Saarbrücken Photobook

I made a photo book for the first 2 months of Language school. Check it out at in my photo links on the right hand side!

I ordered one copy for myself!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot like Christmas...

So this past weekend, was 'get into the Christmas spirit' weekend. Basically Holly and I are like obsessed with all things Christmas. Thus we naturally drag Hunter, Carston, Ben, and Cassandra along with us... Holly and Hunter were so kind to let us help them decorate their Christmas tree. It was sooo much fun. We went to IKEA with Carston and got a tree, a live one! I haven't gotten a live tree in since I was little :) Then we went back to their apartment and listened to Christmas music and decorated the tree! It was so fun!
The next night after praise we all baked Christmas cookies and painted some more ornaments. It was alot of fun!
Sunday I was suppose to go to Aussburg to the Christmas Markt there, but after missing our train Sat, night and not getting home till 3:45amish, I over slept. I went instead to the Christmas markts in Munich and did alot of my Christmas shopping :) 2 weeks and I am home for Christmas!!!

"Now you have met the Real Santa..."

This past weekend was actually alot of fun. Friday I spent all day at the Nordbad with Ben, Holly, Hunter, Renata, and Carston. They had 2 big pools, one inside one out, a hot tube, and a sauna. It was really fun and relaxing. On Friday night we had our praise night and then played some Tekken on Carston's Playstation. Then Saturday we hung out again and played poker and Settlers of Catan. We ended up staying so late we missed out midnightish train and had to wait till 2:39am for our next trian! But it was fun. Then Sunday we ended up playing some more Tekken on Playstation, and then going to the Christmas Market at Theresienwiese Sunday night. It was cool we ate some Crepes and had some Gluehwein.

Monday we had a Weihnachtsfeier with InWent and all the other international programs with InWent. It was interseting. There was alot of singing and Dancing from the other groups. Since we don't really have great singers in our group we just read poems. Ben introduced our group in all German, Danyelle read the Road Less Traveled by Robert Frost, and I ended the program by Reading "The Night Before Christmas." We also got to meet the Minister of Bavaria, which was cool.

After that Vanessa invited me to go to a Social with her host mom. It turned out to be a Political Christmas Social for the CSU (Christlich Soziale Union ) the conservative political party in Germany. It was cool. They are campaigning for a new Mayor in Feldafing. I met alot of new people, and had interesting conversations about the differences in politics here and the US. During the Social St Nicholas visited! The "real" one. He was dressed like a Saint from Church and read from an golden book. So now they said we met the REAL Santa... ha! It was fun :)

My First Turkey Day from home...

So my first Thanksgiving away from home was actually pretty good. On Thursday I went to Joy's (a Lady from church who is originally from AL) for Thanksgiving dinner. It was really nice, she even made sweet tea!! There were about 12 or 13 pple there including Ben, Holly, Hunter, and Lydia. It was really fun. Then on Saturday we had a Thanksgiving Dinner with the PPPLers and then on Sunday Vanessa's host mom had a Thanksgiving dinner as well. All of them were fun and very filling!!

The best part of Thanksgiving week was knowing Auburn beat Alabama for the 6th time in a row!!! I am soooo sad I was not at the game, but sooo happy we won!!

It is all ready in such a Christmas Spirit here. Decorations are up, Christmas Markets open this weekend, its just exciting! I love Christmas!! I think between Holly and I, Hunter and Ben might get tired of Christmas time real soon. We are planning a Decoration/Christmas music (Which I have all ready started listening too)/Christmas movie/Christmas cookie day!

I am also very happy I get to come home for Christmas. I think I need that. I miss everyone soo much!

Internship

I forgot to mention, I have an internship with MTU Aero Engines in Munich. It begins Feb 4th and ends June 27th. It is working with the same engines I worked with at Chromalloy (PW2000, V2500, CFM56 ect...) But they produce the fan blades. I am actually working in the Quality department. It should be intersting...

But Baby it's Cold Outside...

Sorry it has been a while since I last updated. Yes it is cold here. Yes there has been snow on the ground for the last week or so, yes I love it! I like the snow and view I have in Feldafing and how pretty it looks!

This weekend Gail, a friend from Saarbruecken came and visited. We went to the Duestches Meusem, which was awesome! And did some other touristy things, ie the English Garden, Olympiazentrum, Marienplatz, ect... It was fun.

Christmas decorations have come out here, and it is so pretty! I had Gludwein for the first time on Sunday, it was really good. I cannot wait till all the Christmas Makets open next weekend! There is a possibilty of going to Vienna in the next few weeks, along with visiting the Christmas Markets and Neuschwan Castle! So hopefully the next few weeks will be packed full of some Christmas fun!!

Pizza, Star Wars, and New Friends...

So Saturday Ben, Holly, Hunter, Cassandra, and I had pizza and watched the original Star Wars on the big screen at Church. It was sooo much fun! Ben was the master chef and made pretty close to the best pizza I have ever eaten! It was alot of fun just relaxing and hanging out warm inside with it cold outside.
I realized that I have not really informed you guys about the new friends I have made while here so far. I will start with some Saarbrücken kids...
Mikey - He is from California (Literally the OC area) and he is 25 (i think). He is actually a pretty awesome guy. Very smart and passoniate about politics and the USA. And although me and him are almost complete opposite in some of our ideas pinions,the way we were raised, religion, and pretty much everything beside loving the Beatles... We have great conversations about our views on like everything. He is actaully a pretty nice guy and I am glad I have met him. We also had a lot of fun on our trip to Ireland!
Andrew - 22 From Michigan. Goes to Michigan Tech majoring in ME and Business. He is actually a very typical guy. He is very good looking, and has an awesome yankee accent. He loves motocycles. He can be very gentleman, when he wants. He also went to Ireland and is alot of fun to be around.
Danyelle - 24 from Seatle Bio-Science Major. She is a character. She has an awesome smile and is very direct. I like hanging out with her, and I am glad I met her in Saarbrücken and I am glad she is here in Munich with me. She is not afraid to express her opinions and likes to have fun!
Annabelle - She is our Tutor here in Munich. Her mom is German her dad is American, from Arkansas. I love her! She is very fun and very nice. She loves my southern accent and is really trying hard to help us have a great experience here.
Holly and Hunter - They are a young couple doing missonary work at church. They both graduated from Libscomb. They are really nice and welcoming. It is great to have good Christian friends here.
Ben - He is another ppler but was in Köln for language school. We ride alot of trains together because he also lives in Feldafing. 22, graduated from Cornell in Industrial Engineering. He is very nice, kinda reserved, and loves The Office. Hanging out with him is alot of fun, because he likes to chill and relax which is what I am used to anyways.
Well anyway here is an idea of some of the friends I have made while here so far. There are more of course, but these seem to be the ones I hang out with the most. It is really cool how so many people from so many backgrounds get along and react with each other.

1/4 of the way there..

So I have been here over 3 months now. A quarter of my time here is finished. Looking back I can not believe I have been here that long all ready. I have learned alot the past 3 months about language, culture, and myself. This is the longest I have gone without seeing my parents, brothers, or closest friends and family. I know I have grown and become stronger and more independent in these short few months. Part of me is homesick and part of me is still the excitied little girl wanting to explore more.
I have not traveled anywhere in particular the past weekends and probably won't until the end of the month or beginning of Dec. One my budget is tight and 2 it is nice to relax and have a routine here. Friday nights are fun, because church has a little Devo thing and then we hang out and watch movies and what not. Sat and Sunday are nice and relaxing. When it is pretty walking around the English Garden is always nice. Now that it is getting cold I will need to find other options to occupy my time on the weekend.
Anyway I just wanted to give you an update on life. I have an interview next week with MTU Aero Engines for my internship. I really hope it goes well. Other than that I'm just going to some class, chillin' out (literally, its cold here), and trying to figure out where/when my next trip will be.

Music

I am currently sitting in my favorite coffe shop here, San Fransico Coffee Company. I mainly like it, because I get pretty cheap internet here. As I was walking to the train this morning and listening to shuffle on my ipod I realized I am more like my dad then I like to admit. Almost all of my songs tend to link with a memory of some sort. 75% of those memories make me think of my family. Paino Man came on, made me think of Dad singing it in our living room. Move B**ch came on, and it made me think of Kev and Colin's boy/girl B'day party they had in Middle school. We used the edited version of course and still laugh at all the random noise and screams they use for bleeping out the bad words... I love Rock and Roll ( the real version, not Brittney spears) comes on and I think of mommy. Any Random old country song = my family in general. Aunt vicki Dancing with colin at Nannie's, Uncle John playing guitar on the back porch trying to find a song me and my brothers do not know the words too, Boone singing Hank at our house on Christmas Eve. Kevin living out the words of Corey Smith in his daily life:) Colin trying to Harmonize with everything. Singing the Eagles on every family vacation. Jimmy Buffett = the Mezicks ect...Then their are the songs that remind me of friends and good times. Happy day on Sister Act will always make me think of Christi. Boston will makes me laugh again at Sarah and Anna. Hey Ya, Holly and the kids at Boys and Girls club. Accapella songs = Randy. Metallica, Fuel = Ryan. Family tradition reminds me of AC and all my friends there, so does Patience and Every Rose has its Thorn. And Their are so many more... Even tho I don't remember the exact time and date I heard every song, like my dad does, they still remind me of home....Songs, music, they help me feel I not that far away from home afterall.

Kiss me, I'm Irish...

Well partly anyway.
I went to Ireland this weekend. Simply put it was amazing. I had so much fun. Me and 2 of my guy friends went for a long weekend trip. We saw all the sights, including the Dublin Castle, old Jail, the Cathedrals, Guinness, and Jameson. At the top of the Guinness Factory is a bar that overlooks the whole city. It is amazing, and of course you get a free pint of Guinness. At the Jameson Distillery 6 pple from each tour is selected to be taste testers and compare Jameson Irish Wiskey to others. I got selected. I vote Jameson best Irish and second best overall. The best is of course, JD (Jack Daniels). I am my daddy's daughter after all :) Saturday night was the 2007 Rugby World Cup. England vs South Africa. Of course all the Irish want England to lose, and they did. We went to this awesome bar and watched the game and it got crazy! It was so fun. The last night there we went to another bar where they had traditional Irish music and dancing. It was really cool! While I was there I even found the "Barrett" family sheild and learned a lot about the Irish history that I did not know. Sunday we took a day trip to the country side and an old Monestary. It was cool and pretty. I even ate fish and chips! I had so much fun, did I say that all ready? I highly recommend a visit if you get the chance!

Long overdue update!

So I am starting to get used to life here in Munich. Things are going to start a routine this week which is good. I went to Oktoberfest last week, it was fun! Some of the pics above are from there with me in my dirdle. This past weekend I went with church to a retreat at the Hinter See. It was simply amazing. God's beauty there was breath taking. I don't have my camera cable with me to upload those pics, but I will add some soon! School has internet so i should be able to have more access!

The best thing so far has been church. It was great to go somewhere and be instantly welcomed and have something similar in common. They even sing some songs in English and it was amazing to sing familar songs again.

I started classes today. After this week I will know my rountine for sure and that will be good. I am also really excited about going to Dublin this weekend! It should be fun!

Miss ya!

Making Changes again...

<<< before i begin i am using a german kezboard to write this post, so please excuse the tzpos (ie y and z)

Did I mention earlier that I love mz host fam in Saarbrücken? I finallz gotten used to the town and mz dailz life there and then I leave. I was sad, I even cried on the bus for bit. Thez gave me this awesome book, and promised to staz in touch and I know i will see them when thez come visit München! Thez also invited me to go skiing with them in Switzerland over easter! I arrived on Saturdaz in Feldafing. Mz host mom is reallz nice. It just different than what I had finallz gotten used to the first two months here. So I am adjusting again.

Frau von Blücher is in her 50s (i think). She has 2 daughters (24 and 26). Neither live at home. The 26 zear old has a 2 zear old daughter that is precious. We all had a big lunch bz the lake on Sundaz, it was nice. The countrz here is beautiful! I am looking out mz window and i can see thelake and behind it the ALPS! It breathtaking. She is verz nice and I think we will get along fine once we get used to each other and settle into our routines. The onlz down side is she onlz has one internet conncetion right now. We are looking into getting a connection for me in mz room hopefullz later this week! I will die without more internet access than what I have right now....

I registered with mz Uni todaz, and walked around München a good bit. Its a huge citz, its gonna be fun! We are going to Oktoberfest tomorrow and Saturdaz the girls are gonna go to a second hand shop an dlook for the traditional german dress so we can wear them our Sat night!! Its gonna be fun! Well thatäs all for now, iäm gonna get off her comp and go unpack mz luggage that finallz got here! I miss zou all and since I have limited internet access and wanna chat please call mz german number if possible, or send me a text on mz american number and i can call zou back when i get it! Its a lot different here because were are more on our on, and donät see as manz people that we know everzdaz. So Iäm kinda getting lonelz. Things should get better when uni starts tho. Love and miss za!

Strasbourg auf die Ill

This weekend I went to Strasbourg, France. It was beautiful. For info about the history go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strasbourg#Geography_and_climate

We went Saturday and stayed with my oldest Host brother. He just moved there for school. He had a housewarming party Sat night. It was so much fun. There were people there who spoke German, French, Slovik, and English. They loved the music on my ipod. I had one request that surprised me, 'Take me Home Country Roads' by John Denver. Of course I have it, but it surprised me so that they knew that song, much less requested to hear it! It was fun!

Sunday we did the toursty stuff. We visited the Cathedral and took about tour of the city on the ILL river. It was a beautiful day and a fun time over all!

This is my last weekend in Saarbruecken. I am really gonna miss my host family here, but I'm sure we will stay in touch!

München update

So here is the info as I know it right now:
Where I will be:
Frau Claudia von Blücher
Am Buchenwald 17
82340 Feldafing
Tel. 08157 925940(until end January 2008)

I am suppose to be leaving Sept 29 by train to Munich.

My current host family is amazing, let me just say that. I will always keep in touch with them. They are so nice and have given me so much here. They invited me to go skiing with them in the Alps over Easter this year. They also have volunteered to drive me to Munich next Sat or Sun if that is allowed, so I wouldn't have to take train! How nice is that! I mean they are so nice. They plan on visiting the states within the next couple of years and I will meet them where ever they go. They are awesome! I'm gonna miss them sooo much!

Hooters and Idar-Oberstein Weekend

So Friday night 11 of us went to the only Hooters in Germany for Danyelle's Birthday. It was really fun. It was liking walking onto a piece of American soil again. Everything was in English and there were tons of Americans (mostly military) there. Even the food tasted like USA! It was fun.

Saturday morning my host parents had a meeting with someone in Idar-Oberstein and they suggested I go and check out the city for a couple of hours. So I did. It was beautiful. I has a chruch build into the side of a mountian. It also has small Castle. The city is known for mining and its precious jewels and mineral rocks. I bought mom, Aunt Vicki, Nannie, and myself a neclace from there. It was fun

Saturday night I went to a Bar-B-Que with some of the other american's I met at Frisbee. It was awesome. One of the girls has a brother in the army her, so she shops on base alot. So we go to have like ribs, corn on the cob, green beans, and real Bar-b-Que sauce. It was good to have a bit of American taste here.

Sunday I chilled and relaxed at the weekend house with the host fam. I'm really going to miss them, but I will keep in touch with them I am sure. I am probably going to Strasbourg France with them next weekend for the oldest brothers house warming party. He just moved there.

Oh yea today me and 2 other girls decided we are gonna plan a trip to Dublin like Oct. 6th or so. Because we don't start Uni classes till Oct. 15th. I'm excited!

There is nothing like a Sunday afternoon nap in a Hammack in France...

This weekend was for the most part fun. I stayed out too late on Friday, slept in on Saturday. Went to the weekend house in France with the host fam. We Grilled out Sat night and Sunday for lunch. I took an afternoon nap in a Hammack beside the lake :) While I was lying there I realized how lucky and blessed I am for getting this experience. Even if it just relaxing in a place you never would have guessed you'd be. God is so good!

Came home from France and went to Ramstien to watch Bourne Ultimatum in English. Then I had dinner at Mexican Resturant. So all in all it was a good weekend. Caught up on sleep and still had fun. (Yes I am purposly leaving out the time period I found out the final Auburn score)

It's Monday at 6:30pm right now, its raining, and cold. School was long, and my internet won't let me forget that Auburn score even halfway across the world, blah. I think I'm gonna eat dinner, make some hot chocolate curl up in my bed and watch a movie on my laptop. This is my way of sulking about Auburn's season going down the drain. Now its just who can we upset in the SEC (UF, LSU, UGA, BAMA)? I kinda wish I was home right now. Some good TV or movie I can understand would be comforting, sweet tea, friends, family, even some gutiar hero would be nice....

Housing Info for the next six months..

Just copying and pasting the two emails I recieved about my Housing during the University Phase starting in October:

Now to your host Mom: her name is Claudia von Blücher, very nice and friendly, and liveshere in Feldafing. Once I have more details as to your room, I will let you know. You willbe staying with her until end of January; we still have to search for a new host family near the place where you will be doing your internship which is also a beautiful region and actually not too far from Feldafing or Munich.
and...
From Feldafing to the Uni will take you about 1 hr, depending whether you walk or take the U-Bahn.It might sound far, but on the other hand you will enjoy the bavarian country life which many willenvy you for. Once you are here we can talk about the months during the internship, that is, if youwant to live closer to Munich or to Oberpfaffenhofen.

Ok and she hasn't said I got the internshipe directly but this pretty much sounds like I do doesn't it?

I kinda wanted to be closer to the city, but I guess I can work on that for my internship phase.

Ultimate Frisbee in Deutschland...

So I went last night and play utimate, finally. I should have gone earlier! It was awesome of course. The team here in Saarbruecken is small and not super good or super competitive (alot like ECUC). It was so fun tho! It really helped relieve alot of my stress! About half the pple are foriegn, so english is pretty fluently spoken. Just gotta get used to counting in Deutsch, eins, zwei, drei...

Anyway, so one of their other girls dropped out of this tournament they are going to next weekend, so they asked me to go with them. I'm thinking that will be fun, I'll update later when I know more details, like where exactly it is, ha! :)

This week has been good so far. This weekend should be good and relaxing as well. I'm playing Ultimate Friday afternoon, then hanging out with my neighbor Sabine again that night. Saturday my host family wants to cook a Saarland Specialty dinner.

Well that's all for now! War Eagle :)

Well its not labor day weekend here...

This weekend was actually alot of fun, despite missing Auburn football and normal Labor Day weekend activities in the US. Friday night I hung out with my neighbor Sabine and some of her German friends. It was alot of fun. They made me speak German with them most of the night. Saturday we went on a small boat trip to a Small town in France named Sarrgeguemines. It was fun and relazing. We ate lunch there and walked around a bit. We got to see alot of the Saar River.

I came home Sat night and watched my ESPN and Sportline.com scorboard updates. Finally got tired and went to sleep and had Kev text me Auburn updates, glad to hear we pulled it out w/o Lester at 5:30am here.. Slept in, which was awesome. Woke up read and watched all the highlights possible of all the good games. I do wish I was in AU last night, but I have survived. One of the guys here, Andrew is from Michigan tho. I called him to make sure he didn't need to be on suicide watch..ha!

Anyway gonna have a relaxing day of movies/scrubs/football highlights/and studying German for my test tomorrow. The pics above are my host mom and dad, my neighbor, and 2 from the boat trip. Miss ya'll

WAR EAGLE!!!

An Average day...

So I realized I haven't really explained what my average day is here in Saarbruecken. So here it goes: I wake up and have breakfast with my host fam, which mostly consists of bread, cheese, nutella, and coffe. Have German class from 8:30am till 4pm. We have a break at 10-10:30, lunch from 12-1:30, and another break at 3-3:15. Sometimes my friends and I go downtown for a bit after class. Then go home, help make dinner. Yes I said help make dinner, this means I've become really good at chopping veggies like tomatoes, peppers, parslely, ect... I also help with the laundry. They iron everything here, including towels! Eat and chat with my host fam. Then I do some homework, play on the internet, watch scrubs, and go to bed. It's been typical that on Tuesdays my friends and I go out to eat and then hang out for a bit. Of course on the weekends we all hangout or go on trips. Typically on Sundays my host fam goes to their Lake House in France for the day and that's always fun. Anyways that is the typical day for me. I know it's really not that exciting, expect for the fact I'm in a different country and that in itself is exciting!!

Personal DNA

This was fun, here is my personaldna (personality test)

My personalDNA Report

I hate the exchange rate...

So I went and put some of my travelers check into my new Deutsch account that just got opened. Pretty much like 3,000 american dollars is only worth like 2,000 Euro :( Not so happy about that. Oh well at least I have money, a debit card that will work here w/o fees, and cash again! Tomorrow I'm going to buy a new camera, finally! Yay!!

Trier, Luxembourg, and the "ReBeatles"

So it's been 50 years since Saarland joined Germany, and they celebrated! It was crazy here this weekend! They had like 15 stages set up for bands and plays and such. Tons of beer obviously and a parade on Saturday. We went to the pararde and then watched a Beatles cover band named the "ReBeatles" It was awesome! There were really good and I don't think I've ever had so much fun singing songs I've known my whole life! It was great!

On Sunday we went to Trier, the oldest city in Germany! It was really cool! We saw an amazing church that keeps the robe Jesus wore while crucified! It was so beautiful! We also went to the Karl-Marx House. So much history! I would have pics but my camera broke Saturday night! We then traveled on to Luxembourg. It rained most the time while were there, but the vineyards are soo pretty!

I'm slowly getting more comfortable using my German, and I've got to find a camera soon! I went to the electronic store and found the one I wanted, but then they didn't take credit card! So frustrating. Gonna look online or else wait till my bank account is active...

Miss ya'll! Please comment back I'd love to see who reads this :)

Munich

I just found out that in October I will be moving to Munich for the rest of the year! I will be attending Technische Universitat Munchen! I"m excited. I still don't know my host fam situation, but i will find out soon! :)

Mormans

So this random, but everyone once and while on the bus or train you will occasionally run into another american, that is not with our group. So far this has happened twice. Today on the Saarbahn home from school I overheard 2 north american english speaking guys. I turn around and say hey, where are ya'll from? Then I look at their shirt and it says Elder Joe Bob...Which I was surprised because they were dressed normal. Anyway we proceed to chat and they are from Washington (the state) and are missionaries in Germany for the Church of Later Day Saints and such.. Then they apologize for saying that because they were on their day off and not dressed approiately for a convo about their church. It was weird. They were nice. I also find it kinda funny and irronic that some of the only other americans I've met here are Mormans. Ha!

Tomorrow is a Holiday here so no school! Yay I get to sleep late! Ich schlafe spat!

Heidelberg and such...

This weekend was intense. I don't think I have walked this much in so long! About 14 of us from school went to Heidelberg on Saturday. It was so much fun. The main strip is one of the longest shopping street in Europe. It had like everything possible. We visit the Old University Student jail. It was unbelievable that they used to put students there. They would have to stay for days with only water and bread. They only did this to disruptive guys. The prisoners grafitied the walls for entertainment. There were some really cool pictures drawn in there. We also saw the Univeristy musuem and assembly hall. The Castle had the most breathtaking view I've ever seen. It was cool to see and read about the history and such about it :) The Alte Brucke (old bridge) was cool too. They had an old mirror that if you touch it you will have good fortune in money and old gold plated rats for fertility. All in All it was a good time, minus ordering something I thought was pasta for dinner and it turned out just to be tomatos with cheese :) Still working on my German.

On Sunday we celebrated Damian's (my host brother) 17th B'day by going to the lake house in France. We cooked this amazing lunch, played soccer, and went swimming. Yes I did play soccer just fine actually :) The lake water tho was FREEZING to me. It felt like Lake Marting feels like in November, but to them it was just fine. I got home and went to bed after and exhausting weekend.

I'm starting to get pretty close to some of the other americans here as well as my family. Things seem to be going just fine. All tho I do miss home sometimes.

Deutshland

So far its awesome! My host family is amazing. Thank God their son Damian can speak English, because my host mother and father can't like at all!! So communication is very interesting to say the least. They have a lake cabin in the countryside of France that we went to this weekend. It was really fun. We rode about 22km on bike in the countryside :) We also grilled ribs and swam and such.

Last night the group from school went to an Irish Pub downtown. They were having Karaoke! It was soo fun! All of their songs were American songs! I got talked into singing Sweet Home Alabama. When they announced it and the music started the Germans went crazy about it. They like that song almost more than we do! It was insane. Thinking about it afterwards, it was really amazing to think I just sang Sweet Home Alabama infront of a ton of pple I don't know, in GERMANY!! wow, I'm still trying to grasp how awesome of an exerience this is becoming!! I'm having the time of my life here so far!

Washington DC

So I'm in DC and its amazing! I've never been here before and I am so overwhelmed, but it's great. I only got to actually visit the Air and Space museum because of time restrictions. I saw the capital, Jefferson Memorial, Union Station and the Washington momument as well. I have to come back when I have time to actually tour everything!! Georgetown is so pretty as well. The buildings are so classic looking and it just gives you a feeling that your doing something important.

So far everyone I have met have been absolutely awesome. I've really hit it off with my roommmate and suitmates while we are in DC. Although they won't be in the same language school with me after this. I have also met alot of the 14 others that will be in my language school and I really think all of us will get really close and end up being really great friends! I'm so excited!

I leave tomorrow for Germany. This is my last night in the states for a whole year :( I'm doing good with it mainly because I"m happy I"ve met other poeple who feel the same excitedness/nervousness as me. This year is going to be amazing.

See you Later!

It's not goodbye, it's I'll see you later. Its just gonna be much later. I had a pretty awesome last night in Auburn last night. Tho saying goodbye was hard. It's not that I don't think I'll ever see my friends again, but for a lot of them we will never live in the same city again. My closest friends and roommates will be graduated and "real" adults by the time I get back. So its hard, but its ok. The night ended better than I could have imagined. I still cried and as I drove back to Alex City I thought of many memories and even some what ifs. But in the end I know it will be ok. I will not lose them as friends, we won't see each other as often, but internet is awesome! Who knows maybe I'll end up in a city with some of them one day! I love all of you so much!

Auburn

As long as I can remember, Auburn has been a home to me. I have had season football tickets since I was five, and have tailgated in the same spot with the same people before everyhome game. I have gone on many Sunday afternoons to baseball or basketball games. There have also been numerous movies, cheer camps, softball games, swimmeets and fan days in my beloved city. I have spent the majority of the past 4 years living and attending Auburn University, which strengthens and deepens my love for Auburn. And yesterday I said good bye.


No it's not goodbye forever. I will return in one year and finish up my degree and walk proudly across the colisuem. But for the first time in my memory I will not be in Auburn for a whole year. It's scary. There is an off chance that I might get to come back during Thanksgiving (AU/Bama game), but that is looking slimmer by the day.


Yesterday I went to campus by myself to say goodbye. I started at the hill a Mary Martin Hall of course. I sat on the bench under the tree where I've sat sooo many times before. I walked towards the library and stood in the middle of "our" football field. "Tackle on grass, 2 hand touch on cement," The lawn infront of the libary. I remembered when Kev knocked out his teeth playing in the rain, where I was the all time "Hutter" and Ben was so scared of me because could tackle as hard as his brother Will.

I saw the ledge on the library where I liked to retreat to when I wanted to think in college, because we climbed it as a kids. I saw where I feel off the ledge and pretended to be hurt to make all the boys feel guilty because they were faster than me reaching the end.

I walked towards Samford and sat on the front steps. I cried. This is my home. Its more than just football, its me. It's the sound, the smell, the taste, the traditon, the family I feel here. I see my temp home the Aerospcae Building, I can see toomers, I can see the seal I still have not steped on. I blame my daddy. He did this to me, he made it so hard to say goodbye even when its just for a short time and I'm going to experience greater things.

I walked past Foy and towards the Stadium, Jordan-Hare. I couldn't get to it because I didn't want to go around construction, but I saw it: the lights, the upper deck, the moral. I remember the feeling I had as a little girl climbing up the steps to section 103, row 15, seats 1-6. I remember praying to God during the first overtime game against UGA. Making daddy stay and predicting Duvall's kick against Bama. Watching Courtney Taylor's catch again LSU after a hurricane. And all most falling out of the stands from yelling and jumping so hard after the blocked punt against UF this year. So many, many memories.

I turn and walk whats left of the original walk Mom, Dad, Kevin, Coling, and I took back to the hill. through the quad and past the library and I ended where I began. On the hill. I know I will be back, I will always come back to Auburn, its my home. It just made it so real, I'm leaving and growing up and life happens. This is Auburn to me. The feeling, the memories, the people, the atmosphere. This is what I know I am going to miss most next year. Auburn. War Eagle!

Details

So the details as I know them right now are:
In DC July 28th-31
August-October in Saarbrücken, Germany
October - June in the Bundesland of Bayern (Bavaria), around Munich

Host fam for first 2 months:
Familie Herges
Am Schönental 14 66113 Saarbrücken
Family leads an orthopedic business and has altogether three sons, one of whom lives at home: Damian (17). Own room (incl. breakfast), no pets, non-smoker.

Crazy Emotions...

Have you ever felt scared, excited, happy, and sad all at the same time? That is how I am beginning to feel about going to Germany for a year. I leave in 12 days, and I'm looking forward to it really! It's just for a year, but I have the feeling I won't see alot of my friends and everyday aquintances ever again. Most of my really close friends will be graduated and moved on with life by the time I return to Auburn. It's a funny feeling really and sad. I'm actually not freaking out or maybe it just hasn't completely hit me yet. I'm sure next Tuesday at my last Devo I will shed some tears as I say goodbye.


But its worth it, right? I am going to have the expereince of a life time, right? I sure hope so. I pray that this is really what God wants me to do, and not just me searching for change and rebellion against my parents still.


Wow, That's alot mixed up crazy things going on inside my head. And I didn't even touch on missing my family. I'm sure I'll be alot better once I'm on the plane leaving and I'm not just stuck in Alex City in limbo waiting with my thoughts...

Not starting yet.

I got this to keep people updated while I'm in Germany next year. So probably won't be anything new until after July. I leave July 28th!! Be patient as I work on getting this page put together!