Time for an Update!

As I was on the Internet the other day, I happened to stumble upon my blog for Germany and after looking at the date of my last post, forgot how long it had been since I last updated! So hopefully all of you are still out there and interested in all of my German adventures (I've also uploaded many new pictures to the side panel). Since last December, I can hardly believe that 2 whole months have already gone by - that only means that this next half of the year will continue to go at such a rapid speed!

Anyways, in early January I was able to celebrate Silvester (New Year's) and shortly thereafter went to Siegen (in Nordrhein-Westfalen) where I visited Alice, a German exchange student in the Ashland area last year. After a few days in Northwest Germany, I found myself back in Baden-Württemberg, continuing with the school routine as left off.

Within the past few months, I've also enjoyed getting together with both Germans and other AFSers (exchange students) - whether it be simply going to the movie theater or a nearby café. I think most of the other students are also starting to get mixed emotions now - especially because our exchange year is officially more than halfway over.

Along with the usual get-togethers, I've also had the chance to experience Fasching here in Germany (a lot like Mardi-Gras). During the month of February, many people begin to fast - but not before a bunch of parades, costume parties, and other traditional festivals have come to pass. On top of that, many of the diskos are opened up during the week for any who want to come and have a good time.

In the midst of the Faschingsferien (school vacations during mid-February), I therefore had the chance to go on a ski trip with the local church youth group in Schwäbisch Hall. After a 5 and a half hour drive south, our group finally made it to Kühtai, Austria (a small village inbetween Imst and Innsbruck). At first I was ready to try out skiing for myself, and I'm proud to say that after the first few days, I was able to get a handle on it myself. Overall though, I found it amazing to even have the chance to go skiing in the Alps - most likely a week which I will never forget.

After the Faschingsferien had come to pass, I found myself back in Gymnasium bei St. Michael as usual. Nothing too significant came to happen during this time - I did however give a presentation about the Midwest U.S.A. in 2 English classes. I also have recently had the chance to take some day trips around the Hohenloher Land (the region around Schwäbisch Hall), especially since the weather is beginning to get nicer. I therefore have been able to visit Schloss Waldenburg and Schloss Langenburg, two very important castles/palaces here in the area.

And then came this past week, one which could possibly be my best yet in Germany - the AFS-CBYX Midstay in Bonn. During this time I was finally able to see 25 of the other CBYXers (Americans on the same scholarship), whom I had met in D.C. and at the language camp in Wuppertal. I can hardly explain to you how great it was - simply being able to talk with one another about our experiences and knowing that we're not the only "silly Americans" trying to adjust to the German culture. During this past week we ended up seeing a lot of Bonn (the former capital of West Germany) and even took a day trip to Cologne - one of the most vibrant and young-feeling cities in Western Germany. And so, after wrapping up our stay at the youth hostel in Bonn, I find myself here in Schwäbisch Hall once again - awaiting every new and interesting adventure which knocks on the door.