One Step Closer

Yesterday, I began the next step to my trip: leaving North Carolina and staying with my aunt and her family in Maryland. My parents thought since we were already up here, why buy a plane ticket to come back in a week to fly out to Germany? So, here I am.

I keep forgetting to tell you how beautiful these eastern states are. They're so green, and although they're humid, they remind me of my favorite days in Arizona, the ones where it's not quite raining, but there are dark clouds in the sky and a cool breeze blowing. Maryland is just one of these states that I definitely wouldn't mind living in in the future, although I'm sure the winters have feet of snow, which I'm not particularly fond of. Yes, I know Germany has snow, and I'm going to try my hardest to get used to it, but when you've lived in a desert state all of your life, it's kind of hard to like the cold. So no promises.

Another thing I'm trying to overcome: I'm not with my immediate family anymore. It hasn't sunk in yet, but oh, it will. Ten months without seeing them! Nobody said this would be easy. In fact, I imagine that this will be the hardest thing I've ever done, but I can't wait for the rewards of this trip.

If you didn't already know, the 49 other students and I are living together for the first month in language camp, in other words, a strict schooling of German. I know a little bit right now, phrases and small words and such. However, this is where I will set my basis of the language for the rest of the year. All of the students are extremely nice and passionate about going, and they're all going through the same thing, so it'll be nice to have them to talk to. However, I won't have internet access (except for the internet cafe in the town over which I can only use on Sundays and is rather expensive to get there) from August 14th to September 10th, so if you've noticed that I've disappeared for a month, you'll know why. This, it seems, will be the hardest part. I've gotten used to talking to my friends, boyfriend, and family, although I'm not with them. Now, I won't even be able to talk to them. This is what's setting me back right now it seems.

I'm sorry I won't be able to update you until September after the 14th, but I promise I'll have lots of stories to tell when the time rolls around! Don't give up hope on me!