Christmastime in Germany

                                                   Weilburg, Germany

I started packing for Germany at about 9 pm the day before departure. As always, I procrastinated, but to be fair, I had been running a lot of errands that day, so it's not like I was lounging on the couch from dusk 'til dawn. When Anne picked me up from school, I had to go the supermarket, withdraw money from the ATM, do my laundry, clean my room, take out my trash, pack my lunch, mail some letters at the post office, Skype my parents, and finish season two of Desperate Housewives. That evening, I was scrambling around and throwing a week's worth of clothes into an impossibly small duffel (it was either this or my ginormous suitcase that I brought to France).

I finished packing an hour later, and I decided to treat my new suede boots with water-protectant and black polish. That was a mistake. I really should have gone outside to do it, and I don't know why I didn't, but I was really stupid and figured I could just treat them in my bedroom. About five minutes after I was done, I noticed black specks all over the closet, the floor, and my bedcover. I immediately went into panic mode and tried to use everything I had to clean up the mess: Clorox wipes, tissues, and a tide-to-go pen. Nothing worked. I was freaking out, and spent the next 10 minutes debating whether or not I should go tell Anne. Since she was going to find out eventually, I decided to break the news to her despite my humiliation. I walked the walk of shame to the living room where she was watching t.v. with my host dad and I told her the news. Anne took it all with good humor and assured me I was worrying way too much after my 20th apology. I don't know how or why I got placed with this host family, but I thank the exchange gods everyday for my good luck.

The next morning I woke up feeling awfully sick. I couldn't breathe through my nose and my throat was scratchy. This all probably happened because I slept in a room full of toxic shoe polish fumes, but I guess I deserved some kind of punishment. The bus ride was 12 hours of misery. Every 2 seconds I had to blow my nose, and I wasn't able to get any sleep because everyone was constantly shouting the whole way there. We took about 45 minutes for lunch, and that was one of the more exciting parts of the day. Anne had bought me so much food at the supermarket. She knows that I eat a lot, so she bought me my own baguette, ham, miniature cheese packages, yop (drinkable yogurt), tabouli, an apple, M&M's, caramel candies, and chocolate biscuits. It was a good lunch.

We arrived in Weilburg at 8:30. I met my German correspondent, Dela (who was an exchange student in the States last year), and her family. They were all very nice and welcoming, and they all knew English very well, so that was what we all spoke. I felt really bad about not speaking German because I don't like resorting to English when I'm in a different country, but I have never taken a German class in my life, so I didn't have much of a choice. Honestly, it was really difficult for me to switch back to speaking in English. Now that I've been speaking French for over 3 months, I think in French, and there were several times throughout the first night where I automatically switched to French.

The next morning at 7:30(!), I started my first day of German high school with Dela. I went to her math class, and I noticed that most of the students where more serious and quiet during class than in French or American high school. This is probably because it was so early in the morning and people were still half-sleeping (I know I was) but I don't know for sure.

Two other things about German school:

1) The school lunches look really good. I didn't actually order anything because Dela's mom packed us lunches and the food was expensive anyway, but they had a booth for hot chocolate, tea, and coffee, another booth for muffins, desserts, and baked goods, and I think the main area was serving soup and delicious-looking sandwiches.

2) The language programs here are so much better than in America. Kids start learning English vocabulary and simple phrases in Grade 1, and by Grade 5, they are already taking more difficult English classes that are more like our beginning foreign language classes in middle school or the beginning of high school. I asked one girl in Dela's grade if she was learning grammar and verb conjugations in English class at the moment. She told me that they were reading English literature and analyzing it. That made me feel pretty stupid.

 On Friday afternoon, the French students and their correspondents boarded a bus for Limburg, where we all went ice skating. At first, I was the pathetic one who was clinging to the wall and taking baby steps, but by the end, I was able to skate semi-decently all by myself. (The picture above is of me and Marilyn, who is another French student from Vincent d'Indy in Germany right now). We spent the rest of the evening shopping around the Christmas market in Limburg. Germany does Christmas pretty darn well. There were so many quaint city squares with Christmas trees, pretty lights, people playing Christmas music, booths full of hot cider and warm food, and artisans selling their crafts. It made me a little homesick because I was with a bunch of German teenagers I didn't know very well, and since I couldn't really talk to them, I hung behind and thought of how it would be nice for my family to be there to walk around the Christmas market with me.

On Saturday, I went to a Christmas concert at a huge church in Weilburg because Dela was singing in the chorus. It was absolutely packed, and I was lucky to find a good standing spot in the back. The most exciting part of the concert was when the combined band and orchestra started playing Copland's Hoe-Down to my delight. I played this piece on my violin several years back, and if there was ever a person who asked me to name a truly American song, I would name this one (behind the National Anthem of course). Hoe-Down was by far the best piece that was performed that night, and I was proud to be American after hearing a little taste of home.

Saturday evening was definitely a different experience from my average Saturday night at home in America or France. I went out with Dela to a bar, where a lot of the French students and correspondents where hanging out. After literally climbing a mountain through the completely dark forest in the freezing cold, we reached the bar. I was completely overwhelmed by the smell of smoke when we opened the door. It was packed with people and there was a rock band screaming music at the top of their lungs. There was a sketchy crowd of motorcycle guys with long hair and leather outfits prowling the establishment, and I spent most of the time huddled against the wall breathing into my scarf. Several people came up to me during the night to tell me I looked bored, but in my defense, there isn't much to do at a bar like this when you don't drink, smoke, head-bang, or speak German. By the end of the night I was reeking of cigarettes and my coat, clothes, and purse are still perfumed with the scent.

Today, I went to a dinner with Dela at a friend's house. Some of the other French kids and their correspondents were there for the raclette, which is fondue cheese served over potatoes and charcuterie. The food was really good, and we spent all day there. I'm still kind of the odd one out with for all the functions because the French students all huddle together and smoke their cigarettes, and the Germans all stay together talking about, well, I have no idea. All in all though, Germany has been pretty fun. However, it's absolutely freezing here and I'm hoping the weather back in Privas will be mild again when I go back.

As time goes by, I'm getting more and more nervous about college deadlines, and I just really wish I could be finished already. I've barely got any time to do them, and when I do sit down, I'm at a lack for ideas. I will be so happy after I send them in, but it'll also be bitter sweet because I'll be leaving my first host family around the same time. They have been the best part of my experience in France so far, and I'm really sad to go. Luckily, I get to spend every Friday evening with them at the scary French chorus, so that's one thing I'm already looking forward to.