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. 

F-B: Caro, Leoni, me, Flo

 Two weeks ago, I had a class trip to Bonn, which is the old German capital (now it is Berlin). The trip was fun and informative. We left school in Zehdenick at 8:30 on Monday, and we did not arrive in Bonn until a little after 8 that evening. (I believe. I have a horrible memory.) We went to the Haus der Geschichte der Bundesrepublik Deutschland on Tuesday. That was my favorite [informatinal] part of the trip. I love learning about a country's history. The museum was about the Ost-/West- separation & reunition. Plus! There was a 1950's themed cafe (only a replica; non-functional) with a jukebox and a hippie's bus. If that's not cool, then I don't know what is.

During the trip, I stayed in a room with Leoni, Flo, Nastasia, and Caro. By the end of it, I was a bit exhausted because sharing a room [with so many people] is not something that I am accustomed to. Plus, that past weekend, I shared a room with three other girls at the Re-entry Orientation, so let's just say that I was freaking tired and wanted to be alone. Haha. But it was a nice week, nevertheless. 

L-R: Paul, Nick, Flo, Leoni, Luisa, Leah , Justin, Anna, Nastasia, me, Caro

We also visited Bonn's Weihnachtsmarkt on both Tuesday and Thursday, and we went to Köln's on Wednesday. Köln's was by far my favorite! I bought Mandeln (Almonds) at all three, and I have to say that it's a tie between Nutella and Vanilla Mandeln. Yum! Considering that the Weihnactsmarkts were in the middle of die Stadt (i.e. surrounded by shops), we shopped a lot. I bought some really cute and comfy house boots, mascara that I have been looking for, for about a year, an iPad mini case, fuzzy socks, and earmuffs. 

I love this wall in the museum! It translates to: "Your Christ, a Jew. Your car, a Japanese. Your pizza, Italian. Your democratic, Greek. Your coffee, Brazilien. Your holidays, Turkish. Your numbers, Arabic. Your signature, Latin. And your neighbor is just a foreigner?"

On Thursday, our group went to the Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung. There, we were given a presentation about unfair manual labor - how we pay for clothes, the store keeps most of the money, and the worker who actually made the clothes hardly receives anything. It was a bit boring, but I enjoyed the video that they showed us at the end. I have no idea how it was related to the presentation, though. It was about three people who exchanged to different countries to help them out in some way. 

If I were to move to Germany, I think that I would want to live in either Bayern or Köln. Although I did not see all of the city, I say a good amount (by foot, may I add), and I love it! The buildings, and colors, and water, and everything. I fell in love. 

We were outside the castle in Köln. 

I was interviewed for and featured in the German newspaper The Märker. 

I haven't written anything over here in what seems like forever. I guess living your actual life in a foreign country will do that to you. It's not all pretty pictures and nature walks and going to big cities and trying new foods. It's my actual life that I am living here. Studying abroad may seem like a novel concept, but in reality, it's really difficult - rewarding, but really hard, nevertheless.
You have to be open-minded because you are in a new culture, and you can never know what to expect next. You might have to try new foods, or interact with people who don't speak any of your language (although that's kind of the goal so that you can immerse yourself better), or do things that you never thought you would do in your life.  You have to get out of your comfort zone, which can be extremely tiring. For example, I am the type of person who enjoys meeting new people and doing new things; however, having to constantly translate what someone says and figure out the appropriate response is seriously exhausting. On top of all of this, you still have to live your normal life. Just because you're in a different country does not mean that all of your responsibilities back home have disappeared. I still have to apply to colleges and scholarships. I still have to stay on top of what needs to be turned in for my senior year. Living in a different country during study abroad also does not mean that you are on "vacation". You still have to attend school, do chores that are a part of your host family, and do whatever the heck you enjoyed doing back home. You're literally living a normal life, only in a completely different place and culture.

But aside from that little rant, I have been doing well. I really love my host-family. I have a host-mom, her boyfriend, a host sister, and a host brother. My host sister and I are the same age, and we attend the same school. I think that we mesh pretty well. At this point-in-time, I feel comfortable enough around her to start saying/doing weird things...I'd call this a success. Ahaha. We also have this language exchange going on where she speaks English and I speak German. And, my host brother is 13, but we still get along well. He's quite funny. And my host mom and her boyfriend are really nice and helpful - I can talk to them about problems as well as simple conversations. Plus, they don't speak English with me really, which is pretty amazing because it forces me to use German. 
I also enjoy the transportation here in Germany. It's really convenient and healthy. Leoni and I ride our bikes to school every day, minus one day when it was too rainy, and Axel (host mom's boyfriend) drove us to school. However, if it rains or snows, we will usually have to take the bus. Also, the trains here are so quick and convenient! Leoni and I took one to Berlin when we went shopping (I needed a coat). 

I am starting to read + translate this book. Wish me luck!

School here is also different. I have twelve classes, but we do not meet daily. It's more like a college schedule if anything. On Monday, I have 2 lessons of English, a fifteen-minute break, 2 more lessons of English, 2 Math lessons, a thirty-minute lunch break, and then 2 Biology lessons, so I am out by 2:35. On Tuesday, I have 2 English lessons, a two-hour break (Leoni & I bike home), then 2 lessons of Economics, a thirty-minute lunch break, and then 2 lessons of German (out by 2:35p). On Wednesday, I have 2 lessons of English, a fifteen-minute break, 3 lessons of Sport, and 1 lesson of French, so I am out of school by 12:30 pm. On Thursday, I am also out by 12:30, with 2 lessons of History, a fifteen-minute break, 2 Economic supplemental lessons, and 2 lessons of German. Finally, on Friday, I have 2 lessons of Physics, a fifteen-minute break, 2 lessons of French, 2 lessons of Math, a thirty-minute lunch break, and 1 lesson of Politics, so I am out of school by 1:45 pm.
While I enjoy the school schedule (I am getting so spoiled), I am also exhausted by the end of the day. Try learning new things in a completely different language, and then you will see what I mean. It's helpful to be exposed to German all day, but it's truly hard. I never expected it to be easy, but I never expected this either. Like I said early, you never know what to expect. Also, in school, I have friends who try to help me understand, which I really appreciate.
On the topic of language, I might as well update you all with how I am doing. I am understanding a little more and more every day. For a while, I was a bit disappointed in myself because I felt like I should be a little better by now. I felt that I should not have to continuously ask for help with understanding things. But I had to remind myself that 1) it has only been almost two months that I have even started learning the language, and 2) people understand - they are happy that I am trying and are willing to help. Plus, as I reflect on my progress, I am actually much better in the language than I give myself credit for. I know a nice amount of  words, sentence structures, and things that I never would not have thought I could learn before I came to Germany. 
Well, seeing how this post has turned into a long ramble, I am going to end it here. Ciao! 

Heute war ein guter tag. (Today was a good day.) I woke up this morning and took the earlier train. I did not want to push Elsa's and my luck by taking the 8:05 train and getting in Schwabmünchen at 8:15. I tried that yesterday, and we made it to class right on time. It was a crazy rush. But today was much better. Elsa and one of her three host sisters met me at the train station, where I picked up my bike. From there, we rode to school. Her sister made me and Elsa lead the way, however, to make sure that we knew how to get to school. (We did.)
Once we arrived at school, we locked up our bikes and went into school. The day was pretty simple. We learned German. We spoke German.  I feel proud of myself for knowing more German than I ever thought was possible. Wie geht ist dir? Wie geht ist Ihnen? Wo wohnst du? Wohner kommst du? It's getting pretty exciting! Also, our host siblings joined us for some time today so that they could share with us about schools  here in Germany. It was pretty funny because we had a mini-session to it where we were split up into groups of German and USA (ouh - es - ah) / Canada. In those groups, we had to rank things about our school system. Apparently learning how to discuss is pretty low in USA/Canadian schools, and learning how to do stuff for ourselves is number one. (Alas, that may be a little true. Haha.) In German schools, learning how to discuss was ranked as number one (ruh-roh). 
After that, our host siblings left and we went to mittagessen (lunch), which literally translates to mid-day food. (The same thing is with abendessen, which is dinner; it translates to evening food. Frühstück, which is breakfast, is different, though.) We had sausage salad, which was pretty tasty, despite my original beliefs. It is made with sausage (small and cut), onion, vinegar, oil, pickles, and cheese. It is traditional Bavarian food. (I just looked it up, and the name is Bayerisher Wurstsalat.)

Credits to ChefKoch

I went over Elsa's house with Keegan after school. We biked there. Their place is so nice! I feel like all Germans have nicely decorated homes that come of pages of magazines. Her host parents were also extremely nice. Her dad filled my bicycle tire up, her mom offered to take us to the store with her, and her dad (once again) printed out a Zugfahrplan (train schedule) for me. While at the house, we looked up the recipe for graham crackers because Germany doesn't have any, and tomorrow we are having a mini bonfire, so Elsa's host mom said that we can try to make some so that we can have s'mores. They already had all of the ingredients, except for chocolate, so Keegan, Elsa, and I followed Elsa's youngest host sister to the grocery. I. fell. in. love. The store had pretty much everything. (Okay, okay, I'm over-exaggerating. But it had a lot!) I ended up buying some Nutella + crackers and some candy...which I forgot over at Elsa's, but eh, I'll get it tomorrow.
Then, we went back to Elsa's house (minus Keegan because he went home), and I had to contact Ami to see what time would be best for her to pick me up back in Buchloe. I decided to get the 17:48 train, so that I would arrive in Buchloe at 17:59.  Anyways, back at Elsa's, her sisters invited me to go with them to feed ducks at a neighbor's house. Turns out, the neighbors were having ice-cream or were back in their attached, outdoor pool (Genau - it was hot, like, 33 Celsius, so I don't blame them.), so we ended up just throwing the bread around the yard for the chicken to eat.
After that, we returned to Elsa's home and they proceeded to teach us some German until it was time to go. I learned 'zug' 'wassermelone' 'zitrone' and 'boot'. I learned more as well, but eh, too many to think about right now. Haha. Once it was time for me to go to the train station, Elsa's dad led me the right way by bike and pointed me to where the train station is, which was literally down the street (5 minutes away). Once there, I locked up my bike, waited for the train, and listened to music.
Once back in Buchloe (Amberg), Ami and I went back home, where her mom was waiting for us. I went to go take a shower, and when I came back down, I helped Ami set the table outside. (So beautiful + peaceful!) For abendessen, we had sausage (yum! Apparently, I love German sausage. Haha.). I had zwei (2). We also had potatoes, wassermelone (watermelon) and tomatoes. It was a fulfilling dinner. Once dinner was over, I pretty much studied German for the rest of the night (until now...that I'm writing this, at 23:20 at night. Haha). Ami and her mom helped me. It was pretty relaxing and enjoyable. I genuinely like it here.
Guten nacht (on my half), guten abend on yours (back home).