My last post :(

I can't wait to see everyone but I am so sad to leave!! My host family is incredible and all of us students have gotten really close! But today was an awesome last day! I got an A in my conversation class!!  I had some type of spaghetti for lunch and was sooo good! Then my whole family went zip lining and climbing! It's called klettern here but I don't really think we have the same thing in America?! You were just connected to a cable and walked across beams, ropes, obstacles and then you would always zip line at the end of each course! It was so much fun...I was so scared but it was that good, scared feeling! Full of adrenaline and so fun with my fam! We did that for about 3 hours then we went to a biergarten to eat and  talk. The weather the past few days has been perfect...a little hot when I try to sleep...but during the day blue sky! We walked around the town after we ate, not sure where we were though....we drove about 30 minutes. 

We got home just about an hour and a half ago....so I had to say bye to my two oldest guest sisters because they go to school really early! I hate saying bye, especially after Ive had such an awesome time. They also got me a good bye present...a bavarian apron to go with my cookbook, a sign to hang in my new apt and they wrote the nicest card ever! In the morning I have to say bye to Eva...I will miss her bad, little whiny self sooo much! So this summer has been wonderful and one I will never forget! 

But now I can look forward to seeing you all...this time tomorrow I will almost be in cinci! liebe dich und sehen uns morgen!

Ganz gute Tagen!

Ok now a happy post!! The past two days were awesome! Monday I had my final in my grammar class...it was only over our vocab notebooks so it wasn't bad. After class I came home for lunch and then met Stephanie around 2.30 to go to Dachau the concentration camp. You have to switch S-bahn trains and then take a bus once you get into to town of Dachau. It took about an hour....so we get off the bus, walk past the info center to the gates and it's closed!!!!!!! Its closed every monday! I felt so stupid because I had looked at their webpage to see what trains/buses we needed! But there were signs outside the gate describing the SS buildings so it wasn't a total failure! In the Dachau train station we saw a sign for Subway and Steph wanted bacon real bad! We thought it was in the station but we go and it wasnt! It was about 3 bus stops away....we spent about 30 mins trying to figure out which bus took us there, which we never did! Now I was like oh there's one in the Munich train station! We get on the train and go to Munich and couldnt find it! So we ask someone working in the dept store....and there is not a subway there! By this time we were hungry and bacon sounded real good!! Now we had to take the train 4 more stops and the subway would be right there. Ok we get there and it takes about 20 mins of walking around until we see it! Yay finally!!! And it was sooo good...we both got extra bacon and loved it! We made friends with the guy that worked there so he was asking where we learned german, about our summer and where we leaved. He then told us the biggest subway IS in the munich station! Schade!   After 4 hours of searching we found it and found out it couldve only taken 2 hours!  ;)

Long story but it was so silly! Monday night I went to Jessie's house with Steph to study for our culture final. We stayed there until 1 and when we walked back it was so cold!!  But tuesday was our final and it went ok! I didn't know a few of the matching names and dates but oh well it is over!!!! That class was not too much fun! After class some of us went to the new ice cream parlor since it was about 92 degrees!! Then I went to the supermarkt to load up on lots of maoams and choc to bring home!!!!! Yay yay maoams! I went with Hans, Julia and Eva to the lake to lay out...but we only stayed a little while since last night was the final/goodbye party. The party was sad and fun...they had a buffet, each class put on a skit and then dr weber talked forever!! I just realized how awesome my guest fam really is! After the party most of the students, including me went to Groebenzell one last time! Sooo much fun!

Now Im supposed to be cleaning my room...oopps! Then Im going to school for the very last time  :(   We have to turn in our german cell phones and work out all of flight details because I will be home TOMORROW!!!  I am really excited to see you all....the first thing I'm doing is taking a drive, singing real loud and getting a huge mt dew! But I am very sad to leave...my fam, the other students, germany are all so awesome. My host mom said I can come visit and stay here whenever and bring my friends! 

Love you all and I will be back tomorrow around 8.30pm so I better see all of you SOON!  

Ganz schlechtes Wochenende :( :(

Ok I'm not gonna go into too much detail....that is how bad it sucks! This weekend was terrible...I don't even have words to say how bad it was! But on friday, I got to the airport and on my plane fine! It was only 55 minutes but when we were landing there were a lot of dark clouds so it was very very bumpy! So scary! 

Then he was waiting on me and he came over a hugged me! Then we went to his apartment and just watched tv. It just felt so weird. He slept almost all day saturday, then we walked around the city a little. He got mad cause I didnt research about Bremen! He didnt talk to me for like 5 mins! Then we sat by the river and talked about school and jobs....where he then told me I was lazy and a typical american since I dont know exactly what I want to do! He said I have to have some interest in at least one thing and that I was not lazy for having internships! I dont know what was going on but I did not visit the person I was expecting too! Saturday night we watched his end of school video that his friend made. Then he went to bed!!

Sunday he woke up late again and he drove me to where he works at the shipyard. We walked around and sat by another river. Then he said we need to get back so you can pack up your things. It only took me 5 mins cause I hadn't really used anything since I just sat there all weekend! We had an hour before I needed to be at the airport so he rolls over to the couch on a computer chair and goes off on me!!! He said I wasnt excited to be there, he doesnt know why I came, I didnt show any interest in the city, Im lazy and will end up staying in Maysville, getting fat like everyone else. He said I showed no emotions so then I just started crying!!! I have no idea where this came from! And now Im not really sad...Im just so mad that he treated me like that since I have done everything for him even though we live thousands of miles apart! He was sooo rude and mean and just evil! Not the phil I was excited to see! So I told him I wanted to go to the airport...I would wait there instead! So he took me and I was crying the whole time, crying at my gate and during my flight! I was so upset that the check-in lady spoke german to me and she asked window or aisle seat...and I said tv! Im almost glad cause I can finally be completely done with philipp...I already sent him a goodbye email...its not worth it! Im not wasting my time anymore...Im too lazy to write anymore emails!  ;)

And to make it even better my flight home was late and when we got to munich there were too many planes to land so we had to fly around the airport for about 15 mins! Then the train home takes an hour...so it was late and I had forgotten my key! So I texted my fam and they came to pick me up at the station in esting so I didnt have to walk with all of my stuff so late! 

horrible weekend...Im trying to quickly forget it!

  **The group with the mayor of Olching [guy in front, left]! Credit this photo to Jessie...I still haven't had time to upload mine!

Yay...blogging about the actual day!

Today was finally sooooo beautiful!!! When I woke up it was raining but by the time school was over it was blue sky with zero clouds!!!! It was about 85 which is a little warm but I will take it....it was awesome! And good thing we had nice weather because we went to my teachers house for lunch. It was a typical bavarian meal...Leberkaese, potato salad and pretzels. Sehr lecker [very yummy]  After lunch all the conversation people had to stay to watch the movie, Goodbye, Lenin! It was hard to stay in and watch a movie but it's a good one so that made it easier.

I got back to my house around 4.30 and Eva was sick. She had thrown up. Poor thing looked terrible! I then went to a lake to swim with Hans, Julia and Leoni. I had not been to this lake and it was soooo much prettier than the Olchinger See, where we usually go. It was so clean that you could see your feet and there was much more grass to lay out on! We layed out, got in the water, ate ice cream and then came home around 7.30. Christine was working so Hans made dinner...sunny-side up eggs and salad. Odd for bavaria?!

Now I just got done packing...so Im gonna study for my irregular verbs test tomorrow and go to sleep soon! I have to get up early, go to school and then catch my flight! Hans told me exactly where Lufthansa check-in is so Im not too worried about getting there on time anymore! I'm so excited to see Phil and Im also very excited to see you all...I'll be almost home this time in 7 days!

Loooovvvvveeeee yyyooouuuu!

still behind...

Ok I am doing my best and I'm not gonna have time to post my Berlin pics...but they're on facebook and if you don't have facebook I will gladly show you in person!! In only 8 days!

Well yesterday was a good day! Class and then lunch...white rice with sauce and meat and of course cucumbers with some type of dressing! I have so much homework due that I came upstairs and started to work on finishing my vocab notebooks...well an hour later I woke up! I fell asleep sitting up!! Im starting to get exhausted but I don't want to sleep...I want to see everything before Im out of time. Once I woke up I heard Eva outside playing so I went out and sat on the bench with Christine. Eva had to pee so Christine just told her to go by the tree!! The bathroom is only up a few steps so I don't understand the whole peeing outside deal! Oh well...we all stayed outside until about 5 and then I came in because it was sooo humid! At 7.30 we had to go to Stammtisch in Olching...just a gathering. Hans and I walked since Im afraid of my bike now...it was only a 20 min walk. Christine had to dry her hair so she met us there with her bike! It was a lot of fun...most all of the students were there with their fams so we talked and ate very good pizza. We stayed until about 11 so we walked home and I went to bed...I had the get up extra early today!

Today, Wed 15...all of the students plus the 8 from germany 1 went to visit King Ludwig's castles. We left at 8 and had a two hour drive on a bus. We went to Neuschwanstein first...it was up a little mtn and was the castle that Disney copied to design Cinderella's castle. It is not finished but we got to see 15 rooms...a little disappointing because it is huge from the outside...and the tour only lasted 15 min! But there was a bridge nearby that he had built for hi girlfriend. It was really high and narrow but it was a gorgeous view of the castle, mtns and the valley. After that we drove about 45 mins to his hunting castle. We didn't know we were going there too so we were all out of cash and they weren't any atms. So we all just got ice cream and sat outside! The bus ride home lasted forever!! We had to stop about  times because people needed to potty! We finally got back to esting around 7.30 but both of my guest parents are working so my house was silent. I just took a shower and wrote my last journals/essays due tomorrow! We did a lot today...it doesnt really sound like it but we walked a ton and saw a lot of very old things! Tomorrow the conversation professor is cooking us a typical bavarian meal! yikes...

But Ill be home one week from tomorrow! I love it here but I miss you all and love you too!

Wooowww

Ok I've got a lot to talk about but I'll try to make it short cause it'll be boring if it's too long and Im sleepy!

Thursday the 9th...I went to school like normal and had a test! Then I dont really remember what I did...its been a while now! :)  But I know I did pack for Berlin!! I bought an online ticket so I had to print it! Hans, my guest father is out of ink so the neighbor was gonna let me print it! She's not a neighbor....she lives in our same house!!!!!!! On my floor!!!! I had no idea for almost 4 weeks!!! She has her own little apartment!! I always saw her door but I just thought it was a storage room or something!! IDK but very odd that I have never seen her coming or going!

Friday-Sunday was Berlin!!!!!!!! It was once again amazing!! Our train was supposed to leave at 9.21 but it was 20 minutes late...and it was supposed to be 6 hrs and 23 min but it was only 5!! Sehr gut! When we arrived we [jessie and me] were meeting stephanie at our hostel. We got a little turned around along the wall but we found it! It was a room for 8 people with its own bath but we never got roommates!!! Which was nice so we didn't have to be quiet when we got back at night! Fri night we met up with a girl that had been an exchange student in Jessie's town....she gave us the tour and was soooo pretty with the lights!! Sat morning we woke up early to go up in the dome of the Reichstag [their capital buliding]...we only waited an hour and it was sooo worth it! Great views of the city and Jessie's an architect major so she loved it even more!! An american architect designed it...Norman somebody...I have papers so I can show everyone when I get home! The we had to go to kurfurstendamm...the shopping district because dumb me only took flip flops and we were going to go on a 4 hour tour!!! And the soles of my flip flops are gone!!!!! And the ku'damm is close to where I stayed last time so it was so neat seeing it all again! And on our four our tour I saw it all again and it was great! We had really good weather but it was pretty chilly! Only about 50 and windy...waiting in line that morning got cold! Our train back sunday morning left at 11.52 so we went and got food for the ride and got a sandwich to eat while we waited for it. Well we boarded on time but then the lights went off and it shut down!! So we had to sit on the train for an hour while they fixed it and the ride was almost 7 hours!!! We were already exhausted so that long ride didnt help! I came home and told Christine a little about the trip, showered and went to bed!!

Today Mon 13th was great weather!! 80 and mostly sunny! FINALLY! My fam says I bring rain because when Im gone it doesnt rain any and when I got back yesterday it rained! And its supposed to be rainy in Bremen this weekend and sunny here!! Schade! We met with the mayor of Olching in their city hall...he actually lives right across the street from me! It was good...he didn't go on talking forever like Herr Weber!! Thank goodness!!! But after that 5 of us went swimming in the Amper river til about 7. Then I came home, ate some cereal, showered, did hwork and now Im in bed!! Long days ahead but only 9 until Im home...still miss you all but Im sad to leave...I feel like I got here yesterday! But I have plenty of good stories to share and Ill post some pics tomorrow! 

Love you all!

8. Juli

Oooppss I have the wrong month for yesterday...see time is going by way too fast! 

Today we had better weather! It was cool but sunny! Yay!!!!  I went to class and we talked about the political parties in germany...viel Spass! Then I came home for lunch and had i think chicken over white rice. Again...it was good whatever it was! For dessert, I had banana pudding with some choc pudding on top. Not much of a choc, banana or pudding person but it was good  too! 

At 3, we all had to meet at the school for the tour of old esting with mr. burkon. We walked about a mile and sat in an old church to listen to the history of the town. Not much fun but Im in europe so it was still awesome! After the tour...me and jessie went into munich to eat and I wanted to find a bavarian cookbook. Jessie also had to send some more postcards so we went to the post office and then tried to decide where to eat. Burger King was right across the street and she finally gave in and went with me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was real good...not as good as the food Christine always cooks...but a reminder of home and it was wonderful. We both got double cheeseburgers and fries...she loved it even if she didn't want to say it! Then we went to Hugendubel...a bookstore that we love to say! It's huge...like 5 stories and has everything...like a barnes and noble. But I found a cookbook with lots of pics so now when I come home Im gonna cook bavarian meals for everyone and you all will love it! Im not very good at cooking but Ill give it a try. And good news...it came with a cd of bavarian music...so not only can we eat bavarian food...we can listen to bavarian music while were eating it! YES! You all should be very excited! We came back after that, around 8, because we both had to write 2 essays and study for our convo test. But Im not studying bc I studied for the last test and got a 2 but I didnt study for the first and got a 1! So that sounds like I shouldn't study ever again  ;)   Eva also got a new game and she was dying to show it to me...she wanted to play tonight but it was her bedtime so I promised her I would play tomorrow.

But...tomorrow is going to be a busy busy day! I have to pack for berlin, go to a neighbors to print  my ticket, play the game with eva and make it to our annual stammtisch in grobenzell where we all are going to have a sleepover at dans because his house is closer to the train and our train leaves at 8.47. So I dont have any pics for today but dont worry! Im going to berlin and will have tons when I get back! Miss and love you! vierti

7. Juni

I want to stay caught up, especially weekdays because I'm gonna be gone again this weekend!! Yay Berlin! And yesterday was not very eventful...so I have time to write about it before I have to go back to my school and go on of a tour of Old Esting. I live in Neu Esting but they're pretty much the same...over 1200 years old! 

Yesterday we got our second test back and this time I got a 2! I forgot to do an entire section! I don't know what's wrong with me sometimes?! I guess I had a sad face and Frau Burkon said alles gut Danielle! A 2 is still an A in the states. When I came home, Eva was cutting things out of a magazine and was looking at the picture album I had sent after the wreck. So we cut gabby out and then cut out clothes for her to wear! Eva thought it was sooo funny. For lunch I had meat with potatoes, cooked carrots and cucumbers! Again cucumbers in everything! They always say we're having fleisch [meat]...they never say what kind and sometimes I can't tell. Who knows what I've eaten haha! I think it was some kind of ham though! Of course it was delicious.

I still don't have my ticket to Berlin! So after lunch I looked on the internet again and had planned to go into Munich to ask in the office. But it started pouring! I didn't want to go if it was that rainy so I didn't! I just stayed in and played with Eva. We played a little hide-and-seek and she likes when I lay down and let her fly on my legs. Then Christine wanted to watch coverage of Michael Jackson stuff so we just sat around and watched tv. Took a break for some ham and cheese sandwiches and the got ready to watch the actual memorial! It was quite odd watching it in german but they just had a person speaking over the english. I tried real hard to hear the english so that I could understand such a historical moment  ;)  I came up with the girls around 9 our time...worked on homework and eventually went to bed. I have to get ready for this tour now! It's really windy and cool...like 55 degrees. I also need to figure out my ticket to Berlin situation.

We also got a calendar of our last events! We pretty much have something going on everyday and it's gonna go by soooo fast  :(   But I do miss you all and of course I looove you!  vierti

Waaaayyyy behind!

Sorry I'm so behind on my Abenteuer [adventures]!! First...Salzburg was pretty awesome! It was a little dirtier than Munich and it was full of obvious tourists! People were everywhere with their maps out and fanny packs on! It was very pretty though! All of the buildings are so old and beautiful! Every shop in the city has to have a sign that looks old...like elaborate, goldish... The city is pretty much split in the middle by the Salzach River. On one side is the "old city" and the other is just the "city" Even though pretty much everything in Salzburg is very, very old! On our first day we visited the Hellbrunn Garden, which has the trick fountains that the Archbishop used to trick his visitors with after they had had a lot to drink! We went on a tour of those and tried our best not to get soaked but it was fun! We also hiked up the mountain to have an amazing view of the mountains and the city! It was fairly nice weather and the view was breathtaking! Halfway up the mtn was a stone theater that the king used to entertain himself! We played around with it some to break our climb in half! That night we went out to a pizza place and sat outside with some Austrians and some tourists!

On saturday I finally got to go on the Sound of Music tour!!!! No one would go with me but I knew that I wasn't going to Salzburg and not going on it! I got up early since I didn't really know how to get there to make sure I wouldn't miss it! I had no problems and made it to the meeting place by 11.30! The tour didn't start until 2!!! Ha! I just walked around and went to a bakery to get some food! Then it was 2 and it all started!!!!! It was soo fun and lasted 4 hours! We drove 30 minutes in the country and that was gorgeous!! Everyone else went to the castle while I was gone but I think I made the right choice! The little country village was so pretty and the fields up to the mtns were so green! But I got to see pretty much every scene that was shot in Austria! The indoor shots were done in LA. I did get to see the church where the marriage scene was...it was so much smaller but even prettier! That night I met the group at our hostel and we went back out!

I got home sunday and my fam was not home...so I came up to my room and immediately just fell asleep. I woke up and Hans just came in my room! He didn't know I was home and he was sooo embarrassed!! But I was just in bed but he got all red! It was a pretty day so I went outside and played with the girls. They had a foam airplane that we played with forever! Fun enough. My guest mom had to work so we had to eat whatever we could find...I just ate toast and good strawberry jelly! After the girls went to bed I sat on the balcony and talked to Hans until Christine got home! '

And today I had school and we are talking about the world's trash problem in my convo class! I have no idea why but we talk about trash for an hour and a half! So weird! I cam home for lunch and had spaghetti...they put cucumbers in everything here! There were cucumbers in the sauce, I had a cucumber salad and she had put cucumbers on the sandwich she gave me for school! It was all good though. Then this afternoon we ate cake and played a board game and two card games. I think I lost every time! I went shopping with Christine and Julia after that to a place like walgreens and then one like a hallmark. I bought a big book bag so that I have more room to bring things home! And from about 7 until 15 miutes ago I was doing non-stop homework! I had to do 10 pages in a workbook, write 2 essays, correct 1 essay and work on my vocabulary book. We only have 7 more days of class...we need 60 words for convo and I have 30 but for culture we'll have to have 80 and I have 18! oopppsss

Now Im gonna sleep so that I can have fun tomorrow! I hope everyone has gotten their postcard! I love you all and I miss you!! 

2 Juli

Ok tonight is another early night because I'm leaving for Austria in the morning!!!!!!! Yay home of the Sound of Music...which I have already looked up info for! The tour is 4 hours!!!!! I can barely control my excitement! But we leave Esting at 8.57 in the morn so I've gotta get all rested up for what's gonna be an awesome 4th of July celebration in Salzburg!

Today was school with both classes and another test in my convo class. I did glance through my notes a little but there was a section of vocab that we had to know that came from our workbook....oops! But I think I still did sehr gut! The weather was beautiful again...3rd day in a row! So me and jess went into the city and climbed the tower of the Frauenkirche [Mary's Church] and you're supposed to be able to see the Alps from there but we didn't  :(  I will fo sho see them tomorrow though!! Then we went to Olympia Park bc Tollwood, the fair-like thing that my fam took me to is still going on. But we never found it! Ha...it was pretty though so we walked around and Bruce Springsteen was in concert at the arena! There were so many people just sitting outside of it listening! Crazy german fans! It started thundering so we headed back to the subway and came home. I got home and watched tv with the sisters, fixed a pizza [apparently the girls eat pizza every time Christines not home!] and packed for Austria!! The train ride is only about 2 hours so not bad and they still speak german there so that's good too! So I won't be able to blog again until Sunday night or Mon! I'll have plenty of pics!!

Happy 4th of July Saturday!!!  liebe dich...vermisse dich immer!

1. Juli

Yay I have time to blog after the actual day! But that's only because we all have so much homework that we can't go out and have fun tonight! boooooo  

I have a test, two journal articles, vocab notebook and a workbook due! I have most of it done though. I didn't go to Stammtisch since neither of my guest parents are here to go with me!  :(   After class I came home and ate Schinkennudeln...which is noodles and ham!! Very good! And today was sooo sunny again so I met Jessie, Dan and Josh at the Olchinger See. But since I had my bike wreck I took the train and then the bus! I hadn't ridden the bus yet but I got to the see and back without running into any fences! YES! At the see [lake] they swam but I just layed out. There was a rope swing but I didn't think it was smart with my current injuries. Haha but I got a good tan!

When I got home I showered and started homework. It was really hot since my room's on the third floor so I went down with the girls to watch tv. We watched spongebob which is always a good time...but squidward is tadeus here! So weird...al the others are the same! We were watching it and I was doing hwork and all of a sudden it was 8! Stammtisch was at 7.30 in Olching so it would've been 8.30 by the time I got there! So I just ate cereal for dinner and talked with my guest sisters! Now I'm in bed not wanting to study! I'm so excited for the next/last 3 weekends!  Salzburg, Berlin and Bremen!

sorry pretty boring day!! llooooovvvvvveeeee and mmmmiiiissssss you all!!!  vierti

29 & 30 Juni

Time is going by sooo fast! But it was finally pretty weather today and yesterday! And I of course had school both days. Monday/yesterday I had both of my classes and my culture class is just too boring! We talk about the medieval times in german and it just isn't fun to listen to! So after class we all wanted to enjoy some sun finally! Me and jessie went to the englischer garten in munich. It's twice as big as central park and has the world's largest bier garten and the river than runs through it has big waves...so there's a section where you can watch people surfing. We went to the bier garten and just did some people watching. Everyone smokes here bc every 2 minutes someones asking "feuer" which means lighter and of course I never have one. Silly germans! After the bier garten we walked to watch the surfers...it's rained so much that were under a high water advisory so the waves were really big and it was pretty awesome to watch! Surfing in the middle of a giant city! Jess and I went back for dinner at our houses then we met at the train station to go two stops over to Groebenzell. Dan, josh, steph and jordan were meeting us at a little neighborhood bier garten. We stayed there until like 1...talking to locals and it was fun! 

Today, Christine and eva flew to sweden to visit hans. It was evas first time flying so christine was nervous! But eva could draw for hours! She draws the same thing over and over but could do it all day....so she took lots of paper! I went to my one convo class and I got a 1 on my first test!! Which is the best....it goes 1-6! and i didnt even study! im so smart...jk! And it was so hot and sunny today that we decided to make a trip to the olchinger see [lake]. Its about a 15 minute bike ride which made me a little nervous but we made it! The water was really cold but it felt good after laying out! We had gone to the supermarkt to buy some food and these ducks swam by so we started throwing bread. Well they were real friendly little ducks! They walked right up onto our towels and were in our faces wanting food fast! So I started throwing it in the air and making them catch it...well one little duck was real fast and bit me! he just got my finger nail but it was scary! So then we headed back and i made it back to esting fine...got almost to my house and ran into a fence!! I just hit it and fell over! idk how really...but i did! I scraped up my right leg and arm but Im ok! Just no more bike riding for me! Good thing my house is the closest one to our school! But tonight I was supposed to go to our normal biergarten...but we had too much hwork and we have stammtisch tomorrow...so double timin it tomorrow! I also have a lot of pics of the surfing and all that...but Im tired and am actually gonna do my homework so i can enjoy stammtisch!

so pics soon!! love you miss you

I've lost track of days!

But today was Andechs...what my guest mom had called pilgrimage in english! But not so much! We drove about 30 mins and then got out to hike up a mountain! I rode with with Laura's fam because Christine was driving Eva up and I wanted to hike! So I mean it wasn't a huge like alp mountain but it was rather tough! It took us about an hour and a half and some parts were soooo steep! It was really foggy but it was not too hot so it was nice hiking weather. When we got to the top everyone immediately sat on some steps. Well there was a church on top but only Laura, her guest mom and I went in and only for a few minutes. I couldn't really understand too much...they sang for the most part when I was in there but when they prayed I could understand a lot more! Then they took communion but I just went out since I'm not catholic. It was a really pretty church though and it was interesting going to church in a diff language!

So I went outside and went up to another biergarten where we all met and ate. A lot of my neighbors went so it was good to talk to some new people and be so excited that I was understanding them too! I ate some kind of pork and potato salad...which like everything else was very good! After we ate and talked for about two hours it was time to go back down...which was a lot easier! Christine had left already to work but she was so worried about my legs...but they did good! When we got to the bottom though, we couldn't find the car. So we walked around for another 30 minutes! Ha I was ready to sit down when we finally got to the car!

As soon as I got home I took a nap! I only got four hours of sleep in Nuernberg and had to get up at 7 today! Well when I got up I almost just fell over! My legs were sooo sore! But I took a few advil and now they're normal. And I'm watching USA/Brazil...the first time I've really watched tv since I've been here. But Christine is not here and the girls are of course in bed! But we're winning 2-0! Sooooo glad I found it! The tv is hard to work...they have satellite and you have to use like 3 remotes but not in the normal 3 remote way! IDK you just have to be here I guess! But I have both of my classes tomorrow so I should prob go to bed but I think I'm gonna try to stay up for the entire game. And I'll add some pics...of Nuernberg, Nazi rally grounds

So love you miss you! 

Ok past 3 days!

Ok I already forgot exactly what all I did on thurs...but I went to the biergarten and one of our professors came! Weird but it was a good time...it rained really hard while we were there but we were sitting at a table under a tent! I came home around 8.30 and I just got ready for school and went to bed. My senior citizen bedtime still applies even in deutschland!  ;)

But yesterday/friday was of course school. We had our first test that I didn't study for...and it was fine. I'm sure I did awesome. We didn't have our culture class but we got some homework back and I got a 63  out of 75 on my journal entry because I was one line short of two pages?!! She wrote that it was good writing and grammar but she could see my structural mistake! Oh well! We went to Nurnberg after class and we stayed the night there.  It was about and hour and 40 min train ride. But the train was already full so some people had to stand up the entire time! So we finally got there and it is a very pretty town. It looks like a german town...with little row houses all diff colors and bridges and cobblestone streets! So much prettier than munich. But we stayed in a hostel on a mountain...it was actually a castle were the bavarian royalty used to stay. It was really nice but you had to hike up a mountain to get there! After we got our rooms Dr Weber took us on a walking tour and showed us all of the most famous sights. I usually daydream through most of it...but I got good pics! After our tour we were free for the night...so I ended up going to a biergarten with dan and josh...then later tried to find a disko with leah but she gets a little annoying so I went to a hookah bar with jessie! It was a fun night!

So today/sat morning we woke up and went to the germanisches internationalmuseen. It was rather boring...then after that dan, jessie, josh and I went to the Nazi Museum which is in/connected to Hitler's stadium/coliseum. It was awesome! We could only stay about a hour bc our train back to munich but we couldve stayed like 3. Some students went to the toy museum instead...but that was real stupid! You can't go to nurnberg without seeing what hitler had planned/tried to do/did! 

We got back tonight around 7.30 so I came back and watched movies with my guest sisters! It's still so weird living with people that I've known for less than two weeks! They're awesome though and I'm going on Andex tomorrow. She described it in english as a pilgrimage. Her english is not good so idk. We are walking up a mountain then eating at a restaurant on top with all the fellow church goers. Should be interesting! But I'm so sleepy and we're leaving at 8.30! I'll try to put some pics up tomorrow!

Ich liebe und vermisse dich!

ps. Postcards are ready to be sent. I just have to figure out how to do it!  

Day 9...24.Juni

Ok so I've been falling behind with my daily blogs...so it's only 1.10 here but my fam is not home, I have no homework, I'm going to the beirgarten at 2.30 to continue my classes weekly, thursday, biergarten tradition, but I have a minute to write about yesterday!

But...yesterday the weather was terrible and I had lots of homework so I pretty much stayed home. I went to school like normal and came home and Christine had to go to work until 10. She works in the ICU part of Munich's largest hospital. So I ate lunch that Oma had made and then took a nap! Julia gets home from school at 1 so when I woke up we met Jessie at the Supermarkt! It was prob like a 15 min walk and it was pretty much like a mini-walmart. They had clothes, shoes, food... We got pizzas to make for dinner and I found the peach ice tea that I looovvveee!! So I was pretty excited! It started to rain on us on the walk home and it was only like 50 here so it was cold! By the time we got back we were soaked! I started some homework and we waited on Leoni to get home so we could make our pizzas.

After we ate I had to do an interview with my guest family about school. Since the parents went home I just asked the girls. Here in germany they have like one main elementary/middle school for 4 years and then you can choose between 3 high schools. Gymnasium is the best and most kids start out trying to stay in it...but if their grades slip they move down. You can only go to college if you go to Gymnasium. Well Leoni goes to gymnasium but Julia goes to the second level school! Philipp has said only bad, dumb students go to anything other then gymnasium. But I asked my teacher today and she said not really...that Julia wants to be a nurse so her "diploma" from realschule is enough. So apparently the lowest level is for people who are ok with being mechanics or something like that, realschule is ok for certain, specific trades like a nurse and gymnasium is for students wanting to go to college! Complicated! And phil wants to be a ship builder and he went to gymnasium so I'm real confused...I guess I'll ask him when I see him in 22 days!!!!

But there's your little german life lesson and I need to get ready to walk to the biergarten! And I think it's too cool to go swimming today so hopefully I won't fall down a concrete wall today!  ;)  Day 10 is half over and I have a really funny story but I'll wait until tonight or tomorrow to share! So get ready!  Miss and love you all!

Day 7 & 8

Ok it's the end of day 8 but I didn't write about day 7 so I'll put them together! I did pretty much the same thing both days! I went to school..although monday I had two classes, I only had one today! Class is rather boring...my first convo class is a joke!! We're still doing things I did in 101! But anyway...after classes I always come home and eat lunch with Eva! Now every time she sees me we make a fish face and whenever I leave she knocks on the window and I have to blow her kisses! She loves me and she is sooo funny!

Monday was when Hans had to leave for Sweden...he's so nice! Im going to miss him! But when I had to go into town I forgot how to say safe...so I said I hope you have a not dangerous flight! I thought he might pee himself!! But he made it to Sweden safely and will be there until July 14 for training or something like that! 

But I went into Munich monday and today with Jessie and some other students. Monday we went to the Residenz...where the kings/dukes used to live. It was pretty but after so long the rooms all looked the same! And after that we went to the Hofbrauhaus and that was fun! We ate dinner there and even though its real touristy...we are long-term tourists so we had to go at least once!

Today only me and Jessie want to the German Museum. It was only 50 here and it rained alllll day!! So a good day for a museum that we have to visit for our culture class! It was just over pretty much everything in german history....science, architecture, transportation, etc. A little on the boring side but we have to do it!! After that we went to a little bakery that was very good, went and bought postcards and then met some others at a beer garten! We rode the train home at about 7.30...I missed dinner so I made myself a peanut butter sandwich and came up to my room! I'm gonna stay home and play with Eva tomorrow bc I feel like I need to! She's so fun anyway and the weather isn't supposed to improve until next week! :(  Oh well...I'll still make it fun!

But I wish you all could come party/have fun with me!! love and miss you!

ps...I have a new name....Fabian...thats all eva ever calls me and we're not sure why?! I thought it was a boy's name but it's not so I guess it's ok!

Day 6

I feel silly updating my blog everyday but the other students update their blogs every day too...so I guess it's ok! My fam just goes to bed early so I get bored until we begin to explore the nightlife! Hopefully that begins this week!

But today was just another fam day! I slept til 10 and then got up to shower! After I got done Laura had called and her host dad wanted me to come pick cherries with them! So I went and did that...played ping pong with Laura then climbed into a very high treehouse and it was scary getting down. We just used the cherry picking ladder so I was hoping not to break my leg in germany this time. But I made it down safe and decided to go home! Christine asked me if I wanted to go to a beer garden with the whole fam so I did. Hans had to get Evas car seat in the van...it's a Ford van which is really strange to see! I don't think I've ever seen a ford in germany! But it was like a 10 min ride and on the way Julia said we're meeting some friends..."they're fat but they're nice!" And when I saw them it was so funny cause they were rather large! But I ate something like fettucini and it was ok. Everything I eat out tastes the same?!

When we got home we got ice cream from the basement and I went up to start homework. While doing my homework Christine brought me the best cake I've ever eaten...I'll post a pic! But I was worried about losing weight but I think I'm gonna do the opposite! After homework I went downstairs and watched tv with all the girls then played foosball with Hans, Leoni and Julia...we kept switching partners but I still lost everytime. That's about all I did...I'm ready for school tomorrow so I can see the others and speak english! It's just so weird being surrounded and only speaking another language! 

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY DAD!!!  Love you

Day 5

Ok...now another day has gone by sooo fast!! Today was a good day spending time with the fam...so maybe this entry won't be as long! 

But I slept until 11!!!!! I woke up so happy! Yaaaay sleep!! But when I woke up I didn't know what to do...the house was so quiet. So I just started some homework until Christine came to say good morning and that we could come down and get lunch. Lunch was my fave so far!!! It was like a casserole with noodles, tomatoes, cucumbers, ham and a cheesy like sauce!! The food is getting better every day!! But Christine had to leave during lunch and she still isn't back so idk what she's doing.

After lunch I played with Eva bc we were all going to a fair without her! She knows everyone/everything that's in my photo album. I'll even ask her where my room is in the apt bldg and she'll point to it! Then she went down with her Oma and Hans, Leoni, Julia and I drove to Munich to go to a fair. Well Hans thought it was where Oktoberfest is but it wasn't...we walked around there anyway! I'll be back there someday soon for the real thing! Then we found out the festival was in Olympic Park...so we drove there and the park was awesome! I saw all the bldgs and we went up in the Olympic Tower and overlooked the entire city. You can normally see the Alps but it was real foggy today so I was really sad!! He said we could come back again. And we also passed a sign for a zoo and he said we could go if I wanted and of course I said YES! Already crunk for zoo day!

Hans took a diff way home so that we would go on the autobahn and it was pretty crazy! People would fly past us and they would switch lanes like crazy w/o any signals!! It looks just like the interstate until someone passes you out of control! Then we had to go past a gas station on our exit and there were like 30 semis!!! I had never seen one in germany and philipp said they didn't exist! So I was like pointing and trying to say all this in german...and I think Hans thought I was weird!! But oh well...once I got home I was supposed to meet the others and go biking but our plans got canceled! So viktor and leah are scoping out the diskos for another night! I just watched a movie with the girls and now Im in bed...ready to sleep very good again! Tomorrow I get to wake up and do all of my homework! fun...

Love you miss you! bis morgen

Day 4

Ok I actually just woke up into day 5...yeah it's 11!! And I heard my guest sisters up at 9 but I guess that's sleeping in for them since they usually get up at 5! 

So yesterday was real rainy!!! But it got a lot cooler which is awesome  and why I could sleep last night!! So yay for more than 3 or 4 hours of sleep!! I had my one convo class which is still super easy. We talked about the verbs haben and sein which are to be and to have! Which I learned on prob the second or third day of 101! Oh well...I feel like I'm learning a lot outside of class so I don't care. Class is supposed to be over at 11 but dr weber has been coming still to explain "living in germany" rules. And last night...as in thurs night....stephanie rode her bike drunk and ran into a pole. So her face was torn up!! So we got a 15 minute speech on riding a bike! So class wasn't over until like 12. Laura is my neighbor and since it was raining her host dad took us and picked us up! He has a really bad bayerisch accent and he talks SOOO loud. So I'm going to work on my volume control problems when I come home...bc now I know what its like!  ;)  

Host dad was here for lunch today...he's a rescue helicopter pilot and he leaves monday for sweden so he's spending some time with eva!  We had wiener schnitzel and bayerisch potato salad!! It was real real good! It tasted just like a pork chop! After lunch I met a bunch of other students at school to go bike riding around Esting and Olching to see where we all live. We got to mine and Lauras house cause we are so close to school and then it started pouring. So we went to a little bakery and decided we would postpone our ride until a prettier day. Then I came back home and eva was watching tv so I watched cartoons with her! Hans and Christine weren't here so Julia and I had to convince eva to go visit her Oma/gma so we could do homework.

We all ate dinner together and Im not sure what we had but it was good! It was like weird sandwich bread and meat and tomatoes with dressing or something! Leonie is the 11 yr old and shes started to talk more...she told me that they learned about different foods from other countries. She said in china they eat cats and dogs...so she thought that was real gross. I said what about america and she said burger!

It was my first friday and I didn't know whether to stay home or go out. Eva was going to bed and Jessie and Viktor were going into town so I went into Munich with them! Right before I left to catch a train Eva peed her pants!! So she was getting in trouble bc she had already had a bath...and I can't help but laugh but Im working on it! It was still rainy in munich and Viktor missed the first train so Jessie and I had to walk around the train station to wait for him...and we found a candy cart thing and got tons of candy! We went to sit by burger king but we got in trouble so I had to buy a coke so we could sit there!! When Viktor finally came we just walked around town...took some pics at night...and eventually found a restaurant to sit and he wanted coffee! We found a little corner beer hall thing and we had to sit with an old man....but he was soo nice and loved to talk when he found out we could understand him. He loves american history...franklin roosevelt is his fave pres...and Obama is a great man for germany, america and the whole world! After that big speech we left to catch the 11.57 train. 

Ok this is a long post but a lot goes on!! This is random but one of the strangest things I've experienced is black people speaking german! Its sooo weird...we even saw two on the train last night that were trying to go for the whole gangsta look but once they started talking it just wasn't working...and I know I prob just stare at them but it just doesnt seem real! And I'm gonna post some more pics....I can't get words to look right under or beside the pics so I'm just gonna post one of school bc I forgot that one last time and some of munich at night!!

Love you...miss you....mer and sophie skype me soon!

Day 3

Its only day three but I feel like I have been here for a long time! But its a good thing...I love it here!!! I will also post more pics and they are of my walk to school...in my town named Esting! Its awesome to be able to walk everywhere and just get on a train whenever you want to! I also have pics of eva and leoni on their monkey bars!!! They are crazy!

So today I had class again at 9.30 and we also had our first culture class, which is after conversation about 11.30! Class is different here...more relaxed and fun! I usually just laugh the whole time which is very normal!! But I feel like my conversation class is below my level but it won't hurt to have a review! My culture class will mainly be us going to Munich and writing journal entries about what we see!!! So fun AND easy!! Just how I like it! :)

After class I come home for lunch and me and eva eat together! I had something like crepes...me house mom said it wasnt the same but I think it was! It was soooo good and then I met my other student people at our school to go to the beer garden in the town of Olching where some of them live! It was very very fun and after we swam in a river!! I hope it was clean because I have cuts on my elbows and hips....but oh well Im in germany right?!  So we all swam for a while and then went back to the beer garden for food!!

Then after dinner I walked back to Esting, my home! I just love being able to walk everywhere! I had my ipod in and it was so sunny....I love it here!! But when I got back to my house everyone was outside playing!! So I flipped on the monkey bars and played tag with eva! She loves me!!! We have to hold hands everywhere we go and at lunch we read an animal book...she said the animals in german and I said them in english!!! She is amazing!! And her voice is sooo cute! 

But now I am just exhausted!!! I havent been sleeping good!! I think Im still on US time because I dont fall asleep until like 5 am which is 10 at home!! And we all know thats my bedtime with the senior citizens!! Hopefully I will get adjusted soon....plus its been hot here and w/o ac Im very hot but its supposed to get cooler tomorrow! But that means rain  :(   I am also going to try to ride my bike in the morning to school!!! AAHHHH

Oh and Dan and Josh were late for the beer garden because they were doing construction on train tracks and they found a bomb from WWII!!!!!  So they had to bike instead...but thats very scary!! They say they find them alot but not when Im here!!! Ok I think thats it!! But my fam is awesome and I love playing with eva...even though she goes to bed soo early!! And julia the oldest wore the t-shirt I brought her today! She loves me too...I mean who wouldnt?!!! haha but Ill add pics of my walk to school, my school and eva and leoni!! Love and miss you all!!!

I forgot

When we were in Munich listening to one of dr weber's rants...my friend jessie said there's a pug! I got so excited!! I think it was a stray :(  It didnt have a collar and it was just wondering around the pedestrian zone all alone! It made me sad but it was sooo cute and a little chubby like my ringo!! But I forgot that and it was one of the best sights so far haha!! But I see a pug/mop everytime Im in Germany!! weird

Day 2

I didnt think I would have time to write something everyday but the girls all go to bed early cause they still have school and have to leave at 6! And eva goes tomorrow morning for her test for kindergarten! So the house is silent and Im still a little jet lagged and have class at 9.30 so I dont mind!

But today was my first day of school and I rode a bike there!! I was real scared because its tall so my legs barely touch the pedals and when you stop you have to kinda fall over!! But I got to school safe and my guest mom led the way to it! But since I was so scared I didnt know how to get back to my house so Laura is my neighbor so I followed her back! Shes weird though... extremely quiet but I had to get back!! Well since I was so scared about riding the bike I just walked it back cause its only like 15 min! But as I was walking beside it the pedal caught my ankle and ripped half the skin off! So I got a bike injury not by riding it but just walking beside it!! And I got home and asked for a bandaid...my mom is a nurse and I believe the biggest bandaid in europe is now on my ankle!! And real mom you will enjoy this:  when we met at the train Viktor said "what happened to your ankle?! that looks bad!"  It really didnt need a bandaid that bad especially one this big! And viktor has been taking a million pics!! Not of sights...just of the group:  the group looking at a church, one a train, waiting for a train, in the bookstore, etc. All I can say is that Im soooo glad mom and dad don't pick my husband! That would be REAL scary...I love you though mom!

So we made it to Munich after viktor called me out and dr weber just showed us all the main things and explained the trains so that we can now go on our own! He just talked forever about stuff I dont think anyone cared about! But oh well...Im in germany so I dont really care what Im actually doing! But we were gone to munich from about 2.30 to 7.30. Then I walked back home and Hans was grilling out on the balcony! So I went in and played fussball with eva! Everytime I scored a goal it counted for her though! But shes talking to me now and she loves giving me high fives! And we all ate outside and we made faces during dinner! And they said my german is very good and it's better than the girl that lived with them last year!! Yay...its so weird talking only in german a lot but its only the second day and I feel more confidant already! Although sometimes I just say random english sentences so Im trying to work on that!

I think thats it! Eva also took her bath then came upstairs to my room to hug me and blow kisses since she was going to sleep! Shes so cute and I can always hear her yelling mama downstairs....so cute!! But Im going to try to watch the bachelorette before I go to sleep but my internet is slow so idk if ill be able to! OH and one of my convertors blew up this morning, filled the bathroom with smoke and I thought I had caught the house on fire! But I didnt and Im going to ask them to use their convertor! But thats really everything so love you and miss you!

Day I

Yay Ich bin hier!!!!!  My flights were good except my first plane was tiny!! It was one seat aisle and two seats! And I was in the one seater...but it was only an hour flight. And then my flight to munich was only 7 hours and it was real smooth except a little bumpy over the ocean sometimes! I sat with a girl with the group and shes really nice but she talked about her husband the whole time! Then we got to munich and rode the train another hour and a half then walked forever to our meeting restaurant and we sat there forever until our host fam picked us up! We hadnt slept yet and this one boy went over to Dr Weber to ask him something and fell asleep standing up!! So silly! But my guest mom came to get me and we came back and met Hans Julia and eva! Leoni is/was still at school! But eva acts real shy but shes started to show off and has a huge smile if you look at her! Tomorrow I am going to find the school at 10.30 and then go on a tour on munich! Right now Im trying to unpack but one of them comes in every 10 seconds and tells me something new! 

It just feels so weird being here! I had to show them my legs and my arm and they asked tons of questions but so far Im understanding enough and I think they understand me! idk...I think thats it since I havent even been here an entire day but I havent slept at all yet! So Im going to shower and then going to pass out!!!!!

Love and miss you all already!