At this exact moment, I have been in Germany for 22 weeks, 85 hours, and 3,588 seconds. Perhaps time moves differently in Germany, because there is no way I have been here that long. But then again, maybe I have. My mother has kindly informed me that there is dust on my place at the dinner table. Slightly heartbreaking, but I guess it was bound to happen sometime. On the topic of homesickness, I’m not really that homesick, although some days are better than others. I’ve found what helps me to get over it is to play some country music(the music of my childhood, thanks to my Nebraska-raised parents) and unavoidably have a good cry. Then pull myself together and plan something fun with my friends. I’m not saying that I do this often, but I will admit that I’ve done it more than once. My homesickness is more me wishing my family was here to experience this awesome opportunity with me than me actually wanting to go home.
Sophie, Ceara, and I
I have been so blessed in the fact that I have been able to become extremely close with my fellow exchange students over the past couple months. We have bonded over missed trains, host family problems, the desire to travel, and the mutual knowledge that this is a special time in our lives so we must take advantage of it. I have started to notice a pattern in the personalities exchange students possess. For the most part, we are instigators. We are the part of society that has ideas, and then works to make them reality. Too many people have dreams but don’t realize that they can become more than just that, dreams. Us exchange students are constantly coming up with new plans, and when Rotary(or our parents) doesn’t shut them down, we make them happen. I admit to some of our plans being a little far fetched, but we always have good intentions. One of our plans that got shut down by Rotary was when we found tickets to London for 20 Euros on Ryan Air. That was rejected because we failed to produce an adult crazy enough to go with us. I find it amazing that I am now comfortable with traveling long distances alone and booking youth hostels for my friends and I. In the USA I would have never dreamed of traveling to a random city with friends and staying the night in a hostel. Exchange has given me a whole new confidence in myself.
Ceara, Caroline, and I in Stuttgart
Last week I was in church with my best friend and her host family when I realized that I actually understood almost everything being said! That was such a relief considering I’m terrified that I am not going to learn the language. I guess you could say my German is okay, but I really want to get better. I’ve started reading german books aloud at night. I find it helps with my pronunciation and my grammatik. I am unsure of the english word for “Grammatik”, so I’m just going to settle on the German. I remember it being similar but I can't think of what it is. The longer I’m in Germany, the more simple words like that I forget. For example, the other day I was counting in English, and I forgot the numbers! It was so embarrassing because I couldn’t remember for the life of me what came after eleven. When I speak with the other exchange students we speak in a mixture of English and German. People have asked us why we don’t just speak in English, considering most of us are native English speakers, but they don’t understand that sometimes it’s just easier to speak in German. Also, some words just sound better auf Deutsch! Also, when speaking another language, it’s not like throughout the conversation you’re converting words to english, you just somehow know the meanings of the other language. It just feels natural. I am unsure if that makes sense, but it’s like putting another brain in your head.
"Grammar learned by Yoda you have"
Five months ago, I would have assumed that at almost halfway through my exchange year I would have ceased to make silly mistakes. Nope. Yesterday I took a train going the complete opposite direction of where I wanted to go. You would think that I would know by now! It was extremely embarrassing because I had to ask the young and very good-looking(what?? I’m still a teenage girl!) German guy next to me where we were. He was laughing so hard and I was mortified. Oh well, it happens to the best of us. The other day I took the wrong bus to my friend’s house and ended up at a bus stop next to the highway in the middle of No Where, Germany. I called my friends with my last amount of battery and half cried, half screamed, “WHERE AM I??? HELP ME!” They advised me to go to the other bus stop across the street and try to go back into the city. So I did what I needed to do to cross that highway. Envision Frogger, but with me instead of a frog. I waited on the side of the highway in the freezing cold wearing a skirt and a light jacket for 20 minutes until the next bus came. All the while, I was silently cursing myself for wanting to come to Europe instead of warm and semi tropical South America. I was about ready to abandon all hope and hitchhike, when I heard the low grumble of a bus far too old to be still in use. The doors opened, and it was like a heavenly chorus had descended from above. I strode onto that bus and hightailed it straight to the back, where the heater was located. When the bus finally reached the city bus station, I looked outside to see my friends hysterically waving. I hopped off the bus and ran to them and we embraced as if we were long lost lovers, even though we had seen each other the day before.
The random town that I got stuck in
I have been living in my current host family for almost 2 months now! I am happy to say that I feel very at home here. After a not so pleasant experience in my first family, I am very thankful for my second. My host sister, Isi, is 10 and she is so cute, although I will admit she has her moments! I can tell it’s still a little hard for her to not be an only child anymore. For example I will be sitting on the couch and she will walk in and say, “Now I am here,” and try to make me leave. Once she tried to tell me I wasn’t allowed to use the water glasses because they were hers(they’re not)! I ended up tickling her until she gave up and agreed that I could use them. That little girl drives me nuts but I love her so much! She just came into my room with the cutest the Lion King “Friend Book” and asked me to write in it. It has all of her little friends from school in it and then me. My heart is so happy that she sees me as her sister and loves me. I wouldn’t say my host mother, Gabi, is like a second mom to me, but I respect her very much. She is a business woman and you can tell by the way she runs her household. She is not motherly towards me in the sense that she’s always giving me hugs and such, but I know that if I need anythingI can go to her. I appreciate how my host parents respect and trust me and I wouldn't do anything to jeopardize that. I also am very thankful that they take time to inquire what my plans are for the weekend, instead of springing family plans on me the day of. They respect that I make plans with my friends and allow me quite a bit of freedom. Every Tuesday and Thursday my host dad, Reimer, picks me up from my German course and I treasure the small conversations we have in that short drive. No they’re not anything deep, but it is just a small routine that I enjoy. He always asks me the same question, “How was your class?” and I always reply with “boring,” and then we both laugh. Like I said, not much, but it’s still nice. Reimer is a man of few words, but every now and then he’ll crack a hilarious joke. I am so happy to have been placed in this family.
Cooking with Oma and Isi
Selfie with Isi (she insisted on featuring the boar teeth)
I am so thankful for having “found” Rotary. One split second decision changed my life. Rotary has not only given me the opportunity of a lifetime, but it has also provided me with a second family in the Rotarians, and has enabled me to meet other exchange students who have become my closest friends. I am also thankful for my parents for supporting me in all of my endeavors and helping me every step of the way. I can not wait to see what experiences the rest of my exchange year brings.
“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” -Henry Miller
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