In Love

It is now about my fourth Monat (month) in Deutschland.

How It's Going:

Roller-Coaster-like. Some days I'll find myself completely content with where I am and all that's around me. I'll catch myself smiling for no apparent reason and wanting to go dance around my room to songs on the radio (which are the popular songs on our radios in America). That's right, I'm in love with Germany!
Then of course, there are some days where I feel traurig (sad) as well as completely overwhelmed with this new language constantly surrounding me. Most of the time my feelings vary by moment rather than day.

Schule (school) is pretty tough, but I'm starting to understand so much more than I could at the beginning of this journey. It's fantastic when I can sit there and listen to the teacher, and when he/she is done talking my friend will turn to me, about to explain in English what was happening, and I'll turn to her with a smile on my face and repeat a summarized version in German. Of course, it's not every day or every class that I can do that,  but when I can I feel like I'm on top of the world.

My host family is still as wonderful as the beginning. I'm staring to feel more comfortable in the house and being around them. It's good to feel like I have a home to go to. I'm becoming fairly close with my host sisters, in the way that close sisters are, what with tickling, pinching, and messing around with each other. My baby host sister is starting to ask for my help for things that in the beginning she wouldn't let me touch, like pouring her a drink or reading her a book. I find it so sweet.

From the last episode, I still haven't begun to fancy public transportation any more, however nothing of the sort has happened since thankfully.

About the Culture:

A week or so ago, I was with a group of friends during a free period. The bell had just rung and I was saying goodbye to everybody. One of the boys was about to hug me, and seemed very hesitant to. Me, being willing to hug anybody that comes within a foot of me, gave him a hug and said goodbye. Later on, my friend asked me if I had "liked" him. I was immediately taken back by the thought of it, said no, and asked her why she would think so. She told me that she only really hugged the people that she "liked". I checked this later on with my CR, and she said that she too only really hugged people that she liked as more than a friend, although she explained it more as a "good" hug type of hug for those people. People here aren't as open to others as much as Americans are. It's very interesting to observe.

I'm very sorry that my posts have been on the slow side. I hope that once everything becomes a bit easier I can post more often!

I'm going to the Schwarz Wald (Black Forest) this weekend with my host family. I'll let you know how it goes!
-Alexandra