Becoming Fluent Plus My Dritte Monat

Almost 90 days since I've gotten here and its strange that I have no return date to count forwards to...
Now that I've just devoured a giant chocolate santa, plus three of his tiny santa friends, I'm ready to give an account of third month here in Wedel.
Germany is and forever will be my home. I can hardly remember two years ago when it was all so new and strange to me, how exhausting it was to only have a basic grasp on the language and the awkward social interactions I encountered on a day to day basis.
In terms of language skills and social interactions, being and living my life in the German language has become instinct. Sure, I stumble through more complicated sentences, especially grammar wise, but for the most part, understanding German has finally been bumped up to a level where its not really understanding it, its just simply speaking. I can't really describe this strange phenomenon of learning a second language outside of your childhood and finally, after five years of studying the language, one and a half of which you were living in a country were it was spoken, you finally feel like you can tell people that you're fluent. I could only wish that everyone would be able to experience such a wonderful feeling, but it takes so much time and dedication if you don't have any background experience with the language. I feel blessed to have the opportunity to really study German in Germany and blessed for all the people who have made it happen :)
While my German skills are great, I'm positive that searching for a job where I'm teaching or working in English is going to be the best fit. Its literally my number one skill at the moment, which is sad because I know my sentence structure has gotten really funky since I got back to Germany. Next week I'm going to shadow in a preschool to see if its right for me, and the bilingual school that my little host brother attends is interested in having me do an internship with their younger classes. Job and study opportunities are so exciting, I can't handle the wait period for these things. After working forty hours a week all summer in Boise, not having a job is so incredibly frustrating. But I have to be patient. The winter has really been getting me down and I am constantly reminding myself that everything will come together...
I really don't have too much to say. Life here is as normal as life in the Kless house could be, which is totally not normal at all, but I love it. The challenges of life as direct and raw which is always good for life lessons and practices.
I'm excited for Christmas, but mostly excited for the ski vacation happening right afterwards!!
Along with the Christmas season (which is really the bomb diggity in Germany, I highly suggest Christmas Markets and the whole shabang if you're ever in Europe) comes a little bit of Heimweh, or homesickness. I just mostly miss my family, aunts and uncles and grandparents and cousins all included. My love goes out to all of them and I hope its an awesome Christmas!
Three weeks ago was my birthday which means I'm now two decades old which is really a strange feeling. Thanks to the Kless family, the Tanner family, and all my friends and neighbors for making it an awesome birthday!!
Pictures of my last month shall be included in the next post!

Two Months Plus MY BIRTHDAY?!?!?!

Two months is such a strange amount of time. Its as if I never left Germany.... But did I just get here? Who am I? Am I really turning 20 in a few days? The big two zero? Two decades of the world being blessed with my presence?
Is it really November? Is it really almost 2015? I find that it is often I'm asking myself these questions while time keeps on ticking forward without giving a damn about what I think of it. I'm not sure of the exact details about how time works, but what I do know is that its unforgiving, whether you chose to be hurt by it or not. Its probably the one variable we don't have control over in our lives.

Things, like always, have slowly been pulling together with grace and a lot of patience. I'm currently enrolled in a German class at the local community center which will add to my University language requirements when I apply in July. As of two weeks ago, I decided that I want to become a teacher. The idea has always been in the back of my head, but I never thought that I would pursue it... But it was the first thing that jumped out of my mouth when I finally asked myself to make a final decision. Not that a final decision was needed, but I was sick of not feeling like I had a plan. So I made one...
I'll start school next October, studying English and (insert other subject here... I'm thinking math) and in four years I'll have my bachelors degree, and two years after that, a masters in teaching those two subjects!

It feels wonderful to have a plan. To have all the papers in front of me and to feel ready to start this whole process of my career. Yet, on the other hand, the idea of the next seven years of my life dedicated to this city and country feels overwhelming. I knew from the beginning that this is what I want, but its always overwhelming... And sometimes it crushes me and sometimes the feeling pushes me to do better. I know once school starts I'll feel more secure and comfortable about it, but until I get accepted, I feel like I'm free falling. And sometimes that's what living is all about. Taking chances that you aren't %100 sure about. Nothing worth it is just going to happen with a snap... working towards this will be worth it whether its right for me or not...

Sorry for the mental blurb, I've been mulling this over way too often lately, but it feels nice to have it out of my head and on your screens. Lucky you, you get a personal look into Torey's life and thoughts!
I get to see Elliese again tomorrow! That's always a breath of fresh air to be with another Boiseian, makes me feel like I'm not the only strange half-hodunky person in Deutschland.

Just a quick shout out thanks to the Kless family, without them, I'm not quite sure where I would be. I love them so dearly...
And another big shout out hugs and kisses to my family in Boise!!! I'm so jealous of all the snow! Thank you guys for also being so supportive and lovely! I miss you all terribly!
I wish everyone a special November and stay warm!!!!!!!!!
PS CHECK OUT MY NEXT POST WITH PICTURES ATTACHED! SORRY THAT THE WHOLE BLOG IS IN BOLD SCRIPT.