Countdown..

The countdown has begun. Only eight more days until we are flying our way home! 

Thankful Thanksgiving

Yesterday was Thanksgiving...and Thanksgiving food in Germany is hard to come by! We were able to find a small little turkey, my dad made mashed potatoes and apple pie! Yum! I was very thankful for our little feast but I do miss our annual holiday traditions with our family! I'm very thankful for all my family and friends and for this oh so wonderful opportunity of living abroad and seeing the world! Hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful and delicious!

xoxo

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

Today as we were walking through the city I was amazed with the amount of Christmas decorations already put up! But then I remembered that there was no Thanksgiving here...and right after Thanksgiving is when Christmas really is in swing and decorations are put up in the States...I guess I'm just not used to everything out so early! But it did get me excited for the Holidays!

 

A little taste of Italy...

3 Days

                                  ....until no more school and

 ITALY!

           I am so excited to go to Italy! We are going to Rome for 6 days and to Florence for 5 days! I'm wishing for good weather, but nothing more than a good trip :)

Just another Fall Sunday...

G.I.N. Rotterdam 2009

Last Thursday my G.I.N. group and I left on the last period of the school day and headed off to Holland! After a long, but fun, train ride we got to Rotterdam late at night, found our hotel, and set our for dinner.

 The next morning, though our actual school had the day off, felt like a normal school day to us. We got very early that morning making sure that we would be right on time at the school for the first day of the conference. The theme of the G.I.N. conference this year was 'Water Water Everywhere'.

Students from all of the international schools present, which was just around 5 or so, gave presentations on anything and everything to do about water...privatization, shortages, pollution, intake, statistics, etc. We also had many guest speakers come and give presentations to us about many different water subjects as well. Later that day the conference ended around 3ish and we headed back to our hotel, cleaned up, and hit the town! We walked to the river and looked in some shops and around 6:30 met our fellow students from the other schools at a restaurant in the city. It was a really nice meal and it was fun getting to know the other kids better too!

 Saturday morning was another early one, waking up before the sun, we set off for the school once again. The conference only went until 12 that day, but was also filled with informative presentations and activities all about water! When the conference was over we huried back to the hotel, got our luggage, and we were off to the train station, boarding another long train ride back home.

My Math teacher Mr.Tun came with us on the trip

One of my roommates, Miriaj

 My friend Lauren and also one of my roommates

      

   Weronika

                                                        

Ann Kristin

Rotterdam train station

City

                                            

The whole group in front of the school before the first day :)

 Daniel and Lauren

   The stage and screen where the presentations were given

Cheetah bike!

 Funky art work by the water      

River and cool bridge

   The World Trade Center

Cool building and lots of bikes :)

I had a lot of fun in Rotterdam and learned a lot. But one thing I was very disappointed in was that there were absolutely no souvenir shops..but I think I have plenty of pictures to remember the trip by. :)

In 2 days

our house will be full!

Three out of four of my just wonderful aunts are coming to visit us in Germany! My mom is showing them around Europe while they are here with a side trip to Spain! :) I'm excited to see all of them again and to hear a little more English!

xo

Watch your step!

Today as I was doing my daily backyard chore I had to be very careful.

Watching my every step, not only to pick up the doggies droppings, but because frogs are hopping around everywhere! They are so cute and so small but they come out of no where!

Simply Saturday.

G.I.N.

Have you ever heard of the Global Issues Network? (a.k.a G.I.N.)

It's a group that debates/speaks/presents and learns about things taking place all through out the world. Things such as water shortages, global warming, etc. 

Every year several conferences are held in Europe. The conference is held by students of international schools through out Europe, concerned about international causes and finding solutions for them. 

On October 1st to the 3rd thats where I'll be. 

There are many reasons why I wanted to join the group. 

One: because I am interested in international problems and situations going on in other countries.

Two: because it looks really good on college and work applications :)

Three: because it would be a great experience, presenting my school and a topic I care about in front of students.

Four: because this year the conference is taking place in Rotterdam, Netherlands..and well, I've never been to the Netherlands. Why not give it a shot then? (and get a trip out of it too!)

One problem. The presentation is presented by the G.I.N. group at my school...infront of ALL the other groups from international schools in Europe. That's A LOT of people. 

I have butterflies in my stomach already. 

Just over night

As I was riding my bike home from school today I was shocked with the sudden splash of yellow, orange, and red! I thought the tree's were green on my bike ride home yesterday..and now there is color everywhere!! I guess fall is comin sooner than I expected!

xoxo

"Summer's Over" blues..

School started on Wednesday.... and I'm already wiped out!

Probably just not used to waking up sooo early, thank goodness its the weekend!!

Summer raced by so fast! I can't believe it's already time for alarm clocks, school lunch, and loads of homework...

I have the "Summer's Over" blues.

New Jersery!

We got picked up on Friday night by my aunt and cousin at the airport, after an extremely long flight! Went home and rested up!

The next morning we woke up before anyone else! Talking with family and planning our daily excursions! Through out the day we just rested, hung out with family, caught up with conversations, and had a good time! Later that night we were reunited with some more family as we had a big old family BBQ!

Then Sunday rolled around and we all got up bright and early! It was time to go shopping at Woodberry Commons! It was SO nice to be back in a regular mall, my mom and I could practically hear the angels singing again! We were there from about 10 to 3 and everyone was s9 tired after. Worn out from the shopping all day we cooled off a little, picked up my cousin, went to a normal American grocery store! We had a delicious dinner and after went and saw the Ugly Truth! It was nice to be back in an American theater and to see a movie in English again!

We have had such a fun time so far and look forward to the days that come! :)

xo

Tomorrow....

is the day I will be flyin my way home...well, first NJ, then home! :)

And I haven't even started to pack yet! My mom and I feel like we are already running behind, we usually are the type of people that begin the packing process around two days before...but not this time! I'm not sure why we didn't begin with our usual ways....maybe just avoiding the all day process?

Well, enough wasting time....must pack!!

xoxo

Today I....

Went shopping with my mom!

Had to bathe the dog...

And then, in some mysterious way got cut by the wheel of a wheel chair on the bus!

Not really sure how something round can cut you the way it did to me, but it happened!

Wishing all a fun and wonderful day! :)

xoxo

Thankful

Last year today...

I left my life, all that I ever knew, my family, and my friends behind and my family and I started a new experience.

Today, looking back at the year, that I thought would last a lifetime but truly sped by, I am thankful for the experience that I have had so far. I have met so many wonderful people, seen so many beautiful places, and have learned so many things during the last 12 months.The knowledge and understanding of other cultures and languages that have come to me during this time is something I will always cherish.

But everyday I think of family and friends back home, wondering What they are doing? How are they doing? and What kind of experiences I would be having with them if all of this never happened? Though I miss everyone and everything so much I am thankful for my families situation.

My life changed, and so have I during this first year, but as our 'New Experience' continues, I know that it will be something I will look back on in the future, something I will grow off of.

Not everyone has the chance to change their life like my family did, though it was hard at first, my family has grown from our experience and we are all glad for the memories we have created so far on our journey.

What a great day!

Today we were blessed with absolutely perfect weather!

The rain finally stopped and the clouds went away, letting the sun shine back in and the blue sky show!

It was a bit breezy out but just the right temperature, a totally perfect day for being a tour guide through out Bremen!

We took my Grandparents and my cousin into the city today.

Walkin to the bus stop!

Waiting at the bus stop!

On the bus

Market

Allie

My Grandparents!

A church in the City Center!

Random smelly Toilette!

Allie rubbing the Bremen Town Musician's legs for good luck!

xoxo

Update!

Well so far since the fam. has been here we haven't really done much at all!

Last night we went to an early dinner at a nice little place down the road and got back just in time before the travelers eyes gave up to sleep!

All slept in this morning and had a nice late breakfast...

We got ready for the day, with the idea in our head that we would go to this pretty park along the tram line....when the rain decided to start falling once again!

It has been raining ever since!

To pass the time we played cards, read and have been sitting around catching up.

So it's been a pretty calm first day so far, good rest for their jet lag!

xoxo

The fam. is finally here!

Their flight landed in Bremen right on time this morning!

My mom made her way through the rain and went and picked them up at the airport.

They all crammed into a taxi and drove through the city all the way out to our house.

So far we have sat around, talking about everything...

My dad and I took my cousin, Allie, on a walk with Sophie on our county walk route right when the rain broke its never ending fall!

We came back and played a game and now the tired little travelers are having some issues keeping their eyes open, fighting the time difference. I think my cousin gave up and let her heavy eye lids win, I hope the time doesn't affect them too much! :)

Enjoy your day!

xoxo

Ready to go!

Tomorrow is the big day!

And we've been getting ready for it pretty much all day!

The day started off with German! My mom had her German lesson first thing in the morning...

and while she was learning I had the honor of cleaning my room and bathroom.

Then my mom was off to Sophie's grooming appointment.

While she was gone I....continued cleaning! Vacuuming, dusting, striping the sheets and changing the towels, all that fun stuff! :)

Sophie arrived back looking so pretty for her guest's tomorrow!

Before:

After:

With Sophie all pretty as can be, the house clean, and only grocery shopping left it seems like we are totally ready for tomorrow to come and our visitors to arrive! So excited!

Now only if the rain would lighten up a bit! :(

It's been raining all day, hasn't stopped once! We all hope it clears up so the fam can have a nice, warm, and sunny summer trip! :)

Scary skies!

Isn't Germany green enough? We don't need anymore rain!

Puddles everywhere....the rain just keeps fallin. :(

Hope everyone else' Summer is bright and sunny like Summer weather should be! :)

xoxo