The language class is not what I expected it to be. There are 7 of us in the class, and I'm the only one who doesn't speak Spanish. It's cool because maybe I'll come home knowing more Spanish too, but it's also really hard. Thing are often explained in Spanish, so then I have to ask for extra clarification, and sometimes I can't tell what language the teacher is speaking. I also feel really left out of the social element. When ever there are breaks and we all sit around and talk it's always in Spanish, so I can never contribute, or even know what's going on. It's good though, all the kids are very outgoing and I feel like they can become good friends. They all have so much character, and I'm just trying to fit in.
My host family is wonderful. It's so strange being in a house with a family in it, considering it's just been me and a parent for 3 years. Barbara (or Babs as we all call her) is so sweet and helpful. I'm so glad that she speaks English, as it has made the transition much easier. Though now that I'm almost halfway done with the language class I should have them start speaking more German. Pina is such a help, she speaks so much English. I wish I knew half as much German as she does English. Victoria is so cute. I taught her 'Go Fish' and now she always wants to play, or show me her progress in learning to shuffle a deck of cards.
I love how involved the whole neighborhood is with each other. It's really like living in a huge family. It's not uncommon to just drop into a neighbors house when you have nothing to do. Everyday last weekend I spent at either a barbecue or a party with the neighbors. On Saturday I went to one of the girls' house and watch movies with 3 of them. I feel so bad because I've met so many great people but I can't remember anyone's name! I guess that's the issue with being the new person. You have to remember 100 different names, but those 100 people only have to learn one.
It's been tough being away from home. I don't really feel homesick unless it's brought up or I get super stressed out. And then I think about all the people I want to share my stress with to make it go away, but I can't because it two in the morning and they're all asleep. I've Skyped people a few times now and it has been really nice. Though it probably wasn't a good idea to have my dad send me pictures from when I was little, no matter how much my host family wanted to see some. They made me so homesick and nostalgic. I have this burning feeling that in a few months everything is going to get so much harder, because me living here will actually be real. Right now it's just like I'm on a weird vacation for a while. But in a few months I'll realize that I'm still here for months and it will still be so long before I go home. I keep telling myself this is home now, and it helps a bit.
Tomorrow I go to the Rhiengau with Babs' school. It is the part of Germany where they make a lot of wine. On Saturday, there is an Oktoberfest of sorts at the Tennis courts where my family plays. It sounds like it's going to be super fun. My family and neighbors are dressing up and singing ABBA. It will be a great chance to hear A LOT of German, and maybe even practice some.
Bis Bald,
Kimber
(Disclaimer: I'm really bad with keeping up with things like this. But hey, this is a new year and a new me, so maybe that will change.)
I went for a walk over the weekend and found this in the forest. I think it will become my new little spot.
My bedroom while in the chaos of unpacking. The windows are so cool, but so different than in the US.
The neighborhood kids at a Barbecue the night I got there. Pina is in the pink T, and Victoria in the blue.
They have some mighty strange Banana Slugs here. I guess this is what it would look like if a Banana and an Orange had an Ariolimax baby.
I enjoyed reading your posts, Kimber, and hope there will be more.
ReplyDeleteI remember moving to California right after high school. It was 1968 and California was WAY different from New Hampshire back then. N.H. was very conservative and California was protests and "flower power" and hippies. It was quite a shock for me.
I had occasional episodes of intense loneliness because I was completely on my own and thousands of miles away from friends and family. But I realized that the solution was to build a new social circle as quickly as possible and make new friends. Soon, I had people to talk to about things I didn't understand. Then there were other people who were just fun to be around and shoot the breeze. Having a social circle definitely made a difference.
Are there any social clubs you can get involved with?
Does you host family have any pets?
What a great opportunity you have to develop skill in another language. I will be very jealous but also very proud of you if you and Kate start speaking German together.
Your wonderful uncle,
Rodney
I'm trying alright. It gets tough though because I don't know enough German to have a conversation. Everyone is great and knows English, so that's helpful. I'm not sure. I'm not actually going to my school yet. I have 3 more weeks of language class. After that I'll be there full time and hopefully making friends and getting involved will be better.
DeleteNo pets, unfortunately. My host dad is allergic to anything with fur. My neighbors have bunnies I get to play with sometimes. I'm trying be befriend the girl who lives a few houses down because she has a cat that looks like Bob and KC combined. It's so weird not having any pets.