I'm not sure anymore how much snowfall we've had here, but it's got to be around 1.5 feet, maybe more. Right now the sky is actually resembles a sort of blue-ish color, not quite a pepermint blue, but it's getting there! :)
I only have one more day of school before Xmas vacation. And yes, here they actually call it Christmas break. There's no beating around the bush calling it "Winter Vacation" or "Period of Time During Which We Have No School Due to No Specific Holiday in Particular," hahaha! I suppose it makes more sense in California since our Winter lasts for a few weeks at best and is actually contained to our school-free time from Xmas to New Year's. What would make things confusing would be if California schools suddenly decided to follow a more German schedule, placing another vacation at the beginning of February. What would we call that one? Not-Quite-Spring Break? Something to ponder while we stand in the cold at the bus stop ;)
Recently I've felt as if weeks in Germany have just flown by. I remember doing things and going places, but it seems a bit as though I am seeing someone else's memories in the format of a film. I know that I'm not the same person as when I left America. I'm still me, but getting better at German has also made alterations to my thought processies. I'm no neuro-specialist, but I know that when you start to think in two languages, something must have happened to your brain. Being a language-phile, I find this quite interesting. But I must say that it's just so WEIRD to be both the specimen and the observationist.
Now, on to a much more pressing matter. I have not been able to find holiday sprinkles. ANYWHERE. Either elves decided to double their cookie quota, evil nomes are plotting to steal all the sprinkles by xmas, or all the sprinkle companies' employees are boycotting because their health care doesn't cover sugar-induced hysteria. Those are the theories. Improbable though they may be, wasn't it a great detective who once said that, "when you have excluded the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." Of course, that brings about the question, define impossible.
As you probably know, I've changed host families twice this month; once to a temporary host family and then to my second permanent host family. Well, I suppose I can't really call my first situation a permanent host family, lol. Anyway, having lived now in three different German families, I've come to notice some similarities and differences. One odd thing that seems to catch my attention is how people load their dishwashers. Whether they put their utensils handle up or handle down. I have absolutely NO idea why I notice this, but I just do. Next time you help out cleaning up in a friend's kitchen, you might just look to see how they load the dishwasher. (Hmmm, this reminds me of a Dr. Seuss story...)
One last little thing before I post this. My birthday is only a few days from now, on the 27th of December :D I just wanted to let everybody know that YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET ME ANYTHING!! Most of us are far to busy this time of year, so here's one thing that you can do for me and we'll call it even. Spend time with your family this year, and remember those who are spending the holidays away from home, protecting our country and making it possible for us to sit around a fire (or the television watching the yule log station. oh c'mon, we've all done it!) surrounded by family and friends and good cheer. So here's to families, rather big or small, blue or green, conventional or unconventional, like us or not. Have a Happy Holiday, and a Very Merry New Year. TGWTC, raising a glass (non-alcoholic, of course!) to the family.
21.12.10
16.12.10
I'm Ba-ack!!
Hey, so you may or may not have completely forgotten about me by now, and I can't really blame you, either. So many people are busy gearing up for the Holidays, which we all know is one of the craziest times of the year. Germany is no exception. In fact, Deutschland is sort of the Christmas capitol.
For one, we have been having Schnee, and lots of it. Talk about a Winter Wonderland. I find it to be both extremely beautiful and incredibly interesting to deal with. Last weekend we had a sudden rise in temperature, which led to rain instead of snow, which melted a lot of what was on the ground, resulting in a slushy, yucky mess. Then overnight, everything promptly froze again, turning every pathway and sidewalk into a treacherous, slippery, ice-covered surface. Being completely new to this sort of thing, I did my best to not fall flat on my posterior. I am glad to report that there were no falls, but twice I did have to wave my arms around to remain standing.
There's another thing about the snow that just entrances me. Snowflakes. Those shapes we California kids cut out of translucent white tissue paper every year to hang in our windows as a sorry substitute for the real thing. Here I must admit ignorance, for I had grown to believe that the iconic six-sided shape of a snowflake was something grown-ups had made up because it would look pretty on a ballerina's tu-tu. So to Tchaikovsky, I apologize. Your costuming was accurate.
I think I may be coming down with a cold. Not surprising, given how cold it's been. I'll leave it to my readers to check on what the weather's like in Berlin, but I will say that when the temperature rises above zero Celsius, it's quite a phenomenon. Sorry if I seem to be drawling on--I've got a bit of a headache along with a perpetually stuffed up nose. But hey, at least I'm not going on about German politics. Now there's an interesting subject, lol. If ye be brave and strong of heart, then test thy fortitude and master an understanding of the workings of the political system of Germany, hahaha!
And now for a short history of all that has passed since I've been AWOL.
-Left host family and school in Potsdam. Everyone was very kind to me, but things just didn't end up working out. It happens sometimes. I wish them all the best.
-Moved to a temporary host family in Berlin. They're wonderful people, and I'm still in contact with them because they don't live that far away from my new host family. Their daughter and son go to my school, and I'm so happy I still get to see them.
-Moved to a new host family (which will hopefully be my host family for the rest of my time here in Germany!). I got to keep my new school and even the same group of friends, too. I've already made lots of friends here, and my new host sister and I are tight because we both have never had a sister before.
In the last few weeks, my world has been turned upside-down and inside out, in a good way :) In addition to my change in location has also been a change in the weather. My bit of earth started out being a gingerbread house with a light sprinkling of powdered sugar, which someone then placed in the freezer, which then seems to have had an encounter with a sweet-toothed pair of youngsters who have a rather heavy hand when it comes to the marshmallow fluff, lol.
Oh, and I believe I forgot to mention that the snow storm that has so far been contained mostly to the south of Germany has now hit Berlin. The whole thing reminds me of those films of Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Who knows, maybe we'll see his nose up in the sky this year. :) And to answer your questions, yes, I believe we're going to have a White Christmas.
Well, this may not be the best blog post I've made so far, but I think it's enough for now. I'll make sure to tell more of my adventures next time! TGWTC, attempting to learn how to walk in the snow!!
For one, we have been having Schnee, and lots of it. Talk about a Winter Wonderland. I find it to be both extremely beautiful and incredibly interesting to deal with. Last weekend we had a sudden rise in temperature, which led to rain instead of snow, which melted a lot of what was on the ground, resulting in a slushy, yucky mess. Then overnight, everything promptly froze again, turning every pathway and sidewalk into a treacherous, slippery, ice-covered surface. Being completely new to this sort of thing, I did my best to not fall flat on my posterior. I am glad to report that there were no falls, but twice I did have to wave my arms around to remain standing.
There's another thing about the snow that just entrances me. Snowflakes. Those shapes we California kids cut out of translucent white tissue paper every year to hang in our windows as a sorry substitute for the real thing. Here I must admit ignorance, for I had grown to believe that the iconic six-sided shape of a snowflake was something grown-ups had made up because it would look pretty on a ballerina's tu-tu. So to Tchaikovsky, I apologize. Your costuming was accurate.
I think I may be coming down with a cold. Not surprising, given how cold it's been. I'll leave it to my readers to check on what the weather's like in Berlin, but I will say that when the temperature rises above zero Celsius, it's quite a phenomenon. Sorry if I seem to be drawling on--I've got a bit of a headache along with a perpetually stuffed up nose. But hey, at least I'm not going on about German politics. Now there's an interesting subject, lol. If ye be brave and strong of heart, then test thy fortitude and master an understanding of the workings of the political system of Germany, hahaha!
And now for a short history of all that has passed since I've been AWOL.
-Left host family and school in Potsdam. Everyone was very kind to me, but things just didn't end up working out. It happens sometimes. I wish them all the best.
-Moved to a temporary host family in Berlin. They're wonderful people, and I'm still in contact with them because they don't live that far away from my new host family. Their daughter and son go to my school, and I'm so happy I still get to see them.
-Moved to a new host family (which will hopefully be my host family for the rest of my time here in Germany!). I got to keep my new school and even the same group of friends, too. I've already made lots of friends here, and my new host sister and I are tight because we both have never had a sister before.
In the last few weeks, my world has been turned upside-down and inside out, in a good way :) In addition to my change in location has also been a change in the weather. My bit of earth started out being a gingerbread house with a light sprinkling of powdered sugar, which someone then placed in the freezer, which then seems to have had an encounter with a sweet-toothed pair of youngsters who have a rather heavy hand when it comes to the marshmallow fluff, lol.
Oh, and I believe I forgot to mention that the snow storm that has so far been contained mostly to the south of Germany has now hit Berlin. The whole thing reminds me of those films of Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Who knows, maybe we'll see his nose up in the sky this year. :) And to answer your questions, yes, I believe we're going to have a White Christmas.
Well, this may not be the best blog post I've made so far, but I think it's enough for now. I'll make sure to tell more of my adventures next time! TGWTC, attempting to learn how to walk in the snow!!
19.11.10
Carry On
How bout we start this one by telling you all what I'm doing right now. Well, I'm sitting in my room, cutting out turkey templates for a Thanksgiving Day craft for my host family, listening to Taylor Swift's new album, chewing Trident bubble gum: original flavor, and hoping I don't get sick because I feel something coming on. But at least it's the weekend now!! :)
I really like this new album "Speak Now." I've started assigning songs to people in my life right now, lol. "Someday, I'll be living in a big ol' city.." I recommend getting the songs, and legally, because Taylor Swift doesn't deserve to be swindled, so don't pirate it please!!
I looked up my past blog posts so that I could give you the right numbers on my list, lol. We're already up to 35! Whew, lol!
36. It really sucks when u get a bus or tram driver who likes to experiment with inertia... Yeap, flowers, scarves, and that little dog that looks like Toto all go flying! hahaha
37. Speaking of dogs, Germans take their dogs inside malls, on the bus, and on the tram. It surprised me the first time I saw a dog in the mall.
38. The paper here is more expensive than in the U.S. I don't really see why, since they have plenty of trees. But then again, plenty of trees doesn't exactly signal a flourishing logging industry, now does it? lol. And the paper has four holes in it, except when the teachers only punch two holes in worksheets, which I then need to impale upon the claws of my four ring binder, hahaha.
39. My school has an attic, which is pretty creepy. It's roped off, and I've only been there once. (Don't worry, I was allowed to be there, sheesh!) And there's also this bathroom in the smaller building which is HAUNTED!!!!
40. Germans celebrate Xmas on the 24th of December instead of the 25th. Makes sense since they call it "Weihnachten."
A cold fog has descended upon this region of Germany as of late. It's like walking through one of those freezers in the supermarket, lol. It leaves you feeling chilled and greatly in need of a cup of hot tea, a good book, and a warm bed. The leaves are almost all gone now; the ones that are left are slowly disintegrating into mush on the pavement and in between cobblestones.
The windows at my school are now constantly fogged up around the rims, just like in the opening scene in Frosty the Snowman. Maybe this is what precedes snow? I have no idea about these weather patterns, lol. How bout a heat wave? I could handle that, hahaha! Oh, and the German kids like to open and close the windows about a million times during class. How about we not heat the rooms so much, so the foreign exchange student by the window wouldn't have to be traumatized by cold fronts?! Please...
(Sorry, folks, the above text is from yesterday. I had to leave the computer unexpectedly.)
In biology we were going over red blood cells as an example of some sort of structure, and the teacher compared one part of the cell to a Catholic priest's hat. A student said it looked like a Mexican hat (of course they wouldn't know that it's called a sombrero, lol). And the teacher said, okay, eine Katolischen Priest in Mexico, hahaha! Made my day ;)
So basically I'm just wading through the swamp that is my German life right now, occasionally finding a Spanish doubloon in all the mud (remember the Pirates computer game, lil' bro?). But I think the magic that makes us who we are is being able to make our own treasure; a random trinket at a swapmeet, seeing the laughter in someone's eyes that bypasses all language barriers, moments that will make us smile for years to come.
So whenever you feel like you can't get through the day, just think about how every minute of every day brings new opportunities, and that the sun always sets in the West. (Oh, and don't buy any clothes that have too literal an interpretation of something. i.e. Spartan wear, animal print, lingerie, etc. lol) Carry on, TGWTC, over and out. (and yes, that was a Tim Gun reference.) ;)
I really like this new album "Speak Now." I've started assigning songs to people in my life right now, lol. "Someday, I'll be living in a big ol' city.." I recommend getting the songs, and legally, because Taylor Swift doesn't deserve to be swindled, so don't pirate it please!!
I looked up my past blog posts so that I could give you the right numbers on my list, lol. We're already up to 35! Whew, lol!
36. It really sucks when u get a bus or tram driver who likes to experiment with inertia... Yeap, flowers, scarves, and that little dog that looks like Toto all go flying! hahaha
37. Speaking of dogs, Germans take their dogs inside malls, on the bus, and on the tram. It surprised me the first time I saw a dog in the mall.
38. The paper here is more expensive than in the U.S. I don't really see why, since they have plenty of trees. But then again, plenty of trees doesn't exactly signal a flourishing logging industry, now does it? lol. And the paper has four holes in it, except when the teachers only punch two holes in worksheets, which I then need to impale upon the claws of my four ring binder, hahaha.
39. My school has an attic, which is pretty creepy. It's roped off, and I've only been there once. (Don't worry, I was allowed to be there, sheesh!) And there's also this bathroom in the smaller building which is HAUNTED!!!!
40. Germans celebrate Xmas on the 24th of December instead of the 25th. Makes sense since they call it "Weihnachten."
A cold fog has descended upon this region of Germany as of late. It's like walking through one of those freezers in the supermarket, lol. It leaves you feeling chilled and greatly in need of a cup of hot tea, a good book, and a warm bed. The leaves are almost all gone now; the ones that are left are slowly disintegrating into mush on the pavement and in between cobblestones.
The windows at my school are now constantly fogged up around the rims, just like in the opening scene in Frosty the Snowman. Maybe this is what precedes snow? I have no idea about these weather patterns, lol. How bout a heat wave? I could handle that, hahaha! Oh, and the German kids like to open and close the windows about a million times during class. How about we not heat the rooms so much, so the foreign exchange student by the window wouldn't have to be traumatized by cold fronts?! Please...
(Sorry, folks, the above text is from yesterday. I had to leave the computer unexpectedly.)
In biology we were going over red blood cells as an example of some sort of structure, and the teacher compared one part of the cell to a Catholic priest's hat. A student said it looked like a Mexican hat (of course they wouldn't know that it's called a sombrero, lol). And the teacher said, okay, eine Katolischen Priest in Mexico, hahaha! Made my day ;)
So basically I'm just wading through the swamp that is my German life right now, occasionally finding a Spanish doubloon in all the mud (remember the Pirates computer game, lil' bro?). But I think the magic that makes us who we are is being able to make our own treasure; a random trinket at a swapmeet, seeing the laughter in someone's eyes that bypasses all language barriers, moments that will make us smile for years to come.
So whenever you feel like you can't get through the day, just think about how every minute of every day brings new opportunities, and that the sun always sets in the West. (Oh, and don't buy any clothes that have too literal an interpretation of something. i.e. Spartan wear, animal print, lingerie, etc. lol) Carry on, TGWTC, over and out. (and yes, that was a Tim Gun reference.) ;)
16.11.10
To Whom It May Concern
Hello, my loverly readers, I just thought that I'd take a few minutes to answer some regular questions about my life in Germany and what I've encountered so far.
With regards to the weather, yes, it is almost always gray. Grau, grau, grau immer ist der Himmel, lol. And it rains, a lot. Puddle stomping is inadvisable since to do so would mean drenched clothes at the very least. And I strongly suggest to keep away from the edge of the sidewalk, as German drivers have no qualms whatsoever in roaring down the gutter at full speed.
School. Oh, how to describe school... Well, I'm getting more used to it as time goes on. But I really despise taking German tests. I pretty much fail most my tests, even though I put all my effort into them. This is why we should all have an off/on switch for how much we care about something.
Oh, I have some rather interesting news to report. This Monday, as I was walking back from the bus, I stopped by the minimart in Saarmund. The automatic doors whoosed open and the welcoming smell of warm bread rushed out, warming the frigid air. Turning to the Gemuse and Obst section, I discovered, to my immense joy, green, fresh, crunchy apples. I hadn't had a green apple for three months now, so I bought two and ate one on the way home. The other I ate with peanut butter during dinner today. I've gotta say, those green apples were like wonderfully colorful beacons in my gray German world.
Sometimes there are little things like that. Tiny rays of encouragement, whether sent to us by design or by mere coincidence I know not. But when you feel alone, or as if the world is slowly backing away from you, those little tokens of light are so precious. I'm sure that you know about my share of ups and downs since I've gotten here, and I hope you know also that there's much more to come. It's not going to be easy, but then again, nothing ever is. So thanks for listening, this post is for you. Your friend, TGWTC
With regards to the weather, yes, it is almost always gray. Grau, grau, grau immer ist der Himmel, lol. And it rains, a lot. Puddle stomping is inadvisable since to do so would mean drenched clothes at the very least. And I strongly suggest to keep away from the edge of the sidewalk, as German drivers have no qualms whatsoever in roaring down the gutter at full speed.
School. Oh, how to describe school... Well, I'm getting more used to it as time goes on. But I really despise taking German tests. I pretty much fail most my tests, even though I put all my effort into them. This is why we should all have an off/on switch for how much we care about something.
Oh, I have some rather interesting news to report. This Monday, as I was walking back from the bus, I stopped by the minimart in Saarmund. The automatic doors whoosed open and the welcoming smell of warm bread rushed out, warming the frigid air. Turning to the Gemuse and Obst section, I discovered, to my immense joy, green, fresh, crunchy apples. I hadn't had a green apple for three months now, so I bought two and ate one on the way home. The other I ate with peanut butter during dinner today. I've gotta say, those green apples were like wonderfully colorful beacons in my gray German world.
Sometimes there are little things like that. Tiny rays of encouragement, whether sent to us by design or by mere coincidence I know not. But when you feel alone, or as if the world is slowly backing away from you, those little tokens of light are so precious. I'm sure that you know about my share of ups and downs since I've gotten here, and I hope you know also that there's much more to come. It's not going to be easy, but then again, nothing ever is. So thanks for listening, this post is for you. Your friend, TGWTC
13.11.10
Meine Abenteuer in Berlin
Oh, my gosh! I have so much to write about, and not so much time to write it in!
Let's start with what I did this weekend. On Friday, I met a friend of my family's at Potsdam Hauptbahnhof and went with her to Berlin, where I saw my first opera ever, La Traviata. It was amazing, and even though it was a modern take on the original, I could still sort of get what they meant. (The analysis will be haunting my dreams, I assure you, lol.)
They sang in German and Italian. I used to understand a bit more of Italian, since it's a romance language, but now I understand more German, so that was interesting. Thankfully I had a screen in front of me with an English translation, so I didn't get lost. Oh, and here's one interesting tid-bit. La Traviata is about a "working woman," and so is Carmen. What was it with these composers and their interest in the life of prostitutes, I wonder? Just putting it out there!
Today I had the oportunity of going to not one, but two museums in Berlin: The Neue Museum and The Pergamon. I didn't have too much time to spend there, but I've gotta say, both are worth visiting. I hope to go there again while I'm here, especially to the Pergamon. (They have a t-shirt I want, lol. Not to mention all the amazing artifacts and exhibits!!!)
And now I have a few words to say about Berlin. Like other great cities of culture (Paris, Rome, New York, even), Berlin has its own rhythm. Its own ebb and flow of traffic, sounds, and sights. While I was walking to the museum island, we crossed over a bridge, and there was a man playing an accordian there. The sky was its classic business suit gray, and the water in the river below reflected the color back like graphite. And of course the stones in the street were left shining from the recent rain. The whole thing was so amazing, I can't possibly describe it. But if you have ever been someplace that just oozes of stories, whether real or fiction, then you know how a place like Berlin feels.
Okay, I've had my little creative writing exercise, lol, so let's continue. Thursday was 11.11, or Elfte Elfte, aka the day when German teens go crazy for absolutely no reason at all. They dressed up in all sorts of crazy outfits for school, and we have what would be our equivalent of a pep rally. Oh, and here's something that sort of shocked me: I think the total number of students attending my school here is about an eigth the amount of those in my high school back home. Crazy, right?
And now we continue my little list: (uhm, which number were we on? oh, well, I'll just do bullets for now...)
-We had a fire drill a few weeks back in my school. I have to say, it wasn't very organized, and they didn't check to see if everyone was there. I really hope they never have a fire or other catastrophe here..
-They have German pretzel vendors in Berlin. I freaking LOVE that place!! lolz
-The sun is a primadonna here. It makes seldom makes appearances, and it's not terribly spectacular when it does. (Okay, fine, it's spectacular. It's like the color comes flooding back to the world in a torrent of light. Happy? hahaha.)
-Germans do not use the handy-dandy serrated edge of the aluminium foil box. They throw away the box, and leave American foreign exchange students to struggle with the roll of foil as they go to make their lunches, lol.
-Some German boys look like Edward Cullen and Clark Kent. Some smoke, some don't. Some are nice, some aren't. Some are dull, others must be smart (but I can't grasp what they're saying cuz it's in German, lol). Some are fit, some aren't. But all of them wear clothes which would label them as gay in CA in about, oh, point 5 seconds, lol. This is the dillemna: Is it just European style? lolz
Stay tuned for next week's episode, where our attractive and intelligent young heroine ventures out into a world which is quickly turning into a very cold, but very pretty, Winter city.
Let's start with what I did this weekend. On Friday, I met a friend of my family's at Potsdam Hauptbahnhof and went with her to Berlin, where I saw my first opera ever, La Traviata. It was amazing, and even though it was a modern take on the original, I could still sort of get what they meant. (The analysis will be haunting my dreams, I assure you, lol.)
They sang in German and Italian. I used to understand a bit more of Italian, since it's a romance language, but now I understand more German, so that was interesting. Thankfully I had a screen in front of me with an English translation, so I didn't get lost. Oh, and here's one interesting tid-bit. La Traviata is about a "working woman," and so is Carmen. What was it with these composers and their interest in the life of prostitutes, I wonder? Just putting it out there!
Today I had the oportunity of going to not one, but two museums in Berlin: The Neue Museum and The Pergamon. I didn't have too much time to spend there, but I've gotta say, both are worth visiting. I hope to go there again while I'm here, especially to the Pergamon. (They have a t-shirt I want, lol. Not to mention all the amazing artifacts and exhibits!!!)
And now I have a few words to say about Berlin. Like other great cities of culture (Paris, Rome, New York, even), Berlin has its own rhythm. Its own ebb and flow of traffic, sounds, and sights. While I was walking to the museum island, we crossed over a bridge, and there was a man playing an accordian there. The sky was its classic business suit gray, and the water in the river below reflected the color back like graphite. And of course the stones in the street were left shining from the recent rain. The whole thing was so amazing, I can't possibly describe it. But if you have ever been someplace that just oozes of stories, whether real or fiction, then you know how a place like Berlin feels.
Okay, I've had my little creative writing exercise, lol, so let's continue. Thursday was 11.11, or Elfte Elfte, aka the day when German teens go crazy for absolutely no reason at all. They dressed up in all sorts of crazy outfits for school, and we have what would be our equivalent of a pep rally. Oh, and here's something that sort of shocked me: I think the total number of students attending my school here is about an eigth the amount of those in my high school back home. Crazy, right?
And now we continue my little list: (uhm, which number were we on? oh, well, I'll just do bullets for now...)
-We had a fire drill a few weeks back in my school. I have to say, it wasn't very organized, and they didn't check to see if everyone was there. I really hope they never have a fire or other catastrophe here..
-They have German pretzel vendors in Berlin. I freaking LOVE that place!! lolz
-The sun is a primadonna here. It makes seldom makes appearances, and it's not terribly spectacular when it does. (Okay, fine, it's spectacular. It's like the color comes flooding back to the world in a torrent of light. Happy? hahaha.)
-Germans do not use the handy-dandy serrated edge of the aluminium foil box. They throw away the box, and leave American foreign exchange students to struggle with the roll of foil as they go to make their lunches, lol.
-Some German boys look like Edward Cullen and Clark Kent. Some smoke, some don't. Some are nice, some aren't. Some are dull, others must be smart (but I can't grasp what they're saying cuz it's in German, lol). Some are fit, some aren't. But all of them wear clothes which would label them as gay in CA in about, oh, point 5 seconds, lol. This is the dillemna: Is it just European style? lolz
Stay tuned for next week's episode, where our attractive and intelligent young heroine ventures out into a world which is quickly turning into a very cold, but very pretty, Winter city.
9.11.10
Girl with a Geige, Coming Through!!
This was pretty much what I wanted to say to everyone on the tram as I hauled my violin with me from Saarmund to Potsdam and back. Really, people, do not mess with a musician carrying their instrument. You will get run over, lol.
For those of you who know me, remember when I used to be on a robotics team with FTC? Well, on one of the computers at school, I happened to see the software for LEGO Mindstorm while looking under the programs. Yeap, apparently it really is an international competition. :)
There's not anything that can quite compare to the workout of running for a bus. Especially when are have a heavy school backpack and November Germany clothing, lol. But the upside is that you don't miss the bus, hahaha. And trust me, here in Saarmund, if you miss one bus, the next one will take it's darned good time getting there. I often find myself wishing for a Totoro bus, that can take me right to where I need to go, exactly when I need to go there, lol. *sigh* If only... ;)
On Sunday, I went to an antik markt that was in Potsdam for the weekend. It was in a building right next to my school, so that was convenient. I choked up a little when I went inside because I have such fond memories of going to a fair or garage sale with my mom or dad. But then I just imagined what they would say if they were there with me, and it helped me a lot. I can't not think about my family and home in CA, but I can do my best to think about positive things. I ended up getting a little figurine with a boy and a girl about to kiss. I decided to buy that one because the boy is holding flowers for the girl. And I find the idea of a guy giving a girl flowers to be very romantical <3
So I was walking back to the house from the bus stop a few nights ago, and I stopped to look at my shadow from the light of the street lamps. It was sort of nice to see a cute, curvy figure there. Sometimes I feel like an old lady, going to the grocery store with my plastic bag, lolz. So thanks to the street lamps that line the street I walk every evening :)
I like being outside when it's morning and afternoon because I can see the smoke rising from the chimneys, and I sometimes sing Chim-Chimminee. I can smell the smoke wafting up from fire-places and it reminds me of Christmas Eve at my Nana and Grandpa's house. I remember when we had these scented pine-cones for a few years. They made the house smell like all sorts of good things. So that's why I like chimney smoke, lol.
List of Random-ness (continued):
25. Germans do not refridgerate their beverages while they are being stored. I find it extremely odd not to refridgerate milk.
26. They always sit down to eat their meals. It doesn't matter if it's breakfast or dinner, they like to sit down.
27. German seagulls are annoying and a disgrace to the race of seagull. They sound so silly, and it's just, no, just, no...
28. Ticket checking people tend to ride the trams at night. I have had my ticket checked about three times, and I always show it when I get on the bus.
29. They have the coolest calendars ever. EV-ER. ;)
30. All the bakeries, or Backerei, give off mouth-watering smells of fresh bread and pastries. I turn my head involuntary every time I walk by one.
31. The best pretzel in the world is a German one.
Well, that's all for now. I'm finding that I'm quite busy now, so I'm not sure when I'll have the chance to blog next. I hope this will suffice, at least for a while!! TGWTC, rockin' the haus!!
For those of you who know me, remember when I used to be on a robotics team with FTC? Well, on one of the computers at school, I happened to see the software for LEGO Mindstorm while looking under the programs. Yeap, apparently it really is an international competition. :)
There's not anything that can quite compare to the workout of running for a bus. Especially when are have a heavy school backpack and November Germany clothing, lol. But the upside is that you don't miss the bus, hahaha. And trust me, here in Saarmund, if you miss one bus, the next one will take it's darned good time getting there. I often find myself wishing for a Totoro bus, that can take me right to where I need to go, exactly when I need to go there, lol. *sigh* If only... ;)
On Sunday, I went to an antik markt that was in Potsdam for the weekend. It was in a building right next to my school, so that was convenient. I choked up a little when I went inside because I have such fond memories of going to a fair or garage sale with my mom or dad. But then I just imagined what they would say if they were there with me, and it helped me a lot. I can't not think about my family and home in CA, but I can do my best to think about positive things. I ended up getting a little figurine with a boy and a girl about to kiss. I decided to buy that one because the boy is holding flowers for the girl. And I find the idea of a guy giving a girl flowers to be very romantical <3
So I was walking back to the house from the bus stop a few nights ago, and I stopped to look at my shadow from the light of the street lamps. It was sort of nice to see a cute, curvy figure there. Sometimes I feel like an old lady, going to the grocery store with my plastic bag, lolz. So thanks to the street lamps that line the street I walk every evening :)
I like being outside when it's morning and afternoon because I can see the smoke rising from the chimneys, and I sometimes sing Chim-Chimminee. I can smell the smoke wafting up from fire-places and it reminds me of Christmas Eve at my Nana and Grandpa's house. I remember when we had these scented pine-cones for a few years. They made the house smell like all sorts of good things. So that's why I like chimney smoke, lol.
List of Random-ness (continued):
25. Germans do not refridgerate their beverages while they are being stored. I find it extremely odd not to refridgerate milk.
26. They always sit down to eat their meals. It doesn't matter if it's breakfast or dinner, they like to sit down.
27. German seagulls are annoying and a disgrace to the race of seagull. They sound so silly, and it's just, no, just, no...
28. Ticket checking people tend to ride the trams at night. I have had my ticket checked about three times, and I always show it when I get on the bus.
29. They have the coolest calendars ever. EV-ER. ;)
30. All the bakeries, or Backerei, give off mouth-watering smells of fresh bread and pastries. I turn my head involuntary every time I walk by one.
31. The best pretzel in the world is a German one.
Well, that's all for now. I'm finding that I'm quite busy now, so I'm not sure when I'll have the chance to blog next. I hope this will suffice, at least for a while!! TGWTC, rockin' the haus!!
5.11.10
I Wish I Had My Bow and Arrows
I wish I had my bow and arrows right now, because sometimes a girl just needs to go and shoot at a bale of hay, or a wall, or German grammar, lol. Archers will know that when you get that tense feeling in your shoulders and back, there's nothing to be done but go out on the range by yourself, calm down, and focus. It's really quite meditative and relaxing.
Well, enough about that, onto the next topic. I went to a youth orchestra in Potsdam on Monday. It felt very nice to play with a group again, even if they are a bit younger than me and still starting to master the basics. There really is nothing like the comraderie you find with a group of musicians.
On Tuesday and Wednesday I helped out with an English class for kids in maybe the fifth or sixth grade. I walked in before the teacher had gotten there, and subsequently got some rude remarks from the kids. I find a lot of them to be quite loud and without restraint. I predict that had I been born in an earlier century, I would have become a governess, lol.
Yesterday (Thursday) I went to an English debate club after school. There are about five or so other girls in the club, and they're all seventeen or eighteen. Hmmm, I wonder what happened to all the sixteen-year-olds in Germany... The club was very welcoming: they had tea and some cookies ready when I got there. (I checked the ingredients list on the cookies before I took one. It definitely helps to know the word Nuss!)
Today I took a test in Chemistry. (Dun, dun, dunnnn...) I did my best, translated the questions into English, and wrote my answers in error-ridden Deutsch. I think my teacher knows that I'm doing my best, so hopefully that's a pass for that class at least!!! (Quarter grades come out next week, to my understanding.)
And here's the continuation of The List:
26. We're all human beings, no matter how, when, or where we live. We all shed tears, and there are some things we all understand.
27. Unfortunately, since we're all human, we can all get sick, too. I sense something spreading in my school, aaahhhhhh!!! (Well, I got all the inocculations under the sun before I left, so I should be okay, lolz.)
28. For the school lunch, they get real plates and silverware. Made out of ceramic and metal. I know, I was shocked, too. O.O
29. Potsdam is located farther north of the Equator than Los Angeles. Which means that it is now dark when I am starting the day, and when I'm walking back home. (And it will only get worse, hahaha.)
30. Some German teachers are nice. Others are NOT. Just like in America, folks!
So there you have it, everything that's been going through my head and all the random things I feel like blogging about. Thanks for reading, tune in next week to see what crazy stuff happens next!! -TGWTC
Well, enough about that, onto the next topic. I went to a youth orchestra in Potsdam on Monday. It felt very nice to play with a group again, even if they are a bit younger than me and still starting to master the basics. There really is nothing like the comraderie you find with a group of musicians.
On Tuesday and Wednesday I helped out with an English class for kids in maybe the fifth or sixth grade. I walked in before the teacher had gotten there, and subsequently got some rude remarks from the kids. I find a lot of them to be quite loud and without restraint. I predict that had I been born in an earlier century, I would have become a governess, lol.
Yesterday (Thursday) I went to an English debate club after school. There are about five or so other girls in the club, and they're all seventeen or eighteen. Hmmm, I wonder what happened to all the sixteen-year-olds in Germany... The club was very welcoming: they had tea and some cookies ready when I got there. (I checked the ingredients list on the cookies before I took one. It definitely helps to know the word Nuss!)
Today I took a test in Chemistry. (Dun, dun, dunnnn...) I did my best, translated the questions into English, and wrote my answers in error-ridden Deutsch. I think my teacher knows that I'm doing my best, so hopefully that's a pass for that class at least!!! (Quarter grades come out next week, to my understanding.)
And here's the continuation of The List:
26. We're all human beings, no matter how, when, or where we live. We all shed tears, and there are some things we all understand.
27. Unfortunately, since we're all human, we can all get sick, too. I sense something spreading in my school, aaahhhhhh!!! (Well, I got all the inocculations under the sun before I left, so I should be okay, lolz.)
28. For the school lunch, they get real plates and silverware. Made out of ceramic and metal. I know, I was shocked, too. O.O
29. Potsdam is located farther north of the Equator than Los Angeles. Which means that it is now dark when I am starting the day, and when I'm walking back home. (And it will only get worse, hahaha.)
30. Some German teachers are nice. Others are NOT. Just like in America, folks!
So there you have it, everything that's been going through my head and all the random things I feel like blogging about. Thanks for reading, tune in next week to see what crazy stuff happens next!! -TGWTC
2.11.10
The Grayness Has Fallen
Yes, it's true. The grayness, as I'm calling it, has settled over Potsdam. I haven't seen the sun for almost two days now. I would just like to let the weather ppl know that, should this continue, I will lose whatever melanin I had in my skin and become albino. Just so they're aware ;)
Halloween was fun, though it's not even remarkably close to the fun we have in the U.S. I didn't dress up, but I did go around the neighborhood a bit with my younger host sister and her friends. It was pretty creepy to see tendrils of fog rolling in from the wooded hills, illuminated by the yellow street lamps. Ooh! I'm giving myself chills!!
Yesterday I went to an orchestra in Potsdam, and it was fun to play with a group again, even if they are younger than me and more of a junior high level. My stand partner's hair is dyed mostly a bright shade of pink, but that's Germany for you, lol. We came upon the topic of Star Trek (they're playing the theme song), and it turns out that she really likes it, too (even though she likes Kirk more than Picard, hahaha! Seriously, Next Generation ROCKS!!).
On the way home, I ran into a bit of a speed bump due to the fact that the bus only runs every hour after 7:00pm. Everything was fine and I got back alright, but it wasn't very enjoyable waiting at the bus stop when you're tired and carrying a heavy violin case, lol. (Adjustments are being made to see what we can do about this for next week--stay tuned.)
Here is more to add to my list:
21. German seasons know when to start and when to end. The trees all started losing their leaves in earnest after Halloween. I wonder what they'll do next... O.o
22. A lot of German kids are really loud in the classroom, and a lot of them don't stop when the teacher is talking. Hence, a lot of German teachers shout, especially when I happen to be sitting right in front of them, not making any hassle, hahaha.. yeah....
23. The grocery stores are either itty bitty, or GYNORMOUS. There is no in-between. (Same goes for the spoons. Soup or dessert, take your pick.)
24. German boys are just as immature as American boys. Sorry girls, lolz :P
25. The digital signs at the bus station like to play tricks on ppl waiting. Your bus will be coming in 5 minuten, and then poof! it's gone! The solution is to stare at the sign, unleashing all manner of threats within your head, until it decides to cooperate again.
Well, that just about sums this up for now! Be talkin' to ya l8r! -TGWTC
Halloween was fun, though it's not even remarkably close to the fun we have in the U.S. I didn't dress up, but I did go around the neighborhood a bit with my younger host sister and her friends. It was pretty creepy to see tendrils of fog rolling in from the wooded hills, illuminated by the yellow street lamps. Ooh! I'm giving myself chills!!
Yesterday I went to an orchestra in Potsdam, and it was fun to play with a group again, even if they are younger than me and more of a junior high level. My stand partner's hair is dyed mostly a bright shade of pink, but that's Germany for you, lol. We came upon the topic of Star Trek (they're playing the theme song), and it turns out that she really likes it, too (even though she likes Kirk more than Picard, hahaha! Seriously, Next Generation ROCKS!!).
On the way home, I ran into a bit of a speed bump due to the fact that the bus only runs every hour after 7:00pm. Everything was fine and I got back alright, but it wasn't very enjoyable waiting at the bus stop when you're tired and carrying a heavy violin case, lol. (Adjustments are being made to see what we can do about this for next week--stay tuned.)
Here is more to add to my list:
21. German seasons know when to start and when to end. The trees all started losing their leaves in earnest after Halloween. I wonder what they'll do next... O.o
22. A lot of German kids are really loud in the classroom, and a lot of them don't stop when the teacher is talking. Hence, a lot of German teachers shout, especially when I happen to be sitting right in front of them, not making any hassle, hahaha.. yeah....
23. The grocery stores are either itty bitty, or GYNORMOUS. There is no in-between. (Same goes for the spoons. Soup or dessert, take your pick.)
24. German boys are just as immature as American boys. Sorry girls, lolz :P
25. The digital signs at the bus station like to play tricks on ppl waiting. Your bus will be coming in 5 minuten, and then poof! it's gone! The solution is to stare at the sign, unleashing all manner of threats within your head, until it decides to cooperate again.
Well, that just about sums this up for now! Be talkin' to ya l8r! -TGWTC
30.10.10
Two Days in a Row!!
Yes, that's right, folks! For two days in a row now, I've had internet access via my laptop and internet stick in my room in Saarmund!! It's amazing! It's unbelievable! (I'm glad I don't drink, or else I'd be a little bit worried, lol.)
Well, now, on to business... Today I went with a friend of my biological family's (hmmm, sounds like I'm adopted, lol!) to Schloss Sanssouci! It was soo much fun! We took an audio tour, which was really great, and now I'm having difficulty choosing between the 1600s and the 1800s as my favorite time period, hahaha!
I'm going to check out a youth orchestra in Potsdam on Monday. I hope all goes well! My PI Rep said that the director speaks less English than I do Deutsch. My response: "Uh-oh..." lolz.
On Tuesday I will help out in an English class for younger kids (I think they're about 5th graders?). Anyway, I think that will be really fun getting to be a teacher's aide. I like kids; they're less complicated to understand, lol.
Tomorrow (Sunday) is Halloween! I'm going to do my best to show my host family how much we enjoy Halloween in America. I hope it will be a fun day for all! Monday is also my Dad's birthday (which falls on El Dia de Los Muertos). Here's a shout-out to ya, and have a happy Day of the Dead on your birthday!! (Okay, that sounds just a TAD bit macabre..)
Now, for the continuation of my random observations of Germany and Germans: (I think we're on fifteen, yeah??)
15. At the school, instead of having handball courts, they have cement ping-pong tables. Weird... (I'm tolerant, but I just find it unusual, that's all, lol.)
16. Tons of people smoke, especially young people. I'm surprised by how many kids who go to my school smoke. I feel sorry for them, and I hope they find the strength to quit.
17. There are NO GREEN APPLES in Germany, whatsoever. I miss you, Granny Smith!
18. The teachers' writing in school is illegible. PERIOD.
19. Sales tax is included in the price. :)
20. The people who work in the Eis shops in the mall are really nice. They help you decide what you want, even when you stand there gawking at the ice cream. And they don't judge you just because your Deutsch isn't so gut. They are now some of my new heroes!
I watched The Devil Wears Prada with my host family. (In Deutsch, naturlich.) It was so funny to hear the voice-over for Meryl Streep saying, "Das ist alles." I also bought Over the Hedge and Hercules in Deutsch. I've already watched Over the Hedge, and I think maybe I'll get to watch Hercules tomorrow. Better to start with simple films I've already seen, lol.
Well, I think that wraps this up, for now! Oh, and thank you to my friends who have sent me letters and are staying in contact! Ich liebe u guys!!
TGWTC, running around loose in Potsdam (hehehe, be afraid, be very afraid). ;)
Well, now, on to business... Today I went with a friend of my biological family's (hmmm, sounds like I'm adopted, lol!) to Schloss Sanssouci! It was soo much fun! We took an audio tour, which was really great, and now I'm having difficulty choosing between the 1600s and the 1800s as my favorite time period, hahaha!
I'm going to check out a youth orchestra in Potsdam on Monday. I hope all goes well! My PI Rep said that the director speaks less English than I do Deutsch. My response: "Uh-oh..." lolz.
On Tuesday I will help out in an English class for younger kids (I think they're about 5th graders?). Anyway, I think that will be really fun getting to be a teacher's aide. I like kids; they're less complicated to understand, lol.
Tomorrow (Sunday) is Halloween! I'm going to do my best to show my host family how much we enjoy Halloween in America. I hope it will be a fun day for all! Monday is also my Dad's birthday (which falls on El Dia de Los Muertos). Here's a shout-out to ya, and have a happy Day of the Dead on your birthday!! (Okay, that sounds just a TAD bit macabre..)
Now, for the continuation of my random observations of Germany and Germans: (I think we're on fifteen, yeah??)
15. At the school, instead of having handball courts, they have cement ping-pong tables. Weird... (I'm tolerant, but I just find it unusual, that's all, lol.)
16. Tons of people smoke, especially young people. I'm surprised by how many kids who go to my school smoke. I feel sorry for them, and I hope they find the strength to quit.
17. There are NO GREEN APPLES in Germany, whatsoever. I miss you, Granny Smith!
18. The teachers' writing in school is illegible. PERIOD.
19. Sales tax is included in the price. :)
20. The people who work in the Eis shops in the mall are really nice. They help you decide what you want, even when you stand there gawking at the ice cream. And they don't judge you just because your Deutsch isn't so gut. They are now some of my new heroes!
I watched The Devil Wears Prada with my host family. (In Deutsch, naturlich.) It was so funny to hear the voice-over for Meryl Streep saying, "Das ist alles." I also bought Over the Hedge and Hercules in Deutsch. I've already watched Over the Hedge, and I think maybe I'll get to watch Hercules tomorrow. Better to start with simple films I've already seen, lol.
Well, I think that wraps this up, for now! Oh, and thank you to my friends who have sent me letters and are staying in contact! Ich liebe u guys!!
TGWTC, running around loose in Potsdam (hehehe, be afraid, be very afraid). ;)
21.10.10
7 Degrees Celcius
Aaaarrrgggg! Silly internet just made everything kaput. Now I have to start all over again :(
Okay, so you read the title correctly, this morning until about 2 o'clock it was seven degrees celcius. Later it warmed up a bit- to 12 degrees celcius.. not very pleasant for a CA girl. Whosoever starts singing that Katie Perry song one more time may just disappear in the dead of night... jk, or am I?? O.o
Here's a few more points to add to my list of observations of Germans and Germany. (This is just as I've observed, so I'm just telling it as I see it.):
10. In restaurants, they only give you one glass of liquid to consume. And they don't refill that lonely, skinny glass without you paying for it, lol.
11. They never seem to eat as though they are hungary. I'm having difficulty eating as slowly, hahaha.
12. German birds are SCARY. Maybe it's because of the red glint in their eyes...
13. Hand disinfectant is BAD.
14. They really care about their windows.
Well, I think that's enough for now. Today is my host father's birthday; he really liked the flashlight we got him (Thanks my wonderful Mom and family in CA!!!)
TGWTC (with two German children staring at the screen, ah, privacy is so fleeting), tschuss!!
Okay, so you read the title correctly, this morning until about 2 o'clock it was seven degrees celcius. Later it warmed up a bit- to 12 degrees celcius.. not very pleasant for a CA girl. Whosoever starts singing that Katie Perry song one more time may just disappear in the dead of night... jk, or am I?? O.o
Here's a few more points to add to my list of observations of Germans and Germany. (This is just as I've observed, so I'm just telling it as I see it.):
10. In restaurants, they only give you one glass of liquid to consume. And they don't refill that lonely, skinny glass without you paying for it, lol.
11. They never seem to eat as though they are hungary. I'm having difficulty eating as slowly, hahaha.
12. German birds are SCARY. Maybe it's because of the red glint in their eyes...
13. Hand disinfectant is BAD.
14. They really care about their windows.
Well, I think that's enough for now. Today is my host father's birthday; he really liked the flashlight we got him (Thanks my wonderful Mom and family in CA!!!)
TGWTC (with two German children staring at the screen, ah, privacy is so fleeting), tschuss!!
19.10.10
My German Vacation
Oki-doki, so I would have posted something a bit earlier, but I conveniently happened to forget my log-in information for my blog, lol. (Sorry! I play the blonde card in my defense!)
I am still on vacation; the school is giving us two weeks in August, which is quite nice of them. My host family and I are currently staying in an apartment (Wohnung) in a town called Bernkastel-Kues on the Mosel River. All along this region they're known for their wonderful wine. The vineyards are all over the place, stretching over the hills like a big patchwork quilt. (I should know; my host family and another family they know took us all on a three-hour hike yesterday, just for the fun of it! It's okay, you can laugh, it's amusing.)
There are lots of shops and cafes and whatnot here, and the cobblestone streets are really quite fun to traverse (if only we were interested in that and not hiking the hills, lol). When walking along, you can look up and see vines stretching overhead, and grapes hanging down in bunches. Later in the evening, when the lamps are lit, it looks a lot like something we in California would attempt to replicate with glue and plastic, lolz. (Referencing Disneyland, here.)
It's raining today-big surprise there, hahaha-and I don't even want to know what the temperature is. All that I need be aware of is that it is cold and wet, and I feel like a drowning cat. But no matter! We shall strive to perservere! Against the rain! Against the wind! We shall meet them on the land! We shall meet them on the sea! We shall-oops, sorry, got a little carried away there...
Oh, so here are a few differences I've found between Germans and Americans:
1. They have REALLY good bread which they eat with REAL butter and REALLY good jams.
2. They sit down to eat every meal. No on-the-go breakfasts here!
3. They don't pick up after their dogs. It's not very fun having to avoid all the caca on the street..
4. There is no distinction between a walk down the street and a walk to the end of the earth. Both are simply, "a walk."
5. There are no napkins at the table.
6. Preservatives and chemicals in food are BAD.
7. Television is to be watched sparingly if at all.
8. No shops are open on Sundays, unless it's in a really big city with lots of tourists. (This throws me off because I tend to do shopping on the weekends.)
9. They have a "coffee and cake" time every day. It's usually around 4 o'clock in the afternoon. (16:00 Uhr)
I'm only going to give you nine points right now, because ten would seem like a finished list, and I don't think I can tell you all about the differences between our two cultures in just ten points. So there you go, the gouda, the brautwurst, and the ulkig. (That was a bad pun.)
TGWTC, livin' it up ;)
I am still on vacation; the school is giving us two weeks in August, which is quite nice of them. My host family and I are currently staying in an apartment (Wohnung) in a town called Bernkastel-Kues on the Mosel River. All along this region they're known for their wonderful wine. The vineyards are all over the place, stretching over the hills like a big patchwork quilt. (I should know; my host family and another family they know took us all on a three-hour hike yesterday, just for the fun of it! It's okay, you can laugh, it's amusing.)
There are lots of shops and cafes and whatnot here, and the cobblestone streets are really quite fun to traverse (if only we were interested in that and not hiking the hills, lol). When walking along, you can look up and see vines stretching overhead, and grapes hanging down in bunches. Later in the evening, when the lamps are lit, it looks a lot like something we in California would attempt to replicate with glue and plastic, lolz. (Referencing Disneyland, here.)
It's raining today-big surprise there, hahaha-and I don't even want to know what the temperature is. All that I need be aware of is that it is cold and wet, and I feel like a drowning cat. But no matter! We shall strive to perservere! Against the rain! Against the wind! We shall meet them on the land! We shall meet them on the sea! We shall-oops, sorry, got a little carried away there...
Oh, so here are a few differences I've found between Germans and Americans:
1. They have REALLY good bread which they eat with REAL butter and REALLY good jams.
2. They sit down to eat every meal. No on-the-go breakfasts here!
3. They don't pick up after their dogs. It's not very fun having to avoid all the caca on the street..
4. There is no distinction between a walk down the street and a walk to the end of the earth. Both are simply, "a walk."
5. There are no napkins at the table.
6. Preservatives and chemicals in food are BAD.
7. Television is to be watched sparingly if at all.
8. No shops are open on Sundays, unless it's in a really big city with lots of tourists. (This throws me off because I tend to do shopping on the weekends.)
9. They have a "coffee and cake" time every day. It's usually around 4 o'clock in the afternoon. (16:00 Uhr)
I'm only going to give you nine points right now, because ten would seem like a finished list, and I don't think I can tell you all about the differences between our two cultures in just ten points. So there you go, the gouda, the brautwurst, and the ulkig. (That was a bad pun.)
TGWTC, livin' it up ;)
12.10.10
Vacation? In October?!!
Yeap, you guessed it! Right now I'm on vacation! A marvelous break from school, and some time to catch my breath, do a bit of sight-seeing, and possibly relax, lol. So I'll give you a bit of a run-down of some recent events.
Thursday: After school, I took a little whirlwind trip to Sanssouci with a friend I made at school.
Friday: I took a test in Biology. Did my best, writing stuff in English and German. I think I may have passed, too. The test was about parts of a cell, my darkest hour of Middle and Elementary school revisited, dun, dun, dun... (just kidding) ;)
Saturday: Got skype to work with my family! Woohoo!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sunday: Host family took me into Berlin to see a few things there. Went by the Bundestag and the Brandenberg Tur (spelling?). Later that evening, I went to a friend's birthday party. For probably the 1st time in my life, I was one of the best at karaoke. Then again, the songs were in English...
Today: My host sister had a dental operation today (poor thing!), so my host mom dropped me off in Potsdam and then I had to decide what to do. I resolved to tackle my fear of using the German bus system in order to get to Brandenberg Film Park. It was fun, but I wish I would have gone in summer. (Brrrr, it's getting cold here!) The park was sort of like a miniature Knott's Berry Farm, only without roller coasters. Not half of what Disneyland is, but still fun! And to be honest, I didn't really want to look at yet another ancient and historic piece of architecture today, lol. (Tomorrow, maybe. I've still got eight months, after all.)
Well, that pretty much sums up what I've been up to lately. Thanks to everyone who's keeping in touch with me! (I know it's difficult, and I really appreciate it!) Thanks for tuning in! TGWTC, signing off!
Thursday: After school, I took a little whirlwind trip to Sanssouci with a friend I made at school.
Friday: I took a test in Biology. Did my best, writing stuff in English and German. I think I may have passed, too. The test was about parts of a cell, my darkest hour of Middle and Elementary school revisited, dun, dun, dun... (just kidding) ;)
Saturday: Got skype to work with my family! Woohoo!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sunday: Host family took me into Berlin to see a few things there. Went by the Bundestag and the Brandenberg Tur (spelling?). Later that evening, I went to a friend's birthday party. For probably the 1st time in my life, I was one of the best at karaoke. Then again, the songs were in English...
Today: My host sister had a dental operation today (poor thing!), so my host mom dropped me off in Potsdam and then I had to decide what to do. I resolved to tackle my fear of using the German bus system in order to get to Brandenberg Film Park. It was fun, but I wish I would have gone in summer. (Brrrr, it's getting cold here!) The park was sort of like a miniature Knott's Berry Farm, only without roller coasters. Not half of what Disneyland is, but still fun! And to be honest, I didn't really want to look at yet another ancient and historic piece of architecture today, lol. (Tomorrow, maybe. I've still got eight months, after all.)
Well, that pretty much sums up what I've been up to lately. Thanks to everyone who's keeping in touch with me! (I know it's difficult, and I really appreciate it!) Thanks for tuning in! TGWTC, signing off!
7.10.10
Houston, Wir Haben Internet!!!
Oh, my God! I have internet! Yaaahhhhoooo!!! I'm sorry I haven't been able to post anything since mid-August, but it really was nearly impossible, I swear! But now I finally have this funny device called a "dongle" and with it, internet!
So I'm living here in Saarmund (by Potsdam, that's where I go to school), and I'm attempting to learn German. I think it's coming along all right, if you ask me. My English grammar, however, is another matter. I need to try to keep it from deteriorating too badly before the year is up!
My host family is nice; I have a host mom, host dad, and two host sisters. (I probably already told you that, sorry!) I have my own room, furnished by IKEA, so thats not too terribly unfamiliar, lol. The bedsheets are actually the same as the ones I had back home. On the weekends we tend to watch movies together in German with English subtitles. (My spelling is already beggining to suffer; in German, the "ish" sound is spelled "isch," so English is actually spelled like Englisch.
School is coming along all right. I'm going to pass Englisch and Spanisch for certain, which is a good thing, because I would really love it if my English course here would count for back home, too. One funny thing, though. In Spanisch, I keep mixing up Deutsch and Spanisch, lolz.
Speaking of Espanol, I went on a field trip yesterday with that class. We went to a museum to see an exhibit of Teotihuacan, an ancient city in Mexico. I couldn't understand most of the tour, since it was all in German, but I did happen to see some very helpful plaques in English. I had been hoping to get a postcard for my brother back home, since he's liking Spanish so much, but the bookstore didn't look promising, and we had to leave to go to the Cancun Restaurant pretty quickly. When we got to the restaurant, it was such a neat sight to see. The inside was decorated to look like ancient mayan and aztec. I ordered a chocolate milk shake and quesadillas. Man, I hadn't realized how much I had missed Mexican food! (and milkshakes! lol)
I'm trying to deal with homesickness as well as I can, but it's still difficult. I keep trying to psych myself into dealing with the remaining time here as an extended vacation. It's not too long, only eight months (acht monat). This blog and facebook make me feel so much more connected to the world now. I hate that isolated feeling when you can't even let your friends and family really know what you're going through on a regular basis. But now I can keep in touch more easily. Its only the pond, after all! ;)
So I'm living here in Saarmund (by Potsdam, that's where I go to school), and I'm attempting to learn German. I think it's coming along all right, if you ask me. My English grammar, however, is another matter. I need to try to keep it from deteriorating too badly before the year is up!
My host family is nice; I have a host mom, host dad, and two host sisters. (I probably already told you that, sorry!) I have my own room, furnished by IKEA, so thats not too terribly unfamiliar, lol. The bedsheets are actually the same as the ones I had back home. On the weekends we tend to watch movies together in German with English subtitles. (My spelling is already beggining to suffer; in German, the "ish" sound is spelled "isch," so English is actually spelled like Englisch.
School is coming along all right. I'm going to pass Englisch and Spanisch for certain, which is a good thing, because I would really love it if my English course here would count for back home, too. One funny thing, though. In Spanisch, I keep mixing up Deutsch and Spanisch, lolz.
Speaking of Espanol, I went on a field trip yesterday with that class. We went to a museum to see an exhibit of Teotihuacan, an ancient city in Mexico. I couldn't understand most of the tour, since it was all in German, but I did happen to see some very helpful plaques in English. I had been hoping to get a postcard for my brother back home, since he's liking Spanish so much, but the bookstore didn't look promising, and we had to leave to go to the Cancun Restaurant pretty quickly. When we got to the restaurant, it was such a neat sight to see. The inside was decorated to look like ancient mayan and aztec. I ordered a chocolate milk shake and quesadillas. Man, I hadn't realized how much I had missed Mexican food! (and milkshakes! lol)
I'm trying to deal with homesickness as well as I can, but it's still difficult. I keep trying to psych myself into dealing with the remaining time here as an extended vacation. It's not too long, only eight months (acht monat). This blog and facebook make me feel so much more connected to the world now. I hate that isolated feeling when you can't even let your friends and family really know what you're going through on a regular basis. But now I can keep in touch more easily. Its only the pond, after all! ;)
26.8.10
Black Converse Shouts Hallo!!
Hey, I don't have much time, but just so you know, I'm safe, in Germany, and attempting to contact the outside world :P
Language camp is great, save the bugs. I've only been bitten once so far, on the cheek. I guess the bug was attempting to give me a kiss? Well, hugs and kisses to all the insects who leave me alone.
I'm almost out of reading material, unfortunately. I'll put a book list up here in case anyone wants to know what books I'm interested in. (Later though, now I type like a maniac!)
I think my German is slowly improving. I'm understanding more, and I can even speak a little. Anyway, I have to go now! Oh, and by the way, I changed my ratty blue converse for new black ones before I left, so any pics of black converse were taken in Germany. Chuss!!
Language camp is great, save the bugs. I've only been bitten once so far, on the cheek. I guess the bug was attempting to give me a kiss? Well, hugs and kisses to all the insects who leave me alone.
I'm almost out of reading material, unfortunately. I'll put a book list up here in case anyone wants to know what books I'm interested in. (Later though, now I type like a maniac!)
I think my German is slowly improving. I'm understanding more, and I can even speak a little. Anyway, I have to go now! Oh, and by the way, I changed my ratty blue converse for new black ones before I left, so any pics of black converse were taken in Germany. Chuss!!
15.8.10
Salutations from the Red Carpet Room
Greetings! I am typing this from the Red Carpet Room in Dulles Airport, Washington, D.C. I am slightly disappointed that their carpet is not red, but gray. Well, I suppose they make up for it with the free WiFi and nice bathrooms. (not to mention they have a snack bar! I would raid it if I had more room and less food, hahaha)
So, unfortunately, I could not find an outlet for my computer and had to move into the Business Center. Its perfectly pleasant, although nearly everyone else is wearing business attire and the stations around me have suddenly become unoccupied... Well, more for me!
Here's something interesting I've discovered: Other people fear musicians. Its true! Everyone got out of my way when they saw that I had a violin case. I think they may be afraid I'll hit them with it, which I would never do. It might damage the violin.
Anyway, thanks for listening. Tune in next week for more news in the life of a girl who wears converse.
So, unfortunately, I could not find an outlet for my computer and had to move into the Business Center. Its perfectly pleasant, although nearly everyone else is wearing business attire and the stations around me have suddenly become unoccupied... Well, more for me!
Here's something interesting I've discovered: Other people fear musicians. Its true! Everyone got out of my way when they saw that I had a violin case. I think they may be afraid I'll hit them with it, which I would never do. It might damage the violin.
Anyway, thanks for listening. Tune in next week for more news in the life of a girl who wears converse.
14.8.10
Sorry Readers!!
Sorry to everyone who's been reading this. Life has sort of been stuck on the fast-forward button lately, and I've neglected blogging for a while. Anyway, here's the latest news!!
I have a host family, and they live right next to Potsdam, 40-ish minutes out of Berlin!! Berlin, cultural center, tourist magnet, and shopping adventure! (The third will come in handy, since their Winters are nothing like ours here in SoCal. I see a cold-weather shopping trip in my future.)
I'm not going to write too much about my host family right now, since they may or may not be aware of this blog, and I would like to ask their permission before disclosing further information. Thanks for understanding!
So I leave for Germany in a few days, and just in case you were curious, I'll be departing out of LAX airport on United early in the morning. (Gah! I was just getting used to sleeping in!) I've never been in the United terminal of LAX airport, so this should be interesting. Still, I have jet fuel for blood, so I should be just fine.
Thanks for all the support from everybody these past few weeks. You've all been insisting that I update everyone back home as much as possible, which I will. Now here's an assignment for you in return: Don't stress, live your life, and send the occasional word in my direction. Girl with the converse, over and out.
I have a host family, and they live right next to Potsdam, 40-ish minutes out of Berlin!! Berlin, cultural center, tourist magnet, and shopping adventure! (The third will come in handy, since their Winters are nothing like ours here in SoCal. I see a cold-weather shopping trip in my future.)
I'm not going to write too much about my host family right now, since they may or may not be aware of this blog, and I would like to ask their permission before disclosing further information. Thanks for understanding!
So I leave for Germany in a few days, and just in case you were curious, I'll be departing out of LAX airport on United early in the morning. (Gah! I was just getting used to sleeping in!) I've never been in the United terminal of LAX airport, so this should be interesting. Still, I have jet fuel for blood, so I should be just fine.
Thanks for all the support from everybody these past few weeks. You've all been insisting that I update everyone back home as much as possible, which I will. Now here's an assignment for you in return: Don't stress, live your life, and send the occasional word in my direction. Girl with the converse, over and out.
7.6.10
Finally! News!!
Hey, Its been a while since my last blog entry, I know, but hopefully I will get better at this soon! Anyway, I recently had my first phone conference with CBYX and I know where and when the language camp will be! (I wrote it down, but I can't think of it right off the top of my head. It ended with an -erger. Hamburger? No, that can't be it...)
Thanks for being patient to hear about updates; I'll try to keep posting any new information!
Thanks for being patient to hear about updates; I'll try to keep posting any new information!
7.5.10
Still Waiting for Info...
Hey, Second blog now. I'm still waiting to find out where I'll be placed geographically in my foreign exchange student program. Whistling the Jeopardy theme song right now...
In other news, this is pretty much the first time in a few weeks that I've had the time to blog. I went to the LA Times Festival of Books held at UCLA (yay!) with my English class recently. It was so much fun; I had the opportunity to see the author Meg Cabbot speak and I purchased Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (good book so far! I'll let you know if it ends well!)
Well, this seems like a good time to finish up this post. Amelia, over and out :)
In other news, this is pretty much the first time in a few weeks that I've had the time to blog. I went to the LA Times Festival of Books held at UCLA (yay!) with my English class recently. It was so much fun; I had the opportunity to see the author Meg Cabbot speak and I purchased Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (good book so far! I'll let you know if it ends well!)
Well, this seems like a good time to finish up this post. Amelia, over and out :)
23.4.10
First Blog Entry
Hey, I'm new to this whole "blogging" thing, so I suppose I'll start by introducing myself. My name is Amelia, I live in CA, I like green (in case you were wondering), and I am a finalist in the CBYX scholarship foreign exchange student program.
I'm very excited to find out where I will be staying in Germany and with which family. I'll type up more info about the program later, but for now, I think this is a good point at which to end my first entry. Well, let the games begin!
I'm very excited to find out where I will be staying in Germany and with which family. I'll type up more info about the program later, but for now, I think this is a good point at which to end my first entry. Well, let the games begin!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
