Happy New Year friends and family! I think I'll skip the apologizing for this post, I think the days of consistent blogging, if they ever existed, are long gone! Here are some updates of the past 2 months of my German life!
Crash Course!
Christmas- A fantastic time with my host family. Lots of cookies, lots of decorating, lots of Charades, and lots of family time!I enjoyed my first raclette dinner on Christmas eve- a grill that you set on the table that cooks meat on the top and hat tiny stone plates you can fill with veggies and cheese to cook under! I loved the German Christmas tradition of spending the first day (24th, Heilige Abend) with the immediate family, and the 2nd and 3rd days visiting grandparents, uncles, aunts, etc. I will be happy, however, to celebrate Christmas Eve at Nana's next year though. Nothing beats the fireplace and those delicious rolls! I also missed Santa Claus and the anticipation of Christmas morning. Instead of Jolly Saint Nick and his flock of Reindeer, the Christkind (or christmas angel) comes in the afternoon to help parents lay gifts down. I waited for the bell to ring (which meant the Christkind had come) with my host siblings downstairs watching TV and playing a geography quiz game on the iPad.
New Years- Silvester was a great celebration here! I spent it with my host family in the "Party House" in the back garden. There was food, gluhwine, music, and a disco ball! The neighbors and some family friends came to celebrate with and at midnight the whole city was on the streets setting off fireworks and sparklers. It was such a good time, topping my list for New Years (Sorry Gigi, but banging pots and pans on the street takes the second spot for sure!).
The Lindt Chocolate Factory- A must see sight in Cologne, I knew I was put with the right family in the right city when I heard there was a chocolate fountain (for those of you who know about my trip to Italy, the photo above is a copy of my oh-so-classy pose at the Trevi Fountain in Rome... except the chocolate fountain has free samples!). The museum includes the history of chocolate, a fully stocked chocolate store, a factory to make your own chocolate bar, and more! Let's just say, if there is a Heaven on earth I think I found it on my year abroad.
Midyear- Getting through the halfway point of the year sparked a lot of opportunities for homesickness and "oh no its almost done!" moments. It is very hard to come to the realization that my life and year here will be merely a memory when I return to the States in late June. I did appreciate seeing all the 45 other members of my program though, despite losing my voice and being sick for the following weeks, it was a highlight of my year.
College Update! After Midyear I found out I got accepted into the UVA Class of 2019! I am still waiting to hear from the 6 other schools I sent applications to but this is a great start. Now, let the scholarship season begin.
Weather- The snow was great in the winter, we even had a day with almost 15 cm that was perfect for sledding. I went with my two youngest host sisters with sleds through the forest behind out house before coming home to hot chocolate and movies for the rest of the day. But even though the snow was fun, I am MORE than happy to see the sun making an appearance in the past few days. Spring is on the way!
Christmas- A fantastic time with my host family. Lots of cookies, lots of decorating, lots of Charades, and lots of family time!I enjoyed my first raclette dinner on Christmas eve- a grill that you set on the table that cooks meat on the top and hat tiny stone plates you can fill with veggies and cheese to cook under! I loved the German Christmas tradition of spending the first day (24th, Heilige Abend) with the immediate family, and the 2nd and 3rd days visiting grandparents, uncles, aunts, etc. I will be happy, however, to celebrate Christmas Eve at Nana's next year though. Nothing beats the fireplace and those delicious rolls! I also missed Santa Claus and the anticipation of Christmas morning. Instead of Jolly Saint Nick and his flock of Reindeer, the Christkind (or christmas angel) comes in the afternoon to help parents lay gifts down. I waited for the bell to ring (which meant the Christkind had come) with my host siblings downstairs watching TV and playing a geography quiz game on the iPad.
New Years- Silvester was a great celebration here! I spent it with my host family in the "Party House" in the back garden. There was food, gluhwine, music, and a disco ball! The neighbors and some family friends came to celebrate with and at midnight the whole city was on the streets setting off fireworks and sparklers. It was such a good time, topping my list for New Years (Sorry Gigi, but banging pots and pans on the street takes the second spot for sure!).
The Lindt Chocolate Factory- A must see sight in Cologne, I knew I was put with the right family in the right city when I heard there was a chocolate fountain (for those of you who know about my trip to Italy, the photo above is a copy of my oh-so-classy pose at the Trevi Fountain in Rome... except the chocolate fountain has free samples!). The museum includes the history of chocolate, a fully stocked chocolate store, a factory to make your own chocolate bar, and more! Let's just say, if there is a Heaven on earth I think I found it on my year abroad.
Midyear- Getting through the halfway point of the year sparked a lot of opportunities for homesickness and "oh no its almost done!" moments. It is very hard to come to the realization that my life and year here will be merely a memory when I return to the States in late June. I did appreciate seeing all the 45 other members of my program though, despite losing my voice and being sick for the following weeks, it was a highlight of my year.
College Update! After Midyear I found out I got accepted into the UVA Class of 2019! I am still waiting to hear from the 6 other schools I sent applications to but this is a great start. Now, let the scholarship season begin.
Weather- The snow was great in the winter, we even had a day with almost 15 cm that was perfect for sledding. I went with my two youngest host sisters with sleds through the forest behind out house before coming home to hot chocolate and movies for the rest of the day. But even though the snow was fun, I am MORE than happy to see the sun making an appearance in the past few days. Spring is on the way!