Part Two! 

Ok so I left off in Belgium, where I had a BLAST!

May 6th-12th;

I went shopping with some of my best friends in Hannover! (the biggest city near us) I was so excited, and it was also sad because it is the last time we will all be in Primark (our favorite store) again! :( haha We are such girls. We only had two days of school, Tuesday and Wednesday, and then got out for a holiday called "Himmel Fahrt" or Father's Day weekend. In Germany fathers day is a lot different. It is a really big deal, but really has nothing to do with celebrating with your dad. In fact, all the Dads are AWAY! They all get together early in the morning, go hiking and drink beer all day. THAT is a German Father's Day ;) I spent the day with a few friends, and we did the opposite. We baked cupcakes (REAL CUPCAKES!) , had chocolate fondue, and watched chick flicks :D I also went to Braunschweig and met up with a few of my exchange student friends :) It was a really nice, relaxing LONG weekend!

                                                             Nom nom nom nom...

May 13th-20th

Checking Checkpoint Charley off the to do list! 

The week has finally arrived! The big German test. :o I was so nervous all week I could hardly stand it!  My host mom and I left on Wednesday after school to go to Berlin (I took the test on Thursday, we stayed the night) . We had a little free time in the afternoon, so we decided to check out Checkpoint Charley, Curry 36, and managed to see a Musical! Curry 36 is the most popular place in Berlin to get the popular German dish; Currywurst. Of course, for me, that was a MUST because my love for the sausage covered in perfectly spiced ketchup could expand over the ocean. (and it will have to..) I had heard about it a little while back on my exchange  and when I found out Nettie and I would be in Berlin, I HAD TO GO! Let me tell you people, it was absolutely delicious. So heavenly, I don't know how I am going to survive without it. 

PURE JOY! 

The musical was also really interesting, but we had to leave early because a certain someone had to take get in bed! TEST DAY! 

Waking up earlier than a school day for a test that you are super nervous for is not exiting. Although it did help that our hotel had an awesome breakfast (brain food!). We managed to get there on time, find the room, and get settled. Then Nettie left me to tigers! I took it with 2 other boys, one of which was also an Exchange student from the USA. The test began, everything was timed, which of course freaked me out more. There were four parts; Reading and Comprehension, Listening and Comprehension, Writing, and Oral Speaking. And to each part there were different assignements. We had to read (LONG AND HARD..) passage and answer questions, listen to a passage, answer questions. Then read an Email and reply appropriately, then the part I was most nervous about.. Write an Essay! We were given 40 minutes and 3 sources to write our essay. First a reading passage, a graph, and then a passage that we listened to on tape. The whole time I was so scared about the topic.. and turns out I had the right to be! The whole thing was over "Wehrpflicht"which in English means "Compulsory Military Service." HOW am I supposed to know what that means in German, if I don't understand in English?? I had to translate it after the test just to know what I wrote a 3 page essay over. Somehow I managed, to write 3 pages... but what I wrote? Well, that remains a mystery. haha! The rest of the test went pretty well, just a little technical difficulties when I had to record myself on the laptop, but we got it. All in all the test was 5 hours, with a 10 minute break. Ex-haus-ting! I will get my test results in July and be sure to tell y'all how it all turned out. 

BOY was I glad to have that off my chest! Afterwards, Nettie and I continued our sightseeing tour. :) Wen went to the Holocaust museum and the East Side Gallery where the Berlin wall used to be. Well it is still there, (thats the point) but where it used to be back when it was meant to keep people out. Both things had also been on my To-Do list for quite sometime, and I was so happy to see them! The museum was of course heart-breaking, but the Holocaust is a topic that really really interests me, so I wanted to go! The Berlin Wall was just fantastic. I got some really great pictures and loved seeing all the different works of art painted on the Wall.

Practicing my FREEDOM! 

On the way back home we stopped for a jog along a lake. It was so nice outside and I had such a great time in Berlin! All the fun made my stress from the test go away. But still anxious for the results! ;) 

Just one day, then it was time to head back to Berlin for the yearly Bike Tour! Every year the Burgdorfs, two other familes from Jerstedt, and a family that lives in Berlin meet up for a two or three day Bike tour! Every year is some place new, and this one just happened to be in Berlin. Yes, I was a little hesitant back on the saddle but I had been practicing since my little accident and was ready to hit the road! Too bad the weather wasn't quite ready for us. The first day we only managed 13 km before getting completly rained out. We tried to wait it out in a little cafe along the trail, but it just got worse! So then we had to ride 13 km BACK in the pouring rain to get home! Ah yeah. It wasn't a complete waste of the day though. We went to a fabulous restaurant and all ate like kings! Thanks to the Berlin family, they hooked us up with all the good stuff ;) The second day of the tour was a total sucess! We churned out 60 kilometers. IN ONE DAY! The weather was perfect, and we just rode and rode and rode. I loved it, but afterwards I literally couldn't sit down. haha! We chilled at the house and had a traditional German grill night. :) No school Monday, so we took our sweet time, did a little tour in Postdam (a town that alone has 24 castles) , and headed home. Such a great week!

May 21st-26th

I had to give a Chemistry presentation (in German) over the topic Oil Refinery. I had to do this because since I can't very well take the same 10th grade Chemisrty tests with the rest of the class, I asked if there was another way I could get a grade for my report card. It went quite well, although I was VERY nervous..  I am happy I don't have to worry about it anymore. Over the weekend I bought a DIRNDL! :D :D :D Maybe one of the best purchases ever in Germany. I have wanted one ever since Oktoberfest, and I finally found one! We went to a secondhand store where many of Lena's friends in the past have had luck finding Dirndls, etc. And boy was I LUKCY! They had exactly ONE dress, in exactly MY size! I was flabbergasted and SO HAPPY! 

There it is Ladies and Gents! I am currently having a seamstress made minor adjustments (put elastic in the sleeves, etc.) and will get my baby back soon! Yayayaya. That was the one thing I wanted the most from Germany! It's like cowboys boots from Texas; a Dirndl from Germany! 

Recent Events and upcoming fun stuff;

Yesterday was a Birthday Party from another exchange student who also lives in my city. 

Tomorrow I will take the last English test of the year (I think I got this) 

This weekend I am going to a David Guetta Concert in Hannover with a group of exchange students (!!!!) and one of my best friends is turning 16!! I have yet another exciting weekend up ahead :D 

As of now I have every single weekend booked, planned, and ready to go. 

I am staring to get all the invitations to Farewell parties and it makes me so sad. I DON'T like goodbyes, and I love all these people! But that is what exchange is. It seems like a week ago you were just saying hello and introducing yourself, and now you are saying goodbye and "See you who knows when" :( The end is getting closer and closer. Can I just stop time right now?? Although preferably on a different day when it isn't raining cats and dogs, and a day I don't need a jacket or long sleeves. (Today I needed both.) The weather isn't particularly looking up anytime soon, but I won't let that bring me down.  35 days, and making them COUNT! 

P.s. If you are in Texas, ENJOY the summer! 

"Coming Soon" has seemed to come not so soon.. But hey! At least it's here now ;) Well cheese and crackers is this weird. I only have 36 days left in Germany. (No I am not counting...) I actually read a really great quote the other day and it made me think;

"Don't count the days, but make the days count"

It applies so perfectly to my situation right now! I can honestly say I don't want to leave, but at the same  time I get such a warm tingly feeling inside when I think about hugging my family again, and seeing my best friend after a whole year! Ok ok ok ok, thats enough thinking about that for right now. I don't allow to think too much about that time (in 36 days) because then my emotions and feelings get all mixed up and it makes me want to just either bring all of my loved ones to Germany, or just take everyone home with me :D. Sadly, I know both of things are not possible, so at the moment, when I still have 36 days left, I choose NOT to think about it. 

Anywho, what have I been up to lately  After I left y'all with the mysterious "COMING SOON" message, I'm sure I have been keeping you on your seats the last 4-5 weeks! Right? I know. So, I wouldn't want to keep the burning suspicion any longer, here we go! 

Since Finland my German life has been going in full motion-highspeeed! From the minute I landed in Berlin,  rode the train to Goslar, drove home, changed clothes, and on to a 17th Birthday Party! Yes, I was tired, but hey.. I'm not the girl to say no to a party! I stayed the night there, and the next day went "extreme skateboarding" with the birthday boy. Let's just say that was interestingggggg.  The weather was super friendly after my cold adventures in Finland. FINALLY SPRING I had thought! And it actually stayed nice for a few days. On monday, the first school day back for me since practically a month and a half, Nettie (my host mom) and I decided to go on a little bike ride to enjoy the great weather! Low and behold, I managed approximately 200 yards before I completely, totally, fell off my bike.  

April 15th-21st 

Ahhh yeah. Luckily, everything stayed in one piece. Just a few scrapes and bruises, nothing serious! I did give my host mom (and MOM mom) a good scare. The rest of the week stayed accident free, and also springy :) For the first time since I have been in Germany I didn't have to take a jacket to school! RECORD BREAKING. On the weekend I went to "Autostadt" with my host mom, had a sleepover with some friends, and went to a castle with my "Oma and Opa" and Lena and Nettie! :) 

The millionth Mini!

April 22nd- 28th; The next week I went to Berlin with the school on a class trip! :D That was really cool becauseee

a.) we got to miss school!

b.) I was in Berlin with all my friends

Need I say more? 

We went to three museums, and had two hours free time. Unfortunately, we had no plan at all, and just ended up walking through the city looking for someplace, on some street. We still had a great time of course. The next day I went to a theatre play with my German class. This time we didn't miss school, and the production turned out to be a giant bust. I don't want to complain about modern art or something, and I'm not one to just bash out on things like that, but I could have thought of many more enjoyable ways to spend my Friday evening.  Luckily an awesome Saturday in Hannover with about 25 exchange students made up for it! :) That was a really great day, but sadly bad weather! You get used to it when you live here. In these weeks I was preparing myself for the BIG German test I would take in Berlin on the 15th of May. I was so nervous, it was a test for college credits in the USA, and if I do well on it, I can (pretty much) easily major or minor in German! 

April 29th-May 5th; This is witch week in the Harz mountains! I live there, and every year they have this celebration called Walpurgis, which is basically a large group of Germans get together, watch witches dance, have a big fire, and drink lots of beer. It also is supposed to be a celebration to Welcome the Spring season...  If you are really interested click HERE to find out more about it! It was a really cool night, like nothing I had ever seen before.. I'm not sure if I like the whole witches thing, but as an exchange student "If it's not dangerous, don't say no!"So that was in the middle of the week, on a Tuesday night, and we didn't have school Wednesday! Yay :D And that particular Wednesday just so happend to be.... 

250 DAYS IN GERMANY! 

Crazy, unbelievable, fantastic, incredible, unreal, amazing, and SUPER DUPER, are just some of the descriptive adjectives that fit the way I feel about that! 

To make it about 100x better, that weekend we took a little trip to Belgium! No biggie ;) We went to visit my little host cousin and help her celebrate " Lente Fest" a Belgian celebration in which kids between 7-9 just kinda have a party. Haha! I guess crossing into "big-kidhood" or something. I'm not really sure, but it was great! We left on Friday with a full car, Lena (DRIVING OMG), Nettie, Oma, Opa, and me. Plus baggage and in a little German car, that doesn't leave much space for wiggle room. Only 6 hours though, and we were in Belgium! On Saturday Nettie, Lena and I took a day trip to the cuuuuutest little town I have ever seen! And trust me, I have seen many cute little European towns throughout my adventures.. But this one was so precious! It's called Gent, and I like to say it is Belgium's hidden gem. :) We found the cutest bakery, then the cutest little Belgian girl scouts asking to buy candy (of course, how could this girl resist?), then the cutest little river running through, a boat tour, a castle, a waffle maker, a cappuccino, an art gallery, a museum and to top it all off, an Antique Market in an old church where I found a ring for 3 euros. . If that is not a perfect day, then darlin' I don't know what is. I loved it all! 

Girls Day Out! 

Part two coming tomorrow! Really though. I PROMISE TOMORROW! But it is late and I really must go to bed. ;)

p.s. Sorry for any awkward sentences... English speaking is becoming a little tough for me!