Well, that other one was getting waaaay too long

I believe I'll write about this weekend in a new post. The other was getting far to long.
On Friday I went to school a very tired woman. The night before I had tossed and turned and counted sheep, but could only count, on one hand, the number of hours I had slept. Klaus drove me to school. His work needed him to travel that day, and luckily he was going in the general direction of my school. I was to tired to really feel self-conscious that morning, so I began to sing to myself in the car. Klaus said if I wanted to I could sing louder. I needed no further encouragement. I belted for the next twenty minutes. It was great. He told me I can sing whenever I want to. I don't think he realizes yet what a dangerous statement that was.
School began as normal, with one of my favorite teachers. She's quite and bespectacled and likes to challenge your vocabulary. Unfortunately, it is hard for one to fully enjoy someone else when one is asleep... Woops!
At the 10:30 break I ran to the corner bakery to get a cup of coffee. Germans like their coffee strong, and by strong, I'd say molasses flows faster. I put in ridiculous amounts of sugar and milk, and it was still pretty potent, but I needed energy desperately, so I raised my paraffin-paper cup to the health of my classmates, and kissed the cursed liquid I depended on to get me through the day.
The rest of the school day went by quickly. Then it was over. My third week of school. It's gone so quickly. It seems the harder I try to hold on the faster it slips by.
My host sister Sarah and her boyfriend Chris picked me up from school to take me to Gruene Woche. Gruene Woche is kind of like a farmers market mixed with the 4-H exhibits from the state fair and lots of wine and beer. It's inside of a huge conference building. Every room has a different theme. All the states of Germany have a huge room to display their specialties. Of course there were lots of cheeses,a surplus of sausages, vats of sauerkraut, piles of potatoes and naturally there was beer. I was yet again reminded of why I love this country. There were also rooms dedicated to gardining, organic farming, dairy, foods of the world, and flowers of the world. I have rarely eaten so much cheese in one day. It seemed like at every other corner there was a different cheese sample. If you know me at all, you know I can never turn down a piece of cheese. I tried pesto cheese, chili cheese, Parmesan, Swiss, and a host of others I can't remember. I even tried carrot cheese. No joke. There is such a thing as carrot cheese. FYI, it's not that yummy.
A couple of the states had local singers. These where the Germans you've seen in tourist pictures. They wore leader-hosen, felt hats, and had great beards. They also sang like I feel all people who look like they should be from The Sound of Music sing. They also had a petting zoo like area, and an area where we saw farmers competing for best of show in sheep. All in all, I had quite the spiffy time. I can't imagine not having a good time with my host sister. She's unbelievably nice.
I took the Ring-Bahn back to the house where I had to eat and change into my suit. I had to move very quickly because Sheri wanted us at the theater at 7:30. The entire class was going to see a performance that night. Klaus and Carola drove me. I like it when I get to go places in the car. I feel like it gives me a better chance to get a good look at the city. The theater was located between the Deutscher Dom and Franzoesicher Dom. As I walked on the iced-over sidewalk I enjoyed the sound of my high-heeled boots. I've always enjoyed the sound of walking in heels. It makes me feel important; like the kind of person people say "Yes, madam", "So sorry, did you say you wanted a cream or egg white table cloth?" and "I believe first class is that way." My host mom wouldn't let me wear the black flats I brought with me. She told me it was simply too cold and that I simply must wear her boots. I didn't protest. She was 100% right. It was FREEZING out.
I klickity-klacked confidently into the entry way of the theater where I spotted Sheri, Craig and his two Norwegian friends I had me the day before. They were asking Sheri if there was any possible way someone would switch out tickets so that they could sit together. I said I would. Craig warned me they were cheep tickets. I really didn't think it mattered. Hearing an orchestra is much more important than seeing it. Sheri also agreed to sit with me so that the Norwegian girls could sit with our group. The building was beautiful, I had to ask about four times before I was able to find my seat. I was sitting exactly behind the orchestra. Best trade of my life! I could see everything the musicians were doing; the pages they flipped, the keys they pressed, and the little things they sneak under their chairs hoping no one notices. I looked to see where the group was sitting. The seats were in a corner on the other side of the hall. I have no idea why on earth those seats would have been more expensive than the ones I was seated in. Sheri arrived a couple minutes later. The concert began, and almost immediately my perfect shave from that morning disappeared. Goosebumps raced up my skin as music washed over everything in the hall. It was some of the most moving music I've heard. My heart ached and overflowed with the need for it. I always forget how much I miss playing.
At the intermission I went to the restroom and then ran to find the other students. They were on the other side of the theater, but that didn't matter to me. I needed to talk to someone else about how beautiful what we were witnessing was. I got lost a couple times, but eventually got to the place where my classmates were supposed to be. I walked out and looked around the theater. There they were, all the way across the hall, exactly where I had been sitting about ten minutes prior. I laughed to myself and then cursed my enthusiasm as I heard the music that told us to return to our seats begin. I slid in, panting, next to Craig's friend with about two minutes to spare. She's very sweet. She studied in Craig's hometown, and they became good friends. She came to Berlin just to visit him.
The final act of the concert had a pianist. He wore a long coat and tails. He had a ruddy face and silver hair. As he sat through his rests in the music he swayed with the other musicians. Every piece of him was involved in loving and living what he was doing. My favorite author, Donald Miller, says in his book Blue Like Jazz that sometimes you have to watch someone love something before you can learn to love it too. I think that's so true. Just watching that man loving his music made me appreciate it even more. I thought it was exceptional.
After the concert most of the people planned on going to a club called Matrix. It plays a lot of hip hop apparently. I was mildly interested in attending. We had to rush to a crowded S-bahn and ended up leaving one of our Norwegians behind. At the next station I got off and waited for the next train containing the poor abandoned girl. The majority of the other Americans ran to catch the next train so they could go to the club. It seemed that my mind had been made up for me. I spent the next few hours in quite pleasant company. Craig, the two Norwegian girls and I returned to their hotel room. I went home at about 2:30.
Saturday I went to the first professional soccer game with the majority of my classmates. It was in the old Olympic Stadium. It was AWESOME!!! I think I might be addicted. The atmosphere of the crowd is better than any I've ever experienced in America. I almost froze to death but was saved by a miraculous liquid called Gluewein. Basically it's spiced hot wine. It makes the world a better place. I brought my the blanket my grandma gave me before I left. I think everyone in the stadium was envious of me. For the last half I ran in place, until I could feel my toes again. I was positioned in between Kyle and Molly, both have played soccer and could answer my questions and explain what was going on. Kyle pointed out, about 70 minutes in that Hitler had once stood in that very stadium. For a moment I was chilled, but then the crowd roared again. I looked around, Germany had moved on; the world had moved on. I stood there and felt alone as I glanced into a window of the past. Another roar brought me back to reality. No one had scored yet, and the game was nearing an end. The game ended zero to zero. Kyle told me that means that the away team stays and celebrates the performance of their defense. I think that's really good that they do that. Walking back with the die-hard fans was great. Policemen on Horseback were ready for a row, but as far as I know nothing happened. So passed my first professional soccer game, to put it simply it was flipping phenomenal.
I got back to the apartment and ate the usual spectacular supper my guest mom provides.
The next day I tried a new church. It's international. I really liked it. Every week they pick a language and pair it with English to mix in the service. This weeks was Swedish. I met some really nice Americans who are living Berlin for various reasons. The community at that church is great. I think I'll be returning there.
When I got back we had a late lunch, and then Sarah and Chris came over and we ate rolls and played a weird triangle game. I almost won, but Chris beat me at the last minute.
I made a mixed CD for Klaus that night. He loved the Regina Spektor song. I could not be more positive that I'm living with awesome people. He want's more of my music. I think this could be quite the exchange.
Alrighty my dears, I'm quite sleepy. I hope everything is going great for you. Hugs from Germany!

Unwraping Germany (not finished, but you deserve an update.)

Sometimes, when I go to Barn's and Nobel, I ask them to gift wrap my purchases. Not because they are actually gifts, but because I like feeling like I get a lot of presents. When I get home I open them loudly and exclaim to the room at large that I always know what to get myself. I'm so great at knowing what to get me.
I kind of feel like Germany is one of those gifts. Except when I asked for the cashier to wrap my purchase they swapped out my second-hand paperback edition for a hardcover jewel-embellished anniversary edition with added interviews, pictures and soundtrack. I thought I knew what I'd purchased, and was excited to read the story no matter what the cover was, or how dog-eared the pages were, but the more wrapping I remove the more I realize how incredibly wonderful what I've received is.
More on feelings and stuff like that later. I believe many of you would like to know the tale of the first guest family. So... here we go!

The morning after I found the picture I had to take a placement test. I could barely concentrate. All I could think about was the picture. I really didn't feel like I did that well on my test. We had to do a grammar and speaking portion. I've always found speaking easier. I don't second guess myself as much. After all of my classmates and I had finished, I knew I needed to talk to someone about the events of the night before, or I would spontaneously-combust or turn into a pigeon or something like that. I went into the computer lab and saw Craig. Craig is someone I respect a great deal. He took a German course his second semester and decided that it was what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. He's from Weeping Water and eats his vegetables. I made eye contact with him and rushed over. I began laughing. I don't really know why. As I pulled the picture out of my pocket I laughed so hard I started crying. I think it might just have been the stress. To be honest I was terrified, but the whole thing just seemed so preposterous. He asked me what it was. I told him about how I'd found it in front of my door at one in the morning after I came back from the bathroom. He asked me if it was a joke. I told him I didn't know, but that I didn't think so. Craig has great facial expressions. He threw a priceless one in my general direction. Another American, Brian, looked over. Brian intimidates the (insert the curse word of your choice) out of me. He's a really good student, plays the guitar, has a lip ring, good sense of style and a beautiful girlfriend named Taylor. He wants to be professor, and has a way of looking at you that makes you feel like you've done something wrong. I always feel like I'm annoying him. He asked what the picture was. I started explaining, and started laughing again. I just couldn't believe what was happening. I'm pretty sure I looked like I was going mad. A few more people looked over and asked, eventually attracting the attention of my teacher Sheri. Sheri I pretty rockin. More on her later. Anyway she saw the picture and rushed me into Frau Radka's office. Frau Radka is like the Vice Principle of the school. That's the best way I know how to describe it. She looks like a tall blond version of the woman who designed the outfits for the family in the Pixar movie The Incredibles. I explained the situation to her in mixture of stuttered German and word vomit English. I told her I didn't want trouble, and if I could I wanted to go back to Klaus and Carola. She took the picture and said she was going to call my guest mother. I was shaking uncontrollably. I needed to do something or I was going to go stark raving mad.
Luckily Kyle, yet another student, needed to go to the ATM and asked if I'd like to accompany him. Kyle is a mechanical engineering major. He's an RA and his personality is perfect for it. It's almost impossible to be uncomfortable around him. He's from Chicago, plays guitar, knows Monty Python and loves his home city. You can tell by the way he talks about it. As we walked I told him the story. He told me I needed to take a picture with four knives and put it under her door. That made me laugh and calmed me more than anything else had. I seriously considered it. The ATM didn't work. When we got back all the new students watched a small presentation about Berlin. I sat next to a nice girl from Switzerland. Her name is Zoe. We received maps and lots of directions that were spoken in a German that was to fast for me to understand. I smiled and nodded. We then had a lunch break. I went to a place that sells Doenners. They're kind of like a Turkish gyero, but not. I got french fries, because they were cheep and I was to nervous to eat that much. After lunch I got pulled into Frau Radka's office again. She has spoken with my host mother. Apparently the picture was a joke between the mother and the daughter. It was hanging on the wall and must have fallen when I went to the bathroom. I was still a little suspicious and uncomfortable, but said I would go back that night.
After everything was finished at the school we, the American students, went to a bar with my teacher Sheri. She bought the first round. I got Berliner Pilz , I believe, which was a light beer and was very bitter. We all passed our drinks around to try everyone's. I learned I like dark beer better. It's heavier and more sweet. I sat next to Craig, Wesley, Maria and Chris. Chris is 26, the oldest of our group. I had lots of questions about beer, he answered them all. He was very patient with me. He likes Regina Spektor. Maria is crazy interesting. She's studying classics. I plan on asking her a ridiculous amount of questions. She's brilliant really. Wesley is from my Niehart group of friends. He's studying German and English. He's always willing to help me with Grammer if I need it. I'm glad he's here. Finally Craig, but I already told you about him. I drank about half of my beer and could go no further. I don't think I'll ever be that good of a drinker. I'm just not that interested in it. After a good hour or two I left the bar with Craig, because we live close to each other and I wasn't that comfortable with public transportation. We then proceeded to get ridiculously lost. I really think I have a talent for that. We walked around for about an hour and a half before we figured out we could take the U-bahn where we needed. He was supposed to get off four stops before me but went the rest of the way with me because I wasn't that comfortable. What a gentleman. I'm so lucky to have such nice people to travel with.
When I got home my house mother was waiting for me. She had a box of cookies for me and a hug. She showed me where the picture used to hang. There was a note on the wall that explained the picture. It said, in German obviously, that if her (the daughter's) mom didn't start knocking on the door before she opened it that this would happen. It then had an arrow pointing to where the picture was supposed to be. My host mom felt terrible.
When Kathi (the daughter) got home from school. We played a German word game together, and I gave her the present I had brought for her. It was stickers with English slang, pens and a stuffed Mikey Mouse. She loved it. We ate a quiet supper of salad. (They are vegetarians.) And then I was exhausted and decided to go to bed.
The next day I woke to an empty cold house. Both the mother and daughter leave early in the morning. I ate something they call Musli for breakfast. It's similar to granola. I put on my backpack and coat and left to catch the S-bahn. When I got to school I discovered I had done better on my test than I had planned. I expected to place in A2 but instead I had placed in B1B. I was really surprised. The students in my class that were also from America had all taken at least 203 at UNL. The last class I had finished was 201. I was nervous but I figured if I had done that well in the speaking part I could handle it. The first three hours were challenging but not impossible. I ate lunch at the Doenner place again with the rest of the Americans. Then we went back to the school for the Intensive course that lasts an hour and a half. The first thirty minutes were full of vocab I didn't know but figured I could learn. Then she handed us a work sheet full of German grammar problems. She went to make copies. I looked down. I hand no idea what the paper was telling me to do. It isn't very often that I'm 100% clueless in a class. I hate feeling like I don't understand. I tried to find an exercise I could do. I looked around and everyone else in the class was filling out the worksheet with apparent ease. I don't know why, but everything, I mean everything, hit me at that moment. My baggage was lost for four days, I got here a day and a half later, the closest good friend was four hours away, my host family was uncomfortable and cold, and finally, something that I usually do pretty decent at if I try, school, was failing me. I felt all of my efforts to remain calm and not freak-out for the last week melting. I'd been telling myself that even if all else failed I would still have fun at school and learn a lot. I broke. Three tears fell down my face before every single person in that classroom came to my rescue. They told me it would be okay, and other standard things you say when someone is upset. Wesley told me he would tutor me and that I could borrow his grammar book. He then handed me my water bottle, told me it was empty, which was half true, and to go fill it. I went to the staircase and ran up three flights. I don't know why, but there's something calming to me about running. My heart and breath slowed and I no longer had to worry about holding tears back. I walked back down, filled my water bottle, and went back to the room. I then had to do something that is one of the hardest things for me to do ever. I had to admit I didn't have a clue, and no matter how I tried I couldn't figure it out. I had to admit I failed. I felt very ashamed, I realize it's not logical, but still I felt like I had just completely lost the respect of the majority of my classmates. I had become that girl. The one who over-reacts to everything. True I enjoy being theatrical at times, but I cannot handle the idea of being seen as weak. It still bothers me that that happened.
I went back to my house after school because I was not yet all the way unpacked. It was hard for me to really feel like I could settle there. It was just uncomfortable for some reason. Even though I knew there was nothing to fear, I still felt weird about the place. I can't properly describe it.
When I got home my guest mother was waiting for me yet again. She said that we needed to talk after dinner. I nodded curtly and went into my room. I tried to unpack more but couldn't. I collapsed on my bed and felt wave after wave of emotion wash over me. It was exhausting. I think I would have sold one of my kidneys at that moment just to see a friend and get a hug. I really needed one.
Dinner time arrived and I could feel the weight in every motion I made. It was a fight just to move. Our dinner was pizza with basil and tomatoes. It was delicious, but I couldn't appreciate it. I couldn't really appreciate anything at that moment. Kathi, the daughter told me about her day, she had spent it with her father. Her parents are divorced. She's a fairly quiet girl, but I honestly do believe she's a good person.
After dinner Janika told Kathi to go to her room. She sighed deeply and then began. She is a mother to her core, and speaks the way a mother speaks. She told me that at first she was okay with the whole picture situation. She said she understood my reaction and my reasons for not immediately coming to her about the picture. I told her I now understood the situation and wasn't scared any more. It was going pleasantly, she told me she thought I was a sweet girl, and I told her I thought she was a fascinating person. I thought everything in the conversation was going great, and then all of the sudden the tides changed. She told me she had talked to Frau Radka that day, and that some of the teachers had said that their students were talking about what had happened to me. She then got very emotional. She told me she was just coming to realize the potential consequences of this whole event. She told me her daughter was a sweet girl who meant no harm to anyone. I told her I believed that was true. Janika said, with a kind of look in her eyes I don't quite know how to describe, that she was afraid for her daughter. She was afraid for her reputation. The director of the school had called and she was going to have to go in and prove her daughter was not crazy and a good person. I know she didn't mean for it to happen, but it made me feel so guilty. If it wasn't for me this would have never happened. As she talked my heart broke for her. I would have never intentionally caused another human that much anguish.
I sat their in my ever deepening, almost smothering, pool of not so pleasant emotions, when all the sudden the tide changed again. I did not know there could be three tides in a conversation, now I know better. All of a sudden she straightened, looked me harshly in the eyes and said she knew about the other guest family. I sat there for a moment completely lost. The kitchen clock ticked the seconds away while I rummaged through my thoughts as fast as I could trying to figure out what she was talking about. She told me that Frau Radka had told her about Klaus and Carola. The light in my brain flicked on. She asked me what was going on with that situation. I told her the truth. That I had dearly loved the first family I had stayed with. I also told her that they had said if I had wanted to I could come back and stay with them. Something very strange happened then. I am not used to having people not trust me. She looked at me with a look of pure disappointment and suspicion. She told me she believes in signs, and that the fact that our beginning was so rough might be prophetic as to what was to come. She said that if I really wanted to go back to Klaus and Carola I should have just said so, the picture wasn't necessary. If I wasn't happy I could go.
That is the hardest slap across the face I have ever received. I honestly think she was accusing me of taking the photo just so I could return to my original host family. I have rarely felt so hurt. She continued, and stated that she didn't know if she could live comfortably with me. The whole situation was simply too weird. I agreed. We spoke for a little while longer until I felt like I couldn't stay awake one more minute. The next day I went in and spoke to Frau Radka. I told her I wanted to return to the first place I had stayed. I stated that I had liked the second family but that everything was just to strange for me to stay there comfortably now. I spoke to the director next. I told him that I didn't think Kathi honestly wanted to kill me, but that the whole situation was just one giant misunderstanding. I told him there was no need to speak with Janeka, and that everything was honestly okay. I felt like that was the best I could do to try to fix feelings with Janeka.
Frau Radka called Carola and Klaus, and they said they could pick me up at 6:00pm. It is unreal, how fast I was able to pack. I gave Janeka the gift I had bought for her before I left. It was a black hills gold necklace. I told her I hoped everything went well for her, and that I was sorry for any trouble I had caused her, it was all unintentional.
And then I heard one of the happiest sounds in the world. The doorbell rang. There stood Sarah my host sister, looking adorable as normal, and outside was Carola wearing a white coat and holding a glowing cigarette. I cannot find a word in the English language that sufficently translates my emotions at that moment. I ran to them and hugged them both. Well, I tried to hug them, I had two backpacks on, which made it a little more complicated. We loaded my baggage in the car and headed towards my new home.
Sitting in the Sperlings car driving through Berlin, I was filled with about every positive emotion you can name. It felt like I had left all the negative in the puddle in front of Janeka's apartment. I fell in love with Berlin all over again. I was staying with wonderful people who liked me, and loved their city. We chatted happily all the way back to the apartment. I told them what had happened. They were a very good audience. They gasped and looked distraught at all the right places. It was wonderful. When we got up to the apartment Klaus was waiting at the door with a huge hug for me. They all told me how happy they were that I had come back. I can't even begin to describe to you how much I needed that. I could have cried with happiness. The fed me and petted me(they are a lot more touchy-feely than I'm used to, but I'm coming to love it), and sent me to bed. For the first time in what felt like months I lay under warm covers on soft pillows and sighed to myself, 100% relaxed, and then had one of the best night sleeps of my entire life.
That my dearies is the tale of the super-complicated-awkward-uncomfortable-family-swap. Now we go onto things that have been much less stressful and much more fun.
When I awoke the next morning I was still overflowing with happy. Klaus and Carola were waiting at the kitchen table for me so that we could begin breakfast. Breakfast hear is very different than Americans are used to. Usually it's fresh bread rolls cut in half with slices of meat or cheese and nutella. Kind of like an open face sandwich. Also crazy awesome yogurt, and musli, which is similar to granola. Breakfast is probably my favorite meal of the day. It's always delicious.
School was challenging but not nearly so scary the next day. I got on the wrong tram, but lucky saw Brian at one of the stops and met up with him. He was very helpful. Even though he intimidates the heck out of me, he's still a very nice person. I came home and unpacked a little and then set about doing my history homework. I was having troubles so I went out to ask Klaus to help me define a word. He got very excited. Now everyday we do my homework together. I think he loves being a teacher. I'm doing very good in history now thanks to him.
Carola is an awesome cook. I really think I'm going to become a whale. When I told her I enjoyed cooking she told me we could make a cook book together. I loved the idea. So far we've made a strawberry torte, stuffed peppers, and quite a few things I don't know the English words for. Again, I think I might need a new belt.
Every Thursday night the Museum on Museum Island are free. The first Thursday night we went as a group. We began with the Pergamon Museum. There were all sorts of fascinating things there. I saw ancient Egyptian sarcophagi, the bust of Nefertiti, Roman armor, and a blur of other fascinating things. I am very slow at going through museums. I plan on going every Thursday.
On Friday school gets out at 12:30 so I went with a group of Americans and two Brazilians to a small restaurant just around the corner from our school. The Brazilians were Leonardo and Edwarda. No joke.
I ordered a glass of wine with my meal, and it definitely went to my head. The food was tasty and the people very plesant. All in all a very good meal I would say.
That night I went with my host sister, her boyfriend, Beth, Molly, and Kaylee to a hookah bar. That night I learned that hookah makes me crazy tired. That night... I learned a lot.
I have discovered that I am the most boring partier in the world. After about three quarters of my drink I just get kinda quite and really interested in table cloths and humming and stuff like that. I don't think anyone really pays enough attention to table cloths. Well, except my mom. But really, they can be quite interesting. Trust me, I know these things.
On Saturday I got completely settled and hung out with my host family. On Sunday we tried out the Methodist church close to where I live. To put it simply, it was very strange.
The next week went by fast. A group of us went to a bar on Tuesday called Studio 54. I really like the design of the place.


Forget this I'll finish it later!

Sometimes I honestly don't feel like I'm speaking a foreign language. It just kind of flows. Its hard, but hard the way it's hard to come up with the right word in a tense situation.

I wrote this on January 4th but had no internet.

I couldn't make this up if I wanted to.
It’s currently 1:15am here. That means that most of you are probably eating dinner. I know I should be sleeping but I can’t. It’s not because I’m not tired it’s because of what just happened. So I arrived at my new host family at about 12:00pm today. As you know I loved my first host family. When they dropped me off I was very sad to see them go. My first impression of the new place was that it was smaller and a bit colder than the first, but still very nice. My host mom I would describe as Professor McGonagall-ish. She looked strict and care-worn, but still kind. She took me to my room and I began to unpack. The room was small and full of books. She had left books about Berlin on my bed and desk, and a gingerbread horse-shoe, which symbolizes luck in Germany, and some chocolates. She told me that Kyle, a man who is also in this program, had called for me earlier. I called him back and we decided to meet up later. Andrea (my host mom) told me we could eat a little after I had unpacked. I sat down on my new bed and felt a wave of homesickness wash over me, I don’t know why it hit me so hard at that moment, but I felt so desperate. After about two minutes of misery I told myself to get over it and continued unpacking. After about 30 minutes Andrea said my spaghetti was ready whenever I wanted it. I sat with her in a small but quaint kitchen and made small talk. I found out she and her daughter are vegetarian. For her career she helps disabled and old people so that they can live at home. Her daughter is 13 and like riding horses and plays the flute and piano. She said they are Buddhist and Christian. I didn’t quite understand all of it but nodded and smiled. After lunch I was exhausted. I don’t really know why but I could barely stay awake. I asked if I could take a nap and she said that was fine. I slept from about 2-4 and then Kyle called. We decided not to meet after all. I was okay with that because I was still pretty tired. I lay back down and tried to read for a while. I was not very successful. I woke up at about 1 and had to use the bathroom. I walked down the hall and appreciated the stuff on the walls. I liked my host mom’s taste in art. When I got back to my room I saw a picture on the floor in front of my door... Really… I can’t make this up. It was a picture of a young girl holding a knife up as if ready to defend herself or attack. I took a picture of the picture because I couldn’t believe my eyes. I thought maybe the picture would transform when I took a picture of it, like maybe it would become a picture of her holding daises for me or something like that. Nope it was still as creepy as when I first found it.
I haven’t met the daughter… but I think she wants to kill me… great. Could somebody tell me what the multiple curse words is going on?!?! If this is a joke, I don’t find it very funny. If it isn’t, how do I get the heck out of this house? I think I’m going to take the picture to school tomorrow and show it to Sheri, my teacher. Klaus and Claudia said they would take me back. I think I will take them up on that offer. Not gonna lie. I’m pretty freaked out right now. I can’t even turn off my light. I know I’m probably over-reacting, and when her daughter finds out how much I freaked out she’ll laugh herself silly, but seriously! Who leaves a picture like that in front of someone’s door? Do you think I’m over-reacting?

I wrote this on January 3rd but had no internet.

So it all begins, I suppose, with the first flight I have ever taken alone. I drove to Denver with my mother, brother, father, Erin and Kasey. I know what you're thinking, "Wow Laura! Wasn't it crowded with six people and seven months worth of luggage in your dad's pick-up?" I would answer you; "Crowded...Nah!... we were cozy." I sat in the back with Kasey and Erin. Erin sat on some funny-smelling-dirt-soap, and Kasey and I pointed and laughed at her because she covered her jeans in funny-smelling-dirt-soap. We're good friends like that.
We stayed with my Grandma Goodenberger in Trenton Nebraska the first night. Like most Grandmothers she was delighted to see her relations and spoiled us accordingly. It is wonderful to be pampered.
The next day we headed out at 8:00am, it was supposed to be 7:30, but I pulled a Laura. The next few hours were typical road trip. I took a picture by the "Nebraska, The Good Life." sign, it was full of bullet holes. I am excited to show this to all of my new friends. I think it will make me look like I'm from some war-torn area. I'll look tough.
When we got to Denver I realized that I could not find my bag of liquids that I had taken out earlier that day, but I figured I was okay because I had all I needed in my suit-case... can you guess what happened later? Anyway I checked in and got my boarding passed and all that, and then ate lunch with Leo and his step-brother Jesse. My mother made us take a picture... typical mom. (Just kidding mom, I love you.) Then it was time for me to go through security and say good-bye. I sang "Leavin on a jet plane" and no one would sing with me, way to make me feel like a looser guys! Geesh!
I then proceeded to wait. My flight from Denver to Chicago was supposed to leave at 3:55pm. It was delayed until 4:30. I sat and talked with a lovely elderly lady about knitting patterns. Before the conversation I knew nothing about the subject. Now... I still know nothing about the subject, but I feel that I have become much better at nodding and smiling and saying "Hmmm" a lot.
At 4:30 we were told they were having a hard time finding a plane for us, but that was okay because knitting lady had brought snacks and we shared them and talked about cinnamon rolls and her sister that lived in Colorado. We finally boarded at about 5:30pm. I had a seat next to the window. The woman who sat on the isle seat was a very chatty lady from Bath England. She works at a day care, and loves the Italian food in her city. She also likes to cook. When I asked her what, she said; boiled potatoes, baked chicken, blanched green beans and pudding. Om nom nom? She had been in Denver visiting her boyfriend. Apparently they had dated in high-school, and then had reconnected not to long ago on the internet.
Our plane had mechanical problems, so we had to get off. I then proceeded to Customer Service with the British woman. She was going home for her brothers wedding. When we got to the desk, we both found out our connecting flights in Chicago would be missed. She decided to stay in Denver for a couple of more days, because, to put it in her exact words, “My boyfriend's a great shag, and this is my brothers second wedding, so he won't miss me much." She let me borrow her phone to call my mom, and then kissed me on the cheek and wished me luck.
First encounter with a British person... how I feel about it... humored and confused. Stereotypes are there for a reason.
At 7:30 flight 938 from Denver to Chicago loaded another plane. This time I got to talk to a young Philippine woman who was in nursing school. She had just gotten married. She is 21 and had known the man since she was five. We were having quite a good chat when the power in the plane when off. (Don't worry, we hadn't taken off yet.) We all sat in the dark for about 10 minutes when it came back on again. The young nursing student and I resumed conversation. Two minutes later... no power again. She got scared and thought it was a sign and got off the plane. After the power had resumed her spot was taken by the baggage of a well traveled Latino woman. She had been to every continent but South America and Antarctica. She started in Community College part-time while working as a waitress. She then proceeded to graduate from a university and now works for an international company. She loves it.
Our plane finally left at about 9:45pm. When I got to Chicago it was late, and I was tired. I had to wait in line for about an hour with a crowd of disgruntled travelers. I talked to Josh. Josh graduated from UNL with a degree in math and technology. I told him he didn't look like a nerd. He told me he made the best Spock at Halloween. He told me I was not a mean enough person, and if I really wanted to get the best from the airlines I needed to yell at them. I told him I didn't want them to spit in my food. When we finally got to speak to someone he got to do what he thought was best, yell. He was quite animated about it. Since I was nice to my Customer Service agent I got a free toothbrush and a $15 gift certificate to any of the food places in the airport. I stayed in the Double-Tree, the airline paid for it. They had soft pillows and warm cookies...*sigh*. They gave me a toiletries pack, but they were out of women’s ones. So my soap and deodorant were green and smelled like a pine forest.
My flight to Munich had to be re-routed, because apparently Chicago only had flights to Munich on certain days. So I was scheduled to go to Frankfurt, my flight was supposed to leave at 2:35. It was delayed until 4:30. I spent my gift certificate on a sandwich, naked juice and chocolate covered raisins, and people watched for a while. I then went, yet again to customer service. I stood next to a guy on my flight, he was going to Nepal to climb some mountain. He was from Alaska and looked like a lumberjack. He likes juice. I asked. I was then told by the people at Customer Service that I would again have to get a new flight to Berlin because I would miss my first flight because of the delay. I sighed and sat at my gate, eating my raisins, and watched a small German boy who thought his toy cars were much tastier than his pacifier. In his defense they did look quite appetizing. I hope I am always the kind of person who chooses hot-rods over pacifiers.
My flight from Chicago to Frankfurt left at about 4:45. I sat in the middle row with super-parents from Sweden. They had three boys ages two, three and five. The mom's name was Helga... I kid you not.. and I forget the dad's name. The mom had Black hair and blue eyes; I’d guess she was about 40. She was a stunningly beautiful woman. The dad spoke five languages and worked for a cell phone company. He had blonde hair, blue eyes and the beginning of a bald patch. He sat next to me, and helped me review German grammar. The children were adorable and crazy well behaved for such a long flight. All of them had white blonde hair and sky blue eyes. Their whole family fell asleep after a rather rubbery dinner of pasta was served. I could not fall asleep. It was terrible. So after about an hour I gave up and played peek-a-boo with an adorable Indian boy who was in the row in front of me. After a while he started handing me the little fuzz-balls that accumulate on the chairs after lots of use. He acted like it was the biggest gift he could ever give me. I acted like they were the most impressive gems I had ever seen. That went on for a good hour and a half. It made my week... maybe month. After he went to sleep in his father’s arms I was board out of my mind. I choose to try a conversation with the man sitting across the aisle from me. He had his Bible out and was taking notes. His was 63 and was named Randy. He was going to go visit Israel for a week and then go to Ethiopia for three weeks and help build stuff. He was traveling with four other men. He was pretty rockin, not gonna lie. The plane landed and the staff wished us a happy new year. I was finally in Germany!!! I was so excited I almost forgot to get my passport stamped. I had to go through security again because they had to make sure I wasn't a terrorist. It all went fairly smoothly. Yet again I met the lovely people at Customer Service, and was moved to the 10:00am flight to the Berlin Tegel airport. It was about 8am then so I wandered the airport in wonder. There were German words, and they were everywhere! Imagine that, German word in Germany. It was super exciting. I did a little happy dance in front of the bathroom. I got strange looks. I was okay with that.
The flight to Berlin was eerily empty. It took about an hour and a half. When I got off the flight I went to get my luggage and waited by the baggage turn-ey thingy, and waited, and waited... and waited some more. It never came. I then went to... you guessed it!... Customer Service. I tried to speak German to them but they just laughed at me and spoke English. They gave me a small toiletries bag and told me my bag was still in America. They hoped it would arrive in at least five days.
I went to the place I was supposed to go to meet the people who were going to pick me up. I didn’t really expect them to be there though since my flights had been changed so often. They weren’t there. So I went to my favorite place in the world. Can you guess it? Customer Service! I asked them what I should expect from a taxi driver as far as tips and so on. They told me most of the drivers are Turkish and don’t even speak German let alone English. That really intimidated me.
So I went outside and scanned the drivers. The majority were all about 60,short, with olive skin, curly hair, and with the kind of bellies that make you want to make them laugh so you can watch their middles jiggle. As I was looking for a driver I noticed one that stuck out a mile. He was tall with green eyes, beige skin and spiked hair. He was wearing a black leather jacket and shoes, and black pants. I half expected him to burst into songs from Grease. I walked over to him and asked if he spoke German. He laughed and said, “Ja! Naturlich.” I asked him if he could take me to the address I had on my little piece of paper. He nodded. He then put all of my stuff in the trunk and we proceeded to the house of Britta Sperling, which is where I was going to be staying. FUN FACT TIME! Did you know that Sperling means sparrow in German? Back to the story… I believe I may have just found the nicest taxi driver in all of Berlin. He spoke very little English but his German was very clear. Together we spoke Germlish. He told me all about his home city as we drove through. He also showed me a picture of his wife. I told her she was very pretty and then he laughed and exclaimed, “Not for you!” I found out he used to live in east Berlin before the wall fell. He remembered the night perfectly. He told me his whole family cried. He told me no one really believed it happened. He then told me more about the city. I really enjoyed his sense of humor. He was exceedingly nice.
Finally we arrived outside Britta’s apartment. He helped me carry my things to the door and rang the bell for me. No one answered. He rang again. Nothing. He asked if I had her number. I gave it to him. He dialed her home number. She didn’t answer. He dialed her cell. The woman who answered was not Brigitte. I felt my panic, which I had been suppressing through the whole trip, start to rise. I think he saw me getting scared because he put his hand on my shoulder and said it would be ok. He kept talking to the woman on the phone. Apparently she was Brigitte’s sister-in-law. Brigitte was apparently out of town. She left because my school told her I was not coming. The woman on the phone said to wait there and that she and her husband would come and pick me up and we would figure things out from there. I thanked the taxi driver and tried to tip him. He would not take it. He said it was only good service he was providing. He made my heart happy. What a good human!
I sat down in the snow on the stairs next to remains of fire-works, Germans celebrate the new year with fire-works, and waited. Carola and Klause Sperling arrived about 15 minutes later. They spoke no English. This has been very good for me. They asked me if I was allergic to cats. I said no. They told me they had five. I knew we would get along. It takes a special kind of person to have a cat, and an even more awesome person to have five. I love animals. They live in a very nice apartment, which does not smell like cats. They have internet and a flat rate phone line to America. It’s fantastic! They were a bit touchy- feely but after a while I got used to it. I think Americans have a pretty big bubble as far as cultures go.
Carola and Klause fed me really good food, let me shower and then I went to bed. When I woke up at five in the morning German time. Klause made me tea and told me that I was just going to stay with them until I went to my second host family. He told me about the sports he used to play in high school. He spoke in third person the whole time. I think he thought it made it easier for me. He loved Volleyball and used to walk tightrope. When he was young one of his best friends was killed in a tightrope walking accident. It was really hard for him. We watched the Discovery Channel until Carola woke up. We then proceeded to have one of the best breakfasts I have ever had in my life. We ate fresh bread rolls with Nutella and toast with Swiss cheese and salami, and some crazy tasty yogurt. It was flipping fabulous. Carola then took me shopping so that I could buy whatever I needed that was currently not with me because my bag was not there. She took me through an entire super market and explained every aisle. IT WAS AWESOME! She bought me bread and cucumbers. I could not have been happier. Later that day, after we came back to the apartment their daughter Sarah visited. She is a very pretty girl with blonde hair and brown eyes. She speaks English. She helped me clarify some of the things her parents had been telling me. She told me that if I wanted to, they were okay with me staying there the whole four months. I was really tempted. Sarah then took me to the Alex mall and we got a coffee and walked around the mall. She’s fascinating. She wants to work in wild life management in South Africa. How cool is that?! She told me to keep in touch. I think I will. So far my experiences with host families has been great! I love Klaus and Carola. They are really great people.

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I like chettos, and rainbows and butterflies.