On Saturday, I went hunting. HUNTING. For those of you who don't know, I was a vegetarian for four years before I came to Germany. My parents hunt a lot, but I never went with because it wasn't really my thing. But, you can't say no to an experience like hunting in the forest in Germany for wild pigs! It was very interesting. We did a type of hunt where there were people who would "storm the forest", chasing all the boars out of the brush and such, and then there were the hunters who would shoot them as they ran by. It was one of the coolest things I have done here. The day started out freezing, but as we walked around the forest (yes. Around. We walked a VERY long way), I started to warm up. I saw 4 deer (which where very small compared to the deer in Minnesota) and countless wild pigs. By the end of the day, the hunters had shot 56 boar! They will sell the meat from the pigs, which is supposed to taste pretty good. My legs were all cut up from the thorns we had to walk through, but overall, it was worth it.
After the hunt, my parents picked me up. (The hunt lasted from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.!) and we went to the Weinachtsmarkt (Christmas Market) in a nearby city. It was really beautiful.
The next morning, I had to say goodbye to my host family. I was actually quite sad, but also excited to move to the next host family. I had to hurriedly pack my belongings, as I was procrastinating. :) It finally snowed on the day I had to move, so my host sister and I went out and took some pictures in the snow:
Then I moved! It felt weird, having to change. I wasn't really ready for it. I keep thinking about things that I should have done while I was still there. Or things that I didn't learn there that I should have. C'est la vie, I suppose.
I am having a great time, and actually just got back from a ski trip in the Alps with Rotary. I am sick, unfortunately, and staying home from school today. I will make a different post about the Ski Tour!
Tschüss!
Beth
