Dear Everyone,
Already its been two months since I've been in Germany WOW ! Time really flies, at this point I have only 8 or so more months left in Germany . It seems like just yesterday I was laying on the beach daydreaming about being where I am today, but although it feels that way there are many many things that prove otherwise. I'm happy to say that my proficiency in the German language and consequently my ever declining proficiency in English are one of the things that remind me everyday of how far I've come since I arrived in Germany. Already I understand a good portion of what is going on, of course this is far from ideal sometimes I still find myself completely confused as to what people are saying but usually if they repeat it or say it slowly I understand . I can also say a lot more things than I expected to be able to even though my speaking abilities are far from what my understanding is. Every class here has become a German class, all my language classes are German classes in reverse , the ones that are literature intensive like history are listening classes where I can focus solely on trying to understand as much as I can, math of course however is just confusing but It was always that way with me and It doesn't help that they are doing something attuned to BC Calc where as I was an Alg II slacker (okay slacker is a big word I did after all take honors :P ) . Aside from learning German in school most of my actual learning happens outside of school, speaking with my host family and friends as well as practice are actually some of the things that help the most. The German is simpler then and not as fast which makes it easier to understand full conversations, with sports I can always see whats going on and connect it with whats being said . Like a fellow ex-changer wrote on her blog "I am so grateful for all the people who speak German slowly when I ask them to speak slowly instead of just saying it in English. You are the reason I am learning! "(http://iwillmissthecows.wordpress.com/ HI MARY HEHEHE)
My host family is certainly the biggest blessing that Germany has given me ! They are amazing in every way, I cant explain how incredibly lucky I feel to be placed where I am, and because I know your reading (HI HOSTMOM :D !!)
Everything else is pretty much becoming normal here I know the ins and outs of my town , in fact I went on a tour around it and learned absolutely nothing because I had already seen all the places they showed me (on a weekly basis since I've been here) and she was speaking in fast German about historical events so I only understood the gist of what was going on . I will eventually do research myself and take some pictures for you guys ... eventually. What I did learn is that living in a German town is like nothing you can ever experience in an American suburb there's bits of history everywhere and for a nerd like me ... well you can keep Bay Side and SoBe any day if it means I get to see something old :) .
And as promised here are the pictures from this month !
Also as promised here's this months song dedicated to all my fellow ex-changer's but really it can apply to anyone
Already its been two months since I've been in Germany WOW ! Time really flies, at this point I have only 8 or so more months left in Germany . It seems like just yesterday I was laying on the beach daydreaming about being where I am today, but although it feels that way there are many many things that prove otherwise. I'm happy to say that my proficiency in the German language and consequently my ever declining proficiency in English are one of the things that remind me everyday of how far I've come since I arrived in Germany. Already I understand a good portion of what is going on, of course this is far from ideal sometimes I still find myself completely confused as to what people are saying but usually if they repeat it or say it slowly I understand . I can also say a lot more things than I expected to be able to even though my speaking abilities are far from what my understanding is. Every class here has become a German class, all my language classes are German classes in reverse , the ones that are literature intensive like history are listening classes where I can focus solely on trying to understand as much as I can, math of course however is just confusing but It was always that way with me and It doesn't help that they are doing something attuned to BC Calc where as I was an Alg II slacker (okay slacker is a big word I did after all take honors :P ) . Aside from learning German in school most of my actual learning happens outside of school, speaking with my host family and friends as well as practice are actually some of the things that help the most. The German is simpler then and not as fast which makes it easier to understand full conversations, with sports I can always see whats going on and connect it with whats being said . Like a fellow ex-changer wrote on her blog "I am so grateful for all the people who speak German slowly when I ask them to speak slowly instead of just saying it in English. You are the reason I am learning! "(http://iwillmissthecows.wordpress.com/ HI MARY HEHEHE)
My host family is certainly the biggest blessing that Germany has given me ! They are amazing in every way, I cant explain how incredibly lucky I feel to be placed where I am, and because I know your reading (HI HOSTMOM :D !!)
Everything else is pretty much becoming normal here I know the ins and outs of my town , in fact I went on a tour around it and learned absolutely nothing because I had already seen all the places they showed me (on a weekly basis since I've been here) and she was speaking in fast German about historical events so I only understood the gist of what was going on . I will eventually do research myself and take some pictures for you guys ... eventually. What I did learn is that living in a German town is like nothing you can ever experience in an American suburb there's bits of history everywhere and for a nerd like me ... well you can keep Bay Side and SoBe any day if it means I get to see something old :) .
And as promised here are the pictures from this month !
Kartoffel Festival in Borgholzhausen !
Jogging along the path in my town reminds me of how lucky I am to be here
and how even though it's so different from home it really is a good different.
Im thoroughly enjoying the cows corn crops and country side despite the fact that
when I tell Germans this they laugh and say I really do probably miss Miami which is
obviously so much better . In reality I don't know when I will ever live in the country
again and so I am salvaging he moments I have here.
and how even though it's so different from home it really is a good different.
Im thoroughly enjoying the cows corn crops and country side despite the fact that
when I tell Germans this they laugh and say I really do probably miss Miami which is
obviously so much better . In reality I don't know when I will ever live in the country
again and so I am salvaging he moments I have here.
Observation tower :D !
Second weekend here, thanks N not only for being the first person
to invite me to hang out but more importantly for being
so nice since I've been here !
Exchange Students Rock !
to invite me to hang out but more importantly for being
so nice since I've been here !
Exchange Students Rock !
Going into town for class or practice reminds me that I'm more comfortable
with my little German town :) .
with my little German town :) .
Shopping in Dortmund ... No all those bags are not mine those
were a collective effort :P ! Also first time traveling on IC train
I love the German train system !
were a collective effort :P ! Also first time traveling on IC train
I love the German train system !
Rathause in Versmold with commemorative statue to a Jewish
family . This is one of the things that I saw during the tour of Versmold
(and see every time I go into town ) It was good to be reminded
of the history that really surrounds you everywhere here.
family . This is one of the things that I saw during the tour of Versmold
(and see every time I go into town ) It was good to be reminded
of the history that really surrounds you everywhere here.
Finally yesterday I got a letter from my friend Michael who is a fellow CBYXer
Basically it was just saying how he was doing but the simple fact that it was a letter
made my day :D. So thanks Michael for reminding me that the happiness that comes when you receive a letter is worth the effort it takes to send one. I will be sending a lot more letters from now on instead of emails ! Michael also has an AMAZING blog and you can check it out here (http://michaelinminden.blogspot.de/)
Basically it was just saying how he was doing but the simple fact that it was a letter
made my day :D. So thanks Michael for reminding me that the happiness that comes when you receive a letter is worth the effort it takes to send one. I will be sending a lot more letters from now on instead of emails ! Michael also has an AMAZING blog and you can check it out here (http://michaelinminden.blogspot.de/)
Finally I felt like my Happiness Chart needed some editing! Here is a visual representation
of my emotional state :D !
of my emotional state :D !
Also as promised here's this months song dedicated to all my fellow ex-changer's but really it can apply to anyone
but because my German friends cant watch the real video because of GEMA (urgghhhh )
here is a video with lyrics that is German internet friendly ...
AND one last thing another fellow CBYX'er (I know we are awesome aren't we ? ) suggested I write a German portion of my post every time to track my German progress .....
Ich bin in Deutchland zwei monat, und ich habe ein serh gut zeit gemacht mit neu freunds und meine gastfamilie ! Ich mochte sag danke auf alles personnes heir in Deutchland !
Ich bin in Deutchland zwei monat, und ich habe ein serh gut zeit gemacht mit neu freunds und meine gastfamilie ! Ich mochte sag danke auf alles personnes heir in Deutchland !
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