das Ende der Ferien

So, leider (unfortunately), Ferien is overrr.. But I can't say I didn't love it. I visited Kathi last week. Monday-Thursday. It was great. I bought boots, and Kathi and I dressed up like international twins, her clothes were all from Germany and mine were all from the US, and most everything matched, it was cute.

I made it on the train alone! I don't care if anyone else but me wants to celebrate this victory, it was amazing. I mean despite the fact that I almost got off a station early, the un-perks of living in a big city with several stops. And the conductor man talked so fast and over the radio thing is sounded like Charlie Brown's teacher... But somehow I made it, all the way home. Alone. Das wegen, I have a completely different outlook on traveling, and public transportation... I had to handle my luggage alone, yeah okay whatever. It was kinda bad because of my shoulder, but the seriously complicated part was shuffling myself around the U-Bahn to get home from the train. The train was the easy part, the lugging myself all over central station trying to figure out which way was up. Oh that was something. But I Did It.

In response to my previous Sub-Blog: Germany makes me Fat. I'm taking a stand! PS, this is the best example of why I feel this way about Germany and zunehmen...

This is obviously God's gift to man. And who would I be to say no to ice cream...
So anyways, about my stance. I was planning on taking Dance and Swimming, fun easyish ways to stay in shape. WRONG, well right. but TEUER. So after long hard weeks of throwing ideas around I decided offish on swimming. I bought a one piece, seemingly flattering-ish. Goggles, and a cap. I'm set. Today I bought a discount card that gets me 18% (what a weird number) off like a billion different swimmingpools. It's a sweet deal. But OH, this swim cap idea. OHHHHH is this the topic of discussion... First person I told: Pops. Annddddd, man did he find this so funny. He laughed for a solid 3 minutes. And continuted to laugh while explaining why he was so hysterical. "Only Omas wear Swim Caps, with Blumchen drin." hahhaha (only grammas wear swim caps, and they have little flowers all over, and they're PINK!) RUDE. So this has been the haha for the last two weeks. Mir Egal.I want to swim and keep my hair. So I started today, and I think I'm gonna start going to the old lady classes too - i.e H2O Bauch Bein und Po, I mean I'm actually excited... ♥

Here is the main issue I have here. I can't afford to do everything I want, this whole not working thing is killllling me. Stupid as that sounds, I hate not being able to provide for myself, and only being able to ask mom for money is ridic. Sure I knew I couldn't work before I got here, but man. So I'm trying to con ways around this whole, "you-don't-have-a-visa-you-can't-work-here" thing. Because I have friends, and they have connections. I feel like my family thinks I live in a box in America, because whenever they suggest something fun I might like to do, or something I could buy, or may want to buy, I ask "Oh cool,...How much does it cost?" or "Oh! ...Was that expensive?.." It's great.

School tomorrow. GET PUMPED!

Chris comes in 53ish days, for Christmas. Not sure if I've shared that? If not, there's the big news! He's coming for two weeks, and staying with us. Maybe to better his German...? hahahha. I think it's gonna be a funny two weeks. He knows NO German. Hopefully mine will be up to par by then, but who can know.. And I said to my host family that I would just sit there and talk German to everyone, or German to them and English to Chris but not translate. I'm so mean. But really, I'm looking forward to it. They say Christmas is the worst time to have vistors, but I mean, if I'm gonna be homesick anyways, might as well have some relief :]

We were in Lüdbeck last weekend, here's some pictures. We travel so much, since Germany's like the size of Rhode Island, we can do that. I love it.
OHHH and Money♥

Einfach Fotos

It's so beautiful here.



hahaha, funny restaurant name, well if it had another 'g'



first alcohol purchase in germany, for le familie! relax, i'm allowed.



How i'm starting to feel in germany.



How i've been feeling the past 3+ months...

♥♥♥

I'm actually not dead believe it or not...

So much for regularly updating. Kein Lust mehr, i guess. Anyways, How've things been?...

Well, school's alot easier now, mostly because I've taken the liberty to lighten it :] Now, I know just about every time I write here, I've updated my schedule or quit school altogether, but now I'm pretty sure it's as manageable as it's gonna get...
Monday
8-9:30 English
10-11:30 Math
11:30-1:25 Free
1:25-3 Dance
♦♦♦
Tuesday
8-9:30 Religion
10-11:30 Robots
♦♦♦
Wednesday
10-11:30 English
11:50-1:25 Geography
1:25-3:15 German
♦♦♦
Thursday
8-8:45 German(8th grade) *Don't wanna talk about it...*
8:45-10 Free
10-11:30 Robots
♦♦♦
Friday
8-9:30 German
10-11:30 Art
11:50-1:25 Math

So obviously I can't complain. And yes I said I was in 8th grade German, it's so I get a handle on the grammar a little better. But honestly, it's one of my favorite classes, the kids are so nice, and inquisitive. I love it. So school's whatever.

Life. I met with my Betreuerin, YFU (exchange program) counselor. She's awesome, well, she's the co-one, because my other one's old. She's 18. It's great to have a friend my age, and she was in Texas last year for an exchange year, so she's awesome to relate to. We hang out every so often.

I realized why it's been so long since I've written, I had like the Swine Flu a few weeks ago, I was sick for alittle over 10 days and missed 6 days of school. ew. But, I'm all healthy now. Sweet story about being sick though... So I went to the doctor and I was with my host mom. We walked in and there were tons of people in the waiting room, I'm thinkin, DOOOD I don't wanna wait this long, I already feel like my head's going to explode. We give my insurance card to the reception lady - who is busy as all get out because there's only one of her, running everything - and she's was like, OHH you have private insurance? I was like yup, thinking who doesn't... Mind you, most people have government insurance, because that's actually a thing here. And she took me straight back, into the "private insurance room. I was like, how sweet is that?! no waiting just because I supposedly pay more for my insurance...

Another highlight, we went to the Opera as a class sometime two weeks and it was the coolest thing ever. They used no microphones and sounded amazing. I was amazed. That's true talent... I totally wanna go again, maybe even in America. I actually felt like for the first time everyone was on my level, because the opera is sung in Italian, but then at intermission my friends asked if I understood what was going on. And I said, alittle, because I was trying to pay attention to the acting, but of course I didn't understand the language. She was like, oh you couldn't read it either? I said, "READ IT?!" She was like, yeah, the white screen above the stage, it's all translated, what they're singing, into German. AWESOME. That's my life.. Another day as the stupid exchange student. Of course, that was the topic of discussion in class the next day.. whatever. It was trotzdem cool.

My family and I on the 3rd, went to a swimming pool, indoor pool obviously. Well, actually there's a part that goes from inside to outside, I would call it the Hypothermia pool, because I'm in coldish,warmish water, and my hair's FREEZING. But anyways, that's not the weird thing here. So I thought it was interesting at the beach, for people to be topless, and change actually ON the beach. But let me explain to you about German Saunas...
I was there, with pops and lil bit. We walk upstairs, to the Sauna level. We walk into this massive co-ed changing room, there were lots of bags and lots of naked people. Sister and Dad start also undressing, I'm standing there in my swimmingsuit and towel... Talk about culture shock. Then we walk farther to the "naked sitting area" because clothing was obviously optional. I would have taken pictures of this komisch thing, but I would consider that porn of sorts... So we're sitting snacking on pretzels and water, in our towels (me still dressed) and my host dad was like, umm you have to take off your swimsuit in the sauna, or the Bademeister will yell at you. JOY. So I did and put my towel right back on. And it didn't come off till I got weider dressed. Take that Bademeister. Overall interesting. I couldn't help but stare, I think I learned more about the human anatomy then nursing school will ever teach me...

So, now. We're on fall break! 2 Weeks. So solid. I love it. I hung out with friends, got to know the U-Bahn a little better, and next week I'm going to visit my old host family for a few days. YAY!

So now, God's love stories! ♥ Okay so starting with last weekend, beginning of Ferien. I went to church, youth church on Saturday night, thinking it would be like every other night at church and I would have to translate and etc etc. I had my translator with me, my note book, and a german and english bible. Little did I know the big man upstairs had other plans for me. He sent this sa-weet group from Australia called Island Breeze to blizz-ess me. It was so awesome, and all in ENGLISH! Amazing. Answered Prayers, I talked to them alittle after the service and got to know them alittle, great people, travelling all over the world for Jesus. I was so jealous.

Then the following Tuesday, we went to the ReeperBahn to pray for/with prostitutes. If you don't know what the Reeper Bahn is, google it... Anyways, as extreme as it sounds, to pray with prostitutes, and dangerous etc. etc. it was life changing. The stories, the language barrier, it was great. We gave them little snacks and warm drinks and it was great. Inspirational to an extent.

Another Jesus story. As hard as it is to do all my college stuff from here, I gotta. And a few weeks ago, I came across an amazing opportunity to do great things with Jesus next year. The Fuel House. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udMDtzRZVm0) That's the promo video, to give more information. But it's like a sorority, that I've always wanted to be in, but with Christian values. I had to apply from here, and did my interview also online, first time for everything :), and I found out today that I got in. I'm so excited about what God wants to do in my life next year, and in college and on campus in general. I will have 8 roommates, I will hopefully get to know soon. The time change and country differences, are kind of an issue now. But I'm so excited! God does things all around the world, and I think he put me here to realize that.

That's about all for a summary. I think I covered everything, OHHH and I'm coming home earlier than July. minor detail :] Till Later ♥