Regular Tuesday

        I’ve now been living with my host family for more than three months, and gradually, sneakily, my life here has become just that, life. I look around and am surprised to feel the warm, worn feeling of familiarity in everything from the view out the dining room windows and the smell of my bedroom to the sound of the dishwasher opening and the girl with the glasses and the braid on the afternoon bus.

It’s pretty beautiful, this progress, too slow to notice when it’s happening, but with an obvious result, like your body warming a chair, or the ocean wearing away rock.

So, yes, it’s just a regular old Tuesday* for me from here on out.

Of course, there are still events that stand out. A couple weeks ago, for example, I had my sixteenth birthday party (to which I kind of impulsively/accidentally invited a whole class of people whom I don’t know (well, I invited half of them, the other half claimed I invited them)). But that’s just the kind of thing that happens when Camilla (refer to earlier blog posts if you don’t know who Camilla is) is in town. So for my party we made soooooo much food (which we devoured once the party had become enough of a success that we didn’t feel the need to socialize aggressively anymore), decorated the cellar with all kinds of lamps and white Christmas lights, laid pillows and mattresses on the floor to create a really chill atmosphere, emphasized by the dim lighting, and set up the foosball table in case things got desperate. I invited a random mix of people from my bus, my village, my class, my soccer team, and, yes, that other class that I talked to for like five minutes the day before the party. There were actual plenty of people there (probably just weirdos that wanted to get a peek at my room or eat free food, but I lost my qualms somewhere between America and I-don’t-care-I-need-to-find-real-friends (which I’ve actually managed now...it’s wonderful.)) A good half of this blog post is in parentheses, buuuut, whatever. The party was such a conversational success that we didn’t even need to utilize our “Games that take a long time and don’t require enthusiasm” list. And to top it all off, my many admirers (vague acquaintances) provided me with enough chocolate to last...maybe a week. It actually was a lot though.

So that pretty much covers November..and October..and everything else I didn’t write about..or none of that at all, but I don’t care. So December. Well, in December every tiny village with a ridiculous name that doesn’t even officially exist has a Christmas market. A lot of Christmas markets have these super duper cool medieval stands where people play jolly tunes on ocarinas, roast meat on spits, twirl burning batons, and sell all kinds of wares made out of leather and wood and metal in rustic colors that look like props from Pirates of the Caribbean/Lord of the Rings. Besides that, you can guestimate a city’s population by the number of crepe stands to be found at its Christmas market. For example, in Cologne I walked past at least four before I gave in to temptation, whereas in the little place where I go to school I had to actively search for a solid 7 minutes or so before I located the only one. You can pretty much find the same general types of booths at every market- knitted stuff, statues of Santa in every possible position, handmade jewelry, food (hot waffles, hashbrown-type things, warm stuff made out of some form of bread or potatoes pretty much), weird instruments and statues sold by a hippy, candles and honey from bee farmers, those heart-shaped cookies with messages in icing that taste awful, etc.

Another thing that everyone in Germany participates in during the holiday season is Advent calendars. That means a calendar with one piece of chocolate (or ‘encouraging messages’ or some crap, but people really just want chocolate) I have two. Just ‘cause.

In other news, I’ve diagnosed about half of my classes at school as unnecessary, (something I really should have done years ago, because it’s fantastic) and spend them absorbed in my dictionary (or in coloring the whole front and back of my homework notebook with a ballpoint pen) but I’m still getting graded in German, English, French, Math, History, and Music, so I’ve got my hands full enough.

Overall, things are better than ever and keep getting even better.

Hm, I forget what I should write in this blog. Should I write like I’m emailing my parents, Skyping my friends, updating my Facebook status, scribbling in my journal, or reflecting generally on life and the world? Well, whatever the case, I think this is enough to satisfy all you hungry readers out there. Or maybe not. If not just leave angry comments, but be sure to use good grammar, otherwise I will not be able to take them seriously.

Yours,

Anne

* Regular Old Tuesday

   For those of you who didn’t catch my drift, I say it’s a ‘regular old Tuesday’ now because I find Tuesday to be the most ordinary of days. Not in a bad way, but rather in a gray-English-skies/office-job/morning-coffee-and-newspaper kind of way...if that helps clear things up...

Today’s Song: “Dog Days Are Over” by Florence and the Machine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sszAVSx4Wwo

School

 Every (week) day, my host mom wakes me up at an ungodly hour with "Morgen, Anne! Aufstehen!" And I say "Moooorrrgeeeen", wallow in my misery for 30 seconds, then get up, dress as quickly as possible because it's freezing, eat bread, get bread to take to school with me, and go to school.
Then school happens. 

My schedule:
Monday:
(My favorite day by far because school doesn't start till 9:30 and we have two hours of English.)

9:30-11:05 Math
I can actually do stuff in this class because numbers are universal. Of course, it's more difficult for me because I usually don't understand the explanations and the words for shapes and such are different. And who knew there was a shape that's a cylinder, but with trapezoids instead of circles on the ends?! But I'm good at math thanks to my mom, so I get by.

11:15-12:50 English
The teacher only speaks English in English class, and the students are supposed to too, so I always have this ridiculous grin on my face the whole time because I understand everything and everyone else gets a small dose of what I deal with all the time. Plus, the accents are fantastic and I get to correct everyone. But don't think it's THAT easy. This week we wrote a text analysis.

And that's it! Then we go home and eat lunch and do homework.

Tuesday:

7:35-8:20 History
I understand next to nothing, so I just copy down whatever the teacher writes on the board and flip madly through my dictionary when she talks. She's an English teacher too, though, (and pretty much everyone here speaks English) so sometimes she comes and explains the assignment to me in English. 

8:25-9:10 French
This is the advanced French class that I sit in on because it's where my class (the students I stay with) are. A lot of it is IN French, which I have never taken, so I sit in the back and read my dictionary.

9:30-10:15 Geography
I'm lost most of the time, but our last test was just labeling mountains, rivers, cities, and states in Germany, so I studied and aced that sucker.

10:20-11:05 Biology
My time would be better spent sleeping.

11:15-12:50 Chemistry
"                                     "

1:45-3:20 Sport
The past two weeks, we did the high jump; you know, where you run throw yourself backwards over a pole onto a mat. That combined with the fact that our P.E. teacher is also the Bio teacher and he wears ridiculously short (I'm talking girls'-Nike-shorts-short) shorts, makes for a very laughable situation. Could you get more movie-stereotypical? Being a short white girl, I wasn't particularly skilled at high jumping, but it was an experience, something I can check off my bucket list (Just kidding, that's not on my bucket list).

I now have my actual French class instead of Sport. I'm with the eleventh graders from the Hauptschule who are just now starting French, but I still managed to be behind from the very beginning because I missed the first three weeks of class. Plus, the class is in German, of course. It's really just laughable.

Wednesday:

7:35-9:10 German
It's like an advanced English class, but in German.

9:30-10:15 Social Studies
Refer to Biology/Chemistry description

10:20-11:05 Geography
We go over the homework from Tuesday, and I find out I did it wrong.

11:15-12:50 Music
Right now we are working in pairs, and we have to write romantic songs. I feel really bad for my partner.
I'm writing this post over an extended period of time, so I can now tell you that my partner felt so bad for herself that she got the tea
Thursday:

7:35-8:20 Biology
I write down what's on the board, but it's too sloppy to read, so I spell everything completely wrong and the people beside me read my paper and laugh. (I do too, just for kicks)

8:25-9:10 English
My only chance to prove my intelligence.

9:30-11:05 Religion
Last week I came in late really conspicuously from a meeting with my scheduling lady (she's not a counselor) and accidentally called the teacher by the informal 'you'. *sigh*
Nevertheless, I think I'll really enjoy the discussion in this class in a couple of months. For now, I enjoy what I can understand and when I'm lost, simply soak in the calming atmosphere.

11:15-12:50 Math

Friday:

7:35-8:20 German

8:25-9:10 History
The girl from Iran and I always end of being partners somehow. So we perform our synchronized pocket-dictionary-from-backpack pull and begin to attempt to decipher our assignment, muttering in our prospective languages as we go.

9:30-11:05 French (the one where I do nothing)

11:15-12:50 French (the one that sucks)

And that's my week!

Here are some fun facts about school here:
We write with calligraphy pens
We have special markers to erase the calligraphy pen writing, then write over it.
There are all kinds of musical sound effects in the school building that mean things like break time, or you can stay inside during the break because it's raining. That might actually be it, but it's still cool and mystifying the first couple times.
In some classes the teacher just talks for the whole 45 minutes so what the heck.
It's freaking freezing outside, but we have heaters all over the school buildings, but the windows are always open, so it's always freezing inside too.
The teachers rarely check homework or give out classwork assignments, so most of your grade comes from participation in class discussion, so I'm pretty much screwed, at least for now.

School's gotten a lot better as I've gotten comfortable with my class and begun to understand a little more. I've actually raised my hand (German fashion, not all the way up, and with my fingers all droopy) in class, and taken a couple of tests, so I should be top of the class any day now.

Today's song: "Tubthumping" by Chumbawumba
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LODkVkpaVQA

The Real Thing

I've been with my host family in 'real' Germany for two weeks now. If I had to sum up those two weeks in one sentence I would say "I've never slept so well in my life". Of course, I don't have to do that. It's a free country, and this is my blog. But really, trying to speak and understand German all day drains one completely. Add in being surrounded by strangers all the time, school, homework, and every other thing that goes on, and you've got the perfect recipe for sleep.
The past two weeks have been all over the place for me. The list above is also the recipe for emotional instability. One minute I'm laughing with this girl from Iran over the fact that we understand nothing, marveling at the fact that by the end of the year I'll understand everything, the next moment I think about Christmas and it's over. But every day I learn more-more German and more everything. Every day life here becomes more familiar, and eventually it'll become home.
I'm once again going to resort to using bullet points to cover all my experiences over since I left Schloss Wittgenstein because I'm lazy and because, as I've said before, it's a free country, and this is my blog.
So, since August 31st I've:
-Toured a mine (we rode this cool old train thing in and wore hard hats and raincoats)
-Started writing my 1's and 7's and the date like a German
-Learned that Germans put butter on their bread even when they'r going to put Nutella or cheese on it (Gross, bro)
-Eaten a flower, lard, and...pine kernels...?
-Played Uno the German way (pretty much the same as the American way, actually exactly the same)
-Begun to appreciate warm weather like I never have before
-Slept outside in a tent for the first time
-Taken a walk through a candlelit forest at night
-Bought German style sneakers
-Done a million other things that I can't think of right now, but will write about later

I still don't really know what I'm doing, but life goes on, I'll figure it out.

Today's Song: "Home" by Phillip Phillips
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTg1n95--KE

Sincerely,
Anne

P.S. I'll add pictures later

Language Camp

     I've been away from home for a little over two weeks now, and time really has gone by more quickly than I could ever have imagined. My days here at the Schloss are spent playing ping pong, learning German (obviously), participating in orientation sessions, eating, and getting to know my fellow exchange students. We've done a million different things since we got here, most of which I can't recall at the moment. There are lots of semi-interesting little differences between Germany and the USA that I've already noticed. For example, you have to pay for a plastic bag if you want one when you check out at a store. Even trivial things like this are thrilling right now. We're still in the exciting beginning phase.
     The last two nights we went into town for a festival. The first night I got a taste of Bundesliga rivalries when we watched the Dortmund-Bremen soccer match in a pub and decided to learn the Werder Bremen fan song so we could sing it obnoxiously whenever we felt it was called for. Then, last night, I had my first Spaghettieis and watched fireworks from our mountaintop. So it's pretty much been like that one Mary Kate and Ashley movie.
     This coming Saturday is the big day when I will finally begin to understand what I've gotten myself into as I leave this American safe haven for real Germany with my host family. I am extremely excited, somewhat nervous, and pretty sad too. Schloss Wittgenstein has become home and I love being around the people here and getting the closest thing to my dream British boarding school experience as possible. I love our busy days of meetings, games, and food, and the huge windows that open all the way, and bread I eat every day at breakfast, and the ping pong table, and singing all the time in class. I even love the hand towels we have to dry off with after showering, and curtainless showers that make the floor get all wet, and the dryer that doesn't work, and the fact that there isn't any hand soap. But this isn't what I came here for.
     The next step is the real challenge and the real reward, and I'll handle whatever this year throws at me with poise and a Jim face.

Today's Song: "Into the Wild" by LP

Yours, Anne

                                                     
                                                                         Our room

                         View of the soccer field and most popular ping pong table from our window

                                                                        Spaghettieis

Our fantastic windows. They open two different ways and you can sit on the window sill quite comfortably.

Washington D.C. and Schloss Wittgenstein

     I know I've shamefully neglected this blog, but I have been ridiculously busy/exhausted since I left. We youth ambassadors have done so much since last Thursday that there's no way I will remember everything, but I will make a list here of everything I remember and post some pictures. When I'm not dead from walking up the death hill from town to the castle I will write a real post!

Since Last Thursday:
-State Department briefing
-Met German exchange student counterparts
-Explored Old Town Alexandria
-739478 icebreaker/get-to-know-each-other games
-Holocaust Museum
-Flew to Germany, watched Pretty in Pink
-Arrived in Germany at approximately 7:00 AM THEIR time
-Upon arrival walked through Bad Laasphe, saw nothing
-Moved into shveet dorm rooms, nothing but Ikea furniture
-Slept
-Nutella
-Scavenger hunts, orientation sessions, exploring the town and Schloss Wittgenstein
-Bierfest
-German classes unfailingly followed by naps
-Day trip to Marburg
-Fall weather
-Sleep

Today's Song: "This is Your Life" by The Killers
I don't want to mess with YouTube right now. Or rather Germany doesn't.

Yours,
Anne

                                                                       Flight to DC

                                                               Sunrise at the Schloss

                                                                           Bierfest

                                                                     My home for now

                                                                Cathedral in Marburg

                                                                         Germany

                                                                          Rooftops

                                                   View from the Schloss in Marburg

                                                                  Schloss in Marburg

Morning of Departure

     I've already been awake for over an hour because of my excitement. It's weird to finally for it to FINALLY be the day I've waited for, longed for, and played out in my head for SO long. No matter what happens this year, I know I will be changed by it. I read a quote recently that talked about how it's not the people and places you miss the most, but the person you were in a certain time that you aren't anymore. I already feel how true this is.
     In any case, I need to get ready.

Today's Song: "Leaving on a Jet Plane" by John Denver
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4hsC0nRvZM

Anne

Last Night

     I know it's late and I should be sleeping since I'm getting up at 5:45, but there's no way I'll fall asleep anytime soon. I had my final goodbye party with my friends tonight. When the time came to say goodbye (to most of them) I really didn't think I would be able to cry. I just wasn't in a crying mood. But once I was alone in my room with one of my closest friends, we both broke down before we (or at least I) knew what was happening. My mind hasn't processed the fact that I'm leaving, but my emotions sure have.
     Every little thing is a source of nostalgia- the shower, the chair I'm sitting in, my pajamas, the Harry Potter book on desk. Of course, I'm still ridiculously excited, I'm just realizing how much I love my life and how much I'll miss it. It's a hard thing.
     But when this year is over, I'll have a whole other world to love and to call home.

Today's Song: "You'll Be in My Heart" by Phil Collins and Glenn Cose
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rzb0DhqI-Kw

Yours,
Anne

Last Day

Today is my last day at home. This morning I woke up at 5:45 and went with some friends to get donuts then watch the sunrise at the local soccer fields. It was amazing. I can't think of a better way to spend my last free morning here.
I spent the rest of the morning thrift shopping with friends, playing cards, and saying a few goodbyes.
It's cool because today is the fourth anniversary of the day I first met Camilla (from Germany who inspired me to do this). Shout out to you, Camilla!
My bags are packed, I got my boarding passes and charged my iPod...it's time to go!
Let's see, what else...I went to Walmart for the last time today.
Anyways, after 425982374923759 years of waiting, the day is finally almost here. THANK THE LORD. I'm pretty sure tonight will be even longer than 425982374923759 (Would you believe I just typed that out instead of copying and pasting because I was too lazy to pick my hands up off the keyboard?) years, but I'll make it.
It still hasn't hit me yet, what's happening, maybe a plane ride and some U2 will trigger a realization.
I promise this blog will get way more interesting ("I went to Walmart for the last time today"?) when I'm actually being an exchange student and whatnot. So hang in there!

Today's Song: "On My Way" by Phil Collins
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlwU5IVd66A

Yours truly,
Anne


                                                               The sunrise this morning

                                                         
                                          My little sisters vandalized our new fence for me.

                                                                 
                                                             And just to be thorough...

                                                               
                                                                Really thorough.

                                                                I love those kiddos.

10 Days

     I leave in ten days. Every time I tell myself this I just start laughing. This is so crazy.
     My extended family goodbye party was yesterday. My aunt made me a Christmas tree shaped cake with birthday candles on it to make up for the celebrations I'll be missing while I'm gone, and all my relatives gave me Christmas and birthday gifts (money sneakily wrapped in boxes and bags). And so I spent one last Sunday on the river surrounded by the smells of beer and hot dogs and regular dogs.
     But saying goodbye wasn't emotional or hard really because this just doesn't feel real. The whole time I was trying to get it into my head that I wouldn't be seeing those people for the next ten months, but I just couldn't. In fact, I only started getting sad when I had to say goodbye to my grandparents' fourteen year-old chocolate lab who is going to be put to sleep this week...
     In other news, I picked up a few extra little things for my host family today. Their gifts include: a book about my hometown, a CD of classic southern American music, a razorback key chain/bottle opener (I'm from Arkansas), a deck of cards that say 'Arkansas' and have ducks and deer and some trees or something on them (I'm going to explain that Arkansas is filled with backwoods hill people who shoot things), and some candy (Skittles, Starbursts, Reeses Pieces).
     There are lots of things to stress about, but of all of them what I'm dreading most right now is cleaning my room. But let's be honest; I'm probably just going to throw everything into random bags and boxes and tell my mom it's all stuff I want to keep. Yes, of course I want that blank, wrinkled sheet of graph paper and that Summit Bank piggy bank from 2nd grade.
     I'm sooooo close to what I've been waiting for for sooooo long that I've become a little bit paranoid. I keep thinking that it's too amazing; something bad is going to happen to keep me from going. But all I have to do is survive the next ten days. I've been extra careful lately when crossing the street or driving or walking through my room in the dark.
     Well, wish me luck! Next time I write, I will be in thousands of miles from home surrounded by strangers!
     Just kidding, I'll post again before I leave.

Today's Song: "Death" by White Lies
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTh9IuSTOY0

Sincerely,
Anne


                                                      Here's my fabulous cake!

 
   
   

Host Family

     I have actual news this time. I got my host family! Last week...but I was too lazy to write about it until now. Anyway, I will be living in a small village near Bonn with a mom and dad, a 16 year-old brother, and a 14 year-old sister. They sound like a great family, and I can't wait to meet them! For now though, they are only planning on hosting me for the first semester. I leave in exactly three weeks, which is obviously completely insane, but at the same time, it's hard to imagine waiting even that long. Buuuuut at the same time I feel like there is SO much left to do before I leave.
     In other news, someone broke into my house and stole my camera charger and a half-empty pack of gum. Or so I suspect. After an extremely thorough search for the aforementioned items proved fruitless, this is the conclusion I've had to draw. Thankfully my Amazon Prime thirty day free trial hasn't run out, so I was able to replace the charger without much loss, but the gum cannot be replaced because where, I ask you, can one buy a half-empty pack of gum?
     Despite these troubles, I am on the brink of the greatest adventure of my life so far, and I've realized just how blessed I am, in every way, not just in this. Hopefully this will be the first step away from mediocrity, away from being average, away from unfulfilled dreams and abandoned goals, things I've always feared, and the first step toward something beyond a normal, domestic life, toward making a difference and leaving my mark on the world. Finally, I can begin to truly use the abilities I've been given. I feel like I've been waiting for this forever, and I couldn't be more ready.

Today's Song: "Beautiful Day" by U2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXllELarVAY

Yours truly,
Anne

"Are You Excited?"

So, I just feel like writing a blog post, but I didn't know what I wanted to write about...then I realized this is the perfect opportunity to clarify something that a lot of people seem to be unsure of.
YES. I AM EXCITED.
You see, every time-
EVERY TIME.
I talk to someone about my upcoming year as an exchange student, they ask the same question.
"Are you excited?"
Huh. A thought-provoking question. At first, I was just like "Yeah! Very!" and didn't even think about the silliness of that particular inquiry, but after the first 30-40 times answering it, I starting really thinking about it and wondering what else these questioners could possibly think I would answer with...
Hmm. I've wanted to be an exchange student since sixth grade. I've wanted this specific scholarship since seventh grade. I worked extremely hard to get it. I saved all my money ever for this year. I'm going to Germany. For a year. I will have new friends, family, FOOD, home, experiences, etc. I will learn a new language. This is, by definition, the most exciting thing that's ever happened to me.
Nah, not excited.

No offense, to anyone who has asked me this question, I'm sure you were just fulfilling societal conversational expectations. But next time, don't be afraid to get creative.

And, going along with the theme of excitement, my 'Excited Song' (what I listen to when I'm excited).
Today's song: "I Love It" by Icona Pop (feat. Charlie XCX)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_FrF4b4Rf4

Bye!
Anne

Update

     It's been a while since I posted anything, so I thought it was time I wrote an update. When something as exciting as crazy as getting a scholarship to spend a year abroad happens, you feel like you will never be bored again, like your life has reached a state of permanent interest, but now that this effect has worn off, things have actually been pretty dull. But there have been several developments in the preparation process to share.
     For one thing, I got my debit/credit card after about nine (probably two) hours at the bank. So that was pretty cool...yep. But it seriously is nice to have one more thing checked off the to-do list.
     I have also been working on my packing skills. My first attempt was a bit of a mess, quite literally. I pulled half the clothes out of my closet, crammed about half of them in suitcases, and realized packing was going to be a lot harder than I had thought, then was so overcome with exhaustion that I couldn't even bring myself to unpack the bags or put up my clothes. So I shoved them to the floor and took a nap.
     After a few days of having my bedroom floor covered a foot deep in clothes, shoes, and other rubbish, I finally worked up the energy to do some cleaning, but I wasn't too eager for another trial pack until my mom volunteered to help. Miraculously we (she) succeeded in fitting everything I needed in my bags and weighing in under 50 pounds. BOOM.
     Things are looking much better in the language department. Duolingo really is freaking awesome. I feel like my German skills are truly improving, slowly, but surely. Or at least I did, till I sent my German friend, Camilla a message in German, and she replied that my German was 'amazinnggg but soooooooo funny oh my god'. I should've told her I didn't know 'amazing' had two 'n's and three 'g's. She said she literally 'laughed so hard' and told me I was 'so adorable'. Okay, Camilla. I should remind her that there was a time when she said 'littlier', called corn 'mice', and pronounced 'bear' 'beer'. But I can't be mad at her; for one thing I love her too much, but more importantly it would be hypocritical of me. It's only fair she have a good laugh considering my reactions to some of her more amusing language faux pas. And it probably was pretty funny.
     Only 36 days left. I know it's only a little over a month, and I've already waited 111 days, and people keep saying, "Oh, it'll be here before you know it", but NO. This is a myth. Time is sloooooowly craaaaawling by. It feels like it will never get here. Still, I can think of a lot of numbers more intimidating than 36. 52, for example. I'm just trying to stay active, busy (she writes as she listens to the New Moon soundtrack on loop and watches starts another episode of Switched at Birth).
     My mom just came in my room carrying a jacket and told me to wear it next time I took a shower so I could see if it was very waterproof.. But, I mean, hey, we have to find out somehow.
     Anyway.
     I've done a lot of preparatory shopping (just like ordinary shopping, but I only buy neutral colored clothes because it's Europe we're talking about). In fact, I've done a bit too much shopping. All preparatorially, of course, but I've had to put a hold on my finances for the moment nonetheless, just as a precaution.
     Well, I guess the point of all this is...inconclusive. But life goes on. Time does pass, though the rate varies.  And really, I should be glad time is creeping along, because time is the one thing we can never get back once it's gone, the one thing we can never get more of, and therefore the most valuable thing there is...SO JUST BE HAPPY!!!

Today's song: "Vienna" by Billy Joel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZdiXvDU4P0

Yours truly,
Anne
   
   
   

Endings and Beginnings

     So many chapters of my life are ending right now, and so many 'last's' are happening. My freshman year of high school is over. Never again will I pass my senior-or junior, for that matter- friends in the halls at school. Last night I ate my last dinner with my full family before I get back from Germany due to summer plans. Tomorrow will be the last time all four Paul sisters are together until, once again, I get back from Germany. Tonight I attended my last American high school event for over a year, and my last ever with one of my closest friends who is a senior. And on top of it all, the last ever episode of "The Office" was aired. The nostalgia brought on by all of this is overwhelming.
     But then...at the same time, with every ending comes a beginning. Summer is just starting and then my sophomore year is waiting not too far ahead. When I get back from Germany, my sister Leslie will be entering her ninth grade year, and we will be in the same school for the first time since elementary. Who knows, maybe we'll be friends ;) And I can't wait to hear all about my older friends' college experiences. Before I know it, I will be eating dinner with a new family, my new family. I might have new siblings, and I will have a whole new, probably very different, high school where I will make many lifelong friends, I'm sure. All of this because, most importantly, in 70 days I will be leaving my home to begin a long journey that already has, and will continue to change my life.
     Sometimes when I think back on good memories, times I can never go back to, I can get pretty depressed, but that's life, so the best thing you can do is force yourself not to dwell on the past, or even too much on the future, but to live in the present, because it's really all you have. You can't relive moments, and you can't live in the future, because it doesn't exist; it's just something we call time that hasn't happened yet, and when it does happen, it is the present. You will always be in the present. Every moment you are living is your life, so don't just let things happen, make things happen, so that when you do look back, it won't be with regret.

Today's Song: "Be Still" by The Killers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IM3-AWhmI6w

Yours,
Anne

Passport

     So, I got my passport in the mail Friday (didn't have a chance to open it till today), which was pretty exciting. ..It looks just like they do in the movies! Unfortunately, my passport picture is hideous due to a miscommunication. Suffice to say I don't like people who don't warn other people when they are going to have their passport pictures taken, especially when said other people have wet hair and are wearing no makeup. But the guilty party bought me forgiveness white chocolate-covered pretzels, so it turned out alright.
     This is getting more and more real. I received confirmation of CIEE's receipt of my secondary application, I have my passport, and next month the information packets will be sent out, and (hopefully)I will find out who my host family is going to be. I CAN'T WAIT!!!!
     Language update: I've started studying German again, and am proud to say that I finally understand how to change article adjectives to the accusative form. Progress.
     As much as I want to be leaving already, I know that I shouldn't wish away four months of my life; I am going to try to make the most of them. They will, I know, be fantastic months. I'm just so happy. I love my life.

Today's song: "Send Me on My Way" by Rusted Root
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qBTuwX9hj0

Till next time,
Anne

Greetings!

     Hello! This is my first ever blog post, so just bear with me please. Anyways, my name is Anne, I'm currently a Freshman in high school, and I have received the Congress-Bundestag Scholarship (For more info click here: http://www.usagermanyscholarship.org/) This means I will be spending approximately ten months in Germany starting August 10th! After a 3-week language and orientation camp, I will live with a German family and attend German high school. I have wanted to be an exchange student in Germany ever since I was in sixth grade, when my family hosted a German girl for a school year. It is crazy to think that now I am in her place. I still don't think I fully have a grasp on the fact that I will be in a foreign country speaking a foreign language surrounded by strangers in four months, and will be there for a year. But I guess it'll register when I'm there...
     So, this is how it all happened: I found out about this scholarship a little over two years ago when I was a seventh grader and knew I wanted to apply. For two years, I obsessively read every web page, blog post, and forum discussion about this program as well as watched many, many videos multiple times waiting for the time when I would be old enough to apply (it's a high school scholarship). Finally, this year it was my turn.
     The application process involved writing many short essays, telling about my hobbies, memberships, and experiences, filling out basic info, and getting my transcript and two teacher recommendations. Very...thorough. I had a little scare there in January right before they started reviewing applications. I received an email one evening saying that my application was incomplete. They had only received one of my recommendation letters and they needed the second by morning or I wouldn't be considered for the scholarship. Of course, I started crying hysterically. I frantically texted and called my teacher, and we managed to get everything together in time, but...yeah, that's pretty much the story.
Thankfully, I look great on paper (not to brag...actually, yes, to brag), and was selected as a semifinalist in February. That was nice, but I was fairly confident (perhaps a little too confident) that I would get that far. I knew that the real decider would be the interview. Unfortunately, all the interview locations were really far away from where I live, so I had to settle for a Skype interview.
     I was actually interviewed by the main lady over this scholarship (Juliette Van de Geer), which, for me, was like meeting a celebrity, but she was really nice. And I guess my interview went really well, because 11 days later (on March 13) I got the scholarship! I got home from school on the day the finalists were to be announced and immediately yelled at my sister to bring me my phone from where I'd left it charging for the school day. When I saw that I had a missed call from a number I didn't know, I couldn't believe it. I had an email too, which would have told me what I wanted to know, but I wanted to hear the words said. I called back and Juliette Van de Geer told me I got it. I just couldn't believe it. I proceeded to read the first two lines of my acceptance email, but I still wasn't really sure I'd gotten it (as if "We would like to be the first to congratulate you..." left room for other interpretation). I just want to know what made them pick ME over the others, as a  Freshman no less. I just don't know.
     Well, as life changing as this news was, I still had to go to soccer practice. This felt a little ridiculous, considering the situation, but I was not about to find out what coach would do if I was late. While I was on the phone and checking my email, I had my one of my sisters put my socks, shinguards and shoes on for me.  I had to run to make it to practice on time, and I probably looked super crazy because I couldn't stop smiling and laughing. I kind of screamed at every semi-acquaintance that I met on my way to the soccer field that I was going to Germany. Crazy to think that random people I never talk to found out before my parents. When I got to practice, I was desperate to find more people to tell, so I told everyone I made eye contact with pretty much. I actually forgot to tell my soccer coach until the next day. Ha. He said we might have to start practicing someone else at my position (center mid). I told him yes, yes, in fact maybe I should just not play center mid at all anymore. He thought I was kidding.
     Finally, I remembered to call my best friend. She was pretty shocked I think. I was too. Then I couldn't call anyone else because soccer practice had to start. Fate stepped in and Coach decided to let us have a super easy practice that day (which never happens) thank goodness. I talked to my older sister, texted and called some other friends, and finally, after I'd been home for about half an hour, remembered to call my mom (my sister had already called my dad). In celebration, I spent the night with my friend, Amy, watched so much TV, ate way too much ice cream, and basked in all the social networking love I was receiving.
    I've spent the past few weeks completing the secondary application, which is what they use to place you with the best host family for your personality, applying for my passport, buying a plane ticket to Washington DC, where we meet for a pre-departure orientation on August 8th, resuming my online German learning, and making sooooooo many lists. I am also now the proud owner of my dad's old laptop which I have personalized with not one, but two, countdown extensions to the day of my departure. I'm excited.
    However, there is much to do before I leave, like shopping and completing my pre-departure bucket list, and holding many, many going-away parties. Well, I just thought I'd introduce myself...in a super long, way too detailed blog post that probably no one will read. Ah, well, you can't have everything.
Oh, I almost forgot. With each blog post, I'm going to also post a song that I've been listening to a lot lately or that is just an awesome song that I can relate to at the time or something. Really, I just want to share my amazing taste in music with the world.

Today's song: "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" by U2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrfMMP2NTCE

Till next time,
Anne