Trick or Treat? No Neither is not an option!!!!

Week 7 started with a trip to a zoo. We drove to one near Berlin. It had few live animals but a Dinosaur Garden with a Volcano and a huge carnival type place. I ha a bunch of fun with Bumper Cars and small spinning rides that made me sick. I came home exhausted and was in bed, sick at 7:48pm. I stayed home from school the next day with Sammy, both of us sick and tired. We watched TV and hung out. A very nice day.

Wednesday my Host Father, Emilia, Edda and I all went swimming. We went to a pool in which was salt water instead of chlorine. It was super warm and super wonderful. They had a beautiful fountain outside and it was s blast. I had a great time.

Saturday came and I went and got some Horse Back Riding lessons. What an adventure! I was thrown off my horse and just got right back on and have a few more times in which I had to stop my horse from flipping out. It was scary but luckily I did not find myself too hurt.

I also received a package from my mom with movies, TV shows, winter clothes and lots of food. I was super happy and it made my “I miss America” blues subside. I was pretty upset about the thought of no Halloween but I'm headed to a Halloween party tonight with an older neighbor and that should be fun. Usually I'd turn down the party but because it will be older people but I think my chances of being the only sober one is very slim. I have some candy corn to share (I don't like the stuff but it's great for atmosphere) and will be dressing up tonight (who knows what yet) so at least I'm getting something close to my favorite holiday! I'm super pumped. This weekend was surprisingly warm. Sorry for sending our coldness towards State College but I hope you have a wonderful White Halloween and be sure to send me pictures! I just LOVE Halloween costumes!

Week 6

Week six started with a trip to “Kletter Wald” in Müritz. It was a place in which offered multiple different high rope courses that included rope ladders, zip lines, thin bridges, wires to walk across, and swinging foot holds to walk across. It was a blast and I was sore from holding onto ropes with my arms and climbing such difficult obstacles. I was very pleased I had bought some gloves! I had an absolute blast and was very happy. We stopped at a little country store and restaurant. It was very cute and awesome for souvenirs!

Monday school started back up again and I was determined to fully participate. Thinking my language development had come a long way and equipped with school supplies, I had the fast realization that I didn’t understand all but 10 words in each class. I was, however, given some 7th grade German homework by my German teacher which proved very tough. My French/English teacher made me level one German sheets which were much more manageable but just as challenging! She was an awesome help and gave me something to do other than read on my iPad. It was also helping me figure out the German language and was neat because I wasn’t learning the same curriculum as I did in my German class in the US. Very cool, and a great week. I also had my first conversation this week. It was about Harry Potter and Breakfast and was in German. I was so happy.  

My host family also welcomed to baby guinea pigs that were born to one of the ones they already owned. It was very exciting and every day we went to check on them. We will keep them only if they are girls. We don’t want anymore babies so no boys allowed! Very exciting. Friday night we went to a Laternenfest where honestly I was to oldest kid there. We walked around our village behind a fire truck with homemade paper lanterns that were lit either by candles or special electric lights. We finished with a hugh bonfire and party where there was waffles, french fries, wurst, and steak. There were also plenty of alcoholic drinks, hot wine, and soda. It was a blast (but a tad chilly out). I had a great time and enjoyed a little hot wine to warm up. The next morning, there was frost on the ground! Brr! 

After a late breakfast, Emilia and I went to a family friend’s house where we cleaned their horse and rode it from Kunow to Beckenthin. It also was a lot of fun. I rode Tamera, the small horse, there while Emilia walked along and then we switched on the way back. It was again, a blast! It was a crazy week but it went fast and then there was my month and a half point! My German is improving and that is good. I had a bit of homesickness Friday afternoon but as all my homesickness did, it passed.

Berlin Abenteuer!

Hello!

So I just got back from Berlin. First of all I love that it only took a simple train ride to get to Berlin. It's great how easy it was to get there and how casual it was being there. My sister kept saying "what's touristy that would be fun to show you?" haha! It was great.

So for a while I had planned with friends to go October 11th to go to Berlin. One of them was sick so I went with just one. That was fun but the weather wasn't amazing. It was literally the only day I have been here that it has RAINED and I mean RAINED. Lucky me right? She took me to the Ritter Sport store and to a HUGE book store, where I bought Harry Potter 6 in German. She took me to The Brandenburger Tur and Checkpoint Charlie, where I got to see the Berlin Wall. That was awesome. We walked around a lot, in the rain, and ate at Subway. You know how Subway always has that same strong smell every time you walk in? Well so do German Subways. I shut my eyes and imagined being back in State College at a Subway there. Then I met back up with Samantha, my host sister, and we made the adventure to her grandparent's apartment. We got lost. Very lost. We looked outside the street train and saw forest. That was bad. You shouldn't see forest in a city, typically. We made it, and right before it got really dark. We originally planned to go to a movie at midnight but decided we didn't want to get lost. We were asleep before 11 so maybe it was a good idea.

The next morning, super pumped, my Host Grandma told us all of the places Samantha HAD to take me. Once we got into the heart of Berlin, we went to see the Neptune Fountain and look inside a church. Churches here are BEAUTIFUL but after four or so I've noticed most are the same looking, except the Cathedral I went in. That was amazing, breath taking really. If I sat in a service there, I wouldn't be able to pay attention. I'd literally be staring at the ceiling, mostly because it's amazing.

We were both happy that it was a beautiful sunny day. Our next mission were some new shoes for Sammy. She had only brought heels and her feet hurt. Our dad had warned her before we left but being the typical teenager, she didn't listen. We found some shoes in Alexa, a HUGE mall like building. It was in H&M where we found some cheap, nice, flat shoes. On our way out, we ran into a Build-A-Bear. The five year old Emma inside me jumped up and down. We made a bear named Felix. He has a shirt that says "I love Berlin" It was a blast and Samantha promised not to tell anyone. She laughed at me the entire time and took pictures. We had fun. We went to the Cathedral I was talking about and it was amazing. It was free for me (yay for being under 18!) but Samantha had to pay 4 Euros. Upon leaving she expressed that it was 4 Euros well spent. I believe it was called Dom. Pronounced Dome. It had a big Dome but the signs said "Dom" and had "Cathedral" in italics underneath it. I am throughly confused. So the sanctuary was breath taking. The Organ was so amazing, with paintings and statues and gold details all around. The dome was magnificent and the entire church was the most beautiful church I ever saw. I was so taken away. Samantha lead me down stairs where they had a whole ton of caskets of famous people in History for Germany. We're talking really old caskets here. Most were very intricate and gold, with intricate mini statues all over. It was incredible. I did not take any pictures, mostly because I wouldn't want someone taking a picture of my casket. One thing I was weirded out by was, those people are still in there. It's not just an empty casket. Weird but interesting. Now when I read all the plaques I regreatibly had no idea who the people were (Sorry Mrs. Saylor and Ms. Delafield) except I did recognize "Nameless Princess" and wondered if it was a famous one that was there or just "a" nameless princess or "the" nameless Princess. I'm not sure. These plaques were in German and my reading is much worse than my speaking, which isn't saying much. Sammy translated most things for me. Another name I recognized was in a rather ordinary casket. It was a simple, dark gray rectangle. Otto Von Bismark said the plaque. Now I thought it was incredible when I was near the Berlin Wall, but this was amazing.

We then walked up a BILLION stairs and got super sweaty by the time we reached the top. The staircases kept getting smaller and smaller until we reached a spiral staircase in which was steep and got smaller and smaller as you climbed. At the top was the base of the Dome. The view of Berlin was INCREDIBLE. That was worth the climb, even with my cardboard build a bear box and back pack.

We walked around for a bit, wondering what to do next. I can't remember what all we did but it wasn't too exciting. We went back to Alexa and looked for a poster for Sammy's boyfriend. We looked at a lot of scarves (Sammy's obsession) and rings (my obsession). We looked a movies and shoes and what not. It was nice bonding time with Sammy. We talked a lot (in English) and it was just nice walking around. We decided to go see a movie and went into the Kino, deciding to see the next movie showing. It was "Kill the Boss" or as Americans know it "Horrible Bosses" It was AMAZING! I didn't see it when it was in America so seeing it new and fresh was amazing. Now that I'm understanding a bit more, it was so much fun. Sammy was laughing more though, getting all of the jokes. A few times she had to lean over and translate a joke for me. That was great.

We headed back to her Grandparent's apartment, not getting lost this time. We got there and they were excited to hear about our day. I was excited to go to bed. They enjoyed hearing about Build-a-Bear and Samantha enjoyed telling them. Having not eating lunch and not feeling like eating dinner, they were feeding me cut up fruit and were insisting. Something about Grandparents it just great right? It was amazing being around them, especially because I miss my grandparents so much. We watched TV and I finally had to excuse myself to bed. I am just so tired all the time without waking all over a city and climbing a billion stairs!

The next morning (which was this morning) we went shopping, agreeing to meet Oma and Opa at a Chinese restaurant. We went shopping and Samantha picked out an outfit for me. It included a scarf, gray shirt, gray sweater, and stretchy dark jeans. It was comfortable and looked great. I also found myself a new ring. Its super fun! We had lunch and headed home, missing our train. The next train was 45 minutes away so naturally we went shopping. We walked around and looked a rings and scarves. I found another ring I loved but resisted, and I'm starting to regret it. We got on our train and headed home.

I had a blast!

A month already?

So I've been here a month and it went fast, which I'm pleased with. I decided if this year goes fast, its better because then I had a ton of fun, right? So in the past month I have received three packages and one letter! Yesterday I opened one from my Mom and Grandma and one from my Aunt Carol! Both had American junk food! So now I have a pile of junk in the corner of my room with Goldfish, Chex Mix, Oreos, Chocolate, Cotten Candy ect. So you can imagine how happy I am. Its amazing how much I miss American food. I found Special K at a grocery store and can't wait to have some!

So basically I'm always tired. Whenever I yawn my family goes "Du bist müde????" and I say "Ich bin IMMER müde!!!" and then go one to explain that with all the German my brain is learning it gets tired easily. They were satisfied with that response.

Now what have I been up to, you may ask. Well I went to the Baltic Sea with my family. Samantha stayed behind to take care of the animals and to avoid a fight with our parents! haha. I had a blast! They took me to an Aquarium and to a small town with shops and to some really cool swimming pools. Being the land lover I am, you wouldn't think I'd be jumping at the idea of going swimming two nights in a row, but with the places we went to you can imagine why I loved it. The second place was better. It was adventure themed and every hour for 10 minutes one part of the pool became a wave pool! It had 5 really great slides, three hot tubs, tunnels, and the coolest decorations ever! I had a blast!

Today we went Mushroom Collecting in the woods. That was exhausting. I wasn't nearly as good at finding them as Emilia but I still did a quality job. It was really fun but I was happy o get home. I'm excited to hear the results of the Iowa-PSU game and get more letters! If you get the chance, please write!

My Life Story (for the past two weeks) Bridged

So I have to think back to last Tuesday, when my last post was. I was SUPER homesick and ready to go home. Now I would consider staying even if someone paid me to go home. It depends on that price though. haha. So Samantha had a great time in Prague and I loved it when she talked all about it because by her tone she was super happy. It was fantastic. So we played Carcassonne a few times since then but not a ton.

So the next week went by with very little tears. It went FAST too, which means I was having fun so fast is good! Um Monday and Tuesday were normal days and Wednesday was much more eventful. My Liaison, worried about my homesickness, asked to meet with me and thats the time we found. I went and her dog reminded me of Ruby which is where the few tears came from, and were talking very few. I told them that I had developed a cat allergy and they offered a change in Host Families. I was told to thin about it. So before going to my Liaison's house, I decided to finally go and find myself a Döner. After asking my sister how, I found my way. Its the best thing ever. SO describing it is hard but basically its this sour dough pita bread type thing that is toasted. Then it is Pig, I think, shaved off and then it has cucumber, tomato, onion, lettuce, this really amazing white sauce, more meat, I think. All I need to know is that it's amazing! So I ate that and it was incredible. Friday was Emilia's seventh birthday. We got up extra early to eat breakfast as a family and that's when presents were opened. I left school early (missed Gym!) and went to Potsdam for Late Orientation Camp with AFS. Camp was great. We went into the center of Potsdam and saw a really famous castle I don't know the name of and went shopping and ate ice cream. We talked about fun things and did plenty of fun energizers! I had a blast!

At one point I found myself homesick for my Host Family, that's when I knew there is no way I'm moving. My Family is one of a kind and I just love them! Things are great here! I also started getting mail! I got a letter from the Soltis Girls which was super great and a Package from Deb Kerr with a brand new quilt she made me! It has really made my bed here feel like mine and extra cozy! It's also super pretty and super exciting! It was great!

The little Emma that could.

I want to start off by thanking everyone. Thank you everyone for all the love and support I have recieved through e-mail, Facebook, blog comments and prayers. I have truly felt the love and hugs you have been sending! I'd say the best way to contact me is via e-mail and feel free to. either ejs18@scasd.org or emma@bjsutt.us Take your pick! Also I try to upload pictures to my blog and the internet isn't so great. If you want to see some pictures friend me on Facebook. I can also send you a public link if you e-mail me!

Alright, Blogging time!...

So Homesickness. Yay right? Sunday I called m parents while they were in Texas in tears begging to come home. Let me tell you, I am not a cryer. I am a pretty strong person who is a sap to movies in which dogs are involved in the climax (My Dog Skip, Fox and the Hound, Marley and Me) or when there is a baby involved (Life as We Know It) You get the idea. I'm like Amanda from the Holiday. It takes a whole lot for me to cry. So to say I spent a whole day crying without those movies is quite the thing to say.

Lets talk about being homesick. How many times have I been homesick in my life? Including the past 3 days? Once. I think it's because usually when I leave home I am with people I know and love (i.e. FISHsters, Chrysalis people, Krislunders, ect.). Here it's God and I chillin' in Germany. Although God is an amazing companion, nothing would make me happier than a hug from someone I've know for more than a week or so.

Let's talk about hugging. Americans hug everyone. You greet someone and hug. You say goodbye to someone and hug. You sooth someone and hug. You go and peace and hug somebody. (Yay FISH!) Here you shake hands. I have gotten a few hugs being the friend making machine that I am. Also I'm American so I'm hot stuff and everyone knows I'm super chill with hugging. However due to our often hugging routines, we are quite skilled huggers. Due to German's lack of practice, they are mediocre at best. That's the worst. Also there is nothing like you mom's hug. My mom's hugs own all so you can understand why I miss them. My mom here hates hug. I have seen her hug her 6 year old once in the 10 days I have been here and it was when she was crying hysterically. When I was crying trying to ask if I could call my parents I got a hug from my father where he finally understood my hand motions and allowed me to call. A while later, I was in a silent sobbing state watching Spongebob in German, when my mom told me that Going to school the next day would be better. She was right and it made me feel better when I understood her, it was just not what I expected (or needed) from her. I really just wanted a hug and to be told that this is my home.

Moms are always right, something during childbirth or something. It messes with your head. Well School was better. I was on the verge of tears all day and was grateful no one wanted to talk about my home that day and made it home and through a snack until a tear appeared. I called my family yet again. I begged and begged and begged to come home. Clearly I had no luck because I am far from packing my bags.

Later that night my liaison's older sister called me. My friend through AFS told her liaison my woes and the fact that my liaison was in Prague with my sister on a school trip. She of corse contacted AFS who had Sara, Teresa's older sister, call me. She was super duper helpful and she told me about her first few weeks in America while I cried and asked when the soonest I could go home. She told me I could go home right now if I really wanted and then I reilazed that I didn't really want to go home.

That's when my wish changed. I didn't want to go home, I wanted time to fly right now. I wanted to have fun. So today at schools, while friends were talking about places in Berlin I asked if they would take me to Berlin and show me around. October 11 we are doing just that. Having something besides going home in July to look forward to has been helpful. Today went very much so better. When talking to my mom on the phone today I did not cry. Instead I talked about things we could with our Host Student that would make her feel at home at our house. I also asked her to mail me some books and Goldfish and just told her about what had been going on.

What has been going on you may ask. Well when I wasn't sobbing I was playing this board game called Canananou or something German and long and lots of "n"s and "o"s. It is a game in which you draw cards similar to the cards found in the game Memory, and you lay it down trying to built a castle or road or pasture, depending on what was on your card. You lay little colored people (I've been yellow every time) Depending on where your person is is where you want to play. If you have a person on the road you want to complete that road, if you have a person in a castle you want to finish that castle. Get it? no? well it took a lot of explaining and sowing for me to get it. Anyway it rocks and I have played it 3 times since yesterday. The best part is my Mom gets a chocolate bar for the game too and we eat chocolate and laugh. It's been great bonding. We watch TV and react to it. Even with our huge language barrier we are able to communicate enough to laugh. That sure has helped.

Conclusion, Board games, chocolate, TV, and talking about home cure homesickness.

Oh and I've also written a few letters to myself to read before going home that explain why i want to go home. Talk about a great idea.

Talk about a Scary Place

Germany is so beautiful and nice. German teenagers are beautiful and nice. Everyone talks about German Teens only drinking socially and not to get drunk fast. Well from my experiences so far, that's not true. I went to party with my Host Sister SUPER reluctantly where within an our of it starting I saw many kids passed out. The way it was set up, it was a bar, huge dance floor, and an outside courtyard. That's where most everyone was smoking. I'm happy I know the German word for no. I've never said no more in my entire life. German Cigarettes do not smell as bad as American Cigarettes but they are still gross. People would offer me a cigarette and I would say "Nein Danke." Also I was very happy to be able to help my host sister walk around basically and remember the entire night. I'm happy that I did not have any drinks. Just because It's legal doesn't mean I have to do it. It is also legal to eat 3,000 candy bars in one day but do I? No. Everyone was calling me the good little American girl. I can handle that title.

Lets talk Survival Camp. Remember Creepy guy who I posted a picture during Orientation? Well guess who, out of 90 students I cold have, is the only other American in my chapter. Even with an indescribably obnoxious person, it was AMAZING to speak English and it be about America and you do't have to re-explain. It was so comforting. We went Bowling during camp and it was so weird. For starters the lanes are thinner but curved to the middle and the balls are smaller and without holes. It's a whole lot of fun.

Life here is getting better but 10 months is such a long time. I think that coming home in a month would be amazing about now. I really miss Ruby a whole bunch. I miss being at home and know where everything is, how everything works, feel comfortable getting stuff, know what my parents are saying, getting hugs from my family and friends, and above all being around my family and friends. I miss Pepridge Farm Goldfish and greasy pizza (I've never craved that one before) and processed foods. I miss White Grape Juice from Concentrate. I am so sick of eating bread too.

Alright lets end on a really positive note. Since I came here all by myself, I had no one to turn to but God. With everything I have to do in my day he has been helping me. I've been getting in plenty of devotional time and been praying a lot when I want to go home, which has gotten to be pretty often. He's been pulling me through and he'll get me through to July. I pray to have fun so that time can fly. It almost feels like it's standing still. I'm only here for another 297 days left. Gotta make 'em count right. I've been here for a week and I've already started the countdown to home. This is way harder than I thought.