DER STRASSENBAHN

ehh funny story.

I went to the zoo. Because I like animals.. and while looking at the pink flamingos I see the Straßenbahn out of the corner of my eye. Looking at my watch I say to myself “that’s my Straßenbahn!!!!”

And so like the silly girl I can be I book it, like i’m running away from the damn polar bears. Making it just as the doors close I know for a fact I sounded like a dying polar bear. How attractive right? Next, I stomp to an open seat, give in to gravity and try to breathe like a normal human being. And that’s when everything clicks into place. Not the “Wow! I’m really here, in **Germany**”—but the “oh holy, oh my goodness, I got on the wrong Straßenbahn!”

My simple line of inner questions and answers:

• Where am I? No clue.
• What direction am I going? No clue.
• Who looks like they can speak English? No clue.
• When was my Straßenbahn actually coming? No clue.
• Why did I get on the wrong Straßenbahn? No clue.

Since the answers to my questions weren’t so positive, panic and paranoia sets it. I try to speak English to a 20 something year old, nope no English. Hahalariously this old couple in another row motions me to come over. They weren’t offering candy and I was a little desperate so I went. Ten minutes later I’m at the main station waiting for good old Straßenbahn S11. Thanks old couple for not being kidnappers and for helping me get home!

 This is the S11 which I take every day to go to language camp. S11..S11..S11..S11…

THE ZOO

I thought that only little kids would be in the zoo, but I was surprised to see a lot of older people, couples, and even some kids my age. I was already on my way home when I decided that it was such a nice day to go to the zoo. Truthfully, though, I felt fat from eating tons of ice cream for “lunch” and needed to walk it off.

What I liked best about the zoo was that it is small. It holds an assortment of animals but you aren’t herded through like an animal yourself. Also, when it’s not crowded you can take you’re time to actually look at the animals and their behavior. I spent probably 2 hours there and went around the loop twice.To anyone looking to feel relaxed go to a German zoo!

 

 

And then in the center of the zoo, you could climb kinda up a mountain and at the top there was a deck overlooking the surrounding city.

WALKING TRAILS IN THE BLACK FOREST #1

Cool! It’s an international word. Because my German is limited in response I find myself saying “cool” ALL THE TIME. It’s cool (you see) because Germans think it’s cool to say cool. Yeah OK, time to stop.

Monday (September 12), Ingrid, Anne, and I went hiking. Where I’m from there are no sidewalks and that always bothered me. Now I’m surrounded by places to walk and am loving it. We walked for about 2 hours and even though it was gray sky’s the scenery was still breathe-taking. But I think my camera didn’t understand that.

It says listen.

We followed one of these trails. Which one, I haven’t a clue.

My new best friend (he’s German).

LANGUAGE CLASS

For the first month I’ll be taking language classes in the nearby city of Karlsruhe. In the second week of October I get to go to real school—Gymnasium Karlsbad.

Just to mention exchange students have three options when they initially come to Germany (and just as well other countries). They will either be put right into school, go to a language camp, or take language classes. It all depends on how much background the student has in the German language. Some students might have a mix of going to German school during the day and then afterwards or on weekends going to language class. Usually the host family and AFS decides what would be best. Personally, I’m glad to be in language class.

I think that taking this language class is really going to help me. I have no German language background and being thrown into school would make everything awkward. At least in a month I can understand some phrases and throw out some of my own. The only downside of not going to school is making friends. I know I’ll have 9 months to make friends but I’m already edgy to start.

In the language class everyone is 25-50ish except another CBYX girl named Isabella. So I can’t exactly ask the 50 years old Russian couple if they want to hang out or go shopping after class :( The plus side is that I get to go around the city after class, which runs from 8:45 am to 1 pm. Karlsruhe is small, beautiful, and clean. Hopefully I will remember to take more pictures!

Tschüß!

CASTLES AND MEDIEVAL FAIRS

are exactly what I pictured, living on the edge of the Black forest.

My first official day in Germany and already I get to go around. Luckily I was able to sleep in because it’s SUNDAY, my favorite day of the week. I’m surprised how comfortable I feel with my host family. I think because they are all so friendly and open; I know that they want me here. Short and simple.

After a typical German breakfast of bread, pretzels, fruit, granola with yogurt, and nutella of course: we planned out our day. And here comes the irony. By my third blog post I was so tired of waiting to find out where I would be living in Germany that I posted a picture of a castle in Germany as my home. And here I am on my first official day going to a c-a-s-t-l-e. I can just smell Destiny!

Located in Bad Liebenzell my “castle” is more like a guard tower, but nevertheless I was satisfied. And with no further adieu I introduce what we are now calling my pre-castle. Every week or so we will be build up further and hopefully end with the castle from my previous blog post—Neuschwanstein Castle

 

A view from above.

 Before going to the castle we spent quite a while at this medieval fair in Bad Wildbad. It had German musical instruments, food, clothing, jewelry, games, and activities. It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood so enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After all that walking, we went to a cafe. Anne and I shared some famous “Black Forest Cake” that consists of cherries, chocolate mousse, and some type of alcohol. YUM!

MY HOST FAMILY IS

Supa cute and interestingly similar to my natural family.

I actually “got” them quite a while ago, but summer is a terrible time for being productive.  In the last weeks of July I was informed that for the next 10 months I will be living in Karlsbad, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. In regards to my new family and to make a long story short; I have a mom, dad, sister, and brother. My host mom, Ingrid, is a school teacher and my host dad, Michael, is a professor and the director of a university in Karlsruhe (the nearest city about 20 min away). Anne, is 18 and in her last year of high school and Niklas is a CBYX student living in Tuscon, Arizona for the year. More about my host family to come, but here’s a picture of us together.

ORIENTATION DAYS

can be really boring.

But I’m glad to have had them. It was the perfect transition and it gave AFSers time to get to know one another. I think though that AFS really went too far in categorizing Germans. They talked about how Germans are always on time, the tram leave exactly on the dot, and how water is expensive so people take fewer showers. Although this can be true in some cases, we spent literally 1 hour talking about these subjects (especially water). And what do you know an awkward moment came up because of it! It turns out my German host family takes showers everyday (and sometimes even more than once) and are barely ever on time for anything—AND my train is late at least twice a week. So there. Stereotypes aren’t always true.  

But anyway, Orientation went something like this:

• Day 1: hours of lecture, watching a movie till 12am
• Day 2: visit to the State Department, Meetings with Congressional Representatives, hanging around Union Station, dinner at a German restaurant: Cafe Mozart
• Day 3: 9:00 am to 10 pm workshops and lectures with breaks for lunch and dinner
• Day 4: Travel Information, Closure Session, Airport Departure at 1:30 pm

And some details—>

We had to walk from Union Station to our Congressional Representative meetings. It was pouring rain outside, but we CBYXers are tough! We faced various challenges including a puddle that large ducks could swim in, but we defeated them with our handy-dandy emergency ponchos.

Asian Poncho Children: Claire (honorary member), John, & me

Viennese Beef Goulash at Cafe Mozart. I know it doesn’t look like much but I still have high hopes for German food—just not in America.

  Dinner at Cafe Mozart

Waiting at Dulles Airport

And my last view of U.S soil.

LEAVING FOR D.C.

by plane was a really good idea!

Even though I love my family, driving 5 hours to Washington D.C would have been tough. First I don’t even think we would have gotten there on time (embarrassing) and second it would have been harder to say goodbye. At least getting on a plane at 8 in the morning meant I was half asleep and not really thinking about the huge leap of faith I was taking.

So, after packing till 2 in the morning (weight limits are such a pain) I could finally start my journey with over 130 pounds of baggage. Monica (in purple) is carrying my “personal item” which weighted let’s say about 50 pounds. Goodie!

Here in lovely fashion we have my Mom, me, brother Chris, Monica, and Dad.

Monica (left if you still don’t know who i am) made Fiona for me. This bunny made me look ridiculous at the airport but I know it’s filled with love (cough, cotton).