Mein Jahr in Deutschland

Life goes on...

2009-07-23T00:24:00.000-07:00

I am now back in San Diego. I decided to write how im feeling now because i remember wishing someone had done that before i left just to see how they felt.

I have been back for almost two weeks now. Sometimes it feels like nothing has changed and other times it feels like nothing is the same. My friends may have changed, and i deffinitly have changed but we are still as good of friends as we were before i left. I feel like i have had no rest period since i got back but maybe that is a good thing. I feel like i am always being rushed, i miss the european pace, i miss just sitting and having coffee with friends and not being hurried. I wish people would just calm down and relax.

Today i have been unpacking and putting all my things from Germany on my wall which was kind of weird. As i remembered the things i experienced there it felt like it had been a dream and i just woke up. There were some things that i would pick up and say "oh my god, this is from like the very beginning!". It was sad to see it all again, but also exciting. Its a weird feeling, it doesnt seem real. It all happened so quickly. And i know i can never live this last year over again. And when i go back it will never be the same. Its like a chapter in my life has ended but im not ready to let go, but im being forced because the new chapter in my life is hitting me like a bullet.

I have told many stories and shown some pictures and things to people, but no one seems to understand it like i do. Its not that they dont seem interested because i know they really are, its just hard to describe. Its one of those you had to be there moments that i cant explain right. I want to talk about it but then sometimes i feel like i have maybe said "thats like when i was in gemany..." and i dont want people to get annoyed. Or they will ask the question "What was the best part?" ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?!?!? it was a whole year how do you expect me to answer that? Another thing that is kind of annoying is when people take "the new me" the wrong way. I know i have changed but that is just life i couldnt stay how i was forever.

Today i have missed Germany the most...i miss my sister very much, and in away i feel like im falling apart with out her. We wouldnt necessarly go out together in the city alot, but we would TALK ALOT! i miss just hanging out with her. We became so close by the end and it broke my heart to have to say good bye. Her picture now hangs on my wall but it makes me cry to look at it because i would rather be with her in person. But i have to cry secretly because i dont want people to know i miss it, because then they think i dont want to be here which isnt true...i just wish i could be in two places at once.

Friends are like stars, you cant always see them but they are always there.

2009-07-09T03:29:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow i go to Frankfurt and board a plane back to the US. I never thought this day would come, and now that its here i dont know how i feel about it. Of course i am excited to see my family and friends again...but as exciting as that is i am also leaving my family friends here. I have a home here too now and i dont want to have to be away from either of my homes. I am thankfull that i have found a life and home here and that is all that matters. It scares me to think that in one day the people who i used to see everyday wont be there. Today is my last full day here in Germany after today i will go back to a life that i havnt lived in over ten months. I dont know what to expect but i guess its better to just let it happen and not think about it too much.
I wanted to write one last blog here in Germany but now that i am i dont know what to write. There is so much going on in my head right now that i cant think straight. I would write a reflection but there it would be the most complicated reflection and no one would understand.
I guess all i can say is that this year has been great, horrible, sad, and happy, but most importantly life changing.
Today i have lots to do and it should be a very fun day, its tomorrow that i dont know if i will be able to handle. Many tears will and have already been shed. But it just shows that i had a good enough time here to be sad to be leaving. It will be hard but i know this experience has to end. But it will forever be in my heart.
Danke Schön Deutschland und alle für alles du hast zu mir gegeben. Ich nur hoffe das ich habe dir etwas auch gegeben. Ich kann die leute ich habe hier kennengelernt nicht vorgessen und ich hoffe wir bleiben in kontakt. Ich fliege morgen zuhause aber ich komme wieder zu besuchen. Ich hab euch doll lieb! vergiss mich nicht!!

Dont be sad that its ending, but be happy that it happened xD

2009-07-05T04:49:00.000-07:00

I have less than a week in Germany. I had my Abschiedsparty(Good Bye party) yesterday which was alot of fun but i just wish it wasnt a goodbye party. This has been the most rewarding year of my life so far. I struggled alot in the begginning but managed some how to get through it. There were times when i was about to give up and just go home. And the hardest moments were the ones where i was alone wishing i could hug my parents but couldnt. I learned how to stand on my own, but also to let people help me who at first were complete strangers.
It was hard to make friends in Germany and i will admit it took 6 months for me to have a few true german friends. And just this last month have the rest started to open up to me. They always told me before i came that it would be hard to make friends in Germany, but that once you did they would be friends for life. I finally understand this, I can never forget the friends i have made here and i know it will be heartbreaking to have to say good bye. Its like once things are finally good here and i have a life here i have to leave. But i guess thats just life.
Memories have been made here that i only hope i dont forget. Even the bad memories i want to keep with me because i cant act like they didnt happen and they show me that i can handle more than i give myself credit for. However the good memories will over shadow the bad by a long shot. When i look back at the beginning of the year i remember about when i seriously considered going home...now all i can say is that i am SO glad i didnt do that, and i thank my parents for doing the hard thing and not letting me which i know must have been one of the hardest things for them to do.
I didnt think i would ever feel like i was really apart of my Host Familys family but now i feel like i am a true daughter and real sister to the members of my Family. My host sister paula is one of the best friends i have in Germany and its going to be so sad to not be living with her after a few days.
How im feeling right now is a weird feeling. Its finally starting to hit me that i will be gone soon, however i dont think it will completly sink in until i am back in the US. The friends and experiences i have had here will stay with me and i will come back to visit. However until then and forever a piece of my heart will stay here in Germany.
Vergiss mich nicht Deutschland

18 days left in Germany....CRAZY!

2009-06-22T08:04:00.000-07:00

Well its been a long time since i have posted because i have been soooo busy so this will probaly be a really long one....so brace yourself...

First off in may i went to Stuttgart for a week and stayed with Chiara from Italy. The first day we just chilled at her house because my train was late and i so i got there later than i expected....
Then the next day we went into the city and met Maggie from USA. It was a holiday so nothing was open except for one convience store so we went there and bought black hair dye. Then we went home because it was raining....we didnt dye our hair that night. Then we went back into the city and went to a club...it was really fun and thats pretty much all i will say about that. Then the next day chiara and i went to the Ritter Sport Chocholate Factory which was AMAZING! Then we went back to her house for lunch. Afterwords i went to her tennis practice. Then we went into stuttgart to go swimming with Luca and her cousin. It was a really funny evening because there was alot of weird people at the pool but it was fun. Then we went into the city and ate...then afterwords me and Chiara just wandered the city. Then when we got back home really early in the morning we decided to dye our hair black...but we made a mess so we spent soooo much time scrubbing dye off the floor hahahah....and we wanted to go to europapark the next day but we were too tired and slept too late to catch an early enough train....but we went into the city instead and just did what ever we felt like doing. Then my last day we met with her exchange student friends from her old city and we spent the day with them which was fun.

Then the next week Chiara came here and also a friend of nicholas' came for a week. Unfortunatly Luca was in Holland...but she came back for the last day of that vacation...
The first day she was there we went to a park by nicholas' house where we always play soccer and volleyball and just chill. Then in the evening after dinner we met with them again and went to a bar. Then the next day me and chiara went around Marburg. Then in the evening we went to the river and sat and had doeners. Then we went to a Concert in Marburg which was really fun...nicholas and his friend were also there so then afterwords we found them and stayed there a little. Then I saw a few friends from my class so we talked to them too. Then the next day we stayed home and rested during the day. Then in the evening we went to a bar then walked to Funpark (club) where there was a schaumpartie which means foam partie...so it was like a normal party but with a foam machine in the middle that released TONS of foam...it was hillarious and the most fun thing in the world...
Then the next day we went to the castle and then met Cristha(hondoras) and went in a paddle boat in the river in Marburg. It was funny because it started raining and there was another group of people in a boat who we got into a war with....
Then in the evening me went to the river with nicholas and his friend. Then the next day we met them by the river agian because it was such nice weather and then luca came too so it was fun. It was a hilarious night and i dont even know where to begin to explain in.
Then the next day they left which was sad especially because then we had to go back to school.

I dont remember what else happened in May except there were alot of days off and so there fore alot of fun and parties :)
I also took the SAT which was not the most fun thing in the world but a really nice friend there who lives in Frankfurt so it made it not so bad.

Then in June i had my AFS end of stay camp which was fun, funny, but also a little sad. It was nice to see everyone again and we also had two new people so it was really fun and the weather was good so we were able to go outside unlike the last time where we didnt want to step a foot outside....

Then I had my class trip to Munich...I ABSOLUTLY LOVE MUNICH!!! Maybe not as much as Berlin but it was AMAZING! The first day we went to the youth hostel where we would be staying but it took a while to get there because it was directly on the lake...then me and my friends went to our room and got situated...then we went to a nearby city to eat because lunch wasnt included(which sucked because munich is SOOOO expensive) Then the next day we went to Munich and took a tour of the city and then were allowed to just do whatever we wanted...we also went to the Hofbrauhaus which is a really famous beer haus..and it was really cool...as you probably know Munich is famous for its beer so it was a beer filled week. Then the next day we went to the most boring museum in the world...but there was a really nice deck at the top with an amazing view of munich and it was really warm so me and my friends layed up there after the tour for most of our time and it was nice. Then we went to the Barvaria Film studios which is the biggest film studios in europe..ive never been to universal studios but imagine it would be something like that....Then we went shopping a bit and then met again in the Paulaner beer garden....the famous munich beer. The next day we went to the Allianz Arena which is a soccer arena...then we chilled back at the hostel...then in the night we went swimming in the lake which was freezing which didnt help my cold AT ALL but it was worth it. Then the next day we just went around the city until about four and then we had to take the train back...

What i have coming up: This weekend im going to Osnabruck agian for the weekend. Then the following weekend is my last weekend and i just have a bunch of things i have to do with people and so these last two weeks should be really fun but will probably go by really fast. Sofia(my other host sister who has been in the USA with AFS) comes home next wednesday so i will get to meet her and we are going to go pick her up from the airport. And for those of you who dont know...I will be in DC on the 10th of July and then in San Diego on the 12th. See you all soon!

Paris!

2009-05-11T06:21:00.000-07:00

Two weekends ago i was in PARIS! It is an absolutly beautiful city and everyone was really upset that we were not there very long. We left friday at midnight and drove my bus to Paris. Im not sure how long it actually took but it felt like days and no one could sleep...but what do you expect with fifty exchange students. Then Satuday morning at 7am we arrived in Paris and our meeting point i guess you could call it was the Eiffel Tower...so we spent a while there taking tons of pictures
So we had the whole day to do what we wanted. In my group there was about seven of us. First we went up the Eiffel Tower which has an amazing view but the farther you go up the colder it gets and eventually we had to go down because it was too cold. The we went to Arc de Triumph which took us a while to figure out how to get to the side of the road it was on....
Then we took the "subway like train" to Notre Damm...we got a little lost but finally were able to find it. Over there we walked around a bit and saw some things near by. Then we went to where the Opera house is and went to this giant shopping house which had all this expensive stuff so we were to scared to touch let alone try anything on in case it broke.
After that we walked around and saw some other things, but everything is so spread out that we didnt manage to see everything. One funny story from the trip was when we were on the Subway. It was really full and so not everyone had something to hold on to. So when it started me and this other girl lost our balance (BUT ONLY A LITTLE) but this french ladie with a walker freaked out and pushed us. At this point she is yelling at us in French(so of course we have no idea what she is saying). But she pushed us into a little girl, who almost got her face torn off, so naturally the mother wasnt happy who is also yelling. The older ladie with a walker is really mad and keeps getting angry and pushing(i have a bruise from her walker BY THE WAY). Luckily she got off at the next stop and we didnt have to deal with her anymore. As awkward as it was it was really funny because we had no idea what she was saying.
Then in the night the Eiffel Tower was all lit up and it was absolutly AMAZING! So my group is taking all these pictures and having fun....not realizing or caring what time it was(very ungerman of us i know)...so we were a half an hour late meeting back with AFS and they were not too happy about that...but it was a great trip and i just wish we could have stayed longer!
(sorry cant figure out how to rotate the pic)

hmmm, what else can i talk about....
Well School is pretty boring.
I have lots of weekend plans coming up though so ill post about those after they happen, and hopefully i will put more pics up but im just really lazy about that so dont expect it to happen anytime soon....

ICH LIEBE DEUTSCHLAND!!!!

2009-04-28T06:45:00.000-07:00

Ok, so first off for those of you who dont speak german my title means "I love Germany", and I trully do, not that i only have 2 and half months left i am having the time of my life and i know i will be really sad to leave.
Secondly, I recieved an email from my parents asking me to correct something from my last blog. Fuertaventura is a island on the coast of Africa(by casablanca) and is owned by Spain. Now I know everyone else was really freaking out about this correction like my parents so you can all calm down now. ahahhaha
Thirdly, I have the best host family ever, and the best host sister: Paulita! Speaking of Paula, she had her Confirmation this past sunday so we were in the church on saturday and sunday. And then also on Sunday there was a party. The weather was really nice sunday so it was nice and we could go outside.
On friday i went to a friend of mine from CZ, Adela, for her 18th birthday party. It was really fun and nice to see some of the other exchange students from our camp...Adela is really nice and im glad i have gotten to know her alot better recently.
But the biggest news coming up is.....PARIS!!! I leave friday and i am absolutly stoked!!!!!!
Today, i got a letter from AFS with information for my end of stay camp, and it made me realize that i have like NO time left which was really depressing.
what else?....
oh, yesterday while i was in sport class my cell phone got stolen. But a really good friend of mine from my class lisa(who is coming to san diego) gave me her old one so i avoided having to buy a THIRD handy.
Also on sunday Cony, from Argentina, came back from her Europatour with rotary so i saw her agian yesterday for the first time in a month. We also have no more weekends when we are both here because she leaves in June so that is really sad.
mmm...one of my best friends in my class got sent back to the ninth grade because her grade was so bad, but she was so nice and always tried to hard in class but just didnt do very well on tests. so that was sad.
Yesterday in my modern class a girl came that i hadnt met because she had been on exchange for a month..and where was she? CALIFORNIA! so we got along really well and she is really nice and has the coolest motorcycle ever.
Monday i had a math test and i was able to do alot more this time...however i dont know how much was right...tomorrow i have a physics test so we'll see how that goes.
Friday is a holiday so no school.
Thats about all that is new with me so ill go now...eventually i will get up pics

SORRY!

2009-04-23T03:37:00.000-07:00

Ok, so according to my dad it has been almost a month since i last wrote so i guess its about time i write again...i really am sorry.

So the last time i wrote it was about a week or so till i had Osterferien(spring break). I had just visited two friends of mine, Winnie (HK) and Briana (USA)...it was really fun and nice to see them again after almost seven months. Then the next week i didnt have school tuesday so that made my week go by alot faster. Since friday was the last day of school until vacation i went to the disco thursday night...it was also really fun since there were alot of people there plus everyone was excited for vacation.

The next day friday i went to Frankfurt to meet my mom. When i got there she was looking around looking really confussed because she didnt expect so many people so i snuck up behind her and she screamed which i must admitt was very amussing. We spent the day shopping then in the evenings went to eat and drink. It was funny to drink beer with my mother but also fun. The next day we went to a market in Frankfurt and had typical beer and bratwurst for lunch. Then we headed to Marburg by train (we almost missed the train...which is a rather embarassing story so i wont go into details). Then the next following days we went around Marburg and also another really tiny town nearby. It was a really short but nice visit.

The next day i met with two other exchange stundents from my AFS camps Adela (CZ) and Alessandra (BRA). We met in Marburg and it was really good to see them again. We basically went shopping and went around Marburg.
Then the next day i met a friend from school and we just hang out and then spontaniously decided to go see a movie even though we were a half an hour late for it...what ever.

Then Saturday i left with my host family for Fuertaventura(which is an island off of Spain). It was AMAZING but more importantly warm...well until the evenings when the winds got really strong and cold. Me and Paulita(her new name) went to the beach and the pool alot..we tried really hard to get tan...seeing as i was in germany for seven and a half months i was white as a ghost so now i would just say im not AS white...however paula got a nice sunburn :)
We also saw a Flamenco performance one day which was cool to see but other than that it was just alot of relaxing and suntime.

Now im back in school and this week hasnt been too hard because the tenth graders try out some of the classes they want to take in 11 grade, but since i wont be here i cant sign up and just have alot of free periods which has been GREAT!

Tomorrow is Friday(almost weekend!!!) and i am going to Adela's 18th Birthday Party which should be really fun and crazy! Plus alot of the exchange students from our camp who we havnt seen since feburary are going so it should be really fun and nice to see them again.
Then Sunday is Paulas Conformation and Party, plus there is also something for it on Saturday but i have forgotten the name. So it should be a very eventful weekend.

Then next friday im going to PARIS with the exchange students!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Snow in March?

2009-03-26T05:30:00.000-07:00

So I know I havnt updated this in a while...im really bad about it i know...but i just never know what to talk about. Let me just start off by saying it is the end of march and it is SNOWING! yesterday it snowed all day and felt like december agian...i like snow dont get me wrong but its march so i would really just like it to be warm already...i love germany but i could never live here because it has been cold for seven months..thats over half a year..not fun!
Anyway, so after seven months of extreme ups and downs i finally feel like life here is normal. I cant believe that i only have three months(i think this is the most comonly said sentence by AFSers right now). People always told me at the beginning that the last three months were the best ones and you will not want to leave...and i always though but is it really worth it? and i have come to the conclussion that YES it really is worth it...things are really good right now and i know i will be really sad to leave which is why i have plans for like every weekend till the day i leave...
I really like it here and i finally have good friends in school...people always told me it would take long to make friends but i finally feel like i have german friends and i am sad that it took so long because now i will be leaving shortly. But one of my really good friends is going to do an exchange from july to november in a Bonita which is really close to San Diego so i will get to see her and show her where i live. I also feel alot more comfortable speaking in German now and that helps alot. I also feel like i have become really close to my host family the past month especially Paula(host sis). At the beginning the idea of a host family kind of frightened me and i felt like they were trying to replace my family(which was not at all true) and the idea of saying mein mama(my mom) without the gast(host) was like commiting a crime...now i just refer to them when i talk to people as mama, papa, und schwester as if tying my shoes...i will really miss them. I guess to some everything up...i finally have a life here and i am going to have to leave

AFS always told us that we wouldnt notice change in ourselves until after we were back home...but i feel like ive changed and Luca keeps telling me "melanie youve changed so much"..and i feel like she has too. Im not saying like i have new clothes or anything i dont even know how to explain it...but its a good change...i wouldnt exactly call it confidence because i wasnt a shy person when i left...but its something like that. So enough heatfelt talk...now on to the good stuff...

So there is SOOOO much coming up. First off, tomorrow im going to Osterode am Harz und Göttingen! To visit Winnie from HK who i met in Frankfurt and Briana from USA who i also met in USA but more so in Frankfurt because we were all on the same train that first day and so we were also in the same group when waiting to take the train! IM SO EXCITED TO SEE THEM AGAIN! So on friday we are staying at Winnies and a friend of hers who was in USA for a year is also coming...were going to watch movies and just catch up! Then Saturday we are going into the city...then in the night we are going to of course go to a disco where we will also meet with some other exchange students...Thats one thing i will miss the most about Germany..the discos, parties, late curfew etc. Then i come back Sonntag...I will put up pictures when i get back.

Then next week is the last day of school until Osterferien(easter break)...so it should be pretty relaxed. Monday is just a normal day of school but the teachers wont be starting anything new so it wont be too...anstregnet. Then Tuesday is a staff day, so NO school...hopefully it will be warm and i can meet some friends from school. Then Wednesday is also normal...but knowing how the teachers are the last week before a break alot of classes will be cancelled. Then thursday morning my Bio class is going to the Botanical Gardens. Then on the Friday before every vacation we only have three classes. Which is really nice.
This is especially nice because i am going to Frankfurt to meet with my visitor...who could it be?? YES! MY MOM IS COMING! I never though she would be able to after all the crap AFS gave us about it, but yes she is coming!!!!! We are staying in Frankfurt friday and saturday and this is also exciting for me because ive never been in Frankfurt at night or for longer than a day. Then she is coming back to Marburg with me and she will stay until the tuesday. Then i am here wednesday, thursday, and friday....unfortunatly all of my friends will be gone(i think) so i have no idea what i will do. But it doesnt matter because on Saturday i leave for the Canary Islands, Feurta Ventura! Im so excited and its going to be SO warm! I will be there for a week and then i come back and school starts...but it should be the end of cold weather so im really looking forward to that. Also two weeks after i get back i go to PARIS!!! I have done more traveling here than i have in my whole life and it will be sad to see it end...i also have done alot of traving alone just to see friends or something which has been fun...and its just not that simple in USA.

Also I started dancing agian...which has been fun because as all us exchange students start to get used to everything and dont hang out everyday like we used to i have been bored and its nice to be dancing agian. Im still trying out all the different levels i can take but i know i am going to do Ballet, Flamenco, and Modern...i really like the Flamenco class here, its nice to do something other than ballet for a change and i hope i can keep that when i go home.

As you all know i havnt seen people back home in SEVEN months..thats crazy to think. I miss them all like crazy but thats not actually what i wanted to talk about. So first off the last time i talked to my family i talked to my brother..and he looked really different(i use skype so i can see them) and i had him stand next to my mom and he was taller than her by alot which means he is probably taller than me...your LITTLE brother is not supposed to be TALLER that you! i dont like this!
I also saw some somewhat recent photos of my friends...and all i can say is THEY LOOK SO MUCH DIFFERENT! especially emily nanninga..but when i said this to them they were like "she looks exactly the same, what are you talking about...we all think you look different" and this is because they are with eachother everyday so they dont notice the change...which means when i get back i will look completely different to them and they will look completely different to me. But i have to say i am really looking forward to seeing how everyone has changed and i really do miss them all...i didnt realize what good of friends i had before i left.

Tschüss!

Geburtstag...und allles

2009-03-12T08:43:00.000-07:00

So i havnt writen in a while so i will do my best to make this blog worth reading. First of all i cant belive i only have four months left. I remember when i thought i had been here forever when i had only been there for two months. Things are pretty normal now so its a bit hard to write everything because i dont know what is exciting and what is not anymore. When i first came to Germany i had an idea in my head of what my exchange year would be like. After coming i have realized that my exchange year is nothing like what i imagined. However my two weeks in Osnabrück came close and i had a great time. My life in Marburg is very different from those two weeks but not in a bad way. There were times when everything here was new and exciting now everything is fairly normal...at least in Marburg. For example, school used to be slightly scary and i didnt know where everything was, now its like putting my shoes on in the morning(meaning i just go without really thinking much of it). What made me think to write about this was another exchange student came to visit Luca and I and she was so amazed by marburg and was taking alot of pictures. It reminded me of when i first got here and didnt know where anything was and Marburg seemed big because i was seeing new places everyday. Now Marburg feels small and I dont understand how anyone could get lost.

Right now its March and things are starting to warm up...we might reach 60F this weekend!...this is funny to say coming from San Diego, CA where this would be cold. There is not a whole lot going on this month but im trying to pack in as much as I can seeing as I only have 3 1/2 months left...wow thats weird to think. I cant say how I feel right now...half of me knows i will be sad to leave and I have had so many good times here...and the other half knows it has to end and is really looking forward to being with my family and friends again.

One major thing that did happen this month however was the anniversery of my Birth...yes I am now 17...and in less than a year I can officially call myself an adult(sorry if im freaking you out mom and dad...but dont worry even when im sixty you can still call me your little girl and pretend im 8). I am probably the only person in my grade at school in SD that does not even have their permit...however i am probably the only person who can say they got to celebrate their birthday in Germany...unless there is someone else here in germany from my school that i dont know about. So the day started off with me walking downstairs and Angelika and Norbert singing happy birthday to me. Then i blew out candles and opened my present...which was tickets to a ballet in a nearby city which i will be going to this sunday. Then i went to school and my class sang me happy birthday. Then after school Luca and Cony met me outside my classroom and we went and got ice cream. Then i went home and talked to my parents. Then in the Afternoon my friends came over for cake and coffee. Also the day before Norbert and Angelika took me out for a birthday dinner. Then on the weekend another exchange student from the USA came and celebrated with me and Luca(who also had a birthday so we had a combined birthday weekend kind of deal). That was pretty much the extent of my birthday. It was differnent than any birthday i have ever had in the USA. However, there was one thing i was missing during the day of my birthday. If you know my mother than you know she loves to cook and bake and is really good at it. And if you have know me for a long time and have gone to pretty all of my birthday parties(cough..kelly) than you would know that every year my mom makes me an over the top birthday cake...and every year i look forward to this. Anyway, given the curcumstances this was pretty immposible for her to do this year. BUT, then a few days later a package came from my parents and it was filled with cookies shaped like letters and then some bigger ones in the shape of flowers. There was also a letter that said i needed to figure out what the letters said. It took me a really long time because i was assuming it was in English and the letters were really weird ones for english words. Finally when i was reading a card from Melissa she wrote in german Alles Gute Zum Geburtstag..and then i looked at the letters and was like..No, it couldnt be...but i tryed it and sure enough thats what it was. It was really cute and really made my day...plus the cookies were the best cookies i have ever had! To you this may not seem like a big deal but for some reason this is a memory i will never forget and gave me one of those rare moments when everything in life is perfect and you cant help but smile.:)
Tchüss!

Midstay- Osnabrück

2009-02-23T04:28:00.000-08:00

Ok, so alot of people have been telling me i need to update this and since i dont remember what i last talked about i will just write about what is currently going on...and that would be my midstay exchange. Midstay is basically a two week exchange to another city. Every midstay has a theme and you go to a camp before you go to the host family to do workshops in relation to the theme. The theme for my midstay is Europa and in the city of Osnabrück. So first i went to a camp for four days in a small town in the near and we learned about the european union, the way europe veiws other countries(and veciversa), and what we think europe will be like in twenty years. Anyway camp was fun because we had alot of free time so we could just hang out and like everyother afs camp play kicker and tischtennis...and of course do our best to have a party even though we are in a place that people would normally not have a party. Then on sunday we all took the train and went to our families. I was really nervous to pretty much start over agian but it was really easy and my host family is very nice. I have a host mom, three host brothers, and a host sister...and i am the second youngest. I go to a catholic private school in the center of the city and i absolutly love it. My class is so nice and its nice being so close in the city. There is also a bunch of exchange students in my school and so we get to see eachother alot. Plus all of us that live in the city always meet up and do something after school or in the night. Also with AFS on friday we all went to a club called Cubana and that was alot of fun and had good music. Then saturday we went to karnival which is a big party and parade where every single person in went germany gets drunk on one day. With AFS we also had to walk in the parade and so that was fun but very cold...but i guess everyday here is cold. Now its monday and i dont have school today because like i said i go to a catholic school here and its Rossenmontag or something to do with the start of lent...

Nothing in Particular...

2009-02-02T02:29:00.000-08:00

So this post isnt really to tell you about anything in particular but to just tell you what im up to and how im feeling at this point.
So first off today is a holiday...just everyone in Hessen(my state) gets the day off from school...its basically a free day with no purpose. On friday i went to drink coffee with my neighbor and her friends which was nice because we went with some people in my bio class who i hadnt talked to yet. Then on Saturday i went to go get my haircut with Cony and Luca but the place was closed so now im going on tuesday...hopefully i dont need to make an appointment. Then we went back to my house and luca ended up staying the night. Then on sunday i just hung around and caught up on some stuff i needed to get done...then at nine i went to a pub with nicholas and luca...we were going to meet the new exchange students who just got here but they ended up not being able to come, but maybe they will come into the city with us today. One of them, a girl from Argentina is going to my school starting tuesday but i think she will be in the eleventh grade because she is 18 but she is really nice so im glad she is going to my school. Anyway, then today is monday and i am going shopping with the other girl exchange students here in Marburg...dont worry mom and dad, i only plan on using the money that i got for christmas that i havnt taken out. Then tomarrow i go back to school but tuesdays are a really easy day for me so its all good. This Friday there is a party for two exchange students in a place about 2 and half hours by train away but the girl said i could stay at her house im going to go. Then not this thursday but next thursday i leave for midstay camp in Osnabrück...then i come back march 1st...i probably wont go on the computer too much while im there so i wont update this until i get back.
So now how im feeling...well first off its groundhog day and its really weird to think it is already febuary. I am done with my first half of the year...some days i feel like i have been here for forever but more days i feel like i havnt been here that long which makes me feel like i dont have much time left...and in reality i dont, which is a good and a bad thought. Im really looking forward to seeing my family and friends again but i also really like it here and will miss alot of things. But i know it has to end so im just going to try to do everything i want to do in these last five months. For example, i decided not to do another german course because i want to do dance and volleyball after school. Then my weekends are usually fairly packed so i think i am content with the way i spend my weekends but it will help when its warm and sunny because sometimes i just dont want to leave the house when its so gloomy and cold. Another feeling im having is that i really want to make sure i come back with some good german friends and not just exchange students so i guess i have to take more of an initiative to do things with them outside of school. i also want to travel now that i can travel by myself and go see my friends the only problem is train tickets can be expensive. well thats all for now i guess

Even Longer time, no post!!

2009-01-26T07:04:00.000-08:00

So Im really sorry I havnt posted in awhile but its hard to just sit and write since it takes so long and I always have alot of emails and stuff to check. Anyway since alot has happened I will write about the two most fun things. First my trip to Austria for Skiing and then my midstay AFS camp.

So first Austria...

We left on a Saturday but i didnt do any skiing until monday. On Sunday though i went Ice skating and it was cool because it was an outdoor rink. So from Monday to Friday I was in a Ski course. Before i started i didnt think it was going to be that much fun...but it was seriously one of the most fun things i have ever done. And surprisingly(if you know me then you know i fall alot) i was very good at it and was doing the advanced slopes by the end of the week. So everyday during the week i skiied and it was really sad to have to leave but i hope i will be able to go again next year. Since it was a while ago i dont really feel like talking too much more about it because i have already talked about it so much.

So this past weekend i had my AFS midstay camp. Its really weird to think i am already half way done. In some ways i feel like i have been here forever and other times i feel like i just got here.
So anyway at the camp we didnt do a whole lot of workshops so we had alot of free time which was really nice because thats the fun part. We stayed at big house which is kind of like a house transformed into a hostel...but it was nice because we didnt have to worry about being to loud or anything. So the first day we all had dinner while everyone arrived and it was cool to meet more people and everyone was really cool and nice. There was also two other americans there. One from Colorado and one who i met in california, but they are both leaving in three weeks which is sad. Anyway so then in the night we all just hung out, pladed fussball, danced, and listened to music. The next day i had to help cook breakfast so i had to get up earlier than everyone else so that was annoying and took me so long to actually get up. Then we had some workshops and then lunch. After lunch we had to take a bunch of pictures for this yearbook we get at the end of the year, and it was hilarious to watch. In the evening we went into the city and saw some old houses and a church. After the church we went to this castle like place and read a brothers grimm story but everyone was too cold to pay attention. Once we got back we all went into this game/hang out place and did exactly that. We played this game where you have to make someone else laugh and when they do then they have to get up and go to someone else. It was really funny but people kept coming to me because they knew i would laugh like right away. Most of us stayed up all night and got a maximum of two hours of sleep so the next day we were pretty tired. The next day we had breakfast and then we had to clean. Then we had a workshop and then a group photo. Marburg was the first group of people to leave and we almost missed out first train. But i have to admit it was really funny. Anyway so now im back in Marburg and i miss everyone from camp SO much but we all live near Frankfurt so were going to meet there before our next camp.
Not much else new, except in two weeks i have my midstay in Osnabrück so i have another camp with new people for that. It should be fun and there are alot of South Americans going so thats cool because they are seriously the coolest and some of the funniest people ever which is why i really want to go somewhere in South America now for like a Summer or something.
Tschüss! melanie

long time, no post...entschuldigund

2008-12-31T04:48:00.000-08:00

Im really sorry that i havnt posted in a while but sometimes its hard to just sit down and write it all because to write a good one it takes me a while.
So today is new years eve. Tonight i am first having a big dinner with my host family, their friends, and luca is also coming. Then Luca and i are meeting some other people at this salsa dancing place for the new years eve party. We will stay there till the new year, and then we will go outside whatch the fire works, and light these fire stick things.
Anyway so last wednesday was christmas eve which is the big day in germany (not the twenty fifth like in the USA). In the moring I decorated the tree with Angelika...they dont even bring the tree into the house until christmas eve day. Then we relaxed and of course had christmas cookies. Then in the late afternoon we went to church. My host family is protestant, and so is the town im in, so we went to a protestant church. Its this really old church but its really pretty. I couldnt really understand what was being said though because there was a bunch of background noise(there always is i suppose but you dont realize it when they are speaking in your native language). Then we walked back to the house at about 6 or 6:30. Then while Angelika put the presents under the tree Paula read a christmas story to me and Norbert in my room. It was about a boy who ran away from home who really liked mustard. His family didnt think he would ever come back and always missed him alot on christmas eve. The family always had bratwurst with mustard on christmas eve for dinner but in his memory they ate there sausages without mustard. Then one christmas eve he came home and brought them mustard. Then they all ate happily with mustard on the sausages again. I thought it was really funny how even the christmas stories in germany have something to do with bratwurst and mustard. Anyway then Angelike rang a bell and we all went downstairs by the tree. First we sang christmas carols and then we opened gifts. Paula loved the Gilmore Girls I got her, and my host parents loved the wind chime my parents sent them to go along with my gifts. A wind chime really is the perfect gift for a german family. My host famiy was really nice and got me alot of really nice gifts. Some things they got me were, a necklace by this popular german charm company, a berlin bag, chocolate, The Host by Stephanie Meyer in english, a marburg calender, and some other things. After that we had dinner. Which was bread, meats, fish, vegetables and a bunch of other typisch german foods for dinner. The next day we went to the mountains in hopes for snow but there wasnt much, enough to make a snow man though. Then we came back and had cakes. Then in the evening we had a big dinner, which was good, it was similar to lasgna. Then the next day they also celebrate. First i went on a walk in the woods behind my house with Norbert and Yaska to this tower and also a wall from the medival ages. It was nice but really cold so Yaska and I walked as fast as we could to get home.
Something very exciting is also coming up. On saturday i leave with my host family to go to Austria for a week where we will go skiing. Im really excited but its going to be really cold. Im also excited to learn how to ski. I have to take a course but i just hope i can hear them let alone understand them under all the equipment. So when i get back from that i will post pictures and write about that, and then i start school again :(

Berlin!!

2008-12-17T07:36:00.000-08:00

I know i havnt wrote in a while and i dont really have too much time right now so i will just talk about one thing.
This past weekend i went to Berlin. When we first arrived i was really excited but really couldnt see it because it was dark. For dinner that night we went to a potatoe restraunt. It was really good but it had to much of this jogurt sauce in it. Note...germans love jogurt and have all differnt kinds of jogurt salad dressings and such however i find them dissgusting where as the other exchange students love it. The next day we started out by shopping. While in berlin i only bought post cards and a piece of the berlin wall, because im really short of money and have already spent to much and feel really bad which is why im cutting back on all my expenses even when january comes and i get more. Anyway, then we went to two eygptian museums. Berlin has a bunch of museums similar to the Smithsonians in DC. The first one we went to also had the Berlin Nifrititi (i think that is what its called) and that was cool to see in person. We also went to a really long but good play that evening. It was about Rosa Luxumberg and her life. It was really good but the background music reminded me of the computer game Sims so that kind of ruined the effect. The next day we went to the Alexander tower and some other major sites like the Brandenburg Tur(i dont think thats how you spell it) but its where the wall was. In that area there is also a bunch of live statues who i feel bad for because its so cold. We also went to one of the Christmas markets there and went on the ferris wheel. Then in the late afternoon we went back to the train station and came back to marburg. Berlin was really cool but i think it would be a much better place to visit in the summer. The whole time all i could think was 'what a crappy place to have war' because you can just see all the people who were suffering and how cold they must have been.

This Weekend

2008-12-01T00:57:00.000-08:00

Where to begin...well i dont remember there being anything exciting last week so i will just talk about the weekend.
On friday the christmas markets opened and there was also a special event called Marburg b(u)y night. Which is where the whole town is lite up and the stores are open until midnight. So I went to this with Luca and my host family. It was really crowded and you could barely walk anywhere. The lines were also really long for food so i instead went to one of the snack places and got a chocolate covered banana which i havnt had in a really long time but it was really good. I only saw a few people i knew because it was so crowded but we ran into some of the other AFSers. In the group of AFSer that we ran into a few of them are leaving January 8th. So they really have like no time left here which is sad but it also reminds you that this does end at some point even though right now it doesnt seem like it and that the time goes by faster than you think. Anyway, so that was really fun and the town looked really pretty. The castle had some light feature going on so that it kept changing colors. That is no longer there but all the other Christmas lights are still up. Honestly it doesnt feel like christmas at all i cant explain it but it just doesnt seem like the holidays. Usually even before thanksgiving i am getting all excited for the holidays and complaining that its going to slow for it to be december. Now its december 1st and i am just looking forward to the holidays being over. Yes, christmas is really cool in Germany but its just not the same.

Then Saturday i didnt do a whole lot. The only main thing i did was go shopping with luca for thanksgiving food. And then we went to the other Christmas market that we didnt get a chance to go see.Sunday. I woke up early and headed over to Lucas. At about eleven twenty we started cooking. We first made the cookies which were chocolate chip and then our version of apple pie. It was basially an angel food cake like crust with pudding on top. Then we decorated sliced apples on top and carmelized brown sugar on the apples. It looked really pretty but only tasted ok. Then we made stuffing(which turned out REALLY good and cranberry sauce which wasnt so great since we could only find dried cranberries. Then we made sweet potatoes. The pan we used though had a crack in it so when we took them out there was a huge pile of orange juice and brown sugar burning on the bottom of the oven. But they tasted really good so it turned out fine. We also made mashed potates(which took forever to get warm) and green beans. And our substitute for rolls was these min crossant things they have here. And then of course the Fred...our turkey. He had alot of blood and cutting of the neck was absolutly dissgusting. Luca and I cleaned him out anyway though then after we put the stuffing in the sewed him up and luca tied his legs together. All in all it turned out alot better than i though and most people were fairly impressed.Also Sunday was the first day of advent. People here for Advent hang up gifts and you open a gift everyday. With my host family though me and paula get just get slightly bigger gifts on the Sundays(which i think is a really cool thing and i am going to do for my family next year). So this sunday i got a travel book on Berlin since we are going to berlin in a couple weeks.
Also on Saturday i think i am going to go to Frankfurt with Luca and Nicholas where we are going to meet another exchange student. And me and luca are going to get our christmas shopping done.
Tchüss!

Just a few pics...

2008-11-26T09:17:00.000-08:00

SNOW, SNOW, SNOW!

2008-11-22T05:20:00.001-08:00

Well if you couldnt tell by the title of this post then i will write it out for you- yesterday we got the first snow of the season. I was in VHS for my Deutsch course when all the sudden Lizbeth(exchange student from Mexico) yells SCHNIET! which means snow in german. So i look out the window and it was snowing. I havnt been this excited and truly gidy in a very long time. I was bouncing in my chair like a three year old begging the teacher to let me go outside. Then it stopped snowing and i got made because i didnt get the chance to go outside. But then when i was walking home it started to snow again. And it has been snowing all day today. Anyway yesterday was friday. After german course i came home and then at about 6:30 i went out to dinner with my host family. We went to an italian resturant and i had a really good pizza calozone thing. We also had tiramisu which was really good. Then i met Luca and went with her to get a Döner. While we were in there a friend of mine from school named Lisa walked by and when she saw me she came in to say hi. She was sincerely happy to see me and it was really nice to know that i might actually be making friends in school. Then at 8 we went and met Nicholas(brazil) and went to a pub. We stayed there a little past eleven and then left. When we went outside there was snow everywhere and we all got really excited. We tryed taking pictures with my camera but it is dead and with my laptop being dead i cant charge it so im pretty upset that i dont have pics of the snow yet. Anyway so we all started playing in the snow and throwing snow at eachother. When we were finally done i couldnt feel my hands and it stung so bad. Then me and Luca walked to the bus station(i slept at her house last night). We waited there and no busses were coming but there was alot of people there. Finally a bus came but that bus didnt go to where Luca lived. But then a girl came up to us and told us in english that no busses that go to Wehrda were coming anytime soon because of the snow. So then me and Luca had to take a taxi but it all turned out ok.
Today i watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding with Luca and the came home. I did some homework and now and on the computer. But most importantly it is still snowing! Then tonight my host family and I are going over to their friends house for this winter dinner thing where there is an oven or something in the center of the table and you cook it there. And its usually done in the winter because people like the warmth from the oven. Then tomarrow I am going to practice ballet and get some sleep and probably read. Speaking of ballet. So i really hated the place i was dancing here because it was too easy, the class was really late at night, and it just made me feel homesick. So now i am doing my own classes here and then i am looking into going to Frankfurt every now and then for a good class.
What else is new...So tuesday AFS had there anuall Bar meeing. It was fun but alot of exchange students couldnt come this time so it was slightly more boring. This time though there were alot of what AFS Germany calls Hopies there. There are the kids who are trying to get on the 09-10 year. Surprisingly all the hopies are trying to go to the USA. Then the next meeting is cancelled because instead we are having a christmas party so that should be fun. Now much else to report about this week. Oh, i did find out that over easter vacation me and my host family are going to either Madrid, Sicily, or Istambul. So when i come back to the USA i will have been to four countries in Europe this year: Germany(obviously), France(Paris trip with AFS), Austria or Switzerland(over winter break), and then one of those three countries i just mentioned.
Hope you all are doing well.
Tchüss!

I Cant Believe Its already Mid November

2008-11-16T03:47:00.000-08:00

Where to start...
First I will start with a very embarrasing story.
So im in a small store similar to Rite Aid buying these gingerbread cover in chocolate cookie kind of things. The cookies were at the end of the asile so im blocking the pathway but theres no one in the store anyway. One of the people who work there suddenly come over there with a big box that she sets down about four feet from me. She said something to me but i didnt really hear so i didnt know what to say. So i just figured she was asking me if i was looking for something. So i said "ummmmm...nein" or ummmm...no. and she just glared at me. Thats when i realized she had asked if i could move for a minute so that she could get the box though. So then i just started saying that i was so sorry but she just glared and left.
I think i have found some good friends in my class. This week everyone in my class seems more open to me. Like when i see them in the city outside of school they will talk and say hi to me. However i still havnt really found a set group of friends to hang out with during the pauses or what we call breaks. This is because my better friends in my class hang out with different people during the breaks and so i dont really know if they mind me coming with them or not.
As far as the learning part of school goes I am completely lost and its impossible for me to do the homework. But some teachers expect me to do the homework and to write the tests. I wrote my first test last week but it was so bad that the teacher didnt even grade it, luckily it was for Deutsch so it doesnt really matter if i fail. Im really regreting taking Spanish because It is confussing me so much. And when ever i try to write or say something is Spanish it just comes out in German because i cant remember which one is which because neither are my native language. Plus the teacher expects me to know so much more than i do because i have been taking it longer but honestly I dont remember a thing and it is all i can think about right now.
What else...friday was fairly exciting. I started off by going to school and then to German course at the Volkshochschule(which i actually really like because it gives me something to do and i have friends there). Then i was walking home to get ready to meet Luca but she followed me home so i just met her there. Then I got my stuff and we went into the city to meet up with all the other exchange students. To get to the center of the city from my house you have to go under the railroad tracks. But when Luca and I went under a train went over and we started screaming and running around. It was hilarious though. However we went into the city at six and we wernt meeting the others until eight so we had alot of time to kill. We walked around the city and took pics and such. Then we went to backery and then sat outside near the cinema. However shortly after we sat down a huge group of drunk Turkish guys came and sat down next to us and started talking to us. Even though there were a few sober people most of them were completely drunk and were really gross. So we said we were going to go to the bathroom but then didnt go back and instead walked to a different part of the city. There we ran into a guy from my german course from Italy so we talked to him for a bit. But then the Turks showed up agian so the three of us RAN. We just went down these stairs and ended up is some bowlind alley that none of us even knew existed. After a while Luca and I went back to the cinema and the turks were gone and so we waited for the others. Slowly everyone else showed up. Two of the exchange students have been here since January and are leaving in Febuary so we met a bunch or their friends. So a huge group of us hung out and spoke about four different languages. Then I spent the night at Lucas.
Saturday I went home at about one and hung out with Yaska and Paula. We were all really tired because we all had busy nights the last night so we just watched Gilmore Girls and talked. But it was still fun. Then at about 11 Yaska went home and I just went to bed.
So I am having alot of fun but I miss my family SO much.

oops!

2008-11-06T09:55:00.000-08:00

I have so many pics on my camera that it is going to take a long time to download so I will put up pics this weekend. Plus then I will be back from Köln which apparantly is really pretty so that will be better anyway.
Sorry ;(

Two Month Mark!

2008-11-06T09:14:00.001-08:00

So its only been about two weeks since I last posted but I feel like its going to take me forever to catch you all up, but I will try, and now I know not to wait this long to post. I will also see what time it is when im done writing and see if there is enough time for me to download some photos off my camera.
So Since I last posted alot feels like it has happened. So AFS here does alot of outings and such which is nice. Like every couple weeks we all meet at a pub and just talk. But I see the actual exchange students almost every day. Also next weekend my AFS chapter is going to a big city called Köln where we are going to a chocolate museum (have i mentioned Germany has really good chocolate?) I am also going to Köln with my host father and sister this weekend. Where we are going to see the sights and I will also meet some of there family. My sister and I are also going shopping there on Saturday! :) Also speaking of outings, my family is taking me to Berlin the second weekend in December. We were going to go to Munich but my class trip in July is to Munich and they want me to be able to see as much of Germany as possible. And everyone keeps telling me Berlin is better anyway which im actually surprised by.
What else...So I started school. I go to Martin Luther Schule. At first I hated it but now besides the actual work part its not so bad. The students in my class are really starting to open up to me now and so its actually kind of fun. I have become fairly good friends with a girl in my Biology class named Yaska who I walk to school with because she lives next door. I also have made a few other friends in that class. In my class 10d I am also making some friends, some better that others, but its not such a pain to go any more. But i will say that I have ALOT of good exchange student friends now. Not only with AFS but also with Rotary. There was two exchange students at my school but one swiched families and is now in a neighboring area. But I have become good friends with the other one. He is from Brazil and is hilarious. There are also alot of other exchange students from South America and I see them too.
Let me think, so my first weekend Luca and I hung out in the city mostly and just did whatever came to mind. For example: Luca "Im bored" Me "Me too, ya wanna walk to the Castle?" yep thats what life is like here and that is how close the castle is. The next weekend was Halloween, there was a party at a disco for it that Luca and I were thinking of going to but by the time we were going to leave we were too lazy and didnt go. The next day we went and got out hair cut, the place we wanted to go to was booked so we went to this other place. Not a good idea, they turned out horrible and i have never seen Luca so mad. It was really bad.
Basically I go to school then hang out with friends in the city, go to German Course (where there is another exchange student) then go home. The weekends are more exciting and people here like to party and go to discos. Ive had alot to do and havnt been yet but I got invited to a big party next Friday.
Ballet...well at least in Marburg Ballet isnt so big so the schools arnt so great. Im going but I feel like I wont be at the same level i was when i left when i go back. Also the classes are alot shorter and the combinations take alot less effort.
School. Well I dont like the classes because its emarrassing when you cant even understand the simple things, or when you didnt even realize you had homework let alone do it. The kids in my class hate our class master Frau Schmidt. Like today we had two lessons of Physik and she decided to make the math lesson Physik also...result...half the class ditched. Here I only go to school until 1:10 which is really nice. Also because I dont take French, English or Musik I have even less classes. Like on Tuesdays my first class starts at 9:50 where I have Deutsch and then I leave at 11:25. Most days arnt this short but I often have free lessons throughout the day. On friday though I have a full day. Deutsch, Chemistry, two Biology lessons, and then two Spanisch lessons. And because i said I was from San Diego my teacher thinks im fluent so its really embarassing because I cant remember anything. Yesterday with my class I went to a play. It was really funny and the other students really started to accept me. However getting there was not so fun. First off I walked a different way to the center of town and almost got lost. Then I got on the bus that this girl in my class told me to take. On the bus we passed a sign which made me think i was on the wrong bus so i got off embarrisingly after the first stop. Then when i was walking back to the bus stop i passed a bunch of druck teens in an alley. While i passed them i triped the tiniest bit, but of course they all saw. So then they came out and started yelling at me. Then I decided to walk to where i had to go so i crossed the street so that i wouldnt have to pass those kids again. But of course they saw me and came out and yelled at me again. At first i was just embarrased but now im afraid i will see them agian.
Well Christmas is already starting here and the christmas market is coming soon. I have never been so excited and so depressed for christmas. I know though that once christmas is over time will go by fast and I will soon be back home. Being an exchange student is harder than anyone could ever imagine and I wish I could explain it. The best thing i could say is that you feel Bipolar. But on the bright side you will never take your family and friends for granted ever agian. I am having a really good time now but it really helps to hear from you all. Especially mail :) and i am at the moment sending post cards...you should all get one by the end of November! I cant think of what else to write...i have left out alot so let me know what you want me to write about.
Tchüss!

Marbug!

2008-10-21T02:22:00.000-07:00

So I am now in Marburg. My family is really nice, its still a bit awkward but oh well. I live really close to the city and my school is also really close. I am now going to go to Martin Luther Schule and I start tomarrow and I am super nervous. I also start language classes today which is good and bad. Its good because I need to learn the language but its bad because for five weeks, five days a week, for two and half hours I will be in this class. It also means that i can only take one ballet class a week and it is not even the class that does pointe.
I hung out with Luca and a guy from Brazil yesterday and that way really fun. We basically just walked around but its good to see people you know and Marburg is really cool and pretty. Tonight I have an AFS gathering so I will get to meet the other AFSers in Marburg...although i have already ran into a few in town when i was with Luca.
In a couple weeks my AFS chapter is going to some place in Germany for the weekend so that should be fun. Then at the begginging of November some time I am going with my host sister and host father to visit his mother and a city called Cologne(i think). Then in December my host family is taking me to Munich to go to the christmas markets. Then the last week of my three week winter vacation I am going skiing i think. They said the past two years they have gone to Austria but they are not sure where we will go this year. Anyway, I am on a time crunch so I dont know if i have wrote everything i would liked too so if you have anything you want to hear about write a comment. Much love, Melanie

Banzhoff Family

2008-10-16T09:19:00.000-07:00

Angelika (Host Mom), Paula (13, host sister), Norbert (Host Dad), Sofia (16, Host Sister...but is in the US on exchange).

Late Orientation Camp!

2008-10-13T08:29:00.001-07:00

This past weekend I had my late orientation camp in Rostock. I left my train at about twelve thirty and arrived later that afternoon. When I got to the train station most of the people were already there and so I didnt have to wait long. There were many people from my train from Frankfurt but I also met some new people. Then we all headed to the hostel where we met everyone else...although most people arrived by train. We were organized into groups of three or so for our rooms. I had two room mates; Biana from Italy, and Dasha from Russia. Everyone at the camp was very nice and it was fun to meet people from all over the world. We had people from South America, Asia, Europe, and North America. It was really good to talk to people and finally feel like you have friends, because it is very hard to make friends in Germany. I especially feel very lonely right now because I am with a temporary family so I feel like my life is on hold. But I go to Marburg in four days so that is very exciting. The first thing we did at the camp was an energizer(AFS Germany loves energizers which are games similar to ice breakers to wake you up, and they are very embarrasing) Then we had our first workshop, however I do not remember what it was about. Then we had dinner...which was of course meat and potatoes. Then we had another workshop where we talked about how being an exchange student can be hard. They also gave us a book called The Little Prince, but in Deutsch. After that we were free to go. We all walked to the city. Then when we got back we hung out in one of the bigger rooms and listened to music. After a while though that got boring and so we watched Eurotrip on someones laptop. The next morning we got up at seven thirty and then had breakfast at eight...guess what we had...you guessed right if you said bread. haha. Then we did an energizer! Then based on where you were from we split up into groups. I was in the Europe\USA group. We talked about cultural differences, school, and communication. After that we had lunch. But me, Tereza(Czech Republik) and Federico(Italy) were hungry for real food so some of us went into the city to get food. But we were short on time so we just stopped at the first place we saw and got cake. We hurried back and just made it in time for the next activity. We went to the beach and AFS split us up into groups. I was with Camilo(Columbia), Mickael(Switzerland), and Suran(Thailand). We were given a piece of paper with tasks for us to complete. Basically it was a scavenger hunt for us to see the city. It didnt take long so we just walked around the city and got some food. It was really fun though and we met up with some of the other groups too. Then that evening we had more workshops, one being about sex and hygene. We had to practive putting a condom on a banana. Then we had dinner which was a little better that the night before. After we had a talent show which was really funny because some people did some hilarious skits. My favorite one was a skit about being an exchange student in germany and going to school. The had the students constantly blowing their noses and drinking water. Then we played Mafia which was especially funny because of the Italians. I was killed once and was a Mafioso the next time. After all the AFS activities we all went upstairs and decided to beg AFS for food. So they got us chips, pretzels, and candy. We stayed up until about 2:30 talking which was really fun. The next day we got up and cleaned our rooms after breakfast. We went outside to do an energizer. During the energizer I heard laughing from behind, I turned around and it was the Pünner family. It really freaked me out but turned out alright. They were there because they have a new exchange student so they were there to pick him up. Then we had another workshop about rules...that was tons of fun. We also wrote letters to ourselves which we will get back at our end of stay camp. I hope I still get mine even though I will be in MARBURG!! Afterwords we had lunch. A few people left at lunch time but most of us were riding the train so we went to the beach...where many people go nude, which I really dont understand because it is so cold. Then the train people left and headed for the train station...I did not make my train so I had to take a later one. But this was good because I got to ride the same train as Tereza and I got to hang out with everyone longer. Well overall the camp was really fun because it is fun to hang out with all the exchange students. Now it is monday evening. I got a little teary eyed at school today because I have all this time to think and it is just really boring. I really want to just get to Marburg now but I know that I only have a few days left and I just need to keep reminding myself that. I am really excited to get to Marburg and finally settle down.

NEW HOST FAMILY!!!

2008-10-07T11:12:00.000-07:00

So first I checked my email and I was sent the application from my new host family in Marburg. Their last name is Banzhoff. The mothers name is Angelika and the Fathers name is Norbert. The mother likes walking, going to the gym, reading, and spending time with friends and family. The father likes biking, running, reading, and also spending time with friends and family. Angelike works at the Saftey Department of Novartis Vaccines and Norbert works in Famiy Medicine at the University. They have two daughters. Their oldest daughter, Sofia, is Sixteen but is on exchange in Buffalo, NY. I will meet her a few weeks before I leave. Their youngest daughter, Paula, is thirteen. She likes horseback riding, and has regular practices. She plays the Trombone and is now learning the Guitar. In her free time she likes shopping and reading. Paula is also getting confirmed this year. Their family is protestant but is not a huge role in their lives. On their application they said they would be willing to take a student who is a vegetarian, however I do not know if they are vegetarian...we will see. I will go to Gymnasium Philippinum which is right across the street from Lucas school. I am really glad to not be in the same class as a sibling because it makes you reley on them and is harder to make friends. Because you always have to do things with their friends and follow them around. I will bike to school but since my family lives in the center of the city is not a long ride.

So then once I was done reading their form and google earthing their home I got an email from the host mom. She said that they were excited to meet me and that she had reserched the train schedule for the eighteenth. There is a non stop train from Schwerin to Marburg and I will get to Marburg at four thirty in the afternoon. So later I will contact them and we will figure that out.

This weekend I also have Late Orientation Camp. This should help the time pass faster and should also be fun. I like to see all the other exchange students and I will get to see alot of the people who were on the train with me. I will also get to see Tereza again who is really nice. Well when I get back I will talk about that. And when I get to Marburg I will get some pictures up here.

One Month Mark

2008-10-04T07:12:00.000-07:00

I know that I just posted yesterday but i think it is nessasary that i have a post that marks every month. So today i havnt done too much. I got up had breakfast, vacumed, had lunch, took a nap, took care of some misilaneous things, had waffles with helen, and now i am writing this. Helen and I are babysiting her little brother, who is tired, so things are pretty relaxed right now. Yesterday I did some research on Marburg and it made me very excited. Marburg is a town with a ton of schools, and a very good university. So therefore there are alot of students. Marburg is modern in some parts and then a scene from a fairy tale in other parts. It is actually apart of the Fairy tale road in Germany. Brothers Grimm wrote their fairytales there, and the castle is based on the story or something. There is so much to do there and i just cant wait. Marburg is also know for all the outdoor stairs on the roads and such. Aparently there are more stairs outdoors than indoors. I cant wait to go and i know i am going to be very busy. I already have some plans. First off me and Luca want to go shopping and just wander around the city and such. We also are going to have a joint thanksgiving at her house, where we cook all the traditional thanksgiving dishes. I have also been invited to go to Lucas Grandmas house over easter break...who apparantly is a really good baker. On top of all that I want to dance maybe two or three times a week. I am thinking about doing ballet and modern dance. Well, I am getting really excited and once this week starts I think things will go faster because I will have school during the day. The only bad news I have is that my iPod barely last a half hour now and I really could use some boots. Everyone hear wears boots, I looking forward to getting my uggs because it is so cold but I really want to save some money to get some black ones because they would go with more of my outfits.

I wish time went faster

2008-10-03T08:18:00.000-07:00

So its been a week since my last post (i think). And alot has happened. First off I am officially going to Marburg on the 18th of october. However not to the family i mentioned in my earlier posts. The other family couldnt take me but thats ok. I dont really know anything about the new family, i know their last name is Banzhoff and that they live in the center of Marburg...but thats it, i was told they would contact me so ill know more later i guess. Oh, and i know that they are with AFS. Im really exctied and cant wait to see Luca. This week I went to school with Helen(the daughter of the Schwerin family). She is in a special class for music so everyone in her class either plays an instrument or sings. And the choir was in France for a tour so the class was really small. However i only went monday, tuesday, and wednesday because we had thursday and friday off. Because today (friday) is the day when west and east germany unified. Thursday I went shopping and it was really fun. Then i played pool for a little bit with Helens friends. Then we went to a pub. However at the pub i was really hungry and when i finally ordered something to eat everyone else was ready to leave so i felt kind of bad. Today I havnt done much. Im not sure what else im doing this weekend, except tomarrow I have to babysit their son, and I am going to skype my parents. I am looking forward to next weekend because then i will be really close to going to Marburg. Plus there is a chance that i could have Orientation camp next weekend. Im not sure though because next weekend is when i was supposed to have it but i dont know if my change in location has changed that. I cant think of anything else to write so leave comments telling me what you want to hear about. Ciao

Alot can happen in one day

2008-09-26T10:17:00.000-07:00

Thursday was quite an exciting day. First at school my last two lessons were instead spent learning about AIDs. It was interesting. There were posters everywhere with food wearing condoms. Then we had to play charades. Luckily since i didnt know what the cards meant they gave me one that had an english word in it and then i had to act it out. Where as everyone else had to do what the cards said...things like 'safe sex' or 'blow job'....how awkward....all i had to act out was 'cool'
So on thursday i got a call from AFS. Helmut had called them earlier that day complaining about me. She then called me and told me this, although im still not really sure what he was upset about. But i apologized anyway for not being as open to them as they wanted me to be. Everything turned out ok though.
Then later that evening I got another call from AFS telling me to pack my bags because the next morning at nine am i was to leave to go stay with a temperary family for a few days. So thats where i am now. They told me that I would be here for three days or until thursday i think. While they interview the family in Marburg...their last name is Brazel. So the earliest i could leave is Monday and that is really exciting, i hope they interview the family fast so that i can leave as soon as possible. In the meantime i am staying with a temperary family in a place called Schwerin. They are all really nice. The mom works at a club and she took me there today. It was really cool because in the bar everychair is different and they are all really crazy...my favorite was a monkey. There are two kids, a daughter named Helen who is 15 and really nice. She plays alot of intruments. They also have a son who is in kindergarten (which is like preschool in the US). He keeps bringing me books and telling me what is in the pictures...its good though because it teaches me a little german. The two kids have a father but i am not sure if he is married to the mother or not because she refers to them as 'the childrens father' or 'my man friend'. My guess is they just arnt married. Anyway i got to see the city today and it was really pretty. Im about to kill myself for not having my camera but i know i will be going again tomarrow so i will bring it then and take pics. Unfortunatly i can not put up pictures until i get some internet access on my laptop so i will have to wait untill i get to Marburg.
So overall im really happy to be out of the Pünners house and am really close to being in Marburg, and so therefore SUPER EXCITED!!!

Im so excited!!

2008-09-23T10:40:00.000-07:00

So I my friend Luca who is an exchange student from the US in Germany too found me some great families. I contacted AFS and it looks like it is really going to happen and that they are going to let me go to her area even though it is in a different part of Germany than I was assigned. The city is called Marburg and it is in Hessen. Hessen is right in the middle of Germany and is alot more developed than the east is. I am getting very excited and cant wait to go. The family who AFS is contacting first would be really great, I only know their daughter through Luca but she seems really cool. Her name is Hannah Brazel, in her family she has a mom and dad and then a brother, but he is in New Zealand on exchange. Everyone keep your fingers crossed that this works out and soon.
So now that im in a better mood i will tell you a little bit about what i have been up to. So my first week at school, Gymnasium Am Sonnenkamp, was ok but very confussing because the classes always change and some are cancelled and i never know what class i have. However on that friday i went to a Concentration Camp. It was very spooky and was really amazing to see. The part that hit me the most was when we saw the crematoriums because there is still ash on the ground and your right in front of something that burned millions of people. It was an experience i will never forget, the only way it could have been better would be if i could have understood the tour guide.
My second week of school was very boring and that week was very hard for me because i was having a roller coaster ride of emotions. So it was very hard for me to concentrate in class becasue my mind was busy thinking of what to write in my emails. Now i am in my third week and unfortunatly Gym is not cancelled tomarrow like it was last week. But i guess thats ok since i cant go to dance anymore until i swich host families so i could use the exercise. I am hoping that this is my last week at this school and that i am able to move this weekend or next week.
What else should i write...mmmm...I love bakeries! If i go with this new family my school will have spanish so i can get some language credits. I almost got attacked by a swan. A fly died in my hair yesterday. It is super cold. Luca is my Hero! Well if you have any questions or have something you want me to write about write me a comment, email me, or send me a message on facebook.
xoxo Melanie

What is going on

2008-09-22T07:47:00.000-07:00

Well...last week i started dancing. The first school was really bad and i dont know if we even did three combinations. The second one was better but still not great. It was weird though because the teacher read the combinations out of a book and out of the five of us only three were able to do any of them. Two of the girls had not stanama and were complaining the entire time.
School, right now I attend Gymnasium Am Sonnenkamp and I dont really like school that much. I never know where to go because the schedule changes randomly and sometimes some of your classes are just cancelled because the teacher is sick or just not there. They have random twenty minute or so breaks where you stand outside and freeze to death. The only class i understand is english so all the other classes are boring and make me feel completely stupid.
Two days ago on Saturday i had my survival camp where they just told us some stuff then we pretty much talked the rest of the time and asked questions. It was good though because I got to see this girl named Tereza who i met on the train agian, she is from the Czech Republic. Then on sunday i had a meeting with my host family, someone from AFS, my liason and his dad. At the meeting we discussed why i wanted to change familes and so know i am changing families. However they have to find a family first and it could take anywhere from a couple of days to a couple of weeks. However if i have to wait a couple of weeks i know i will become very sad because already the waiting is making me want to come home even more. I am trying to stay strong and stick it out but it so hard when you dont have any friends to talk to and you feel uncomfortable... I hope this goes fast and I hope i end up in a bigger town or city. Well I dont have much else to say except that i am trying really hard but it still sucks.

well i cant think of a title for this.

2008-09-11T12:00:00.000-07:00

So its about nine at night and i thought i would write a post. So I still really want to go home and I am seriously considering it. I have sent my liason an email. I hate how AFS does not talk about homesickness at all during the orientation...so i will tell you: It is like PMS to the extreme. For myself I think that a summer experience would have been a better choice. It is also very hard when you do not know the language because you can not add anything to conversations so it is hard to make friends. Yesterday in geography we were reading about california and i started tearing up just from that. And today in Biology i decided that I would look into going home for real so I am waiting to here what my liason says. Some parts of school are ok, like when I am able to talk to some of the people and feel wanted. I am also looking forward to going to a concentration camp for a field trip tomarrow. Because I am very interested in WWII.
Anyway so my major problem right now is that I seriously do not feel comfortable with my host family. My sibilings are nice and seem to like me, but at the same time they do not really give me any privacy. However my host parents make me feel very uncomfortable. Today I was having Kaffee time with Helmut(the father) and he said that I should call him papa, and the mother mama. I started crying and just said I was homesick but he did not really seem to get it. The smoking is really bothering me and making me get headaches and feel very uncomfortable...I have told my liason this. So until I hear from my liason I have to just stick things out and try to stay calm. I whatched Gilmore Girls on my laptop today but then I had to stop because Helmut said that I needed to practice German. He keeps downloading all these programs to teach me German even though they do not help, he knows I have a software on my laptop but i guess he does not think its good enough, except he has hardly looked at it.

Now I will just tell you some things about Germany:
They listen to American songs all the time, and just listen to like five songs over and over, and the radio plays the same songs all day everyday.
They only drink carbonated water...they drink alot of juice, and they have Kaffee time everyday.
There is little homework and when a teacher is sick or not going to be there they post it the day before and you just dont go to class(no substitutes...like today i had three lessons which may not even be two hours...I was home before twelve and did not even leave the house until nine something. You dont get very much homework and you dont even really do much in a lesson. Everyday you have a different schedule and can be at school for many different amounts of time each day.
THE BUS IS NOT JUST FOR PEOPLE WHO YOU THINK ARE POOR. The bus is a safe place dont be scared. haha.
The food sucks and you have a million pieces of bread a day.
The kids at school know like three languages and are basically fluent.
You eat off of wooden boards.
You use a fork and a knife for everything. and you eat everything on you plate.
In germany it is ok to look at porne even in school...i find this very awkward at times...like someone will sign onto a computer at school and their background is like a naked girl or something, and the teacher doesnt say a word.
You can smoke at school.
Everytime you see someone or leave a place you either hug, kiss, or shake hands and put in the appropriate greeting for the occasion.
Everyone is nice to everyone.
Everyone tries in school.
Gym is hardcore.
Everyone has cute clothes even in this small town. And if they are wearing something ugly they can pull it off or toss on a scarf. I think is might be a law or something...because all girls dye there hair, have side bangs, and a scarf.
They love recycling but i dont know what trash can to use because some of them are not labeled.
Germans love music and juice.
(I will tell you more later).

When I hear back from my liason I will let you know what he says.

I WANNA GO HOME!!!!!!!!!

2008-09-08T03:27:00.000-07:00

So im here now and living with the pünner family. All they drink in germany is sparkeling water and it is disgusting. they eat really filling bread which i dont like and 3.5 percent milk. My town is small but i did see a bigger town today which was pretty. Tomarrow i start school, which should be very difficult.
Now i will tell you how i feel. I want to go home. i would give anything in the world to go home i do not like not having any privacy and i miss my parents so much. the food makes me sick and everytime i have to eat my stomach resists. my host parents smoke alot of tobacco and i seriously never realized how much i hate the smell and how many headaches it would cause. Mom, Dad, if you are reading this please listen and let me come home.

AHH!! I leave San Diego Tomarrow!

2008-09-01T22:48:00.000-07:00

So tomarrow at the crack of dawn I have to get up and catch a plane to Washington DC. Wow this weekend went by too fast. I had a party on Sunday to see people and It was alot of fun and I am glad that mostly everyone was able to make it.
So heres the thing...my Dad and I are going up to DC a few days before my orientation and it will be loads of fun, but...that means I have to say good bye to my mom tomarrow, that is going to be the saddest thing I ever have to do. I have never had to say goodbye to one of the two people that have been in my life forever and in one fail swoop will just not be there anymore for a while. I will prolly cry my heart out so I should remember to where water proof mascara. :'(
On a happier note this is gonna be so much fun and I cant wait until the orientation. I cant wait to meet all the other AFSers and hopefully meet some people who will be near me. I am of course also stoked to get to Germany...even though I am really nervous to meet my host family and go to school especially when I know hardly any German (this should be interesting).
Ohh, one thing I forgot to mention: I HATE PACKING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It took me forever to get everything to fit and be at a resonable weight...and I still have to ship some stuff. I also went against AFS' One bag only rule...I am sorry but it is just impossible. But someone told me that we could bring two bags as long as we paid for it. So heres what I ended up doing: One big bag (and when I say big I mean almost illegally big), a small bag, and a carry on backpack.
Well I am kinda out of stuff to say.
I love you all and will miss you very, very, very much.
btw here is my email: mgruenbaum@sbcglobal.net

Updates...

2008-08-28T22:29:00.000-07:00

So I have less than a week left in California....I leave next tuesday to go to DC where my dad and I are going to tour the city a couple of days before my orientation.
Today my mom and I went shopping from 9:30 in the morining to 6:00 at night. Yes my feet are numb. We bought everything I could need for Germany and more. But I mainly bought a ton of winter clothes seeing as I own none living in San Diego. It was really fun and is one of the last major events before I leave.
Tomarrow and saturday I will have my last ballet and dance classes. Then after ballet friday I am babysitting one last time to earn a little extra spending money. Speaking of money I got my debit card today and my mom and I had to go exchange some dollars for Euros to put money on it. EUROS ARE SO MUCH COOLER AND PRETTIER THAT DOLLARS. I officially love the eure (except how expensive it is) because they are really pretty and they are different sizes. I especially love the coins because they look really valuable and like treasure.
Sunday I am having a going away paarrrtttayy at my house with pretty much everyone I like and all the people my family likes. It should be fun and will give me a chance to say goodbye to everyone. I am sure tears will be shed (especially from my mom).
Monday...The dreaded day where I have to make sure I get everything packed and ready. Not only will I have to be packed but I also have to spend some quality* time with my family...we'll prolly go out to dinner or something and my mom will cry up a lake and a half.
TUESDAY!! The day I get up super early to catch a plane and head off to our nations capital. I also have to say goodbye to my mom, my brother, and my host brother from Brazil. :'(
That will be hard but I am sure once I am touring DC and having fun I will be fine.
Auf Wiedersehen

Host Family!

2008-08-27T12:54:00.000-07:00

In July I recieved my host family from AFS. Since then I have been emailing them alot and I love them all.
I have a Father named Helmut, a Mother named Heike, a Brother who is 16 named Benjamin, and a Sister named Ramona who is 13.
They live in a small town called Nevern which is really close to a city called Neukloster. Neukloster is where my school; Gymnasium Am Sonnenkamp is. I love this town because it is not far from alot of other small cities and some bigger cities like Hamburg.
My family has been really helpful and nice. Some things they have told me about them are....
My parents like nature, gardening, and tending to their animals. My brother likes computers and cars. My sister likes going to the lake, shopping with her friends... My parents told me that their kids have friends over all the time for two to three days or so at a time.
One thing great about germany is the transportation, the buses and trains are always on time and go everywhere throughout Germany and europe. This makes it easy for people to travel on their own and with their friends. I have also heard that in Europe teenagers have alot more freedom than we do in the states....I am looking forward to that.
At first I really wanted to be in a big city like Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, where my house in walking distance of the city. But then I realized it would be too much like my life here in the states and I would not have as such an amazing experience. Also after talking to lots of other exchange students I realized I had an advantage to my new small town life. In a big city they have lots of tourist so I would be nothing new. Whereas in my small town I will be different, people will be more interested in meeting me and helping me (or so ive heard).
So overall Im really excited and super happy with my placement.

What is this Blog about???

2008-08-27T12:47:00.000-07:00

Alright so heres what Im doing...
AFS is a program where students all over the world travel to different countries to immerse themselves in different cultures. You can go for a whole year, a semester, a summer language study, or a summer community service project. This year I am going for a year to Northern Germany.
I leave San Diego September 2nd to go to Washington D.C. On September 4th I meet all the other AFS USA kids going to Germany for an Orientation. Then on the 5th I leave DC to go to Frankfurt, Germany. From there I head to my Host Family.
So in this Blog I will update and describe my experiences in Germany for you all to read.
I will try to update it often but I am not sure how much computer time I will have.