the_jotaku

I told you so!

Good as new.
So don't ya worry!


Erm.  I wish I had more news to go along with this, but I don't.
Today was boring.
Besides not having to go to Rotary because it's an evening meal.
My finger is doing better.
I think it's okay, because each morning, when I wake up--I think, 'Ah...my finger feels so much better than last night!'
It's weird.
Usually, if you feel sick or hurt, when you get up in the morning it feels like ten times worse. (Because you're all stick and well...you were just sleeping = no pain, and then you just wake up which = pain)
This finger?
Nope.  Ten times better.

Then as the day progresses it starts bothering me more.  Or maybe it's that I notice it.
Like, I go to sleep and the next day when I wake up, I can only see how it's better and after a while I notice the feelings that means it may be better but not completely healed.  And...yeah.

WELP!

Boring day was boring.
Though I'm going to try and get more music on my MP3 now because I'm bored with my 200 songs already.
Need to fill up the other 600 places.

I don't understand.
Every day I think, at least once, 'I miss home... wish I could see everyone and it again', so why is it that now--when I learn the day I'm supposed to go home--that I feel so darn upset about it?
July 1st.
That is SO early.  So, so, so early!  Or... maybe it's not so early.  Maybe, what is early, is knowing when I'll be going home.  I still have five months!  I shouldn't have to be thinking about this until April or June!  Not February!  It's WAY to early to spring this up on me.
I'm still with my second host family for goodness sakes!  Shouldn't this all be becoming an issue when I'm with my third family?
I thought that was how it was supposed to be.
Do they always figure a date this early?
Why didn't anyone tell me?
It seemed, when I talked to those exchange students back home, that none of them knew when.  Seemed that they got to choose the day they wanted.  So...what gives?
I really don't understand.
I don't understand why I'm so upset about this.
I don't understand what is making me upset, or how it is that I am.
And I REALLY wish everyone on MSN right now would just stop IMing with a simple, 'Sorry.  Hope you feel better soon.'
I don't WANT sorries.  I want someone I can relate to.  Someone I can tell this to, and have understand, tell their own story.  I want to know that this odd, uncalled for depressed feeling is natural, even if I don't fully understand it.

I... I don't think it's that I'm horribly attached to anyone.
I mean, I love my new friends and my host families are very nice...  But that's just it, with changing host families and living with them for only a little while, it makes it hard to get THAT attached.  Friends I see all year, so I know I'll miss them, but I've made so many friends this year and so many of them are already gone (back home to their contries or such).  Nothing feels solid here.  Not like back home, with friends I'll have and see beyond this year.  So, I don't understand why this is such a depressing thing to know:  When I go back home.

There are plenty of good things about going home on such an early day.
One, I get time to adjust.
Two, I get more time to do all those things I wanted to do, such as play video games, color stuffs, etc.
Three, I'll have time for hanging out with each of my friends before school.
Four, a month and a half earlier than a exactly full year is NOT that much at all.  Especially because I thought I'd be leaving a month to two weeks before that day.  What's another two weeks?  Not much.
There are other reasons too, but right now my brain is too frazzled to think right.

Right now I'm upset, have no real idea why, and the more I talk about it the more it seems entirely stupid, but I can't help but feel it.  And that makes me feel even worse, to know things I simply can't help feeling and hurting for are really pointless.

I am SO confused right now, and I don't even know what to say or to think.
I hurt.
I can tell you that much.
Over what exactly?
I don't really know.
I know it DOES involve the fact that I know when I go home now.

No, I don't want to leave later, but I don't want to leave yet.  I... I don't want to have to think about leaving when it's so far off, and it seems so unfair to make me think about it.

No, I'm not angry at anyone either.
I'm just upset.

I'll get over it.

It's better that I know when I go home.





I feel like I should be saying sorry for writing all of this.  For making such a big deal out of things, but then... if it's upsetting me, why shouldn't I?  Make a big deal, that is?
I don't want to say sorry, but I want everyone who reads this to know this is just an outlet.  I'm upset, and I need it to be known.  I don't want... I don't want sorries and it'll all work outs.  I want understanding, but not something that makes me feel like this is just a worthless outbreak from a PMSing teenage girl.
I am upset, and I feel like being rude.
I feel like lashing out, and making people angry just so I won't get those, 'Oh... poor you' sorta stuff.
I'm upset.
I'm upset.
I'm upset!

Now.
I don't want ANYONE to comment this, or to bug me about this, not my mom, not my friends, NO ONE.
I just want someone to READ IT.
And to KNOW I'm feeling off.

I'll go home on the first.  I just need to adjust, to talk this out of me, to be okay.
THAT is what this journal is.
I am so close to just deleting this WHOLE thing because this all feels so trivial.
But I won't.
I'm trying not to.

But I feel like I have to keep typing, keep spilling out.
I just.. I have to have some place to put these emotions, and they don't want to go anywhere.  I don't WANT to talk about this to people, because it just makes me feel worse.  No one understands, so I don't want them trying.



All I wanted was an ear.
Or, in this case, eyes.

Please, give me no more.
I'm okay, simply upset.

Tomorrow the sun will rise, birds will chirp, and I'll go on with life being my normal, happy self, and I'll be totally fine with this.
For now, though?
I am going to be upset.  I want to be upset.
Just let me be upset.
And DON'T try to make me feel otherwise, or bring this up after you read this.
Promise me that.
I just need a way of escape from my feelings, in a way I know they won't be bundled to myself.  I WANT people to know how I feel, just not go all mushy on me.  Like I said, I just want ears.  Leave it at that; please don't comment this.
I'll be fine tomorrow, I promise.
So you keep your promise too.

I know, I haven't typed up anything in like...
FOREVER!

I'll try to keep up with it more, I really will!! 

er, so... starting over.
From today.
Or... recent days, I should say.

Er, but first:  Recount of the basics.

Life?
Good.  I'm having fun, learning, just not AS MUCH, with the course being over and such...but I've started with forcing my friend to speak only German with me (much to her disappointment--haha!), and I'm actually trying to participate in school!
Well...German class specifically.  We're gonna be reading a book, and the teacher wants me to try and read it with them, said it was gonna be an easier one and such.  So I am! 
This should be a BIG jump for my German when we start.
My Host Family?
Pretty awesome.
They make the BEST coffee, ever.  Best...not exactly hot chocolate, I guess cacao works--EVER too.  Makes my mouth water just thinking about it.  They're really good cooks too!  I like the food they make.  And..uh.. just, really easy going and happy people.
Rotary?
There's a sleepover this Saturday.  I doubt many of us will actually sleep though.  I never got an email from the people, and had to get it from Kristy, a girl from Canada, instead.  Heh, I wrote some (probably) horrible email back saying I would be going.  I hope they don't wince too badly at my German.  Speaking and writing (or typing) are two COMPLETELY different things.  That's why I liked the course.  Helped me learn to spell, to know the rules.  Now I only have my manga and the book I will be reading.  Which...help a bit... I guess.
Also, because I have no more German-course left, I have to sit through the entire Rotary Club meetings every lunch.  It isn't all THAT bad, but... it's usually REALLY boring.  Food is good though--when it's not fish.  And I LOVE the desserts.
Recent news?
HA!  Nearly broke my finger, I swear!
Okay, so... I was in PE, righ?  It was the first day of the new semester and so we just started Volleyball, sorting with those over-head hit-things.  Where your fingers are all spread out and you're supposed to pop the ball off of them?
Well.
Most people lock up their thumbs and get hurt that way.
Me?
Oh, I did that, but they only hurt for a few minutes after each time.
No, what REALLY got me?
Ball, just a little too high hit, coming down on my not-far-back-enough fingers and hitting them, ring finger specifically, directly straight onto them.  My ring finger, as I said, took most of the hit.  It was all locked up, like how it's not supposed to when you take a sudden force.  Which is why when you jump down from high places your legs are always supposed to be loose.  So, I can say that it hurt REALLY REALLY BAD.
I thought it would just shake off, like the hits to the thumbs, but it didn't.
I ended up having to sit out.
Thing hurt bad enough to bring tears to my eyes, but most of you know me--and that I'm amazing at laughing things off.
Well... at fist I had a small fear that maybe it WAS broken.  Just maybe.  I mean, it was all puffy and swollen and I couldn't move it at all.  And it hurt.  Like a throbbing pain.  Guh, was horrible.
Of course, looking at it today, I can tell it's not.
It may LOOK worse (even if it's not as puffy), but I can move it more, if not entirely.
I can't straighten it completely or bend it completely, and almost the whole finger is blue (the two bottom sections, and about a forth of the top-third) but it's good enough that I can type this with minimal discomfurt.
It's the 'w' that gets me the most.  It feels weird to press that key.  the 's' is okay, and the 'x' is at such an angle that it doesn't bother me at all.  The '2' would be most uncomfortable, but I lift my hand up to hit that one if I need it, so it doesn't bother me that much.
Though, I really do think my finger looks hilarious.
Almost completely blue, then it suddenly stops and is normal finger color.

But, yeah.
That's my biggest adventure this week, besides what's happened on dA, but I won't bore parents and adults and such with things like that, because you guys wouldn't get it nor would you really care.  Heehee.

Anyway, sorry for no updates.  I'll try to do more, I promise.
Otherwise...
er...
Everyone take care and look forward the the next exciting installment of...
JESSICA'S TIME IN GERMANY!  (Insert dramatic theme-music here)

I've done it!
I have all the pictures I had on my computer DONE.
Now, I need to upload the few-hundred I have on my camera.... but.. I'll do that at a later time (though probably soon) since I have so much more computer access than before).

Just so you know, I have almost 1000 pictures and they are VERY disorganized.  I promise I'll go through and put them in sub-folders, but for now, it's just one big blob.
Sorry.

http://s730.photobucket.com/albums/ww309/Jess_in_Germany08-09/


My New Host Family:

They are really so cool!
The home, the family, the feeling, it reminds me of my house and home in the US.  It's a bit disorganized and obviously lived in, but it's not disfunctional.  It's very easy going and cool, and makes me feel much more at home.  I feel I can be myself a bit more and not worry about keeping a face of the perfect exchange student.
Also, they're totally awesome.
I'm allowed the computer time I want and they seem very okay with it.  Which is good, because it gives me the responsibility to not abuse this privilage.  I know if I'm on too much, I'll cut myself off from the world here and fail at learning German.  I think it's good when you have the item of your desire in front of you, but know when not to take or use it.
I can also go and come from the kitchen, table, living room, etc. as I please.  Which is also nice.  I always felt I had to wait until someone else got up to go before I could go and do my own things in my last host family.  I like the free to do as I please feeling.
It does make it feel a lot more like home.

I think this will be my favorite family.  I don't know for sure yet, but I have a feeling it will.

(Don't worry mom--I'll still come home to you! (joking, joking))

So yeah.
Now I must work on pictures of this family.  Might take a while, but I'll get there.

I'm still really happy about my host family.
I guess I should tell you a bit about them.

The dad is Christoph.
He's the a deffinate funny-guy.  He seems really laid back and is also a great cook.  He...I'm not sure what he does actually, but I know he's really into soccer.

The mom is... ugh... I don't know how to spell or say her name right.  Her nickname is something that sounds like Mickey just with an e instead of an i.  so Mecky. 
She is a smilie-person.  Always smiling and happy-looking.  She works at a hostpital but I'm not sure at what exactly.  She also seems to really like my art because when I showed her she keep looking and looking for at least 30 minutes.  Relooking and relooking.  It was nice but also a bit embarrassing.

The brother is Nikolai.
He is currently studying in Köln so I guess he isn't around much.  But he came down for christmas.  He leaves tomorrow to go back and study.  He's a cool guy, and I think it's easier to connect with him than it was with Moritz, but he's a bit older, so it makes it a little more challenging.  He knows a lot of the music I like and also likes his photoshop too!  (though he's a photomanipulator while I'm a drawer).   He has this odd habit of making this little laugh everytime he thinks I'm looking at him though.  That's kinda funny.  I glance over and then I here this, 'heheh'   Nice laugh, but rather awkward.   I keep thinking it'd be a cool laugh for some anime character.  Silly thing, I know--but I can picture it.  Some punkish kid or something with this laugh.

The Sister is Sophie. (Pronounced like Sophia)
She is a really nice, smilie person too.  She works at a fast-food restraunt and everyone jokes on how bad she smells when she comes home from it.  (though I never spell anything)
I think she's in her last year of highschool.  She doesn't go to my school, but the other Gymnasium in Osnabrück.  She reminds me of someone who would have SO been a hippy if born in the age of them.  She's just one of those really nice sorta people...  I don't know, it's hard to explain.  She isn't a hippy, but she's someone who you think COULD of if given the chance of time.
Well, she's friendly and I don't think I'll have a problem getting along with her.  It's nice to have a sister.

A deffinate plus about the family?
They like rock/alternative music.  Very nice.
That was an easy start-off connection for us.

So now, I can get all my System of a Down music for my new MP3player (which my last host family got me for christmas) from them!




About Christmas:
I haven't had time to talk about it, so let me tell you!

Unlike in the US:
There are three days of celebration, and also Advent.  Advent starts four sundays before christmas.  There are these...like..table-reethes (spelling that wrong) with four candles.  Each sunday a new candle is lit.  I don't really get the point of it, but that's how it works.
The three days of celebration are the day of Christmas Eve, Christmas, and the day after Christmas.
On the Christmas Eve day all the presents are opened instead of on Christmas.
Christmas day is very common for the families to go out to dinner.
The day after christmas... I don't know what's usual for it, only that it's also a celebration day.
In Germany, people buy their trees one or two days before Christmas and put it up on the day before Christmas Eve.  The tree stays until (usually) the 6th of January, which is when the three kings came to see the baby Jesus or whatever.  Then the tree goes away--but a lot of families are too lazy to do this, so it often stays longer.

How My Christmas went:
Well... this month, luckily, was SO busy that I had no time to get down about not being home for Christmas.  I had to buy all these supplies for my christmas present, which was a drawing (big surprise).  I wanted to draw it on a big peice of paper, but many of my copics didn't have enough ink, so I had to go and buy a drawing pad and more ink.  I wasn't sure what I was going to do for christmas, and orignally had the idea of possibly drawing something but also including small little gifts to everyone.  When I asked my host family they said just draw a picture.  I asked if I should get Mortiz something special, because. well... he's 18/19, a drawing isn't the most coolest thing to a boy of that age unless their an artist themselves or is a drawing of something THEY like.  I just got a, 'no, don't worry about it!  it's fine!'
So.
I went to drawing a picture for them.
Ulrike wanted a picture of ...um..that scene with Maria, Joseph, and the newborn christ in the donkey-stall in anime style, and Stefan wanted a scene of Oregon.  I decided on the scene of Oregon because it'd be better (if hung) to stay all year-round.  A christmas drawing would really only be appreciated at christmas.
I figured this all out about... a week and a half before Christmas.  I thought I had plenty of time and had the sketch ready, but I was trying to get it done when no one was home or when I didn't risk being caught drawing it.  Then I just HAD to get sick.
It was horrible.  I was out with my friends on the Friday before the break started and it started that morning with only my lymphnodes (or whatever they're called) a little swollen and throw the day it slowly worsened to headache.  From headache to joint pains.  From join pains to EVERYTHING pains.  I felt horrible by the end of the day and had to cut off my hanging-out with friends early.  As soon as I got home I went straight to bed.  I didn't think anyone besides Moritz was home, so I didn't think I had to announce my arrival.  I guess someone else was home, but then they never saw my jacket or shoes, and thought I was gone all day.  Finally my host mom seemed to notice I was there?  And she came knocking on my door and then asked why I didn't tell anyone I was home.  I thought they would have noticed my stuff by that hour.  She wasn't angry at all-which was good--only sorry that I felt so horrible as I did. (and trust me--I felt HORRIBLE.  At that time, whenever I woke up, had to go to the bathroom or such, even my skin hurt when I moved my clothes against it.)  The good thing was, the next day it was almost completely gone.
I still had a little bit of a sore throat, and I couldn't stand up that quick without pain, but it wasn't so bad.  Still hurt, but not HORRIBLE.  That was last Sunday, when I went to visit my host family now (to get acquainted).
That was a good day, and I already knew then that I'd like them.


And... I'm realizing I've already told you guys all this before...  Eheheh!
I thought I only posted it on deviantart....

WELL!
Moving on!
Christmas:
Good to know I got my picture done in time.  I didn't know I had to have it finished on Christmas Eve, so I luckily got it all done within three days.  It turned out really cool, and I have a couple pictures, but that's about it (no, they are not on my photobucket yet).

Christmas Eve:
Ulrike's family came over.  Her parents and either her brother or sister--not sure who.  And their kids.  (Two boys, both older than me.) There were ten of us together.
The first day wasn't so bad.
We had tea and koffee and cakes in the keller.  Because the dining table was too full for dinner already, and there wasn't enough place in the living room.  The table in the keller was too thin, but we managed.  That was interesting.  After that we went to church.
I'll admit now, I hate church.  I really do.  It the most boring thing ever, even when there is a lot of singing or such.  Plus... churches just kinda creep me out.
I'll be glad if I never go to one again this year besides for the purpose of taking pictures (because they can be rather pretty!).
After that we opened all the presents (my drawing had very good compliments and I think they liked it a lot) and then ate dinner.
After dinner, everyone besides the two boys left and then we did the dishes and I went to bed.  (it was late)#

What I got for Christmas:
My MP3player.  450 songs.  Not an iPod, but saves me money and gives me music besides CDs.  And trust me, that is aPLUS.  I was very happy.  
Lots of chocolate. <3
Two scarfs and a hat and also some art-stuffs (from home, specifically my dad and Jamie)
A cute little music-box thingy.
15 euro
a shirt saying, 'Osnabrück est. 780'  (maybe not 780, but 700-something)
And from my new host family a book that has stories from famous German authors about their childhood christmases.

Christmas day:
Very laid back and mostly with nothing.
It felt like the day after chirstmas, actually.
The boys were picked up very early, and then Ulrike's parents came for some lunch and then left to go back to Köln.
AFter that it was jsut..whatever.  Most of the spare time these last couple days were spent on uploading those almost 1000 pictures.  So that's what I did most of that day.
Later we went to dinner, just the four of us.  That was nice.  I learned a new German song.  I'll be singing it everytime now, when I go back home, and I'm hungry and waiting for food.  <3  Be prepared Mother.

26th of December (after Christmas):
This was the boring day.
Stefan's family came over.
We sat in the living room for about an hour, opening the last bit of presents from that side of the fam., then we ate lunch.  FOUR HOURS!  Four hours--being practically the first one done because I've had virtually no want for food since I've been sick--of doing NOTHING.  That many family members all knowing each other, not seeing each other for a while, and with Moritz being the only one in my age group but with his girlfriend there?  OH MY GOOD GOD!  I wish to never sit through that again!  I ended up making one of those...  I don't know... a paper-game-thingy out of a candy warpper and messing with it.  Then I was poking it and counting every time I poked the thing.  It was dreadful.  I was mostly ignored the whole time.  All the german was way to fast for me to even try to understand, and talking about things I didn't know of.


That.
That was my christmas experience this year.


A very interesting and different one.
Not too bad though.
Kept me busy enough.


And, now, you are all up-to-date on my life.

And some quick news.

Okay.
Christmas:  Wow.. I've been busier than a bee!  (Lame analogy, I know, but whatever...)
Anyway.  Finally finished the picture for my host family for their present.  Pretty cool.  Did a picture that looks like Oregon landscape.  Have a chick sitting on some rocks, and river with a waterfall and lots of trees and then you can see a sunshined-on field in the background.  Rather good for me never drawing scenery and coloring with copics on a new type of paper I've never before used.  The paper is HUGE too.  About the size of four normal peices of paper, and I colored the whole thing in only three days.  Go me!
And.. you know how in the US--depending on where you live--you usually go out and cut yourself a christmas tree like 2-3 weeks in advance and keep it until it turns ugly?
Here?
Get it 2-3 DAYS in advance and they buy it out of a lot.  And the tree goes through some weird-o thingy that puts a net around it so it's like having a tree in a package.  Weirdest thing ever.
Then they usually only keep it until the 6th of January (when the three Kings came or something?) and then throw it out.
And, it's so funny, because their tree this year is like...  a bunch of sticks with needles.  It's so bare!
Looks kinda silly with so many ordanents on it.

Also.
I don't think I told you about that last Rotary meeting?
Well.  It was fun.
Nothing all that special.
Though it's weird thinking that's the last time I'll see some of those people...


Also, I go to my next family this Sunday...
and guess what...?
They have a computer in my room!
I'm so excited!!
Late at night, when I usually sit in my room and draw, I can work on getting more pictures up and stuff!!  And how do I know this, you wonder?
I ended up staying the night at their house last Saturday.
They're SO nice.  (I think I like them better than my family now already)
They're so normal and friendly!  Their house is so homey!  It's not perfect and tidy and amazing.  It's all just normal!  I love it.
Makes me think of my home.  We have this joke going on about 'chen'  Which you add onto words to basically call them little.  I feel so cool now that I can have an inside joke over words in German.
They make great coffee too.  Gotta learn how to make it.


Um, I'm sick--again.
Just got over my last sickness by like a couple days when this hit.
totally different though.
My lymphnodes are all swollen and icky.  So my neck hurts a lot, but not in the sore-throat sorta way you normally get.
The day before or so it was really bad.  Horrible headache, and my body hurt everywhere!  Even my skin was hyper-sensitve and my joints hurt as well.
Now it's only my neck, so all is okay.


By the way, I miss you guys and wish you a VERY VERY VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!  Okay?
Have fun, get lots of great presents, and smile!



Btw, here's a link to my photo album if you need it again: http://s730.photobucket.com/albums/ww309/Jess_in_Germany08-09/

I have 60 brand-spanking-new pictures for you all to indulge yourself with!

But, it's on my new photobucket account specifically for here.
Everything has titles and discriptions so you won't be lost.  The older the stuff is, the farther into the gallery it is, okay?
So you might wanna start from the last page and work your way up.

Anyway, here's the link:
http://s730.photobucket.com/albums/ww309/Jess_in_Germany08-09/


And yay for today!  Only one class--first period.  So I got to stay home and do this all day!
Sorry if some of the pictures are sideways.  I plan to fix them when I have more time.

I start my vacation on Saturday, so then, there might be more chances for me to get on and put more up!  Let's hope!

I know, my journals are becoming less and less frequent.  It's hard.  I find myself getting horribly distracted with the litle computer time I get, and I hate asking to get on.  I swear, everytime I try--my host Dad gets this weird look like he doesn't approve.

If he had his way, I think he'd strip every english word from my mouth, if possible.
Often, when I need to e-mail  mom or something, or if I was posting a journal like this, he'll ask if it was in German.  And I just kinda laugh, and my host mom scowls and is like, 'Stefan!  Please, like they'd understand!'
It's kinda funny actually.
Also, my host dad is amazingly anti-coke.  It's funny, because I've never met anyone so anti-Coke before.  I mean, even my own father isn't so against it.
I can get... maybe, a couple Cokes a week if I stayed over at my dad's on a regularly basis.  Here, my host dad is like, 'Ope!  You had your coke this week.  Not until next week!'
It's not all that hard for me to begin with, and it's not like he can really control me all the time (I can buy cokes at school and stuff), but it's more funny than anything.  I just think of half my friends and crack up.  Oh god, they'd have one heck of a time with that rule imposed upon them.  I can think of one girl in particular..... this one... who constantly is ranting about her Coke if the subject is to come up...  I'm sure you know who you are.  Haha!

Anyway!  This journal was not to rant about such things!

But!
About Christmas!

I made Chocolate cookies the other day.
I don't think they were as soft or gooey as they usually are back home, but not bad.  I'm bringing them with me to my Rotary Exchange Student Christmas Party thing tomorrow.  It's only three hours long, which is surprising.  I expected it to be longer.

This month has been eating all my money away, and I've only spent it on things I have deemed NEEDED.  For christmas, for my host family, I plan to draw a large picture with my Copic Markers of something Oregon-like.  So, I went to the art store to buy myself some large paper, good for copics: 23 Euro.  Then, I needed Ink for a few copics that were running out:  21 Euro the first time, then I bought the wrong ink, and needed another one which I couldn't remember the name of.  So, I went to exchange the ink the next day, and buy the other ink I needed too.  Turns out, they didn't have the ink I needed.  so I ended up being a new copic for the wrong ink I got in hopes that it'll substitute okay enough the color I do need.  I think it will.  I mostly needed it for skin, and with the picture I'm coloring, I won't need it for the pink-color I could get when I used it by itself.  Anyway, then I needed a new binder.  My art binder I have doesn't have the right format because the paper here is different, and all my papaers were getting bent at the edges--which is horrid!  So, I went to this one shop and bought a new one.  It was SO expensive!  Over 10 euro for a binder I could get for 3 dollars in the US!  The binders here suck!  They don't have side-pockets, and the material isn't good for holding loose, unclicked-in paper because it doesn't have that grippy-ness the normal school binders in the US have.  The one I got had this grippy-ness, and it also had the slot to put paper on the cover.  I will make my own pouches with plastic and duct tape.  Well, after that experience, and another 10 or so dollars in plastic-paper-holder thingers for my drawings, I had to buy post cards.
This month has been busy indeed.

I'll be glad when christmas is over.  The month is going by so fast because I seem to have so much to do and so little time.  November seemed to last forever, and here I am--close to reaching the third week--and I haven't even fully realized it.   After next week is Christmas break!  (I am SO excited for this!)

Also, the homesickness has officially hit me already, and since then I've been noticing this constant wish of home.  It's not so bad, and I certainly won't go home because of it, but I feel it.  Makes me think odd thoughts.  It also made me realize I've already been here a third of a year.  Wow.  Can ya believe it?  It feels like it hasn't been so long at all!  I guess the first third is just kinda like, 'wow... I'm here' and a bit of homesickness, the second third is the most of the homesickness and then, I'm guessing, the accomplishment of the language (haven't made this yet), and probably, the third part is the actually REALLY enjoying it part.  Where you can speak with ease and find everything so much more fun.


I had a dream the other day with half of my friends on one of the busses here.  That was comical.  Remember waking up laughing.


But yeah--about those postcards--anyone who's anyone in my world of cares gets one!  Sorry online peeps (who knwo I have their addresses) and Rotarians, I don't exactly feel a profound ache for your absense in my life, and I hardly talk to you, or don't really KNOW you enough to send you one.  But, my thoughts go out for you to all have a Merry Christmas!


Well, this rant was a little spontanious, and I'll probably have something better to talk about tomorrow, after the meeting--but for now!  I hope all is well, and that this gives you a few moments of enjoyment as I waste your time with my German Adventures!

Today?
I think I'll call it Super Duper Hyper Team Laugh Mode GO! Day.
...Yeah..don't ask, little hyper right now...


Anyway, it was rather brilliant.
I haven't laughed so hard as today since... well.. since before I left America!

It all started off with my pen.
Yes.
A pen.
In Deutsch, Kuli.

Well.... you see, it's been leaking recently.
Like I pull off the lid, and the pen-writing part is covered in ink! (More ink than it should, anyway)  Because of this, may pen ran out of ink quicker than usual.  I had unscrewed it so I could put a new ink cartridge in, but I wanted to try and get out all the leaked ink before hand, so I stuck the writing part into the lid.  Instead of it staying and being sucked out when I pulled it out--it did a very logical but at the moment unexpected thing:  It squirted the remaining ink OUT while I pushed it IN.  All over my hand!
Was rather funny, actually.
Luckily I had my handy-dandy....Tintin Killer! and was able to make all the ink disappear from  my hand!

The rest of the funnies were at the Deutschkurs.

It started during Pause--or our little break-thingy.
Jason, a guy in the class from some spanish-speaking country with a surprisingly REALLY good english-speaking accent (english that sounds like english from where I live, not british english), was talking nonstop, like always.  He's always SUCH a talker!
Well, Kristy--the girl from Canada--said, 'I bet you can't go without speaking.'  And so, to prover her wrong, he decided to go mute until she said he had proved his point and could speak again.
Well...
What makes this oh so funny?
A guy, I don't know who, walked in the class asking something about when the class ended, or something like that...  The teacher wasn't there, so she couldn't answer him, and only Jason really understood what he said. (That guy was a horrible mumbler.  I couldn't even repeated what he said if I wanted!)  And so, Jason, since he couldn't talk, was trying to use some vague form of sign language to get the answer across.  This has to be one of the silliest things I've EVER seen.
Who the heck actually goes through with a game of being silent when a stranger is trying to get serious information from you?!

And then!  And then!  He writes on the board, 'Ich spreche nicht!' and the guy is like, 'Oh!  You are mute!'  then, 'so...why are you in deutschkurs?'
Well, he walks out, and me and Kristy are DYING at this point, and Jason writes on the board, 'I can't believe he actually believes what I said!'
But, because we are laughing so loudly, the guy comes back in and READS what Jason is writing as he writes it!  Oh my god!!  It was brilliant!


Anyway, the guy went away and then Llyza and Khan (kid from Tailand) came back with some bread they had bought.  As soon as Khan sits down I was like, 'I want some, okay?' and took a chunk.  He just gave me a weird and silly look.  Llyza went to buy a coffee from the little coffee machine in the place and told me not to take any of hers.  So, as soon as she goes away, Khan tells me to rip off half and put it in his paper/bag thing to hide it. 
When she came back, she was like, 'Wha?  Where's all my bread?!'  And I swear she was about to punch me before I showed her it was with Khan's.

Then Eloisa, the girl from Argentinia who is in my regular school class, started pestering Khan for a kiss.  In Argentinia and other spanish countries I guess it's really common to hug and greet people with kisses on the cheek and stuff.  And to play with Khan, she always tries to kiss him on the cheek.  Khan--for reasons I will never really understand--acts always horrified when she tries to do that.  And so, today, he put up a 'no flirting' sign.  It was so funny.
I stole it at the end of the class and have it in my room.
For all you guys who know me in real life, expect to see it when I return!

Then, Khan (he was a very amusing guy today) decided to take the peices of bread and make little katapolts with them.  He put a ruler on a tintin killer and a peice of bread at one end and was trying to make the bread fly into Llyza's cup.
He failed.
In fact, most the times they just went straight up instead of forward.  So, when he tried to make the ramp steeper, to give it more air, guess was happened?
BAM!
Hit him right in the forward!

Oh god, I wish I got it on camera!

Also, he was playing Golf with the peice of bread too.  With my tintin killer being the Golf club.  I have that on video--so don't worry--you'll see it sometime!



Then there was the paper thing...
Khan was still obsessing with getting something into Llyza's cup, but instead of bread, he was trying with a paper ball.  Shooting it like a basketball.  The newest sport in annoyance.
Everytime he missed, and everytime Llzya picked it up and chucked it right at him.  She, unfortunately for him, did not miss.
Well, after getting a good wap in the head, he managed to actually DODGE an attack.
Too bad the girl on the other side of him didn't.
She got hit right in the eye!!

It was hilarious!  Everyone was laughing, and the girl was like, 'What the heck just happened?'  but she was laughing too.
It was great.

I guess it's a lot funnier in person, but I was laughing SO badly today.
Good times, good times.

: )

Okay.
Wow.
That snow, that I was totally expecting to just sprinkle and go?
It stuck!
I woke up on Saturday to a winter wonder land!
Ahhh~  So lovely!

Got a few pictures, and then it was down to breakfast and then to finish packin' the stuff I'd need for the night.

Well, got to the Train, took it to Bremen with Kristy (from Canada--yay!), and then hung out for an hour.  It was Saturday and so we had to take an earlier train than normal because of it.

But, we got to hang out and chatter about the random things under the sun.
Then when people started showing up, we joined them.

I gave my pictures to the people who had asked me to draw them something, and they were all so happy!  I got pictures, but it'll be horrible camera quality.  Sorry guys.
Oh, I also forgot to record Ville's dance!  Next time!  For the Christmas/December party!  Promise!

Anyway, it took freakin' FOREVER to get all 60 (or so) of us from the train station to the school we were staying in.
Of course, first we had to stop by the Museum.  That was actually fairly interesting.  It had a whole little section for Japan, and I got to see one of their cute Japanese tea houses, and there was a little Manga section, and some papers where you could try to draw what they had printed.
I so--excuse me, online expression coming up--'pwned' all the other attempts on the paper.  And the whole group was like, 'Wooahhh!'  It was awesome.  Just a five second head sketch too!  Heehee!


But, yeah, freakin' cold!!  I swear, it took like...at least an hour--probably closer to two--to get everyone to the school.  First, we had to wait for the tram, 10 or so minutes.  Then, we had to wait for like.. 15 stops for our own!  All of us packed into this skiny thing with luggage and everything!  Then we had to wait like 20 to 30 minutes for the next tram, so all those who couldn't fit on the first one would show up, and then for the next bus to come.  Oh my god, I was FREEZING!  And all the South Americans (and other spanish speakers)--who had never seen snow before--were all freakin' out and throwing snow balls and they were pretty much balls of ice.  Me and my band traveled to the other side of the bus stop, where we were protected from the frozen snow-bombs.

Once we got there, we had to take off our shoes and then have everyone's bags checked to make sure no one was smuggling alchohol (which I'm positive several did anyways), and finally!  Warm! 

It wasn't so bad as last time, I got four hours sleep instead of one, but I was still horribly tired.  I got one hour, then I woke up to the laughing and giggling of my group, we stayed up for probably two more hours, before I got another three hours sleep.  That ground was so hard.  Stupid gym floors.

But, it was pretty brilliant, I think.  There were these huge balls and we were all attacking each other with them.
Fairly exciting.

But then, rather boring at times too--since I'm not one to go dance.  I got to listen to System of A Down on some dude's iPod though!  He was from Michigan.  I should thank his girlfriend for being obsessed with SoaD, and putting all their songs on his iPod.  Made me think of you Ai!  All these songs that I hadn't heard in ages. 
Sheesh, I miss you guys!!


But, all in all, it was pretty rad.
Then, taking the bus home, which was freakin' two hours instead the one or so it was supposed to be.  I think it was the snow... but my host family was stuck waiting for like thirty minutes because of it.  I felt so bad!

At that time though, I really wanted a shower.
Oh, I wanted a shower.

But nooo...   Had to sit and have coffee and cake first.  Which is normally wonderful--cake?  Who wants to turn down cake?  Well, I ate it--grudgingly--and then galloped off to the shower.  After that....  Bed.
Another 15 hours.
Well, I'm well rested now at least!

though I've caught another cold!
Darn!

My nose has been running all day--and my lips are SO chapped.

Welp, gotta go and eat!
Hope to update again soon!

It's snowing!
Yay!!

Not enough to stick or anything, but snow none the less!!

Just thought I'd say that before I forget and go on the trip with Rotary to Bremen.

We all know that'll be a ball and probably wipe out all memory for little, slightly trivial things like this.

First off....
I am like the dumbest person ever sometimes, I swear!

There is a reason why I was never in the Math Honors classes.

175 minus 33 is NOT 162.
That's all I'm going to say about that though.
If you don't know what I'm talking about, it's probably a good thing.

But, the world will still go round, and at least I have a new pair of jeans.
Still would like one more before I'm happy.
And maybe another long sleeve shirt or so.... Freakin' cold here!


Let me think....
Today I saw a random boot left in the middle of the street.
Took a picture.  It was epic.

Yesterday the tree for the middle of the Neumarkt shopping center popped up.  Picture the tree from The Grinch Stole Christmas in the center of the city just no decorations yet.  I was walking to school and was like, 'Holy creepoids!  Where'd that come from?!'

The day before that I saw the longest line of geese I've EVER seen.  It was like, a really big V, but then one end of the V seemed to go on forever.
There had to be at least a couple hundred birds, no joke.  I wanted to take a picture but by the time I got my camera out it was only the tail end.   It was so amazing.

Um... a few days before that Llyza came over.  We chatted all night long, and surpisingly not so much about anime.  Was fun though.

I've been drawing a lot this week, about five pictures in the last three days!  Two Naruto's (one to pay tribute to the Late Kakashi--sorry for any spoilers with that one peeps) and the other three for other friends in Rotary.  I've accomplished the best wall I've ever drawn in my life.
I'm just oh-so-proud.


I know I'm forgetting something now....
What was it?

OH!
Mickey's birthday!!  Yay for being 80 years old!!



On Saturday I go on a Rotary trip for a sleep over.
I bet I'll get next to no sleep.
That'll be fun.  Eh. Heh.  Heh.

Anyway, I'll try and update again after the trip!
And I know, pictures, pictures, pictures!
I'll get to them!  I promise!!

I just went to tell a friend I was posting this, and I put German instead of journal!
What a dork I am!
Ehehh...



Anyway, life this week:
Fine.


Well, I went shopping a bit on Wednesday (or was it Tuesday?) and bought myself a new scarf and long sleeve shirt.  That wasn't exactly what I was hoping for, okay, the long sleeve shirt I needed, but the scarf not so much (but hey, it was rainbow!  how can I resist?), what I really need is at least one new pair of jeans.

Four jeans brought with me.
All but one have developed holes on the inside of the thighs (sorry if this is too much info than you wanted).
I guess it's understandable.  Several of these pants I've had for about two years now.
Anyway, I've only bought one new pair, so that means I have only two pairs of jeans that are actually in working condition.  I am so angry! 
But, the good thing is, in Germany, no one cares if you wear a pair of jeans for about a week long (which is totally strange still to me, by the way).
It's hard for me to wear a pair of jeans for more than three days still.
I don't understand it.
My brother does rowing and he rides his bike everyday and well..he's a guy!  He sweats!  But he still wears  his jeans for a week!  Eek!

I just can't do it!
I need more jeans!

But it's getting really cold too.
For all those who live where I live in Oregon, imagine the freezing tempatures of January now.
Yes.
It's january already here.
Oh god, I'm afraid about how cold it'll be when it's actually january!  I mean, it's only still halfway through November!

Speaking of November, I think I've completely abandoned NaNoWriMo, but I'm still writing.
It gives me something to do when I'm bored and some time to break from constant German.
Though, I find it easier now to switch my head between languages.  Also, I'm not exactly fluent, far from it actually, but I can hold a semi-decent converstaion in only deutsch now!
Yay!

Anyway, back to this week:
Yesterday there was a LOT of drama in my school.
Okay, my friend, Xenia was in computer class on Thursday (I don't have this class because... well... I just don't, so I have free periods during then, so I wasn't there) and she was on youtube because she was finished with the work and everyone knows students go on other sites when they're finished or just plain bored.  I'm sorry if this is new for you parents, but it happens.  If the teacher isn't paying attention and the kids have access to internet in a class, oh they're on it.  So, obviously, Xenia wasn't the only one doing it and she certainly wasn't trying to do anything or get onto anything bad!
But, anyway, some guy in our class tried to, I don't know, make fun of her, or get her in trouble, or just make her upset--I'm not quite sure--but he accused her of watching porn, and then several guys started piping in and calling her a perv and such stuff.  Of course, this wasn't true.  But, at the same time, you know it can be really tought for a semi different girl who doesn't make a lot of friends as it is to get accused of something like this and teased over it too.
well, when I showed up, she was sitting outside the hallway to the classroom in tears.
Oh man, it was horrible.
Guys can be so mean!  Well, not only guys, everyone can.  But, that was just cruel!

Well, after the german lessons that day, I went with one of the girls, Llyza to Saturn.  She wanted to guy a camera, but the shop doesn't accept Master Card it turns out (I'm so glad I have Visa, because everyone pratically takes that).  So, we run to the bank real quick, and it turns out she doesn't know her pin, so she can't pull any money out.
I feel so sorry for her!
But, we went to H&M and she bought a couple of cute things.

Tomorrow Llyza comes over to stay the night!
I'm excited!
So, I think, all in all, this week is pretty okay.

Wooh!

I go with Xenia this time.  And Anki (aka Ann-Katrine) today!

Hopefully I won't be as tired as I was yesterday tomorrow. 
Gosh, I was exhausted!!


But, yeah.
Life is going on, doing well.

Stuff like that.


I wonder, when my deutsch gets good enough should I type these in both deutsch and english?

If I was to do it now, oh gods...
I'd be so scary!

Everything would be placed wrong, and I never know when to use mir or mich instead of ich.

But yeah, I kinda wanted to type something up just for the sake of it.
Three updates this week, right?
Or is this just two and that other one was last week and I just can't remember well?

Well, anyway.
I think I'll remind everyone that I am updating my journal, because I think I've been silent for too long.
Eheheh.

Anyway, this was just a little rant to quell my boredom while I wait to leave.

Hope everyone is well and I miss you guys!
Jess

It was way, way, way fun!
But oh my gosh, i'm SO tired right now.

Anyway, I was showing a girl from my German Class where the manga shops are in town (since she likes it too) and then we decided to go to the Jahrmarkt--which is the fair--and well, we went!
It was amazing.

Went on four rides, ate a large fries, an ice cream, and we split a crepe (plus I played one game to try and get this really big club with green spikes--which I got), and I only spent about 12 Euro.
We ended up spliting the price for everything.  I'd pay for a ride, she'd pay for a ride.  I'd pay for this food, she'd pay for this food. 
So it all worked out.

There was this one ride called the Disco, and it just basically was a circle with a bunch of bumps on it, but i couldn't stop laughing.  It was like what I'd imagine riding one of those bulls would be like.  UP and down, up and down, head jerked this way, head jerked that way.
and Llyza (the girl) was on this inside, and because it went so fast she was like being rammed into me.  Oh god, it was brilliant.  My arm still has a bruise from being pushed into the freakin' bar.

We got there around 8 and stayed 'til about 10.  So two hours.
Was really fun.
Oh!
I also bought a scarf.


And there's this little shop, called a Shanti shop, and it has these weird clothes that I just love.
so gonna save up to buy one of those jackets.
So colorful and the hoods are amazing.

Welp, gotta go!
'til next time!
And I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to put photos up... again.

YAY!  I've found time to catch mehself up!
Anyway, here it goes:

After returning from the Deutschland Reise, a few days later I went with my host family to Goslar.  That was very nice.  Basically the whole city is really, really old and the houses are like something out of a fairy tale.  I have lots of pictures--so you'll understand better later.

Then, a few days after that, we were going to go to ... Köln... I think... that's how it's spelt?  I don't know.  But, that's not the point, the point is, it didn't happen.
I got carsick.  'Nough said.


The day after that failed attempt I went to Xenia's house.  It was really fun, we didn't stay up all night because of her mom, but we got up really early the next morning and drew and I taught her to use copics!   Then, because the skin color ran out, we decided to go to this Art store my host mom had shown me but she didn't know about, and instead of taking a bus, we ended up walking there.  Took us like almost 2 hours, I swear.  And it turns out, the Art store doesn't take US cards.  Oh god, I was so angry.  And I had NO money on my German Card.  Luckily, Xenia payed for it instead and we proceeded with taking a bus back to her house.
Also, we ended up talking to one of her friends from.... Scotland, it was hilarious because me and him basically had a sort of battle of wits or something.

Also, even though I know I've only been here like... less than 3 months, I am already REALLY excited to go home.  Not because I'm homesick, only because I think about it, and I get giddy at having all my usual things back; computer, photoshop, friends, people I know, video games, and being able to know how I can act and not worrying about other people's opinions on it.  Oh, I am so excited for it all.  It's torturous to think I have to wait for... 9 more months to have it.  But, it's not in a bad way.  If I was given the choice to go home today I'd say no. I want to be here the whole time, and take the whole experience to heart.  It's more like... Waiting for a convention.  Amazingly exciting, but you know you need the time before it to get prepared and find a good cosplay and stuff.

Anyway, back to recent events:

A few days ago there was a carcrash down the street.  Ran into someone's house.  Got a picture of it.  Pretty spiffy.  Luckily, I don't think anyone or anything beside the fence was hurt.

Then the next day I was walking to school and saw a HUGE crane lifting stuff.  Took a picture of that too.

Then... Thurs--no, Friday, I saw a guy in a chicken suit.  I also have a picture of that.

God, I love my camera.

But, that is it for now.  I'll try to get more regular with my journals, I promise!
And I'll also try to find time to put up pictures. I really need to do it because they're only building up more.
Ughh...

Welp, love ya all!

Okay...
Yeah..
Sorry I have been so non exsitant.  I haven't found ANY time to write about this until now!
(Two weeks later!)

So, about two weeks ago I started a trip around Germany lasting from the 11th until the 16th.  We went to Erford (I cannot spell it, I know--but I'm too lazy to go get the paper burried who knows where in my room) and that was.....  (trying to remember it here) .....  Fun?

Well, we spent several hours in the our beloved bus after I took a 45 minute train to Bremen with Kristy from Vancouver, Canada--and that bus trip... Oh god.
I sat in the front with Kristy and another girl from Oregon named Peyton.
We had at least 10 spanish speakers on the bus, and then probably like 7 or so English speakers, and a few who didn't fall into either category--and wow.  Not that I really have anything against Spanish-speaking peoples, I am part Mexican, but when they get together it is like  a never-ending party!  All day and night is chatter chatter, dancing, partying, all the time!
So several of us who were tired, had no rest on that first Bus trip.
I'm not sure if it was that day or the next--but we went to the Line/wall that seperated west and east Germany.  That was amusing.  That night though, the two other girls and I got together with Nora, who lives in Bremen and was an exchange student... two years ago... to france.  She helped us find our way around town and we hung out and explored a bit, and then probably around ten went to the middle of the city where there was this festivel and found the rest of the exchange students.  It was one big party.  With spanish music--so it was even more of a big party with half the exchange students knowing the songs.  Heehee.
It was actually very fun!  I danced a bit--even if it was bad and probably made me look horribly silly...

Then the next night--last one in Erford-- we..... well, I don't really remember.  I guess we didn't do that much too exciting and note-worthy then, did we?   Well, we had fun, anyway. 

In Berlin--it was much better.
The first day, I think we had a tour--and oh my good golly.  Berlin is like... amazing. I was so angry with myself for forgetting my camera!!  But, I swear--East Berlin, in the artists' area was so amazing.  It brought tears to meh eyes~
I want to live there now.  Haha--become an art squatter and such!  (not really, but it still would be amazing to live in that area)

Then the next day we went to a concentration camp, or maybe that was while we were still in Eford?  Not sure.  But yeah--we did that.
One of the spanish-speakers (or maybe it was a couple) found something... that... looked very odd.  It was skin-colored, and probably half a foot long, and had a big nose and eyes, and had a string that when you pulled on it it vibrated.  Oh--and it was squishy like a toy.  I don't... really want to know exactly what that thing was made for.  It was awkward enough just looking at it.
Anyway-- they named it Nacho Macho, and took photos with it EVERYWHERE.
Though, because they wanted Nacho in like... every photo, they did something that angered a LOT of people.  In the concentration camp--the one outside of Weimer--they stuck Nacho in one of the ovens and took a picture of it.  I didn't see it myself, but oh my god.  So many people were really angry and muttering darkly over it.

We also visited Potsdam to see some Mansion.  That was a pretty place.
Oh!
And one of the days we went to.... some castle place that wasn't THAT pretty on the outside, but on the inside....  They had a whole room whose walls were decorated only of sea-shells and rocks (mostly sea-shells!).  It was amazing!  Unfortunately, no cameras were allowed.  Hmph!

Each night was really fun.
For the most part, instead of going out with the other exchange students I hung out with Kristy and Peyton.  About one or two nights in Nicole--the girl I had hung out with mostly on the orientation night--joined us.  In Berlin we kinda just went to Nora's room in some little appartment complex she was renting for the three days and were... well... dorks.  It was really fun.  There was a shower in the room. Like... just a square coming out of the wall, and there was no actual bathroom for it.  So, whenever someone did something stupid--or just wanted to be silly--they would be sent to the shower.
I don't really know what started that whole thing.  Ffftt.

Anyway, on the first night in Berlin, a guy from Australia (who I learned likes Naruto--so I had someone to nerd out with, yay!) joined our little group.  I have a wondrous picture of Kristy and Peyton getting into the shower to take a picture, and Tyson (the Aussie) looking at it--but the way his head is turned, and how you can see Kirsty and Peyton standing in the shower is SO funny!  Just like a double-take sort of picture.
Can't wait to show you guys that one. Ha!

Well, the second night Ville (aka Finnie--he's from Finnland) joined the group.
He was obsessed with Partying Naked.  I'm still not quite sure if that was a joke or if he really does Party Naked.  I'm not quite sure I want to know either.
He was the source of MUCH amusement for the next couple of days.
Ville can do this weird dance thing...that is just hilarious, and so, I think on the last night there:
We were in the hallway because there were some kids staying on the same floor of the Hostel from the Netherlands and Peyton had decided she wanted to talk to them.  Then, she mentioned Ville--and told him to do his dance for them, which he did, and all of them were all amazed and laughing.  I don't know how to explain Ville's dance.  You just... kinda have to see it.  I'll try to video tape it next time, but it's amazing.
Anyway--we had gone to bed and then we heard a big commotion outside, so we all go look to see.
All the kids from the Netherlands were banging on Ville's door demanding to see the Finn's dance.  Martias, who had answered the door, was like, 'What's going on?!'  with this horrified expression.  Oh my gosh, it was SO funny. 
Finally they got him to do the dance again.


But, my time is running short--so I must tell you about the rest of the trip.
The last day we went to Wolfsberg and to the VolksWagen place.  It was cool, but I had got distracted with these pretty globes and almost got left behind when they all left.

On the way back to Bremen EVERYONE was like... dead.
It was nice to have silence.
Anyway--I'll tell you more tomorrow, I think.
Gotta go now--to catch my bus!  Tschüss!

I've had such a lack of anything recently, I know! 
I'm sorry!

Um...
Let's see.
Lot's has happened.


This will be short and basic, because I don't have any time nowadays.
Last weekend Stefan's nephew came over for the weekend.  We all went to a Museum in Osnabrück for this one painter-dude who's name I can't remember, I would get the slip for it, but I don't have time.

We also went to a professional basketball game too.  The Artland Dragons verses... I'm not quite sure.  Didn't see their name anywhere.
Anyway, the Dragons won by ONE point--29 to 28.  It was great that they won--I actually really got into the game.
When the players for the Dragons were introduced it totally reminded me of a wrestling match.  The announcer, then all the smoke and the lights from one enterance--and all the cheerleaders there (instead of all those 'hot wrestler babes' they have hanging on the arms of wrestlers).  It was kinda funny-and oh my god.  The Mascot was so cute. Some dude in a dragon suit runnin' around!
Also, we went to a castle.  It was like.. Berg or Burg...something or other.  And I have the name downstairs also and i haven't the time to get it.
But that was simply amazing.  It was like walking into a fairytale.  It was so beautiful. I got LOTS of pictures.
And pictures... ugh.. Not sure when those will happen right now.

Anyway, that was how that went.  On Saturday morning, very early--Mortiz left for Poland to go on a trip with his class.  I leave this next Saturday, just as early, to go on my Deutschland tour-thingy.  So I won't see him, or you guys again, until I return next week.

I got sick this week, and so I have not been on due to me going to bed very early.  My throat feels horrible.
I just caught a cold--how is it that I've caught ANOTHER one just a couple weeks later?  Hmph! 


But yeah... My german is improving, but not much at the moment because we're on vacation from the language class.  Two weeks.  It's not good, since we only had two weeks, now we have two weeks free.  Also, you'd think I'd have MORE time..but.. ugh. I just haven't.

Anyway, I thank my mother and her fiance's parents very much!!!!!
I got all the candy you sent, and much more than I expected.
Mom, if you read this--I will be calling.... maybe next week--if not--then the week after next.  I would be calling this weekend but I leave for my trip and won't be able to.


Anyway, I'm sorry this is so short and that I haven't been updating very much.  I'll try to find more time, I promise!

I haven't had hardly ANY time enough to post since my Language school started.
Everyday until 6, then usually dinner--and then I dislike getting on the computer when people are home because.. I don't know.. it seems sort of rude.

But a lot has happened since last I updated.
First off--I did go shopping (and I bought a LOT), did I mention that?

I have a lovely new German (sorta) style worked out, that helps me fit in much more than before with my plain and boring and just..j dlkajfdls ugly sort of clothes.
I spent about 400 Euro, and I plan to buy shoes sometime (possibly today, but I think I want to save up my money a bit more since they are really expensive) because they're a type of shoe everyone here wears but you NEVER see in the US, so I'm determined to bring a pair home with me.
Other than that, I have mostly gotten all my new clothes shopping completely out of the way.  Yay!  Now I can spend my monthly allowances on manga and other nerdish things!  (For I plan to come back with a whole library of German books, haven't you noticed--kukuku! )

I will post pictures next couple of hours I get (which might be this next Donnerstag [aka Thursday] if you're lucky).

But otherwise..
The language school is REALLY tough.
It moves much quicker than the language classes back home do, since there are fewer people (only about 10) and each lesson is around 3 hours long, and so it's much more focused and one thing I find really hard to deal with--I was never tought ANYTHING in my english classes!!
Personal pronouns?  Conjugating?  Articles? What the HECK are those?!
This is the biggest reason why it is so difficult to me.
I don't know these words, and because of that, it is MUCH harder for the teacher or even the other students to try and explain to me the reason for some word, or something like that.
It is highly discouraging, but I can now tell you what those three things are, and I can conjugate verbs quite well.
I know there are four cases, though I only know of three and can only remember two of their names, but at least I am getting something in!

I so greatly look forward to the time where I will actually be speaking German with English here and there instead of English with German here and there.  That will deffinately be the big breaking point--and everything will most likely get much easier from that point.

I haven't gotten homesick yet, but I find I get stressed without realizing it and will want to cry over the strangest and silliest of things.  Something like that happened the other day--and I'm usually pretty good at keeping the urges to cry in--but in this cas I wasn't so lucky.
We were eating dinner, and I don't even remember what it was exactly that made me want to cry in the first place was, but all of a sudden I couldn't help it!  And it was SO embarrassing!  I felt so bad!  I got up and ran to the bathroom and stayed in there for about 10 minutes before Ulrike came to give me tissues and comforted me a bit.
It's horrible--because I fear she'll think I was overcome by homesickness and the desire to go home (when I had and have no such desire) instead of just the simple reason of stress building up too much.

Of course, the next day I was perfectly fine--like normal--and since then we've all be goin' on our merry ways. 

Another thing to note, for all those who read this and are taking German.
If you think the word for purple is purpurn--STOP THINKING THAT!  That word is like way, way ancient--and only used for the colors the Kings and Cardinals wear!  Today, in Germany, they don't say purpurn--they say Lila!   Those English-German dictionaries you have are wrong!

So you see--I have at least learned something usefull to tell you peoples back home taking German!  I'm sure I will know a lot more by the end of the year.... but for now, just know--it's LILA! Not Purpurn!
Also, speaking of purple--if you want to have German style this summer, wear it!

Purple is SO the 'in' color this winter (I hear last year was orange) and also don't forget to wear your scarfs on a daily basis!
Purple and scarfs are seen EVERYWHERE.  Unfortunately for me, purple isn't my color, but the scarfs I love.


By the way....  Can you tell I've been reading Lord of the Rings?
I can.

Gosh, everytime I read a book with a different language than the norm, my thoughts think in the same way as the book I'm reading is written--and so my typed words aren't in my usual style either.
It's rather annoying.
So, that is the reason behind the slight change in my wordings.  I am currently reading LotR. 
And it is a very good book (even though I am only 200 pages in).
Anyone who says it is slow and boring obviously has not read many books (or should I say they haven't done many of their in-school reading assingments!).
Try reading To Kill a Mocking Bird!  Oh gods, that was horribly slow!   And all the other stuff Mr. Jensen had us read last year!  LotR is long and wordy, and maybe it is slow to the climax, but it is deffinetaly NOT boring.

Anyway... I don't have much else to tell and I have to go soon.

So, until then!
With loves,
Jessica

YAY!
Okay, so I'm here, during my three free periods that I have today (because hanging in the caffeteria isn't that exciting...), and I decided this hour or so of time is perfect for pictures! 
So...
I will keep uploading and posting pictures onto this journal here utnil I have to go or I reach the limit.
(I have a LOT of pictures. )



Das ist... my house's backyard.
(And woah, the way this computer posts picturse--or LiveJournal does--is REALLY weird.  But, anyway...)
I took the picture from my window on the second floor.  Weeh!


this is my bedroom, as seen from entering.
It's... more clean than it is now in this picture.  That chair--yeah, it's covered with bags.  Eheheh...
But there is my lovely desk, and the pink thing is my bed.  Very exciting, right?


My bed!
Lookit--there's my little Demyx plushing I brought with me being nice and comfty on my lovely pink bed.


My desk again.  there's my Cellphone from the US of A and my meds... There's my copics, all my papers.  Very...um... tidy.
Also, that thing on the left is where all my clothes live.
 
And here is my lovely book case!
All these books are not mine.  Well, there's the little dictionary at the very bottom that is... but nothin' else.
I listen to my CDs on that stereo like... all the time.  I really need to get an iPod. 


And...this is me being bored with a camera.
And a lovely close up of the carpet. (And my dirty shoes.)


Stairs from the first floor looking up.


Stairs from the second floor looking down.


Pictures of pictures!  That door at the bottom is the door to the kitchen.

Then, looking from the third floor down, the stairs! 

this is the top floor, floor 3.  The door at the end leads to another room and Computerr room--where Moritz hangs out.  Farthest room on the right is where all the clothes hang to dry and...the other rooms?  I don't remember what they are for.  Heheheh..


Moritz's room--my host brother.
And him infront of his room:




This is my room--but is actually Caroline's room.  I am just barrowing it for a few months.


Bathroom!!  Use this every morning and every night!
Have to get up early before Moritz 'cause he leaves for school a litle later than me since he takes his bike and I take the bus.
That little yellow thing on the door is to show if it's free or not.  If someone's using the bathroom, they take it inside with them--if it's free--it hangs on the handle like that.



This is looking outside from the window on the second floor to the street.  Ón the elft side, on the street corner closer to us, is a little shop that has bread and magazines and cigerettes and such.  It is run by this girl and her father... I guess her mom died a couple years back to... I want to say cancer--but I don't remember.
The girl was really nice though.


and here is the entrance!
It was starting to get dark outside, but witht he flash on it makes it look like it's 9pm at night.  Eheheh..
But yeah--that door?  It sucks.  If you recall a journal post several journals back... you'll know why.


And this is the welcome thingy they hung up for me!  Also taken from an angle as if you just entered the house.
The hangy-thing says, 'Herzlich Willkommen,' I believe.
The white door leads to the kitchen, to the right of the mirror is another bathroom, and through the glass/see-through door leads to the dining room.

There's Ulrike!  (Host mom)


The kitchen as seen from the white door! There's the talbe where I eat breakfast during the week, and lunch and dinner if it's cold or ugly out.  There's the stove--which works..just.. it works pourly.  The since, the dish washer right next to it.  The cabnet (however it's spelt) right in the corner, on the bottom is really weird.  You push it in and then spin it--and there is where all the pots go.  On the bottom shelf inside it in this black, really heavy pot, is where they keep all the bread.  I laughed so bad when they showed me that.  Such a random place to keep your bread!  Also, above, right in the corner--you can't really see it--but that's the thing they use to cut all their bread, since in Germany you pretty much buy it uncut.
In the far right corner is a door that leads outside to the backyard.  They have another table out there, which is where we eat our meals if it's nice out (except for weekday mornings--those are always inside).


As seen from the door that leads to the backyard.
There is Ulrike and Moritz chatting on the otherside of the door, there is the cupboard where all the glasses are, and dry foods that don't fall into the spice and sause and mixes and other such stuff category.


Yay--table!  There's where all the mugs go, and the callender in the back.  I always sit on the seat on the back right.  Always.  And isn't that bread basket cute? Heehee.


My host mom, Ulrike!  Still in the kitchen.  There's the light switch for the room.  You press it in, then if you want it dimmer or lighter, you turn it.  They have these types in the Kitchen, the entry way and... um... that's all the places I can think of right now.  Otherwise they have those switches where you press on the top or bottom ot turn it off or on, but it's the opposite of how they are in the US.  If the top is pressed in, the light is off, if the bottom is pressed in--the light is on.


The Dining room!  We eat in here only on weekends and if it's too cold outside/ugly. There's a cupboard in the background that holds all the nice dining stuffs that almost every family has and uses only for special occasions.
You can see the glass door in the far back--leading to the entrance.  There's another door on the left that leads to the room I am in now--the Computer/office room.


Living room!
Seen from the entrance from the dining room.  To the right is the TV and another cupboard for wine glasses and goodies, and to the left is a window where you can view the backyard.


If you are sitting down on the black couch you see in the picture above this one, then you will see this.  There is the TV, then the room to the dining room, the book shelf on the right, and the coffee table in the front.  That magizine with the remote control on it is the TV guide thing they buy every month or so.  There are only about 30 channels here--can ya believe it?  All my 500 or so channels I had in the US are gone! Oh noes!
Well, the good thing--I didn't watch much tv at home, and every night, at 8:15 there is a sort of prime time movie or show or something that comes on on everychannel.  And since almost all movies in Germany are actually US movies that have been dubbed, that means I can probably find a movie I've seen  before and watch it in German if I want to.  Not so bad. : )


The wine cupboard and TV again.


The coffee table!  Magizines, remotes, and rotary stuff galore!  Also the TV guide magizine.  The pictures that go through the middle are screen caps of sorts of whatever is playing that night on whichever channel at 8:15.

Here is the room I am in now!  But.. with Ulrike using it.  I'll have to take a picture of the keyboard one of these days so you can see what it looks like.


If you are in teh computer room then turn to the left there is another guest room. This is it.


And that is it --for now--since I have to leave to catch my bus to go to art class!  I will be posting a few more of the home, then some more of the town and stuff later. 

Everyone who knows me on DA should check out my new Journal, okay?  T'is important for you guys.
And let's see...  This past week wasn't that exciting I guess.  Not really.
And I still haven't put up pictures, I'm sorry.
It'll happen soon, I promise

But, onto the weekend.

Went to Oldenburg with all the other exchange students.
First, on Friday--after missing the bus I was supposed to take home (oops) I went to Elo's house (I can't spell her name, the girl from Argentina) then we went together to Oldenburg.  I don't know... the night was okay.
Me and her aren't that close because we're completely different personalities, but it was okay.
And then when we got there, it was hours of rules, information, etc, lunch, more rules and infos, then a Role Play (I got some pretty funny videos I'll have to upload of those) and then..FREEDOM.

We all went across the street to have a big sleep over at a school.
It was pretty fun, I made friends with Canada and Washington (AKA a boy named Mark from Toronto and a girl named Nicole from Seatle).  There was another girl from Oregon too, but we didn't talk much.
I am an official member of the North America Union which was started by Washington and includes me and Canada.
We basically just chatted the whole night, while the Spanish speaking countries danced and partied and talked (very loudly) all night long, so no one got any sleep until around 3 am to 7 am, and I didn't fall asleep until 6 am..
Oh gosh...
One hour sleep...
It was dreadful!
Then when I got picked up at about 12 we walked around town for an hour or so then went home...
As soon as we got home (around 3) I crashed.
And I really, truly, only meant to sleep for 3-4 hours, really--I did...
But...
I slept for 15.
3pm until 6am the next day (heute--today).

Ehehehehh.....
Oops.

Today was long and boring.
Tomorrow I MIGHT see The Dark Knight again (HA!) because one of my friends here hasn't after trying to see it two times already and failing, so... it all depends on if she can go tomorrow.

And--HOMYGOSH!
I found a store with copics!
And it's HUGE.
YAY!
ART PARADISE!

Heehee.
So, I don't have time for pictures now--like I had hoped.
Sorry guys..
But NEXT TIME!
Next time I get a couple of hours--straight to pictures, I promise!
I really do!


But, until next time.