I didn't expect my year to be so busy and tiring, but learning a new language is extraordinarily tiring especially when you try to see sights and meet new students outside of school. Last Friday another CBYXer, Mahalia, and I went to a party with many other students. We danced and attempted to speak German with kids we met. It was really fun, and I met a lot of new students not only from my school, but also from surrounding schools. I was really sleepy after my long week at school and spending time with friends on Friday, so most of my Saturday was spent asleep in my room, reading, or working on school work. Sunday morning I got a phone call from Mahalia's host mom asking me if I wanted to go to a castle in Hannover with them. Of course, I said ABSOLUTELY! I was so excited because I love sightseeing and learning about history. The Schloß (castle) we visited is called Schloß Marienburg. It was built by King George V, the last monarch of the kingdom of Hannover, and given to his wife Queen Marie as a gift. I don't know about you, but I would love to get a castle for Christmas or my birthday. The castle was built between 1858 and 1867, and it is absolutely gorgeous. Sunday was a pretty rainy day, but we were still able to walk around the grounds without getting too muddy. Unfortunately, visitors are not allowed to take photos inside the castle, but I did take many pictures of the castle's exterior. It was so nice to have a relaxing and educational day with Mahalia and her host parents. We got ice cream in between our tower tour and the ground floor tour, and I still am convinced that Spaghettieis makes everything better! After visiting the castle we drove back to Stemwede. Mahalia and I were so tired that we fell asleep during the car ride home. I had a really nice dinner with them, and then I headed back to my house. My weekend was definitely very busy and fun! I have started to become homesick for some aspects of home. I often miss spending time with my family, especially my mom. I miss my dogs a lot, and I have been craving a lot of food from home. Keeping myself busy is really helpful, and I have started to get over some of the homesickness that I was feeling last week. Today, however, I have been feeling really sick. I think when you feel sick you realize just how much you miss your parents. I have been longing for my dad to make me one of his grilled cheese sandwiches, and I have been longing for my mom to make me some tea. Thankfully, after making myself some tea, I am feeling much better. I am planning on going to Munich on an Experiment hosted/planned trip during my fall break. I am really excited to visit Munich and to see some of my  exchange student friends! Tomorrow I have four hours of German class to start my morning, so I should get some rest. I can't wait to update more, and hopefully I will have time to write a new post this weekend! Viel Spaß!

I have had a really fun and crazy few days. Last Friday night I went to game night at the library with Madalyn (a fellow CBYXer). We played Cards Against Humanity and Spot It3 with a few Brits and some Germans, and it was really fun and entertaining. On Saturday Madalyn, Mahalia, and I went to Osnabrück, a nearby city, and shopped. We went to several stores and a wok restaurant. I was so excited about the wok because I have been craving Asian food for quite some time now. Later Saturday night, Madalyn's host parents took us to a festival in a nearby town called Quernheim. Quernheim was celebrating 825 years of existence I think, and there was a lot of dancing. On Sunday I ate my first pancakes in Germany, and it made me really happy! School has gotten a lot better. I feel a little more like I belong in my classes, and I have made some friends. Today a girl approached me and wanted to talk about High School Musical and learn about American proms, so now we are friends. During my free periods I usually get coffee or shop in the grocery store or the book store. Right now it is getting a little colder, so I don't like to stay outside for too long during breaks. I feel like I am understanding more German...I hope. Several times this week I have been able to answer people even if I didn't know all the words that they used, and that made me really excited! I really hope to post my pictures soon. I have been really busy, but I think I will have more time this weekend.

I finally have a schedule!

A lot has happened in the past week, and it has all been really positive! I got my schedule Friday after school, and it is pretty nice. I take two German classes, one 6th grade and one 7th grade, a politics class, English, Spanish, Religion, Art, and Music. Even though I feel like the giant from Jack and the Beanstalk, my German classes are really fun. The sixth and seventh graders are very nice, and they are really interested in me and want to talk to me. Politics is pretty difficult considering I do not understand anything, but my teacher is really nice. English is by far my favorite class! I understand everything, my teacher is really nice, and all the students are interactive and fun. We are going to take a class trip to either Scotland or London, and I am extremely excited! Spanish is a good class, but it is extraordinarily easy and taught in German, so I am quite bored most of the time. I am always lost in Religion class and Music class because all I hear is German all the time. With my musical background, music class should be easy, but the German questions really confuse me. Once I translate the questions I can almost always answer them. Art is also really fun. Although I'm not the best artist, I really like my teacher. Art is like my quiet time during my busy, German-filled day at school, so I appreciate every time I walk into the art room. I am really excited to start some of my virtual school work because then I can work on Math and English Literature in my native tongue. My host family's exchange student from last year, Katy, had extended her trip until September, and her mom came to pick her up, see Germany, and take her home. It was really nice seeing Katy and her mom because they are from the same part of Georgia as my mom, and both of them speak like my mom and grandmothers speak. My host family and I have been baking all week. We baked a lot when Katy's mom came to visit because we wanted to celebrate. We had lots of family time and played games. My host sisters and I also baked more yesterday and today because Angela's birthday is today, and we are having a party. I made my grandfather's chocolate fudge cake. Considering the different ingredients and measurements, I think it turned out really well. I am excited to eat cake, but I also know I will have to discipline myself more and run a lot. There is so much yummy food in Germany! The first guests just arrived, so I am going to join the party. I hope to update more soon and post some photos later this week.