Wrote this a month ago and I am finally getting around to sending it.
Germany is super! It is my second home and I will be sad when I will have to leave it in only 5 months. Time has gone by quickly and quietly. I have hardly noticed it pasisng. Days became weeks, and weeks became months. I went from speaking no German whatsoever to being able to participate in dinning room table conversations. Strangers became friends and my family is practically blood! 5 months have passed with little to no homesickness. I have found it hard to miss my motherland when I am as comfortable here as I was there. Don't get me wrong, I miss my friends, family, and my pets from the USA, but I don't long for them.
Things have been going well for me. The cold was a downer for a couple weeks, but Spring is hinting that it'ts just around the cornor. A scourcher of a day, at 32 degress Farenheit, called for no hats and no scarves. Windows were opened and heaters turned down. Now at 45 degress I only where one coat to school, and I leave the gloves at home. After -4 degress 32 degrees is pleasent!
The Elbe/ Alster river froze over in Hamburg which called for a celebration. On the 12 of February there were 1 million or so people at the party on the Alster. I, unfortunatle, was unable to attend. I was skiing with my sisters, and some friends an hour outside of Hannover. The skiing was at first a bit unpleasent because I am about as unathletic as they come, that combined with my fear of falling over meant that I stood frozen in place for about an hour, crying and feeling sorrx for myself before I called it quits and started for the cafe to sit and wait for the other to be finished. On the way my older sister, cousin, and I found an easy slope. I ended up having a really good time skiing on this less threatning slope.
School has also been going well. I heard something explained in my history class that I found funny, so I figured I would share it on my blog.
My history teacher was explaining the differences between the American Healcare System, and Germany's. He said:
''In Germany if you want to get a tooth pulled you can go ahead and get it pulled and it's no problem. In Germany if you chop your leg off, and want a new one, they give you a prosthetic leg. In the United States you get a wheelchair.''
He makes a good point.
Other than the cold and my twisted knee (thank you, ski trip) everything else is hunky dorry.
My day starts at 6:00AM. I get up, go to school, ''get smart', then I come home and eat lunch with my sister. I go to a German class twice a week and on the weekends I am out with friends.
This last weekend I met some new friends in Hamburg for a drink and a bite to eat. That was on Friday and on Saterday I went swimming with my sister and some friends. At first I was reluctant to go swimming. I have always paired swiming pools with 87 degree weather. I had heard rumors about ourdoor pools in Germany, even during the winter months, and I was not looking forward to freezing my bum off. As it turns out it was a blast! Hot tubs, a water slide, heated pool, wave pool, and a heated outdoor pool were all part of this swimming place. There was also a Sauna! Next to the outdoor pool, which was decorated with fountains, and plants, was a tiny pool of ice cold water. The point in to get into the cold water then immediatly back into the pool so that you body feels warm in the room temerature water. It works! Swimming in Germany = success.
Sunday my family and I went for a long walk from one village to another. We got some coffee and cake and walked back. We went walking on an old time road that is now used only for walking and biking. We took the dogs and together we relished the sunny afternoon.
Sometimes I find myself so happy that I want to cry!
I miss all of my US friends and family, and I will enjoy getting to see them all again and start up at Chatham, but leaving Germany is going to be really difficult.
How about you all come and visit me instead! :)
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