One kind word can warm three winter months.

I can hardly believe I have been living with my second host family for nearly a month now. The time seems to be passing so much faster than how it did the first half of the year. i really like my host family. They are really sweet. I thought it was going to take a little while, to feel used to their home, but surprisingly it didn't. From the beginning on, i adjusted pretty easily, and felt very welcome. I'd say, one of my favorite parts of this host family, is going on the walks with my host mom, Gaby, and the dog, Sally. It is nice to just walk and talk, and its really  a good chance to get to know my host mom. On Friday, we decided to climb the Köppel again, when it was really, really snowing. And the snow was really deep, i would say about 15-18 inches! Normally, it takes about 1 hour, we hiked for nearly 3 hours, and then at the top, there is a little cafe, but they wanted to close, because of the weather, so we drank something quick, and walked back down again! By the time we got back to the car, my hair was completely wet, and i had no make up left on my face...!

After the Köppel, we came home, showered, and then we went to Pongs. Pong is a Thai restaurant and cocktail bar, and the food there is so good! I had some Fruhlingsrolle, and this spicy chicken and vegetable thing. And then we just sat, drank, and talked for a few hours, it was a lot of fun.


Last week, i went with my host family to a birthday party, and ate some REALLY good cheese cake. And then my host mom said, oh, we can make that at home. So, my host mom and i made a cheesecake, and it tasted really really good!! It was a lot of fun too, just baking together, and laughing because i am still not used to the metric system, with 300 grams of sugar, i much prefer 3 1/2 cups of sugar. (Lots easier!) I also baked a traditional Wisconsin, Banana Spice Cake yesterday, topped with home made vanilla frosting! It tasted really good, but i think the frosting was a little to sweet for my host family. (And i even put 3 less cups of sugar than what it said in the recipe..) But they never had frosting before!! I couldn't believe it! At first, i translated it, into Zuckerguss, but then when i made it, Gaby said it wasn't zuckerguss. And then i made some no bake cookies! ANd that was a lot of fun! But instead of melting the ingredients on the stove, i did it in the microwave, and it was hilarious. At one point, i went to open the oatmeal, and it went everywhere..! But they tasted reallllly good!

I also received a package from the USA from my family, and inside were different candies from America, and some other small things. One thing that was sent, was cheese zip, that go on the sandwich crackers! And my host family had never seen anything like it before, it was hilarious! So, my host mom tried it, and liked it. And last night, i had my host dad try it, and the first thing he asked was, how many calories are in it! (90 calories per serving, 7 servings) He didn't like it...but we are planning on having an American dinner night soon. with different sorts of American food, and the urny girls will join us, =)






Last weekend, was a karneval Sitzung. My host parents went as pirates! As they were at the sitzung (meeting?), i went with a couple of friends to a beat-party, in a city called dernbach. A beat-party, is just like a disko, and a disko is just like a club in the states. It was pretty fun, just a chance to dance and hang out with friends! I came home shortly after midnight, and my hosts came home shortly after me. i stayed up for a little while, and talked to my host mom, then around 2 , we both decided we should get to bed.





 The next day, my host dad went to Norway. He was there from Sunday-Tuesday. So, we all had breakfast together, and then when my host mom came back from brining him to the train station, we went to a 'Wild park'. A wild park, is kind of like a zoo, but the animals are allowed to be free. (Not the super dangerous ones of course) but like the deer, and billy goats. I finally got to see a wildschwein!!! (Wild pig?) They are the BIGGEST pigs i have ever seen in my life! And the noises they make are incredible!! And the males really do have these huge tusks!!! At first we tried feeding them some of the food we bought to feed the animals, but they werent to interested. So, we went a little further, and just looked. And we saw a little family, a dad, mum, and 2 piglets. And the dad and the mum started fighting, and then the little one ran off, then the other little one chased him, and they were squealing SO loud!!!! I could only say how big they were!!!  (Since i have gotten here, i have wanted to say one these wild pigs, because apparently they are always running around in the forests, and i have wanted to see one, so my host mom thought to bring me to the wild park, then i could finally see one, and i still cant believe how big they are!!)

As you can see in the picture above, there is finally snow on the ground!! From the last two days, it has finally snowed. I feel a little bit like i am in Wisconsin, we really got a lot of snow!! Over the past few days, i would say we have gotten at least, 16 inches of snow! My host parents said they haven't seen this much snow in this area of the westerwald, in over 20 years! (I told them, it is because i am here, i brought the snow with my from Wisconsin..!)

I attempted to make a snowman, with my host mom, but it didnt work out very well the snow was still way to powdery, so, we recognized defeat, but still took a lovely picture   =) My host dad and brother, also used the sauna this weekend, and ran in the snow, and then back into the sauna! Reminded me of when all the south American exchange students were in the states last year! But, we are determined to make one before all the snow melts away!

Today, i went with my host family to a husky race! It was so incredible! There were over 100 dogs there, and i would say at least half of them were all huskies! As we first got there, all you could here was barking, and you could see the mushers getting them ready to run. The huskies looked extremely excited! It took, 4 huskies only 28 minutes to run 8 kilometers!!! It was really cool to see all the different dogs there, and all the huskies!




I went with a Rotarian recently to a musical. Sweeney Todd. First, she picked me up, and we drove to koblenz, and had some time to sit, eat, and talk and get to know eachother a little bit. Then the musical started, having already seen the film, i knew what it was about, and as she read what it was about, she was shocked. It turned out the musical wasn't as bloody and gory as the movie, but it was still pretty...similiar to the movie. But, i still enjoyed being able to be in the Koblenz theatre, since we don't really have them in Wisconsin!

School is going well. I am starting to be able to participate more and more in my classes. And i am starting to meet some new people, so, i usually have something planned on the weekends! I dropped my math class however. I was in a calculus class, and i have never even taken pre-calc...but now i have another german course...we'll see how that goes. WE got report cards the other day, i didnt get one, but was told by several of my teachers, that they were proud of how far i have come in my German.

As i mentioned before, my host family is great. I really welcome in their home, and they make me feel as if i am a member of their family. I'm thankful to be living with them these next couple of months. Speaking of host families, i was able to catch up with my first host mom recently. It was nice to just be able to sit and talk with her for awhile.



***Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire***

=)

Change is the essence of life.Be willing to surrender what you are for what you could become.

     All of us experience change in our lives. Change is the one constant in our lives. There are changes that we look forward to and change that we fear. However, one thing is for sure. Things will not stay the same no matter how much we would like them too. When a life change occurs, we have two choices in how to respond. We can despair that a change has come and assume that things will be worse, or we can look with excitement at the new possibilities that the change presents.

Do you ever stop and think? Just reflect on everything that's happened to you in the last few days. Months. Years.

Do you wonder where all that time went? All those special moments or just the ordinary daily activities that are now only memories. Memories that are unique and the only way you can hold onto them is by replaying them in your mind over and over again, until the details all merge together and you're left with a fuzzy recollection that doesn't seem to fit anymore.

Do you remember the exact time when you started to grow up? When the conversations you had were not about dolls or imaginary friends...but about the more important things in life?

Have you ever felt that the closest people to you are also the furthest away? Felt that everything was happening too fast?

And who tells us when we have grown up?  Do we ever stop growing up or do we continue to just grow in spirit?

And if I make my own choices, try different things, slowly growing up, will others notice that I'm changing too? Will they accept that i am changing? Will they like the new me?

But if I hold onto the memories too tightly how am I to move on? How am I to grow up and LIVE MY LIFE? How am I to make decisions and take on responsibility if I'm living in the past, and never moving forward? Never changing?

I guess time continues whether you want it to or not, leaving you behind or taking you for the journey of your life. Change is inevitable....
 _____________________________________

Over the last half year, i have changed so much. I've grown up in so many ways. Being in a new country, really makes a person think, and makes them mature and grow up.

When i first got here, i was 16. In America, i relied a lot on my family, whether it be to drive me places, to help me, to give me money, etc. Then, i came here to Germany, and realized for the first time, i was really alone. Not 'alone' in the sense of no one else being around, of course i had my host family, friends, friends and family back home, rotary, etc.

Every morning, i wake up, get ready for school and take the bus. As i think about the first time i took the bus, (Not like a school bus in the states, this is a ppublic transportation bus, that DOES NOT take you directly to your home...) i reealize how scared i was. If you have read my previous posts, then you know the first time i took the bus, i got on the wrong bus...but now, it seems totally normal. I've even taken the train by myself, and have managed to get where i need to go each time, without getting lost.

To you, maybe those things seem little. To me, they were huge. I am in a foreign country, and at first i didnt understand the language to easily, and i didnt speak very much German at all...and everything was so new. And the fact, i managed these things alone, was a huge deal to me.

 i realized for the first time, it was my chance to grow up, and become an independent person. To learn. I am so thankful to be on this trip!
<3

There are many wonderful things that will never be done if you do not do them.

I cant believe nearly 3 weeks have passed since i have last written! Its incredible how fast the time is flying by. Over the last few weeks, i havent done to much.....

a few weekends ago, on a Sunday, I climbed the Köppel with my host family, and Sally (the dog!) As i mentioned earlier, it has finally snowed here, so being able to climb up the *hill* was really pretty. The Köppel is one of the highest hills in the westerwald region, measuring 540 meters high! And there are different trails you can take. this time, we took a trail i wasn't familiar with, and it was beautiful. We went through the forest, and the trees with the snow glistening was a beautiful sight to see! Once we got to the top, there were so many people there, so we stayed outside and had something to drink, before hiking back down again. It seemed like each family that was there, had brought a dog with them, so it was really cool to see all the different dogs.


 Then it was time to go back to school again. On Monday, i have either 8 hours, or 10 hours of school, this Monday, i had only 8 hours. When i have a longer day of school, i normally stay at school through the lunch hour, this time, i went with a friend, Sophia for Chinese! It tasted really good!! And every Chinese restaurant i have been to so far, serve these things called Fruhlingsrolle, (sp?) and they are my favorite!! And at the Chinese restaurants, they have the same type of hot sauce i use at home!   =)

On Wednesday, i had a friend come over after school (Sophia). WE ate lunch with my host family, then we talked for a little bit, and then went to Sirius, it is a pub in my town. I had a really good time, because i am finally able to realize i can speak German pretty well. I don't think i am 100% fluent with speaking yet, but it was awesome to sit and talk with a friend in a whole other language (and have that friend understand what i am trying to say!!)



I recently went to the hair salon, and got my hair cut, and dyed, and straightened, i am quite pleased with the outcome! Then on Saturday, yesterday, i went to a ball with my host family. In the mornings, we went shoe shopping, dress shopping, and then  went out to eat at Pizza Hut!!!! It was almost exactly the same inside as it is in the states, and they serve the same exact food as in America. I ordered the chicken wings, with barbecue sauce, and was shocked to discover the BBQ sauce, was exactly the same as it is in America!!! We came home, and shortly after, started to get ready for the ball. I had my hair really straight, and it looked really cute! (Picture is me with my host mom, Gaby) Once we got to the ball, i was able to see my first host family. it was nice being able to tell them what i have done over the last few weeks. The first hour we all stood around and talked to one another, and drank sekt. And then we went into the real ball room, and sat at the table, and listened to the opening speeches (Made by my first host dad, Rudolf) Then everyone got up and started dancing. Here, in Germany, everyone knows the real dances, like waltz, and so on and so forth. I love watching everyone here dance (I personally find it better, as in America) Then the möhnen (the group i was going to dance with) did their dance...and shortly after we went home. We came home pretty early, around 10, and i sat with my host mom, and we just talked a lot, till around 12:30am, and went for a walk quickly with sally, and went to bed around 1:30am.




Everything is going great with my host family. I really love it here. My hosts really make me feel welcome, and like i am a part of their family. My favorite is being able to play different card games and stuff after dinner. It reminds me a lot of our family game night, that my family used to do when we were all smaller.  And of course, this host family has a dog, which is great!!   =)

Language is getting better all the time. i feel like i understand pretty much everything. Normally, i can answer most questions. Sometimes i find it difficult, for example, when someone speaks so fast, or uses dialect, then i have more trouble understanding.

Weather, it is still snowy, so i am happy! But here, it seems to snow, and then rain...so most of it turns into slush...but, i still find it better then the constant rain, like in September.

Today, i am going with my host to family, to a birthday party, and then next week Carnival starts. And i will be going with a Rotarian to a musical!!

=)

*...Times flying, never to return...*

You know the old saying, time flies by? I never really thought about how true that was. Back in August, when i first came here, i thought wow..i am going an entire year without seeing my friends and family...1 year, 52 weeks, 365 days...its incredible. I thought, 'wow, a year is such a long time...can i do it?' Here i am...6 months have gone by. And i can not believe it. Half of my exchange is already finished...it is unbelievable...6 months down...6 to go. As i think about my exchange year ending, i cant stop asking myself where the time went! I only have as much time left, as has already passed...it's sad.

I look at my last post, and realize it has been over 1 month since i last posted...my whole, update every 2 weeks didn't work out very well... =)   I have been really busy since my last post. So, i will try my best to remember everything i have done...


 A few weekends ago i was able to hang out a lot with friends, it was really cool! I went to my friend Brittas house on Tuesday, and we went to the Christmas market, with another friend, Dani, it was really neat. I really like the Christmas Markets!! I am really happy i have finally made some good friends here, and actually have plans and a social life again =) Then on Wednesday, Dani came over, and we made puppy chow!!! =) Which, she liked and that was good! Some American snacks =)




We started having a lot of little Christmas parties in school, in fact, i actually went with my German course to a Christmas Market, and for my bio class, we baked cookies, and did secret Santa, which was pretty neat! After this, we started our winter break!

On a Saturday, i went out with my friends in the morning to the Christmas market, and we had coffee and lunch, which was cool. Then, i went home and got ready for the Opera. We saw Zauberflöte. I dont know what its called in English, but i thought it was really nice. It was in Wiesbaden, which had some Americans, and you could tell exactly where they lived, because the houses were decorated extravagantly! We went out for dinner first (We, meaning host mom, host father, host grandma, host brother, and his girlfriend) It was a really nice restaurant. And from there, we went to the Opera. It was kinda hard to understand, but i think by the end i understood...

Well, my last post was about Thanksgiving...so naturally this one should be about Christmas. Here in Germany, on the 6th of December, they celebrate something called Nikolaus. (sp?) It is sort of like our Christmas eve in the states. We have a big dinner, with close family, and then we get small gifts. In a bag...which acts kind of like a stocking. But, before i get into more detail about Nikolaus..i finally had a rotary conference.


It was on the weekend of Nikolaus. We all met in Aachen, and it was for the entire weekend. So, me and another inbound, took a train from montabaur to Cologne, and then from Cologne, to Aachen. From there, we me with the other exchange students, and met the people we would be staying in host families for the weekend with.  We then drove about 45 minutes to where i would be staying. For the first night, we stayed in host families, and the second night we were all together....so, i met my host family, and they were extremely nice!! We stayed up and talked until late (all in German!) and then the next day we all had breakfast together, and drove back to meet the other exchange students. We then went into Aachens Christmas market. It was nice...but the weather was crappy...rain! =( But when we got back together in the gym, it was warm and dry again. Then we did a gift exchange (i got a lighter and cigarettes) and then we started dancing. People were dancing till around 6 am, and then we were all awake at 7. Half of us, including me, didn't sleep!!! We then boarded our trains back to our home towns.
It was a pretty nice trip, very different compared to the conferences i went to in the states for rotary, but fun all the same.

So, my host mom met me at the train station, then we drove home, and i told her i was going straight to bed, i was sooo tired! So, i was able to sleep for 2 or 3 hours, and then she woke me up, telling me, we had a Christmas party (Nikolaus party)...so, i woke up and went to experience Nikolaus. First, everyone got together, and lit a candle for the advent, and then we sat down and ate a nice meal...and then the little bags with gifts. My host mom got me a snow globe, and a purse! I was really surprised...as my friends and family know, in the states, i really like brown clothing, and brown accessories...etc. I didn't know my host mom was able to tell that...anyways, the purse is brown, and exactly my style! =) Oh, and a weird thing, that i do not quite understand...on Nikolaus, in the mornings, there is a piece of chocolate in your shoe...

So...after Nikolaus....we had normal school for about 2 weeks, and then Christmas break begun!!! We had 2 weeks and a few days for christmas break, it was wonderful!

In Germany, Christmas is celebrated on the 24th, and not on the 25th. And, we do it in th evening, not super early in the morning. So, i woke up on Christmas eve, and i helped my host mom prepare the dinner. We made fondue, meat fondue, with a bunch of different sauces. It actually was pretty good!! So, the close family relatives came over, and we went in front of the Christmas tree, and sang a few songs. Here, you sing a few songs, and then you get your gifts. After singing, we handed out the gifts...i had made my host family a small scrapbook, with most of the pictures i had taken during my time with them. I really enjoyed making it, because i was able to remember all the things i had done since August. And with each picture, i tried to write a small memory that went with it. And in the end of the book, i wrote a letter thanking them for hosting me over the past 4 months...I really did have a wonderful time with them. I lived such a different life, compared to the states...and they were always so sweet and caring, and extremely patient with me. I am really thankful to have had such a wonderful host family. From my hosts, i got jeans, harry potter DVD set, in German, lotions, jacket, and a bunch of other things, it was great!!! We stayed up late (Martina and i, even later than the rest) then the next day, we woke up and went to my host grandmas for lunch. It was cool to sit and see all the other members of the family.

Then, on what they call, the second day of Christmas, we drove to Austria. Drove...i love how close the different countries are here. we are simply able to drive a few hours, and end up in a whole new country...anyways, we drove for only 4.5 hours, and we were in Austria!  We went to the hotel, and then out to eat, and i went to bed. The next day, i started my ski school. First, we had to go and get ski materials. And i have to say...ski shoes are definitely not my idea of comfortable! you are always on ur toes, and ur knees always have to be bent, and i swear it is so hard to walk!! Anyways...then w went to where i would be attending my ski school. First, we began with only one ski, we did a little bit of going back and forth...then, we did both skis...and that was the first time i fell. I was hinking, great we arent even on a hill yet, and i have all ready managed to fall...how wonderful. Then, we started with the hill. And that went okay...of course, it was a ver very tiny hill. No lift...we went up by our skis...then, our teacher had us start to learn to stop...HAHA! That was extremely difficult. Because, of course, first you need to learn how to slow down, before you can learn how to stop...i was having problems learning to go slow...And as for stopping, since i go ice skating, i would always stop the same way i did in ice skating...and technically it isnt the right way to stop...eventually, once we got up to the first 'big' hill, i learned how to control my speed, an how to stop.  I celebrated New Years, in the hut on the mountain. Here, they do loads and loads of fire works, and being on the mountain, you could see so many different sets of fireworks, sadly it was a little foggy, but i was able to see the different areas of the fog light up, which looked really cool too!! It was a fun time.

The funnest part was definitely being able to go all the way up the mountain. I had an amazing time skiing!! I really really like it. I am definitely joining the ski club when i get back to Clintonville! =) I did the ski school for 5 days. On the last day, we did a race, and i came in second place! I was only beat by .3 seconds! =( But, regardless, i think that was one of the funnest time i had in my life! (Vielen Dank Rudolf und Martina!)

When we came back from Austria, it was time for me to switch host families....so, i started to repack my suitcase...i couldnt believe, i cant believe, it has all ready been 5 months...it is so weird... It was sad saying goodbye to my first host family...but, i know we are going to stay in contact, and we dont live too far away from eachother now...so, visits are always possible.

So, i am now in my new host family, and i really like it here! They are extremely nice!! They live differently as my first host family, but it is still really good! I all ready feel really comfortable here, and i think the next couple of months are going to go very well. I love the fact that this host family has a dog...it makes me feel a little bit more at home. And, i can eat vegetarian meals here, which is really cool. In the evenings, we play a lot of card games, the whole family, and that is also really cool. I am able to learn german card games, and they learn the ones from America. (German card decks are so weird! they are only numbered 7-A, there are no 2-6...weird) Over the weekend, i went with my host brother rock wall climbing, and that was also a lot of fun...a little to high for me, but still fun.
Anyways, i think the next couple months, with this host family, is going to be great. It helps that i all ready understand German, and know a little bit more as to what to expect. And i have a good understanding with my host mom all ready. =)

Language, i think is going great. I have started dreaming and thinking in German...which is the weirdest feeling ever, but a good sign i think! =)  I am starting to feel comfortable speaking German, which is really good.

School is going well, we just started our first day again today, after break. Its good to be able to see friends and everyone again =) The classes are getting easier and easier to understand. And i am able to understand the homework pretty well, and dont need to translate it so much to understand.

THe weather here is finally getting colder, and there is snow!! =) Homesickness was really not an issue over christmas...i was really suprised, but it went pretty well. I think because i was kept busy!!!