This past Saturday, I had my YFU Weihnachtstreffen in Michendorf. Initially, I was not super excited to go because I wanted to be lazy and lay around all day. But I am really glad that I went! It's always fun meeting up with other exchange students. While you have friends where you live, there is nothing like being able to talk to other exchange students. 

At the meeting, we talked about our experience (good and bad), sang (boo!), and gave a presentation to the parents and siblings about how our countries celebrate Christmas. It was interesting. I am always nervous when I have to speak German in front of a lot of people. Considering that I was the only one (I believe) who has been learning German for such a short amount of time (most people have been learning for 2 years), I was seriously freaking out. It's really intimidating because it makes me feel like I should be so much better. People keep saying that I speak well considering the fact that I have only been learning for four months. When I think about it like that, then it makes sense.  For the meeting, everyone had to make food from where they come from. I made taco salad. Although I am not from Mexico, Mexican food is my favorite, and I eat it a lot back home, so I made it. It was a big hit. Literally everything was gone by the time we were leaving. Although I was happy that people loved it, I was a little sad too because I wanted to take some home. Ahah. #spoiledlife Other foods were really delicious! Or, should I say sweet. Ever since I came to Germany, it seems like I can eat more sweets than ever. Back in Michigan, I had to be in the mood for something sweet (excluding macaroons because I can eat those whenever). 

Leaving the meeting, a new friend of mine, TAM (her nickname because her real name is too hard), came back with us. She comes from Thailand and has been learning German for - like I said earlier - two years. She speaks really well. I honestly love TAM. She is so high-spirited and silly, and those are the type of friends that I like. And it's really funny how quickly exchange students can become friends and act like they've known each other for longer. Axel even asked us later if we met before, and we were both like, "noooope." It's also a really cool thing how TAM lives in Templin, which is only 20 minutes or so away from where I say, which is beyond awesome! TAM and I went to the Oranienburg Weihnachtsmarkt with my host parents. It was really fun. The Weihnachtsmarkt was not very big, but with a friend, it's always fun. We bought cotton candy, or should I say zuckerwatte. We had no idea what it was called before ordering, but TAM looked it up finally. We were planning on asking: "Können wir cotton candy bitte haben?" Hahah. I wanted Mandeln (Almonds) also, but it did not look that appetizing there, so I didn't buy any. During the evening, TAM and I took so many pictures. SELFIE.  After the Weihnachtsmarkt, we all went back to my host family's house. TAM stayed for two hours, and we watched KPop videos and hilarious videos by nigahiga.  Eventually, around 8, Axel and I drove TAM to the train station down the street from the house.  I cannot wait to meet up with her again. We're planning to go to Berlin sometime during the Weihnachtsferien, which begins in two weeks and some days. 

From left to right: Conrado, Keegan, me, Gabriel, Jenny, Noah, Danielle

Three weekends ago, I had my YFU Re-entry Orientation. It was in Hamburg, which was about a three hour or so train ride from where I live. Axel took me to the train station in Gransee at 11, and I did not arrive in Hamburg until about 1 (if my memory serves me correctly). The train ride was pretty smooth. I had one stop in Berlin (tier), where I had to change trains, but that was it until I arrived in Hamburg. From Hamburg, I had to catch a bus to Lauenburg. (I'm too lazy to check and see if this is correct. Haha. I know it began with an 'L'.) 
Catching the bus was actually pretty hard for me. That's because I got lost - LOST. I originally asked a Bahn worker where I could find the bus at. He told me straight ahead and then to the left, so I went that way. But then there were so many people and because I don't normally catch the bus, the signs were seriously confusing me. So, I asked a man at the bus stop, who told me where to go, and I walked in a freaking 'U' shape until I came to another bus stop, which is when I looked at the map. I saw the number 31, which was the bus I was supposed to take, so I decided to walk until I could find that bus stop. All in all, I got a pretty rushed tour of Hamburg (very nice, by the way!) and had to ask about three people for directions before I came upon a place that was not necessarily right, but then again was not completely wrong. A woman helped me buy my ticket. Unfortunately, I got on the wrong bus after the sign showed that my bus arrived. Mine was the one literally after the one that I got on. #welldoneKrishaun

L-R: Gimena, me, Jenny, Noah, Danielle, Conrado

L-R: Conrado, Kaylee, me, Keegan, Jenny, Gabriel

Not too long after that, I walked to McDonald's because I was tired of lugging a large bag around and wanted some junk food. It's okay because I have only had McDonald's about 5 times total while in Germany. There is not one close to me, so ahah, I guess that's a part of it. Anyways, after getting food, I walked around and finally came upon the correct place o be. That is where I met Ioana, another girl with YFU. She is from Romania. As we loaded the bus, we met two more YFU girls, Kate (South Africa) and Kaylee (Canada). 
Once we arrived in Lauenburg (I'm just going with it), we signed in and were assigned to a room together. We also met three guys: Gustavo (Mexico), Ricky (Mexico), and Azande (South Africa). The YFU people gave us a tour of the hostel, and then we just sat around talking until literally everybody started pouring through the doors. I saw Keegan again, which was really nice. I miss my OSK buddies. And I met a lot of really nice people. Eventually, "der coole Tisch" was created. It is ", which is an inside joke between those of us who sat at the corner table: Gimena (Uruguay), Gabriel (Chile), Conrado (Brazil), Jenny (South Africa), Keegan (Canada), Kaylee (Canada), Noah (Texas), Danielle (Maryland), and me (Michigan). Very international, right? Aha.   By the time  the orientation ended, we had friends worldwide, and we had a lot of fun. Oh! And those of use non-Spanish speakers there (1% of us, haha) pledged to start learning Spanish next year, in addition to German. 

This was our first snow in Germany! November 22, 2015! We were at the Hamburg Hbf.

 

This was the goodbye song that my group wrote. It's made off of Cro's song "Bye Bye".

My time here in Germany is seriously flying by. I cannot believe that it is now October, and I have officially been in Germany for two months. The memory of me packing and hanging out with my family is still really vivid; it seems like it was just last week. But at the same time, it feels like I've been in Germany forever. Well, that's if you ignore the language fact.

But speaking of learning the language: I am really proud of myself. Lately, I have been able to understand more and more. Every night, I have been studying German and practicing it. While being able to talk with native speakers is beyond a doubt helpful (I mean, how else would I know that you pronounce nie like "ney" instead of "knee".), I am still an independent learner through and through. I have to be able to take my time and process things; it helps me a lot when I am able to know why I say something a certain way.

 

Right now, I am a bit anxious about next week. On Monday, I have a Bioligie (yes, that's the German spelling; I didn't forget my English) presentation for five minutes...in German. Yes, I am here in Germany to learn German, but I do not know how the heck I am going to present for that long in a language that I am just now really beginning to understand. Oh mein Gott. Ich habe Angst. Also, on Thursday, I believe I have a history presentation on Hitler. I had no idea about that until today because last Thursday I was sick, and yesterday, History was canceled. #totallyprepared

This is the view from Berliner Tor!

This is real sheep hair!

Aside from all of the school stuff, I have been seeing quite a lot. Last weekend, my host-family and I went around Templin. On Saturday, my host-mom, sister, and I went for a walk around Templin. It's such a historical town. First, we went to the Berliner Tor (and now that I know what 'Tor' means, this makes so much sense. It's the Berlin Gate.). After dealing with an extremely rude worker, we made our way to the top, and the view was good. We were able to see quite far into the Stadt. Next, we went to a Kirche (church) called Maria-Magdalenen-Kirche. For a 2 Euro fee per person, we all climbed to the top of the church. It was an extremely steep hike, but worth it for the beautiful view. (No, seriously, it was gorgeous. I love this area of Bradenburg because of all of the water.)

The is the view from the church.

On Sunday, Leoni, my host-mom, and I went to take a boat tour. It was really cold, but nice. I was able to get some nice photos from that on my camera. On the tour, I had a Fanta and Bratwurst. Yum. I love German sausages. They're so dang good.

And now we're here: it's Friday. I just ate a Döner, so I am really happy right now. Bis später! (P.S. I wrote this yesterday, so...ja. It's Saturday now.)

Hallo, ich bin Krishaun. I am going to be a foreign exchange student in Germany. For the first semester of my senior year, I am going to be navigating a foreign country and attempting to get past language barriers while living with a host family. Can the typical high school senior say that? I don't think so. As a result, I can easily say that I probably am about to experience the most interesting time of my life thus far.

A common question that I am asked whenever I tell someone where I am going is "do you speak German?" The answer to that is no. Well, that is if you do not count the German classes that I stopped going to when I was a youth after my parents tried to get me to learn it. (I only remember Gutentag!) If you do not count that, then no, I am brand spankin' new to the language. I have more of a Spanish history. (Hola! Yo soy Krishaun y tengo diecisiete anos. Voy a Alemania durante la escuela ano.) My response usually elicits a look of confusion and a bewildered statement. I mean, who would go to a foreign country for a semester (roughly 6 months) without being able to speak the language?

Thankfully, I am going via YFU, which stands for Youth for Understanding. It is a study abroad company that offers programs for high school students, uni students, gap year students, adults who want to volunteer, and more.  They know the level of language required to succeed in their programs. It just so happens that there is no previous language level of German required to attend this program. (Woah!) But they aren't planning to send all of us out there with no way to communicate. First, they sent us a language proficiency test to complete, and upon our arrival in Germany, we will have a 3-week crash course of the German language. Aside from that, we will be completely immersed in the culture, which will make picking up the language much easier and quicker (albeit a little intimidating).

After the language barrier portion of the conversation is out of the way, people start realizing how exciting and unique this program is, especially since where I come from (Detroit, Michigan) a lot of people do not make use of these types of programs. This is my favorite part of the conversation. Helping people realize that it is okay to get out of your comfort zone is a good feeling. It not only prepares you for future events (try and throw something my way; I'll adapt), but it also gives you  a cultural advantage (you will be more open-minded and knowledgeable considering you've been immersed in a culture not your own). Keep in mind that these reasons apply for colleges, jobs, and other opportunities. I'll speak more specifically about this in a later post. Just know that there are plenty of benefits (aside from seeing the world) that comes with studying, volunteering, and working abroad.

I think I went off on a brief tangent. In spite of that, I am going to keep this post because I really like mindbarfs (a term that I use when I write whatever comes to my mind); they help me clear my head and organize what I visually can see. Anyways, I hope you stick along with me during this exciting time in my life!