Bwaah, was it that long ago that I was crossing off the one-month mark until I left for Germany? It's the reverse now, having been here for a month, but it does feel like no time has passed at all.
So. I've almost made it through my first week as a German high schooler [whether entirely in tact or not is subjective]-- but before I talk about that, I want to send a shoutout to everyone reading this blog! It makes me so happy to see it becoming international; much love to all of you in the U.S. and Germany of course, but also to y'all from Britain, Spain, Canada, the Netherlands, Finnland, Russia, South Korea and Malaysia. Absolutely mind blowing; ich hab' euch lieb! <3
So last Saturday was the big move from my temporary, 3-week language camp family in Bottrop to my more permanent one in Marl. They're all of 30 minutes away from one another, which I believe made for one of the shortest trips of us exchange students; others had to go for five-hour-plus train rides all the way down to Baden-Wurtemburg and Saarland on France's border. Anywhere in Germany is fine, really, but not having to manage my ridiculous suitcases [and then all the stuff I managed to accumulate in Köln] on and off various trains is an experience I am more than willing to go without:)
Also, hearing back from all of the south-bound students, I am so so so thankful I'm up the North, and not having to deal with the southern Swabbish-dialect rage [It's hard enough to understand what's going on as is].
As for my host family, I absolutely adore them. Maybe it's my ridiculously cute siblings, or maybe it's the talks with my host parents over tea and cappuccino, or maybe even the goldendoodle [I love, love goldendoodles]...
Or maybe it's because of the little present I found on my windowsill when I went into my room for the first time.
It is absolutely gorgeous here. Ten minutes away is downtown Recklinghausen, and that place makes me so happy it's not even funny. It's this adorable downtown with everything cobblestone and bricks and hints of traditional German architecture. Little patches of winding ivy on buildings, a courtyard with cafes and little gazebos spilling into one another, and some pretty darn good shopping options to boot. Really, it's just like Köln, on a smaller scale and minus all the hubbub.
And I do like that.
Not only are all the tourists gone[No, I'm not a tourist. I'm an exchange student.]-- but so is the noise. Thoughts get lost in Köln, but here I feel like you can have your morning cup of MilchKafee and actually savour it and the morning and the town.
Which I did with my host mom earlier, actually:)
The best part?
This little mecca is a five minute walk away from my school.
And.
Speaking of school.
[Ha.]
That warrants its own post.
..
Later.
So. I've almost made it through my first week as a German high schooler [whether entirely in tact or not is subjective]-- but before I talk about that, I want to send a shoutout to everyone reading this blog! It makes me so happy to see it becoming international; much love to all of you in the U.S. and Germany of course, but also to y'all from Britain, Spain, Canada, the Netherlands, Finnland, Russia, South Korea and Malaysia. Absolutely mind blowing; ich hab' euch lieb! <3
Also, hearing back from all of the south-bound students, I am so so so thankful I'm up the North, and not having to deal with the southern Swabbish-dialect rage [It's hard enough to understand what's going on as is].
As for my host family, I absolutely adore them. Maybe it's my ridiculously cute siblings, or maybe it's the talks with my host parents over tea and cappuccino, or maybe even the goldendoodle [I love, love goldendoodles]...
Or maybe it's because of the little present I found on my windowsill when I went into my room for the first time.
 |
| Kindereggs? Oh yes. |
We're going to get along fabulously.
*******
It is absolutely gorgeous here. Ten minutes away is downtown Recklinghausen, and that place makes me so happy it's not even funny. It's this adorable downtown with everything cobblestone and bricks and hints of traditional German architecture. Little patches of winding ivy on buildings, a courtyard with cafes and little gazebos spilling into one another, and some pretty darn good shopping options to boot. Really, it's just like Köln, on a smaller scale and minus all the hubbub.
And I do like that.
Not only are all the tourists gone[No, I'm not a tourist. I'm an exchange student.]-- but so is the noise. Thoughts get lost in Köln, but here I feel like you can have your morning cup of MilchKafee and actually savour it and the morning and the town.
Which I did with my host mom earlier, actually:)
The best part?
This little mecca is a five minute walk away from my school.
And.
Speaking of school.
[Ha.]
That warrants its own post.
..
Later.
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