Body Language and Peanutbutter Cookies

One of the biggest things I learned here so far is how to read body language. After such a time living in a foreign country where your speaking skills are limited, to begin to realize that body language says almost everything about a person. Germans all have a certain way of saying things, with a certain face or tone thats quite similar (as does the rest of the world). Being here for four months, I've learned what means what, and what I can just pass off as nothing and what I should actually pay attention to. I think its really important to notice those small things whilst living in a foreign country, it helps out a lot when you struggle with communication. 

Another thing I've learned is that peanut butter is so dang scarce here. I went to one store today and couldn't find any at all, and then went to a larger store and only found one small stock, which consisted of one brand, in the smallest bottle possible. For 2,50. This is a place where a large thing of nutella is around...3 euros or less. 

But anyways, I made peanut butter cookies today and mmm does that remind me of home or what. Those are horribly amazing, I don't know how well my weight is going to do over the month of December.......ohwell :D

I bought stamps today for the first time in a few months. The stack of letters was getting a bit too high which up-ed how guilty I was becoming by not sending them. So! A lucky 8 of you will be receiving a letter that should've been sent a month ago. I still love you. A lot. 

Turning 18 was wonderful. 

Oh and ps. I went the The XX concert and it basically changed my life. 

It was really incredible. I ended up crying in the arms of a Polish girl who didn't speak German, but she did speak English. I was right up in front, the xx really really knows how to put on a mind blowing concert. Big thanks to my parents for giving the ticket to me for my birthday! It was the best. 

Everything

So! Yesterday was indeed a fantastic day :)
I had a fabulous birthday, was blessed with many good wishes and songs and hugs and cookies and cakes, it was super awesome. If you are ever turn 18...turn 18 in Germany! I would highly recommend it to anyone. Seriously, I'm so glad I was able to spend such a monumental birthday with the Kless's, it really was magical for me :)

Now that I'm 18, I have suddenly earned a lot of rights. Facebook notified me of the most important changes to adulthood.

Not even a happy birthday wish, just a little present icon...
Next important thing is that I can buy lottery tickets. Woo, I have definitely been waiting all my life to do that.
Here in Germany, I can now buy cigarettes and alcohol, which is a bit different from the regular 21 (but German kids are aloud to buy beer at age 16 so its no big whoop)
Next off, I can go to strip clubs and any other type of club/disco/you name it! Woo! Another thing I've been waiting my whole life to do (not really......)
But that big 18 just feels....big. I feel like I've aged 5 years or something. Suddenly I have all these rights and responsibilities and my parents technically don't have to support me anymore and sadkf;js;dklfj;dslkjf;kldsf what is the next step!?
But, this is all for another day. I think I'll worry about growing up once I get back to Boise...

Another small thing/Germany difference I was thinking about today is distance. Germany is a bit small (about the size of Montana) and traveling to the other side of the country takes about 6-9 hours. Six to nine hours get me from Boise to the Oregon Coast or to Portland, where things are not really that different, but traveling from Northern Germany to Southern Germany is like going from Idaho to the deep South.
I was talking to a friend today and was telling him how it usually takes 10-20 minutes by car to get to a friends house. He was shocked, and it made me giggle. That's "far away" in a German mind set, but it me, I have friends that it takes like half an hour to get to their house. Here, all the cities are so close, sewn together by small strips of farmland. Getting to a friends house is usually just a 5-15 minute bike ride rather than actually needing to get in a car...

Annndd last but not least, its almost Christmas!!!! I already have gotten an awesome Advents Calendar from my host mom (oooh I'm so excited) and am going to celebrate the 6th of December Saint Nicholas Day!

Lots of good wishes to back home and family and friends and my ever-awesome boyfriend. I miss you all! But really, I'll be back before you know it and I don't want the time here to pass any faster than it already is. I honestly cannot believe that I only have seven months left now.
And lots of big loves to all my family and friends here in Germany :)

Birthday in one week....

18 already? How did I get this old?
I find myself wondering this often...how on earth did I make it to Germany? What would it be like if I hadn't come? What opportunities will Germany open up for me?
It's strange watching friends and family move on without me...but its taught me who and what is important in my life. Who I want to keep close and who I'll be able to let go. And letting go is strange...strangely easy.
And slowly I find myself wondering if family is a much bigger word than I thought. This past evening my host brother and I were talking about my home and siblings and dogs and it was so cool to me because he was telling me that he was my brother too. It touched my heart. Moving to another country to live with a "host" family doesn't mean you are simply a guest in the house. It means you have to give yourself up to the family. You have to be patient and learn your place. Its tough work, but completely worth it. Not only do I have three brothers back in Boise, but I'll always have my brother here as well. I am constantly feeling blessed to be here. Not only have I learned so much about Germany and its people, but I have also learned so much about love and what it means to be apart of a family. I can only hope to spread this newly found knowledge....
Hmm....
On another note, 18 was always the big age....OHMYGOSH 18. I mean, don't you remember when you were 14 or 15 thinking "ohmygoodness, when I'm 18 I'll be able to do anything! It will be so awesome!"
But honestly, 17 has been an excellent age. So I think I'm just going to stay 17 forever. Hah. Nobody can stop me either! Time is in the eye of the beholder! In fact, time isn't real. Its not a physical thing put in front of us. The only thing we have to prove that time is real is our withering bodies and the seasonal changes...but if time isn't real, than I can stay as young as I want. Muahahaha. But I am seriously excited for my birthday :) It shall certainly be one to remember.

Another Emotional Blog Post

Just a huge giant shout out to all those people who got me here and are supporting me here and from back home. I wake up every morning knowing that I'm so blessed to be able to be here. 

Big huge giant loves and thanks to my Kless family, I can't love them enough. I really can't, being apart of this family has given me so much already. I can't explain the beauty of such a thing with words, I truly do feel at home here :)

Big huge giant loves n feels so my other exchange student friends, hold in there guys. Sometimes, I feel so desperately alone but then I remember you guys are probably feeling the same way and I just know I'm not in this alone. 

Large amounts of gratitude to people like my lovely Frau Burkholder, Miss Tinker, Kelly McLeoed and other teachers who helped me get here :) 

Big huge loves and cares to anyone and everyone helping me out with school. I need it. 

Big loves n kisses to all you guys back there at Boise High...You need it. I'm sure everything is completely different and horrible without me ;) (not really but surriously guys hold in there you're almost done)

Big huge kisses and loves to Nicko and the guys. Really honestly though, I only miss Hagrid. 

And the biggest hugs go to my siblings and my parents. I really do miss them terribly. Growing up is tough and I thank you mom and dad for every bit of love and support you've given me because I certainly would not make it without the confidence you put upon me. I miss Erik and Ian and Katie with all my heart and the doggies as well :(

Turning 18 in two weeks...

Where the time has gone, I have no idea.

Emotional blog post because I'm a sap

Not as formal and inviting as most of my blog posts...

But I'm feeling inspired tonight. 

First off, I love my German family. Its incredible the care and love they have given to me and I can only hope that I can give it in return by the time this year comes to an end. I really feel like fate put me here for amazing and beautiful reasons and I could not have asked for a better family. I'm so thankful I can be apart of the Kless house. 

Second thing on my mind is Boise. And more specifically, my boyfriend Nicko. Without him and his support, I would've given up a long time ago. Missing home is tough, but he's always there to remind me that I'm here for myself. To learn about myself and to give myself up to the German culture. And that only good can come out of going with the flow and enjoying my time here as much as possible. 

I miss him terribly and its tough being without him...

But I am ever thankful for his words and love. 

Third off is the election tomorrow. 

Just letting everyone know, over 90% of Germans are behind Obama. And while I'm don't really have political opinions, I'm with the Germans.
Its really weird watching this whole election play out from the other side of the world.

Tomorrow (November 6th) marks 100 days of being here, wowie has the time flown by. Its really strange. But I love it.
And I love it and everyone here :)