A bike ride away

It delights me that everything I want or need is just a bike ride away here. Last weekend, one of my little sisters asked me if I wanted to go with her to feed carrots to horses at the place where she rides. I wasn't doing much and figured I mine as well learn how to get to another local place. I assumed we would walk the short distance to the stables, like I had walked almost everywhere else during my time here, but she asked if we could ride bikes instead. Although I hadn't successfully ridden a bike in quite some time, and had never done so in a busy, city setting, I agreed to try. I accomplished that first German bike ride without any problems, despite my slight hesitation, and have made many more journeys by bike in the past week.
In Maine, it would an extreme workout to get to a store, or a bank, or school by bike, but here, it's just normal. Everyone rides bikes from place to place, and, although it still feels a little like exercise, it's extremely enjoyable! It's relaxing to continuously pedal along, and it's fun to watch everyone else whiz by. (I'm always glad to find new forms of people watching). I'm not sure if I'm currently taking the most efficient paths from one place to another, but learning is all part of the experience. Biking will definitely be a main source of transportation for the rest of my time here, and I'm sure it can continue when I come back to Boston for college.

Go on a walk, and find a castle

Today after school, I decided it would be nice to go on a walk and explore my area of Jena a bit. Although I have only been here for less than two weeks, I have been thinking it would be fun to walk around by myself for a while now. It's important for me to know the area well so I can get from place to place easily in the future, and so I can discover more and more activities that I enjoy doing. I decided my walk could take a couple of hours, so I would be back before dinner, but put no restrictions on where I would go.
To start, I walked down roads near my house where I had not been before. It's always nice to look at German architecture, and see how unique each house can become within that spectrum. These roads soon met up with ones I had taken before with friends, and I was happy to re-walk and solidify the route in my mind. Along the way, as is probably expected, I was constantly snapping photos. One of these pictures was of a sign at a place that seemed like it had to do with sports. I took it so that I could remember what it said and ask friends at school to translate it for me. As I turned to walk away, a German boy that I hadn't see before started talking to me. All I was able to pick up out of what he said was the fact that he wanted to know about the picture I had just taken, so I had to tell him "mein Deutsch is nicht so gut." He responded with, "entschuldigung...sorry," and walked into the place with the mystery sign. Although it was not a productive conversation, it makes me look forward to when I'll have the ability to talk and understand German...
The slightly familiar path led to a different part of the city that had I mini-mall. I walked around inside, but did not find much except places I might eat at soon, so I headed back in the direction of home. Next, I took a road past my school. [Note-My school is on the edge of the city so not much seems to be "past" it except for trees.] As I walked on, the road started to go up, and up, and up some more. I was not really prepared for a mountainous hike, but my curiosity was stronger than my need for proper footwear. I am unable to accurately say how long the trek up that mountain was, or even express how long it felt, but it's safe to assume people don't just wander up it often. At the top, my slightly out of shape self was a bit tired, but damn happy to find a ruined castle and a view that only pictures can capture...

You know you're doing something right when you go on a walk and find a view like this, a castle, and a rainbow!

My first week in Deutsch schule

This week at school, I was primarily with two groups of people...

The first, was grade thirteen, or form thirteen as it's called here. This form is made up of peers who are around my age and at the same step in life as I am. They are each preparing to take their Abitur, so that they can continue on with university and do as they please in the world. This test is hard, making the lessons they learn very difficult and forcing them to spend much time in school and on schoolwork. They each have much to focus on within their own lives, but have made sure to be very kind to me as well. I am thankful for every one of them and their willingness to open up to me and be my friend. Each day, I sit through lessons that I don't understand a single word of, but the students around me make sure to explain whatever I ask about. During breaks, they help me learn vocabulary step by step, so someday I may be able to be as active in class as they are. They have already begun to invite me to any activities they do outside of class and will soon have me fully immersed in German teen culture. I am excited for my year with them, and am sure many of the memories we make will last a lifetime.

The second group of people is made up of the students in form one. At ages five through seven they obviously have much lower maturity and a more simple purpose than I do, but their German is at a much higher level than mine is. Although they seemed intimidated by me at first, they have quickly warmed up to the idea that it is nice of them to help me learn their language. Today, as I was sitting in a small chair, at a small desk, surrounded by small people, two boys made sure to check on me frequently, and make sure I wasn't having any trouble translating an activity book they could have done years ago. They asked me many questions about things I like and where I come from, and were patient with me when I needed to use a dictionary or the teacher's help to answer them. It was nice to have my first German conversation, even if it was very broken and with seven year olds, and I hope they remember me in a way that will keep their little minds open to the world forever.

A long journey to begin the journey...

Hallo from Deutschland! 

The journey here has been long and tiring. It started with a border-line "red-eye" flight into Washington D.C., followed by a four day AFS/CBYX orientation, during which I participated in all-day meetings and preparation sessions, and got little sleep each night as a result of excitement. Then, I had an all night flight into Frankfurt, where I also got no sleep, followed by a long day waiting in the airport for my train to take me all the way across Germany to Jena, where I am the only AFS student, and have a family full of very energetic children.
Although I am very exhausted, my trip has given me many hints that this year is going to be wonderful. On my flight into D.C., I was next to the only empty seat on the entire plane, starting my journey with comfort. Then, the shuttle driver from the first airport to my hotel was very jolly and informative, with much advice that I won't soon forget, and can only assume he wants me to use on women. I was also very glad to get to see parts of the US capital city for the first time. The Capitol building was stunning, and my tour guide spilled out great information, both new and old. Along the way I also met some of the most open-minded, well informed, adventurous students from across the United States and the world. I know I will keep in touch with many of my fellow CBYXers for years into the future. They help me feel confident in what I can do within this year, and I am glad I met every single one of them. We made great memories, and now we will make the world a better place by spreading information and friendship globally.
Now, I am getting settled in with my host family. They are very kind people who have been much help. The children, ages 3, 5, and 7, have begun to teach me the first of my German vocabulary including...

• Schneckengehäuse - Snail Shell
• Stift - Pen
• einen Hosen - Pants
• in de Mitte - in the middle
• eine Kette - Necklace
• Nudeln - Noodles
• and much, much more...

And the adults have helped me feel comfortable with the area, and the culture differences I see each minute.
Although I'm nervous for my first day of school tomorrow, I know I will do fine. As my German improves and I begin to make friends everything will get easier. It's all up hill from here and I'm already pretty high! I'm ready to learn about a new culture, a new language, and a new me!
Guten Nacht!

Less than a week...

I leave for my exchange year in Germany in less than a week. Today, while working my twelfth session in a row, the day at Camp Sunshine felt fairly normal, with just a bit of extra Spanish. I took elements out and set ropes up. I mingled with amazing adults, teenagers, children, and volunteers who inspire me to help people for the rest of my life, and who I inspire to climb high and work together in teams. And, at the end of the day, I put everything away for another night. While doing everything included in the average day of a Challenge Course Facilitator, thoughts were bouncing around in the back of my mind that made my day a little bit different...
I was being sure to clean out sheds and wipe down equipment so that everything would be neat for the off-season, and ready to use again next summer. I consciously decided to leave directly after I finished work on parents' dinner night, instead of volunteering with the teens, so I could spend a little more time with my family before my sister left for school. I caught myself mentally juggling my possessions and their importance to me, debating whether everything 'important' could fit in a fourty-four pound suitcase. I even wondered if everything I need, but still haven't gotten, is available at the local Walmart.
I put extra thought and preparation into everything I did because my journey is finally becoming real to me. I know I'm leaving Maine in a few days, and not coming back for ten months. I know I won't see my family and friends, or be able to be at the camp I am addicted to. I know that I will miss some things, and be missed by some people, but, most importantly, I know I can do it. I know I am going to learn lessons from every person I come across, and reach my highest of goals. I know I will make friends and connections to last a lifetime. I know my experience will be amazing and will go by too fast. And I am ready for anything.

Making dreams into realities

I have wanted to be an exchange student since my freshman year of high school. Back then, the idea of going abroad was intangible and seemingly impossible. It would cost too much to be hosted by an organization, and competition for a large enough scholarship seemed too fierce for me to come out on top. Even the first steps in such a process seemed "far" into the future, and I was unsure if my patience and interest would last.
Looking back today, it is easy to see that I have had the same dream painted in my mind for over four years. A dream of getting on a plane with other young, global thinkers, in order to live completely imerssed in a place with different culture, food, and people for an entire year. A place with open-minded thinkers, who would become my first global-ties and my best of friends. This dream has always lifted me up from the inside and made me feel whole. It has given me hope that I could escape the place I have always been, and begin exploring a world of endless possibilities...
Since I have always been aware of the fact that I would need to be awarded a very large scholarship in order to make this dream a reality, I began research very early in high school to figure out funding. In the end, I applied for the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) Scholarship, a full, government scholarship to study abroad in Germany. The application process for CBYX was longer and more extensive than any of the college applications I completed. It involved more steps, with more paperwork, more signatures, examinations, recommendations, writing prompts, and time spent scanning at my school's librarian's assistant's desk than anything else I have attempted to receive. Throughout the entire ordeal, as well as through the interview that I never imagined being selected for, I responded to people asking about my future with my college options, wrapped up with a quick "I also applied for a scholarship to go to Germany, so we'll see..." All aspects of going abroad have been floating free in my dreams for such a long time. Nothing has been real, substantial, or solid.
Now, I have planned my trip to D.C., know the exact schedule for my three day orientation, have been told the details of my flight from D.C. to Germany, and know which family I will be staying with for my ten months away. Every specific detail makes me proud of all the work I have done to gain this opportunity. I know where I am headed, and nothing can stop me. The experience has not quite begun yet, but twenty-nine days isn't that substantial in the grand scheme of things. I can't wait to live my dream, and continue achieving my crazy-large goals for the entirety of my life.