Update

Hey everyone!

Just trying to give an update here. Things are going really well for me here! I really like my new host family, the people at school are quite nice, my classes are all kind of relaxed since we are all done with the big "finals" (for now...), and, well, life is good! I am trying to pick up the pace with learning German. I am in that stage of the language learning (immersion) experience, where I have learned enough to get by, so I have stopped learning! This wasn't a conscious thing, it just happens. Therefore I have begun to do more learning activities. Other than that, I am stressing about college. I am already accepted to Drake University, and I am super excited to go there! Therefore I keep checking if there is anything more to do to get ready for next year. I have also been writing scholarship essay, which has been... a blast. :P. Oh! And I booked my flight home. I will be coming home on the 15th of July. As much as I want to stay here forever, I also can't wait to go home. It is a weird bittersweet feeling. My year is just about half over, and I wish it wasn't! But at the same time, I can't wait to see my family, friends, and Chipotle again. Haha. I know that the second half of the year is going to go very fast. I have lots of vacation time, Europatour, big tests for all of my classes, and then school is pretty much over! School goes really late here: July 5th. And they start up again around middle August! That is no break at all! Although I suppose they don't get out of the learning state of mind, which is good. Either way, I won't have much time to prepare for University and buy dorm stuff before I leave-- hence the stressing out. But it will work itself out. :)

Beth

Skiing/München/Skiing

No. You didn't read the title wrong. Skiing is there two times. The past month has been only vacation for me. :) From December 8th to the 15th, I was in Italy with the other exchange students for a Ski tour! It was amazing. We were in an area of Italy called Südtirol. It belongs to Italy, but everyone there speaks German. That area of Italy wants to belong to Austria. The history for the region is simply crazy, and you should look it up if you have the time. :) Anyhow, it was great. I learned a lot about skiing. The ski teacher was convinced that I had to learn so much. He even gave me 'homework'. Haha. Here are some photos:

After I got back, I went to school for two days, and then Christmas break started! We started it off with a trip to Munich! It was women of my host family, 10 of us in total. And it was so much fun! We spent the weekend just doing what we wanted: sightseeing, sleeping, eating, etc. :) 

After getting back from München, it was already Christmas eve! I went to a really nice church service, ate homemade pulled pork with barbecue sauce (best meal ever), and opened presents. I received wonderful presents from both my host family and my family in the US. I was surprisingly not too sad, mostly because it was a nice time here as well. 

After Christmas I went to Austria for ANOTHER ski vacation with my host family! :D It was fantastic! We skied for 3 days, went tobogganing one day, went swimming, and I went Paragliding! It was so much fun, and a great way to get to know my host family.

And now, it is back to school. Ahhh. Wonderful. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Beth