The good
So now I have been with my host family for over a month. It
has been really interesting and I’ve really enjoyed it. In fact, love it. Ha.
The food is delicious and I’m in love with the bakeries. I could eat bread all
day… But I try not to. Usually. I find the architecture so cute and quaint! I
probably only like it so much because it’s different from what I’m used to in America , but
still. I think it’s beautiful. I really like the public transportation here. If
I know where I want to go, I can just hop on a bus or train or tram and TA-DA!
There. It’s so simple and convenient and works so well. I love it. I have used
it several times already. Alone, I might add, which is so liberating. It makes
me feel so independent or whatever. Ha! Who needs cars. I love the general
atmosphere of the shops and culture. The markets are so interesting for me.
I’ve walked through 2 small ones briefly with my host family so far. A lot of
it was food that looks sooo delicious, but there are also stands with other
things, perhaps. I find the small ones so cool, so I’m excited for the
Weihnachtsmarkts, which I hear are awesome :). Wiesloch has a farmers market
every Friday, and my host mom goes there to buy fresh fruits and vegetables,
cheeses, and perhaps a special meat for my host dad to make into a delicious
Goulash or some such. Yum. Though that leads me into the “not so good” part :P
And the sort-of-not good
With all the good, it hasn’t always been sunshine and
daisies. I’ve definitely gained weight, which doesn’t make me too happy. I do
what I can to exercise, but the food is SO.GOOD. Can’t resist.
Must.not.eat.more.bread….. And with as much as I love the food here, I find
myself CRAVING American food. Aaah. I
suppose that’s part of the missing home part? Because I do, a bit. But it’s not
like the “I’m so homesick!” sort of missing; I just miss familiarity, being
able to express myself clearly, to understand what people are saying, and
having friends. Because I am tired; oh, so tired. Concentrating in school on
German all day is draining. Though my German has improved a lot, I still make
plenty of mistakes or don’t know how to phrase something, and I don’t always
understand what people are saying. Which is frustrating. And that doesn’t help
with making friends. For example, I’d like to say something to someone, start a
conversation, but I don’t know how or what to say. It’s a work in progress,
this language-learning and friend-making business. Which sometimes stinks.
So anyways, school is going better and better, though some
classes I think I’m going to straight up FAIL no matter how hard I try. Like
physics. And chemistry. Good thing I don’t need the credits. I’ve been enjoying
it overall though. English is my favorite, not because it’s in English (though
that is a bonus), but because it’s the most amusing and interesting and
interactive, I think. Things are going good with my host family. I’ve really
enjoyed cooking things for them, like pancakes, apple pie, mac’ and cheese, and
omelets. Haha, they really liked the pancakes. The differences in how their
family functions is interesting, because it’s different from what I grew up in
(obviously, I suppose). If you’re not Mormon, then this part is probably not
very exciting for you, BUT I went to the Frankfurt temple, which I really
enjoyed, and there was a conference with Monson in Germany that I got to go to
which was SWEET. I’ve been taking art classes at the Volkshochschule (offers a
bunch of courses, like art, theater, languages, crafts, reading groups, etc.).
Ha, it’s funny, because I’m DEFINITELY the youngest there, but whatevs. I enjoy
art for art, not the company. The teacher is an amusing, old, Italian guy, but
he really knows his business, so it’s cool.
Overall, as the title states, I’ve loved being here,
and can’t wait for more experiences!