Prepare yourself

so Everyone be prepared for alot of blogs coming your way. My original plan was to write about everything I did in one blog once this week was over but now I dont think I will be able to fit everything into on blog so I will be writing them as I expierence them which means ALOT of blogs for you... I will hopefully also post alot of photos so everyone can see what I was doing and when.

so Be prepared

Karneval

Karneval is a huge fest here in Germany. It's like Halloween except that it lasts all week, you get free beer, you dance in the street, you have parades, and you go to parties... all in your costume. Everyone is suprised that we dont know what Karneval is in America but than again some people dont even know about karneval in germany. All I can say is that I cant wait for tomorrow to start. Ever since I first got here people asked me if I was going to be here for Karneval and they would tell me all the great things about it... the only bad thing I have heard about it is that everyone gets sick, well i think ill take my chances. A month ago I was already purchansing things for my costume. I bet everyone can guess what I am going as... yeah a Cowgirl. I even have a little pistol that goes with it :D.

Today going to school I was a little sceptic because Karneval is tomorrow and I still had no idea what I was going to do for it.. but as soon as I went out for break and joined the 11th class I started getting invitations to everywhere. Such as tomorrow I am going to a party, friday i was invited to go clubbing ( which is pretty normal for a friday now a days :D ) saturday I am meeting up with the exchange students in Koln which is known to be the biggest for Karnval and than later that night I am going to a party in a little dorf ( village ) Sunday I get my break where I can sleep and re-fuel for the next days where I am going to see the little parades.. which really arent a huge parade fest but more of a little train that runs through and throws out candy. Tuesday I am meeting up with freinds and going to the parade in another town, and than wendesday I can sleep before going back to school on Thursday.. So I guess you can say I am going to be pretty busy but having all those plans made in just one day is pretty good.. and not to mention all the other people who wanted my phone number so they could call me when something else came up and they want me to come :D. I wish I could show you pictures now of Karneval but I havent really expiernced it yet. I am pretty glad I have the family that I do now because my host mom is giving me the run down on all the songs in Karneval that I should learn how to sing. Its alot of fun sitting in the kitchen trying to sing these songs though but I'm pretty sure after this week I will have them all down to the point where I can sing it off the top of my head without even thinking.

Today also in school I was able to see the princess of Karneval for this year in Rheinbach. Its amazing how nice some of the costumes are... they really go all out here on what to wear. It will definatly be somehting I will have never seen or expierenced yet.

Da simmer dabei das ist prima, Viva Colonia. Wir lieben das Leben, die Liebe und die Lust, wir glauben an den lieben Gott und haben auch immer Durst.--- try singing that 5 times really fast.

I'm Not Alone

The whole time I have been here I have been alone... no not meaning I have no friends, or family ect... or people who care, I mean alone as in the only exchange student in my school. Alot of people dont realize how out of place they would feel if they were the only one of something in their enviroment. Although I have people do talk to in school, I still felt alone... because they would never understand on the same level what I am going through. Even past exchange students cant help you because this is a differnt culture to you, and the culture they went to was also differnt. Sure they can share some of the same difficulties but they are all at differnt levels.

But I am not alone anymore :D

I went to school on Monday and expecting a normal day, go to class do homework in the class, go to pauses talk, go to the caffeteria back to class, back to pause, than home. Monday was differnt though.. some of my friends were asking each other questions such as who is he? where is he from? where is he now? I of coursed ask who... they told me there was a new exchange student. I was so happy I quickly set out to search for this person. I kept on thinking maybe hes only here for a week, but still I persisted on finding him. I had no luck finding him on Monday, and I tried again on Tuesday... with still no luck. Than someone told me hey there are two exchange students, at first I thought that they were talking about me but than my friend said that another exchange student is here.... I thought to myself MAN I HAVE TO FIND THEM.. Finaly on wendesday i got my break, I noticed a guy whom i never seen before standing with some people from the 11th class, they go into the cafeteria and I follow...( yeah I guess I was kind of being a stalker), I saw him in the line and tapped him on the shoulder and asked if he was an exchange student. I was half embarrased for asking a random person because if he wasnt an exchange student he might be offended but luckly i tapped the right person. I almost jumped I was so happy, than he points to another guy next to him and says hes an exchange student too. Than I noticed something Oh their talking in english, I almost jumped again.

I get to speak alot of english with Margy and Clint but other than that I really cant have a full conversation with anyone else. The first guy began to tell me who he was and where he was from. His name is Jordan and He comes from New Zeland, and the other guy said in a spanish accent that his name is Filipe and hes from Columbia. This was their first week here so I knew they really didnt know what to expect so I tried filling them in on as much as I could in 5 minutes. I may have been a little to forward but now thinking back on it I would of loved someone coming up to me the first week and talking to me about some of the things that are going on and just get a better feel of being an exchange student.

Its so nice to finally have another exchange student in my school so that when I really just want to have a nice long convorsation I can go and talk to them, its a little hard talking to Filipe because he speaks spanish ( which I am now regretting that I never rememberd) but he speaks pretty good english I just feel bad because I know I like it when I get to speak english because sometimes I just get so sick of speaking in german somedays because it takes alot of effort sometimes but at least people here can speak some english but not alot can speak any spanish. Jordan speaks really proper english so I can have a conversation with him. I know that it may seem like its not a big thing for alot of people having another exchange student with them but sometimes it a little refreshing knowing that there are other people in your school knowing exactly how it is an feels. I am pretty happy that I am not alone in school anymore ( exchange student wise) and I really hope that I can give them a good start in their exchange.

This Weekend

So alot has gone on this week and this weekend. First Clint the other american fell down some stairs running to catch the train. He has a pretty deep cut that should of had stiches but now he just has butterflies on it. He thought the problem was the cut because didnt have alot of feeling in his leg... but three doctors later he found out he tore his legeiment in his leg. But in his words its okay... he made the train. That same day that he got hurt all of us went to a basketball game.

Now I thought fans were crazy in america but you have no idea how they are here. They were singing standing and yelling the whole game, and basketball is not even a big sport here. It was a really good expierence going to a basketball game though because I have never been to a basketball game except for high school ones.

Than comes friday and we have a rotary meeting. I got to see the biggest satelite dish, that sends and recieves imagines from the stalites...This thing was huge... of course i asked if it were hooked up to a T.V would I get every channel... I know I know how american but if you saw this dish you would of asked the same thing. The Rotary meeting was pretty boring up until that part, and after it was too, but I understand why Rotary takes us to these things so we can get a better understanding of the world... but I wish sometimes they would bring us to places we actually want to go.

So Saturday rolls around and we hang out with Maxell a kid who just came back from Nebraska. He lived in Beatrice im not sure if i spelt that right, and his favorite things about nebraska were..... the guns. I had to laugh because I forgot that they arent here, and he said its the best thign ever because no one tries to jump anyone because even the smallest person can have a gun, and he said that the houses didnt need to be locked because of guns, and the people were more happy and welcoming because they had guns... i dont know exactly what guns have to do with it, but I do know people are more welcoming to forgeiners in america than they are here. Than we went to a small party where we watched some horror movies. Normally I am not one for horror movies but I couldent understand the movie at all so it was actually not even scary I never realized that the reason horror movies are so scary is because you can understand what is going to happen, and relate to it, so that was a new discovery so next time when i watch a scary movie in america ill just not even try to understand the plot of anything about the movie and than it wont be scary :D.

Than comes the topping of the week, my new host mother cooked all of us Steaks. I miss meat let alone steak. It tasted so good, and for the first time in a long time I was full to the point where I couldent eat anymore. The salade was also amazing. I think she was flattered by all of us going mmmhhh this is so good, but if you go for 6 months with no steak, hardly any meat than you would think that steak is the greatest food. my mouth still waters when I think about her steak. The thing I really like about my host mom is that she wants an exchange student, most of the families here dont want an exchange student but they have to host one since their child is one.... so all of us agreed that she would get the best host mom award. I also really enjoy my new family because they really go out of their way to make me feel at home, or keep me out of my room, and they always let me go places with friends and I can get out of the hosue alot more. Today my host mom took Margy and I hiking..... I am still not one for hiking but it wasnt as bad because there was a treat right in the middle. She said we walk through the forest and than eat cake and drink coffee and than walk back. It was kind of nicce how she planed it in teh middle because than it was a reward for hiking but than you worked it off when you came back.


Well I know my posts are becoming more rare but thats really because I have done just about everything here, and really dont know what to write about anymore. I do things every week, and yeah sometimes I do things I havent done before, but I am really enjoying my stay here, and I am extremly happy with my new host family. Well now the weekend is over, and I have school in the morning. So That is pretty much everything I have done this weekend

Practikum/ presentation the american way.

For the last couple days I have been in a program with my school that lets me go to work for a business for two weeks. I can choose where I want to work, and normally students pick businesses they are intrested in going into some day. I went into the medical field, and I work for a clinic. The last couple of days have been really great. I was actually lucky to be able to work here because I dont think it is normal for a student to be allowed to work in a doctors office here. Luckley Rotary once again had a connection.... or actually I had the connection. My counselor for rotary is an Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor and works in Rheinbach. When I asked him if i could do my Practikum at his business he was more than happy to have me there. The first thing I needed to do was buy white pants, and a white shirt. I leave all my white things at the doctors office so I dont get them dirty which was a great idea because than I dont have to spend money buying any more than just one pair. My first day all the nurses really made me feel helpful and that I was doing something. They let me watch all the tests they ran, and the first day I got to see someone getting there ear drum checked by electrical currents. It was actually rally cool to watch all those little electical wires popped on the patients face.... keep in mind that no one is hurt during this process :D. Than I got to see how they clean the ear... dont worry I never see the actual ear wax stuff I just see a long hose like instrument spray water into the persons ear. Than I also get to watch the machines that are used for hearing test.. I saw someone having there nose checked... not very exciting to watch for the average person but it is interesting to see how everything is done behind the curtain. Than I also get to see people get allergy shots, and tested for allergies... which is something I know a little about.. I pretty much get to see everything that goes on. The next day I spent the whole morning watching operations be done. I saw an Ear operation and to my amazment they actually dont cut the ear off... I also thought that that is how it was doen but actually it just involves a really well lit light, binoculars, and small medical instruments. Than I got to see a Nose operation where they cut the tissue back to clear out the airways. Than I go to see a Sinus operation... which was the fist time I have ever heard or seen someone break someones bone. The doctor told me to come over and look inside which is normal because I did the same thing to all the others and than he picks up a long instrument and I was thinking to myself there is no way thats going to fit up his nose without hitting his brain and all of a sudden usuing it as a crow bar he breaks the nose bone....if you have ever heard a knuckle being cracked or someones back think of that except with a distinct crakling noise.... ughhh. I was actually suprised because I thought throught the whole day that I was going to get sick or something because thats what normally happens when I get a shot but I actually didnt feel the least bit quesy and if after I saw all the shots, the blood, other nasty things, and bones being broke I still did not feel weak or sick to my stomache. It was actually a really great experience that not alot of people will have seen. I also got to see how the sleeping gas works, and all of the other things. Today I went once again but this time I was with my friend clint who is going scuba diving with margy today and he needed to get checked out to see if it was okay if he went. I was able to give him the hearing test, and he got to see a little bit of what I do during my mornings now. So tomorrow I dont know whats going to happen I hear there is another oporation, and the Dr. said that I will be in for something interesting tomorrow, so who knows maybe ill be the one breaking peoples noses....... although I hope not.


Presentating the american way.

Margy, Clint, and I all had to make a presentation for Rotary, unlike normally we had to make it all in German. After being in Mock Trail and Speech I dont mind making the presentations but I am not a fan of being infront of people. I played it cool though and acted like I wasnt scared to be infront of a bunch of rich, and known people but I really was. Margy decided she wanted to go first and clint plugged in her computer. Now think of this normally when germans think of americans they think of war wanting people.... well now they probably think that more. Margy, Clint, and I all like southpark.... but as we all know southpark can be a little grussem sometimes. Well when clint plugged in her computer sure enough what flases on the screen is a picture of Butters( one of the characters ) with a ninja throwing star in his eye. Me and Margy were laughing because the picture really didnt tell the story of this south park episode but we were in a room full of alot of elder and.... well it was just funny. So margy gave her speech she got some laughs, and than I went on and gave mine which was full of pictures because I didnt put any text on it and I was on and off before anyone knew it. Than the southpark photo popps up again and once again we are laughing. Finally clint takes margy's computer off and pluggs in his..... now if the first photo didnt leave the germans believing we love violence clints would. When his popped up on the screen the picture was... well I dont know what it was but on the bottom it said Destroy. I was laughing once again, and I dont think the germans were very happy about the photos.... but after being there for 2 hours or so, we were really tired and quite frankley didnt care to much what they thought. We all gave our presentations and even though they were not as long or funny as the germans presentations we did the best we could for what we knew. And all of us at least got some laughs so we must of done somehting right.

At the end my host mom comes up to me and Margy puts our arms around us and says that she thinks we did better than the german re-bounds, and did way better than last years exchange students. So even though we only put in a days work into those presentations... well Margy and I put in a days work.... it still gave us the satisfaction of not only doing good... but being better than last years.... You can take the americans out of america but no matter what we still love the feeling of being better :D. Oh and just so not everyone who reads this feels that we are not doing our job even though we did have some violence, we got alot of "good jobs" from the Rotary club, and they even invited us back to go to Rotary meetings once a month... im not sure if thats a reward but we'll take it... but until then Margy, Clint, and Me of course are just going to keep presenting the american way......( excluding the photos :D)

Meine Neu Familie

My New Family.

Now I have come to the second part of my journey as an exchange student and that is switching families. I lived with my first host family for 5 months and after 5 months you normally wear out your welcome. I think I switched host families at a good time, so than I can begin a new year fresh with everything.

My new host family lives in Meckenheim which is a town right next to Rheinbach where I last lived. I have a host dad named Juergen, a host mom named Judda, and a host brother whos name is Michael. Their Son is an exchange studnet in Ohio. Right away the family made me feel at home giving me a welcoming diner, giving me the password to the Internet( very important :D) showing me a little bit around town, giving me a card for the bus in the morning, and of course showing me my new room. Although the only thing that stands between my room and the Office is a certain I get to have the whole upstairs. My bathroom is upstairs, and I can put all of my bathroom things in their instead of keeping them in my room. I have a dresser thats inside my room which makes things alot easier, and I also have a desk and drawers I can put everything in. I feel a little more comfortable going downstairs into the living room and kitchen because everything doesnt look so untouchable or breakable and its nice having that homey feeling right away. My host dad plays volleyball like me and he also likes to talk about his visits to the US and tells me all the places I should see in Germany and tells me alot of stories which keep me entertained. I even got to watch T.V for the first time since I have been here. I mean actually watch it. At my first host families house I coudlent figure out the T.V and never really wanted to sit downstairs and watch T.V. But now I have one in my own room well in the Office which is right next to my Room, or I go downstairs and watch T.V with Michael who is abby's age 15. Having someone who is the same age as my sister and closer to my age makes it easier to talk to him. He also shares my liking for the Simpsons and watching Movies everynight. He is a really laid back kid and does a great job of making me feel like I belong here and than I am family and not just a guest. My host mom reminds me alot of my mom so it makes me not miss home as much sometimes. She is really nice and is always willing to help me no matter what she is doing at the time. I really enjoy being with my second family not just because they are nice but because its now a stepping stone that I have passed in my Journey as an Exchange student. Even though it was hard packing all of my stuff again and having to think of the memories that I last packed at my house and now I have to be off into another unfamilier territory, it was worth it. I hope that I will have alot more things to write about as I get further into my stay with meine nuw Familie

Christmas/New Years

It never seemed like Christmas, I guess it just never really hit me that it was there. I was actually glad that it didnt because than it would of made me feel sad, or depressed, which for an exchange student is not a good feeling to get because you have that plane ticket home starring you right back in the face. My Christmas break was fun though, and I think my host family was trying to put alot of activities so it kept my mind off of home. We drove to see their family and friends, and I had to laugh when I got my presents because normally Im use to my family knowing what I need or want, but this year I just got alot of chocolate, and candy. I did get a book too, and some movie tickets from rotary. The day after christmas we went to this lake where you can wake board or ski the day after christmas, it was freezing and the water was even colder. It was cool how it was set up though because there were no boats pulling the lines there was a pully system hooked

up that would take you around the whole lake. I didnt go wake boarding but I did get to see some pretty cool stunts that people could do. It sorta looked easier with this than it would be with a boat because it pulls from up top and stays at a cosistant speed.

After visting family we drove to friends who lived outside of Berlin. When we got there the first thing we did was go to a Weinachtsmarkt which was Huge, and than went ice skating and I even got to see a little bit of a concert on Ice. I also went to the zoo where I finally caught a monkey in action throwing its poo and than eating it I was grossed out but still thought it was funny that I caught the monkey doing it. I also went shopping alot while I was there and saw the most amazing mall that would put the mall of america to shame. At first when I was walking up to it I asked if we were going to a museum the girls just started to laugh and said no thats a mall. It was the coolest looking mall ever because it looked so old on the outside but inside was amazing with light up elevators and glass everywhere and lots and lots of fountains. Finally it was new years and my family took me to a party where we stayed up and played Wii, and another game called the buzz game and than of course phase 10 which is a great game. Right when it struck 12 everyone toasted with their glasses of champagne and than we went out side and the sky was light up with fireworks, I have to seen so many fireworks going off in the streets like I did then, I think its because its the only tiem of year people can buy and blow them off. I of course stuck with the sparklers... i still have not gotten around to lighting the actual fireworks off yet, but the little kids were amazed at my ability to hold five large sparklers at a time all being lit. Finally someone sees my natural sparkler talent. Well if I havent told you Merry Be-lated Christmas, and a Happy New Year