Where has the time gone?

Man, I am terrible at keeping a blog.  Es tut mir leid.

Mann.  Wo ist die Zeit gegangen?  Dieses Jahr ist leider fast vorbei aber es scheint wie es nur gerade angefangen hat.  Gestern war 6. April und das hieß dass ich nur 3 Monate mehr habe.  Ich weiß nicht wie ich darüber fühle...  Ein Ding ist sicher und das ist dass ich alles von heute bis Juli genießen muss.  Ich bin nicht bereit nach Hause zu gehen, glaube ich.  Ich brauche noch Zeit um alles zu schaffen.  Ich habe so viele Leute zu bedanken aber ich behalte das bis später.  Kein weinen oder Abschiede brauchen wir noch nicht.  Also, damit fang ich mal an.

Coming to Germany, I thought it would be really easy and lots of fun to post pretty frequent blog posts, but that has not turned out to be the case.  Apparently I'm terrible at being able to formulate my life into words...  I've found this in trying to write a journal too...  Why can't I be one of those people who meticulously writes about their life to the point where other people want to do the same things that that person does?  Maybe someone is reading my blog and considering going on an exchange.  If this is the case and this is you, do it.  It is completely worth it.  In fact, stop reading my poorly-updated "blog" attempt and go onto the AFS website and APPLY!!!  You won't regret it.  Ich verspreche es.  But for those of you who are not between the ages of 15 and the age point where it's creepy if you go to a high school in another country, stick around because I'm about to blow your minds by actually writing a new post for once!  Viel Spaß ihr lieben!

What I've been up to lately:

• In late February I left Eschwege for a little less than three weeks to participate in a "Europe Studienfahrt."  Basically I took part in a seminar about Europe and stayed with a different host family in a different town.  The seminar was in Vlotho, an extremely unknown town, and I stayed with a the Ludwigs and went to school near Osnabrück for two weeks.  The few weeks were great.  I met a lot of awesome exchange students and we did a lot together!  We went ice skating, had a pot luck dinner, and even went to Amsterdam, among other things.  It's really awesome getting to know so many people from across the world which is a great perk with AFS.  Shout out to Ece, Noelia, Maria, Aim, Kay, Um, Eric, Sergio, Ma, Kiko, Rebecca, Ally, Kelly, Andrea, and Maria!

• Spring break is next week!  For the first week I'm traveling to Aalen to meet up with Shelbi and Ali <3 and then in the second week, my host family and I are traveling around southern Germany!

I hope you all have a wonderful Easter!

World Traveler

Some photos from my adventures in Bonn, Cologne, Lübeck, and Hamburg.

Haribo Store in Bonn

Haribo macht Kinder froh :) 

Kölner Dom

Inside the Kölner Dom

Taken from the top of the Kölner Dom

Lock bridge 

locks on locks on locks

Lübeck Marktplatz

Lübeck

Traffic signal in Lübeck

Hamburg Rathaus

Hamburg

A Christmas Story

We celebrated Christmas on Christmas Eve, which wasn't unusual for me at all, considering I have celebrated on Christmas Eve for sixteen years before coming to Germany.  Here, Christmas Eve is called Heiligabend, which literally means holy evening.  Christmas is actually played out in a three-day fest in Germany, but the two days after Christmas Eve, from what I saw, are more for relaxing with family.

On Christmas Eve, we sang in two different church services and opened presents in between the two.  The Christmas Tree was decorated in ornaments and real candles!  I received two hats, a scarf, a book entitled "How to be German," Anne Frank's Diary in German, a mug, recipe book with a few recipes already written inside, a coupon for the movies, some chocolate, face wash, and socks.  We had a nice dinner and then went back to church to sing Hark the Herald Angels Sing.

I had a really nice Christmas with my host family!

Oh Tannenbaum Oh Tannenbaum

Lina enjoying her cookie cook book for dogs

Tree Candle

Leonie, Kerstin, and I

{2014 Resolutions}

If you know me really well, you know that basically every year I establish resolutions, yet fail every single time.  This year I am determined to not let insufficient amount of motivation or my hatred of running get in my way.  I figured this year is the best year to do a lot.  I have so much time, allowing me to be able to do all of my resolutions.

1. Speak and read more German.  Obviously I speak German everyday, but I'd like to get to the point where I'm able to think only in German and finally be able to have the coveted German dream.  I think it would be pretty cool to say, "Oh, I haven't spoken English for a month," or whatever.

2. Take more pictures. I know I already take a lot of pictures when I go places, but there are more things I could take pictures of so that I can remember more with visual reminders after my exchange year is over.

3. Break old habits. As they say, old habits die hard.

4. Run more. Who am I kidding... Just run in general.

5. Write more posts. Considering my last post before my most recent post was in November, this is a must.

6. Enjoy every minute.

Happy New Years everyone!  Make 2014 great!

Gobble, Gobble, Gobble?

About a week before Thanksgiving, I asked my host family if they wanted to celebrate Thanksgiving, and they said yes right away and were thrilled!  I was also thrilled because I love the food so much.  On the 28th, we cooked for hours, with a casualty, the Cauliflower Gratin, and finally produced a lovely, and might I add, delicious, dinner!  The only thing the day lacked was the Macy's Day Parade, but I guess that wasn't that big of a deal.

Apple Crumble

Honey-Glazed Carrots

Mashed Potatoes

Turkey with Bacon ;)

Bourbon Gravy

10 Things I Love About Germany

1. Weihnachtsmarkt
2. You can take your dog basically everywhere (malls included)
3. Tasty food
4. The heaters
5. Differing school schedule
6. Bakeries everywhere
7. Landscape
8. Really modern houses
9. Less trashy television shows (they still exist, but in fewer numbers)
10. Weihnachtsmarkt

Ein neuer Anfang

This past Wednesday I found out that a new host family had been found - The Tinnefelds.  I also learned that I would be moving in three days, on Saturday.  It was such a surprise.  I read their profile and was pleased.  On Saturday I said goodbye to the Schneiders and drove with my liaison, Kim, and her family from Wolfhagen to Kassel where we met Ulrich, a man who works for AFS.  I said goodbye to Kim, then Ulrich drove me to my new home in Eschwege.  We made it to my new house and I met my new family.  I have two host sisters, Leonie, 18, and Kerstin, 16.  Kerstin is only five days older than me!  The family also has a German Shepard named  Lina.  My host parents, Rolf and Susanne, along with Kerstin and Leonie, love music and each play an instrument.  I am fairly certain that they all play piano!  So far it's been great and I'm excited to see how the rest of the year turns out.  Tomorrow I start at my new school, Oberstufengymnasium, which is a little nerve-racking, but I'm sure it will turn out fine.  

Last night, which was my first night, we went to the Marktplatz and walked a little around the downtown area, then ate dinner at a pizza place.  

Today the Tinnefelds showed me around Eschwege a little, by going to a castle that is now a Russian-run hotel, the lake, and an overview of the town.  Eschwege is really pretty and is situated on a river and has surrounding mountains.  The view from the house's balcony is breath-taking.  I will definitely be posting pictures of Eschwege in  the near future, but for now I'm  uploading some pictures from yesterday and today's excursion.

Saying Auf Wiedersehen to Kim

Such a sweet poster from my host family

Host family picture

Bedroom panorama

Personal piano

Leonie, Kerstin, and I in front of castle

Lake/Mountain landscape

Homemade pizza

Lina and I

Eschwege and Virginia time