"SURPRISE, IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY" (NEXT WEEK)

Because I was going to my host-grandparent's house over my birthday and Christmas my exchange student friends with AFS threw me a "surprise" birthday party. They weren't very good at keeping it a surprise, but it's the thought that counts. My host family found it very strange that they would celebrate my birthday before it was actually my birthday. It's even considered bad luck to celebrate before an event in Germany, but so far it's been an amazing year and I'm keeping my fingers crossed! After seeing a movie we went to the Karlsruhe Christmas market and ice-skated there. It was probably the first time I went ice-skating in the last few years, but I didn't fall! Yay!

My gifts, which are already in my stomach safe and sound

It's definitely true that the other exchange students here have become a third family to me. I'm lucky to have them to rely on, share my experiences with, and know that they completely understand because they are going through slightly different versions.

WEIHNACHTSMÄRKTE

  I love Christmas and Germany celebrates Christmas the entire month of December so it was pure glee for me. Besides the intense shopping is the tradition of outdoor Christmas markets in Germany. Starting the first week of December and ending right after New Years in the center of almost every city is a Christmas market where one can buy anything from socks to tree ornaments to glühwein. These markets, called Weinachtsmärkte, are absolutely gorgeous to go to day or night. Simply walking around the little booths drinking a warm mug of glühwein alone or with friends makes Christmas revert back to how it was a hundred years ago without the large red discount signs.

Working hard & Shopping hard

Karlsruhe Markplatz Christmas Market

Wooden, hand carved gifts

 

Café in Heidelberg with German friends from my gym class

It's extremely difficult to post pictures here, so I apologize for them being so large.