christmas tree. it was a nice tree. It was filled with straw stars that Willy loves to make and real candles. I love the real candles! They are so nice! Of course, you have to be careful, when you light them. We ended up lighting them only when we were opening gifts on the 24th, and you can't leave the room of course, but even though they only last so long, they are really nice to look at in the evening!! :) They are made specially, so that the wax doesnt actually drip over the sides of the candles. They are really cool. I am hoping to bring a set back with me! :D That night, I was invited to a Christmas hang out night with the small groups youth group. It was great. We had these two little cook thingers where you had your own little pan and put different things in the pans, and you made them hot or fried the stuff you put in the little pan. It was great!
On the 24th, it was a family day. We all were really relaxed. Aga made this Polish cake-bread thing, with poppy seeds that was good and we ate that for tea time. We went to church at 4:30pm and after we came back, we had a dinner of Brätwurst and Kartoffelsalad and leaf salad. Then we gathered around the tree and read Luke 2 and opened gifts. It was nice. It was very relaxed and pleasant. It was nice to have some family time all together. We went in a circle and whoever gave the gift, took it from the tree and gave it to the person it was for. But we went around. It was nice.
On the 25th, yesterday, I spent the day with Edi's family. They had invited me to their home after church and for the day to celebrate Christmas with their family. It was really nice. We went to church, came home, ate lunch, sat around, took some pictures, went for a walk, came back, talked, sat around, opened gifts, had tea and coffee, looked at family pictures on a slide prjector, ate somemore! and just sat around, enjoying eachothers company! It was so very nice! I love their family! They are so great! They had all drawn names for Christmas gifts, so that only one person bought something for one other person. And they were all put in a basket with the name of the person, and the person that opened their gift, went up and picked a present, read the name, and then gave it to that person - so that no one would find out who gave the present (although sometimes it was pretty obvious....haha). It was really really nice! :D
Today, I was a little sick in the stomach, so even though we were planning to go look at other towns, we didn't end up going because I went to sleep. I had a dizzy episode and actually threw up, but everything is much better now. I think tomorrow we are going to tour around a little bit, which will be nice. :) I am glad that I am in the Messner family for Christmas! It was also very nice to get a feel of two different families Christmas'. Edi is such a great friend and his family is so great to me! I am so blessed to know them! :D
I missed my family during this family time of the year, but not as much as I thought I would. I guess I didn't think about it too much, so it wasn't as bad as I thought. But I phoned home and everything was better when I did. So, things are good.
I have been told by many people that the second part of the year is the best part of the year! Well, I am looking forward to it with all my heart and am excited to get to know what more this year has to offer! I truely believe that I am over the hardest parts of the exchange year and am anticipating what this next part will hold! I am so very thankful for all the Christmas wishes and new year encouragements and every other kind of support and encouragement that I have recieved! I am thankful for the cards and gifts that were send my way, through email and post! Thank you all so very much! It has been so great knowing that I have loving people to come back to in Canada!! I pray that your Christmas celebrations were also lovely and that you have much joy and happiness in this coming new year! Jesus is awesome and I am so thankful for His birth! May He bless each and everyone of you!
Thank you! And have a very wonderful holiday!
k
Monday, December 8, 2008
NEW HOST FAMILY!! Und Geburtstag!
Okay!!! Wow! This week was extremely tiring and full of stuff! I have not been getting the sleep that I need to function well, BUT I think that's a good sign, because it means that I have been keeping busy!! So!!
God has been teaching me so much these last couple months!! It's amazing! On the 18th, I realized that I need to forgive, forget, and move on. Yes, sure, it wasn't going so great with the first host family, but I need to work on having the right attitude to handle things! And it was so great, once I realized this - it made things SOO much easier! (I understand now, the importance of not fussing over the little things and the crucial positive attitude you need as an exchange student! ....once again, Rotary is right!)
On Wednesday the 19th, all of the grades (I think of all Baden Württemberg) 12 and 13 got to go to a University, or further schooling of their choice to check out what they want to do. So I went with Josie and Selin (and this dude named Philip, who was a friend of Josie and was from grade 13...I think.), from my class to Stuttgart. We walked around mostly, and didn't really pay attention to the information being offered, then before we headed home we did some shopping in Stuttgart. It was so nice to hang out with Selin and Josie outside of school. We could talk and not have to worry about being quiet because the teacher said so! :P It was really great!
On the 20th, a Thursday, Alex, Bärbel's daughter had phoned me to invite me for hot chocolate after school and talk a bit. It was really great, because Alex told me that Bebe wanted to talk to me that night, and Alex was going to mediate between us two (which I thought was perfect, because then it would be kept rather rational) and I told her my side of the story about living in the Sporys family and Alex could then get boths sides. And it was really nice to have an ex-excahnge student understand, having been through some similar situations herself. And the talk was alright. I was really glad to have Alex there. I mostly listened to Bebe talk, and afterwards Alex (and her mother) had offered me to come to their house for the week until I went to the Messners, but I decided against it, just to get some closure from this first family, and try to make things smooth before I left. So as much as I wanted to leave, I stayed. I believe it worked out for the best, because by the time that I left, a week later, things were much better between us all and even though I didn't spend a lot of time with the family, I didn't have such bitter feelings towards them anymore (which is a good thing, and something I knew I needed to work on and now things are great).
On Friday the 21st, I went to Youth Group and then went to a Iris's house (a girl from youth group) with some other people and hung out there for a while. It was nice to get out of the house and to spend some time with other people!
On Saturday, I went to dance, and then when I came back, I was supposed to go with Julika to a choir concert that her cousin was in, but it was snowing and the trains didn't go anymore. So I stayed home. Which was probably the best anyways. I watched Indiana Jones (most of it, anyways) with Ralf and Nils...there's just something about watching English films in a foreign language, with the voice overs that really get to me...But it was okay.
Then on Sunday the 23rd, I went to church and dance, and then Edi had invited me for cake and coffee at his house in the evening. Toli and his girlfriend were supposed to come too, but they ended up not showing up, but I had a great time with Edi anyways. I brought my picutres along with me from home and we talked and ate cake, and it was really great! It was so very nice to find someone that I can really talk to. (Edi understands English because he went to Canada a couple years ago...I can't remember if I already said that....)
Anyhow, then Monday I went to visit the Messners! It was so great! I was really looking forward to coming then! Bärbel drove me and we had tea with Ursel and it was so great! :P
Tuesday the 25th, Bärbel and Alex came over for a visit (and brought me some winter boots! yay!) and I went to Enchiladas with Edi for dinner - we discussed different places to go and things to see (I brought like a thousand pamphlets of stuff that I wanted to do!) :P
Wednesday, I went to German school, then afterwards, Daniel from dance asked me if I wanted to go to his choir with him. It was so great! Here is the website: liederkranz-unterkochen.de . It was really great. It was funny too, because I was trying to sing 'Winter Wonderland' but the German version, and I found that 'erschroken' is such a hard word to pronounce!! It was great though! The ladies were funny. Hehe!
I was supposed to go to this Monestary (spelling??) on Thursday with the Rotary club, but that was cancelled because the lady doing the tour had an acciedent.
Friday, I went to Small Groups (every second week they do small groups and every other week they do youth group) at Iris's house and then hung out with Edi afterwards and just talked. It was so great! (even though I didn't understand a lot of what they were saying, but it was nice, once again, to hang out with friends!)
Saturday was the big SWITCH!! It was the 29th of November! Finally! After a month of waiting! It was so great! I basically packed the whole day, then went to dance, and right after I got back, Willy picked me up! Things are going SOOO much better now! I am really feeling comfortable being in Germany, and I am really starting to like it here now. The Messners have two sons, but they are grown and are out of the house. I will meet them when they come for Christmas though. And they are completely different people, and are very patient and trusting. I lied...Ursel is actually retired. But she was a teacher. And it's so great! We barely speak English (although I don't say a lot in German, just because I don't know what to say yet, but it's only been a week and a bit...) and I understand almost EVERYTHING that they say. They speak nice and slow and high German, so it's really great!
Sunday I went to church with the Messners to see where they go to church (also because Edi, who is my ride to church now, because he lives closer to me than Kristina, sings in the church choir and they went to another church that day). It was funny. :P I thought it was great though. Hehe. It's a bit more old fashioned, but it was great to see where they go to church. Then I went to dance, and it was the last day of dance until January. It was nice!
On the 1st of December, Monday, I recieved my advent calender!! It's this box with a tree on top that has the windows on the side. (and it's GOOD German chocolate too!!) It's great! I also went with Ursel and Willy to this Advents party for the Hospiz organization that they volunteer for. It was nice. :P Really nice people.
On the 2nd, a Tuesday, I took the wrong bus home from school, but I thought it was utterly hilarious! I laughed. It was great too, just because normally I might get mad at wasting time, but it was just funny to me. And I ended up talking to Lena (from the 11th class) and she walked around Gmünd with me for a bit while I waited for my bus from Schwäbisch Gmünd to Bargau came. It was nice, actually, because I walked around a little to the Weihnachts Markt (Christmas market) and that was nice. I love them. But I just walked through and didn't really look so much. It was nice, though!
On Wednesday, I went again to German school and then to the choir with Daniel. They are such nice people in the choir. It was great. We sang more Christmas songs and 'Fame.' It was funny. When they sing, you wouldn't think they were German at all... but then they say a word and it gives it away. Hahaha.
Thursday the 4th was my birthday!! YAY! but it didnt feel like my birthday at all!! It was so weird. But anyhow, I got gifts from the Messners - an angel and a book about Ostalbkreis, which is the area that we are living in and chocolate and a poinsettia! And also a sweater from Bärbel, an angel from Eugenio, two books with photos from my stay at the Sporys house from their family, and cards and more chocolate from other people. My favourite was the PJ's and the Socks mom and grama made for me! Thanks!! :P I ate dinner with the Messners and Edi, and then Edi and I went to Schwäbisch Gmünd and walked around. It was a nice small birthday... but was okay.
I really appreciated all the cards too! Thanks so much to everyone!
Friday the 5th, I went with Edi to this 'Feuerzungenbowlen' night. It's this drink and you make it in a pot over the stove (they had hot plates there) and it's wine with fruit tea, and you have this peice of metal over the pot with holes in the bottom. Then you have this clump of sugar you put on the metal and then you pour rum over the sugar and light the rum on fire. Then the sugar drops into the wine - tea - rum mixture. It was really interesting. It tasted okay...if you like wine. :P Also, they showed a Charlie Chaplin black and white film, and we had to dress up. This was at Edi's University in Gmünd. It was nice. :)
Saturday I went to Ulm with the other exchange students. We went skating and visited the church (highest church in the world) and went to the Christmas market and drank Glühwein and Fruchteepunsch. It was nice. Then I went out with Julika, Nadine, Selin, Josie, Alex, and Lisa to Sancho Panchos for my birthday! It was nice of them to take me out. My gift from them was a Schwäbisch Dictionary. It was kind of funny...of course to them. Haha. But its great. It was nice to hang out with the girls! (they are all from my classes) There was this crazy dude that was singing and playing the guitar at the restaurant too. It was fun.
Then on Sunday, went to church and made straw stars with Willy, then went to Gmünd with Ursel to this Choir concert and the Weihnachtsmarkt there too. It was a nice evening and it was a nice day too. Although I am lacking in sleep!!! I need to catch up tonight!!
Anyhow, today was an okay day. I have German school in a couple of hours and have to get ready for that. Man! I am not saying things in detail, because I just realized that I have had to catch up on pretty much two weeks! But things are going much better, and I am making friends, and things are going good and I am having more fun! It seems like I wish I had more days to do things, especially on the weekends! But I am starting to get the feeling that I don't want to come home (sorry, mom.. :D)
Thank you to everyone for the Birthday wishes! I feel only as old as I was last week, but I know that I am changing faster in the last three and a half months than I have in six! So it's so awsome to be here and to grow and change and figure out who I am and the person that I want to be! It's so great to say that I finally feel like this is what my year should be like! I am so very blessed and thank everyone for making this possible!! Thank you thank you thank you!! VIELEN DANK!!
I can't post pics now, but in the future sometime, I will!! Okay, so that's all for now, but until next time!
Gruß
K
Monday, November 17, 2008
Laughing for the First Time in Two Months
Things have just been so busy and yet not so busy. I guess it's just been taking me some training to get over procrastination! Okay, so for the last months update for the two weeks!
On the 4th of November: I had a talk with my host parents. Together. I expressed my feelings about how I felt about my exchange so far and that it wasn't going so great. I expressed willingness to try to fix this. I was caught off guard by my host families replies and reactions and just their thoughts on how to fix the problem. I realized after the talk that I needed to change host families. I could not just skim the surface of an exchange, I don't want to; I want to dive deep and really taste the real meat from which I have only smelt the wafting aroma from afar. It was a difficult decision for me because I am always hopeful that things will get better. However, being almost three months into my exchange now, I don't see things with my current host family getting any better anytime soon. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that they HAD to take an exchange student, but they didn't necessarily WANT one.
So I emailed my counsellor to tell him what was up (after receiving my request for him to search a new host family for me, he passed on that responsibility to my scheduled second host mom...they have really odd ways of doing Rotary in Germany...not that they are wrong, but I don't particularly agree with everything. I am really glad I am from district 5060!!!!!!!! I love you guys!) . And in the next couple of days, I heard from him and my second host mom, and they said that they have another host family that I could go to in a couple of weeks. I was so overjoyed!!
On the 6th, my current host mom had an art exhibition to set up for for the weekend. So I helped her a little bit with the set up.
On the 7th, I helped her out again, and then afterwards, went to Göppingen for a Rotex weekend! It was the first weekend the exchange students from the district met for the weekend! it was so much fun! I had such a wonderful time with them! It is such a wonderful feeling to know that they are going through some of the same things as you; learning the language, some family problems, club problems, cultural differences, etc. So it is really comforting that you are not alone on this and you have someone that understands you right now! There are about 20 or so inbounds in the area. We are all fairly spread out, so we can not really see each other without spending at least 20€ on a train ticket (which is a real bummer!) and host families aren't too keen on driving us places, I am sure...or at least my family isn't. I have been hearing about places the other exchange students have gone already, and have been really wondering if my family is the one not-so-great family I will get for this year. I have been told that every exchange student has a bad family, and I am comforted by that. I just wish that it would end already...but I have been trying to learn to be patient.
Anyhow, so the Rotex weekend was so great! I have posted pics. It was the first time in two months that I have really laughed. Honestly. I mean, other than maybe some forced laughs and some little ironic chortles, it was the first time that I laughed and really meant it and enjoyed myself! It was a great feeling, and yet a sad one at the same time.
We met on the Friday, and that night we went to a youth hostel on the outskirts of Göppingen and we did some introductions (auf Deutsch of course! But hardly any of us could speak worth anything!) and we did some other stuff, talked and basically just hung out. It was so nice to hang out with people around the same age that spoke ENGLISH and WANTED TO KNOW YOU!!! (that was the biggest thing...just being interested in getting to know you) On Saturday, we woke up fairly early and went for a walk after breakfast to this castle (Hohenstaufen) that was very small. But there was this guy there that gave us a little tour and there were a whole bunch of instruments that were upstairs from the middle ages and he was playing a few. It was really neat. (hence the Fox bagpipe I am holding up in the pic to the right hahah!!!) When we got back from the castle, we took a catapult and a bunk of the Dickemann marshmallow things and were throwing balls at the circle to make them go in the air, then we were supposed to catch them in our mouths! That was fun. Although it was really, kind of hilarious, because no one caught it in their mouths, because the marshmallow things were WAY bigger than any ones mouth! Then we had a lot of free time, which was spent mainly taking funny pictures and waiting and talking, and stuff. Although we were practically dying of starvation (well, maybe just me) the whole weekend because they barely fed us! (Germans eat a lot and far between...I like to eat small yet often..so it doesn't really work for me..but I have been trying..what more can I do??)
Anyhow, then after dinner, we went outside for a walk in the dark with these long candles on a stick. It was nice. I got to know this one guy from Mexico and was talking a lot with him. He is a really nice guy. Then we had a little fire (although it was SOOOO cold outside! My toes were frozen solid!) and after we went inside. We were supposed to have a dance with costumes or a movie night, but the rotex people were not very organized, because they had no CD player or movies! So it was a bust. A lot of people didn't have costumes either, which was disappointing too. I was a Spanish lady and I borrowed the costume from my host mom (she had a whole wack of costumes that she has made for shows for peoples birthdays). It was really nice of her to let me borrow it. Jorge (from mexico) was trying to teach me to Cumbia dance. It was fun. But after playing a game of musical chairs, everyone vacated to different rooms and the party was dead. So yeah. The boys were having a little party in their room and most of the girls were sleeping (we have 6 girls, and so its really nice! We all were in the same room and we have bonded so nicely I think!!)
On Sunday the 9th, we went to the Marklin Museum after clearing out of the hostel and eating breakfast. Marklin is a miniature train company that is famous, apparently, and very very expensive. It took us all of a half an hour to look around the whole place because it was very small. So then we walked to the train station to drop people off, and we went home. I had dance that day too, and it was good, as always. I love dancing!
That next week was pretty boring, and honestly, I can't really remember what I did last week...just normal things, I think. Nothing spectacular. Oh, but I went to Schwäbisch Gmünd to get some information about touristy things to do. I decided that since my family wont take me places, I will find things to do and see if other people want to come with me! So I went and I actually wanted to go to this ballet and asked about 6 people, but no one wanted to come. So I bought a ticket for myself and on Friday the 14th, I went alone. It was okay. I was fine with it. I mean, it would have be so much more fun with someone else or a friend, but I loved the ballet so much! It was so great! It was put on by a Russian Ballet Company...and they played Romeo and Juliet! It was so beautiful! I would go everyday if I could!!! I loved it so very much! The ticket was really cheap too. It was nice. And there weren't a lot of people, so most of the expensive seats (the front rows) were empty. (So I could see!!)
On Saturday, was the Rotex Round Up. I had to email Janis about my submission. I was hard to make it sound really cheery, when things haven't been. But I was honest and tried to be positive and help out the exchange-students-to-be so it was okay, I thought. I just wish that I had more positive things to write about my last two and a half months. Hopefully things will be getting better though!!
Also, I went to Stuttgart with some of the other exchange students. It was so nice to hang out again. We didn't really do much when I was there, just walked around the town and enjoyed each others company. I had to head back early for dance, and dance was really really good. I had fun. (I am going to plan for my classes to be during the week, so that I have time on the weekends to stay longer with the students for example!) Then on Sunday, I went to church, went to dance, and then went out for dinner with my first and second host families and their two couples of friends. It was okay. We ate duck. It tastes like chicken...or turkey...which made me miss home because of thanksgiving dinner!
Today was okay. I almost lost my beloved red mittens, but it was an okay day. I had German lessons, and have really grown to like the teacher. She is such a sweet lady. She offered her help if I need to talk to her or about the host family situation. I am very grateful for her and even though she is not a part of Rotary I think that at some point in the year, I will take her up on her offer. She is such a nice lady!
Anyhow. That's all I have for now. I haven't been doing anything exciting really. I have mostly been staying home and doing nothing. I should be studying German, but I find it very overwhelming especially when no one really wants to speak High German. But I think that in the next host family, it will be 100% better (the mom is an elementary teacher and has lots of patience!!). So. Thank you for your prayers and all your support! Things are starting to look up within the next couple of weeks, but I am fearful about my birthday not going so well...Anyhow! Thank you so very much! I don't know when I will post again, but hopefully before my birthday, or right after. OKay! So until next time!
K
On the 4th of November: I had a talk with my host parents. Together. I expressed my feelings about how I felt about my exchange so far and that it wasn't going so great. I expressed willingness to try to fix this. I was caught off guard by my host families replies and reactions and just their thoughts on how to fix the problem. I realized after the talk that I needed to change host families. I could not just skim the surface of an exchange, I don't want to; I want to dive deep and really taste the real meat from which I have only smelt the wafting aroma from afar. It was a difficult decision for me because I am always hopeful that things will get better. However, being almost three months into my exchange now, I don't see things with my current host family getting any better anytime soon. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that they HAD to take an exchange student, but they didn't necessarily WANT one.
So I emailed my counsellor to tell him what was up (after receiving my request for him to search a new host family for me, he passed on that responsibility to my scheduled second host mom...they have really odd ways of doing Rotary in Germany...not that they are wrong, but I don't particularly agree with everything. I am really glad I am from district 5060!!!!!!!! I love you guys!) . And in the next couple of days, I heard from him and my second host mom, and they said that they have another host family that I could go to in a couple of weeks. I was so overjoyed!!
On the 6th, my current host mom had an art exhibition to set up for for the weekend. So I helped her a little bit with the set up.
On the 7th, I helped her out again, and then afterwards, went to Göppingen for a Rotex weekend! It was the first weekend the exchange students from the district met for the weekend! it was so much fun! I had such a wonderful time with them! It is such a wonderful feeling to know that they are going through some of the same things as you; learning the language, some family problems, club problems, cultural differences, etc. So it is really comforting that you are not alone on this and you have someone that understands you right now! There are about 20 or so inbounds in the area. We are all fairly spread out, so we can not really see each other without spending at least 20€ on a train ticket (which is a real bummer!) and host families aren't too keen on driving us places, I am sure...or at least my family isn't. I have been hearing about places the other exchange students have gone already, and have been really wondering if my family is the one not-so-great family I will get for this year. I have been told that every exchange student has a bad family, and I am comforted by that. I just wish that it would end already...but I have been trying to learn to be patient.
Anyhow, so the Rotex weekend was so great! I have posted pics. It was the first time in two months that I have really laughed. Honestly. I mean, other than maybe some forced laughs and some little ironic chortles, it was the first time that I laughed and really meant it and enjoyed myself! It was a great feeling, and yet a sad one at the same time.
We met on the Friday, and that night we went to a youth hostel on the outskirts of Göppingen and we did some introductions (auf Deutsch of course! But hardly any of us could speak worth anything!) and we did some other stuff, talked and basically just hung out. It was so nice to hang out with people around the same age that spoke ENGLISH and WANTED TO KNOW YOU!!! (that was the biggest thing...just being interested in getting to know you) On Saturday, we woke up fairly early and went for a walk after breakfast to this castle (Hohenstaufen) that was very small. But there was this guy there that gave us a little tour and there were a whole bunch of instruments that were upstairs from the middle ages and he was playing a few. It was really neat. (hence the Fox bagpipe I am holding up in the pic to the right hahah!!!) When we got back from the castle, we took a catapult and a bunk of the Dickemann marshmallow things and were throwing balls at the circle to make them go in the air, then we were supposed to catch them in our mouths! That was fun. Although it was really, kind of hilarious, because no one caught it in their mouths, because the marshmallow things were WAY bigger than any ones mouth! Then we had a lot of free time, which was spent mainly taking funny pictures and waiting and talking, and stuff. Although we were practically dying of starvation (well, maybe just me) the whole weekend because they barely fed us! (Germans eat a lot and far between...I like to eat small yet often..so it doesn't really work for me..but I have been trying..what more can I do??)
Anyhow, then after dinner, we went outside for a walk in the dark with these long candles on a stick. It was nice. I got to know this one guy from Mexico and was talking a lot with him. He is a really nice guy. Then we had a little fire (although it was SOOOO cold outside! My toes were frozen solid!) and after we went inside. We were supposed to have a dance with costumes or a movie night, but the rotex people were not very organized, because they had no CD player or movies! So it was a bust. A lot of people didn't have costumes either, which was disappointing too. I was a Spanish lady and I borrowed the costume from my host mom (she had a whole wack of costumes that she has made for shows for peoples birthdays). It was really nice of her to let me borrow it. Jorge (from mexico) was trying to teach me to Cumbia dance. It was fun. But after playing a game of musical chairs, everyone vacated to different rooms and the party was dead. So yeah. The boys were having a little party in their room and most of the girls were sleeping (we have 6 girls, and so its really nice! We all were in the same room and we have bonded so nicely I think!!)
On Sunday the 9th, we went to the Marklin Museum after clearing out of the hostel and eating breakfast. Marklin is a miniature train company that is famous, apparently, and very very expensive. It took us all of a half an hour to look around the whole place because it was very small. So then we walked to the train station to drop people off, and we went home. I had dance that day too, and it was good, as always. I love dancing!
That next week was pretty boring, and honestly, I can't really remember what I did last week...just normal things, I think. Nothing spectacular. Oh, but I went to Schwäbisch Gmünd to get some information about touristy things to do. I decided that since my family wont take me places, I will find things to do and see if other people want to come with me! So I went and I actually wanted to go to this ballet and asked about 6 people, but no one wanted to come. So I bought a ticket for myself and on Friday the 14th, I went alone. It was okay. I was fine with it. I mean, it would have be so much more fun with someone else or a friend, but I loved the ballet so much! It was so great! It was put on by a Russian Ballet Company...and they played Romeo and Juliet! It was so beautiful! I would go everyday if I could!!! I loved it so very much! The ticket was really cheap too. It was nice. And there weren't a lot of people, so most of the expensive seats (the front rows) were empty. (So I could see!!)
On Saturday, was the Rotex Round Up. I had to email Janis about my submission. I was hard to make it sound really cheery, when things haven't been. But I was honest and tried to be positive and help out the exchange-students-to-be so it was okay, I thought. I just wish that I had more positive things to write about my last two and a half months. Hopefully things will be getting better though!!
Also, I went to Stuttgart with some of the other exchange students. It was so nice to hang out again. We didn't really do much when I was there, just walked around the town and enjoyed each others company. I had to head back early for dance, and dance was really really good. I had fun. (I am going to plan for my classes to be during the week, so that I have time on the weekends to stay longer with the students for example!) Then on Sunday, I went to church, went to dance, and then went out for dinner with my first and second host families and their two couples of friends. It was okay. We ate duck. It tastes like chicken...or turkey...which made me miss home because of thanksgiving dinner!
Today was okay. I almost lost my beloved red mittens, but it was an okay day. I had German lessons, and have really grown to like the teacher. She is such a sweet lady. She offered her help if I need to talk to her or about the host family situation. I am very grateful for her and even though she is not a part of Rotary I think that at some point in the year, I will take her up on her offer. She is such a nice lady!
Anyhow. That's all I have for now. I haven't been doing anything exciting really. I have mostly been staying home and doing nothing. I should be studying German, but I find it very overwhelming especially when no one really wants to speak High German. But I think that in the next host family, it will be 100% better (the mom is an elementary teacher and has lots of patience!!). So. Thank you for your prayers and all your support! Things are starting to look up within the next couple of weeks, but I am fearful about my birthday not going so well...Anyhow! Thank you so very much! I don't know when I will post again, but hopefully before my birthday, or right after. OKay! So until next time!
K
Monday, November 3, 2008
Castles and Familiar Faces
On the 22nd, I didn't do anything except go to German class. It was nothing new.
On the 23rd, I went with the Rotary club to the Fein Factory, where they make power tools. The man that was showing us around said that there is a factory in Canada too! (but I think that it is in Toronto, or somewhere east) It was kind of cool because we saw the workers doing their jobs and these robotic machines that made the different parts of the tools. But it really looked like a boring job to work there, though, because the job you do takes about 1 minute, then after your done that, you start over again, then you do it again, and again, and again, and again, for 8 hours or more a day. Oh, I would not last very long there. It was an okay tour. I also talked to more Rotarians, and asked if I could come over to Alex's and Ulrike's house (They were on the Hiking weekend, and I really warmed to them and they are super nice people!). So then, because we had holidays starting on the 24th, I went to Ulrike's and Alex's house. And I was totally in love with the house at first sight! It is a very old house, built in the 18th century, and the garden is absolutely exquisite! It has been kept in its original state, and is the last old garden in Schwabisch Gmünd (oh, yeah, that's where they live). And the house is so lovely. It has so many rooms and Alex has his Doctor's office on the first floor (he's a medical doctor and Ulrike is a type of therapist where if you get your driver's license taken away because of drinking, she can say whether or not you can get it back after a certain time..she works in Aalen), and it is so beautiful and so old!! After we had lunch, Ulrike showed me family photos and took me walking around Schwabisch Gmünd, where we went to two of the churches there, the library, and a small museum. Ulrike knows a lot about the history of the town, and it was like having my own tour guide! It was such a lovely day! My heart was so full that day, I had realized that that was what I wanted to come to Germany for, the old history and just enjoying the everyday things and the kindness and hospitality of someone that wants to share their culture and life and is willing to hear about mine. It was such a beautiful day!!
That night I had youth group, and it was nice. Then on Saturday, I had a dance class practice, and I had a new partner that was really nice, and a good dancer, so it was a very fun class. On Sunday the 26th I went to church, and later, dance, and my other partner didn't come, so I danced with the teacher (which was okay, because he knows how to dance, but a little awkward). Then on Monday, the 27th, I went to Gülsah! She lives in between Nagold and Fruedenstadt in the Black Forest and I stayed with her and her family for a couple of days until Thursday evening. It was so nice to see a familiar face! And it was nice to get out of the house and hang out with someone my age. We went shopping and went to a little castle ruin in the area, and visited friends, and even though we didn't do a whole lot, it was still a very nice time.
On Wednesday night, the 29th, it snowed a little, but by Thursday morning, it was gone. It was crazy though, because I am not used to snow in Oktober, and didn't really welcome it. But the last week has been really nice, and sunny. So it's very different weather here.
Then I went home on Thursday, and packed and didn't do a whole lot. But on Friday, my host family and I, as well as their two friends and their two sons went to Füssen to visit Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau! They were so beautiful, but I wished that I could have stayed longer at the castles. We took the tours to go inside and it was so great! There are amazing stories behind the castles, and some crazy facts. Like the kings bed took four years to carve and the floor of the throne room took four years to finish, and the Singers Hall was finished only four days before the king died, so no one ever sang in it when King Ludwig was alive. And the kind only lived in the castle for about 100 and something days!!! It's insane, because it took such a long time and took so much money, then the king died. And the ironic thing is that no one from outside was allowed in the castle, and yet not even two months after King Ludwig's death, the castle was opened as a museum to the public! Also, Hohenschwangau is still inhabited by the family! Only some of it is open for tours, etc. The tours were very short, but the Neuschwanstein was the better one because there was a live guide and he was very good and you could ask him questions. It is so beautiful in that area of Bavaria, I like it very much!!! :) :P I hope one day to go back. I love that era of castles and knights. Oh! and Neuschwanstein has a man made cave in it too!!!! It had, back in the day, a waterfall in there, but not anymore. And there was crazy technology in that day, where there was enough pressure, naturally from the rain water, to provide running water to every room in the castle (even the servants rooms had running water, and they were really beautifully furnished, and looked really comfortable for servants rooms!). OH, the castles were so beautiful. But I loved Neuschwanstein the best! :)
Then we came home on Sunday, after taking a little hike up the mountain for about 20 minutes. It was nothing compared to the hiking weekend, my goodness!! But it was nice to be in the mountains again. It really feels more like 'Germany' in Bavaria! I love it!
So there are some pics as well, with me and the castles. I couldn't stop taking pics. I have tones more. I just love castles and was so glad that I was finally going!!! :)
Things with my host family are up and down. Some days are okay, some days are horrible, and some days are better. But all in all, I have been feeling very homesick the last month. Hopefully, soon I will make one really good friend and that will trigger more happy memories and overlook the bad days. But I am waiting still. Concerning my host family, I don't know what it is, but the month of Oktober was really not so great. I will have to work on it, I guess it's normal though, to have a low month. I pray this month with be better!
It was a little odd without Halloween this year, actually, without a lot of the holidays that I have missed. But it was nice to have a week holiday last week. A nice break from school, since I haven't really been here without being at school. (I started only three days after I got here...) But anyhow. I discovered a new singer that I like. His name is Xavier Naidoo...I will put him on the track list when I have time. He is a great singer, and he sings German and English (but I think he would sing better if it was all in English...German is not such a pretty language sometimes :P ).
Well, thank you to all, and I appreciate your prayers and your wonderful words of encouragement, you don't know how much they mean to me at this time! They are like sweet honey in the desert! Really they are! So thank you so ever much! Until next time,
K
On the 23rd, I went with the Rotary club to the Fein Factory, where they make power tools. The man that was showing us around said that there is a factory in Canada too! (but I think that it is in Toronto, or somewhere east) It was kind of cool because we saw the workers doing their jobs and these robotic machines that made the different parts of the tools. But it really looked like a boring job to work there, though, because the job you do takes about 1 minute, then after your done that, you start over again, then you do it again, and again, and again, and again, for 8 hours or more a day. Oh, I would not last very long there. It was an okay tour. I also talked to more Rotarians, and asked if I could come over to Alex's and Ulrike's house (They were on the Hiking weekend, and I really warmed to them and they are super nice people!). So then, because we had holidays starting on the 24th, I went to Ulrike's and Alex's house. And I was totally in love with the house at first sight! It is a very old house, built in the 18th century, and the garden is absolutely exquisite! It has been kept in its original state, and is the last old garden in Schwabisch Gmünd (oh, yeah, that's where they live). And the house is so lovely. It has so many rooms and Alex has his Doctor's office on the first floor (he's a medical doctor and Ulrike is a type of therapist where if you get your driver's license taken away because of drinking, she can say whether or not you can get it back after a certain time..she works in Aalen), and it is so beautiful and so old!! After we had lunch, Ulrike showed me family photos and took me walking around Schwabisch Gmünd, where we went to two of the churches there, the library, and a small museum. Ulrike knows a lot about the history of the town, and it was like having my own tour guide! It was such a lovely day! My heart was so full that day, I had realized that that was what I wanted to come to Germany for, the old history and just enjoying the everyday things and the kindness and hospitality of someone that wants to share their culture and life and is willing to hear about mine. It was such a beautiful day!!
That night I had youth group, and it was nice. Then on Saturday, I had a dance class practice, and I had a new partner that was really nice, and a good dancer, so it was a very fun class. On Sunday the 26th I went to church, and later, dance, and my other partner didn't come, so I danced with the teacher (which was okay, because he knows how to dance, but a little awkward). Then on Monday, the 27th, I went to Gülsah! She lives in between Nagold and Fruedenstadt in the Black Forest and I stayed with her and her family for a couple of days until Thursday evening. It was so nice to see a familiar face! And it was nice to get out of the house and hang out with someone my age. We went shopping and went to a little castle ruin in the area, and visited friends, and even though we didn't do a whole lot, it was still a very nice time.
On Wednesday night, the 29th, it snowed a little, but by Thursday morning, it was gone. It was crazy though, because I am not used to snow in Oktober, and didn't really welcome it. But the last week has been really nice, and sunny. So it's very different weather here.
Then I went home on Thursday, and packed and didn't do a whole lot. But on Friday, my host family and I, as well as their two friends and their two sons went to Füssen to visit Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau! They were so beautiful, but I wished that I could have stayed longer at the castles. We took the tours to go inside and it was so great! There are amazing stories behind the castles, and some crazy facts. Like the kings bed took four years to carve and the floor of the throne room took four years to finish, and the Singers Hall was finished only four days before the king died, so no one ever sang in it when King Ludwig was alive. And the kind only lived in the castle for about 100 and something days!!! It's insane, because it took such a long time and took so much money, then the king died. And the ironic thing is that no one from outside was allowed in the castle, and yet not even two months after King Ludwig's death, the castle was opened as a museum to the public! Also, Hohenschwangau is still inhabited by the family! Only some of it is open for tours, etc. The tours were very short, but the Neuschwanstein was the better one because there was a live guide and he was very good and you could ask him questions. It is so beautiful in that area of Bavaria, I like it very much!!! :) :P I hope one day to go back. I love that era of castles and knights. Oh! and Neuschwanstein has a man made cave in it too!!!! It had, back in the day, a waterfall in there, but not anymore. And there was crazy technology in that day, where there was enough pressure, naturally from the rain water, to provide running water to every room in the castle (even the servants rooms had running water, and they were really beautifully furnished, and looked really comfortable for servants rooms!). OH, the castles were so beautiful. But I loved Neuschwanstein the best! :)
Then we came home on Sunday, after taking a little hike up the mountain for about 20 minutes. It was nothing compared to the hiking weekend, my goodness!! But it was nice to be in the mountains again. It really feels more like 'Germany' in Bavaria! I love it!
So there are some pics as well, with me and the castles. I couldn't stop taking pics. I have tones more. I just love castles and was so glad that I was finally going!!! :)
Things with my host family are up and down. Some days are okay, some days are horrible, and some days are better. But all in all, I have been feeling very homesick the last month. Hopefully, soon I will make one really good friend and that will trigger more happy memories and overlook the bad days. But I am waiting still. Concerning my host family, I don't know what it is, but the month of Oktober was really not so great. I will have to work on it, I guess it's normal though, to have a low month. I pray this month with be better!
It was a little odd without Halloween this year, actually, without a lot of the holidays that I have missed. But it was nice to have a week holiday last week. A nice break from school, since I haven't really been here without being at school. (I started only three days after I got here...) But anyhow. I discovered a new singer that I like. His name is Xavier Naidoo...I will put him on the track list when I have time. He is a great singer, and he sings German and English (but I think he would sing better if it was all in English...German is not such a pretty language sometimes :P ).
Well, thank you to all, and I appreciate your prayers and your wonderful words of encouragement, you don't know how much they mean to me at this time! They are like sweet honey in the desert! Really they are! So thank you so ever much! Until next time,
K
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
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
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
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Oktoberfest
Another week has past already and I have been here for about a month and just over a week. It is hard to believe. I feel like things are going slower than I though for being 1\11th over. So to start where I left off...
I went to dinner with four girls (Jacky, Laura, Tanja, and I forget the other girl's name) from my class on the 2nd of October to Aalen. It was okay. We went to this bar\restaurant called Enchiladas and ate Mexican food...well, German style Mexican food. It was good, and we had mocktails, and we talked and it was nice to get out of the house for a couple of hours for a change. Oh, and before I went out, Kathryn from the 5060 district and her husband came for coffee to chat about the RI Convention and just to visit. It was nice. Then on the Friday the 3rd, there was no school because it was like a stat holiday. 'Tag der Deutschen Eunheit' which is the day of the reunification of the two Germanys. I lazed around all day, and didn't do anything in particular. It was nice to relax. I was kind of surprised though, because they don't any parades, or anything like that. Bebe said maybe in Berlin or Hamburg, but not here. So we had no school also, which was really nice. :)
Then on Saturday the 4th we loaded the car and took off to Munich for Oktoberfest. It was a two hour drive, and I have learned that that is A LOT for Germans, or any European, I think, to drive so far and so many hours. Usually, people just stay within their region, I think. I was talking to some people, and they said that they don't even go to Stuttgart because it is very far. And I was thinking WHAT? because Kelowna is an hour away too, about the same time, and I used to go there often within the past year. Plus, to drive 15 minutes away for church, I guess is a big thing when I explained that I went to church in Salmon Arm. I think it is also because everything is closer here, so you don't have to go so far. Anyhow. Oktoberfest was not what I expected it to be. Well, it was and it wasn't. I knew that we would be in the tent, but I didn't know we would be there for the whole 6 hours! We got in Munich at about noon and we went to a restaurant and ate a bit, stayed there for a couple hours, then I went with Eugenio to Alex's flat (where we would sleep that night in one room with Alex, Axi, Carol, and Phillip) to change and to waste some time before it was 5 pm, which was when our reservation was at. So then when we got there, the others learned that we could not come back into the tent if we left. (I knew this already from the Cannstatter Wassen, but didn't know what everybodyelse's plans were, because they also talked about going on rides and stuff, so I figured that we wouldn't stay in the tent till it closed (which we did). Apparently, though, it is really difficult to get into the tent we were in, because our tent was mostly people from Munich. There are different kinds of tents, some tents are filled with Australians, some with other tourists, etc, etc. Although, the foreigner tents are usually a lot more rowdy than the Native tents. So it was good though, because we were also in a reserved seating area. Apparently it's the envy of many Germans to actually get a seat at the Oktoberfest and people only get in if they book a year before...or more.
Anyhow, so I drank lemonade, and everyone else was drinking what ever mixture of beer and lemonade they preferred, and we took pictures and ate some snacks, and sang along with the band, and we talked, and it was all good for the first couple hours. At around the third hour I was getting pretty bored and everyone else had more to drink, and were getting a little too light-hearted. I liked the music the most, just the umpapa of the band and everyone knowing the words and singing and dancing. (a correction about the getting on the benches to order, they just get on the benches to dance and sing, just to have fun...) and that was all good. But there were some songs that didn't have that great of lyrics...But a couple of songs really stuck in my head: Fliegenlied (which is actually a children's song, but very catchy, and we do actions, and when everyone is drunk, it seems pretty funny), Viva Colonia, Country Roads, and Ein Prosit (which they sing about every 2 minutes, and its a toasting song, so everyone clinks their mugs together with everyone and says PROST! 'cheers!' and sings the song). A couple more that we sang are: Hände zum Himmel, Fürstenfeld, Marmor, Stein und Eisen bricht, and some others that I don't know the names. Anyhow, I after a while, I asked if we could walk around a bit and Bärbel (I spelt it Belbe before) and I went outside for a while so that I could get some souvenirs, but we went back in the tent after (we had talked to the security dude).
There were a lot of drunk people, and I was glad that I was with a group of people that I knew. Although was a little upset because some of our people were drunk themselves. But finally the tent closed at 11pm, and we left for home (some of us - my feet were killing me and it was freezing). So then when we got to Alex's and Axi's flat (with some difficulty and a lot of having to stay close to each other because of the hoards of people in the train station and on the trains) all six of us slept in the one room that they have and I quickly went to sleep. The next morning, we woke up, had a small breakfast, and later Ralf and Bebe came to take me home. I was disappointed to not go on rides or see anything outside when it was still daylight, or do anything other than be in the tent, but I am glad that I got to at least get out for the ten minutes with Bärbel. Perhaps one year, if I go again, I will get to do the other things that are at Oktoberfest. All in all, I think the whole experience kind of queezed me a bit, because I don't really like being around drunk people. But was an experience I am sure I won't forget. :)
Anyhow. Then on Sunday it was the Erntedankfest day, so it was kind of a holiday too. And Monday, I went to school, both in Heubach and in Aalen. And on Thursday, I went to this Innerwheel meeting with Bärbel and Ebi and Eugenio. It was a tour of Binz, a company that is a partner or something with Mercedes Benz and they take new Mercedes and cut them in half and make them longer, into Limos. They also make hearses and Swedish 'krankenwagens' (ambulances). They are kind of cool. The reason that they are an ugly yellow colour is because in Sweden, they have 8 months of snow and the elk don't like this colour. Then after that we went to a bar\restaurant to eat and have a drink. I had a fruity mocktail, that was nice, and some Kasebrot (cheese bread). Also, that evening, I had a nice talk with Bärbel. I asked her about switching classes in school (why should I be stuck with people a year younger than me, when I am finished school and school doesn't matter grades-wise for me, and I don't understand anything that they are saying anyways?), and also about difficulties with the host family and just having been feeling like I am a replacement child, not necessarily an exchange student. And even though her daughter is also out on exchange, Bärbel was very good to talk to. I think I have found my not-counselor counselor. Which is nice, because she is also my second host mother. So hopefully somethings go a bit better within the next few weeks, just with school and trying to figure out the best way of dealing with this issue.
Then yesterday, I went to the jazz\hip hop dance class, which was good, I knew a bit more of the steps from the last time, and then I went to youth group. It was a nice service, even though I didn't understand. Kristina translated me the gist of what they were talking about, so it was okay. And also, after that, Edi asked me if I wanted to come to Schwäbisch Gmünd with him and Iris, Esther, and I forget the other girl's name, to go check out this party thing going on. It is where there are live bands playing at all the bars, and they were going to check out the bands. So I went along and it was great. We walked around the town to each bar and checked out the music that the bands were playing. Some were really good, others, not so good. And unfortunately, most of the time they were on break, so we had to go to another bar. It was nice to hang out with other Christians, and just get a feel of how they hang out in Germany. It was a great time!
Today, I went to Stuttgart with three other girls from my class, Lena, Jessica, and Steffie. I wanted to see what they were like too. I ended up missing the train when we were supposed to meet (It's going to take me a while to get used to managing my life around train and bus schedules, I really don't like it) but then they called me and we took the next train an hour later. We went to the Cannstatter Wassen and walked around a bit, went on two rides and then went to Königs Strasse and did some shopping. I finally found a nice pair of pants that I was satisfied with and a nice price too: 14.95€. Most of the clothes are relative to that of dollars, but just say €, although if you convert the currency, they are much more expensive, but this pair was a nice find. There were some crazy talented people on the street, playing music and doing art. It was insane! There was this guy that was doing a huge chalk drawing on the sidewalk and he was super good! I grew very sad at the thought that if it rained, his very hard work and lovely drawing would be washed away! He was so very good! There was also these two African-French guys that were playing some pretty cool music, and I bought their CD they had there. It was three different versions of the same song, but I always find joy in helping out people who are performing on the street. I really want the best for them, and feel bad that I have so much, and sometimes they have so little. I remember there was this one guy in London that was playing really good music in the tube and I wish that people with so much talent (also the opera singer in London) would be recognized.
Anyhow, so today was nice. It was great to go to Stuttgart again. I recognized shops that I went to a year and a half ago, and that was nice. It familiar, and it's so nice to feel like something is familiar to you in an unfamiliar country. I was so tired once we started for home, because we walked all day (which was nice because I have been having a lack of exercise since being here - Why do I feel like I am echoing Rotary???).
Tomorrow I have a full day of events! I have church! And then some people are coming over to practice for Fritz's (Ralf's older brother) birthday bash in the next weeks. Bebe loves to put on shows for peoples birthdays, and we are doing a dance to the Star Sisters Medley! It is fun. We have golden hats, shoes, and blazers with coattails, black shorts and fishnets, and even homemade microphones (complete with silver spray painted tennis balls for the mics). So I think that it will be fun. Also, Bebe is lip syncing a Natalie Cole song, while some of us dance around in different outfits. So we are practicing tomorrow after I come back from church. Then at 4pm I have dance class!! I am so excited because it is a 'standard' dance class: with cha cha, tango, waltz, etc, etc! I hope that it goes well! I have to go to Aalen for the class, and conveniently the studio is right across from the train station, so I don't have to wait for a bus...although I don't know if I will take the train because of the times on Sunday. We will see.) Anyhow!
Then on Wednesday, I am going to a Revolverheld concert! I am very excited for that too - they are a German band that Spencer introduced to me when he came back from Switzerland. I am going with Ralf's niece and her brothers girlfriend (they are doing the Star Sisters dance with Bebe and I). So that will be fun, and will be nice also to get out and do something fun. :)
So far, that's all I know. I will sometime within the next few weeks be able to visit Gülsah (from when I was in Germany a year and a half ago)! So I am excited to see her also. Alex (McGregor from district 5060) was also talking about going to Salzburg in Austria for a day or something, but I have yet to get details and confirmation. Anyhow, I am starting to feel the upsides of being here, and have been starting to get to know people (Edi, Kristina, and Eva from church, and the girls from school, as well as hopefully people from my dance class!!!!!) and I am really taking in the fact that I am in Europe (it's hard to believe, but I don't really think that I am in Europe, sometimes...). So things are slowly getting together, and I am starting to have a bit more fun. :) So until next time, Bis bald und viel spaß,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAC55KiQaXE
K
I went to dinner with four girls (Jacky, Laura, Tanja, and I forget the other girl's name) from my class on the 2nd of October to Aalen. It was okay. We went to this bar\restaurant called Enchiladas and ate Mexican food...well, German style Mexican food. It was good, and we had mocktails, and we talked and it was nice to get out of the house for a couple of hours for a change. Oh, and before I went out, Kathryn from the 5060 district and her husband came for coffee to chat about the RI Convention and just to visit. It was nice. Then on the Friday the 3rd, there was no school because it was like a stat holiday. 'Tag der Deutschen Eunheit' which is the day of the reunification of the two Germanys. I lazed around all day, and didn't do anything in particular. It was nice to relax. I was kind of surprised though, because they don't any parades, or anything like that. Bebe said maybe in Berlin or Hamburg, but not here. So we had no school also, which was really nice. :)
Then on Saturday the 4th we loaded the car and took off to Munich for Oktoberfest. It was a two hour drive, and I have learned that that is A LOT for Germans, or any European, I think, to drive so far and so many hours. Usually, people just stay within their region, I think. I was talking to some people, and they said that they don't even go to Stuttgart because it is very far. And I was thinking WHAT? because Kelowna is an hour away too, about the same time, and I used to go there often within the past year. Plus, to drive 15 minutes away for church, I guess is a big thing when I explained that I went to church in Salmon Arm. I think it is also because everything is closer here, so you don't have to go so far. Anyhow. Oktoberfest was not what I expected it to be. Well, it was and it wasn't. I knew that we would be in the tent, but I didn't know we would be there for the whole 6 hours! We got in Munich at about noon and we went to a restaurant and ate a bit, stayed there for a couple hours, then I went with Eugenio to Alex's flat (where we would sleep that night in one room with Alex, Axi, Carol, and Phillip) to change and to waste some time before it was 5 pm, which was when our reservation was at. So then when we got there, the others learned that we could not come back into the tent if we left. (I knew this already from the Cannstatter Wassen, but didn't know what everybodyelse's plans were, because they also talked about going on rides and stuff, so I figured that we wouldn't stay in the tent till it closed (which we did). Apparently, though, it is really difficult to get into the tent we were in, because our tent was mostly people from Munich. There are different kinds of tents, some tents are filled with Australians, some with other tourists, etc, etc. Although, the foreigner tents are usually a lot more rowdy than the Native tents. So it was good though, because we were also in a reserved seating area. Apparently it's the envy of many Germans to actually get a seat at the Oktoberfest and people only get in if they book a year before...or more.
Anyhow, so I drank lemonade, and everyone else was drinking what ever mixture of beer and lemonade they preferred, and we took pictures and ate some snacks, and sang along with the band, and we talked, and it was all good for the first couple hours. At around the third hour I was getting pretty bored and everyone else had more to drink, and were getting a little too light-hearted. I liked the music the most, just the umpapa of the band and everyone knowing the words and singing and dancing. (a correction about the getting on the benches to order, they just get on the benches to dance and sing, just to have fun...) and that was all good. But there were some songs that didn't have that great of lyrics...But a couple of songs really stuck in my head: Fliegenlied (which is actually a children's song, but very catchy, and we do actions, and when everyone is drunk, it seems pretty funny), Viva Colonia, Country Roads, and Ein Prosit (which they sing about every 2 minutes, and its a toasting song, so everyone clinks their mugs together with everyone and says PROST! 'cheers!' and sings the song). A couple more that we sang are: Hände zum Himmel, Fürstenfeld, Marmor, Stein und Eisen bricht, and some others that I don't know the names. Anyhow, I after a while, I asked if we could walk around a bit and Bärbel (I spelt it Belbe before) and I went outside for a while so that I could get some souvenirs, but we went back in the tent after (we had talked to the security dude).
There were a lot of drunk people, and I was glad that I was with a group of people that I knew. Although was a little upset because some of our people were drunk themselves. But finally the tent closed at 11pm, and we left for home (some of us - my feet were killing me and it was freezing). So then when we got to Alex's and Axi's flat (with some difficulty and a lot of having to stay close to each other because of the hoards of people in the train station and on the trains) all six of us slept in the one room that they have and I quickly went to sleep. The next morning, we woke up, had a small breakfast, and later Ralf and Bebe came to take me home. I was disappointed to not go on rides or see anything outside when it was still daylight, or do anything other than be in the tent, but I am glad that I got to at least get out for the ten minutes with Bärbel. Perhaps one year, if I go again, I will get to do the other things that are at Oktoberfest. All in all, I think the whole experience kind of queezed me a bit, because I don't really like being around drunk people. But was an experience I am sure I won't forget. :)
Anyhow. Then on Sunday it was the Erntedankfest day, so it was kind of a holiday too. And Monday, I went to school, both in Heubach and in Aalen. And on Thursday, I went to this Innerwheel meeting with Bärbel and Ebi and Eugenio. It was a tour of Binz, a company that is a partner or something with Mercedes Benz and they take new Mercedes and cut them in half and make them longer, into Limos. They also make hearses and Swedish 'krankenwagens' (ambulances). They are kind of cool. The reason that they are an ugly yellow colour is because in Sweden, they have 8 months of snow and the elk don't like this colour. Then after that we went to a bar\restaurant to eat and have a drink. I had a fruity mocktail, that was nice, and some Kasebrot (cheese bread). Also, that evening, I had a nice talk with Bärbel. I asked her about switching classes in school (why should I be stuck with people a year younger than me, when I am finished school and school doesn't matter grades-wise for me, and I don't understand anything that they are saying anyways?), and also about difficulties with the host family and just having been feeling like I am a replacement child, not necessarily an exchange student. And even though her daughter is also out on exchange, Bärbel was very good to talk to. I think I have found my not-counselor counselor. Which is nice, because she is also my second host mother. So hopefully somethings go a bit better within the next few weeks, just with school and trying to figure out the best way of dealing with this issue.
Then yesterday, I went to the jazz\hip hop dance class, which was good, I knew a bit more of the steps from the last time, and then I went to youth group. It was a nice service, even though I didn't understand. Kristina translated me the gist of what they were talking about, so it was okay. And also, after that, Edi asked me if I wanted to come to Schwäbisch Gmünd with him and Iris, Esther, and I forget the other girl's name, to go check out this party thing going on. It is where there are live bands playing at all the bars, and they were going to check out the bands. So I went along and it was great. We walked around the town to each bar and checked out the music that the bands were playing. Some were really good, others, not so good. And unfortunately, most of the time they were on break, so we had to go to another bar. It was nice to hang out with other Christians, and just get a feel of how they hang out in Germany. It was a great time!
Today, I went to Stuttgart with three other girls from my class, Lena, Jessica, and Steffie. I wanted to see what they were like too. I ended up missing the train when we were supposed to meet (It's going to take me a while to get used to managing my life around train and bus schedules, I really don't like it) but then they called me and we took the next train an hour later. We went to the Cannstatter Wassen and walked around a bit, went on two rides and then went to Königs Strasse and did some shopping. I finally found a nice pair of pants that I was satisfied with and a nice price too: 14.95€. Most of the clothes are relative to that of dollars, but just say €, although if you convert the currency, they are much more expensive, but this pair was a nice find. There were some crazy talented people on the street, playing music and doing art. It was insane! There was this guy that was doing a huge chalk drawing on the sidewalk and he was super good! I grew very sad at the thought that if it rained, his very hard work and lovely drawing would be washed away! He was so very good! There was also these two African-French guys that were playing some pretty cool music, and I bought their CD they had there. It was three different versions of the same song, but I always find joy in helping out people who are performing on the street. I really want the best for them, and feel bad that I have so much, and sometimes they have so little. I remember there was this one guy in London that was playing really good music in the tube and I wish that people with so much talent (also the opera singer in London) would be recognized.
Anyhow, so today was nice. It was great to go to Stuttgart again. I recognized shops that I went to a year and a half ago, and that was nice. It familiar, and it's so nice to feel like something is familiar to you in an unfamiliar country. I was so tired once we started for home, because we walked all day (which was nice because I have been having a lack of exercise since being here - Why do I feel like I am echoing Rotary???).
Tomorrow I have a full day of events! I have church! And then some people are coming over to practice for Fritz's (Ralf's older brother) birthday bash in the next weeks. Bebe loves to put on shows for peoples birthdays, and we are doing a dance to the Star Sisters Medley! It is fun. We have golden hats, shoes, and blazers with coattails, black shorts and fishnets, and even homemade microphones (complete with silver spray painted tennis balls for the mics). So I think that it will be fun. Also, Bebe is lip syncing a Natalie Cole song, while some of us dance around in different outfits. So we are practicing tomorrow after I come back from church. Then at 4pm I have dance class!! I am so excited because it is a 'standard' dance class: with cha cha, tango, waltz, etc, etc! I hope that it goes well! I have to go to Aalen for the class, and conveniently the studio is right across from the train station, so I don't have to wait for a bus...although I don't know if I will take the train because of the times on Sunday. We will see.) Anyhow!
Then on Wednesday, I am going to a Revolverheld concert! I am very excited for that too - they are a German band that Spencer introduced to me when he came back from Switzerland. I am going with Ralf's niece and her brothers girlfriend (they are doing the Star Sisters dance with Bebe and I). So that will be fun, and will be nice also to get out and do something fun. :)
So far, that's all I know. I will sometime within the next few weeks be able to visit Gülsah (from when I was in Germany a year and a half ago)! So I am excited to see her also. Alex (McGregor from district 5060) was also talking about going to Salzburg in Austria for a day or something, but I have yet to get details and confirmation. Anyhow, I am starting to feel the upsides of being here, and have been starting to get to know people (Edi, Kristina, and Eva from church, and the girls from school, as well as hopefully people from my dance class!!!!!) and I am really taking in the fact that I am in Europe (it's hard to believe, but I don't really think that I am in Europe, sometimes...). So things are slowly getting together, and I am starting to have a bit more fun. :) So until next time, Bis bald und viel spaß,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAC55KiQaXE
K
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
My Very Own Dirndl!!
So! It is time for an update for the last couple of weeks. Last week was the last full week of the German course in Aalen. It was nice to be there, at the University, and once I started to talk to some of the other exchange students, it was more interesting, I found, than the High school in Heubach. Although, like Ralf had mentioned to me the other day, it's not necessarily good because we speak English, and not so much German, because we all are trying to learn German. But it is nice to have someone to relate to. Anyhow.
On Friday, I had my first dance class. It is a jazz\modern\lyrical\hip hop dance club with about eight or so girls. It was at the fitness center in Mögglingen, so we don't have to pay for it. It was good. The teacher speaks pretty good English and she is very nice. I think that I will keep going, but I would like to go in a 'standard' dance course (ballroom) because I think that I enjoy that dancing much better. So we are looking for a place to do dance perhaps in Aalen or Schwäbisch Gmünd. We will look. Then after dance class, I came home and was picked up by Kristina, from the church in Böbingen that I have been going to, and I went to the youth group there. It is really quite nice, because the average age for the youth is about 24 year old, I think. There are a couple of 16, 17 and 18 year olds, but the majority of the people are in their 20's, and they have quite a large group of them. It was great. We sang some songs and we heard from this guy named Herbert, who is also from the church and he had a message about our consciences then we sang one or two more songs, then we ATE! Yes, we ate. It was great, because I have never heard of a youth group that ate at the meetings. So it was nice, because we got to talk and fellowship. A girl, I can't remember what her name is, she translated for me, the message from Herbert, and I talked with a girl named Eva as well. Both of the girls have gone to the U.S. for a year a couple of years ago, so they spoke really good English. Also, I talked with a guy that had been to Canada for a year, and he is very nice. I like him. It seems like he understands a little bit more than everyone else, which is totally what I need. So I stayed about three and a half hours or so (long, but fun) and then went home. It was a nice time, because the people from the church are 20 times more nice than the people from school.
Saturday, we had our first inbound meeting. It was interesting. We took the train to Stuttgart to the airport. It was our meeting place, which was kind of cool, but odd that we had the meeting three weeks after arriving at the airport. Eugenio and I were late because of the train times and we had started out an hour early before the meeting started! So we were in a hurry, but the train went really slow to the airport. Anyhow, so we had a tour of the airport and where the firefighters went and all about the trucks that they drive, and the practice airplanes, and we saw planes take off and come in, as well as where they sort the baggage. It was kind of neat. Also kind of boring, but that's okay. After the airport, we went to Cannstatter Volksfest in Stuttgart, which is kind of like Oktoberfest, but it is in Stuttgart, and not so internationally known. As soon as we got there, I was thinking; 'Man! This puts West Coast Amusements to shame!' It was a lot like the Armstrong IPE and it was so awesome! The rides were utterly crazy, and I went on two. (The first one seemed pretty tame, and to my surprise, it was more than what it had seemed. But it was wicked fun! Although the tickets to ride, were pretty pricey. The second one was a roller coaster, and I thought I was going to die! Then I coaxed myself to breathe, and everything was much better. I commend them for the thrilling ride, I really do.) There were some pretty outrageous rides there! I can't even describe them, because words just don't do them justice. Like I said, West Coast Amusements would have their jaws on the ground!
Anyhow, so at first, I was rather homesick, being at the airport and all, I desperately wished that I could go on the plane home, and at the Volksfest, it reminded me a lot of home and fond memories. There are about 18 inbounds here, in district 1830, and that really surprised me. I was hoping and expecting more! But the main countries of inbounds are Canada, U.S., and Mexico. There are about three or four from each of those countries, there is a couple from Argentina, one from Columbia, one from Japan, one from Thailand, and a couple others, but I forget. So you either speak English or Spanish, really. I was kind of disappointed, because I was expecting and hoping to have more people in the district and more people from different countries, like 5060, but I guess, with Rotary, everything is really, just different. So anyhow, at first, I was a bit bummed and sad, but then I started talking to this guy from Mexico, Emmanuel, and he was super nice. We were walking and talking when we went to one of the big tents to have our lunch\dinner. The tents, are really neat (besides the fact that the majority of people are drunk and there is a lot of smoke because people smoke in the tent) because there are hundreds of people squished into one big tent, and there is a live band playing festive music, people are dancing on the benches of the tables (you have to stand if you want to order something, then the waiter or waitress comes to you) and they are singing, and laughing, and people seem to have a good time! While we were at the tent, we sat in a reserved seating area (which was nice, because we weren't with all the drunk people) and we were served. Almost everyone ordered the typical 1L beer (which is half lemonade), but I wasn't into that, so I drank .4 L of 7 Up. I am not into drinking 1L of anything in one sitting anyways. But it was unbelievable watching the waitresses!! They carry like, 5 of those FULL GLASS 1 LITER beer mugs! IN ONE HAND!!! So they are carrying at least 10 mugs in their arms at once. It is really impressive. Everyone was served the same for lunch\dinner too: a half of about a 2 pound chicken and a bun. It was really good. The chicken was rotisserie style and you should have seen them cooking them. There are like, hundreds of those birds cooking on these rotisserie things. Its neat. And so we stayed in the tent for a while, and a group of us went out of the tent later on (after the meeting was 'officially' over). We walked around, bought some pins and souvenirs, went on a couple of rides, I bought a Gingerbread Love Heart Cookie (they are a typical souvenir) and some chocolate covered bananas and strawberries, which were to die for! It was fun once I started talking with people and started to open up a bit. It was really nice to have Alex there from district 5060, it made things a bit easier, knowing that there is someone there from my district. Although it was kind of sad, just comparing first day of school, etc, with her. People seem to be a bit more personable in her area.
Anyhow, so at about 8 we started for home. I was unimpressed with the lack of responsible drinking within the exchange students and some of the rebounds. It was not a happy night after that. Eugenio and I got off at the wrong stop, people were drunk and throwing up, and I was very upset and homesick. Ralf came and got us from the train station we were at. I felt very guilty that he had to come and pick us up, but he said that it was normal, and that it was okay. I am very thankful! So the experience coming home and after was not so great, and made me very homesick. But the time that I spent there was nice.
The next day, Sunday, it was a thanksgiving service at church (Erntedank fest). It was really neat. They don't have it like a thanksgiving in Canada or the U.S.. It is more thanks to God for everything that He gives us. So it was super awesome because it was focused on God and being thankful for what we have! (the thanksgiving holiday is actually this Sunday but we celebrated it last Sunday) So we had lunch after the service and we talked (Herbert translated for me and I ate lunch with Addi and Kristina and a girl..I forget her name, they were all very nice) and had a nice time. There was another short service at 2pm, but I went home after the lunch. When I came home, I helped Bebe made necklaces and bracelets for her art exhibition in the coming weeks. And that was nice, to relax and spend time with her. Then I had a nap and tried to do some studying. Then at about 6 45Pm, Kristina picked me up to go to this youth service at the school in Böbingen. It was cool. It reminded me of church a little, because there was more contemporary music and there were drums and piano, and bass, and guitar and someone singing. It was much nicer, because I like the live music, instead of the CD music. The church, though is more conservative and traditional than the Salmon Arm one. Which is okay. It is different, but the people are very friendly. A girl translated the message that was said at the youth night. There was a guy from Austria that was giving the message about not getting enough from life, and finding satisfaction in Jesus! It was good. There were a lot of people there, and again, the age group was from about 16 to 30. So it was an older group, but nice. It gave a different perspective and audience than I am used to, but it was good. I love how they pray though, the thought of prayer in a different language and culture, is so awesome to me. It boggles my mind! Because I think, well, yeah, of course, God must speak German too! (and every other language) I felt my eyes open a teensy bit.
So I stayed for a bit, and everyone stayed WAY longer than I did, but I had school Monday. So on Monday, it was a very long day, I had to go to Heubach AND Aalen. It was not a good day though. I had a confusing first class. I didn't know if I was in the right class, because we had been away for the first full two weeks and I think the class might have switched classrooms, but it was weird. The teacher didn't say anything to me. Not even ask what my name was. It was funny. I was sitting in the back of the room, and then he looked over, after, when everyone was doing work (I was working in my German workbook) and he came over to where I was sitting. I took out my schedule for school, and pointed to the classroom, and he just smiled and made a funny mark on the paper, and then went back to the front of the class. It was funny and odd. I didn't know what to think about it. He didn't even ask me anything the whole class. The class was NWT, which is like natural sciences and technology, I think.
Then when we came back to the regular room that we are in, I sat in what I thought was the back of the room, but I saw Eugenio take a desk and put it one row back. I was like 'what are you doing??' and then this guy from my class came and stared at me. And I was like, okay, there is a spot here and here on either side of me, pick one. (of course, I did all this with body language) And he just stared at me. I was like, well, whatever. Then he said that I was sitting in his spot. OH! A light went on, and I guess the last row of desks was gone, so I was sitting where he normally sits. Well, I had a choice to make. Get up and go to another seat, or just stay where I was. Okay, well I quickly thought about this. No one talks to me in school because I don't sit next to anyone, because they have their own friends. I am not doing enough to integrate myself. I am not being assertive. I won't make friends if don't sit with people, and I have to be assertive. Obviously no one else is trying to make me feel welcome in the class, so I have to take the first step. So I said, okay. I will stay here. What is the harm in sitting somewhere different for one day???
Obviously I did something VERY wrong. The guy was very upset by this. He was not impressed, and the rest of the class thought that I was crazy and stupid for not getting out of my seat. But I innocently thought that I didn't want to be segregated from the rest of the class like an African American in the 60's. And so I sat. Like Rosa Parks. Or so I thought.
So the teacher said sit down to the guy, and he took a seat beside Eugenio in the back, because I wouldn't move. I thought that it was both good for me, Eugenio (because now someone was forced to talk to him too..sometimes I feel bad for the kid because no one talks to him either...except me) and also this guy, because perhaps it would enable him to talk to someone different for a change. Anyhow, I felt like I had accomplished something by stepping out of my quiet, reserved shell and that I was doing something that took a little courage, something that I lack in when it comes to making friends, when I am not used to the setting (especially in another country and I don't speak the language...yet). So I was thinking about it, at the time, and was feeling like finally, I did not take the passive position, where I am not talked to, or don't talk to anyone and sit in the corner alone. But then after two classes, the guy came up to me and asked me again why I was sitting in his seat. I said 'to integrate' and his reply was 'you are already integrated.' In my mind I did not believe this, since no one talks to me at school. So he again asked me to move. When I didn't, he asked me if I understood. It was a little too much for me at this point and when I was thinking about everything, I felt horrible. Like no one wanted me there, like no one wanted to be my friend, and no one understood what it was like. So I told him that yes, I understood, and I packed up my things, and went to the bathroom and cried.
I was in there for about 10 minutes and a girl named Jacky (who is the class speaker, I believe) came in and found me. It was nice. God answered a prayer, and she talked to me, and I asked her why no one talks to me at school. I think she was a bit embarrassed about this, and she talked to me about things. I guess, it's that I am shy, and when no one expresses an interest to be my friend, I just close up. And I guess if it is the other way, I would open up right away, but they don't know this. Anyhow. I talked to her, and then I wanted to go home (both to Canada and to the Sporys. But I knew that I couldn't do either.) So after she said that she would talk to her friends and the class, I told her she should go back to class, and I went to the area where there are tables and did some work until the next break. Then I went to Nils' class to tell him I was going to wait for him and the teacher invited me to sit in on their class. That was fun. They are in grade 5 and are learning English. I liked Nils' class much better! The kids were nice, and more interested in the fact that I was there. It was great for Nils too, Ralf told me that he loved it when I was there. :) Anyhow, and so the day wasn't so great.
Anyhow. But in the evening, after the German course, I spent some time with Ralf and Bebe and we talked, and it was a nice evening. I love hanging out with them. It is nice too, because they are understanding.
Then today, I was very worried about going to school. Because Eugenio told me that everyone thinks that I am crazy now. But I am convincing myself that I don't need to care about what they think of me. Its what God thinks of me that matters, and I know that He loves me no matter what. I was thinking though, about how I need to deal with this situation. If I didn't show up, I would be a coward. Although I feel like one for running from the classroom yesterday. But anyhow, I went and today was better, because I hardly cared that no one talked to me. I was more focused on how God sees me. And today was better. It was good to face that fear, it was an accomplishment today. And after school, Jacky and her two friends came and asked me to come with them to Aalen for dinner on Thursday. So that was super nice too. I think that I will go (even though it is the same night as youth group this week, I think that it is important to go with them for the first time to show them who I am outside of school). Anyhow. So today was much better.
Last night I was reading over the papers that we were given from the Outbound Orientation Weekend in the spring, and oh my goodness, does it ever hit home! I was thinking at the time, that these things wouldn't apply to me so much, and that I wouldn't need to bring them, but am I ever glad that I did! Rotary knows their stuff! And am I ever glad that I have 5060 behind my back, supporting me! I am super glad, and I felt so much closer to Rotary, realizing that they understand how I am feeling, and other people have been through this too. So it was comforting! I was very reassured that I was not alone in this, that every exchange student goes through something like this, and hard times, especially with the language at first. Was I ever glad!!
Anyhow, so today I went to get my passport type photos for my visa (yes, I know it should have been done two weeks ago, but don't worry, it's okay) and that was really great. They turned out really nice, and I love the guy from the studio we took them at.. He is super nice, and did a good job. His work is really good. Kathryn Kemp phoned me today and I am meeting her on Thursday, from my district 5060. So that is nice. She is a Rotarian. And then we came home, ate, and Bebe had a present for me!!
A DIRNDL!!! My very own!!! I was super, super excited, because I wanted one so very much!!! I can wear it to Oktoberfest, and it is great! Bebe and Ralf bought it from a friend and eBay for me, and it is white with lime green flowers! I love it! And I have a white apron! And it is a bit short, so Bebe will make it a little longer for me tomorrow (it was way too long when they got it, and she had hemmed it, but she thinks that I will be always pulling it down, so she said that she would make it longer for me! She is so sweet! :P) and she also made me a leather little purse with a strap made from the dirndl material!! It is so lovely! I hugged them and said thank you many times! They are so wonderful! And Bebe and I put on our dirndls and tried to find the best shoes that looked the best, and then were trying on necklaces and earrings that went with the shoes and dirndls the best. It was so fun. And it was great too! I feel very loved and spoilt. :) It was a nice change from the not so great day yesterday. I love hanging out with my host family. They make me feel very at home. :)
Anyhow. I have to go to bed. I will write more possibly next week. Sorry that I am not able to reply to every email, but I am will try to keep the blog as up to date as I can! Thank you everyone for your support and emails. It is nice to hear from home, and thank you that you have made it possible for me to be here. I am ever so thankful! I hope to learn lots from these experiences, and I feel that I am really starting to get used to being here, and to overcome some fears and differences of culture and character. So danke! And bis später!
K
On Friday, I had my first dance class. It is a jazz\modern\lyrical\hip hop dance club with about eight or so girls. It was at the fitness center in Mögglingen, so we don't have to pay for it. It was good. The teacher speaks pretty good English and she is very nice. I think that I will keep going, but I would like to go in a 'standard' dance course (ballroom) because I think that I enjoy that dancing much better. So we are looking for a place to do dance perhaps in Aalen or Schwäbisch Gmünd. We will look. Then after dance class, I came home and was picked up by Kristina, from the church in Böbingen that I have been going to, and I went to the youth group there. It is really quite nice, because the average age for the youth is about 24 year old, I think. There are a couple of 16, 17 and 18 year olds, but the majority of the people are in their 20's, and they have quite a large group of them. It was great. We sang some songs and we heard from this guy named Herbert, who is also from the church and he had a message about our consciences then we sang one or two more songs, then we ATE! Yes, we ate. It was great, because I have never heard of a youth group that ate at the meetings. So it was nice, because we got to talk and fellowship. A girl, I can't remember what her name is, she translated for me, the message from Herbert, and I talked with a girl named Eva as well. Both of the girls have gone to the U.S. for a year a couple of years ago, so they spoke really good English. Also, I talked with a guy that had been to Canada for a year, and he is very nice. I like him. It seems like he understands a little bit more than everyone else, which is totally what I need. So I stayed about three and a half hours or so (long, but fun) and then went home. It was a nice time, because the people from the church are 20 times more nice than the people from school.
Saturday, we had our first inbound meeting. It was interesting. We took the train to Stuttgart to the airport. It was our meeting place, which was kind of cool, but odd that we had the meeting three weeks after arriving at the airport. Eugenio and I were late because of the train times and we had started out an hour early before the meeting started! So we were in a hurry, but the train went really slow to the airport. Anyhow, so we had a tour of the airport and where the firefighters went and all about the trucks that they drive, and the practice airplanes, and we saw planes take off and come in, as well as where they sort the baggage. It was kind of neat. Also kind of boring, but that's okay. After the airport, we went to Cannstatter Volksfest in Stuttgart, which is kind of like Oktoberfest, but it is in Stuttgart, and not so internationally known. As soon as we got there, I was thinking; 'Man! This puts West Coast Amusements to shame!' It was a lot like the Armstrong IPE and it was so awesome! The rides were utterly crazy, and I went on two. (The first one seemed pretty tame, and to my surprise, it was more than what it had seemed. But it was wicked fun! Although the tickets to ride, were pretty pricey. The second one was a roller coaster, and I thought I was going to die! Then I coaxed myself to breathe, and everything was much better. I commend them for the thrilling ride, I really do.) There were some pretty outrageous rides there! I can't even describe them, because words just don't do them justice. Like I said, West Coast Amusements would have their jaws on the ground!
Anyhow, so at first, I was rather homesick, being at the airport and all, I desperately wished that I could go on the plane home, and at the Volksfest, it reminded me a lot of home and fond memories. There are about 18 inbounds here, in district 1830, and that really surprised me. I was hoping and expecting more! But the main countries of inbounds are Canada, U.S., and Mexico. There are about three or four from each of those countries, there is a couple from Argentina, one from Columbia, one from Japan, one from Thailand, and a couple others, but I forget. So you either speak English or Spanish, really. I was kind of disappointed, because I was expecting and hoping to have more people in the district and more people from different countries, like 5060, but I guess, with Rotary, everything is really, just different. So anyhow, at first, I was a bit bummed and sad, but then I started talking to this guy from Mexico, Emmanuel, and he was super nice. We were walking and talking when we went to one of the big tents to have our lunch\dinner. The tents, are really neat (besides the fact that the majority of people are drunk and there is a lot of smoke because people smoke in the tent) because there are hundreds of people squished into one big tent, and there is a live band playing festive music, people are dancing on the benches of the tables (you have to stand if you want to order something, then the waiter or waitress comes to you) and they are singing, and laughing, and people seem to have a good time! While we were at the tent, we sat in a reserved seating area (which was nice, because we weren't with all the drunk people) and we were served. Almost everyone ordered the typical 1L beer (which is half lemonade), but I wasn't into that, so I drank .4 L of 7 Up. I am not into drinking 1L of anything in one sitting anyways. But it was unbelievable watching the waitresses!! They carry like, 5 of those FULL GLASS 1 LITER beer mugs! IN ONE HAND!!! So they are carrying at least 10 mugs in their arms at once. It is really impressive. Everyone was served the same for lunch\dinner too: a half of about a 2 pound chicken and a bun. It was really good. The chicken was rotisserie style and you should have seen them cooking them. There are like, hundreds of those birds cooking on these rotisserie things. Its neat. And so we stayed in the tent for a while, and a group of us went out of the tent later on (after the meeting was 'officially' over). We walked around, bought some pins and souvenirs, went on a couple of rides, I bought a Gingerbread Love Heart Cookie (they are a typical souvenir) and some chocolate covered bananas and strawberries, which were to die for! It was fun once I started talking with people and started to open up a bit. It was really nice to have Alex there from district 5060, it made things a bit easier, knowing that there is someone there from my district. Although it was kind of sad, just comparing first day of school, etc, with her. People seem to be a bit more personable in her area.
Anyhow, so at about 8 we started for home. I was unimpressed with the lack of responsible drinking within the exchange students and some of the rebounds. It was not a happy night after that. Eugenio and I got off at the wrong stop, people were drunk and throwing up, and I was very upset and homesick. Ralf came and got us from the train station we were at. I felt very guilty that he had to come and pick us up, but he said that it was normal, and that it was okay. I am very thankful! So the experience coming home and after was not so great, and made me very homesick. But the time that I spent there was nice.
The next day, Sunday, it was a thanksgiving service at church (Erntedank fest). It was really neat. They don't have it like a thanksgiving in Canada or the U.S.. It is more thanks to God for everything that He gives us. So it was super awesome because it was focused on God and being thankful for what we have! (the thanksgiving holiday is actually this Sunday but we celebrated it last Sunday) So we had lunch after the service and we talked (Herbert translated for me and I ate lunch with Addi and Kristina and a girl..I forget her name, they were all very nice) and had a nice time. There was another short service at 2pm, but I went home after the lunch. When I came home, I helped Bebe made necklaces and bracelets for her art exhibition in the coming weeks. And that was nice, to relax and spend time with her. Then I had a nap and tried to do some studying. Then at about 6 45Pm, Kristina picked me up to go to this youth service at the school in Böbingen. It was cool. It reminded me of church a little, because there was more contemporary music and there were drums and piano, and bass, and guitar and someone singing. It was much nicer, because I like the live music, instead of the CD music. The church, though is more conservative and traditional than the Salmon Arm one. Which is okay. It is different, but the people are very friendly. A girl translated the message that was said at the youth night. There was a guy from Austria that was giving the message about not getting enough from life, and finding satisfaction in Jesus! It was good. There were a lot of people there, and again, the age group was from about 16 to 30. So it was an older group, but nice. It gave a different perspective and audience than I am used to, but it was good. I love how they pray though, the thought of prayer in a different language and culture, is so awesome to me. It boggles my mind! Because I think, well, yeah, of course, God must speak German too! (and every other language) I felt my eyes open a teensy bit.
So I stayed for a bit, and everyone stayed WAY longer than I did, but I had school Monday. So on Monday, it was a very long day, I had to go to Heubach AND Aalen. It was not a good day though. I had a confusing first class. I didn't know if I was in the right class, because we had been away for the first full two weeks and I think the class might have switched classrooms, but it was weird. The teacher didn't say anything to me. Not even ask what my name was. It was funny. I was sitting in the back of the room, and then he looked over, after, when everyone was doing work (I was working in my German workbook) and he came over to where I was sitting. I took out my schedule for school, and pointed to the classroom, and he just smiled and made a funny mark on the paper, and then went back to the front of the class. It was funny and odd. I didn't know what to think about it. He didn't even ask me anything the whole class. The class was NWT, which is like natural sciences and technology, I think.
Then when we came back to the regular room that we are in, I sat in what I thought was the back of the room, but I saw Eugenio take a desk and put it one row back. I was like 'what are you doing??' and then this guy from my class came and stared at me. And I was like, okay, there is a spot here and here on either side of me, pick one. (of course, I did all this with body language) And he just stared at me. I was like, well, whatever. Then he said that I was sitting in his spot. OH! A light went on, and I guess the last row of desks was gone, so I was sitting where he normally sits. Well, I had a choice to make. Get up and go to another seat, or just stay where I was. Okay, well I quickly thought about this. No one talks to me in school because I don't sit next to anyone, because they have their own friends. I am not doing enough to integrate myself. I am not being assertive. I won't make friends if don't sit with people, and I have to be assertive. Obviously no one else is trying to make me feel welcome in the class, so I have to take the first step. So I said, okay. I will stay here. What is the harm in sitting somewhere different for one day???
Obviously I did something VERY wrong. The guy was very upset by this. He was not impressed, and the rest of the class thought that I was crazy and stupid for not getting out of my seat. But I innocently thought that I didn't want to be segregated from the rest of the class like an African American in the 60's. And so I sat. Like Rosa Parks. Or so I thought.
So the teacher said sit down to the guy, and he took a seat beside Eugenio in the back, because I wouldn't move. I thought that it was both good for me, Eugenio (because now someone was forced to talk to him too..sometimes I feel bad for the kid because no one talks to him either...except me) and also this guy, because perhaps it would enable him to talk to someone different for a change. Anyhow, I felt like I had accomplished something by stepping out of my quiet, reserved shell and that I was doing something that took a little courage, something that I lack in when it comes to making friends, when I am not used to the setting (especially in another country and I don't speak the language...yet). So I was thinking about it, at the time, and was feeling like finally, I did not take the passive position, where I am not talked to, or don't talk to anyone and sit in the corner alone. But then after two classes, the guy came up to me and asked me again why I was sitting in his seat. I said 'to integrate' and his reply was 'you are already integrated.' In my mind I did not believe this, since no one talks to me at school. So he again asked me to move. When I didn't, he asked me if I understood. It was a little too much for me at this point and when I was thinking about everything, I felt horrible. Like no one wanted me there, like no one wanted to be my friend, and no one understood what it was like. So I told him that yes, I understood, and I packed up my things, and went to the bathroom and cried.
I was in there for about 10 minutes and a girl named Jacky (who is the class speaker, I believe) came in and found me. It was nice. God answered a prayer, and she talked to me, and I asked her why no one talks to me at school. I think she was a bit embarrassed about this, and she talked to me about things. I guess, it's that I am shy, and when no one expresses an interest to be my friend, I just close up. And I guess if it is the other way, I would open up right away, but they don't know this. Anyhow. I talked to her, and then I wanted to go home (both to Canada and to the Sporys. But I knew that I couldn't do either.) So after she said that she would talk to her friends and the class, I told her she should go back to class, and I went to the area where there are tables and did some work until the next break. Then I went to Nils' class to tell him I was going to wait for him and the teacher invited me to sit in on their class. That was fun. They are in grade 5 and are learning English. I liked Nils' class much better! The kids were nice, and more interested in the fact that I was there. It was great for Nils too, Ralf told me that he loved it when I was there. :) Anyhow, and so the day wasn't so great.
Anyhow. But in the evening, after the German course, I spent some time with Ralf and Bebe and we talked, and it was a nice evening. I love hanging out with them. It is nice too, because they are understanding.
Then today, I was very worried about going to school. Because Eugenio told me that everyone thinks that I am crazy now. But I am convincing myself that I don't need to care about what they think of me. Its what God thinks of me that matters, and I know that He loves me no matter what. I was thinking though, about how I need to deal with this situation. If I didn't show up, I would be a coward. Although I feel like one for running from the classroom yesterday. But anyhow, I went and today was better, because I hardly cared that no one talked to me. I was more focused on how God sees me. And today was better. It was good to face that fear, it was an accomplishment today. And after school, Jacky and her two friends came and asked me to come with them to Aalen for dinner on Thursday. So that was super nice too. I think that I will go (even though it is the same night as youth group this week, I think that it is important to go with them for the first time to show them who I am outside of school). Anyhow. So today was much better.
Last night I was reading over the papers that we were given from the Outbound Orientation Weekend in the spring, and oh my goodness, does it ever hit home! I was thinking at the time, that these things wouldn't apply to me so much, and that I wouldn't need to bring them, but am I ever glad that I did! Rotary knows their stuff! And am I ever glad that I have 5060 behind my back, supporting me! I am super glad, and I felt so much closer to Rotary, realizing that they understand how I am feeling, and other people have been through this too. So it was comforting! I was very reassured that I was not alone in this, that every exchange student goes through something like this, and hard times, especially with the language at first. Was I ever glad!!
Anyhow, so today I went to get my passport type photos for my visa (yes, I know it should have been done two weeks ago, but don't worry, it's okay) and that was really great. They turned out really nice, and I love the guy from the studio we took them at.. He is super nice, and did a good job. His work is really good. Kathryn Kemp phoned me today and I am meeting her on Thursday, from my district 5060. So that is nice. She is a Rotarian. And then we came home, ate, and Bebe had a present for me!!
A DIRNDL!!! My very own!!! I was super, super excited, because I wanted one so very much!!! I can wear it to Oktoberfest, and it is great! Bebe and Ralf bought it from a friend and eBay for me, and it is white with lime green flowers! I love it! And I have a white apron! And it is a bit short, so Bebe will make it a little longer for me tomorrow (it was way too long when they got it, and she had hemmed it, but she thinks that I will be always pulling it down, so she said that she would make it longer for me! She is so sweet! :P) and she also made me a leather little purse with a strap made from the dirndl material!! It is so lovely! I hugged them and said thank you many times! They are so wonderful! And Bebe and I put on our dirndls and tried to find the best shoes that looked the best, and then were trying on necklaces and earrings that went with the shoes and dirndls the best. It was so fun. And it was great too! I feel very loved and spoilt. :) It was a nice change from the not so great day yesterday. I love hanging out with my host family. They make me feel very at home. :)
Anyhow. I have to go to bed. I will write more possibly next week. Sorry that I am not able to reply to every email, but I am will try to keep the blog as up to date as I can! Thank you everyone for your support and emails. It is nice to hear from home, and thank you that you have made it possible for me to be here. I am ever so thankful! I hope to learn lots from these experiences, and I feel that I am really starting to get used to being here, and to overcome some fears and differences of culture and character. So danke! And bis später!
K
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