The Downhill Side of the Mountain

I woke up this morning to learn that today I reached the official halfway point in my exchange. On Thursday I will take a train to a city called Köln, a.k.a Cologne, where I will have a seminar with the other exchange students and we’ll discuss our experiences so far. It’s crazy for me to think that I’ve been away from home and all the familiars for five months now. I know it probably looks like I am living a fairy tale dream from all my blogs and pictures, and in a way, I am. I have a lot to be grateful for, a wonderful family, new and accepting friends that have gotten me through a lot of sticky situations, and a million stories and memories that I’ll keep in my memory for the rest of my life.

However, at the same time, not everything has been rainbows and fairies. I’ve gone through a lot here, between changing myself, being isolated from the people that mean everything to me, and having to fit into a new and very different culture. I remember when I started German school, and I thought to myself, “How am I ever going to do this?” I was so confused, and even the little things, like having small talk or asking where I needed to be were tiring and challenging. I have come so far from then, and gained so much independence and valuable lessons. A very wise friend of my family’s told me during my first few days here, “you are still like a baby in diapers learning first to crawl and then walk and soon enough you will be thinking in German…on the first of the year you will not believe how far you’ve came.” This now has so much relevance. I’m now watching movies in German, understanding school, and having completely capable and intelligent conversations. I still get a little lost in the language and make mistakes sometimes (well, lets face it, often, German grammer is not my best friend...) but to think that I started with virtually nothing just a few months ago is unbelievable.

I can’t say this is typical of every exchange, but I’ve really grown up here. I don’t feel dependent on anyone anymore, I know that I can do things on my own; from figuring out a subject in a foreign language, to navigating transportation maps, to just being able to sit by myself and take some contemplation time. I’ve also let go of control and stress, I accept a situation the way it is, and take the necessary measures. Sometimes as an exchange student, or really just a human being, you just have to throw your hands up and say, “I’m letting go.” I know how to just let loose more so than ever.

Somedays it feels like I’m living in warp speed, and I can’t believe it’s already January. Other days it feels like June will never come and I will forever be in German limbo. It’s weird for me to think that this exchange won’t last forever. In June I will be right back in America for a full out American summer and senior year. That only means that I need to continue to live every day like it’s my last, keep jumping on every opportunity for adventure, and see new ways of life without losing who I am.

Carpe Diem, y’all.

Fröliche Weihnachten!

Christmas time in Germany has been a world wind of emotions. It’s the sour sweet feeling between missing the familiars and discovering absolutely beautiful and wonderful new things. I never realized just how special it was to drive around a neighborhood completely decorated with colorful lights, or hearing Christmas music on every radio and in every store you walk into. Nevertheless, Christmas in Germany has been a unique experience and one that I will always remember.

The entire month of December leading up to Christmas is “Adventszeit.” It is traditional and very typical to have an Advents Kalendar. They come in all sorts of verities, from 3-D boxes with little chocolates to homemade “sock mobiles” hung on a string. Every calendar has little doors that you open up every Advents day for a pre-Christmas surprise. We also have a candle decoration, where you light one candle for every week leading up to Christmas.

December 6^th is a day called St. Nikolaous Tag. On December 5^th, we leave stockings out (though I’ve heard some families do clean shoes) and St. Nikolaous comes in the middle of the night and stuffs them with nuts, fruit, and candy.  By textbook definition, St. Nikolaous is a historical figure, who teaches children someone will always be there for them, and to live out their hopes and dreams.

Out of everything I saw, the most unique and special German Christmas traditions are the Weinachtsmarkts translated as “Christmas Markets.” Every little town usually has a market, and differ depending on the size of the city. Little wooden booths are set up around the town with enormous Christmas trees, bright white lights dancing above the seas of people, and delicious smells permeating your senses. I went to a Christmas market virtually every weekend in December with friends or family. My favorite treats were fresh-baked crepes with Nutella or “Zimt und Zucker” a.k.a. cinnamon and sugar. People warm up from the cold drinking “Gluewein,” a warm sweet alcoholic drink or “Kinderpunch,” which is warm fruit punch. (Tastes a million times better than it sounds!) Every Christmas Market was unique to the town, based on size and location. For example, the Monschau Weinachtsmarkt was small, cute, and traditional; to accompany the feeling of the town. The Munich Market was large and international, to match the big city vibe.

Having a sunny lunch "auf der Piste" 

I don’t have a lot to report on a typical German Christmas, apparently there is 3 different days filled with visiting the Church and several extravagant feasts. They also open presents the night of the 24^th instead of in the morning. Instead, my family and I took a trip to Austria and spent Christmas “Skii Fahren” a.k.a skiing! It was breath-takingly beautiful, and a truly challenging and rewarding trip. I can now say I learned how to ski in the Alps. Austria was also really interesting and fun. Instead of having a Ski Lodge like we have in Colorado, there are several huts you can ski to to have lunch. The huts always consisted of very traditional Austrian food, from “wienerschnitzel” to a baked full cake concoction called “Kaiserschmarrn” usually served with jam or apple mouse. (And for a laugh, I couldn’t remember how to spell apple just then, I kept spelling it in German!)

Typical Kaiserschmarrn

We brought in the New Years a little unconventionally as well. We had a typical family “feast” of very traditional German food (Knödel-little potato balls, meat, and red cabbage.) Followed by gift exchanging! A lot easier than trying to fit them in the car skiing with the size of our family. Gesa and I continued the night by going to a friend's house for a party, where we watched “Dinner for One” (An English skit about a lady with a bunch of dead friends, and a very, very drunk butler.) This is a tradition carried out every year by many Germans. We toasted at midnight and stepped outside. The entire night sky was lit with fireworks coming from every direction. It was my first expirence getting to play with fire works, because it’s always way too dry in Colorado. Overall, a really good night to top off an amazing Christmas season with the perfect combination of family and friends.