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.