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
Monday, September 14, 2009
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
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)