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).

 

Classic, Healing, Music.
I like to write while listening to music.So I thought maybe you would like to read what I wrote while listening to music.
No?
My bad.

FINALLY!

 

My house.....don't believe me, I'm delirious from waiting.