Heading to camp!

It's finally time! Today (in about an hour or so) I'm heading to language camp! All of the exchange student in my district are getting a crash course in the German language for 2 weeks. We're going to Wasserkuppe (In Fulda I think. Maybe...) if anyone is interesting in looking it up. 

I'm so excited! I might actually know what's going on in school when I get back.

Right now, i can understand enough to get by. My host mom doesn't speak to me in English very often anymore. I think I'm doing pretty good.

I don't know if I will have internet or anything for the next two weeks, but I promise there will be lottssss of pictures when I get back! 

Also, IT'S SO HOT HERE!!!!

Today is supposed to get up to 100 degrees F. 

.. 0_o ..

I;m not excited.

I'm going to melt.

And I'm really sunburned because the public swimming pool is outside. It's ridiculously hot.

But I did buy new sunglasses. :)

Alright. Well I'll post when I can, and I'll have lots of pictures up within the next few weeks!

More later.

LEARNING DEUTSCH!

So yesterday evening, I was talking with my host mom about seasons, and I forgot the English word for Fall, but I knew the German word!!

Just though I would share my little triumph.

More later.

School.

Well school has started. Today was the second day, and the only thing I understood was English. Germans here in Neu-Anspach speak British English. And to me, they all have British accents. It's quite entertaining to listen to them speak English.

School here is very different that it is in Alaska. First off, it's in German. Secondly, I'm currently taking DOUBLE the amount of classes I would be taking if I were at home. It's very intense. I'm taking Spanish, English, German, History, Political Sciences, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Math, Ethics, Music, and Sports.

I aced an English test though. :)

I had Chemistry yesterday, and I understood it somewhat. I knew that they were talking about the definition of Organic Chemistry, and what things were and weren't organic and what made them so. So I think I did okay there.

It's going to take a lot of getting used to, but I think it will be a good year. I've already met some very nice people.

More later.

Every step of the journey is the journey

Germans are tall. Very tall.

Karen is short. Very short. 

I find myself looking up at people a lot.

I arrived safe and sound early this morning, with only a little trouble in customs. The lady didn't want to let me into the country, and I'm not entirely sure why.

When I finally made it out and found my bags with the 5 other exchange student I met along the way, I went through the gate at customs and saw a big green sign that said "Herzlich Willkommen in Deutschland Karen!". It was held by a family of very tall people. I shook hands and hugged everyone, and we set off to the car. 

Getting to the car was the equivalent of walking across the entire Anchorage airport 5 times. The Frankfurt airport is absolutely huge.

We drove for probably about half an hour to our town of Neu-Anspach. It is a very beautiful place. There are trees everywhere and birds hopping between treetops. There are more sidewalks that I have ever seen in my entire life, and the two-way streets are one car width wide. The town seems very quaint, with old ladies tending to their gardens, and not much traffic. The house I am staying in is absolutely beautiful, and there is a tree in my room. I am so happy. But I'm also exhausted.

More later.

My life weighs 47 pounds

My life weighs 47 pounds. One bag for one year. Everything I'm taking for the next year is crammed tight into my biggest suitcase.

Today is the day.

Tonight at 11:55pm I will be leaving Anchorage. First, I will go to Denver and meet up with another girl who is going to Germany. They we will continue on to Chicago, and finally Frankfurt, meeting up with more exchange students as we go.
I honestly am freaking out a little bit. My mind is racing, and I can't wait to get on the plane. At the same time, it is hard to leave my entire life behind to start something completely new.

But here goes.