So, on Thanksgiving I totally forgot it was Thanksgiving until one of my teachers (who had studied in the US before) cheekily reminded me. whoops! But to be fair there was no way to remind myself of it, it was just a normal day. My mom sent some recipes for some Thanksgiving classics like cornbread and pumpkin bread and pies and creamed corn and stuff, but we haven’t made any because my host mom says she’ll have to go to a different store than just our little corner shop to get half the ingredients.

So then besides the non-Thanksgiving, what else has been going on? I went to that Maturaball, which was awesome! There were two separate levels in the building and on the top level was a club and on the bottom was a more traditional ballroom type thing going on, and everyone just went between them freely. The whole thing was extremely elaborate- at midnight there was a whole show put on by the students from the school hosting it. It was pretty cool!

Other than that not much has been happening. I’ve got a physics test coming up and I have to write an already overdue essay.. bleh.

-Ohne Fotos.

Because part of the reason I haven’t been updating is how frustrating getting my computer to work with my camera has been. I was determined to do an update with all the pretty pictures I took, but really that’s just not going to happen. I’ll probably make a photoset or 10 once I have it figured out.

Where did I leave off?

Oh wow Halloween!? I’m so sorry, please never leave me I’ll never do it again I swear ;.;

So we went to Venice awhile ago- that’s a story best told in pictures. It went very much the way you’d expect a 2 day trip to Venice to go. It’s only about 5 hours away from where we live damn Europe, why so small and I continue to find myself flabbergasted at the beautiful countryside- especially in Italy! Again- best told in pictures.

Then.. we went to a monastery.

Took a train there. It was my first time on a train, and I’ll never not be amused by the look on peoples faces when I told them that. We stayed at what was probably the nicest youth hostel on the planet- best food, coolest rooms, awesome scenery. The first day was boring- we were led around by monks and teachers as they showed us the place and answered questions. I understood approximately 0% of what was being said- but then I learned later that most of it was about architecture and stuff. Jan, my dance partner for the ball, translated all the interesting stuff. That night we went on a candle-light forest walk which was just about the coolest thing ever. My crazy friend and I discovered that if I sing The Campfire Song (from Spongebob) is English while she’s singing it in German really loudly, we become unintelligible.

That night we played games and gossiped while some others started taking shots and playing BS. I think my favorite thing about the trip though was that they had us go to the monastery’s distillery first thing the next day and try some schnapps before going on a 3 hour hike, haha. Not the best organization there, teachers. The hike was my absolute favorite part of the trip though! But again- it’s something best told through pictures.

Then not much happened at all- I’m sucking at school. Making C’s on tests and stuff. Except physics. Have I already mentioned how weird it is to call science my best subject? That’s never happened before in my life. I went to my first German class- it’s only once a week, which isn’t very helpful. Also, the average age is about 12. I did however meet another exchange student, from Washington (state). We sat next to each other, but didn’t say much. He seems cool enough- might be just a bit shy.

Then today is my birthday! 18!! As I keep being reminded- legal drinking age here! At school I got lots of birthday wishes and all from my friends which was nice, at home my mom and sister gave me presents (a scarf, a bed warmer water thingy, and some super legit Chinese hair things) and ate cake. I made brownies last night, which didn’t turn out to be the best brownies ever but my family liked them so what do I know (… actually, what do they know? They’ve never had brownies before, ‘cept my sister!). I was planning to take some to school, but wouldn’tcha know it, by morning they had all but disappeared. I haven’t got a party planned, but one of my friends also has a birthday next week and she’s suggested we do something together. And another one ALSO has a birthday next week, and she’s already got a party planned, and really how many parties does one need?

Tomorrow I’ll be going to my first Maturaball! Which means right after school I’ll have to go buy a dress. I’ll also be spending the night with my friend afterwards.

..yeah, pics soon. photosets, anyone?

I’m so tired every time I come home for no reason at all, and I haven’t had the will to write a long post that will give this blog justice like I want to.

I swear I’ll do it tomorrow, and maybe even top it off with pictures :)