a Happy Time and a Sad Time.

Soooooo, as some of you may know, I am coming home. The date is not yet final, but I am going to be in America in the next week or so. I'm happy to see everyone I've missed for so long, but sad that I'm gonna have a whole other group of people to miss now.

My birthday was also last week. Thanks for all the birthday wishes and gifts you all sent, that was really sweet. I initially planned a birthday party for Saturday because my birthday was on a Monday, and it just seemed like a good time. Then within the week, we decided to call YFU about an early return date, and they said it would be soon, so we very quickly (two days) turned my birthday party into a 'happy birthday, sorry you're leaving party'. The turn out was pretty good for such short notice. I mean because my shoulder is killing me, I'm not in school a lot, so I was surprised so many people still came, and didn't hate me for missing school.







Ohhh, the party. So, there was maybe 20 people there. The party started at 19 uhr (7 o'clock) and ended at 7! Seven o'clock in the morning is when the last loud loud people left my house, it was great. The only thing that wasn't so good, is that mom and Julia were upstairs trying to sleep, and I can't imagine there's anyway they were able to get that done... Auf jeden fall, the party was a alot of fun and everyone had a good time. It was a good going away party I would say, especially for being planned in 48 hours.

My life has actually been sadly uneventful because of my shoulder, I spend a lot of time at home, doing sudoku puzzles and drinking tea. So there's not a lot to update, I'm doing a lot of last minute, last-things-I-wanted-to-have-before-I-came-home shopping. Trying to stay in some sort of budget, since I am NOT going to be able to get all this stuff home the same way I got it here... This should be fun. I miss all of you, and I'll see you soon.♥

Update: Frohes Neues, Winter Wonderland

Alrrright, so, dear everyone who's been keeping track, sorry I suck at updating this blog. I think this happens to everyone with a blog-statistic from another exchange student- but trotzdem, Happy New Year (Frohes Neues Jahr) and Merry Christmas...

So, what's happened since last time? Well, the Countdown to Chris is now alot bigger than it was. aka, he's came and gone, sorry you missed him. It was arguably the best two weeks I've had in Germany. I've missed him so much. We went to Bayern and Nürnberg and saw the most beautiful winter scene I've ever seen outside of a Bob Ross painting. It was gorgeous. For cold weather, I loved it. The first day in Nürnberg, it was super cold and I got sick, so that made for a not-so-fun next few days, I was really stuffy and the weather wasn't doing anything for me. But we still had fun. We stayed in a Ferienwohnung, which is normally something like an apartment that you can rent for the time that you're on vacation, but for us, we had a house that on the top top floor was like a flat, with two bedrooms, a kitchen, and a living room area, and Chris and I had a separate hotel like suite. The house atmosphere was really nice.

Florin went skiing everyday that we were in Bayern, Chris and I tried snow-shoeing. I say tried because, although he may disagree, I was sick, and the whole experience for me was miserable. We got halfway up the hill and I quit, not planned, but going up where people have a hard time breathing anyways and being stuffy wasn't my game. So we went for a walk somewhere else with dad and Julia, while mom took care of gramma who's about to turn 90 in February.




The Christmas holiday was awesome. I got alot of warm socks from my American and German families, that was wonderful. I am SO much warmer :]. Oh, and P.S. thanks for any of you that sent me greeting/Christmas cards. That was so awesome to get mail! I actually had my host family beat as far as receiving Christmas cards, and thanks to those of you who sent a special one for them, that was sweet... and alot of work for me to translate :] On the note of Christmas, thanks again to everyone that participated in my Christmas video from Chris, that was the best Christmas present he, and any of you could have given. It was a nice reminder of everyone at home that I've been away from for six months now.

This also marks the half-a-year point for me, which is an accomplishment in itself. Comparing myself to who and how I was when I got here, I've learned and grown a lot from this experience, and I can definitely say this time was not wasted. I have a wonderful family here, and some pretty cool friends, and another place to call home, and I feel really lucky for that.

While Chris was here, he bonded with the whole family. That made his vacation here, that much nicer. He left me quite a few times to go hangout with dad, and ride bikes, as expected. He played games with the family, like we always do, and tried to school Florin in Wii MarioKart, but it so didn't happen. My family misses him almost as much as I do. Florin says he has a new brother in America. I thought that was cool. Chris also got to meet all the "extended" family, aka dad's siblings and niece and nephews. We played a game like Bad Santa, and Chris and I totally won a Sandwich Maker, which he took back to America with him, and it's waiting for me :].

Schulter Update: I would like a new shoulder for my birthday. If anyone finds one, that would be great; I would start looking on eBay. My shoulder is getting in the way of me having fun quite a bit, I never really thought it would actually get any worse. But don't worry your little hearts, I'm not dying, nothing some Tylenol can't fix, more than anything it's just annoying. It could end up being the reason I would come home early, but I'm just not so sure yet. We're going to see an Orthopedic doctor here sometime this week or so, auf jeden Fall, before my birthday. Speaking of birthday, I'm getting excited to plan my party. Doin' it up German-Style for the big 1-9. I feel like a gramma. Everyone in my class is like, wow, you're old. Thanks guys. That's helpful.

Silvestre. New Years was a blast. A very bittersweet day, because Chris went home early that morning. There were some tears until the party here, and everyone tried their best to cheer me up. We had about a good 60-70 people in our house! And I promise you, we live in no kind of palace. In the basement, we had the "teen party", with Florin and a bunch of kids from my class. It was lots of fun. There were fireworks in the streets at midnight. That was crazy. And when I say in the streets in mean like right outside of our house, like, things that are illegal in Illinois for sure. Boom Boom fireworks, not just sparklers. It was awesome, and cold.

The thing that's still killing me about this breathtaking cold weather, and I mean breathtaking in the worst way possible, its just cold, is that I never really know what temperature it is. For example, in the morning before I go to school mom tells me, oh Bri, it's -5 degrees, maybe you should put on warmer shoes. And I freak out. NEGATIVE FIVE?! Then I'm like, wait, noooo, it's like 20 something. I'm alright. This is the difference between America and the rest of the world. Literally. And if you having caught on, I'm talking about the difference between Celsius and Fahrenheit, and for those of you that are like, "OHHH, I get it now," you need to be more cultured.

So December has been, Chillen in the Alps, Celebrating Christmas (get it? Chris-tmas, cause Chris was here, oh I'm funny) with my boyfriend and family, and starting the new year with the biggest celebration I've seen here. Not bad. I miss you all so so much, and I'll be home soon. ♥

U-Bahn, S-Bahn, Bus...?!

I understand German Public Transportation! This really almost requires its own special blog, because it's such a big deal. But I mean I am the DB/HVV Queen, just for the record.

Today I helped the 8th graders get back to school, or to their station from the Theater in Altona. It was wonderful. I actually knew what I was talking about :]

Oh and the theater today was good too. We went to see Die Welle in a private theater. They did a good job.

Other than that I didn't have much else to say except, that I feel very accomplished because I know which way is up around here these days ♥

Halloween. Weihnachten. Thanksgiving. Xavie?!

So, I've missed quite alot. I figured there wasn't a whole lot going on, so what's to write about...? Yeah, Wrong. Alot happens end of October, November, and beginning of December. Especially if you happen to be an exchange student...

SO:

End of October

Halloween. We (Florin and I) went to a bowling thing through YFU, with all the other exchange students and siblings. Afterwards, My co-betreuerin, Nicola came over and hung out for a bit. Pretty Sweet.






November

I've started swimming. Like for exercise, Sport, and things. I figured it would be the lightest thing for my shoulder, but actually now, I'm not able to do much of anything anymore because I'm shoulder is all falling apart at the seems, which is pretty sweet. We're doing alot a praying, let's just leave it at that.

As far as school, I'm doing alot more the with 8th grade German class, because quite honestly it's my favorite class, the kids are super inquisitive and funny, and I just get more out of the class, as far as learning German. I am able to participate in class, and do the homework and everything. It's a good feeling. We're going to see Die Welle in the theater on Friday and some Christmas thing next Wednesday. That should be fun.

I also met with other exchange students a few weeks ago, from all over the place. We initially met at the YFU Fall Seminar, they are from all over the world, thus we have to speak German to each other because our native languages are all different. We speak such broken German, but in any case it's funny, and challenging. We all exchanged cell phone and home phone numbers, and facebook addresses and we keep in contact with each other and meet up every once in a while. The other students I usually see are from: Georgia (the country not the state), Finland, Sweden, Columbia, Mexico,and Belgium. So it's sweet to compare with all my international friends, how things are in their home countries.

I visited the Hamburger Dom and went ice skating a few weeks ago too with some friends from school, one of which was an exchange student last year, in Oklahoma, I get alot of funny stories from him to, about the differences between Oklahoma and Illinois and Germany.

So ice skating. SUCH a joke! ahhah, it was so funny. I was so slow, and we were outside, and it rained alittle bit... Alot different then ice skating at the Coliseum to say the least :] But it was still lots of fun, expensive, but fun.

The middle of November, I with my Host-Aunt to work. She works at an elementary school for kids with physical and mental handicaps, in the 2nd grade. It was such an eye-opening experience, and lots of fun. It was challenging though, because the kids obviously, well most of them, talk funny, and they speak German. So I had to try really hard to understand them, because they don't understand why I wouldn't be able to understand them. That was quite the challenge, super sweet kids though. At one point, we tried to explain that I was an exchange student from America, and etc etc, and one of the kids asked, "Well, where is America?" That was the highlight of my day for sure.

COOKING! So, one time in November for dinner, I made "American Breakfast for Dinner". French Toast and eggs. Now this doesn't sound all the complicated, but the problem always is: How do I cook for 5 people? and Are they going to absolutely hate it? Success #1. They loved it. Cooking Success #2: Thanksgiving Dinner! Mom sent me recipes, and I made it a success! That was definitely a big accomplishment. And my family loved it alot, that was wonderful. I made Turkey, Mashed Potatoes, Yams with Marshmellows, Gravy, and Baked Macaroni and Cheese Express. Express because, in Germany they do not have Velveeta, and that is the main ingredient in Baked Mac n Cheese, thus making it nearly impossible to make it. So, I bought two Kraft Mac n Cheese boxes and called it half done, then put it in a casserole dish, and baked the top like regular baked macaroni and cheese. We made it work ♥. So that was great.

Last week, I met with my regular betreuerin and her daughter Nina last weekend and we baked Plätchen, basically oatmeal-like cookies, and then I went to the ReeperBahn and the Dom with Nina and Nina's friend, Hanna. It was really fun. On our way home, we stopped into two clubs, it was so crazy, since obviously I've never been to anything like that before. And they checked my ID and everything. I felt legit.

December

Now, for the biggest news basically of anything. CONCERT YESTERDAY! I got to see Xavier Naidoo in concert! Alles kann besser werden Tour 2009 in Hamburg Color Line Arena. It was amazinnnnng! I never thought I would be able to see him in concert, 1. b/c he plays normally just in Germany or Europe and 2. b/c it's ridiculous expensive. But, Gramma and Mom gave me money so I could buy the ticket, and that was basically the best Christmas present ever. I was so happy. And the concert was great, we had to stand the whole time, because that's the tickets that we bought, but that way, we got closer to the stage. I went with a friend from school, and her sister. I bought like one of everything there was to buy. But I'm allowed to do that, it's Christmas ;]





Countdown to Chris: 15 Days.

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 ♥